Favorite form of competition?

[SeniorTom]

Everybody plays pool because they like to compete on some sort of level even if it is just casually with friends, all the way up to and including betting big money. Different league play organizations and different types of games are all involved. The size of table even dictates one's personal desires for the game of Billiards. What are your favorite parameters for playing pool? is it just casual With Friends? what types of leagues, or betting big money? etc?

 

[JABSolstice]

I play a lot of local tournaments, just finished my first league session in 12 years, and play with friends. Lately, the most fun I've had is just hanging with a group of random people in a bar shooting for 5 or 6 hours. I enjoy just playing, whether it be for money, competition, or just for fun. It's hard to pick just one...for me.

 

[briankenobi]

I like playing ring games with my friends. We don't play for anything too high so no one looses a rent payment or anything. You still can make a some money though. I like playing tournaments as well. Obviously my favorite conditions are an artistic pool tournament on a 9ft table.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Everybody plays pool because they like to compete on some sort of level even if it is just casually with friends,

I actually enjoy just watching the physics transpire on the table--even newbies banging balls.
So, not Everyone.

all the way up to and including betting big money.

Betting is for the 20% of people who will never go anywhere--but want to believe that sooner or later they, too, will be in that rarified 1% income bracket. A recent survey indicates that something like 40% of adults think they will be in that rarified 1% at some point in their career. Yet only 3% make it.

 

[Jimmorrison]

Round robin, race to one, no assholes, enough tables so no waiting. Lots of interaction and lots of pool. I’m starting to hate the big weekend events, way too much downtime.

 

[alphadog]

5 & 9 Ring games with 4 or 5 players.
Captains 1 pocket.

 

[skiergd011013]

Ive always enjoyed scotch doubles. Four of us played yesterday, two matches, each a race to 8, $20 a person each match. We are all apa 7's. Me and my partner lost the 1st, and won the 2nd. So it was a good night, and everyone went home even and happy. I like playing for a little bit of $, but not so much where it encourages fights, or anyones losing a lot of $

 

[ChrisinNC]

Everybody plays pool because they like to compete on some sort of level even if it is just casually with friends, all the way up to and including betting big money. Different league play organizations and different types of games are all involved. The size of table even dictates one's personal desires for the game of Billiards. What are your favorite parameters for playing pool? is it just casual With Friends? what types of leagues, or betting big money? etc?

A $ session playing multiple sets for 4-6 hours against an evenly matched opponent that I’ve played with before is hard to beat.

Of course a $ session against an unknown player provides quite a rush - Neither player knows what speed the other one plays.

Scotch doubles with four relatively evenly matched players is a lot of fun. Of course it sucks if you let down your partner or they let you down but that’s scotch doubles. Don’t play it if you don’t want to risk letting down your partner or play with a partner that lets you down.

Tournaments are also nice, but the wait between matches makes it hard to get in stroke for an older player like myself.

 

[The_JV]

I've only done one long race match, but it was spread over a few days. Have to say I really enjoyed it. Not only because I won but because it removed the potential excuses of the "bad day"... You got the opportunity to alter game plans and shake off bad mojo.

I used to love tournaments, but I find more often than not that there are poorly ran these days and take waaaay too long. My last big one decided to stretch the player max and it made day 1 go until 4am. Of course if you had the endurance to make it through that b-side to Sunday you were back at it at 9am. My fault for losing on the first day I suppose...lol

 

[chuckg]

I am 67 so the odds are my game will never get any better than it is now . I would guess from what I have seen I could still compete with most APA 9s... Fargo 500 maybe . I mostly play at a senior center 9 or 10.ball . We have lots of ring games but no gambling . I really have no interest in playing in tournaments ,way too much down time , afraid my geritol would run out between matches . My only beef with the senior ctr is the lack of good players...ie I played a race to 9 in 10 ball . I gave my opponent the breaks and the last 2 , I won 9 to 2 . His wins were because I hung the 10 twice .There is one regular who is pretty decent and I met a local who is a bit better so I can go to his place when I get a big head and need to be humbled . Hope to play this wonderful game for many more years .

Chuck

 

[tomatoshooter]

On a good day, I like a challenge table. It's fun when you beat everybody and face the same person again.

It can also be a lot of fun to just play different games with the same person.

My least favorite is single game tournaments. To me playing a single game of pool is like playing a single hand of poker.

Captains 1 pocket

What is that?

 

[bbb]

Captains 1 pocket.

What is that?

for me its 3 players playing one pocket
2 against 1
the 1 is the captain
the 2 alternate shots
jmho
icbw

 

[alphadog]

Captains 1 pocket is 1 player against the other 2. We usually play it scotch meaning the partners alternate every shot. Captain is different every game. Captain breaks. Coaching is allowed so it is a great learning opportunity.
Can be played 4 player where partners rotate till all have played together.

Can be handicapped like any single game

 

[tomatoshooter]

for me its 3 players playing one pocket
2 against 1
the 1 is the captain
the 2 alternate shots
jmho
icbw

I don't know how it would be adapted to pool, but in tennis, there's a game for three where the single player serves and his into the doubles court, and the other two have to hit into the singles court. The server gets two points for a win or the pair each get one point, and then people switch positions. It actually plays pretty well.

 

[RT Ford]

I get a lot of enjoyment playing kids that are learning the game. Usually 9 ball or 8 ball. It fun teaching them the fundamentals and watching their reactions when they accomplish something new.