Cost of playing pool.

K

Kevin3824

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Recently I went through a very tough decision form me to make. I wanted to get to be very good at pool. I started playing when I was pretty young but then at the age of about 13 I stopped for a few years then started up and stopped many times after that. Now as I type this I am 50 years old and probably only an SL4. I still have the desire to play at or above an SL9 level. I know I am most likely too old to go pro which is fine. I don't want to go travelling around the country or world either. I know the only way to get better would be to work on my fundamentals and practice more. In order to get where I want to be it will mean a lot of time practicing which I am ok with. So it all boils down to the cost of the equipment and training expenses really.

I agree with the idea that is is not the stick that makes a player good it is his or her skills.
I also know that a straight cue is still pretty important anyhow.

I am surrounded by people in real life that not only do not really have the love or appreciation of pool but think it is infact a waist of time and money. I feel the opposite. They all tell me how Crazy I am to pay over 5k for a pool table. I personally can easily justify the cost of it several ways. If I was to practice 5 hours per day everyday at a pool hall that was even 5 dollars an hour which around me none are that cheap. Even a $6000 table would pay for itself in 240 days. Another way to see it might be look at history I still see tables on ebay made by Brunswick that are 1-200 years old. A pool table tha is taken care of is a valuable asset to you and your relatives you may leave it to after you pass on. It seems to me too many of the people out there are stuck in the electronic and subscription worlds for entertainment. Most of the entertainment available comes with an additional cost for internet or some recurring charge for subscriptions. Pool is not like that once you own it you can use it as much as you want. If it wears then you can have it repaired or replace the cloth for example. Someone once told me that no matter what you buy to learn to play pool it will eventually pay for itself as long as you don't give up. In reality purchasing your own quality pool table may be one of your least expensive investments over time.
 
for every pool table that is 100+ hrs old and valuable, there's ten thousand that were given away, just to have them gone.

But to your point...love of pool is like homosexuality.

Who are they to tell you it is wrong?
Who are you to tell them it is right?

Pick for yourself: hairy butt or not.
 
Kevin3824 said:
Recently I went through a very tough decision form me to make. I wanted to get to be very good at pool. I started playing when I was pretty young but then at the age of about 13 I stopped for a few years then started up and stopped many times after that. Now as I type this I am 50 years old and probably only an SL4. I still have the desire to play at or above an SL9 level. I know I am most likely too old to go pro which is fine. I don't want to go travelling around the country or world either. I know the only way to get better would be to work on my fundamentals and practice more. In order to get where I want to be it will mean a lot of time practicing which I am ok with. So it all boils down to the cost of the equipment and training expenses really.

I agree with the idea that is is not the stick that makes a player good it is his or her skills.
I also know that a straight cue is still pretty important anyhow.

I am surrounded by people in real life that not only do not really have the love or appreciation of pool but think it is infact a waist of time and money. I feel the opposite. They all tell me how Crazy I am to pay over 5k for a pool table. I personally can easily justify the cost of it several ways. If I was to practice 5 hours per day everyday at a pool hall that was even 5 dollars an hour which around me none are that cheap. Even a $6000 table would pay for itself in 240 days. Another way to see it might be look at history I still see tables on ebay made by Brunswick that are 1-200 years old. A pool table tha is taken care of is a valuable asset to you and your relatives you may leave it to after you pass on. It seems to me too many of the people out there are stuck in the electronic and subscription worlds for entertainment. Most of the entertainment available comes with an additional cost for internet or some recurring charge for subscriptions. Pool is not like that once you own it you can use it as much as you want. If it wears then you can have it repaired or replace the cloth for example. Someone once told me that no matter what you buy to learn to play pool it will eventually pay for itself as long as you don't give up. In reality purchasing your own quality pool table may be one of your least expensive investments over time.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. It also applies to lessons.....most players will keep buying new fad equipment in the search for the get better pill....hundreds and thousands of dollars spent over years of playing and table time etc.....but lessons, even from known instructors is just out of the question....its too expensive lol.

Very backwards thinking or none at all at times, we all do that in some shape or form.

Just the other day i went shopping for a pair of sunglasses, guy told me this one pair of oakleys was for triathalons, they were 300$.....i said man i used to do those, I have a 3k$ road bike....."OMG WHO THE HELL SPENDS 3k on a bicycle?"

My response: "who the hell spends 300 dollars on a pair of sunglasses?" and i walked out.....could have made a sale possibly if it weren't for his bad attitude towards something

i think its the same....for whatever reason ( do people think getting lessons is a weak move???) just lay some negative feelings down on something based on nothing but dogma or whatever....

regards,
Keeb-
 
I think you have set realistic expectations and if that is what will make you happy you should go for it.

Find an instructor! it is worth it. Work on your fundamentals and you will get there.
 
I paid $1600 for a GC in 1973. Still have it and had it recovered for the first time a few years ago with Simonis that cost around $700 total.

My father and I bought a used Brunswick, Collander, Balke commercial 8 ft table back in the 60's for $350. My son now has it.

Since then I have purchased many TVs that are now in the trash. One was over $5000. Also brought many computers that are now in the trash. One cost $3500 in the late 80s. They were outdated very fast and are now in the trash. I can go on and on.

I still have my table and use it every day. It gives me more enjoyment per dollar than anything that I have bought that is not a necessity. The last cue that I bought cost twice as much as that table. I also have a few other cues that cost more than that table but in the long run I will be able to get my money back from all of them and maybe a little more. I look at my pool stuff as an investment.

People will blow thousands at a casino, on music down loads, attending concerts, and etc.

I am happy with my table. Problem is that I find it very hard and difficult to go to a PH, or bar to pay to play when the atmosphere is so much better at home.

🎱
 
Kevin your right on the money. If you love something and have a passion for it then go for it. No one is ever going to understand your love and passion for the game. My guys at the firehouse think I'm crazy for spending 200 on a damn break cue but they will go drop 1000 on a some new gun to hunt with. Hopefully I can convince my wife to buy a diamond lol ��
 
greyghost said:
I agree with this. It also applies to lessons.....most players will keep buying new fad equipment in the search for the get better pill....hundreds and thousands of dollars spent over years of playing and table time etc.....but lessons, even from known instructors is just out of the question....its too expensive lol.

Very backwards thinking or none at all at times, we all do that in some shape or form.

Just the other day i went shopping for a pair of sunglasses, guy told me this one pair of oakleys was for triathalons, they were 300$.....i said man i used to do those, I have a 3k$ road bike....."OMG WHO THE HELL SPENDS 3k on a bicycle?"

My response: "who the hell spends 300 dollars on a pair of sunglasses?" and i walked out.....could have made a sale possibly if it weren't for his bad attitude towards something

i think its the same....for whatever reason ( do people think getting lessons is a weak move???) just lay some negative feelings down on something based on nothing but dogma or whatever....

regards,
Keeb-
Click to expand...

My wife and I bought some new bikes a few years back. I have a Giant Roam 0 and my wife has the Giant Rove 0. They replaced road bikes that we had from the late 70's. A Myata and a Schwinn. We finally decided that we needed to upgrade from the lever shifters and caliper rim brakes and wanted to do some trail riding. We ride about 16 to 20 miles per day when the weather allows us. Many will make comments about how nice the bikes are but then question about spending so much and some will say their bike looks the same but only cost $150 from Wally. Then they will say that they can't justify paying more because they don't or couldn't ride that far. Their problem is they have junk and it is no fun to ride.

The same applies to a pool table or anything else if it is junk you won't enjoy using it.

🎱
 
I know a couple guys that pay 10k or better to belong to a country club. They can't play golf in the winter, and
the clubhouse doesn't have a pool table. The women voted down installing a pool table for the male members.

I'd rather play golf at a good public course. I'd spend money for a club membership and buy a table. Silly boys.

.
 
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I don't have to justify anything in my life. I'm an adult.

When I was a kid my cousin was a biker. Hard core. He didn't wear all the Harley crap ...you knew who he was and what he was about just by looking at him. Well he was in a terrible accident. Pins in his legs and both shoulders. Almost died. I went down to the garage to get my bike when I was at there house and there he was. The pins were finally out of his shoulder and he was already sanding the tank down of his beloved bsa so he can rebuild and ride it again. I asked "Donnie how could you want to get on that bike after all the pain you've been through?" His answer was simple ..."if I had to explain it to you you wouldn't understand". That's how I feel about 30 years of being a pool player. I'm nothing more then a really good local player but who cares. If I have to explain to people why I play they wouldn't understand. So I don't bother.
 
The end justifies the means

Pool for me as alwyays been about....Me...I like some competition but I also like getting a brew and its just me and the table. I know where I was the last time I played and I start right there and work on taking things a little further. So I try new shots and work on a different type of bank shot meanwhile I'm thinking over a few other areas of my life sort of in the background. By the time I'm finished I've usually learned a new shot or two, I've a nice cold one or two I may have decided to get something to eat and I will have some peace on something else I'm working on at home because I know what my next steps are. I think Pool is the cheapest therapy than anyone can buy and if you have that at home, that's cool. Nothing wrong with a little me time.
 
Everything is relative, as they say. Short story. I worked in sales at a better men's clothing store in center city Philadelphia in the 80's. All the movers and shakers bought their clothing there. I am showing a guy a tie and he asks me how much. I tell him $80. He tells me I am crazy. He's not going to spend $80 on a tie. Remember it was the 80's. I ask him if he has any hobbies and he tells me yes, photography. I ask him how much he paid for the last lens he bought and he tells me $400. I tell him that the guy that that will buy 5 of these $80 ties thinks you're crazy to spend $400 on a lens. It's all relative.
Enjoy yourself and spend your money on what you like. No one ever said on their death bed that they should have spent more time at the office.
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My fiancee calls it a sickness. I got hooked on this game the second I walked into a pool hall for the first time.

I honestly don't think I could ever get bored with it. I've also come to terms with the fact that I probably won't ever order my "last cue" while I'm alive. I always seem to start thinking of a new last one as soon as I get a new cue.
 
Pool. The time spent playing. The equipment. The people we meet. The friendships we make. It's a lifestyle. It's gift to be involved. The cost>>> money well spent. If I could have every dollar back I spent on pool I'd spend it again on pool. Have been playing since 1960.....I think I'm playing my best right now. I do not gamble or compete. Simply enjoy an intense informal match. Have payed for lessons (Scott Lee...worth every penny)..currently taking weekly One Pocket Lessons with Tom Wirth. Everyday day and every time at the table is day one. The day is not long enough. Can play for hours and go back again.
I have a GoldCrown4 and a few cues/cases to go along with that. If my wife took everything and left I'd miss them.
Life is real short....buy and do the things you like and love. If it's going to a pool room and using a house cue or having a home table with a few cues.....ENJOY....it's the most fun a person can have with their clothes on.
 
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About 30 years ago, I played pool almost every night at the local pool hall and was interested in buying a table for home. The local pool hall owner also sold tables, so I talked to him about the idea. His advice was not to buy a table. He said that he will make money off me either way. So it doesn’t matter to him if I play at home on a table he sold me or if I play every night in his room. His reason was that most people don’t realize that what they like most about pool is the social aspect of the game. Not many people love the game enough to make full use of a table by playing alone at home. Most tables sold out of a home are basically unused.

Since that time, I have owned 2 tables. I happen to be one of the people who enjoys playing even if it means playing alone. I have easily covered the cost of the tables vs. paying table time at the local pool hall. The value goes beyond the cost. With a table in my basement, I can play anytime I have a free half hour. Round trip travel time to the local pool hall is that much. So I get in more daily play with a home table.

From my experience, there is a cost. I am generally happy with how I play at home. However, I get frustrated that I cannot play as well at the pool hall as I feel I am capable during my practice sessions at home. At home, when I miss a shot, I am the next player and can shoot my way out of inconsistency. When I am in the pool hall, when I miss, I sit. Chances are when I get back to the table, I will be in some untenable position that threatens to put me back in my seat in short order. As a player, I don’t play well soon after starting. I play best when I have had a lot of continuous table time (30-60 minutes). Building my skills at home really does not improve my game in the pool hall because I cannot adequately simulate the reality of an actual game. You still need to get out as often as possible if you want to be a better player. In the end, for most of us, it is why we play.

To the first comment by the OP, I have wanted to be a good player for over 40 years. As many hours as I have invested in the game, I should be a whole lot better player than I am. When you start out investing more serious effort in improving, you must realize that practice time is not enough to be a great player. As long as you enjoy playing pool, your time will be well spent.
 
Kevin3824 said:
I am surrounded by people in real life that not only do not really have the love or appreciation of pool but think it is infact a waist of time and money. I feel the opposite. They all tell me how Crazy I am to pay over 5k for a pool table.
Click to expand...

Why do you need to justify the cost to anyone, if you want it, buy it. I spend at least $5K each summer on my son's travel baseball team, that's the fee to play (coaches and tournament costs), equipment, plus travel out of state, lodging, food, gas, etc.

Yeah, my son likes it, I like it, even the wife likes it. Hopefully he gets better as well. But at the end of the season all we have left are a few dented up bats, and some bumps and bruises.

I'd say $5K for a pool table that will last you the rest of your life is a deal.
 
What do you guys tell your wives when you buy an expensive cue? I need some excuses when I buy a new one.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
 
beerpressure said:
What do you guys tell your wives when you buy an expensive cue? I need some excuses when I buy a new one.
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Set up three bank accounts: Hers, His, Ours. Agree on how much goes into each. No one gets to complain about what gets spent out of personal accounts.

Thank you kindly.
 
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