One Foot On The Floor

HawaiianEye

HawaiianEye

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've shot pool since the 60s and played in bars and pool halls in numerous states and in several different countries, but I don't recall seeing people play like they do here in Hawaii.

I guess there is no such thing as a "one foot on the floor" rule here unless it is some kind of major tournament. I've seen people literally climb on top of the table and sit in the center (between the side pockets) in order to reach a shot. If they are playing each other for money, they are INSISTENT that they be allowed to climb on the tables. I guess the local players (mostly Asian descent) consider themselves too short for a 9-foot table or either they can't use the bridge...I've never seen anything like it.

I learned to play pool in a pool hall as a kid, then worked there, and we were taught (signs on the wall, owner screaming at your ass, etc.) that there was no climbing on tables (or sitting on the edge for that matter). We would warn you once or twice and if you still didn't get the message, we would make you quit playing or throw you out if you got lippy about it.

The pool hall I currently play in is "Hawaiian Brian's"...one of the best money players in the world in the 60s and 70s. The tables are in good shape for the most part, but if I owned the place I'd damn sure make a rule about people climbing all over the tables.

Seeing people abuse the equipment gives me a case of the ass...even if I don't own the place or work there. I remember having to fix all the stuff when I worked in one (broken sticks, chipped balls from bouncing the on the floor, uneven tables from people sitting on the edges, loose rails, etc.). I guess I tend to be old school and treat the equipment like it was my own. I prefer playing with equipment that is as close to perfect playing conditions as possible and I can't get into the mindset of the people who don't give a damn about other people's stuff.
 
Totally agree with you. Have only EVER heard of "one foot on the floor". A taller player might be able to put quite a bit of body on the table reaching for that shot, but that foot still has to be on the floor. No way would I let somebody sit in the middle of the table for a shot.

I've watched plenty of the top pros play in person, and several of them are Asian and short. I played in the Sands Tournament in Reno in 97 (98?), when Rolf Soquet won. Bustamente, Reyes, Alex Pagulayan, and there are other Asian players on tour that aren't that tall. You won't see them climbing on a table.

I'd challenge their manhood with that, that you won't see the REAL players climbing on a table, why should they get to ?
 
I'm fairly certain that Boston Shorty was allowed to climb up on the tables when he played in the Jansco's Johnston City tournaments.
 
I've made games with players that ask to mount the slate at any time. And most were not short people. I've done it myself. Take off your shoes and shinny down to the far end.

You have to stroke different because you're on your haunches. It is comical when some players stretch out like a sniper. It is almost an art form avoiding the other object balls. Kind of like playing twister.

Don't knock it till you've tried it.:)

Best,
Mike
 
Totally get what HawaiianEye is talking bout. This is where practically 1/2 a butt cheek is sitting on the table.

Ah... Hawaiian Brians isnt was it used to be. But I applaud them for doing what they gotta do to keep the doors open.
 
Neil said:
As far as real players doing it. There are you tube videos out there of a number of GREAT players doing it, but I wouldn't have a clue on how to find them again.
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You're probably talking about some of the earlier IPT matches.

The IPT originally forgot to include the "one foot on the floor" rule in their rulebook, and several players noticed and took advantage. I think it was only allowed to go on for one day before the mighty Deno took notice and shut it down...

I've seen several comical youtube displays of great players crawling around on tables, but like you said, I haven't been able to find them since they were first released.
 
Mikjary said:
I've made games with players that ask to mount the slate at any time. And most were not short people. I've done it myself. Take off your shoes and shinny down to the far end.

You have to stroke different because you're on your haunches. It is comical when some players stretch out like a sniper. It is almost an art form avoiding the other object balls. Kind of like playing twister.

Don't knock it till you've tried it.:)

Best,
Mike
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I could never feel comfortable with my butt in the air like that...you never know who might be watching. ;)
 
When I grew up in Louisiana we had a rule, one foot in the pool hall. Everybody climbed up on the tables because it was hard to find a bridge in most places.
 
Played at this hall the one and only time i went to Hawaii and a lot of the players were doing this. Even the ones i gambled with. Not gonna go teh racist root here but it may have to do with how short everybody is :lol:

Just curious but is Tobias still the house pro there? If you see him tell him Jesse from Chalkers in San Francisco says hi and hopes he well :)

Thank you :)
 
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I don't think they have that rule in Russia.
 
Neil said:
From what I have seen, it is sort of a regional thing. Certain areas, it's perfectly normal and natural to climb on the table. Most areas, it's just the opposite. You climb on a table and you take your life into your own hands.

As far as real players doing it. There are you tube videos out there of a number of GREAT players doing it, but I wouldn't have a clue on how to find them again.
Click to expand...

In the IPT 8 ball championship, IPT had their own rules and insisted that they were the complete rules for the tournament. They forgot to put in "on foot on the floor" rule. During play. both Nick Varner and Jose Parica, I think, had obviously actually read the rules, realized this omission and played shots laying on the table.

Rules were changed the next day.
 
Recently, Top player Neil Fujiwara moved from Florida to Hawaii and this was one of the first things mentioned when he went into H.B. Here is the pic he posted on his Facebook page,
 

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What Island are you shooting on? I'm on Oahu and have only been playing pool for around 25 years, but I've never really seen anyone climb the table to make a shot. One foot on the floor has been the standard wherever I shot pool. I played out of Corner Pocket in the late 80's/early 90s. Then to A Velvet Touch, and occasionally at Brian's. Lately I've been playing APA Barbox 8-Ball, but I haven't encountered anyone that doesn't know the one foot on the ground rule yet. By the way I'm a short Asian at 5'4".
 
If you don't think pool players are athletes, watch a big man climb onto the table. I've seen large, heavy men jockey into position to shoot a shot like they were on a tightwire. Then, cut a thin shot and gingerly avoid all the moving balls on the way off of the table.

Climbing onto the table and shooting the shot is the easy part. You still have to get out of the way of traffic. :grin: Even if you've played the game for many years, you can't say you've done it all until you try this.

Best,
Mike

Disclaimer...Mikjary does not advocate climbing onto pool tables. But, it is a lark! :wink: So don't blame me when you get into trouble for doing it.
 
the reason ive been told since i was a kid is that, climbing the table in hawaiian brians is allowed because Aki is very short and he allowed it purely so that he could climb on the table.
 
I was playing in a room one time and they told me the rule was you had to have one foot on the floor so I hopped around shooting on one leg the rest of the evening until someone explained to me what the rule meant.
 
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