Are More Players Going To The ar Box?

Happening here as we speak!!!

My idiotic pool room has decided to move out the last two 9 footers to make room for more dumb(oops dart) boards. Last time I checked the name on the front of the room said billiards and not darts. Oddly enough the 2---9 footers stayed normally rented from opening to close even during the slow economy. Honestly I hope the room closes because I will not drive there anymore.

I normally don't wish bad on anyone, but on this occasion they have what is coming to them.
 
WardS said:
I have a Diamond Pro-Am 7ft table at home and I love it. The best streams I see are on bar boxes. 60K player auctions at Emeralds, lot of top players. Get used to it I think that is where it headed..

jmho
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I agree. I have one in my basement and love it. Just wish there were more halls in Atlanta that had them. Closest hall is in Conyers, but enjoy playing on a 8ft or 9ft from time to time.
 
Mostly bar box country down here, but luckily in this town there's one actual pool room with Diamond tables; 2 9-footers and bunch of Smart Tables. (Love ya MissQ's!) The pool rooms I used to frequent in the northeast were mostly 8-footers with a couple of 9ft. GC's for the gamblers. I really don't mind playing bar boxes but I still kinda suck :smile:
 
I do enjoy 9 footers, but give me a bar box any day, especially a diamond. I much prefer a 7' table. Much more "competition" to be had. :D
 
I grew up playing in pool halls and back then there were no 7 footers in the pool rooms. Even later as a young adult, when I'd go out and frequent the bars, if there was a bar box there I pretty much just ignored it and never really was interested in it or any minor action around it. It just wasn't pool to me.

Not knocking the BB, just explaining my background and why they never appealed to me. They just weren't part of the scene I was around.

If I had to drive 50 miles to play on a 9 foot table, I'd probably put one in my garage and buy a cover to keep the sun off the car. But I know me and I just wouldn't drive that far regularly. If I had to I would look into renting a garage or small space near my house and put the table (or the car, LOL) in that one. I know people who've done this.
 
The times are a changing? What can I say I don't drive but 50 miles seems a long way when there are closer tables. I've played on 7 footers 8 footers 9footers all the way up to 12 footers really with my game it don't matter much all that matters it there is a table to play on really
 
Bar box not a table?

joe76195 said:
A bar box is not a pool table.
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The several MILLION folks who have played on bar boxes in leagues, national tournaments and just for fun since 1960, might disagree...

...including folks like Mike Massey, Nick Varner, Shane Van Boening, Vivian Villareal, and many other champions who play and have played on 7-footers.

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
 
I don't feel right when I see a 7ft table. It actually upsets me to think that the sport has gone so far as to put in kiddy tables in the name of the "future" of pool. The game(s) I truly enjoy inclulde 14:1 and One Pocket not "slam bamb" on a coin op. I used to play alot but, with only Bar Boxs in my area it's been years since I picked up a cue. Went to a local room last night to check out the APA league, players, equipment, vibe etc. Found 7 BB's, average players, well maintained tables and a good vibe. Just can't let my purist mindset allow me to play on those little tables with huge pockets. It's just the way it is I guess but, I just can't feel right about it. Bring back the 9footers or even better a 10footer!!
 
CreeDo said:
If my choices are drive 50 miles for 9 foot or play on a bar box, I drive 50 miles. I'm already used to doing 30. I won't quit pool but I'd play a lot less I imagine.

The idea of "tougher bar boxes" is not realistic. Nobody makes a truly tough one and nobody's gonna start, there are about 4 guys on the planet who want such a thing. You'd have to make the pockets 3.5" to make it halfway difficult, try selling that one to the bangers.

As for trends...I haven't noticed any. 9 foot players won't go to bar box unless forced to. Bar box players stick to bar boxes until they decide they want to move on to something tougher.
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I do drive over 50 miles, once a week, to play on 9'. I just don't like bar boxes. Especially in the town I live in where the bars are pretty "mean" ones.

There is a nice bar in the same town as the hall I go to...good food, lots of league play on 7' Valley tables that are well kept. I don't play there...but IF such a place was in my small town, I might be tempted to sign up for league play.

Bottom line...I don't mind driving to play on a well kept Brunswick or diamond...but 9' please.
 
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I played on 9ft tables for better than 20 years. I was one of the players that just despised bar tables. I hated how you could lose easily to a chump on a bar table. Inferior stroke, stance, shot selection...list is endless and yeah you could still lose to someone you would mop the floor with on a 9fter. BUT about 3 years ago I made the switch to the bar tables. WHY for me it was simple...THE MONEY...Where I'm at there's tournaments about every night of the week. Every single bar table tourney I play in is 200% payback....find a pool hall that will match it.....Wont happen.

Learning to win and play well on a bar table is a lot harder than most big table players think. Poor equipment, different size and weight cue ball, severe table roll, smaller playing surface all these come into play. Yeah I know the pockets are bigger, but that's only gonna save ya some of the time. There's a lot more going on on the little tables than most think.
 
This barbox player will have to keep it in mind that he plays on non-tables. Maybe I'll have to give up the ERO/bonus-point lead in my BCA division at the pool hall. :frown:

I get the feeling that most big table players just have no clue how to play the little tables and get all upset about it.
 
Actually getting in the car right now to drive 70 miles to play on a 9ft Diamond.... I have maybe made this trip 8 times in the last 2 years and up until recently these trips were the extent of my time playing.....

I see a bar box and I think Fisher Price.... To me it's like playing putt putt and going to work and telling your pals you had been golfing (woohoo I shot 4 under!!!!)......

I will admit the Diamond 7' tables are fun as a change up... But I like flipper machines every once in awhile too and am not likely to have either in my basement or want to play on them more than occasionally....
 
porper-sig said:
I drive an hour to play on DIAMOND 9's. Sadly johnny, the amusement outfits would hate you'r proper set up valley.
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I was thinking this in poolrooms. If it ever comes to 70% BB/30% 9' in most rooms, the better players would demand tighter pockets and lively rails on a percentage of the 7's or they won't play on them. Just like some want tight 9' tables.

Some of the best action i've ever played or sweated has been played on tight pocket 7' tables. Both 8-ball and 10-ball. 9-ball is too easy for the top players on a 7' even with tight pockets IMO. Johnnyt
 
Its always the same argument. Truth is (and in your heart you know I'm right), most of you big table lovers think and act like you can run rack after rack of 8 ball on a Diamond 7 footer. Fact is...I'll bet you run LESS racks on a small table. Smaller playing area, more ball clusters, super precision play needed, less room to jump, and a better chance of scratching. Small table play is generally tougher. Any good, knowledgeable player will tell you that. Most guys that b*tch about the "kiddie" tables...usually struggle on them. Set up 5 racks on a big table...and 5 on a small table, and see how many you run on both. I know the answer.
 
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LOCK-PRESIDENT said:
Its always the same argument. Truth is (and in your heart you know I'm right), most of you big table lovers think and act like you can run rack after rack of 8 ball on a Diamond 7 footer. Fact is...I'll bet you run LESS racks on a small table. Smaller playing area, more ball clusters, super precision play needed, less room to jump, and a better chance of scratching. Small table play is generally tougher. Any good, knowledgeable player will tell you that. Most guys that b*tch about the "kiddie" tables...usually struggle on them. Set up 5 racks on a big table...and 5 on a small table, and see how many you run on both. I know the answer.
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I'm not sure what the point is when the exact same thing can probably be said about the BB player going to a 9 foot table - he won't perform as well.

Unless you are flat out stating that 7 foot tables are more difficult than 9 foot tables, in which case I respectfully disagree.
 
My point is....two different games, two different strategies, and on a small table...you have to be way more precise. I think if your fundamentals are strong...and stroke is sharp, you can hold your own on either table. But, you better know how to maneuver in heavy traffic on a small table. To say the game on a small table is "easy" and "no challenge" is simply silly.

Small tables are how you keep your business making money.
 
The bottom line is, there are way more people (last couple generations...younger people...etc) that would rather play on "bar tables" than on big tables. Its were the money is. And that's what keeps businesses lucrative. So my opinion is that smaller tables will soon be the norm. Get used to them...love them...embrace them, or hang out with the few remaining antiques...lol.
 
LOCK-PRESIDENT said:
The bottom line is, there are way more people (last couple generations...younger people...etc) that would rather play on "bar tables" than on big tables. Its were the money is. And that's what keeps businesses lucrative. So my opinion is that smaller tables will soon be the norm. Get used to them...love them...embrace them, or hang out with the few remaining antiques...lol.
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That's like saying there's more people that would rather play baseball or football on a high school field. Bar tables make more economic sense - they're cheaper, less expensive to maintain(if maintained), take up less space in an establishment and can easily be charged by the game.

How about everybody walks everywhere they go, since more people do that, too?

Poolkiller/PocketPoint, don't you ever get tired of making stupid arguments?
 
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