Best pool leagues in NYC

[Njhustler1]

Now I know there's a bunch of people in here that play in the NYC pool leagues. I'm sure the answer is going to be either Amsterdam or Corner Billiards, but which leagues would you say are better for a pretty good player (ie able to run a table from time to time) who is looking to improve?

 

[eeng168]

Now I know there's a bunch of people in here that play in the NYC pool leagues. I'm sure the answer is going to be either Amsterdam or Corner Billiards, but which leagues would you say are better for a pretty good player (ie able to run a table from time to time) who is looking to improve?

I actually play in the Corner's league....but...if you want better players, I would have to say go to Amsterdam. I have friends who play in both, they're both good but I would go with Amsterdam simply because I think the league are run better there and since the leagues are bigger, you simply have more people to play against. Also, I think if you play in the team 9 ball...each team is allowed to have a pro on each team which makes the matchups interesting.

I don't play there because I just don't have to the time since Amsterdam is out of the way for me.

Now, that being said...my answer can't possibly be biased for me to tell to go to Amsterdam even though I play at Corner's....

 

[sjm]

I actually play in the Corner's league....but...if you want better players, I would have to say go to Amsterdam. I have friends who play in both, they're both good but I would go with Amsterdam simply because I think the league are run better there and since the leagues are bigger, you simply have more people to play against. Also, I think if you play in the team 9 ball...each team is allowed to have a pro on each team which makes the matchups interesting.

I don't play there because I just don't have to the time since Amsterdam is out of the way for me.

Now, that being said...my answer can't possibly be biased for me to tell to go to Amsterdam even though I play at Corner's....

Depends on what your game is.....

The Corner Billiards Monday night straight pool league is probably the one for you if straight pool is your game.

Thursday's team nine ball league at Amsterdam is, unquestionably, NYC's strongest league in any game.

 

[hobokenapa]

The Corner Billiards Monday night straight pool league is probably the one for you if straight pool is your game.

How does the Monday night Straight Pool League at Corner compare to the Friday night Straight Pool League at Amsterdam? Is one a higher standard?

 

[dmgwalsh]

How does the Monday night Straight Pool League at Corner compare to the Friday night Straight Pool League at Amsterdam? Is one a higher standard?

Just out of curiosity (Since I live in Chicago), how big are the two leagues, what is the format, who are some of the better players, and what are the runs like? We have a few 14.1 leagues in Chicago at Red Shoes and Illinois Billiard Club. 3 of the guys at Red shoes have run centuries. Some others have run 60s, 70s. High run at IBC is probably 50 or so.

 

[hobokenapa]

Amsterdam

I play in the Amsterdam League. Outside of IPT member Steve Lipsky who is one of the top Straight Pool players in the country and has regular centuries, I have the highest ranking and I've not broken 50, although I have had six 40+ runs (I'm in my third season). Apart from Steve, the only player in the League I know to have broken 50 is Jude Rosenstock who I think has a high of about 66. However, Jude is the only "A" player in the League. Another guy Tom is the same standard as me.

The format is everyone has a rating, and then there is look-up chart to determine what the race is. Unless players are very weak (APA3 standard), the higher ranked player always goes to 100 (Steve goes to 200). There are two Leagues, Beginner/Intermediate and an Intermediate/Advanced. The cut-off is at the rating of 150 which roughly equates to an APA5. There are only about eight people over 200, and three over 250 (me, Jude and Tom). The chart works by scaling down your ranking to get the race to 100 (and rounding to nearest 5)

i.e.

rating of 300 plays someone rated 225, race would be 100/75.
rating of 250 plays someone rated 220, race would be 100/90

Steve Lipsky plays at 800.

The League itself is great play to in. Obviously, the hall itself is well renowned, but the League is well-organised and at the end of my match, I also get to challenge SJM!

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Now I know there's a bunch of people in here that play in the NYC pool leagues. I'm sure the answer is going to be either Amsterdam or Corner Billiards, but which leagues would you say are better for a pretty good player (ie able to run a table from time to time) who is looking to improve?

I think the most notable difference between Corner and Amsterdam is the way the owners perceive the leagues. Amsterdam has always shown concern over prize structure while Corner's primary focus is on the weekly experience.

At Amsterdam, you may have to deal with the occasional Corporate party. Corner rarely gets that sort of business so it's a non-issue and they'll even have a table reserved for you weeks in advance. On the otherhand, Amsterdam's prizes are far more interesting. Corner gives out cues (which may be the last thing I actually need).

 

[sjm]

How does the Monday night Straight Pool League at Corner compare to the Friday night Straight Pool League at Amsterdam? Is one a higher standard?

I think the field is a little stronger and a little deeper at Corner, with most of the players capable of a thirty ball run. I've played the Amsterdam league and the Corner league many times, and felt there were more tough matches at Corner. Still, I believe the gap has narrowed over time.

Still, these are both excellent leagues, and anyone who plays in either is guaranteed a great league experience.

 

[sjm]

I play in the Amsterdam League......The League itself is great play to in..... and at the end of my match, I also get to challenge SJM!

......the pleasure is mine, sir. Hope I'll catch up with you this Friday.

 

[dmgwalsh]

I play in the Amsterdam League. Outside of IPT member Steve Lipsky who is one of the top Straight Pool players in the country and has regular centuries, I have the highest ranking and I've not broken 50, although I have had six 40+ runs (I'm in my third season). Apart from Steve, the only player in the League I know to have broken 50 is Jude Rosenstock who I think has a high of about 66. However, Jude is the only "A" player in the League. Another guy Tom is the same standard as me.

The format is everyone has a rating, and then there is look-up chart to determine what the race is. Unless players are very weak (APA3 standard), the higher ranked player always goes to 100 (Steve goes to 200). There are two Leagues, Beginner/Intermediate and an Intermediate/Advanced. The cut-off is at the rating of 150 which roughly equates to an APA5. There are only about eight people over 200, and three over 250 (me, Jude and Tom). The chart works by scaling down your ranking to get the race to 100 (and rounding to nearest 5)

i.e.

rating of 300 plays someone rated 225, race would be 100/75.
rating of 250 plays someone rated 220, race would be 100/90

Steve Lipsky plays at 800.

The League itself is great play to in. Obviously, the hall itself is well renowned, but the League is well-organised and at the end of my match, I also get to challenge SJM!

Sounds like a great league with lots of opportunities to play. Do the better members teach the newer members? Are many young guys getting interested?
In one of our leagues, the best player is always teaching. We went out for 5 hours Sunday, rack after rack, telling me what he is doing and why and asking me what I am doing and why. A lot of younger guys are starting and we're showing them some standard safes, lending them Rempe and Sigel instructionals, etc. I'm not sure if there is a resurgence in 14.1, but it seems like maybe there is a little. Red Shoes in Alsip now has 2 14.1 leagues with about 17 in each.

 

[hobokenapa]

Do the better members teach the newer members? Are many young guys getting interested?

Definitely. SJM is a very knowledgable student of the game, and has been more than happy to help me during our Friday night games. Steve Lipsky has also spent some time with me going through all the various breakshots and how to play them. As someone fairly new to the game, there is so much to learn and I'm really enjoying it. I think the game fits my personality. I'm a math major and love to solve puzzles. 14.1 is pool using your brain. It's also why I enjoy 8-ball as much, but am not too fussed about 9-ball.

I'm starting up a straight pool League myself in Hoboken, NJ. I've hardly done any advertising for it yet and I've already got at least 15 people interested.

 

[NewGuy]

Definitely. SJM is a very knowledgable student of the game, and has been more than happy to help me during our Friday night games. Steve Lipsky has also spent some time with me going through all the various breakshots and how to play them. As someone fairly new to the game, there is so much to learn and I'm really enjoying it. I think the game fits my personality. I'm a math major and love to solve puzzles. 14.1 is pool using your brain. It's also why I enjoy 8-ball as much, but am not too fussed about 9-ball.

I'm starting up a straight pool League myself in Hoboken, NJ. I've hardly done any advertising for it yet and I've already got at least 15 people interested.

Make that 16. I'm definitely interested in the Hoboken league.

I've never played in the Corner league, but the Amsterdam team 9-ball league is great. A lot of fun and a lot of great competition. After one season in the league, I have gone from a bad (really bad) APA 5 to one of the strongest APA 5's in my Sunday league. The team 9-ball league goes from Pro, Open, A+, A, B+... all the way to D. I'm a D.