Which city is the best in the world for pool in 2024?

[1000BallRunner]

First post!

I am a new player, but have fallen in love with the game in the past year. I am based in NYC, where there is a ton of opportunities to play. Between the leagues at the big halls in manhattan - Amsterdam Billiards, Society, New York Cue Club - as well as a plethora of bars with tables that host their sets of locals that are looking to battle - there is no shortage of games. From my apartment, I am within 20 minutes of the 3 clubs I mentioned above, and am walking distance from about 6 bars where there is always a game. There is also a ton of great bars throughout the city, and some great halls in brooklyn. We also are close to some good rooms in jersey, upsate, and LI. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the NYC community. Based on my experience of being able to walk to so many places, and have great halls close by, I cant think of a better city to be a pool player. However, I wanted to get others perspective on the subject. Where are other great cities? One con about nyc is it seems tough at times to get action. but thats just my experience playing consistently for less than a year.

 

[easy-e]

First post!

I am a new player, but have fallen in love with the game in the past year. I am based in NYC, where there is a ton of opportunities to play. Between the leagues at the big halls in manhattan - Amsterdam Billiards, Society, New York Cue Club - as well as a plethora of bars with tables that host their sets of locals that are looking to battle - there is no shortage of games. From my apartment, I am within 20 minutes of the 3 clubs I mentioned above, and am walking distance from about 6 bars where there is always a game. There is also a ton of great bars throughout the city, and some great halls in brooklyn. We also are close to some good rooms in jersey, upsate, and LI. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the NYC community. Based on my experience of being able to walk to so many places, and have great halls close by, I cant think of a better city to be a pool player. However, I wanted to get others perspective on the subject. Where are other great cities? One con about nyc is it seems tough at times to get action. but thats just my experience playing consistently for less than a year.

Phoenix is pool heaven if you're under 600 fargo. You can play in tournaments every day of the week and plenty of action. Just don't play too well!

 

[The Old Jaybird]

Albuquerque used to be pretty strong 25 years ago or so.

 

[Cuebuddy]

Denver seems to have a fair amount of bigger rooms and a lot of midsize rooms too.
Many choices and plenty of great players to kick my butt.

 

[JoeyInCali]

Manila, Saigon, Jakarta , Dubai, Shanghai... lol Take your pick.

 

[Flakeandrun]

Manila, Saigon, Jakarta , Dubai, Shanghai... lol Take your pick.

I heard Vietnam is decent in a few cities - HCMC, Danang, Saigon - will report back after my upcoming holiday
Shanghai, especially over the last 5 years has gone back to being a powerhouse
My friend just came back from working in Dubai, he said there's a couple of mega halls, but annoying to get to, and not much in the way of smaller stuff

Interested to see which other places come up on this thread!

 

[maha]

the best for what?
to make money
to play in leagues
for tournaments
for numerous pool rooms

 

[jtompilot]

the best for what?
to make money
to play in leagues
for tournaments
for numerous pool rooms

9/10 ball
8 ball
1P
14.1

 

[King T]

First post!

I am a new player, but have fallen in love with the game in the past year. I am based in NYC, where there is a ton of opportunities to play. Between the leagues at the big halls in manhattan - Amsterdam Billiards, Society, New York Cue Club - as well as a plethora of bars with tables that host their sets of locals that are looking to battle - there is no shortage of games. From my apartment, I am within 20 minutes of the 3 clubs I mentioned above, and am walking distance from about 6 bars where there is always a game. There is also a ton of great bars throughout the city, and some great halls in brooklyn. We also are close to some good rooms in jersey, upsate, and LI. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the NYC community. Based on my experience of being able to walk to so many places, and have great halls close by, I cant think of a better city to be a pool player. However, I wanted to get others perspective on the subject. Where are other great cities? One con about nyc is it seems tough at times to get action. but thats just my experience playing consistently for less than a year.

Its Houston Texas, more Pool halls then any city, tournaments everyday, league play in almost every place and Action always.

 

[Amaury]

hmmmm there is a Swiss blogger that goes every where in the world to play carom / three cushion, and reviews citys and their pool hall. I can't remember his name... And I think he sometimes talks about pool.

edit: I remember his name now, it's Xavier Gretillat https://xaviergretillat.com/billards-on-the-road/ but that's not on pool, only carom. Anyway, that's a great read

 

[garczar]

no offense but i seriously doubt that there is ANY definite answer to this. Houston has good rooms as does Kansas City. No clue as to around the world.

 

[kingwang]

Unlikely it's an American city IMO. Pool just isn't popular enough here compared to Asia. Some of those pool halls in southeast Asia look absolutely bonkers by American standards.

 

[ctyhntr]

First post!

I am a new player, but have fallen in love with the game in the past year. I am based in NYC, where there is a ton of opportunities to play. Between the leagues at the big halls in manhattan - Amsterdam Billiards, Society, New York Cue Club - as well as a plethora of bars with tables that host their sets of locals that are looking to battle - there is no shortage of games. From my apartment, I am within 20 minutes of the 3 clubs I mentioned above, and am walking distance from about 6 bars where there is always a game. There is also a ton of great bars throughout the city, and some great halls in brooklyn. We also are close to some good rooms in jersey, upsate, and LI. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the NYC community. Based on my experience of being able to walk to so many places, and have great halls close by, I cant think of a better city to be a pool player. However, I wanted to get others perspective on the subject. Where are other great cities? One con about nyc is it seems tough at times to get action. but thats just my experience playing consistently for less than a year.

If you're looking for action, you need to go out to Queens; Masters/Steinway crowd. Steinway is closed, so most of the crowd is now over at Carom and Cue Bar. If you don't have a car, Cue Bar is very easy to get to by LIRR.

 

[iusedtoberich]

Its got to be somewhere in the Philippines.

 

[mjantti]

Probably Taipei.

 

[straightline]

Probably Taipei.

No Taipbi or Taipsi though.

 

[jtompilot]

First post!

I am a new player, but have fallen in love with the game in the past year. I am based in NYC, where there is a ton of opportunities to play. Between the leagues at the big halls in manhattan - Amsterdam Billiards, Society, New York Cue Club - as well as a plethora of bars with tables that host their sets of locals that are looking to battle - there is no shortage of games. From my apartment, I am within 20 minutes of the 3 clubs I mentioned above, and am walking distance from about 6 bars where there is always a game. There is also a ton of great bars throughout the city, and some great halls in brooklyn. We also are close to some good rooms in jersey, upsate, and LI. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the NYC community. Based on my experience of being able to walk to so many places, and have great halls close by, I cant think of a better city to be a pool player. However, I wanted to get others perspective on the subject. Where are other great cities? One con about nyc is it seems tough at times to get action. but thats just my experience playing consistently for less than a year.

I've had better luck at Skyline than anywhere in Manhattan. I don't do bar action so you're on your own there. Both Skyline and Gotham City have impressive day rate specials that make playing pool affordable.

 

[kollegedave]

First post!

I am a new player, but have fallen in love with the game in the past year. I am based in NYC, where there is a ton of opportunities to play. Between the leagues at the big halls in manhattan - Amsterdam Billiards, Society, New York Cue Club - as well as a plethora of bars with tables that host their sets of locals that are looking to battle - there is no shortage of games. From my apartment, I am within 20 minutes of the 3 clubs I mentioned above, and am walking distance from about 6 bars where there is always a game. There is also a ton of great bars throughout the city, and some great halls in brooklyn. We also are close to some good rooms in jersey, upsate, and LI. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the NYC community. Based on my experience of being able to walk to so many places, and have great halls close by, I cant think of a better city to be a pool player. However, I wanted to get others perspective on the subject. Where are other great cities? One con about nyc is it seems tough at times to get action. but thats just my experience playing consistently for less than a year.

Offering people advice when they are not asking for it…is…bordering on rude. However, it is somewhat less rude where the advice offeror believes they are offering something of value that maybe they realized too late or was hard won. So 1000BallRunner, I offer you my unsolicited advice…

Early in my pool journey better players would always tell me that I need to play better players. I thought, “Of course they are saying that; they want to separate me from what little money I have.” Maybe my suspicion was true or maybe they were sincere. However, after 30 years of playing pool I am of the opinion that there is no better vehicle to drive improvement than time at the table with a better player.

Of course, as you improve it becomes harder to find better players. However, in New York (or similar communities however rare) players of all skill levels abound. If your goal is to improve as a pool player; make a budget. Have an amount of money that is “action” money. Find a player that plays a little better than you. Make a fair-ish game (ideally slightly in their favor) and play. Once you play even with or win; its onto the next player. Rinse and repeat.

Like all of us, I have had some opportunities and some challenges with regard to my skill development in pool. One great opportunity I have had is that I have been able to play advanced amateur players (650 – 700) for free and low stakes. Both are great, but if I could do it over again, I would easily pick low stakes over free.

When bad decisions cost money; they hit harder and you learn faster. I would humbly suggest that if you want to get good at pool, you are living in a good place for it.

kollegedave

 

[1000BallRunner]

no offense but i seriously doubt that there is ANY definite answer to this. Houston has good rooms as does Kansas City. No clue as to around the world.

Never said there was a definitive answer- was looking to hear other perspectives on other great places to play. Houston and KC seem like the big winners in the USA! I need to visit

 

[garczar]

Never said there was a definitive answer- was looking to hear other perspectives on other great places to play. Houston and KC seem like the big winners in the USA! I need to visit

You asked which 'CITY' which implies ONE location thus the word 'definitive' and my reply. Bunch of good cities but not one that just rules over all. As far as action goes right now its New Orleans hands down. BTW, your first post reads like it was done by AI, is this another justnum account????