Joined a Straight Pool league

9andout

9andout

Gunnin' for a 3 pack!!
Silver Member
Not an earth shattering topic but.....
It's not 8ball or 9ball.
It's at an actual Pool Hall.
It's also played on 9' tables.
The above points are complained about a lot on here.
Because they are rare in most parts these days.
There is also no bar and no music.
I'm still adjusting to the no bar part! Ha
 
I don't see the point in playing in a league of any kind if there is no bar. Defeats every purpose of a league.
 
9andout said:
Not an earth shattering topic but.....
It's not 8ball or 9ball.
It's at an actual Pool Hall.
It's also played on 9' tables.
The above points are complained about a lot on here.
Because they are rare in most parts these days.
There is also no bar and no music.
I'm still adjusting to the no bar part! Ha
Click to expand...

What I didn't like about it is the 150 score for the quality of players that play in it. Not too many people that can run more than a rack. Makes for a long game for the non-handicapped player. But, it's been that way for a long time, so I guess it's just sour grapes on my part:groucho:
 
9andout said:
Not an earth shattering topic but.....
It's not 8ball or 9ball.
It's at an actual Pool Hall.
It's also played on 9' tables.
The above points are complained about a lot on here.
Because they are rare in most parts these days.
There is also no bar and no music.
I'm still adjusting to the no bar part! Ha
Click to expand...

Its cool that you are giving it a try. I am not even close to a straight pool league or any other league for that matter. Straight pool is my worst game and I don't seem to get better even though I try and try. Imho having a coach would make a world of difference.
Please let us know how it goes.:cool:
 
claymont said:
What I didn't like about it is the 150 score for the quality of players that play in it. Not too many people that can run more than a rack. Makes for a long game for the non-handicapped player. But, it's been that way for a long time, so I guess it's just sour grapes on my part:groucho:
Click to expand...
I will find out I guess. Met Jerry tonight.
I want to force myself to play out more. Take my lumps and learn the game better.
Last night was a good start.

Cuebuddy said:
Its cool that you are giving it a try. I am not even close to a straight pool league or any other league for that matter. Straight pool is my worst game and I don't seem to get better even though I try and try. Imho having a coach would make a world of difference.
Please let us know how it goes.:cool:
Click to expand...
First league I ever played in. Place is right in my way home. No excuses haha.
Will let you know. Thanks.
 
9andout said:
I will find out I guess. Met Jerry tonight.
I want to force myself to play out more. Take my lumps and learn the game better.
Last night was a good start.


First league I ever played in. Place is right in my way home. No excuses haha.
Will let you know. Thanks.
Click to expand...


You'll love it....just don't drink too much coffee....lol.

I played almost 3 years in a straight pool league. Learned more from that league, than 10+ years in BCA/APA.

Eye opening experience.....Have Fun.
 
9andout said:
Not an earth shattering topic but.....
It's not 8ball or 9ball.
It's at an actual Pool Hall.
It's also played on 9' tables.
The above points are complained about a lot on here.
Because they are rare in most parts these days.
There is also no bar and no music.
I'm still adjusting to the no bar part! Ha
Click to expand...

We had one in our area, along with a one pocket league, but they did not last. I think both had maybe a dozen players. Our USAPL LO actually got them sanctioned for ratings and year end prizes but they did not last. We also have a snooker latter although that is not very active.

You'd like our league, 9,8,10 ball, 9 ball is played with called 9 ball, rest are all called shot and 10 ball is called shot and called safe.

Hopefully your straight pool league lasts longer than ours did.
 
Cuebuddy said:
Its cool that you are giving it a try. I am not even close to a straight pool league or any other league for that matter. Straight pool is my worst game and I don't seem to get better even though I try and try. Imho having a coach would make a world of difference.
Please let us know how it goes.:cool:
Click to expand...

There are unlimited straight pool matches on YouTube that provide valuable info on playing the game, and will help anyone who doesn't understand how to excel in straight pool. Any match with Thorsten Hohmann is 101 for pattern play. Bobby Hunter is mentioned in a post in this stream - another player worth watching.

All for free at your leisure.
 
I believe Edgies in Milpitas, CA at one time had a straight pool league as well. They had beer and music also.
 
alstl said:
Is that the league Bobby Hunter plays in? Tough league with a former world champion as a member.
Click to expand...

This RedShoes league has brutal competition, handful of guys can give Bobby all he can handle. I get a lot of practice racking.
 
Yes...there are a few players that can give Bobby a run for the money....actually in all the sessions Bobby played he won only ONCE (maybe twice). We have 2 STRAIGHT POOL LEAGUES @ Red Shoes Billiards.....Monday Night (handicapped) and Wednesday (open). The designated "league night" doesn't really make a difference though because ALL PLAYERS are given a schedule with WHO they are supposed to play EACH WEEK. They also get PHONE NUMBERS and EMAIL ADDRESSES. The players really set their own schedules. I wish when I started to play (in the 60's) that there was something like this....being able to play a whole bunch of players (varying styles and skill levels) each week for a SET PRICE (league fee). Had there been something like that....I might have learned to make more than 3 balls in a row. Much of the leagues success is due to RICH KLEIN and DENNIS WALSH (who also run the 14.1 CHALLENGE at DCC) they actually do all the work on the leagues statistics and scoring. The rest of the credit is owed to the PLAYERS THEMSELVES.....GOOD LUCK in your 14.1 quest.
 
There are four rooms in this area (around San Francisco) that have 14.1 leagues. The leagues have been in operation (at various rooms, some now closed) since about 1995. There is a website that will show you the record and ratings for some of them: http://aspastats.appspot.com/

The site keeps track of season records including high runs, adjusts the handicaps automatically based on performance, and suggests handicapped matches. Here is the record page for the league I run at California Billiards in Fremont: http://aspastats.appspot.com/Cal/ At the bottom of the page is a link for "suggest matches" that will give a fair matchup. What is called a "handicap" there is actually the equivalent of a Fargo Rating.

The three rooms listed there are in Fremont, Sunnyvale and Merced. In addition there is a separate league at Crown Billiards in San Ramon that uses basically the same handicapping system but does not use the record-keeping site.

The June column in this file: http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/2003.pdf discusses how the system works.

I run the league in Fremont -- we are about to start a new season -- and play in the one in San Ramon.
 
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One last thing... At least two of the leagues (San Ramon and Fremont) do not charge any greens fees. The entry fees ($10/player/match) are all paid out as prizes at the end of the season.
 
9andout said:
Not an earth shattering topic but.....
It's not 8ball or 9ball.
It's at an actual Pool Hall.
It's also played on 9' tables.
The above points are complained about a lot on here.
Because they are rare in most parts these days.
There is also no bar and no music.
I'm still adjusting to the no bar part! Ha
Click to expand...

Lucky you, have fun, I Know I would love it
Sounds like my kinda joint
 
Well, maybe one more thing. All of the rooms serve at least beer. California Billiards and Crown Billiards have full bars -- not sure about the other two.
 
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