Ok, here's the deal. There're 2 poolhalls near my house (3 actually but the 3rd only has carom tables). The closer one is $12 per hour, 4 blocks from my house; while the other one is 6 blocks away but charges $5 per hour. The place that charges $12 has very nice brunswick tables. Not sure about the cloth, but they're pretty fast. The $5 tables on the other hand sucks. Table cloth have rips and it looks like it's rarely cleaned, and cloth plays really slow. If you were in my position, which place will you go to for practice? The expensive one or the cheaper one?
$12 vs. $5 (for practicing)
- Thread starter sky..
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sky.. said:
I like my rates (Free). But really this is just a question of whether or not you can afford to drop 12 bucks an hour playing pool. I know that I can't, so I would obviously go to the cheaper place. Of course I would also try to get a job or get to know the owner at one of these places so that I wouldn't have to pay so much anymore. Just my thoughts.
Go to both. Learn to play on the crappy tables and the good tables. You practice costs will average out to about $8 an hour and you will learn how to control your rock under different conditions.
Didn't you learn anything from the Filipino Dominance thread? They play on all kinds of tables under all kinds of conditions for food money. Give yourself a chance to learn in a similar fashion.
You might get lucky someday and someone will bark you in the poolroom with good tables to come and play them in the room with bad tables thinking they have the nuts on those tables and you will be ready.
Didn't you learn anything from the Filipino Dominance thread? They play on all kinds of tables under all kinds of conditions for food money. Give yourself a chance to learn in a similar fashion.
You might get lucky someday and someone will bark you in the poolroom with good tables to come and play them in the room with bad tables thinking they have the nuts on those tables and you will be ready.
Two rooms within 6 blocks. That's gotta be sweet.
Play the cheap house - you'll need to be a better player to handle the poor conditions, you'll need to shoot a little harder to overcome the large rocks and small birds on the table, so you might end up with more accuracy. Moving to better conditions is easier than going the other way.
Ken
Play the cheap house - you'll need to be a better player to handle the poor conditions, you'll need to shoot a little harder to overcome the large rocks and small birds on the table, so you might end up with more accuracy. Moving to better conditions is easier than going the other way.
Ken
I'd love to play carom, except that I don't know the rules (does carom even have rules?) Well, when I was in the philippines, I used to play on crappy tables too. Not overly crappy, just that the cloths are worn down to the point that there are small holes all over. But I didn't learn much back then cause I was a banger at that time. 
Just started to take pool seriously a couple of months back.
Just started to take pool seriously a couple of months back.
All games have rules. The place that has carom tables probably has mostly Asian or Hispanic players who like to play carom games from wherever they come from. Sometimes these games involve pins that must be knocked down or not touched.
Just go in and you'll find someone willing to help you learn the game. Most of those places are filled with pretty friendly folks who aren't looking to hustle you.
Just go in and you'll find someone willing to help you learn the game. Most of those places are filled with pretty friendly folks who aren't looking to hustle you.
Yes, mostly asians. I live in koreatown, so mostly koreans around here. Know what, I never really thought that playing on crappy tables would improve my game. I figured, if it's crap, why would I want to play there anyway? Well other than the fact that it's a lot cheaper. But now, it does make sense. It'll make you appreciate the finer things in life.
Roadie said:
I agree with this idea as I am a strong believer in playing in various conditions. Also, you might be able to find some people willing to play some sets for time at the $12.00 hall. If you win, you played for free. If you lost, you pay what you typically would pay anyways. This plan worked for me for a long time.
ez
well you can play two and a half hours for the price of one at the other other place. Thats a good workout. Tables don't matter. And enjoy the walk.
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Alright BlackDragon i'm convinced. i'm moving to china just for the table time savings. i have to drive 35 miles to get to a decent pool roomon top of 5+dollars an hour. 2 hours costs me like 20 bones on top of the 1 hour travel time.
Carom rules: Make your CB hit the other 2 balls (that does not mean shoot one OB into the other, LOL!).
3 cushion rules: Make your CB hit 3 or more rails before contacting both balls. You can go 3 (or more), then hit 'em; hit 1, then go 3 and hit the other...any combination that has your CB hitting 3 (or more) rails before contacting the other 2 balls.
If you are just learning, you might be able to play someone that knows how to play 3C where they go for 3c shots and you do caroms. If you know a bit about pool, it is a HUGE handicap for the 3c guy to overcome. (Remember...slow to the red!)
No-pocket games are great and it is a shame they have fallen from favor in the US (world?) scene. They are the yang to pool's yin.
3 cushion rules: Make your CB hit 3 or more rails before contacting both balls. You can go 3 (or more), then hit 'em; hit 1, then go 3 and hit the other...any combination that has your CB hitting 3 (or more) rails before contacting the other 2 balls.
If you are just learning, you might be able to play someone that knows how to play 3C where they go for 3c shots and you do caroms. If you know a bit about pool, it is a HUGE handicap for the 3c guy to overcome. (Remember...slow to the red!)
No-pocket games are great and it is a shame they have fallen from favor in the US (world?) scene. They are the yang to pool's yin.
First, I'd go to the $5/hr place and complain about the table conditions.
Then I'd go to the $12/hr place and complain about the price.
Good grief!
$12/hr is OUTRAGEOUS
I hope that's a flat rate and doesn't increase with more players
If it is, I'd DEFINITELY find a couple of serious practice partners befor I went there.
Oh no! I'm STARTING to CAPITALIZE words LIKE pool SLEUTH!
Then I'd go to the $12/hr place and complain about the price.
Good grief!
$12/hr is OUTRAGEOUS
I hope that's a flat rate and doesn't increase with more players
If it is, I'd DEFINITELY find a couple of serious practice partners befor I went there.
Oh no! I'm STARTING to CAPITALIZE words LIKE pool SLEUTH!
Slider said:
Exactly. As long as their both 9 footers.
Skip both and play some 3-cushion....
Funny, but the first post read like one of those word problems... If a train leaves Chicago going west at 100 miles per hour and Dan Louie starts driving east from Seattle at 65 miles per hour where will he meet the train?
The trick for you is to play enough at the $12 place to become a regular... get to be friends with everyone. It won't be long before you play for free or reduced rates.
Funny, but the first post read like one of those word problems... If a train leaves Chicago going west at 100 miles per hour and Dan Louie starts driving east from Seattle at 65 miles per hour where will he meet the train?
The trick for you is to play enough at the $12 place to become a regular... get to be friends with everyone. It won't be long before you play for free or reduced rates.