I don't consider pool on a bar table to be pool

[Scott Lee]

dnschmidt...While I prefer to play on 9' tables too, historically (over the past 75+ years) the pros have played on whatever table was available...whether it was 3x6, 3.5x7, 4x8, 4.5x9 or 5x10. It's all pool. While it's sad that you let this prevent you from a great pool experience at the BCAPL, I doubt that the other 8000 players will miss you.

Efren is still one of the most DOMINANT players on Earth. Just look at how well he played at this past DCC...yeah, he's over the hill and washed up! LMAO

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Mark Griffin is an icon of the game and we all appreciate his efforts but as much as I love to watch world class pool I will not be going to the pro CSI events at the Rio, although it's an easy drive for me since I live in Phoenix, because I can't stand pro level players playing on a seven foot table. To me this is a joke. The ability to shoot at distance is what separates the men from the boys. Make that 12 foot shot on the Bigfoot pal, let me see what you've got.

It's either break and run out or break and be snookered. Why is Efren not the dominate force he used to be, because it can't make the long ball anymore on a consistent basis. That's what pool is all about.

How do others feel about this? My view is 9 foot is fine, 10 foot even better.

 

[NitPicker]

Not one person, group or organization is bigger than the game itself. If the game says it is now played on and with certain equipment, then that's simply the way the game is played. Immature, closed, selfish mindsets are what kills everything...along with fear of change or something different. B!tch and moan all you want about the game being dead and how you'll never support this or that....all you're doing is self-fulfilling your own prophecies. We all reap the garbs we sow. The game says good riddance to people like you. The game existed long before you and will be here long after you are gone. It doesn't need you or any other single person. The loss is only yours. Deal with it.

 

[mortuarymike-nv]

Bar box champion ships.

Mark Griffin is an icon of the game and we all appreciate his efforts but as much as I love to watch world class pool I will not be going to the pro CSI events at the Rio, although it's an easy drive for me since I live in Phoenix, because I can't stand pro level players playing on a seven foot table. To me this is a joke. The ability to shoot at distance is what separates the men from the boys. Make that 12 foot shot on the Bigfoot pal, let me see what you've got.

It's either break and run out or break and be snookered. Why is Efren not the dominate force he used to be, because it can't make the long ball anymore on a consistent basis. That's what pool is all about.

How do others feel about this? My view is 9 foot is fine, 10 foot even better.

If shooting on a bar box is more for the school yard sand box kids then why do so many pros show up?

The winners normally really have to play well to win any billiards championship bar box or 12 footer

 

[DavidMNienow]

In all the years of my playing pool I have played on 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft tables. And I have found that every size table has its own playing dynamic. Most of my playing time has always been split between the 7 and 9 foot tables. And I enjoy both table sizes. Each offers its joys and complaints. And as a serious player I feel that playing all table sizes helps the player to round out their skill set and understanding of the game in general. And as far as i'm concerned I consider pool on any size table to be pool. My goal as a player is to learn to maximize my appreciation and skill set of the game on all table sizes.

 

[tjshaw02]

No, not at all. Just another in a long line of poor analogies used by bar box bashers to denigrate it. Anyone who uses a little logic instead of emotion and blind hatred and cynicism can see it. Half court basketball is literally half of the court taken away. Does a barbox take away two whole pockets? No. In fact, it's even done to scale. Width= half of the length.

Put this analogy in the same garbage pile as tennis/table tennis and golf/mini golf.

I am not a barbox basher, I wrote earlier that I enjoy playing on them. I am, however, a realist and understand that analogy is not talking about litteraly taking away half the table. It is speaking about how both are fun but the strategies are different when playing on different sized playing fields. Also about how moving up to a 9ft from barbox will definitely increase the difficulty.

 

[Albatross Cues]

To the OP.

Maybe you would want to put your money where your mouth is. Mark is a great ambassador to our sport. He has gone over and above trying to get something, anything rolling that will propel this sport. Maybe you could be so kind and offer the added expenses it would take for the tables/venue and such. I'm sure your financial involement would be greatly appreciated. Maybe you could offer to help set up the tables, be a Ref, have an active involvement. From your post, you are not far away, it should not be too much hassle for you to become involved.

The main issue I see here is people want to bring more problems to the equation instead of offering solutions. Maybe it would be better for you to be greatful to have a table to play on instead of throwing one of the ambassador of our sport under the perverbial bus.

Go or don't go, it makes no difference. But stop complaining and actually do something for the betterment of the sport instead of trying to bring it down.

Aloha

 

[KRJ]

.
All those bar and league players on 7 footers have not helped billiards get a solid pro tour or good wages for the pros

Were the amateur pool players in charge of building up billiards and providing a pro tour and ensuring livable wages were met for the pro's?

I don't recall softball leagues "propping up" Major League Baseball. Without the amateur players today, there would be NO POOL at all imho. They buy cues, tables, cloth, chalk, balls, pool shirts, live streams, and provide a bar/room owner with income to keep the doors open.

Without leagues, how many pool tables would they even have in a room ? Why would a bar keep tables in his place without a league? Takes up a lot of space for a few bucks per hour. How many cues would a cue maker make if their only customers were pro pool players with limited means ? Yes, the leagues provide much, but they can't also build the pro tour too :wink:

 

[randyg]

Let's all play on a 30X60. That should be fun!

randyg

 

[trob]

I think pro pool should played on 9 footers but I also they shouldnt be playing a bs game like Texas express 9 ball lol that being said I play almost all bar box because that's all there is anymore. As long as people are playing a cue sport I don't care what there playing on. :thumbup:

 

[Texdance]

As long as the pros can play faster than one game every 45 minutes, I don't care about table size. I just viewed Orcollo beat Duell in 2014 1=pkt, like watching paint dry except every so often there would be a laser straight shot. The room was full of players but very. very few spectators, though most of them were awake.

When the big cue ball is used on a barbox, it changes the game a lot, in favor of skilled players familiar with it. But not so many big ball return systems around anymore.

I agree with Jay Helfert that barbox 8 ball is a good game, the small surface makes CB position and cluster breakout skills paramount, and like 9 ball a great break that downs balls is necessary to win often.

Some day I will add a barbox out in my poolroom if I can work a trade for my extra 8 footer.

 

[Black-Balled]

"I don't consider pool on a bar table to be pool"

That is your prerogative. Don't know what you expect us to do about it.
In the meantime maybe you could not use the word pool to describe an event
you don't consider to be pool.

Sometimes the plain truth is so obvious, one wonders why it didn't occur to him.

Bar pool is real pool, as much as heavyweight boxing is real boxing.

If you can't hang ewith the big dogs, get out of the kitchen, for Pete out loud.

My crown is real, dammit! I hold it for 14 days more, do not ruin it for me now.:smile:

 

[Rico]

bar box

I ran an ad in the billiard news that stated anybody can get out on a bar rag,so come on .That was in 81, and threw 84 we had a few pro,s play. I would name them but it would be easier to name the ones that didnt play. If the monies there they will play. $25,000 was a good tourn. in the 80,s. But my point is with the best players in the country on a bar box winner break only once did anyone run a set(Dallas West) there were some 5 and 6,s but no the people who think they all can run out all the time are ****of.If there was a tournament on 9ft table winner break no jump cues no players jacking with the rack (just play pool fast eddie)we might have somthing. just my thoughts.

 

[macguy]

Were the amateur pool players in charge of building up billiards and providing a pro tour and ensuring livable wages were met for the pro's?

I don't recall softball leagues "propping up" Major League Baseball. Without the amateur players today, there would be NO POOL at all imho. They buy cues, cloth, chalk, balls, and provide a bar/room owner with income to keep the doors open. Without leagues, how many pool tables would they even have in a room ? How many cues would a cue maker make if their only customers were pro pool players with limited means ? Yes, the leagues provide much, but they can't also build the pro tour too :wink:

You are exactly right. It may not seem immediately obvious, but if you take the amateur bar and league players out of the system, the whole pool eco-system collapses.

 

[Johnnyt]

The OP and anyone else that won't play in BB tournaments, they better get a new hobby/sport, because the 7' table is going to be 95% of tournaments in the states.

If they want to do something, make 7' tables harder like black ball or Chinese 8 ball. But of course like everything else in pool, in will wait too long or never do it. Now is the perfect time for someone to come out with a harder 7' table. Johnnyt

 

[Black-Balled]

The OP and anyone else that won't play in BB tournaments, they better get a new hobby/sport, because the 7' table is going to be 95% of tournaments in the states.

If they want to do something, make 7' tables harder like black ball or Chinese 8 ball. But of course like everything else in pool, in will wait too long or never do it. Now is the perfect time for someone to come out with a harder 7' table. Johnnyt

Thanks for the nod, sir. I am a little soft right now, from the winter and no bike riding and all...but I am working on getting had again. Rode 30 mi last night with the c group and won both sprints.

 

[cubswin]

I've played on 7, 8 and 9ft tables. To me, the 9ft tables are more fun, but depending on the game I don't really think they play harder. A good, non bucket 7ft table can be just as challenging.

I've noticed many 9ft players look down on the 7ft table, but most of those players (outside of really strong players) don't play well on a 7ft table. Its like they just can't adjust to extra clusters and more precise shape play easily. Bar box players have more time to adjust to where to play shots to avoid using a bridge, and needing to use a bridge at times.

 

[Colonel]

My Crown is real, dammit! I hold it for 14 days more, do not ruin it for me now.:smile:

your appropriately sized trophy sir

 

[hang-the-9]

Were the amateur pool players in charge of building up billiards and providing a pro tour and ensuring livable wages were met for the pro's?

I don't recall softball leagues "propping up" Major League Baseball. Without the amateur players today, there would be NO POOL at all imho. They buy cues, tables, cloth, chalk, balls, pool shirts, live streams, and provide a bar/room owner with income to keep the doors open.

Without leagues, how many pool tables would they even have in a room ? Why would a bar keep tables in his place without a league? Takes up a lot of space for a few bucks per hour. How many cues would a cue maker make if their only customers were pro pool players with limited means ? Yes, the leagues provide much, but they can't also build the pro tour too :wink:

If those players went to tournaments, paid for streams, then yes, they would help a lot towards having a pro tour. There was a post a while back about how during a major league championship they have top pros in the world playing, with FREE admission and the stands were pretty much empty.

Someone also had the idea that the leagues should take a portion of the money they get in and funnel that into the pro tour, actually create one. Seems like a good idea to me, an extra $1 or 2 a night for league is what, a million dollars a week if all the league members the leagues say they have play. I think a million a week would fund a pretty good pro tour. Now THAT would be supporting pool.

The general mass of players support bars, poolrooms in a lesser extent, and some cue makers, but to me supporting and helping the sport is not that. If someone bought a baseball bat but never bought a ticket to see a live game and never watched baseball on TV, is that supporting baseball? Or did they maybe just wanted to hit a ball? Bar players know pool exists, they know that Fats and Jeanette Lee exists, beyond that, eh, not so much. Although I have to say more than half the issue is promoters. There was the women's tournament of champions event maybe an hour drive from my house, with all the stuff I look up, I had no idea it went on till someone posted results. Not one flyer in the pool rooms, not one mention on any streams, no announcement on AZB. WTH is that? Mike Sigel came to our local pool room to promote the tour. A total of 3 players showed up to meet him. Me, my son, and a friend of ours I told about it. No-one knew anything about it.

 

[Black-Balled]

View attachment 380341 your appropriately sized trophy sir

Where's Danny b at, gawdammit?

 

[Scott Lee]

Sorry, but nobody owes the pros a living, and until they pick themselves up and make themselves presentable for a public presence as a group, they won't get a dime from John Q Public. You have to create a fan base by actively pursuing the public, poolplaying or not. Not everyone plays baseball, basketball or football, but most everyone has a favorite player or two, and the majority of those professional athletes (among many other sports like golf and tennis) participate in charity events. Can anyone name the last time the "pros at large" participated en-mass in anything charity related? No? I thought so.

The reason nobody knew about the womens' "pro" event was because Dragon Promotions (Charlie Williams) don't give a crap, and only post here to self promote their events in a drive-be fashion. CW has never contributed one iota to this forum. As far as Mike the Mouth...well that speaks for itself. He's not even associated with that league any more...and it wasn't his idea to go! LOL So, when you take into account all of these things, it doesn't paint a pretty picture...and that's for us "poolplayers", let alone the public awareness.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Someone also had the idea that the leagues should take a portion of the money they get in and funnel that into the pro tour, actually create one. Seems like a good idea to me, an extra $1 or 2 a night for league is what, a million dollars a week if all the league members the leagues say they have play. I think a million a week would fund a pretty good pro tour. Now THAT would be supporting pool.

The general mass of players support bars, poolrooms in a lesser extent, and some cue makers, but to me supporting and helping the sport is not that. If someone bought a baseball bat but never bought a ticket to see a live game and never watched baseball on TV, is that supporting baseball? Or did they maybe just wanted to hit a ball? Bar players know pool exists, they know that Fats and Jeanette Lee exists, beyond that, eh, not so much. Although I have to say more than half the issue is promoters. There was the women's tournament of champions event maybe an hour drive from my house, with all the stuff I look up, I had no idea it went on till someone posted results. Not one flyer in the pool rooms, not one mention on any streams, no announcement on AZB. WTH is that? Mike Sigel came to our local pool room to promote the tour. A total of 3 players showed up to meet him. Me, my son, and a friend of ours I told about it. No-one knew anything about it.