How to find a game

[CaptainPots]

I’m not sure about the scene in the US but when I’ve travelled around Europe, usually decent players on table around me would come right over and ask to play either for money or for fun.

Any tips for going to a distant city and finding somebody to shoot with other than joining an organized league? Such as Nashville, TN. If you show up at a small bar with your own cue and look for a game, some badass could think you are a hustler from the getgo and bad vibes could abound. I don't know, I'm just wondering, as I have spent plenty of time in dive bars lol and even I have been accused of being a hustler and I'm no expert, just better than Billy Badass and I got on a roll. Seriously, I would like to play with some decent players for pool and the social aspect.

 

[Mkindsv]

There's always some reasonable speed player that has no money and would love to play you for some table time. I always go in to the hall, get a rack, shoot alone for a little bit while everyone judges my speed, usually within an hour someone will walk up wanting to shoot, or gamble...just be OK with paying for the table you were playing on anyway.

 

[Rickhem]

When you go to a different place, post on here "I will be in so and so for this long, with a car/no car/large bird I can hang on to" and likely someone will be familiar with a palace and may meet you. I for one enjoy meeting new players and showing them around my local rooms. Met up with a nice guy from Germany this way that was visiting near me and we played a few times while he was here.

As far as just paying random people, especially in bars, just put up your quarters and don't be shy chatting and bullshitting with the people, if you see someone decent playing along at a real pool hall ask if they want to play for a bit. A lot won't even want to gamble. Heck, I've seen a group of 3 players in a place that was new to me and I asked if they would like to play some doubles with me as a 4th, got a nice game for a hour or two.

I did exactly what is suggested here when I traveled to Shreveport for work. I got more than a few good suggestions for where to go, including what nights the local in-house tournaments were. I even got to spend an evening with a top cue builder who did more than a little work on a shaft I brought down with me.

I just told people I was in the area for work, and enjoyed playing pool. I found people willing to play every place I went, and nobody even mentioned gambling. I even played in a couple of the in-house tournaments and made some new friends in the process.

Bottom line is that if you're a good guy, you'll meet good guys (and vice-versa).

 

[tucson9ball]

Any tips for going to a distant city and finding somebody to shoot with other than joining an organized league? Such as Nashville, TN. If you show up at a small bar with your own cue and look for a game, some badass could think you are a hustler from the getgo and bad vibes could abound. I don't know, I'm just wondering, as I have spent plenty of time in dive bars lol and even I have been accused of being a hustler and I'm no expert, just better than Billy Badass and I got on a roll. Seriously, I would like to play with some decent players for pool and the social aspect.

I've played a few guys from this site that were just traveling through town or moving here. Just say where you are going to and I'm sure some AZB user will meet up with you.
From this one encounter you can usually get a good idea of where you will stack up in the pool scene also.
Good luck.....