Not that many before I put my tail between my legs and quit. Maybe seven or eight. He was running eight and out rack after rack and easily overcoming my breaks. It was a drubbing!
My L.A. trip and tight pockets
- Thread starter jtompilot
- Start date
Hawthorne runs parallel with Western, both run north and south. It is in the same little strip mall at the corner of Torrance and Hawthorne Blvds.Are they really still on that stretch before the bend that runs across Western? I somehow got the impression they had relocated to the north/south segment. I remember the original place was in some strip mall or something and the owner parked his Merc on the curb right outside.
As for Vic and Al, I was never in the loop, just enamored of players that could string racks. I never even made it to Hollywood Billiards - had no idea where it was. I did run into a guitarist that told me it was above a rehearsal studio on Sunset. Probably a good thing your place escaped my curiosity.
Chohan must've been a shock. Did he soft break you? Last one hole move I learned. Worse than golf. lol...
After the first four games he gave me the break. It made no difference. I was breaking good, leaving a ball on the end rail close to my pocket. He would then come off a ball near the side pocket (on my side) and draw the cue down and stick it behind the ball close to my pocket. I couldn't believe he could keep doing that, but he did, game after game. He had effectively reversed the break on me and left me in a very bad spot. I had no shot!
New Orleans. Action central, 24/7.
Interesting that Tony was using that gambit. That ball is always there. I wonder why nobody does that now. ?
Hawthorne. Does that turn into PCH or something? I remember (now vaguely lol) going around the bend and coming across Western where Baz 10 was up the hill.
Yes, Hawthorne does cross PCH in south Torrance. You may be right. They could meet up down there in San Pedro near the end of both roads. I think you confused Mr. Luckys with Baz10.
Nah. No confusing Baz 10. That's up the hill by itself. It was on Western? I think the pic in the Luckys website made me think it was a different part of Torrance. I don't know why I'm expecting it to look the same 50 yrs later
I agree that its possible Ernesto didn't tighten the tables, but someone there said he did. I have heard Ernesto does great work, so I was surprised to see the pockets cut that way. Maybe someone reading this can ask Ernesto about the pockets.
Pics?
I had Ernesto tighten up two GC2's to 41/4". I then had him open them back up to 41/2" the following year. I found that those tighter pockets only appeal to advanced players. My theory is that in the pool room business you want novice players to enjoy themselves and that translates to scoring (not picking up girls LOL) but making balls. Tighter pockets are overrated IMO.
I wish that was true. Almost everywhere I go it’s the C and B- players are attracted to the tight tables like flies to $hit. Here’s my most recent experience.
Sandcastle Billiards. 3 3/4” corners. Two C players playing on the tightest table.
Iron City Billiards. Two 3 3/4” tables, both tables being played on by C and B players, not the ProCut tables.
Mr. Lucky’s all three tight tables being played on.
Sportsman family, the three tight tables being used. Had to ask the C player if he wouldn’t giving up the table for action.
Hi Jerry, how have you been hitting em?
yes having a few tight pockets is good for the dedicated one pocket players that want those. and if time is by the hour then they play longer as the games take longer. as long as they stay full when the other tables are empty.
but many of those rooms also have all the tables fairly tight , and those few tables one pocket tables are most of their business.
but the rest of your tables in a room should actually have oversized pockets by todays standard for the fun players. more like 5 inch plus.
if all your tables fill up regularly, unless those tight ones are also full when the others are then its okay. other wise you drive away the real money spenders from your place. they may eat drink and play all night with multiple players on a table paying. they are your core business and all the eggs in your basket.
and while i am at it clean your tables and balls and throw out those chalk pieces that have the last 5 cents worth in the bottom. thats an insult to even the worst players. along with slip on tips on the house cues. no wonder rooms go broke and blame it on the rent instead of the owner.
ask jay if in his room he used chalk till it fell apart and slip on tips on filthy house cues. dirty tables and balls and had a nasty minimum wage guy running the room most all the day.
but many of those rooms also have all the tables fairly tight , and those few tables one pocket tables are most of their business.
but the rest of your tables in a room should actually have oversized pockets by todays standard for the fun players. more like 5 inch plus.
if all your tables fill up regularly, unless those tight ones are also full when the others are then its okay. other wise you drive away the real money spenders from your place. they may eat drink and play all night with multiple players on a table paying. they are your core business and all the eggs in your basket.
and while i am at it clean your tables and balls and throw out those chalk pieces that have the last 5 cents worth in the bottom. thats an insult to even the worst players. along with slip on tips on the house cues. no wonder rooms go broke and blame it on the rent instead of the owner.
ask jay if in his room he used chalk till it fell apart and slip on tips on filthy house cues. dirty tables and balls and had a nasty minimum wage guy running the room most all the day.
Players of all levels believe playing on a super tight table will magically make them better. Some of these players couldn’t run 5 balls on 5-1/2” buckets!
Pockets that are too tight turn the game into something that is not pool.
You need to be able to work the CB but if the pockets are too tight you’re reduced to using center ball and concentrating on just pocketing the ball rather than pocketing the ball and playing position.
And as previously mentioned, tight pockets frustrate the average player out for a night. I don’t think that’s good for business or the game in general.
Lou Figueroa
You need to be able to work the CB but if the pockets are too tight you’re reduced to using center ball and concentrating on just pocketing the ball rather than pocketing the ball and playing position.
And as previously mentioned, tight pockets frustrate the average player out for a night. I don’t think that’s good for business or the game in general.
Lou Figueroa
The prep rises logrithmically but with the exception of rail and side pocket shots where the object ball just won't fit, all the pool is still doable.
Much, much harder to execute for most players.
The pros not so much.
Lou Figueroa
I keep hearing that. Ignoring casual self entertainment types, it's not anymore difficult for a regular player to tackle the details of pool than it is for the beaterly gifted. For all the variances in pool shots, the outcomes for a given strike will remain constant. The gifted will finish far ahead but the regular player will evolve rather than stagnate.
banking a ball in the top of the stack and sticking there is more popular now. pro one pocket definitely has become more aggressive (and accurate).
The thing is the majority of players, at many different levels, don’t have access to tables with unusually tight pockets and don’t have the opportunity to “evolve.”
It’s like saying pool is the same on a 10’ as it it is on a 9’. Well OK, but most players will never get the chance to practice, play, and much less compete on a 10’ table so “evolving” is not a likely outcome.
Lou Figueroa
Lots of folks here in LA have tight tables at home.
My restored Gold Crown I with 4.125" corners and 4.875" sides.
From the overhead pocket photo, I’m guessing your facing angles appear to be no more than 138°, which is why your table should play very fair. Believe me, at 4-1/8” and 142° facing angles, it would play brutally tough.Lots of folks here in LA have tight tables at home.
My restored Gold Crown I with 4.125" corners and 4.875" sides.