Pool hall taiwan
- Thread starter benturner
- Start date
Taipei
I played at a pool room in Jungli (Jhongli, Zhongli), west of Taipei several years ago. I don't remember it being particularly expensive and drinks were not served (i.e., no drink minimum requirement). I don't remember their hours. Difficult if you don't speak Mandarin or have someone with you who does. But they are very friendly and do their best to help cross the langage barrier. They seemed pleased to have an obvious foreigner visit. Mostly a younger crowd. Very busy environment and a lot of fun. Equipment was acceptable. This particular room did not have serious players, but there were a few at B level. I could have played someone, but I couldn't be sure what I would have been getting myself into.
There were pool rooms everywhere in Taipei. I didn't make a point to check out other places. The food and atmosphere in the night markets are so good that I prefer to spend my evenings there. But if you are determined to play pool, I would give it a go. I cannot direct you to the rooms where the best players are.
Maybe I was lucky in my one visit to a Taiwan pool room. My experiences in visiting Taiwan are entirely positive. And I may have been unlucky looking for a similar billiard experience in Tokyo (expensive, drink minimum, boring environment, no players). Finding a good pool room is my only negative experience in Japan.
If you take a South West cue, you'll be really popular.
My wife and i will probably go back this October. Have fun!
I played at a pool room in Jungli (Jhongli, Zhongli), west of Taipei several years ago. I don't remember it being particularly expensive and drinks were not served (i.e., no drink minimum requirement). I don't remember their hours. Difficult if you don't speak Mandarin or have someone with you who does. But they are very friendly and do their best to help cross the langage barrier. They seemed pleased to have an obvious foreigner visit. Mostly a younger crowd. Very busy environment and a lot of fun. Equipment was acceptable. This particular room did not have serious players, but there were a few at B level. I could have played someone, but I couldn't be sure what I would have been getting myself into.
There were pool rooms everywhere in Taipei. I didn't make a point to check out other places. The food and atmosphere in the night markets are so good that I prefer to spend my evenings there. But if you are determined to play pool, I would give it a go. I cannot direct you to the rooms where the best players are.
Maybe I was lucky in my one visit to a Taiwan pool room. My experiences in visiting Taiwan are entirely positive. And I may have been unlucky looking for a similar billiard experience in Tokyo (expensive, drink minimum, boring environment, no players). Finding a good pool room is my only negative experience in Japan.
If you take a South West cue, you'll be really popular.
My wife and i will probably go back this October. Have fun!
!Which city will you be visiting?
Prices are generally quite reasonable (low). You can expect to pay 3~5 USD/hr in Taipei, lower in other cities. Conditions are usually much better than pool halls you'll find in most other countries with air conditioning, decent house cues, polished cue balls, and well conditioned tables. (speaking from having played in North America, Europe, other parts of Asia). It's going to be tough finding people who can speak English well.
Alcohol is typically not served. A lot of rooms operate 24 hours. In the North (around Taipei), you rack your own. In the South, the rooms may have rack girls (typically part-time high school girls).
Prices are generally quite reasonable (low). You can expect to pay 3~5 USD/hr in Taipei, lower in other cities. Conditions are usually much better than pool halls you'll find in most other countries with air conditioning, decent house cues, polished cue balls, and well conditioned tables. (speaking from having played in North America, Europe, other parts of Asia). It's going to be tough finding people who can speak English well.
Alcohol is typically not served. A lot of rooms operate 24 hours. In the North (around Taipei), you rack your own. In the South, the rooms may have rack girls (typically part-time high school girls).
Haven't been there is years, but there always seemed to be a pool hall on every block. And gambling was available from peanuts on up.
No problem on pick-up games. If you bulldoze the existing players, runners go out to notify the better neighborhood shooters.
You'll also attract a lot of attention just being an American shooter.
You can either memorize the common pool terms (i.e., rack, cue ball, object ball, corner pocket, side pocket, rail, bank, 9 Ball, 8 Ball, One Pocket, etc.) or have a Chinese player give you a cheat sheet with translations (when gestures don't communicate).
Don't get distracted by the few players who want to use you as an English tutor - distracts your focus.
No problem on pick-up games. If you bulldoze the existing players, runners go out to notify the better neighborhood shooters.
You'll also attract a lot of attention just being an American shooter.
You can either memorize the common pool terms (i.e., rack, cue ball, object ball, corner pocket, side pocket, rail, bank, 9 Ball, 8 Ball, One Pocket, etc.) or have a Chinese player give you a cheat sheet with translations (when gestures don't communicate).
Don't get distracted by the few players who want to use you as an English tutor - distracts your focus.
Very common everywhere in Taiwan.
I would guess most of the rest of Asia as well.