I said show me a picture of him with it....and he's Euro so it don't count. Any guy that will wear skinny jeans can't be taken seriously.
Bemoaning the rise of the bar box
- Thread starter jalapus logan
- Start date
I said show me a picture of him with it....and he's Euro so it don't count. Any guy that will wear skinny jeans can't be taken seriously.
claw
Chalk holders no, but having a claw saved my expensive cues from hitting the floor many times especially in areas where you don't have tons of space.
Chalk holders no, but having a claw saved my expensive cues from hitting the floor many times especially in areas where you don't have tons of space.
Pool is and has always been, at least as long as I've been around it, a sport for b.i.t.c.h.e.r.s. If it wasn't the barbox, it would be something else. If it wasn't the mean old promoters, it would be something else. If it wasn't the "awful" rails on the Diamond tables, it would be something else.....etc. :shakehead:
It feels like finding English pool tables around (East) London is becoming harder and harder though...maybe we have the reverse problem to the US!
Tough to find pool tables in pubs these days, really wasn't that long ago that there were loads of them - but many pool, or even snooker, clubs in England have at least one American pool table.
Yeah near me (East London), I play American pool at Mile End and English pool at Kings Cross (not that I play that much these days)!
I think there may be somewhere in Leyton too, but it possibly just has snooker tables (not sure).
As for pubs...as you say a bit of black hole...I can only presume the costs don't make sense to them anymore, which seems odd as it seems like additional revenue, but maybe operators make more from an extra table and chairs!
I'm convinced that pool should be free in pubs (in the UK, US and countries with broadly similar cultures), When you go elsewhere and see free pool tables being used all night long winner stays with everyone drinking along - then it makes no sense to have a table sitting there waiting for some change. Been in suburban (pretty much no tables now in central London bars) pubs where a table has just been sitting there and me and my mate just carry on having a pint or two at the bar and then move on somewhere else. A quid or whatever a game isn't the issue, it's the fact that they want us to pay to play a game that could be over in a minute and wants to be fed money. Make it free and we'd be playing game after game for an hour and then someone would stick their name up and .......
Makes sense maybe to stick a table and chairs in in a pub that trades well on food and sells a lot of "gastropub" meals but in a predominantly drinking place having a table sitting there doing nothing makes my brain struggle.
The pool club I play in has 18 nine foot GCs. It's heaven! It's a sports bar/restaurant in a suburb of Chicago and has several leagues and understands that a pure pool hall can't survive! A few days ago I participated in the Illinois state tournament and yes 7' Valleys. I soon discovered that even if you have a bad stroke, overall bad mechanics, and are clueless, you can compete at least for a while provided it's a bar box! I don't want to appear as anal as I am but seriously a 7' pool table! I recently heard that competitive poker is the main root cause for pool slowing down!! I only pray that a purple dragon will appear from the sky and burn all 7' tables and restore the game to it's prominence!!
how long
So how long has this room been open? It also has a bar and food. I would dare say that's whats paying the bills.
So how long has this room been open? It also has a bar and food. I would dare say that's whats paying the bills.
.............................................................................................
"I don't buy in to the fading away of quality pool rooms."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So where have you been for the past 10 years?
Dale
My table, along with two buddies of mine have the only 9 footers around that I know of. I suppose you must count the 4 junk furniture grade tables at our lone remaining pool hall if you wish. They technically fit the size, but their quality and playability are to be avoided.
I'm trying to stir up some action in private homes these days. And why not? The alternative is playing on junk equipment.
Last edited:
Banks
Banned
Around here, if you offer free play, many times you get people with a budget to match. I deal with a bunch of bars and some get rough treatment without being free. Maybe it would be different if they were just cheap tables and crappy equipment. Personally, id rather pay a few bucks and play on something worth a damn.
Agree. I've got money and will pay if offered up decent equipment. I had no idea that I was basking in the lap of luxury when The Rack Club was still going years ago. They had older 9 foot Diamonds and Gold Crowns. I am just sad that the reality was that it was the best our area was destined to get.
I probably should not have even mentioned bar boxes at all on this forum. I should have just starting mourning the disappearance of 9 foot tables period. Like I said at the beginning, pool just ain't as much fun on smaller tables to me. If that is where the game is headed, then count me out. I have tried adjusting my attitude towards bar tables, but the result is that it is just not that enjoyable. Guess its time to move on to other pastimes. I'll always strive to improve my game, but I'll do it on my terms. I guess that for me that means playing in my basement, buddies homes, and the occasional sojourn the the DCC.
The truth hurts, but I remember the thrill of all those battles on the big track back then. I got to play Dick Weaver, Larry Price and more. I got to sweat some great high dollar action from road warriors like Kid Delicious, Cecil Tugwell, Eric Durbin just to name a few. I guess I'm begrudginly acknowledging that those days are gone and are not going to return. And that sucks.
I'm more fortunate than most I guess. There are 4 poolrooms within a 45 minute drive from my house. 2 are 20 minutes. I have access to many nine footers. Went to a room the other day to practice for the Expo on a diamond 7 footer and really did not enjoy it much. If it wasn't for the Expo I would never play on a 7 footer. Pool for me is on a nine footer. Period.
Around 10 years. It has a very big league on Thursdays, 16 teams... and they spend money well. It's $15 to play in league on Thursdays, the house gets $4 of that 15 for the use of the tables for the night since every table is tied up. But each team gets it's own table, and you play free before league and after league till closing. Plus, drinks and food. Oh, they have the best PIZZA in the area......
They also have a nice league on Mondays, plus they have some tourneys on Fridays, and give FREE pool time to any league player if tables are open. Well, guess where most folks go to practice who then spend money on beer and food
They have a good catering service, this is more like a restaurant, that also happens to have a bar area with poker machines, and a GREAT pool room. It's 3 things wrapped into one. It's a big place.... The Midwest Cue show is held there.
The best pool hall in the Chicago area, hands down. Now, Red Shoes is the BEST action pool room in the Chicago Area, and Chris' Pool Room is the most iconic. Three great rooms, just they have different strong points
Last edited:
As I suspected.
As I suspected a real expensive way to get in the food and drink business.
Around 10 years. It has a very big league on Thursdays, 16 teams... and they spend money well. It's $15 to play in league on Thursdays, the house gets $4 of that 15 for the use of the tables for the night since every table is tied up. But each team gets it's own table, and you play free before league and after league till closing. Plus, drinks and food. Oh, they have the best PIZZA in the area......
They also have a nice league on Mondays, plus they have some tourneys on Fridays, and give FREE pool time to any league player if tables are open. Well, guess where most folks go to practice who then spend money on beer and food
They have a good catering service, this is more like a restaurant, that also happens to have a bar area with poker machines, and a GREAT pool room. It's 3 things wrapped into one. It's a big place.... The Midwest Cue show is held there.
As I suspected a real expensive way to get in the food and drink business.
I think bar tables are fine for most amateurs. However, pro tournaments should almost never be played on bar tables. It isn't challenging enough for them. For example, it is sad that the US Open 10 ball and 8 ball are now played a bar tables. It makes me a lot less interested in those tournaments.
Back to my original point though- bar tables are plenty difficult for most amateurs especially if the pockets are made tighter. I have a 7 footer in my garage that has 4 inch pockets- you cannot fit two balls in the pockets. I bet most players would find it challenging enough to play on. Sure, the top pros in the world would make it look like a joke- but it would plenty challenging for most players.
Back to my original point though- bar tables are plenty difficult for most amateurs especially if the pockets are made tighter. I have a 7 footer in my garage that has 4 inch pockets- you cannot fit two balls in the pockets. I bet most players would find it challenging enough to play on. Sure, the top pros in the world would make it look like a joke- but it would plenty challenging for most players.
yeah, it would be much better if they left the tables unattended with no guests coming in to spend money on good food and nice beer selection. Can't really blame them for pool's problems....
They get paid for the tables on league nights, and anyone that is NOT in the league has to pay. They give free tables to league players....keeps them coming in a lot more often