Golden Fleece rumor

maha said:
barbox/ barpool has a big following just because it's whats in bars. and what so many learn on and play on.

also for a weaker player they get to make more balls and its more fun rather than missing so much and tight pockets.

and for the slightly better player they can get out more often as position play isn't as important as the shots are easier.
so with 4 or so balls left they have a chance of getting out where on a big table they don't as often.
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I love 9 ft. I had an Olhausen oversize 8 (8.5') but wasn't able to fit a 9' due to poles being in the way. I ended up buying a 7' Diamond as it's what the serious players here play, plus any tournament within an hour drive is generally 7'. I'm ok with it, love my table but if I ever get an extra $10-15K to have the basement reinforced and get rid of the poles, I'll probably sell it and put a 9' in it's place. After cutting my teeth this time around on that tight 8.5' (after a 12 year no pool), I'm not worried about long shots in the slightest. I think until they got used to it that it actually gave me an advantage over my buddies. Of course they are good players so after a bit of tuning in, the advantage was gone. I feel it has helped my confidence on 7' tables, there literally are no long shots. I enjoy a 7' for 8 ball but 1P is my muse... someday I'll have a 9'.
 
King T said:
Well..., I dont think your wrong, but I would say that all of the top players in the USA have access to whatever equipment thet want to play on and many of them dont work or have flexible schedules, so is it the table size that limits the number of top talent or could it be effort and discipline?
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there's no reason to play on them for most players. All leagues and most any decent paying tournament is on the bb. so, why even try them? At Magoos a few of the more hardcore pool folks are trying the big box but there are no tournaments and no leagues on them. Only 9ft action is the occasional 1p game. I could count the # of under-40 players trying out 9fts on less than two hands, probably one. Hopefully pro pool's resurgence helps but its going to take yrs. for that to happen if ever.
 
Hungarian said:
I just looked at their page. Doesn't look like a proper pool hall. Strobe lights, dancing, live music, etc. Might as well remove all the tables
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what place are you referring to? Golden Fleece? I just saw the vid you refer to. They know their crowd obviously. Few if any joints make it on just pool for poolplayers. Won't last long in most locales.
 
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skip100 said:
This is the key point. 9 foot tables nowadays set up by the tight pocket brigade are all but unplayable for casual players. And anyone is surprised they choose the bar box instead?
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Yep, get 'em started on a 'training wheels' 9ft with bigass comfort pockets. Then if they like it they can ease on over to snugger wickets. I've talked to Magoo's owner but he's not a pool guy its just a business he bought. They do keep the tables in good shape but the beautiful GC4's they have are unplayable for virtually anybody but a 625-650+FR. They just don't get it and have zero desire to set the tables up right.
 
garczar said:
there's no reason to play on them for most players. All leagues and most any decent paying tournament is on the bb. so, why even try them? At Magoos a few of the more hardcore pool folks are trying the big box but there are no tournaments and no leagues on them. Only 9ft action is the occasional 1p game. I could count the # of under-40 players trying out 9fts on less than two hands, probably one. Hopefully pro pool's resurgence helps but its going to take yrs. for that to happen if ever.
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I think more will be needed. I inquired about the APA master's division they started here in NY a while ago and asked if they play on the 9ft. They looked at me like a deer in headlights and said: why would we? Vegas is all 7ft! There needs to be a goal/reason for players to go big. Those APA and whatnot's who have their big nationals in Vegas or at SBE need to set the example: if you want to be serious, you have to go big. At least their Master's/Open divisions.
 
i play well and much rather play on 5 inch pockets where i can cheat the pocket and play position off it. and its more fun not to rattle balls hit well but not centered.
 
stewie said:
I think more will be needed. I inquired about the APA master's division they started here in NY a while ago and asked if they play on the 9ft. They looked at me like a deer in headlights and said: why would we? Vegas is all 7ft! There needs to be a goal/reason for players to go big. Those APA and whatnot's who have their big nationals in Vegas or at SBE need to set the example: if you want to be serious, you have to go big. At least their Master's/Open divisions.
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APA, BCA, TAP and Valley are all using BB Tables and thats growing the sport because anybody can play on them and feel pretty good about their game and every bar, night club and many hotels have them, lots of opportunities to play. There are no 9' table leagues and few 9' table tournaments for armatures so I dont see a path for a resurgence of the big tables nor a good reason for it?
 
garczar said:
there's no reason to play on them for most players. All leagues and most any decent paying tournament is on the bb. so, why even try them? At Magoos a few of the more hardcore pool folks are trying the big box but there are no tournaments and no leagues on them. Only 9ft action is the occasional 1p game. I could count the # of under-40 players trying out 9fts on less than two hands, probably one. Hopefully pro pool's resurgence helps but its going to take yrs. for that to happen if ever.
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I always loved Magoos, James Walden and Fat Randy were unbeatable at one time and the place was a gold mine for Action.., but I know lots of players in Texas that have 9' tables at home a still play real sporty on the BB or 8footers. I just think we're all going to have to make the adjustment as uncomfortable as it might be and it is uncomfortable.
 
Didn't svb and sky both grow up playing on bb's? Thought I read that somewhere.

Regardless, It does not take a 9 foot table to develop a world class stroke...not in Today's world of super fast cloth. Used to be, 3 or 4 rail position took a real wallop. On today's cloth, the challenge more often than not is over running position on softly hit shots.

I agree with gar that time and effort are required transitioning that stroke from 7 to 9 ft. But someone who is elite on the 7 footer can become elite on the 9ft, I reckon. Just takes the time/effort investment...

I am excited about the future of American pool, and not quite ready to put the final nail in the coffin.
 
King T said:
I always loved Magoos, James Walden and Fat Randy were unbeatable at one time and the place was a gold mine for Action.., but I know lots of players in Texas that have 9' tables at home a still play real sporty on the BB or 8footers. I just think we're all going to have to make the adjustment as uncomfortable as it might be and it is uncomfortable.
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Actually the action was at Jim's other joint, The Billiard Palace. 24hr non-stop gamble-thon. It started at the original Palace at 12th&Harvard and they expanded to the big Palace at 21st&Memorial. From about '87 to '07 it was one of THE top action places in the country. Magoo's was/is more of a sports-bar with tables. since the Palace closed its the action spot but not much action at all these days.
 
King T said:
APA, BCA, TAP and Valley are all using BB Tables and thats growing the sport because anybody can play on them and feel pretty good about their game and every bar, night club and many hotels have them, lots of opportunities to play. There are no 9' table leagues and few 9' table tournaments for armatures so I dont see a path for a resurgence of the big tables nor a good reason for it?
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agree. Only thing that might help is pro pool getting back on track. Maybe some younger players will want to get better on the big box. Its gonna be a long uphill battle getting folks on the big tables.
 
What you all forget is there is no more ABC Wide World of Sports highlighting this or that tournament every weekend or so .
And how else will you captivate a new audience well U Tube is there however there's other videos to capture their imagination and eye .
This is just the ramblings of a older guy who just loves playing pool ha ha

I've got 3 grandsons interested in playing pool if we lived closer I'd do my best to get them playing in the youth division of the Montana State Games a mini Olympics if you would .
 
stewie said:
I think more will be needed. I inquired about the APA master's division they started here in NY a while ago and asked if they play on the 9ft. They looked at me like a deer in headlights and said: why would we? Vegas is all 7ft! There needs to be a goal/reason for players to go big. Those APA and whatnot's who have their big nationals in Vegas or at SBE need to set the example: if you want to be serious, you have to go big. At least their Master's/Open divisions.
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I don't see any of the big league op's going to 9fts. No incentive to do so.
 
golden fleece was a great pool players pool room many years back. changed and moved lost its dedicated crowd.

sign of the times. the new breed want something different and that is where pool will go. music, streaming, small tables, leagues, etc.
 
garczar said:
Actually the action was at Jim's other joint, The Billiard Palace. 24hr non-stop gamble-thon. It started at the original Palace at 12th&Harvard and they expanded to the big Palace at 21st&Memorial. From about '87 to '07 it was one of THE top action places in the country. Magoo's was/is more of a sports-bar with tables. since the Palace closed its the action spot but not much action at all these days.
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I'd have to say it was awesome. They had some serious foos-ball players there too. I went there once in roughly 1993 with Little Eddie, JJ, and a couple others from Houston. We formed a little corporation to try and play Matlock. Didn't go down though.

On my second trip we went up there to buy some gold crowns from TBC. On the way back we stopped to check out Magoo's. IIRC I liked Magoo's better back then because it felt very low key and the lighting gave off a cool blue vibe.
 
Rusty in Montana said:
Garczar , I'd greatly enjoy playing on those tighter pocket tables you mention , forgive my ignorance but where's Magoo's located ?
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Tulsa, Ok. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=Magoo's 10 GC4's, 1 ProAm and 2 Pro's. 10 Diamond bb's, 6 Valley's and a 10' B'wick Royale golf table with TINY pockets. Full bar, food, huge pinball area up front. Kids allowed with parents during the day. Not sure about night. Pretty nice spot. Day rates are dirt cheap.
 
Yep looks like the big tables are going the way of the billiard and snooker tables I used to see in our local room
 
rusty, get a kids league started in Dillon if in the bars in the afternoons when they are not busy.. kids are allowed in bars in montana. other towns will follow. or kids tournaments with a blind partners draw so the better ones are not hogging it all.
 
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