Jam, 999's is OK place. I do have to say..... the tables . .. not great imo. I actually don't even know what kind they are other than full size lol. They have been there since at least when I was a kid. In the afternoons it's usually a packed house with all table full, but I'm sure someone would give you and Keith their table. They also have edible food if you get hungry. You will run into some old friends too that hang there - Bo Newport, Reggie just to na,email a few. Not sure exactly what yall looking for; but if I didn't need a bar and the choice was between Tip hat or 9's it would be Top Hat every time. Btw, Cigar Tom has started working back at Top Hat again.
It's a good place for a fun and sometimes frustrating Saturday tournament. They generally have over 30 players in the field and its running on only 8 tables concurrent with a smaller tournament for APA SL 5 and lower on the same tables. So expect to cool down due to a nice wait between matches...
...but the company there is good. Met a lot of good players and nice people since hanging out there. Made some cool friends.
As for the tables, They have 1 Black Gold Crown 4, 1 Gold Crown 3, and the rest are Brunswick Century 9 foot tables. They have a few Valley boxes up in the front in the bar area. The gold crowns play right. The Centurys, not so much. Pockets are cut funny. From the middle of the table you have all the room in the world in the hole, from the rail, the pockets are cut open with the deep shelf, the ball hangs very easy. Plus the Centruys site about 2 inches lower then most tables I have played on. Doesn't sound like much, and it isn't, but it definitely takes some adjusting, especially when down on the long straights.
Another small issue I have is the lack of consistent equipment. Like I said, they use 8 tables for the tournmanet and 2 are gold crowns they play well at regular height. The other 6 are the Centurys that sit lower. All have different grades of cloth. Some play fast, others play like my front lawn. The ball sets are mix matches and it's tough to get a good rack sometimes ad they also use different cueballs per table. One table you might get a red circle, next table you might get one with the green aramith logo, next table to get the heavy ass red dot that is hard as shit to draw accurately adn wont stop rolling on a follow shot.
The guys that run the tournament do the best they can with what they have to work with in regards to the few tables. I know some people have had a problem with them, but I havent. Left my jump cue there one week and wone of them picked it up afor me and held it until the following week. Good people as far as I'm concerned.
With all the being said, and knowing what to expect when you go there, it is a fun tournament. Race to 3 Loser break. 8ball in winners side, 9ball on losers side. Rack your own if you want too. BCA rules, 8 on snap doesnt count. 9ball side tex express with no 3 foul rule. It's the only regular 9 foot tournament around since Big Daddy's went south and it gives you something fun to do on a Saturday night if you dont have much else going on. Can get a tough field, but race to 3 and loser breaks still makes it interesting. Hacks like myself can get lucky here and there.
I used to go to the tournament weekly, but im gonna make it monthly instead and just go shoot at Top Hat instead for the other Saturdays of the month. They just added a nice bar with a good kitchen menu. All gold crown 3s that play great with some really tight ones up front (Tables, 2, 3, 10, and 11).
Top Hat is probably one of the best poolhall in the state. Upscale and clean. Good people, always find some action, especially in 1 hole and I'm sure you and Keith know a few people that are the regulars there. other then myself of course
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