Practicing on Coin-op tables

Simple...yes that is the simplest suggestion. But what is was looking for was creative way to "maximize" each rack for practice. I appreciate all the constructive suggestions, I'll probably do a mixture of most of them. I wanna stay in the bars good graces, so I probably steer away from attempting to catch or block balls from going. I may just have to wear down the owner till he lets me rent time.

challenge someone to play you, loser pays....nowadays they'll give up after 5 or 6 losses in a row. Find another chump; errrr, opponent, and repeat until you feel good and practiced up. :p

our local poolhall gives you the option of per game or time on the barboxes (all brand new Diamonds), but I play on the 9' Gold Crowns = cheaper....
 
I don't know your situation but the operative phrase in your post is "easy access." If you are serious about improving try driving further to find the best 9 footers you can. Takes more effort but that is what improving is all about. Effort.

Thanks for the input. My situation is that the the nearest quality 9ft tables are a 2hrs+ round trip. I enjoy playing 5+ days a week, and will likely be making that trip weekly for tournaments. It costs me 10 hrs of drive time and $75 in gas to meet my weekly practice requirements (not including table time). In an effort to maximize my practice, I thought I might be better served if I were to invest at least some of that drive time and money practicing at an establishment with nice, Simonis covered, 7' tables, less than 5 min away. I play as often as I can, for as long as I can, wherever I can. I'm just look for input on the most efficient and creative ways to maximize my effort.
 
Thanks for the input. My situation is that the the nearest quality 9ft tables are a 2hrs+ round trip. I enjoy playing 5+ days a week, and will likely be making that trip weekly for tournaments. It costs me 10 hrs of drive time and $75 in gas to meet my weekly practice requirements (not including table time). In an effort to maximize my practice, I thought I might be better served if I were to invest at least some of that drive time and money practicing at an establishment with nice, Simonis covered, 7' tables, less than 5 min away. I play as often as I can, for as long as I can, wherever I can. I'm just look for input on the most efficient and creative ways to maximize my effort.

The Senior Center in Moore has 3 tables that might be 9 footers. If it is similar to Sioux Falls, it might be an option for you. SF info: 18 to join, 5 tables and a snooker table, so there is often one available. Most of the players are over 60, but there are a few youngsters over 45 that play.

In Moore, three tables might not be enough to have one for yourself, and the hours are 8 to 4. Check out the pictures in their facebook page.
 
Thanks for the input. My situation is that the the nearest quality 9ft tables are a 2hrs+ round trip. I enjoy playing 5+ days a week, and will likely be making that trip weekly for tournaments. It costs me 10 hrs of drive time and $75 in gas to meet my weekly practice requirements (not including table time). In an effort to maximize my practice, I thought I might be better served if I were to invest at least some of that drive time and money practicing at an establishment with nice, Simonis covered, 7' tables, less than 5 min away. I play as often as I can, for as long as I can, wherever I can. I'm just look for input on the most efficient and creative ways to maximize my effort.

I feel your pain brother.
 
You can always try to get games on the table with others, they lose, they pay for next game.

Although I tried that once in a bar down the block from me, I played 3 games with 3 people, paid for the first one, won all 3 games and everyone just wandered away from the table after that so I had no-one picking up the table time since no-one wanted to play me LOL.
 
Thanks for the input. My situation is that the the nearest quality 9ft tables are a 2hrs+ round trip. I enjoy playing 5+ days a week, and will likely be making that trip weekly for tournaments. It costs me 10 hrs of drive time and $75 in gas to meet my weekly practice requirements (not including table time). In an effort to maximize my practice, I thought I might be better served if I were to invest at least some of that drive time and money practicing at an establishment with nice, Simonis covered, 7' tables, less than 5 min away. I play as often as I can, for as long as I can, wherever I can. I'm just look for input on the most efficient and creative ways to maximize my effort.

Is buying a table not an option, being you are wanting to practice 5+ days a week? That kinda money in paying for a bar table quickly adds up. Nothing like being able to walk 10-20 feet to practice.

I am all for getting out socializing, supporting the local halls etc... But 2 hrs away and wanting to practice 5+ days a week is unreasonable really.
 
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Take your time and make every shot count. It's a great way to practice for competition. There are a whole lot of wasted shots when people who pay by the hour are practicing. All they're doing is teaching themselves bad habits.
 
Now days all of my practice time is on coin table. I go the neighborhood bar to play and when the players get tired of being beat, usually after the 2nd or 3rd game, I’m left with no challengers. I practice with what I’m having trouble with or duplicating tough shots I’ve seen others make. Break a rack of 8, if nothing drops I rerack and break again observing CB placement and spin. I may start out with 3 ball until I miss a shot , then, set that shot up and repeat it several times I don’t shoot the easy shots. I work on repeating stroke, kicks, banks, caroms, draw, positioning, cuts that have given me trouble, etc. I might take 1 ball at a time and shoot the whole rack from the same spot using various degrees of spin. I also, like to play a rack of carom 8. I sharpen my game with practice not playing. Bars make their money from the juke box, drinks and food more so than table time. I order a beer about every 45 to 60 min and pay the table 2 or 3 times in an hour and if players come in I let them have the table. The bar has never complained about my practice but I have frequented this bar for a number of years. Good players stop by regularly to play other good players, so, it’s an asset to the bar to have players hanging around.
 
The Senior Center in Moore has 3 tables that might be 9 footers. If it is similar to Sioux Falls, it might be an option for you. SF info: 18 to join, 5 tables and a snooker table, so there is often one available. Most of the players are over 60, but there are a few youngsters over 45 that play.

In Moore, three tables might not be enough to have one for yourself, and the hours are 8 to 4. Check out the pictures in their facebook page.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm moving from Norman to Bartlesville. We have wonderful pool community in OKC , and I'll miss them. Just tryin to churn some billiard lemonade;)
 
Is buying a table not an option, being you are wanting to practice 5+ days a week? That kinda money in paying for a bar table quickly adds up. Nothing like being able to walk 10-20 feet to practice.

I am all for getting out socializing, supporting the local halls etc... But 2 hrs away and wanting to practice 5+ days a week is unreasonable really.

Buying a table may be an option...eventually. There are a few hoops that would need to be jumped through. I agree the drive nearly everyday is really not viable, hence the need to utilize the local bar tables.
 
You have to move to an area where there is a bunch of good quality 9 footers. Where is your sense of priorities man? LOL
 
put a table in your home against the wall if you have to

every home has the room for this

it will look ridiculous and you can't play real games but you can practice all the time

if the table is cheap enough, it will pay for itself very very fast, cheap coin ops are available used all the time everywhere
 
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