How many basement players out there?

9BallPaul

9BallPaul

Banned
Pool hooked me early, at the old York Billiards on East Colfax, just across the street from my high school, where I was frequently AWOL.

Anyway, my pool journey took me to San Francisco in 1967, supposedly to check out Haight Ashbury, but I soon grew bored and migrated to the Tenderloin, where I discovered Cochran's and The Palace.

Those were the days. Later, in the army, I played along the East Coast, in Weenie Beanie's room in Maryland (Guys and Dolls) and other rooms.

Then came my so-called career, when I turned 30, and my pool was reduced to bar games, and too often with drunks who couldn't play and didn't know the rules.

I few years ago I retired and bought a house that could accommodate a table, and now I never leave home. No need to prove myself. No need to show my stuff.

Much like golf, where you can play against the course, it's me against the table.

Don't need an opponent, don't have anything to prove. I'm an old fart now, but playing better than I've ever played in my life. And yet I've got no need to prove it.

Anyone else out there like me?
 
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IM 40 and consider myself a basement player, nothing to prove, no team drama, or league bullshit, I have more fun taking the local talent to my basement to see how they do in a 5-10hr set. Ive found most players fade at about 3-4hr mark. I do that almost every nite.
 
I am at the moment, but I hope this changes in the future.

However, I always feel the need to prove myself to myself, and you can only do this by playing other players I reckon. You don't have the same pressure playing yourself and you might think your playing better then ever, but you don't know for sure till you play quality opponents, just to see if you can emulate what you do in practice in tournament style conditions. Just my 2 cents
 
yes u r right thats why you bring them to your house, occasionally I play tournys and always do well, I feel all u need is the love of the game, my practice, tourny games are almost the same now. I just always try my best on each shot regardless where Im at.
 
I play a lot at home by myself, but I also go to my friend's house and play and vice-versa. He's a good enough player to keep me working on my game and trying to stay a step ahead of him. We both used to play out more and were on the same team in a league about 12 years ago. Now, at 41 with kids and a new business, it is hard to find the time just to play him once a week.
 
I don't have any pool rooms close by so I play by myself.I play the ghost most of the time.I put presure on myself
by pretending I'm playing Archer or Reyes.It makes it more fun and
helps me concentrate on playing.
 
I think there are a lot on AZ that could have made almost your exact same post. I wasn't a good big table player like yourself but I hit the bars in 36 states over the years. Johnnyt
 
I'm exactly like is described by the original poster. No need to play against anybody and put up with the crap that I find in the ph. Once in a blue moon I have a friend over or a grandson might visit and we'll play but I spend all my pool table time just enjoying the practice and having fun making the things happen on the table that I want to have happen. I play much better than at any other time in my life and don't need to prove it to anybody and don't need to know what "speed" I play. Now it's pure love of the game with out the head games. I was this way back in the day at the ph but people wouldn't leave me alone to practice and I quit going.
 
I play solo as well. I prefer the technical aspects of the game, and I don't want to spend half of the limited time I have for pool watching someone else shoot.

Nobody likes losing, and frankly I don't get much pleasure out of putting someone in the role of loser. So, I pass on the competitive aspects of the game.

Maybe some day I will want to use pool to socialize, but for now I spend my entire work week in the company of others, and enjoy the solitude at the table.
 
I'm a total basement player. Just an old fart who loves the game. Whats great you can always improve. Think I'll go chalk up. :grin:
 
skip said:
I'm a total basement player. Just an old fart who loves the game. Whats great you can always improve. Think I'll go chalk up. :grin:
Click to expand...

Chalk'n up at 7:11 am! Ah'm lovin it. My practice goes from 5 am to 6 am, then again late in the day if I have time/energy to do more. I get up at 4:15 am so I can come to az with my coffee, then practice and then walk with my dog for an hour, and get to the office by 7:30 am or 8 am at the latest.

A year ago I told Sailor that I did my practicing at 5 am and he was aghast! First he wondered outloud why I was up all night and waited until so late to practice and when he found out I was getting up that early he really was blow away... him being in his 80's and still sleeping till late morning so I suppose he's still staying up real late... just like back when he ran the ph for many years.
 
I'm definately in the same boat as you guys. I have my tight 9footer in the basement and I battle the ghost every day. I go out to the tourneys on weekends, and try to gamble when I can, but there is nothing like the peace and solitude of my basement. I have a buddy that comes over for 1 pocket wars, but thats about it.

I played some 10ball sets this weekend with a good player and I forgot how frustrating the "roll" factor was!!!....

maybe I'll just switch to 1 pocket and do away with all that junk! :)

G.
 
To clarify my opening post

Even though I haven't played publicly in several years since getting my table, I stay interested in the game and attend the DCC yearly, as well as some women's events. And I always travel with two cues, just in case.

Last year I intended to play in the AZ room, but it was always occupied. So I never unzipped my case.

And just for the record, I'm competitive as hell. I hate losing. But I no longer care to inflict that feeling on others, so my gambling days are over.

OK, time to hit the basement and start bangin'.
 
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Looks like I'm a basement player as well. I too have a buddy that comes over every Friday night. He brings the beer. I supply the harder stuff, the table and the tunes. My kids are showing a passing interest so maybe I'll have some new action before long :). The other six days a week I'll practice when I can. I even started playing a little 9 ball the other day. Still can't stand the game but I'm trying.

Cheers,
RG
 
I feel lucky just to have a table, 8' Kasson. Very seldom do I actually play someone on it but I use it every day. If I feel like hitting a few balls it's there, how can you beat that. FYI the nearest room is about 50 miles away. There is a 7' 9 ball league that I play in during the summer, can't play winters because we go to Arizona where I play on mostly 9' tables.
 
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