Thoughts on this, please.
best,
brian kc
best,
brian kc
People Who Bring Their Own Balls To Pool Hall...
- Thread starter Kickin' Chicken
- Start date
My wife does not let me leave the house with balls.
Funny Story
Years ago, I think I was in the "AZ Room" and John Schmidt came in to beat some balls around.
As soon as he gets in there he opens his box of balls and then plugs a cleaner in the wall and starts to run the ball cleaner for a few minutes, then removes the balls wipes them down with a cloth and starts tossing them on the table.
I was like everyone else in the room, stopped playing and wondered what in the hell was he doing? I mean bringing your own balls to play, odd but okay, but bringing your own balls, a ball cleaner, and clothes to wipe then down afterwards seemed a little extreme.
Silly AZ players, we just put balls on the table and play.....
Always learning.
Ken
Years ago, I think I was in the "AZ Room" and John Schmidt came in to beat some balls around.
As soon as he gets in there he opens his box of balls and then plugs a cleaner in the wall and starts to run the ball cleaner for a few minutes, then removes the balls wipes them down with a cloth and starts tossing them on the table.
I was like everyone else in the room, stopped playing and wondered what in the hell was he doing? I mean bringing your own balls to play, odd but okay, but bringing your own balls, a ball cleaner, and clothes to wipe then down afterwards seemed a little extreme.
Silly AZ players, we just put balls on the table and play.....
Always learning.
Ken
Nothing wrong or odd with that, if the place has good tables but beat-up balls. Or even decent tables and beat-up or cheap ball sets. I bring my Aramith set with us when we go to play with my son every so often to one room we go to regularly. I've seen people just bring the measles cueball to use, which makes a bit less sense.
This reminds me to start bringing Aramith ball cleaner and a cloth in my case. Thanks.
For those that play recreationally, bringing in your own set of pool balls sounds fine.
For anyone that would play in tournaments or leagues, it would seem to hamper your game. Learning to quickly adjust to different pool tables, balls, conditions, etc. is part of the game.
If you only play with pristine equipment, going out and playing with sub-par equipment can be a bit of a shock.
It all depends on what you're wanting from the game. If you're only doing it with friends and family, then having your own stuff may be the most fun.
If you're playing tournaments and leagues, playing with varied equipment and conditions will strengthen your game.
my $.02
For anyone that would play in tournaments or leagues, it would seem to hamper your game. Learning to quickly adjust to different pool tables, balls, conditions, etc. is part of the game.
If you only play with pristine equipment, going out and playing with sub-par equipment can be a bit of a shock.
It all depends on what you're wanting from the game. If you're only doing it with friends and family, then having your own stuff may be the most fun.
If you're playing tournaments and leagues, playing with varied equipment and conditions will strengthen your game.
my $.02
I have a set of Centennials that I used to take to the pool hall every time I played. I use the term "pool hall" loosely. You can think of the place more like a bar and music venue that happened to have 10 Diamond Professionals. They didn't clean the balls, maintain the equipment at all, and they let the college bangers run amok. I got tired of chipped up balls with barbecue sauce fingerprints. Since I moved, I don't need to take them to the new pool hall anymore. They actually take care of their equipment and clean the balls regularly. I will still take them when I want to spend a day doing drills, only because I want consistency every time I complete the same drills.
Theres a good reason
If you gamble and you want to play with balls that are not chipped and have been cleaned in the last year or two and that will rack tight because their still round, then you bring your own.
The down side. If the table has not been maintained and the pockets were installed poorly you will end up with ball that are chipped and scratched up. It the pockets have exposed nails, you'll hate yourself after one good outting!!
If you gamble and you want to play with balls that are not chipped and have been cleaned in the last year or two and that will rack tight because their still round, then you bring your own.
The down side. If the table has not been maintained and the pockets were installed poorly you will end up with ball that are chipped and scratched up. It the pockets have exposed nails, you'll hate yourself after one good outting!!
Lolololol. Stop it tooooo funny, but not true lol. Anyway the guy that brings his balls to the room is ALWAYS THAT GUY. Grant It, usually THAT GUY can woop up on me on the table, but HE NEVER GAMBLES so it doesn't matter lol. Then when we all leave, he's still THAT GUY LOL
justinb386
Banned
I have seen players bring in their own cue ball, but I have never seen a player bring in an entire set of balls. How often have you seen players do this?
The place I play has ball sets that may be older than me. Just for hitting them around they are ok, but the sizes vary from ball to ball and it can be hard to freeze them up. I'm too lazy to carry around a set, but if I was going to play a serious match I'd consider it.
I suspect my pool hall of using counterfeit measle balls! Also the sets are all mixed up and unmatched and the racking templates are worn out. The hall is really sliding downward lately.
I admit I'm a bit lazy, at least too lazy to bring my own balls..But I'm seriously considering it. I'm at least going to buy my own racking template, because this situation is getting ridiculous! You can't use a normal 9 ball break anymore. You have to absolutely slam the balls and hope something drops!
I admit I'm a bit lazy, at least too lazy to bring my own balls..But I'm seriously considering it. I'm at least going to buy my own racking template, because this situation is getting ridiculous! You can't use a normal 9 ball break anymore. You have to absolutely slam the balls and hope something drops!
A friend of mine does this, and we're not talking about the homemade Home Depot bucket cleaner either. He bought a Star Ball Cleaner, and always has it in his SUV. He also has two sets of balls (Aramith Tournament and Cyclop sets) in there.Years ago, I think I was in the "AZ Room" and John Schmidt came in to beat some balls around.
As soon as he gets in there he opens his box of balls and then plugs a cleaner in the wall and starts to run the ball cleaner for a few minutes, then removes the balls wipes them down with a cloth and starts tossing them on the table.
I was like everyone else in the room, stopped playing and wondered what in the hell was he doing? I mean bringing your own balls to play, odd but okay, but bringing your own balls, a ball cleaner, and clothes to wipe then down afterwards seemed a little extreme.
Silly AZ players, we just put balls on the table and play.....
Always learning.
Ken
He even brings them to the local bar. Nobody seems to bat an eye... anymore.
Freddie
For the past 5 years, I bring my own set of Centennials to the pool hall.
If my locker at Blue Fin Billiards was larger, I'd keep a set at the pool hall.
I currently own 3 sets of Centennials.....one used & two brand new sets.
After Xmas, I'll sell the set currently in use and rotate in a new set of balls.
The balls are transported in a Aramith case that holds 2 cue balls and room
for the Aramith cleaner bottle. It is a durable case and works really well.
Why do I carry my own pool balls? The same reason I have my own table
brushes and micro cloths to clean the pool table at the pool hall if it's needed.
I enjoy playing on a table where my hands remain a lot cleaner, little chalk
debris from previous players that often are very messy and they have horrible
chalking habits as evidenced by the mess they make,and the pool balls are the
same size and weight as each other (matched) and are clean. It's.very important.
So when I choose a cue to play with and remove it from my case, I know exactly
what I will be playing with. The same applies to my other equipment, i.e., pool balls.
The balls are not sticky, marked up or dinged, or have disproportionate weights and
sizes, and the set I play with looks the best of any designs I've seen bar none. I just
think the Centennial design is the classiest and best looking of all the other brands.
Naturally, at a tournament, one has to play with what is put before you but when I
have the option of using my own pool balls, unless the set at the pool hall was a set
of Centennials, well, then I'm playing with my set for the pure enjoyment of the game.
Matt B.
If my locker at Blue Fin Billiards was larger, I'd keep a set at the pool hall.
I currently own 3 sets of Centennials.....one used & two brand new sets.
After Xmas, I'll sell the set currently in use and rotate in a new set of balls.
The balls are transported in a Aramith case that holds 2 cue balls and room
for the Aramith cleaner bottle. It is a durable case and works really well.
Why do I carry my own pool balls? The same reason I have my own table
brushes and micro cloths to clean the pool table at the pool hall if it's needed.
I enjoy playing on a table where my hands remain a lot cleaner, little chalk
debris from previous players that often are very messy and they have horrible
chalking habits as evidenced by the mess they make,and the pool balls are the
same size and weight as each other (matched) and are clean. It's.very important.
So when I choose a cue to play with and remove it from my case, I know exactly
what I will be playing with. The same applies to my other equipment, i.e., pool balls.
The balls are not sticky, marked up or dinged, or have disproportionate weights and
sizes, and the set I play with looks the best of any designs I've seen bar none. I just
think the Centennial design is the classiest and best looking of all the other brands.
Naturally, at a tournament, one has to play with what is put before you but when I
have the option of using my own pool balls, unless the set at the pool hall was a set
of Centennials, well, then I'm playing with my set for the pure enjoyment of the game.
Matt B.
ON LEAGUE NIGHT.....
I bring my own stick because the house sticks are not good.
I bring my own chalk because the house chalk is not good.
I bring my own balls because the house balls are not good.
I bring my own rack because the house rack is not good.
If I could bring my own rails and cloth and switch them out I would.
I bring my own stick because the house sticks are not good.
I bring my own chalk because the house chalk is not good.
I bring my own balls because the house balls are not good.
I bring my own rack because the house rack is not good.
If I could bring my own rails and cloth and switch them out I would.
I didn't bother taking out my 3rd set for this photo but as you can see,
the Aramith Case works great. I've been trying to find a case maker to
build me a leather case like the Aramith or some equivalent but never
found anyone interested in tackling this but Aramith's case works great.
Matt B.
the Aramith Case works great. I've been trying to find a case maker to
build me a leather case like the Aramith or some equivalent but never
found anyone interested in tackling this but Aramith's case works great.
Matt B.
Attachments
I'm quite surprised by this thread, I would have assumed AZ members would probably all have their own set!
Over here (in the UK) the quality of standard club balls (and often tables) is awful, they tend to not rack properly (always seem a fraction to small) on a magic rack too which is annoying!
So anyone that plays tournaments is likely to have their own set, or practice with someone else who does.
A lot depends on the quality of balls at the club, there is one club I play in where they have a decent set of balls on the main table, so I wouldn't bother taking mine if I expect to be able to get on that!
Maybe in the US the quality of balls in pool clubs is better so less people (% wise) feel the need to have their own set!
Over here (in the UK) the quality of standard club balls (and often tables) is awful, they tend to not rack properly (always seem a fraction to small) on a magic rack too which is annoying!
So anyone that plays tournaments is likely to have their own set, or practice with someone else who does.
A lot depends on the quality of balls at the club, there is one club I play in where they have a decent set of balls on the main table, so I wouldn't bother taking mine if I expect to be able to get on that!
Maybe in the US the quality of balls in pool clubs is better so less people (% wise) feel the need to have their own set!
Funny, this thread shows up today......
Last night was the first night I took my Centennials to league.
Last week I swore, I would not play with mismatch, nasty brickhouse shit balls again.
I spend 4 hrs each on Mondays/Thursdays, and I'm sick of it.
I spend more time cleaning balls, than playing.
What the **** is so difficult about maintaining your equipment? Some of these places just don't give a crap.
Next week, I'm taking my Shop Vac........
Now, at the Michigan Student Union Hall, they have a list you can get on, that allows you to play with premium balls, which is a great idea.
They have a few Supers and Cenns'.... You check em out, and are responsible for them, until you return them.
Last night was the first night I took my Centennials to league.
Last week I swore, I would not play with mismatch, nasty brickhouse shit balls again.
I spend 4 hrs each on Mondays/Thursdays, and I'm sick of it.
I spend more time cleaning balls, than playing.
What the **** is so difficult about maintaining your equipment? Some of these places just don't give a crap.
Next week, I'm taking my Shop Vac........
Now, at the Michigan Student Union Hall, they have a list you can get on, that allows you to play with premium balls, which is a great idea.
They have a few Supers and Cenns'.... You check em out, and are responsible for them, until you return them.
I take my own set of which I have several mit assorted CBs.
I usually play with a set of Super Aramiths and a RC because if someone wants to play they won't raise an eyebrow. Before the DCC I play with a Cyclop set with a zit CB. If I'm going to a room with pygmy CBs, I have one of those too, or a measles ball.
If nothing else, playing with your own set eliminates one excuse. It's also nice because low milage, polished balls rack better and the racks break apart nicer. One udder thing: I carry two RC CBs. One is for 1pocket and 14.1. But occasionally someone wants to play 9ball or 8ball and I will switch to CB #2 so that they can chew it up with their uber hard break cue tip. Afterwards I can go back to my nice unchewed RC and get minimal skids.
Lou Figueroa