Diamond table popularity
- Thread starter cesarmorales
- Start date
. I will also stress FRIENDLY STAFF!
Pool Rooms
Here is my take on pool rooms and what I have seen over the last 20 years in the Louisville, Ky market.
At one time, we had four nice pool rooms to play. There was Steepleton's Oliver's, The Bank Shot, and The Pool Barn. Each place was located in a different end of town and featured different atmospheres. There is only one of these places still open today, Bank Shot.
Each of these places closed for different reasons, none of the reasons revolved around what kind of table was being used. The number one reason was due to a lack of money and customers.
Right now, I have to drive close to 50 mins. to play at the only true pool hall left in Louisville. The ONLY reason I play there now is because I enjoy getting out and hitting a few with friends. If not for friends, I would just hit balls in my basement on my personal Diamond 4.5 x 9.
Here is my take on pool rooms and what I have seen over the last 20 years in the Louisville, Ky market.
At one time, we had four nice pool rooms to play. There was Steepleton's Oliver's, The Bank Shot, and The Pool Barn. Each place was located in a different end of town and featured different atmospheres. There is only one of these places still open today, Bank Shot.
Each of these places closed for different reasons, none of the reasons revolved around what kind of table was being used. The number one reason was due to a lack of money and customers.
Right now, I have to drive close to 50 mins. to play at the only true pool hall left in Louisville. The ONLY reason I play there now is because I enjoy getting out and hitting a few with friends. If not for friends, I would just hit balls in my basement on my personal Diamond 4.5 x 9.
I agree.
I actually regularly drive far beyond a "real pool hall" to play on a beat up bar table.
Why?
1) The owner tuned me off the first time I walked in there but trying to tell me something about how I was playing...also putting down my 70's JOSS in favor of his POS made by a local hack.
He has been "nice" on the few (3-4) occasions I have gone in there in the last four years or so, but that fist time left a really bad impression.
2) Atmosphere. Friendly crowd where I go. Just plain social.
I'm not a "real pool player" anymore, but I am a customer. If I go somewhere I just want to have a pleasant time. Great tables can be a part of that but are not necessary.
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No public Diamonds in Florence SC
Not only are there no Diamonds, there are no regualtion sized tables anywhere!! I am blessed with the opportunity to play on Mr. MikeMaaen's table every Sunday afternoon.
I have often wondered why our area doesnt seem to generate enough revenue off of tables to justify the cost of Diamonds. I have often wondered if a members only type place with a couple Diamonds surrounded by seating with a really nice bar and classy atmosphere would generate real action around here again.
Not only are there no Diamonds, there are no regualtion sized tables anywhere!! I am blessed with the opportunity to play on Mr. MikeMaaen's table every Sunday afternoon.
I have often wondered why our area doesnt seem to generate enough revenue off of tables to justify the cost of Diamonds. I have often wondered if a members only type place with a couple Diamonds surrounded by seating with a really nice bar and classy atmosphere would generate real action around here again.
Utah...
We have a local bar here Batters up, with three 7' Diamonds. We also have a pool hall EO's that has both GC's and Diamonds (9 ft's and many of them).
Most players will go to either or. They are located across the valley from each other.
most larger tournaments, and exhibition events end up at Batters. Both have good food, and good tables, but Batters has the Booze!
Just my 2 cents....
We have a local bar here Batters up, with three 7' Diamonds. We also have a pool hall EO's that has both GC's and Diamonds (9 ft's and many of them).
Most players will go to either or. They are located across the valley from each other.
most larger tournaments, and exhibition events end up at Batters. Both have good food, and good tables, but Batters has the Booze!
Just my 2 cents....
Having Diamond tables is just part of the equation to success. Others have said as much in comments and I agree wholeheartedly. Other areas of consideration are having a friendly, professional staff trained to care for the equipment and customers. The pricing of both food and drinks has to be competitive to other venues that will compete for the business. I am currently playing in a place that has almost none of these attributes and I am always surprised that they are able to stay in business. While Diamond tables will attract the true dedicated pool players it will do nothing for the bar banger crowd, they would not know a Diamond from a Valley table. That's why I believe a bar/pool business has to have all of the above to be successful. I do believe it can be done but I'm not sure if I will ever see it around here. Red Shoes in Alsip Il is about as close as you can get in the Chicago area and most of us could care less if John has Diamond tables or not. He takes great care of his equipment the staff is friendly and he does not have a new employee every other day. Consistency is a big factor and Red Shoes has that down pat with great equipment, great management, and a friendly staff.
I think I would go out of my way to play on Diamonds. $5.00 per nite sounds awful cheap to me, I go to a pool hall about an hour from me with GCIIIs and pay $8.00 per hour, and I have a GCI at home! I just like the pool hall atmosphere sometimes. My favorite league nites are when we get to play on Diamond bar boxes.
I think good equipment doesn't matter too much to bangers, who will be a majority of your business.
Action players will go where the action is. Does not matter much what equipment is there. If there is loose money falling from sucker's pockets, the gamblers will go get it, even if playing on particle board bed tables. If there is not loose money, they will stay home.
On this board, we have a lot of purists. I'm one of them. I just got a table at home, so I don't have to deal with the pool halls. [Its the smoke for me...] But I think us purists are in a large minority, and aren't going to make or break a pool hall's commercial success.
Action players will go where the action is. Does not matter much what equipment is there. If there is loose money falling from sucker's pockets, the gamblers will go get it, even if playing on particle board bed tables. If there is not loose money, they will stay home.
On this board, we have a lot of purists. I'm one of them. I just got a table at home, so I don't have to deal with the pool halls. [Its the smoke for me...] But I think us purists are in a large minority, and aren't going to make or break a pool hall's commercial success.
For me it's more about the condition of the tables, and how the hall is run. Keep the tables in good shape, keep the balls clean, server food and drink, keep the temperature inside the hall nice and cool, and keep the place clean. Give me these conditions and I would come in a heartbeat regardless of the make of table.
Good point. I play at a place now that only has Brunswicks. I absolutely prefer Diamonds. There are no Diamonds in El Paso (according to the locals, I haven't checked). I would rather play on these clean, level Gold Crowns any day than a dirty Diamond in a shithole.
I think the answer over all is yes, pool players would prefer diamond tables.
However, this is pool players, or at least people who take pool pretty serious, and they make up the smallest part of your clientele.
Are you going to actually have enough people in the area who prefer a specific table? I doubt most areas do.
Example: In this area there is a hall with 3 diamonds that have 4.5" pockets. There are 11 other gold crown knockoff tables with 5" pockets. Most of the average clientele have no idea the difference, or actually prefer to play on the 5" pockets. The other day I actually overheard a league team captain request NOT to play on the diamonds because they were too tough of a table.
So.....yes pool players would prefer diamonds. General population doesn't care.
Big question is: Does your area have enough "pool players" to make a difference.
If most of your clientele has no idea the difference in a diamond and a gandy.....you're just wasting your time.
However, this is pool players, or at least people who take pool pretty serious, and they make up the smallest part of your clientele.
Are you going to actually have enough people in the area who prefer a specific table? I doubt most areas do.
Example: In this area there is a hall with 3 diamonds that have 4.5" pockets. There are 11 other gold crown knockoff tables with 5" pockets. Most of the average clientele have no idea the difference, or actually prefer to play on the 5" pockets. The other day I actually overheard a league team captain request NOT to play on the diamonds because they were too tough of a table.
So.....yes pool players would prefer diamonds. General population doesn't care.
Big question is: Does your area have enough "pool players" to make a difference.
If most of your clientele has no idea the difference in a diamond and a gandy.....you're just wasting your time.
You are asking the wrong group of people. It's like asking on a Star Wars fan site if people would dress up to go see a new movie before opening a costume shop. Probably THEY would, but 99.99% of the other people would not.
I drive 40 minutes out of my way to play on decent tables in a couple of nice rooms rather than drive 10 minutes to the Jillians near me.
I drive 40 minutes out of my way to play on decent tables in a couple of nice rooms rather than drive 10 minutes to the Jillians near me.
Diamonds are the best no question.
Rates seem to be getting many comments.
The room has to make out to survive.
I used to have a small room and though it wasn't in writing I had decending rates.
Meaning, if you pay $6 the first hour then you pay $5 the next.
Then $4, then $3, and then......
How low can you go ?
But you see after 4 hrs it is like getting a free hour. Also by this time the customer has had something to drink and maybe a sandwich.
So how long does he play now at half price ? And good food !
Customer IS happy, might be there all night.
Treat em good and they will come !
Rates seem to be getting many comments.
The room has to make out to survive.
I used to have a small room and though it wasn't in writing I had decending rates.
Meaning, if you pay $6 the first hour then you pay $5 the next.
Then $4, then $3, and then......
How low can you go ?
But you see after 4 hrs it is like getting a free hour. Also by this time the customer has had something to drink and maybe a sandwich.
So how long does he play now at half price ? And good food !
Customer IS happy, might be there all night.
Treat em good and they will come !
I'm with hang 9...
9, your right on, since you're asking a group of enthusiasts, of course we will, but your sloppy drunks in the lower end leagues will be your money.
The way I see it, I go to a pool hall for 6 reasons:
1. People
2. Atmosphere
3. Drink
4. Food
5. Tables
6. Competition
Neither of these is the smoking gun, cuz if you have a pool hall with ANY 5 of the 6 characteristics, your gonna crush it.
For example, you have a place where all the pool players hang out, nice dimly lit great atmosphere, with dark wood, comfortable...tables spaced out...u have a bar, not too far from the tables, beer, drinks, and friendly hot waitress, the place is known for great food, you have tournaments every weekend and leagues almost every week night...but the tables are tired valleys-they roll fast and straight, but a little tired. You're still gonna be packed wi people there to play on those shitty tables cuz u got the other 5 elements right.
Since people and competition will be scarce right when you open a pool hall...I would think that the extra investment of diamonds would pay off, to pull the people and the competition from competing establishments.
You don't want to open the doors missing 3 of the 6 components right off the bat. I would consider finding a way to get some local pros involved in the place too
give some incentives.
9, your right on, since you're asking a group of enthusiasts, of course we will, but your sloppy drunks in the lower end leagues will be your money.
The way I see it, I go to a pool hall for 6 reasons:
1. People
2. Atmosphere
3. Drink
4. Food
5. Tables
6. Competition
Neither of these is the smoking gun, cuz if you have a pool hall with ANY 5 of the 6 characteristics, your gonna crush it.
For example, you have a place where all the pool players hang out, nice dimly lit great atmosphere, with dark wood, comfortable...tables spaced out...u have a bar, not too far from the tables, beer, drinks, and friendly hot waitress, the place is known for great food, you have tournaments every weekend and leagues almost every week night...but the tables are tired valleys-they roll fast and straight, but a little tired. You're still gonna be packed wi people there to play on those shitty tables cuz u got the other 5 elements right.
Since people and competition will be scarce right when you open a pool hall...I would think that the extra investment of diamonds would pay off, to pull the people and the competition from competing establishments.
You don't want to open the doors missing 3 of the 6 components right off the bat. I would consider finding a way to get some local pros involved in the place too
give some incentives.
i would rather play on a diamond than anything....
I agree.....and it's almost impossible, if not impossible, these days to make it on pool alone.
I agree.....and it's almost impossible, if not impossible, these days to make it on pool alone.
That is pretty smart marketing there , maybe the rate of descent could be faster .:smile: I'd guess sub consciously a person may play longer to to get the cheaper rate . Kind of like somebody driving across town and back to save 3 cents a gallon on gas . As to the OP , i'd like a pool room that is segregated from the bar , not really with a physical barrier , but at least where i didn't hear the conversations at the bar. Maybe a separate entrance to the pool area.
Some people go to bars to get drunk , well most . They like convenience too.
Leagues and drinks. Tables do not matter anymore. I prefer Diamonds and would play on one at any room that has them. That said, I like to gamble and if the action is at a bar with quarter tables that's where I will play.
TO have a successful room, I believe the tables have almost nothing to do with it. Now, if you were in an area with real players and action then you could possibly host tournaments more regularly in hopes of large profits on pre-set days but I don't see it happening anywhere around here.
Look at the most successful pool rooms currently. Breakers in Mobile, AL has mostly bar boxes and a couple Diamonds. Mr. Cues in Atlanta, GA has mostly Gold Crowns or knock-offs of them. White Diamonds in Lafayette, LA has mostly bar boxes and a couple 8' and 9' with no Diamond tables. A good business model is a good business model - tables are just decorations.
TO have a successful room, I believe the tables have almost nothing to do with it. Now, if you were in an area with real players and action then you could possibly host tournaments more regularly in hopes of large profits on pre-set days but I don't see it happening anywhere around here.
Look at the most successful pool rooms currently. Breakers in Mobile, AL has mostly bar boxes and a couple Diamonds. Mr. Cues in Atlanta, GA has mostly Gold Crowns or knock-offs of them. White Diamonds in Lafayette, LA has mostly bar boxes and a couple 8' and 9' with no Diamond tables. A good business model is a good business model - tables are just decorations.