What if pool was still played on 10 footers? What if the table bed was higher, like in the old days and the game to play was still straightpool? I wonder if I would still be playing as much pool as before, or if I'd have to take long breaks from the game every couple of years like I do now?
I'm playing a lot of snooker at the moment, at a private club. The tables are beautifully maintained by all the members, the cloths are match cloths the balls are the best around. Even the house cues are fantastic. Best of all, I havent been hit by a flying cueball since I started there. There is no shouting, very little cursing, people compliment you on your shots and root for you to make big breaks. The game is quiet, thoughtful and elegant. No jumping, no power breaks just soft and medium kicks and soft, delicate shots. The occational power shot is so well hit, it doesn't really stand out in sound or appearance. No flying cues, slamming triangles, gimmicky plastick sheets on the tables... The table is brushed and blocked after every session and is always perfect when you arrive. It's heaven for the serious player.
Then I made the mistake of going back to my (very serious) pool hall. Practising 14.1 in the corner of a near empty hall, naturally a good player picks the table next to mine and dumps his ball tray from 2 feet in the air onto the surface. Then he starts practising his break, jumping off the table every other break, screaming profanities every time. I actually don't really object to swearing morally, I just get so sick of it. Please expand your vocabulary if you're going to commentate every shot. This was actually a very accomplished player, yet his cueball spent more time on the ground than on the surface. Then the jump practise started....I've spent an ungodly amount of time practising my jump shots, but I can't remember jumping off the table quite so much. Nor did I have a tip that sounded like glass breaking. Naturally I'd always seek out the corners furthest away from others when doing this. It should be common sense. I much prefer a noisy bar to this kind of disturbance, and this was one guy in a huge pool hall. When the hall is full it's ten times worse. Pool has probably always been like this, it's just that I changed. It's ok, I don't have to go there, but I wonder why I loved this so much before. I loved jump shots, it was my favourite shot in the whole world. I guess I got middle aged.
Having changed with age, I wonder what it would be like if pool changed to what I'd prefer it to be like now. I know it will never happen but I dream of a quiet hall of large, tall tables with a quiet, meditative atmosphere, clean cloth and balls. And the quiet sounds of 14.1 and maybe one pocket. Maybe that would just be a small separate department, and the rest of the hall could be dedicated to the "noisy" games? Would more people enjoy it, or fewer? Would the quality of the peoples experience be enhanced overall, no matter what their preference?
I'm playing a lot of snooker at the moment, at a private club. The tables are beautifully maintained by all the members, the cloths are match cloths the balls are the best around. Even the house cues are fantastic. Best of all, I havent been hit by a flying cueball since I started there. There is no shouting, very little cursing, people compliment you on your shots and root for you to make big breaks. The game is quiet, thoughtful and elegant. No jumping, no power breaks just soft and medium kicks and soft, delicate shots. The occational power shot is so well hit, it doesn't really stand out in sound or appearance. No flying cues, slamming triangles, gimmicky plastick sheets on the tables... The table is brushed and blocked after every session and is always perfect when you arrive. It's heaven for the serious player.
Then I made the mistake of going back to my (very serious) pool hall. Practising 14.1 in the corner of a near empty hall, naturally a good player picks the table next to mine and dumps his ball tray from 2 feet in the air onto the surface. Then he starts practising his break, jumping off the table every other break, screaming profanities every time. I actually don't really object to swearing morally, I just get so sick of it. Please expand your vocabulary if you're going to commentate every shot. This was actually a very accomplished player, yet his cueball spent more time on the ground than on the surface. Then the jump practise started....I've spent an ungodly amount of time practising my jump shots, but I can't remember jumping off the table quite so much. Nor did I have a tip that sounded like glass breaking. Naturally I'd always seek out the corners furthest away from others when doing this. It should be common sense. I much prefer a noisy bar to this kind of disturbance, and this was one guy in a huge pool hall. When the hall is full it's ten times worse. Pool has probably always been like this, it's just that I changed. It's ok, I don't have to go there, but I wonder why I loved this so much before. I loved jump shots, it was my favourite shot in the whole world. I guess I got middle aged.
Having changed with age, I wonder what it would be like if pool changed to what I'd prefer it to be like now. I know it will never happen but I dream of a quiet hall of large, tall tables with a quiet, meditative atmosphere, clean cloth and balls. And the quiet sounds of 14.1 and maybe one pocket. Maybe that would just be a small separate department, and the rest of the hall could be dedicated to the "noisy" games? Would more people enjoy it, or fewer? Would the quality of the peoples experience be enhanced overall, no matter what their preference?
Last edited:
