A few questions from a new player in MA

T

TheArchitect

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Hello, I'm just getting back to playing the game after a very long time away and I'm hoping I could get some advice. I've done some searching here but haven't come up with the exact info I'm looking for.

1 - Are there any players here from eastern MA who could point me towards a shop that carries a decent variety of cues? I'm interested in Joss, Pechauer and Viking. If possible I'd like to try to shoot them before buying but even being able to hold them and talk with a dealer would be better than nothing. I'm willing to drive to southern NH, RI and CT if it's a good shop. Google is turning up some options but I'm sure there are more.

2 - I'm going to buy a table for my basement but until then are there any good places to play in the Metrowest Ma area? I've found websites for Boston Billiards and The Corner Pocket but I don't know if they're considered good places to play. I'm looking for someplace where the pool comes first and not some place that happens to have a couple of tables in the back, if you know what I mean.

3- As for the table, I'm looking at both new and used. Are there any dealers in MA besides Brunswick Home and Billiard and Seasonal Specialty that one of you might recommend? Even better if they also deal with used or trade-in tables. I'm interested in Brunswick and Olhausen tables in the $2,000-$3,000 range if it's new (a Gold Crown is down the road). I'm already looking on Craigslist for better tables in that same range but I'm not sure I want to deal with a private seller. If I did go the private seller route, is it reasonable to pay for a pool table mechanic to come along to look at the used table?

Thanks!
 
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Whats up!!! Where you from? I seen a few places in mass but not much. Natick has a brunswick store on rt 9 with Joss, Pechauer and Viking that you can try out(unchalked)and some nice tables. Also Capital Billiards in prov RI. Depending on where your from there might be a few rooms left to play.
 
Apocalypse2012 said:
Whats up!!! Where you from? I seen a few places in mass but not much. Natick has a brunswick store on rt 9 with Joss, Pechauer and Viking that you can try out(unchalked)and some nice tables. Also Capital Billiards in prov RI. Depending on where your from there might be a few rooms left to play.
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I'm in Framingham. I've seen the Brunswick Home and Billiards across from the Natick mall but I haven't been in to check out what cues they carry. I didn't know they carried Joss and Pechauer but figured they had Viking. I'll definitely have to stop by.
 
TheArchitect said:
1 - Are there any players here from eastern MA who could point me towards a shop that carries a decent variety of cues? I'm interested in Joss, Pechauer and Viking. ...
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Have you considered getting a custom cue? Joe Callaluca is local and can make you a very nice cue. He posts as "joe c" here on AzB.

I like Ac-Cue-Rate up in Pelham, MA. They have a decent selection of production cues.
http://www.q-ball.com/
http://www.q-ball.com/cues.html

Break and Run Billiards has just opened a storefront in Nashua. They'll be selling custom cues in the near future.
http://www.breakandrunbilliards.com/magento/

TheArchitect said:
. . . are there any good places to play in the Metrowest Ma area?
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Boston Billiards downtown is closed. There are Boston Billiards rooms outside the city that have remained open in Nashua, NH and Worcester, MA under private ownership. I used to play in the league in Nashua, and there are some fairly strong players there.

My home room is Maxamillian's in Tyngsboro, MA near the border with New Hampshire (just south of Nashua). I don't play as much as I used to, so I prefer the somewhat more relaxed atmosphere of Max's.

Country Club in Chelmsford hosts some strong players. If you're looking for a 9-ball tournaments I'd definitely check the place out.
http://www.countryclubusa.com/
http://www.countryclubusa.com/calendar.html

World Class Billiards in Peabody has carom tables and an 8-ball league. If you play three-cushion then this is the place to go in Massachusetts. I bought my Schuler cue from John, the owner.

There's a new room with carom tables up in Hooksett, NH (near Manchester) run by Mazin Shooni, USBA 3-cushion champion of 2006. Mazin's a great guy.
http://cueandcushion.net/

The Billiards Cafe in Ayers, MA:
http://www.thebilliardscafe.com/

Check out the thread "Any tournaments in the Boston area", which includes links and comments about different rooms:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=136121

One of the room lists I've used is hosted on Walt Harris's site:
http://www.billiardsatlas.com/stour/newrooms.html#Massachusetts

Another list:
http://www.billiardscoop.com/billiard-rooms.asp?s=ma
 
Thanks for all those links, Rethunk!

I'm definitely interested in a custom cue but I'm thinking it makes sense to buy a good production cue first, play with it to find out what I really like in a cue and then go for a custom cue.

I'm not looking for tournaments or leagues right now, just a place to play that's low key. It's been a very, very long time since I played and I'm taking the 'starting over' approach. I recently played while on vacation and got hooked again. I've got a lot to learn before I'm ready to play competitively. :)
 
jillian's in fenway is actually pretty good now, they used to have horrible tables, but they have been making an investment to satisfy the new league that moved over from Boston Billiards when it closed and get more serious players in. the tables have just been recovered just a few weeks ago with simonis cloth and new rails. though i don't believe they've discovered the concept of cleaning the tables and the balls, so the nice conditions might not last.

corner pocket in waltham isn't bad either, tables are in good shape and you get some decent players flowing through there. they have some specials where there is free pool on some nights during certain hours.

world class in peabody is a real player's room. good tables and with the carom tables you get a lot of the 3c crowd. nice flate day rate of $8/per person for 12-8pm.

these 3 are the only decent places i've found in/near to Boston.
 
Northeast

If your looking for good tournaments and players you can find one almost every night of the week. Tuesday you got Silver Cue in Woburn,MA, Wednesday you got Snookers in Providence,RI, and Thursday you Country Club USA in Chelmsford, MA. All good tournaments with good players and nice equipment.

As for buying a used table, I would search craigslist. I also think I heard Snookers in Prov. is selling there old tables for 1800. I think they are gold crowns, but not positive on that. As somebody also already mentioned Joe Callaluca makes a damn fine cue. His cues are of high quality and play very nice. Good luck on your search.
 
Dave Egdahl is the man for used tables. I can PM his cell phone.

What are your preferred games, and approximately how well do you play? Tom McGonacle is a regular at World Class, and is one of the top players in New England.

There is also the Silver Cue (?) Curly's room in Woburn -- he also runs the very popular A-B series.

I should have added that I play in NH -- mainly at Mazin Shooni's room. Also there are a bunch of private clubs in Manchester, if you are a smoker, they might be attractive (the only places smoking is allowed that I know of).
 
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1pocket said:
Dave Egdahl is the man for used tables. I can PM his cell phone.

What are your preferred games, and approximately how well do you play? Tom McGonacle is a regular at World Class, and is one of the top players in New England.

There is also the Silver Cue (?) Curly's room in Woburn -- he also runs the very popular A-B series.

I should have added that I play in NH -- mainly at Mazin Shooni's room. Also there are a bunch of private clubs in Manchester, if you are a smoker, they might be attractive (the only places smoking is allowed that I know of).
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I've mostly played 8-ball. How well do I play? Let's just say I need to work on my long unused skills :o
 
TheArchitect said:
I've mostly played 8-ball. How well do I play? Let's just say I need to work on my long unused skills :o
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Another option if you want to stay in town is to play at Sacco's Bowl Haven in Somerville just off Davis Square (Red Line). There are only six tables or eight tables, and the tables need to be recovered or at least brushed, but it's a low-key place and easily accessible.
 
Welcome to the area. Silver Cue's great as is World Class Billiards. I'd go to both places more often if I had a car. I haven't been to the Corner Pocket at The Wave in Waltham, but they have a couple hours of free pool on Fri and Sat. There's also a retail store in Waltham:

http://www.completegamester.com/

Again, haven't been, so I can't say much else about it. I'm not a fan of Sacco's though. Some of the tables are in pretty bad shape and the rowdy teenage crowd can be a distraction. I play in the league at Jillians by Fenway and they just recovered their tables and now they play like a dream. Still have to deal with the clubbing guys though.
 
Again, haven't been, so I can't say much else about it. I'm not a fan of Sacco's though. Some of the tables are in pretty bad shape and the rowdy teenage crowd can be a distraction.
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I've only gone on weekends when it's quiet. It's true that the tables could use work.

I play in the league at Jillians by Fenway and they just recovered their tables and now they play like a dream. Still have to deal with the clubbing guys though.
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Is the league handicapped? If so, how does the rating system work? How strong are some of the better league players?
 
I have a 8 foot brunswick table for sale if you have any interest please pm me and i can send pictures.... I live on the south shore of mass , you could come by and look at the table also.....
 
I live in CT, if you are interested in a 4.5x9 Murrey Pro table that has full framed slates and poplar hardwood rails, vg cushions that are newly covered in simonis 760 and only needs bed cloth, come and get it for 500. :)
 
Thanks for the offers, guys. I need to finish my basement renovation before I have the room for the table so a purchase isn't going to happen right now. The info I asked earlier in the thread was so I would know what to do when I am able to buy the table. Unfortunately I have to wait to get a home table set up and I don't have room to store one right now, either. Sorry I can't take either of them off your hands.

BTW, I've received and replied to a couple of PM's but they don't show up in my PM outbox. I'm not sure what's going on there but if you PM'd me and didn't receive a reply it's not because I'm ignoring you. Is there something about new member PM privileges that I'm missing?
 
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