Pool Rooms Likes/Dislikes? Opinions Wanted!

My two observations here:

1) Some pool halls turn the lights off on tables not in use. Playing in such rooms when they are not very crowded is less fun. Keep the lights on for tables not in use.

2) "Players only in the playing area." Seems it's a rule in every poolroom, but some poolrooms enforce it, others don't. I far prefer it when the rule is enforced.
 
shpshtr said:
Thanks for the real good replies! Anyone got good ideas that pool rooms are not doing right now?

I have only been to one (1) Pool Hall in my life of 63 years, that had really good spectator chairs (for player & spectator alike). That is Magoo's in Tulsa. I really dislike a Pool Room with cheap chairs.

I like a Pool Room with Great Air Conditioning. Clean Bath Rooms are a definite sign of managerial interaction. No loud music, if the folks want to listen to loud music, go to a crummy bar.

Management, that cares, will interact with the players & customers so that courtesy is the word for the day.
 
shpshtr said:
Hi-Would love to hear from a Players perspective of what you consider to be your favorite things about pool rooms you frequent and the things you dont like about the pool rooms you visit. What is the importance to you as a player when you go to play pool? Action, Prices, Customer Service, Clean Enviroment, Equiptment? Lets hear some great advice on which rooms can take into consideration for their enviroment.


I like well spaced tables with some sort of small table to lay items on and drinks. Bar stools to sit on between shots. Clean, fast, level tables and plenty of masters chalk.

Always good to have some players around that like action as well. Good food and drinks at something less than ballpark prices. Good lights are a must as well.

No smoking to me is a great plus, but not too popular around here.
 
Cleanliness is a must..

And loud music is a distraction. We have a place called Jake's Billiards in Pasadena that has 2 tables in one room and 4 in another. Staff is usually good about renting out tables to like groups. It is in the basement so it always stays nice and cool.
 
For me the main things are good bar stools with a high table for placing drinks, smokes etc.

Also important is decent rack cues and good ventilation + air conditioning.

This would be for a socializing venue. Somewhere I can have a good night with a few friends. What's good for serious pool players as a practicing / competition venue can be a different thing than what's good for running a profitable bar / pool club.

I see many places that stack the tables in to maximize table revenue, but a group of 4 cannot find a place to sit around the table. Or they may be sitting in low chairs which means the sitters can hardly see the game and the players don't use the seats because it's too much work getting in and out of the seats for each shot.
 
shpshtr said:
Thanks for reply, I have a 10 year established room and would like to continue to provide the best I can in the room and the best enviroment for all people that enter the business, also would like to promote good clean rooms throughout the U.S.

My fav pool hall is romines in malwaukee Wi best pool hall ever awsome food ,nice tables,tons of tables like 50 i think and great rates, a nice pro shop ....
 
1. Well kept and well spaced tables are most important to me, owners need to clean their equipment and balls more often!

2. Air circulation ventilation etc.. I don't smoke and have been in some nice rooms with very good air ventilation, and also been in some where my eyes start to burn and I end up smoking more then the smokers :D

3. Keeping non players out of the playing area.

4. Removing those persons badly drunk, and or causing problems before customers step in and trouble starts:-) been there done that, some places need to have a guy on the staff that's 6'8 300 who can take care of business.
 
The looks/set up and buisiness practices of a pool room reflect it`s owner`s personal CHARECTOR and his/her KNOWLEDGE of Pool.
Vagabond
 
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shpshtr said:
Hi-Would love to hear from a Players perspective of what you consider to be your favorite things about pool rooms you frequent and the things you dont like about the pool rooms you visit. What is the importance to you as a player when you go to play pool? Action, Prices, Customer Service, Clean Enviroment, Equiptment? Lets hear some great advice on which rooms can take into consideration for their enviroment.

Preferably a juke box that doesn't work AT ALL!!!!! I'll settle for one with a low-volume.

Other than that, well maintained tables - level, good rails, not rediculously generous pockets, no seams coming up, CLEANED DAILY if not more often. GC or Diamond tables are a plus, but the key is well maintained. Sufficient space between tables. Good racks, never can understand why a pool room goes with cheap racks, good ones don't cost that much more. Food and drink at reasonable prices. I'll die of thrist before I'll pay 2 bucks for soda water with a piece of lime, water w/ carbonation 2 bucks!

I almost forgot, employees (ie. wait staff) who have a sense of pool etiquette is mandatory.
 
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I'll probably be echoing others opinions too. I would like:

A room that can understand the difference between a pool player and a recreational player
Cleans the table and table area after every use (I used to wear an apron just to reduce the inevitable "line across the thighs")
Maintains the tables (cloth, rails, etc.)
Aramith balls for the players (and for God's sake, keep the Aramiths with Aramiths!)
Score Beads
Tournaments
If there has to be arcade booths, keep them far, far away from the tables
Jukeboxes should be kept away from tables (I can't control what comes out of the jukebox (Classic Rock preferred) but the volume should be at a human decibel!)
Clean bathroom is a must (Comet Billiards in Parsippany comes to mind)
Space between tables
Good food is always a plus with a seperate eating area
Beer is always a triple plus :D
Good service
Carpeted floors
A Pro Shop (not a necessity but definitely a plus!)

Come to think of it, Q-Master Billiards in Virginia is the all around "what a pool room should be like" place for me! They've got their tournament room which is full of action during the Open and away from your recreational players (plus they have comfy bleacher type seats) They have good food and service. See For Yourself!

*But remember, we as the players should always give positive feedback to the poolroom employees and thank them for having great service when credit is due. :)
 
With our new room opening inside of the next six weeks its nice to read these and see we are on the right track.
 
14.1player said:
I agree 100%, maybe a discount for regulars, but not 100% free!

It depends, a guy around here found certain days so slow that by giving away table time he made more on drinks and food on the bigger crowd then he would have on table time for the few who came in.
 
The things that I would like to see in my pool room are:

1. Table Care (re-clothing when needed) preferably Simonis 860.
2. Aramith Pro Balls (With pink 4 and brown 7) Instead of the Riley balls we have in the u.k.

3. Proper Racks i.e The sardo tight rack.
4. A place to keep my Cue bag instead of using a wet drinks table.
5. Clean Bathrooms.
6. Air Conditioning.
7. No Smoking as I have bad asthma.
8. No Jukeboxes @ 90 Decibels!.
9. Decent In-house equipment if I forget my own.
10. Brunswick Metro Tables instead of the British sam 9 ball tables.
11. And Finally a tournament room for serious players like myself.
 
shpshtr said:
Hi-Would love to hear from a Players perspective of what you consider to be your favorite things about pool rooms you frequent and the things you dont like about the pool rooms you visit. What is the importance to you as a player when you go to play pool? Action, Prices, Customer Service, Clean Enviroment, Equiptment? Lets hear some great advice on which rooms can take into consideration for their enviroment.


I play almost 100% of the time in our Community Room, 29 Brunswick Crown Tables, 25 Pool. 3 Snooker, and 1 THREE Cushion.

The Room is Closed until September, as it is part of a Sports Complex that is being update. 30 Lane Bowling Alley is being Redone with Modern Pin Setters, Electronic Scoring, etc.(state of the art)

My Two Bitches with the room is the Tables should be Sweeped or Vacuumed Daily. (i have my own Brush, as I have resorted to doing my own Brushing). Second Bitch is the Balls should be CLEANED MORE Frequently. Also many of the Ball Set Should be REPLACED!

Other than that I am pretty happy with the place, as I can play pretty much when I want, and for $225.00/year I get to play pool, Swim, Hot Tub, etc., etc., etc. and have access to all the other community facilities that cost in excess of $60,000,000.00.
 
Bruce S. de Lis said:
I play almost 100% of the time in our Community Room, 29 Brunswick Crown Tables, 25 Pool. 3 Snooker, and 1 THREE Cushion.

The Room is Closed until September, as it is part of a Sports Complex that is being update. 30 Lane Bowling Alley is being Redone with Modern Pin Setters, Electronic Scoring, etc.(state of the art)

My Two Bitches with the room is the Tables should be Sweeped or Vacuumed Daily. (i have my own Brush, as I have resorted to doing my own Brushing). Second Bitch is the Balls should be CLEANED MORE Frequently. Also many of the Ball Set Should be REPLACED!

Other than that I am pretty happy with the place, as I can play pretty much when I want, and for $225.00/year I get to play pool, Swim, Hot Tub, etc., etc., etc. and have access to all the other community facilities that cost in excess of $60,000,000.00.

$225/year?! Some people pay that a month in table time...lol.
 
zeeder said:
$225/year?! Some people pay that a month in table time...lol.


You are correct, but some of our Citizens are all P.O.ed that our Room has been closed for almost 4 months. We can go to a Neighboring Community , and pay $2.00/Day to play they have about the Same Number of Table in THREE Locations.

Many of the Old FARTS are also P.O.ed about the $2.00/Day FEE . I am just looking forward to the Our Room being OPEN AGAIN in SEPTEMBER....
:D
 
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