Playing Glasses

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DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I saw this talked about on another thread a few weeks ago. I made a note to bring this up but I forgot all about it and just ran across the note I made to myself. So here goes.

Do they make glasses designed specially for pool players? Glasses where when you bend over they are in the right place and you dont have to adjust?

r/DCP
 
Yes they do. There are a few companies that market them specifically for pool.

I talked with my eye doc and she agreed with the concept, and cut a script for glasses that put my bifocal higher up in the lens. I bought a pair with that script, found a cheap set of frames that had larger lenses then my usual ones, and would rest higher on my nose. They do a fine job. I'd hate to try and shoot without them now.
 
I ordered a pair from this company:

They work okay, but they look a bit "funny". Kind-of like when George Kastanza was wearing "lady-glasses". LOL

I tried 4 different pairs of glasses and now I'm wearing contact lenses for pool and they work the best for me.
 
Holy Hooligan, they are expensive!

I didnt realize they would cost that much. I'd sure like to try a pair before I spend that much loot.

r/DCP
 
Likely a bit ‘off topic’, but I have often wondered if there are aspects of ‘achievement’ at pool that become ultra-developed by those players with hindered vision (?). Partial paralytics often gain (unbalanced) muscle mass, deafness can make you more aware of your environment, etc. If you can’t see well enough to sink those long shots, does your position/pattern play improve enough to compensate?
 
I bought frames and lenses specifically for riding the sport-bike (Ninja ZX-14R), i.e., leaning over the tank while needing to look forward -- just like shooting pool. Oakley 143 OX5067-0251 Satin Black
 
Get_A_Grip said:
I ordered a pair from this company:

They work okay, but they look a bit "funny". Kind-of like when George Kastanza was wearing "lady-glasses". LOL

I tried 4 different pairs of glasses and now I'm wearing contact lenses for pool and they work the best for me.
Click to expand...
i have glasses from curran and this guy
i would buy from this guy in the future
 
DynoDan said:
Likely a bit ‘off topic’, but I have often wondered if there are aspects of ‘achievement’ at pool that become ultra-developed by those players with hindered vision (?). Partial paralytics often gain (unbalanced) muscle mass, deafness can make you more aware of your environment, etc. If you can’t see well enough to sink those long shots, does your position/pattern play improve enough to compensate?
Click to expand...
for self experimental data i have records of me playing under various conditions. like one period only using one eye, or aiming blind folded. i encourage you to try and commit at least 20 hours of play with some modification to your natural physical gifts.
 
Here's the smart hack. Get pair of cheap readers. Add eyeglass strap. Wear upside down. No pool playing obstruction.
Get biggest lenses you can, and frames with straight ear hooks
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
I saw this talked about on another thread a few weeks ago. I made a note to bring this up but I forgot all about it and just ran across the note I made to myself. So here goes.

Do they make glasses designed specially for pool players? Glasses where when you bend over they are in the right place and you dont have to adjust?

r/DCP
Click to expand...
I've gone through this. Years ago, I tried the other one GetAGrip mentioned. Those glasses looked way too tall and everything was super distorted. I sent them back and got most of my money back with some effort. He didn't offer any customizations.

About 6 months ago, I got glasses from Bill Curran Opticians (https://www.billiardglasses.com/) via mail order and am presently getting a different frame for them (see pic of mine below). They are very expensive for sure. In my case, I didn't like the look of overly tall glasses that sit an inch above your eyebrows, which is the stock design he offers. So, he custom built my glasses to be shorter. They sit just a tiny bit above my eyebrow line, so they look close to normal everyday glasses (mine are 2 mm higher than my dress glasses). The good thing about Bill Curran is that he will keep re-making them until you like them. He made three revisions in total for me and right now I'm switching my frames to a hinge-less one. Each time, you just mail him back the old pair and mails out another pair with the tweaks you need.

The hinge-less frame (Pro-Am series) also has different nose bridge widths. If you are very nearsighted like me, you may need to keep the lenses slightly narrower than ideal to prevent really thick edges, which in turn cause distorted vision. Because I needed to keep width down, the temples on the first frame are bowed out slightly and the ear hooks are not sitting directly on my ears. The pro-am series frame has a wider nose bridge option and more flexible temples, so that the ear hooks should sit properly on my ears. I'm still in the process of getting this new frame. Hopefully, it fixes the issue of the ear hooks.

The lens quality is tremendous, and there are no rims around edges. He does adjust the focal point location a little bit, but my glasses are about same size as normal, so I doubt the adjustment is much. They also seem very durable even though there is no rim around lenses. I'm very satisfied overall. Yes, they are expensive, but he will build them exactly how you want them.


20200408_204806-1.jpg
 
I use the Bill Curran glasses too and they are great. For those that look at the price, other sports style glasses are similar in price. Also, how many people will spend $600 on a shaft or $500 for a break cue. All of that doesn't matter if you can't see well.
 
Get contacts for distance.
Yes, I have an astigmatism and was wearing bifocals.
With my contacts I can see 20/20 at the table without glasses.
Still need reading glasses for reading.
Takes a little perseverance to get used to putting them in and taking them out.
Very small price to pay to play pool with no glasses and have 20/20 vision.
I see it as a no brainer.
 
philly said:
Takes a little perseverance to get used to putting them in and taking them out.
Click to expand...
I’d rather not have this hassle. I also have dry eyes and contact lenses can bother me after wearing them for extended periods of time. So, no brainer for me. ;)
 
Another option is shooting glasses or frames made by Randolph Engineering. These are made for shooting sports, (guns) and some models have an adjustable bridge that make them perfect for pool.

They can be had at better opticians. Just explain what they are for and you get a truly custom fit. No they are not cheap. Go to Costco for cheap glasses that don't work.
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
Holy Hooligan, they are expensive!

I didnt realize they would cost that much. I'd sure like to try a pair before I spend that much loot.

r/DCP
Click to expand...
I told you how you do it more economically...if you have optical insurance, the cost shouldn't be exorbitant.
 
I'm local to Bill Curran and have been getting glasses from him since I was in 4th grade. When I started then, his dad ran the shop, then him, and now his son works there too. 3 generations. Nice family business. His pool glasses prices seem high, but that's actually what he charges for all of his regular glasses as well. There is not an upcharge for his pool glasses. I moved away from him about 10 years ago. In the interim, I tried a few other mass merchandise glasses places. After a couple of tries with them, I said forget it, and his services was worth the higher cost. Now anytime I visit my family in Philly once a year or so, I always make it a point to stop by Curran's shop for whatever I need for my pool or regular glasses.
 
The main thing you will get with pool playing glasses is you can see two things clearly at once by only moving your eyes, and not your head. So for example if you are looking at the CB and OB, you can see them both clearly by shifting your eyes. If you are looking at the OB and Pocket, you can see both of them clearly by shifting your eyes. If wearing non-pool glasses, you have to shift your head to see 2 of the 3 things clearly. I've been playing with the pool glasses for about 15 years now, and it does make it much more enjoyable to play. (I still suck though:)) Good luck.
 
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