Do you have special shoes for shooting pool?

decent dennis said:
Or you could do what Old Has Been - Tom Ferry, claimed to do.
Put your tired feet in a toilet (clean) and flush.
He claimed it made them feel refreshed and ready to push on.
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I am still limber enough that I’d prefer to use the bathroom sink before putting my feet where people take a dump.
 
Island Drive said:
To the OP. Different surfaces will help you make your choices.
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For Pool Halls. I believe that almost all pool halls have carpet because not everyone thinks about footwear and they want people to rent tables as long as possible.

If the pool hall doesn't have carpet, I assume its because people like to be loud and spill their beers. Probably a good place to make money but not practice.
 
mjantti said:
I was already about to write that it seems most of AzBers don’t seem to play much under a dress code. Many times I practice with my tournament dress code compatible shoes to get used to them, especially with a new pair. The same goes with refereeing, new shoes need to be broken in before the actual tournament.

I have been using these: https://www.barebarics.com/barefoot-sneakers-barebarics-zing-all-black-leather/
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I used to wear black Adidas Sambas, but tournaments here can be ridiculously fussy. Especially if they want to air it on TV (No tattoos, no logos etc). I think Clark's are pretty damn comfy. I use the same pair I use for work. If I need to play a tourney in them, it gives me an excuse to go to the hall directly from work in the week preceding. Gives my friends a good laugh. Seeing my usual self, but in a shirt and slacks gives them something to banter about 🤣
I even had to get another pair of Clark's, because even dress shoes with soles not matching the main colour of the shoe are prohibited in some tourneys... ridiculous. I don't mind more formal shoes, but wearing these under armor sleeves to cover tattoos really pisses me off.
 
decent dennis said:
Or you could do what Old Has Been - Tom Ferry, claimed to do.
Put your tired feet in a toilet (clean) and flush.
He claimed it made them feel refreshed and ready to push on.
Click to expand...
Doh! So that's why the guy was standing barefoot in the urinals adjacent to each other.
 
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Johnson said:
I sell shoes/clothes and I mainly wear Nike for both but the modern Nike shoes just aren't durable. I bought brand new Nike running shoes and within a week or 2 I stepped on a twig and it put a hole in the mesh. I do have some Nike tennis shoes (actual tennis shoes with extra protection on the front) and they have held up fine but I only like to wear them on hard surfaces. For running shoes I've had the same pair of Saucony's for 6+ years now and they are super light weight, durable, comfortable and I literally can slip them on even with laces! $20 at Academy pre Covid.

For insoles I had foot issues and really liked the blue/navy/red Dr Scholls but finally got away from them but if I had issues I'd switch them out. The added weight from insoles would be zero or unnoticeable unless you had stiff insoles from some sort of ailment but it'd still be hard to notice. The newer Brooks running shoes have really bouncy/spongy soles and I know a bartender that wears them. Nike's w air pockets could be another option but as someone who sells preowned shoes it's very common for them to pop!! Hoka's and On Cloud are 2 of the most popular modern running shoes but Hoka's have the least durable soles and On Cloud is #2 for me with the least durable soles but that's if they're mainly worn on concrete/harder surfaces. I would also experiment with Skechers, a guy I played w had neuropathy and that's the only shoes he could wear, Yoga foam anything are extremely comfortable.

I got the Nike running shoes for $35 at Burlington and they also had some Merrell trail shoes for the same price but they didn't last either. Since Covid the best deals on new men's shoes will be at most Marshall's stores the first or 2nd monday in Jan (look for the yellow tags), I got Nike tennis shoes for $30 and they typically have Skechers on sale too! Burlington was the go to place for deals on athletic shoes pre Covid but that dried up really bad!!! I once got a carload of Nike Golf spikes for $20 each but now they'll be $60!!!
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Hoka is the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn.
 
cueball2010 said:
For Pool Halls. I believe that almost all pool halls have carpet because not everyone thinks about footwear and they want people to rent tables as long as possible.

If the pool hall doesn't have carpet, I assume its because people like to be loud and spill their beers. Probably a good place to make money but not practice.
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My experience is the carpet in the pool halls I’ve frequented is industrial grade carpet that gets installed over a cement floor. The carpeting is not padded, is thin without much nap for easier vacuuming and is used to make the room look better than with painted cement floors. It also helps protect the errant pool balls that tend to periodically fly off the table and land on carpeting instead of cement dribbling around the pool room after being launched. In other words, for foot fatigue or overall comfort, it is one rung above standing on concrete. Anyone that has ever worked a trade show at a conference center or arena can attest that your feet do not fare well standing for an extended time on a hard surface covered with only industrial carpeting. The best answer is wear comfortable foot wear and change socks……it really does help avoid foot fatigue.
 
I play in crocs. No socks. During long sessions I stick my feet in the toilet and flush to refresh myself.


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I will be getting the new Mezz shoes and report. Probably both colors when it comes out.

New Mezz cues and new Mezz pool shoes | AzBilliards Forums

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Cornerman said:
Also several years ago, Mika was sponsored by a company trying to sell a billiard-specific shoe. Not sure it went anywhere. I suppose not since I can't recall hearing about them in a long time.
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The company was Moose’s and they mad flat sole moose leather shoes with special design for pool/billiards. The shoes were okay but for me a bit clunky compared to barefoot shoes I use nowadays. The company operated for few years and then disappeared. I think shoe business is definitely not easy, especially with niche sport selection and if you are not able to manufacture shoes in low labor cost countries.
 
I was always told to wear shoes that are flat with as little a rise in the heal as possible - so that your balance is centred. I tend to wear Adidas Sambas or Puma Classics.
 
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