Direction of Professional Pool Attire

it always comes down to pool shoes

dress codes are always a pain, for women, especially.

Regional women’s tours and bigger tourneys have dress codes of varying severity, and while I wear very sophisticated office clothes every day, my dress pants are hemmed for heels. But I can't play pool in heels- certainly not competitively in a 12-14 hour marathon.

So I had two pairs of dress pants hemmed for comfortable pool shoes. And since blue chalk is messy, and bending over at a pool table is a gesture I just don't do at work, I had to get additional dress shirts with pool in mind.

I saw someone here suggest women should play in dresses. Not only would that be awkward, but we're also right back to the finding comfortable shoes that don't look completely dumb with a dress. And then there's something about wearing a dress that psychologically makes you feel ladylike and hipswishy- and not the selfish, controlling, competitive person you really need to be at the table.

Someone else said that whatever needs to be done to bring an audience should be done, but that’s a slippery slope: at some point you lose the game of pool chasing those audiences.

EDIT: I am in no way claiming to be a pro. I'm just saying that dress codes for women's pool are a whole lot more complicated than some seem to think.
 
Last edited:
blah blah said:
dress codes are always a pain, for women, especially.

Regional women’s tours and bigger tourneys have dress codes of varying severity, and while I wear very sophisticated office clothes every day, my dress pants are hemmed for heels. But I can't play pool in heels- certainly not competitively in a 12-14 hour marathon.

So I had two pairs of dress pants hemmed for comfortable pool shoes. And since blue chalk is messy, and bending over at a pool table is a gesture I just don't do at work, I had to get additional dress shirts with pool in mind.

I saw someone here suggest women should play in dresses. Not only would that be awkward, but we're also right back to the finding comfortable shoes that don't look completely dumb with a dress. And then there's something about wearing a dress that psychologically makes you feel ladylike and hipswishy- and not the selfish, controlling, competitive person you really need to be at the table.

Someone else said that whatever needs to be done to bring an audience should be done, but that’s a slippery slope: at some point you lose the game of pool chasing those audiences.

EDIT: I am in no way claiming to be a pro. I'm just saying that dress codes for women's pool are a whole lot more complicated than some seem to think.
Click to expand...


Could you please demonstrate "Hipswishy" for me. I like that one. LMAO!!
 
blah blah said:
dress codes are always a pain, for women, especially.

Regional women’s tours and bigger tourneys have dress codes of varying severity, and while I wear very sophisticated office clothes every day, my dress pants are hemmed for heels. But I can't play pool in heels- certainly not competitively in a 12-14 hour marathon.

So I had two pairs of dress pants hemmed for comfortable pool shoes. And since blue chalk is messy, and bending over at a pool table is a gesture I just don't do at work, I had to get additional dress shirts with pool in mind.

I saw someone here suggest women should play in dresses. Not only would that be awkward, but we're also right back to the finding comfortable shoes that don't look completely dumb with a dress. And then there's something about wearing a dress that psychologically makes you feel ladylike and hipswishy- and not the selfish, controlling, competitive person you really need to be at the table.

Someone else said that whatever needs to be done to bring an audience should be done, but that’s a slippery slope: at some point you lose the game of pool chasing those audiences.

EDIT: I am in no way claiming to be a pro. I'm just saying that dress codes for women's pool are a whole lot more complicated than some seem to think.
Click to expand...

I have to agree that some look like total slobs and like they slept in their cars. tattered jeans hanging down around the bottom of their butt cheeks often makes me want to vomit!
As for the pros and what few events there are, a simple pair of khakis and a nice pull over is not so expensive.
Shoes are a different topic. It is tough playing in leather soled shoes and having your feet slip out from under you on a long reach. I have had this happen and it can cause,,,,pain!!

I really don't think the dress code does much one way or the other for pool.
The IPT was pretty strict and it had little or no real audience. At least some were smart enough to leave the price tags on for easy refunds. LOL
 
Johnnyt said:
"Putting a tux on a pool player is like putting whip cream on a hotdog". Fat's.
Johnnyt
Click to expand...

LOL! I love that, fatman had it right. Hey truthfully i never paid any attention on what a poolplayer wears it has no bearing on there playing ability anyways. If you want sponsors they generally like you to wear their name somewhere so people can see that's the whole idea, im all for hat's, sneakers, jeans, shorts, whatever does'nt effect me. But then im not one to sit and judge either.
 
I think the formal dress codes are nonsense. Too many people are stuck in a mentality and era that is long dead and gone. Tuxedos? Why? Can anyone give on reason as to why?


Has nothing to do with pool. It has to do with culture. Our culture and society as a whole isn't as formal as it used to be. Having pros put on tuxedos is for the sole purpose of appeal to the audience and what their senses and attitudes are towards what is and isn't a formal event. For various reasons I understand why it was done in the past. Yet my question above is do those reasons still apply today? I think not.


I believe there should be some kind of basic dress code. I do think it is tacky and improper to see pros playing in some of the clothes they do in non-dress code tournaments. Looks like a pool hall, not a professional tournament.


Basic would be some sort of slacks or khakis. No jeans. No shorts. And a collared shirt. Doesn't have to be button up, and doesn't have to be long sleeved. Kind of sort of like a golf casual. Simple. Comfortable. Sporting. Just want to avoid that ultra-casual stuff such as sweat pants, t-shirts, untucked loose flannel shirts, big baggy jeans....aka no pool room hang out clothes, gangster style stuff, or clothes that one would wear when going to the gym or lounging around the house on a Sunday.


One thing I dislike that they do to the pros in some tournaments is not allow sneakers. These pros are on their feet a lot. Dress shoes, even the expensive custom fitted ones with nice insoles are still not as comfortable and they are tiring. There aren't many dress shoes that have good soles with grip and many tournament floors have slippery thin carpet. It's a chore to reach down the table on a shot because your foot is on the verge of slipping off the floor.


I know that these days many sneakers are downright obnoxious in their designs and colors. But this is one area that should slide. No one cares what one has on their feet, and it's a performance and health issue.



My feelings on formal wear such as tuxedos is that if the players must wear a tux to a tournament, then all the fans in attendance should be made to follow a dress code too. At the very least, jacket and tie for men, dresses for the ladies. Either the entire event is formal or it's not. Pros playing in tuxedos while fans in the crowd are wearing beach shorts, jeans or whatever just doesn't make sense at all. Again, it's a cultural thing.
 
nksmfamjp said:
I think this is going different than I imagined. I think any kind of dress is fine, but I wonder if jacket, tie and dress would help pool send it's message that it is real and worth watching!
Click to expand...

I think many would give up the game if required to wear a jacket/suit in order to play. What we need is more people playing the game and more people watching the game. Just my opinion.
 
If I had the chance to play in a vest, I would. That little pocket looks so handy for putting your chalk in. :P. Just watch any of Ronnie O'Sullivan's matches.
 
Long sleeves bother some people. For TV matches a polo or collared shirt and dockers or some simalar slacks.If you want to wear sneakers buy black ones.Non tv matches whatevers comf. but your pants should be pulled up no boxers hanging out and a tastful shirt t shirt or otherwise.No profanity or drug ref. If your going to tuck your shirt in buy a freakin belt please. Its really a shame that we even have to tell grown men how to dress but having your pants below your ass is BS.And hats although I dont think should be worn indoors unless its for warmth should atleast be worn correctly.On a baseball hat the bill is supposed to face forward guys.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top