Buddy Hall made $85,000 in 1982

[maha]

100 grand may seem like plenty to someone working in a lower bracket and doesnt have much in expenses. but it rarely will enable you to have a big nest egg when you retire without investing alot of it and or having something else going for you to make more.

almost 100 percent of all pool players present or past will retire near the poverty level at least in the u.s. or be mostly broke throughout their career.
the only ones that survived where smart ones that made money in business.

 

[Matt_24]

I remember attending several CAMEL PRO TOUR events through the early-mid 90s at JOBS in Nashville, TN. I saw Ralf Souquet win one. I remember getting an autograph from Jose Parica for a friend of mine who was too shy to ask. I could have cared less to ask, and he was super cool and just smiled and signed it. I remember once, before an event, a young Johnny Archer and Tony Ellin came in to JOBS, down into the big room, both wearing Nike track suits, Air Jordans, and big gold chains. As a young teenager from a lower middle class side of town, I was a bit mesmorized by them. But, the first time I saw Buddy play a match there, in person, watching closely how he addressed the cue ball (meaning, the precision with which he placed his tip near the cue ball during his aiming process), my game jumped two balls after I went back to my pool room (Snookers in Antioch near Hickory Hollow mall) to try and replicate what I saw.

 

[gregcantrall]

This was a while ago but the Grisham book (I think) said Buddy never beat Dan Louie

Hard to think of anyone that could beat Dan Louie back in the day. I had the pleasure of watching some incredible performances by Danny.

 

[garczar]

I remember attending several CAMEL PRO TOUR events through the early-mid 90s at JOBS in Nashville, TN. I saw Ralf Souquet win one. I remember getting an autograph from Jose Parica for a friend of mine who was too shy to ask. I could have cared less to ask, and he was super cool and just smiled and signed it. I remember once, before an event, a young Johnny Archer and Tony Ellin came in to JOBS, down into the big room, both wearing Nike track suits, Air Jordans, and big gold chains. As a young teenager from a lower middle class side of town, I was a bit mesmorized by them. But, the first time I saw Buddy play a match there, in person, watching closely how he addressed the cue ball (meaning, the precision with which he placed his tip near the cue ball during his aiming process), my game jumped two balls after I went back to my pool room (Snookers in Antioch near Hickory Hollow mall) to try and replicate what I saw.

Yep, i was lucky to meet Buddy really early in my pool journey. He shortened my learning curve big time just sweatin his play. If i asked him a quest he'd always come with good info.

 

[gregcantrall]

He was a runout machine

I recall a story of him jumping and running from a moving car. Kinda a rough life style.

 

[u12armresl]

Who is this Billy Hill you guys keep talking about?

 

[Mensabum]

Just a phrase used for anyone out front pushing other's stuff. I know exactly what the term means.

Common hall vernacular back in the day. We used many deragatory and debasing terms, not meant literally. Oftentimes with deep respect and admiration. Diff crowd, diff time.

 

[jay helfert]

I’ve never heard this. I know Rempe won several in a row, and I know Sigel won several in a row. But never heard Buddy winning several majors in a row. @jay helfert

Nope! He may have won several bar tournaments in a row quite a few times. He dominated on them for many years.

Buddy may have more tournaments overall than any other player. You can believe that.

 

[maha]

Motel 6 was $19.99 in 1982. No pool player was staying in anything nicer than that,

motel 6 was called that. as what it cost for many years till inflation made the raise it.

 

[JohnnyOzone]

Both Sigel and Varner won over $100k USD in a single year for tournament winnings in the late 80’s. The 100th ranked golfer at the time also had won over $100K USD in those years as well.

The #136 ranked PGA Tour player last year won over a million $.
But they typically have approx. 10 - 20 grand per week in expenses. The top guys might average 50K / week in expenses.

 

[Cornerman]

The #136 ranked PGA Tour player last year won over a million $.
But they typically have approx. 10 - 20 grand per week in expenses. The top guys might average 50K / week in expenses.

Correct the gap has only gotten bigger. My post was about the late 1980’s

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

While $85,000 does seem like a good amount in 1982, the cost-benefit ratio of professional pool is brutal when it comes to profit. Back then, most traveled the American pool tournament trail, but lodging, airfare, gas, food, living out of a suitcase, it adds up. Cost of gas was $1.28 a gallon in 1982. Average cost of a hotel room was $58 a night. A pack of cigarettes cost $1.20 in 1982. If a player got sick, however, most did not have medical insurance, an unknown cost.

Today's professional pro must travel an international pool trail to turn a profit. I cannot imagine the expenses involved to attend two, three, and four tournaments around the world on a regular basis.

My personal opinion is 50 percent of earnings per annum in professional pool cover expenses for that year because only a minute few—Shane, Joshua, Kaci, Fedor come to mind—are capable to win, place, and show in all tournaments. For an aspiring pro to keep up with the "regulars" on the professional tournament trail, the costs are heavy.

I'd be interested to hear other views on this topic.

Hi, those top Pros that you referred to have big corporate sponsorship deals though, who I assume cover at least some of their expenses. Cuetec might possibly cover all of SVB travel expenses, right? I do not know though.

I assume that Buddy Hall had some sort of a sponsorship deal back in 82, who helped with his expenses, at least some, if he helped them sell cues, for example.

I wonder if your long time partner Keith McCready had sponsorship deals. I assume he did, if he was one of the most feared players in the game, back in the 80's.

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

sponsor backing is different today, it seems to me players are much better off in that regard. some players are pretty savvy with social media too, the ko brothers and yapp were early adapters. it's still not a cake walk, but i think they're better off

Oh yeah, I believe the top Asian pros are very well off, due to sponsorship deals. Because Pool is so huge in Asia. I mean like, China, Taiwan, and South Korea.