Carom Billiards in Los Angeles

ddrumman

ddrumman

Registered
Hi all,:wave:

My name is Dimitri and I’m originally from Athens, Greece and living in the West San Fernando Valley area in Los Angeles the last 25 years. I grew up playing carom billiards, and never saw pockets on a table till later in life. In fact right before my family moved from Athens to New Orleans back in 1975.

I’ve been in the U.S 36 years now and lately I’ve felt the need to reconnect with the game that I really love. Being a musician I’ve been all over the country/world and always looked for carom tables whenever I’d visit a pool hall.

I noticed that there are a couple of guys here that are from SoCal like “Fox” and “junksecret”. I’m sure there are probably more. I basically want to know, where do you guys go to shoot? Joe (junksecret) mentioned North Hollywood Billiards (Tiff’s). I’m curious to know if you guys know of any other places. There is a hall in the West Valley that has a couple of carom tables which is actually close to where I live, but the place is a little dumpy. Just wondering where you guys go.

Thanks and I’m looking forward to getting to know AZ.
 
Hope this Helps

I am not familiar with the Valley as much. I am Familiar with South East Los Angeles County so I will talk about it. I play mostly in South Gate Billiards in the city of South Gate, Eight Ball Billiards in the city of Maywood, and Hard Times in Bellflower. So if we are just talking about tables the Verhoevens in Bellflower seem the best to me. A lot of people like how the tables play in Maywood ( also Verhoevens ). I feel the best three cushion players play in Maywood. I feel Bellflower does not have as many Carom players yet, but I think the amount of players will grow in the future because the equipment there is good.

I play in South Gate because I also play free game ( straight rail ) and there are certain techniques needed to play the game that the owners in Maywood will not allow you to do on there tables. There are two good Free Game players in South Gate. In Maywood absolutely no straight rail players.

Maywood has a parking lot that is gated and a security guard. The food served in Maywood is good and there is a really good Hamburger place right across the street.

People are friendly in all three places I have mentioned. If you feel uncomfortable with a Lot of Latino people then Bellflower is best
(everything in english).
 
Thank you for the info Dean. The halls you suggested are 35, 40 and 47 miles from my house. Good to know though. NoHo Billiards are 18 miles away, House of Billiards (Santa Monica) is about 20 or so, and so is Burbank Elks Lodge in Burbank.
 
There are tons of 3 cushion tables in koreatown, probaly around 25-30 miles from your house depending on which part of the sfv you're from. Youngs pool hall is the only one i know that has the full size 10 X5's. They have 6? heated Verhoeven tables. They're off the 101 vermont on vermont and 1st street in the plaza with autozone and kfc. 15 bucks an hour though!! Balls are waxed and tables are wiped down after a customer leaves or requests them. fyi - all tables (owned by koreans) in koreatown are maintained like this.
 
Superminsoo, Is Young's billiard hall across a small street, not Vermont, from a Shopping center of an American Market, maybe Vons,? Is it on the opposite side of the street that Ko Ray Billiard hall is on? I think I have been there once. I remember trying to find the stairs to go to the second story but had to use the elevator instead. Nice tables.

Every once in a while we get Korean three cushion players at Maywood. One guy that stands out and is a good player is a guy named John Lee. He is physically handicapped and uses one crutch to balance on when he shoots. I have heard he has run twenty points in one inning at a local tournament. After watching him play 3-C I believe it. Someone says he is a Dentist by trade. Is he from Young's Billiard hall?

Dimitiri, Korea Town would be closer to you then the Billiard Halls I talked about in my area in a previous post.
 
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Thank you guys. I appreciate your input. The shopping plaza that superminsoo is talking about is 25 miles from my area just as he mentioned. is there a soccer shop in there?

I'm gonna have to come that way and check it out.

D.
 
Wow, this section so is so alive these days!

Dean: Yea the plaza is the one across from the vons and the one with the soccer place. I don't know john lee (sounds like every guy I know lol) but it sounds like you cant miss him. Speaking of koray, i used to work there for a little bit couple years back lol. Not a good job... with all the second hand smokin and the bossing around from the older gentlemen. And Youngs got a lot better; I was surprised to see so many full size tables after not going for a couple years.

Ddrum: yea its the place with the soccer shop and the asian market. If you go, you should go with a pal because everyone speaks korean there and you might feel a little uncomfortable but they speak english too. You can challenge some regulars there if you know how to play 3 cushion korean style. I have some time so i'll break it down for you:

Each player has an average and it goes like this:

Newbs: 30,50,80,100
Semi newb:120
People under 120 usually play only 4 ball
Average: 150 = 7
Decent average:200=8
wannabe advanced: 250 = 9
New advanced: 300 = 10
advanced: 400 = 11
really advanced: 500 = 13? Not sure the last room owner i played against put 13
Then there is 700 (wannabe pro), 1000, and 2000 and these guys are really good.
I'm about 250 and average around .4 or .5? I shoot less than .4 when im really off and go up to around .6 or .7ish on a really good day. All of this is on a 9 but 4 1/2 so its a little off but just to give you an idea of where you fit in. Most korean players calculate their average based on 8x4's but i see more playing on full sizes.

Each player puts their average and first to finish wins. Double the amount for a 40 minute game and triple the amount for a 1 hr game (with 2 people).

Fouls = add one more to shoot:
miscues (only for some advanced people)
when you dont hit any ball
when you shoot with the opponent's ball

1 point for all shots except for rail first shots because rail first shots get 2 points

The person with less to shoot usually starts

The game usually starts with the more advanced person breaking the balls

Games against strangers are always table time and sometimes + smokes.

Whew, thats about it!

And lucky shots are tolerated but frowned upon when it gets excessive lolol. Also, if youre "too salty" (average too low compared to your skills) others won't play with you!
 
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superminsoo said:
There are tons of 3 cushion tables in koreatown, .... 15 bucks an hour though!! Balls are waxed and tables are wiped down after a customer leaves or requests them. fyi - all tables (owned by koreans) in koreatown are maintained like this.
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Same here in VA...great conditions, but you play for 3 hrs and have to pay like $50 to get out!:eek:
 
I used to go to korea town , great tables, but last year , I quit smoking so i have no reason to go (They smoke like crazy inside the pool hall)

anyway, the hour rate is $14hour but you can have free sodas and FREE PRACTICE BEFORE 3pm,




The new room is opening soon at VICTORY & LAUREL CANYON, It's adjacent to SEARS. huge parking lot , 7 Verhooven tables already installed , and the owner is waiting for 15 pool tables, the RATES ARE GONNA BE $10 hour

I m looking forward for it , a lot of good players and besides that it's like 5 minutes from my place.
 
^^^ I know what you mean free soda and coffee and sometimes even boiled eggs and instant noodles. 5+ hour sessions usually calls for chinese or korean delivery.... dumplings and fried rice.

Is this place open and what's the name? 10 bucks an hour sounds very good.
 
Wow guys. I didn't check it yesterday. Thanks for the additional comments.

superminsoo I appreciate the info and I'm not really up with all the breakdown points you're making. I've mostly played straight rail and sometimes 3c.

Fox (Gilbert) that's some good news. I'm all over the one on Laurel and Victory. That sounds awesome. Is it open right now? I like the $10 per hour. In this economy it sounds really good.
 
I am living in new York at this time.. But i am not familiar with the map and rodes of the new York.. Please guide me to learn about the new york ways.
 
Sherwin said:
I am living in new York at this time.. But i am not familiar with the map and rodes of the new York.. Please guide me to learn about the new york ways.
Click to expand...

if you mean new york city, there are many places to play 3C in queens.
 
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