Max Eberle on people who play on barboxes "Pool players need to grow some balls"

[fastone371]

I just don't understand the hate for barboxes (when I say barbox I mean 7' Diamond, I rarely have to play on Valleys) I have to walk down a flight of stairs to play on a nice 9 footer but I still love playing on barboxes. It is still challenging, nothing goes in by itself just because the table is smaller, I still need to play good cue ball position, maybe even better than on my 9 foot table. In fact the only difference I can see is some but not all of the shots are shorter on a barbox, everything else remains pretty much the same.

 

[SeniorTom]

Playing 10 ball or one pocket on a 9ft table is the best for one's stroke. On bar box league night, most of the better players warm up on the 9ft tables before heading for play on the 7fts.

 

[Taxi]

Great read, Taxi.

When I first learned to play pool, it was right around the corner from Randolph Hills Poolroom, at Hank’s on the Pike, a one-table tavern. I did okay on the barbox with the big cue ball. That’s where I met Tom-Tom. He was the one who took me over to the big tables at Randolph Hills… and that’s where everything changed. I was mesmerized by the big tables and the action. I’d sit on the rail for hours, just watching. Before long I started hitting balls on the 9-footers, and my game improved 1,000 percent. Back at Hank’s, I became one of the top shooters in the tavern. Loved every minute of it, beating the guys for a buck or a beer. Simple times. Good times.

Maryland used to have so many great poolrooms. Most of them around suburban D.C. are gone now. Some of the old crowd has migrated to 7 Billiards Shady Grove in Gaithersburg. Although I prefer poolrooms with no music, no alcohol, and no big-screen TVs, 7 Billiards Shady Grove does have the food, drinks, and big-screen sports, but the saving grace is there is some solid local talent there, still bringing that familiar pool high when you run out.

Some things change, but that feeling never does.


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This one's for you, JAM. I've probably shared this before, but for most of the 70's Randolph Hills was my home away from home.

Washington, DC Pool Players of the 70's.

 

[Taxi]

And a few more from a later date:

 

[overlord]

Max used to be the house pro at Hollywood Billiards back in the day.

He is an outstanding individual.

One of the things I am hearing, in his piece, is the lack of action, today in pool.

In Los Angeles action is a dead letter, for the most part.

It's hard to get a game for the time, even if you offer weight.

When the action dies in a pool hall, the pool hall dies......

A guy told me the other day that he plays for fun.

 

[JAM]

And a few more from a later date:

The first one on the left was taken in my basement. I blacked out Tom-Tom's face because he was flying under the radar at that time and didn't want to be known. Today that's impossible, thanks to the internet.

I love your photos on your website. So glad you captured those pool personalities. Those were the days.

 

[trob]

I have nothing against people who strictly play on barboxes because that's all that's available in your immediate vicinity. I appreciate your tenacity and love for the game. My goal is not to put others down. It is just frustrating that my area only caters to 7ft tourneys and it draws the most amount of people, but when there is finally a 9ft tourney, no one shows up. Then when someone wants to gamble, it's always on a 7ft table, because it's safe and an equalizer...no thanks. I'm just a product of my environment.

Around here you have to be a member of a private club or head to another town and it’s just not that important to me. I can play fine on 9 footers when I have to. If I was an aspiring pro then yes.. I would focus on big tables. But I’m not and I’m ok with that.

 

[trob]

This past weekend I saw a 745 Fargo play a 558. The race was 7-5 according to the TD. You think they should have played straight up? Not all tournaments are run that way. Everyone has to play according to how the tournament director runs his / her tournaments.

Players are usually put into divisions in tournaments according to their ability whether that would be via Fargo or say CSR. I play in no less than the top two levels in everything.

League is where pool players go to die.

I play in Wyoming and Colorado.

I would have played him straight up because that’s how you get better. I tell Apa players that if they are having fun playing Apa that’s great . The game is supposed to be about having fun but if you want to get better at some point you’ll have to stop hiding behind handicaps and play nuts up.

 

[Fore Rail]

I would have played him straight up because that’s how you get better. I tell Apa players that if they are having fun playing Apa that’s great . The game is supposed to be about having fun but if you want to get better at some point you’ll have to stop hiding behind handicaps and play nuts up.

7-7, 7-5 or whatever wouldn’t have helped the 558. He lost 7-1. According to Fargo 7-5 wasn’t anywhere near right.

In this particular instance the only thing the 558 is going to get is drilled over and over again by the 745.

 

[Jaden]

I'm lucky as fk: my local spot, Magoo's in Tulsa, has 10 nice GC4's, one 9ft ProAm and two old Pro's from the CamelTour days. 5bux/hr day rate.Schwiiiiiiiing.

Yeah Magoo's is nice, but isn't that proam a red label if I remember correctly?

 

[HawaiianEye]

I would have played him straight up because that’s how you get better. I tell Apa players that if they are having fun playing Apa that’s great . The game is supposed to be about having fun but if you want to get better at some point you’ll have to stop hiding behind handicaps and play nuts up.

I started playing pool as a kid and worked in a pool hall.

I played everyone head up, even as a kid.

Eventually, as a teenager I could beat everyone in the town and gambled even with anyone who wanted to play.

All of them started asking me for weight.

You don't really improve if you are playing people you can easily beat.

I have never asked for a spot playing anyone.