Highest Concentration of 'Good' Players in the U.S.

Ken Barlow

Ken Barlow

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was interested to see that the responses to an earlier post of mine ref: Coaching in New York, came from all over the U.S. and noted a bit of annomosity between New 'Yawkers' and posters from other areas.

Thought it would be an intersting post to try and find out where people thought the highest concentration of 'pool talent' was in the country? What could be considered the 'Mecca' of Pool here?:D
 
Gawd, I kind of hate to say this, coming from the Pacific Northwest. And this is only a guess. But I'd say N.E. (D.C. and N.Y.) Then go South...Florida, Alabama, Lousianna, etc.
 
I bet Cali is high up on the list. How couldn't it? It's best place in the world to live.

-Shane
 
Maybe a better way of gauging this would be to ask "What is the hardest State Tourney to win?". Just a thought. Happy to hear from anyone else how they would phrase the question to get a more accurate response.

(Thought this post would generate some really good, competitive feedback and would request that you keep the responses, clean, healthy and humourous Boys and Girls.)
 
Ummmm

Ken Barlow said:
Maybe a better way of gauging this would be to ask "What is the hardest State Tourney to win?". Just a thought. Happy to hear from anyone else how they would phrase the question to get a more accurate response.

(Thought this post would generate some really good, competitive feedback and would request that you keep the responses, clean, healthy and humourous Boys and Girls.)
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Although Kentucky doesn't have a state tourney there are alot of good players here without naming them. As well as Ohio, Tenn, Missouri...So I guess that would be the midwest IMO.
 
I think the reason that filipino's are dominating pool is that there is such a high concentration of top players in the phillipines. We don't have anything close to what they have here in America.

I'll throw Texas out there but it's so large I don't about it being concentrated.
 
Ken Barlow said:
Maybe a better way of gauging this would be to ask "What is the hardest State Tourney to win?". Just a thought. Happy to hear from anyone else how they would phrase the question to get a more accurate response.

(Thought this post would generate some really good, competitive feedback and would request that you keep the responses, clean, healthy and humourous Boys and Girls.)
Click to expand...
That may not be the way to ask it either. Larry Nevel's won the Wisconsin State Tournament every year he's entered almost, so to win it you've gotta get past him. I'd say that makes it a hard tournament to win. But that doesn't mean Wisconsin has a high concentration of great players, it just means theres one really amazing player! (Not that there aren't good players there, that's not my point at all.)
 
Quad Cities

I am from Ohio but if you go on population I think Davenport ,Moline ,Bettendorf and Rock Island have to be up there near the top.
 
Highest concentration of good players? I'd have to go with Florida in first place, Texas in second, and Ohio would be my pick for third.

JAM
 
Florida is definetly first, but most are'nt natives. If you go from where they are originally from then you would have have to go with 1st Ohio, 2nd North Carilina, 3rd New Jersey, 4th Texas
 
Well, if you ask ANYONE who was in Olathe for the ring game, they would probably tell you Oklahoma has some very strong players.

There were 5 in the ring game, and many others in action.

Gabe Owen
James Walden
Shane McMinn (WON IT ALL)
Joey Grey
Jeff Melton

(3 of these guys made it to the last 10)

Also in action, young Chip Compton (defeated Danny Hill in a 5 ahead set winning 6 of 7)

Brian Jones from Tulsa played Cardone and spotted him 10-8 (I think) the first night, and 9-8 (I think) the second.
 
Ken Barlow said:
Maybe a better way of gauging this would be to ask "What is the hardest State Tourney to win?". Just a thought. Happy to hear from anyone else how they would phrase the question to get a more accurate response.

(Thought this post would generate some really good, competitive feedback and would request that you keep the responses, clean, healthy and humourous Boys and Girls.)
Click to expand...
Go play in a Florida Pro Tour once and you will see how tough Florida is. Most aren't from there but end up living there part time or for some time. Even alot of the locals that aren't known names play jam up. My experience is around Tampa Bay. I have heard some of the good players have moved off in the last year or so. Also I have heard a saying for years. If a road player goes all thru out Florida and doesn't go busted, HE"S A CHAMPION!
 
I'm not sure Florida is tops in talent anymore...they have lost a bunch of top players in the past year or two. Buddy Hall, Rodney Morris, Earl Stickland, and Rob Saez to name a few. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
I'm not sure Florida is tops in talent anymore...they have lost a bunch of top players in the past year or two. Buddy Hall, Rodney Morris, Earl Stickland, and Rob Saez to name a few. Johnnyt
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...........and Voodoo! Don't forget your Voodoo Daddy left Florida!!
 
Come Early, Stay Late.

pwd72s said:
Gawd, I kind of hate to say this, coming from the Pacific Northwest. And this is only a guess. But I'd say N.E. (D.C. and N.Y.) Then go South...Florida, Alabama, Lousianna, etc.
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Not even Louisiana. We have a lot of donaters here who love going off for their cash. (Seriously) (WELL at least they like going off to the road hogs. It's like we can't beat anyone here but are always willing to try).

Florida gets a big thumbs up with the Seminole Tribe Men's Florida Pro Tour. Texas has a lot of talent also.

JoeyA
 
That's a real tough question to answer -

I think for amateur play, you can't ignore Ohio. They just seem to have TONS of players and produce a lot of non-pro talent.

However, Florida seems to draw all the pros somehow. Either they're from there or they move there.

New York City DOES make a lot of noise in amateur events but to a degree, I think our success is very specific to right here and now unlike other places that have shown amazing participation numbers. Not to dwell on the point but I really am impressed with all the talent from Ohio and neighboring states.
 
ShaneS said:
I bet Cali is high up on the list. How couldn't it? It's best place in the world to live.

-Shane
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Ya know, it would be kind to say you guys are comparing apples to oranges: watermellons to blueberries is more like it...

We gotta talk about fair comparisons. It means squat to say there are more good pool players in a state with 40 million people than there are in a state with 0.6 million people.

So what congressional district has the best pool players? I'm going with North Dakota District 1.

http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/congress.html#nd
 
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