Well I actually have picked up a pool cue a bit over the past couple weeks so I thought I would stop in here and give a brief update on what is new.
First if anyone remembers or cares, I now live in Pittsburgh working for Westinghouse. A few weeks ago I thought I would check out some of the pool rooms in the Pittsburgh area. I went to Pinky's, Breakers, and South Hills Golden Cue. I was impressed by all three, they all seem like real pool rooms, not hangouts for kids. One reason may be that they don't serve alcohol. I am beginning to think that Alcohol in the end is the death knell for a real pool room. Eventually over time the room owners lose interest making money the hard way (pool) and focus on the easy way (alcohol.) Romine's in Milwaukee is perfect example. 50+ tables and a real pool player wouldn't be caught dead in there 95% of the time.
Anyway a brief update on the pool rooms. One interesting things is that all three are ground floor pool rooms. Maybe the day of the walk-up or walk-down pool room is past. Pinky's is the smallest of the three rooms. They look to have about 7 tables or so. Most of the tables were in use when I was there and it looked like the players on the front table were halfway decent. The room looks like a hole in the wall, like no one has tried to straighten the place up for a generation or so. Maybe this sounds like criticism, if so I apologize. It made me feel right at home. Breakers is the next place on the list. A few more tables than Pinky's and they seem to be in good condition. I have been in there a few times and have yet to see much serious play. They have a bar right next door that seems to be part of the same business. It looks like a good place to play I just wonder what the chances are of running into a game. The last place was definitely the best of the bunch. South Hills Golden Cue is a very nice pool room. Probably about 18 tables or so. They are packed in a little tight for my liking, but I have never been there when more than half of the tables were in use so it wasn't much of a problem. They have a Brunswick Billiard Table (converted from a pool table) and they have some pretty decent billiard players there. I understand some of the patrons are looking to get the owner to get a better billiard table, I think they have enough interest to make it worth his while. I understand this is the only commercial public billiard table in the Pittsburgh area. This is a room that brushes down the table whenever someone finishes playing. All the tables (that I played on) roll perfect. Music in the room but not too loud to be distracting. You can tell the room is owned by an ex-pro who takes pride in his place.
I have stopped into SHGC a few times early in the day on weekends and have been very lucky to find some straight pool games (which is what I prefer these days.) I may have alienated my opponent however, this past Saturday I jumped out to a 141 to 19 lead in a 150 point game, so I hope he didn't get so frustrated that he won't be interested in playing in the future.
I would really like to find a player in the Pittsburgh area that I can play some regular straight pool against, that matches up with me fairly close. Are there any 30-50 ball runners out there who are interested?
So far I haven't done any gambling. It may be that the locals are willing to let me show my speed before anyone looks to match up but I have to say I have never played even a handful of hours like I have here without someone asking to play for money.
Anyway, signing off for now,
Ed at Playpool.com
First if anyone remembers or cares, I now live in Pittsburgh working for Westinghouse. A few weeks ago I thought I would check out some of the pool rooms in the Pittsburgh area. I went to Pinky's, Breakers, and South Hills Golden Cue. I was impressed by all three, they all seem like real pool rooms, not hangouts for kids. One reason may be that they don't serve alcohol. I am beginning to think that Alcohol in the end is the death knell for a real pool room. Eventually over time the room owners lose interest making money the hard way (pool) and focus on the easy way (alcohol.) Romine's in Milwaukee is perfect example. 50+ tables and a real pool player wouldn't be caught dead in there 95% of the time.
Anyway a brief update on the pool rooms. One interesting things is that all three are ground floor pool rooms. Maybe the day of the walk-up or walk-down pool room is past. Pinky's is the smallest of the three rooms. They look to have about 7 tables or so. Most of the tables were in use when I was there and it looked like the players on the front table were halfway decent. The room looks like a hole in the wall, like no one has tried to straighten the place up for a generation or so. Maybe this sounds like criticism, if so I apologize. It made me feel right at home. Breakers is the next place on the list. A few more tables than Pinky's and they seem to be in good condition. I have been in there a few times and have yet to see much serious play. They have a bar right next door that seems to be part of the same business. It looks like a good place to play I just wonder what the chances are of running into a game. The last place was definitely the best of the bunch. South Hills Golden Cue is a very nice pool room. Probably about 18 tables or so. They are packed in a little tight for my liking, but I have never been there when more than half of the tables were in use so it wasn't much of a problem. They have a Brunswick Billiard Table (converted from a pool table) and they have some pretty decent billiard players there. I understand some of the patrons are looking to get the owner to get a better billiard table, I think they have enough interest to make it worth his while. I understand this is the only commercial public billiard table in the Pittsburgh area. This is a room that brushes down the table whenever someone finishes playing. All the tables (that I played on) roll perfect. Music in the room but not too loud to be distracting. You can tell the room is owned by an ex-pro who takes pride in his place.
I have stopped into SHGC a few times early in the day on weekends and have been very lucky to find some straight pool games (which is what I prefer these days.) I may have alienated my opponent however, this past Saturday I jumped out to a 141 to 19 lead in a 150 point game, so I hope he didn't get so frustrated that he won't be interested in playing in the future.
I would really like to find a player in the Pittsburgh area that I can play some regular straight pool against, that matches up with me fairly close. Are there any 30-50 ball runners out there who are interested?
So far I haven't done any gambling. It may be that the locals are willing to let me show my speed before anyone looks to match up but I have to say I have never played even a handful of hours like I have here without someone asking to play for money.
Anyway, signing off for now,
Ed at Playpool.com
