Pool in my hometown

[Slh]

I have hard time getting motivated. In my hometown there are no tournaments and pool is not taken seriously. 90% of people who play are bangers and play only to spend time ( usually no more than 20 minutes ).
I don't consider myself a good player but i love the game and this situation disappoint me. Also in my hometown people play only a game ( nobody wants to play 9ball or 10 ball, let alone one pocket, nobody knows the rules) some kind of straight pool. You setup the ball like rotation (15 balls), break the balls hard, then play every ball like straight pool ( with, obviously, a wide open table) and when you make the last ball, you set up the rack again like rotation. Also because the skill level is so low, the game is usually race to 21 ( LOL). I can run 15 games and after that people don't play you anymore because "you are too good" ( LOL)
You say, why don't you play alone and pratice? The rate time is 8€ per hour ( 12$ ) in bad equipment.
What can I do? What would you do in this situation?

 

[Black-Balled]

I have hard time getting motivated. In my hometown there are no tournaments and pool is not taken seriously. 90% of people who play are bangers and play only to spend time ( usually no more than 20 minutes ).
I don't consider myself a good player but i love the game and this situation disappoint me. Also in my hometown people play only a game ( nobody wants to play 9ball or 10 ball, let alone one pocket, nobody knows the rules) some kind of straight pool. You setup the ball like rotation (15 balls), break the balls hard, then play every ball like straight pool ( with, obviously, a wide open table) and when you make the last ball, you set up the rack again like rotation. Also because the skill level is so low, the game is usually race to 21 ( LOL). I can run 15 games and after that people don't play you anymore because "you are too good" ( LOL)
You say, why don't you play alone and pratice? The rate time is 8€ per hour ( 12$ ) in bad equipment.
What can I do? What would you do in this situation?

Nothing you can do. Perhaps a move to a bigger city?

That said, you Euro folks do seem to have to travel quite a bit to get to big events.

 

[richiebalto]

I have hard time getting motivated. In my hometown there are no tournaments and pool is not taken seriously. 90% of people who play are bangers and play only to spend time ( usually no more than 20 minutes ).
I don't consider myself a good player but i love the game and this situation disappoint me. Also in my hometown people play only a game ( nobody wants to play 9ball or 10 ball, let alone one pocket, nobody knows the rules) some kind of straight pool. You setup the ball like rotation (15 balls), break the balls hard, then play every ball like straight pool ( with, obviously, a wide open table) and when you make the last ball, you set up the rack again like rotation. Also because the skill level is so low, the game is usually race to 21 ( LOL). I can run 15 games and after that people don't play you anymore because "you are too good" ( LOL)
You say, why don't you play alone and pratice? The rate time is 8€ per hour ( 12$ ) in bad equipment.
What can I do? What would you do in this situation?

Sounds like to me you have a great oppertunity(spelling)to get some thing started were you live,if nobody knows anything about all the different games that you already know then you could try and teach some guys(you could make money)or start some kind of pool league to get more people interrested in pool in your area or promote tournaments!open your own little pool room,give people good rates and better equipment,before u know it u have something started!

 

[Slh]

Nothing you can do. Perhaps a move to a bigger city?

That said, you Euro folks do seem to have to travel quite a bit to get to big events.

I live in the biggest city of Sicily.

Sounds like to me you have a great oppertunity(spelling)to get some thing started were you live,if nobody knows anything about all the different games that you already know then you could try and teach some guys(you could make money)or start some kind of pool league to get more people interrested in pool in your area or promote tournaments!

the thing is, peolpe are interested in pool, but only to spend 20 minutes of time. Other people tried to run tournaments but failed because of the small interest

 

[macguy]

I have hard time getting motivated. In my hometown there are no tournaments and pool is not taken seriously. 90% of people who play are bangers and play only to spend time ( usually no more than 20 minutes ).
I don't consider myself a good player but i love the game and this situation disappoint me. Also in my hometown people play only a game ( nobody wants to play 9ball or 10 ball, let alone one pocket, nobody knows the rules) some kind of straight pool. You setup the ball like rotation (15 balls), break the balls hard, then play every ball like straight pool ( with, obviously, a wide open table) and when you make the last ball, you set up the rack again like rotation. Also because the skill level is so low, the game is usually race to 21 ( LOL). I can run 15 games and after that people don't play you anymore because "you are too good" ( LOL)
You say, why don't you play alone and pratice? The rate time is 8€ per hour ( 12$ ) in bad equipment.
What can I do? What would you do in this situation?

I doubt anything is going to change soon. The last time I was in Italy I didn't really see any pool being played other then on those small tables with the rounded pockets that were like small snooker tables with pool balls. You need to make some trips to Germany or the Netherlands now and then to get your pool fix. They love pool there.

 

[Marie's husband]

I have hard time getting motivated. In my hometown there are no tournaments and pool is not taken seriously. 90% of people who play are bangers and play only to spend time ( usually no more than 20 minutes ).
I don't consider myself a good player but i love the game and this situation disappoint me. Also in my hometown people play only a game ( nobody wants to play 9ball or 10 ball, let alone one pocket, nobody knows the rules) some kind of straight pool. You setup the ball like rotation (15 balls), break the balls hard, then play every ball like straight pool ( with, obviously, a wide open table) and when you make the last ball, you set up the rack again like rotation. Also because the skill level is so low, the game is usually race to 21 ( LOL). I can run 15 games and after that people don't play you anymore because "you are too good" ( LOL)
You say, why don't you play alone and pratice? The rate time is 8€ per hour ( 12$ ) in bad equipment.
What can I do? What would you do in this situation?

Are you still living in Palermo? Isnt that the largest city on the island? I was in Trapani in the early 90's and there was nothing in that city in regards to pool. There used to be another member on here from that area, just search "Palermo" and see what comes up and hopefully you can find somenone that is as seriouse as you are for the game.

I would have to agree with some previouse post in saying that you have a chance to establish pool in your area and that would be the direction I would try and go. I am not saying you have to go out and buy a building and put 10 diamond tables in it....I am thinking more on the line of establishing a club, a league, tournaments, or just a weekly get together and bs about pool. Create a buzz for the game and see how many people you can get actually interested like you are. After doing that and figuring out if pool is an interest in your area, then I would look at if it would be a wise business decision to establish a pool hall, a private club, or is this the best the area can support at the current time.

Most people sit around complaining about it and dont do anything to improve the situation....now...here is your chance to actually start from the very beginning stages and establish a pool scene for your area...I wish you the best of luck and hope all turns out for the best.

 

[Marie's husband]

As far as you paying $12 an hour to play on bad equipment!

Well, do you know the owner or at least get along with them at all?

If you do, maybe you can work out some sort of deal with him if you start bringing new players in he will give you free time.

Or, if you have the funds available, offer to buy the supplies needed to get at least one of the tables in good condition and see what kind of deal the owner would do for you then. I am sure there are some table mechanics on this forum that would be able to help you out in pointing you in the right directions as per making the tables play better.

 

[Slh]

Are you still living in Palermo? Isnt that the largest city on the island? I was in Trapani in the early 90's and there was nothing in that city in regards to pool. There used to be another member on here from that area, just search "Palermo" and see what comes up and hopefully you can find somenone that is as seriouse as you are for the game.

I would have to agree with some previouse post in saying that you have a chance to establish pool in your area and that would be the direction I would try and go. I am not saying you have to go out and buy a building and put 10 diamond tables in it....I am thinking more on the line of establishing a club, a league, tournaments, or just a weekly get together and bs about pool. Create a buzz for the game and see how many people you can get actually interested like you are. After doing that and figuring out if pool is an interest in your area, then I would look at if it would be a wise business decision to establish a pool hall, a private club, or is this the best the area can support at the current time.

Most people sit around complaining about it and dont do anything to improve the situation....now...here is your chance to actually start from the very beginning stages and establish a pool scene for your area...I wish you the best of luck and hope all turns out for the best.

some years ago some people tried to start weekly tournaments but they failed because the lack of interest. In the last year 2 pool halls closed ( unfortunately 2 good halls), now we have only 3 pool halls in town. 1 is for more "serious" players, 1 half half and the other for bangers.
We are almost 1 million people in this town and only 3 pool halls. I also know 3 serious players ( one of them played in the eurotour) but they give up pool because here pool has no future.

As far as you paying $12 an hour to play on bad equipment!

Well, do you know the owner or at least get along with them at all?

If you do, maybe you can work out some sort of deal with him if you start bringing new players in he will give you free time.

Or, if you have the funds available, offer to buy the supplies needed to get at least one of the tables in good condition and see what kind of deal the owner would do for you then. I am sure there are some table mechanics on this forum that would be able to help you out in pointing you in the right directions as per making the tables play better.

Pool halls have no interest on changing the situation because they earn a lot from bangers so they don't want to change. Thank you for your advice but those are not realizable here.

 

[Meezer Girl]

get some ladies involved

I don't mean to sound sexist here but you might want to think about finding some nice looking young ladies that would be interested in learning how to play and you can teach them. Think "social" to start.

Go to the place with the most players (& bangers), get a table and hold a "class" with your lady friends. It won't take long for the men to come around and want to be involved. It has been my experience (& all the local lady players that I know) that the men just can't help themselves - they just have to come & "help" us :thumbup:

That could be the beginning of a "club" and then you could go from there.

 

[RoadHustler]

Got to agree...

Sounds like to me you have a great opportunity to get some thing started were you live,if nobody knows anything about all the different games that you already know then you could try and teach some guys(you could make money)or start some kind of pool league to get more people interested in pool in your area or promote tournaments!open your own little pool room,give people good rates and better equipment,before u know it u have something started!

If your local community isn't as awesome as you think it should be fix it. Tournaments are a great way to start. Begin with what people know and then introduce new games to em. It will help if you can recruit a few friends to get things started. If you are as enthusiastic as you sound you should be able to help people see why pool and billiards really are perfect.

If you build it they will come.

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

As a previous poster mentioned, if you are concerned with the current state of affairs with your local pool scene, take this as a Golden opportunity to try and organize something. Maybe just some lessons for a start to give players a solid foundation to start with. Some lessons that include playing with rules so they are not just banging balls around.

Just about everyone likes friendly competition so you could ease them into
some small tourneys at a later date. If it works great, if it doesn't, at least you can't say you didn't try.

Good luck to you.