Putting a Diamond in the Rough?

Cornerman

Cornerman

Cue Author...Sometimes
Silver Member
Pulled over from "APA equipment really puts the "Amature" {sic} in APA"
JDB said:
However, I tried to introduce this to my team and our opponent one night because the tables are open and everyone (except me, of course), wanted to use the bar cue ball instead of the red circle cue ball. This wasn't even the green aramath cue ball, this was a much heavier cue ball, but not an oversized ball.

I was floored that they wanted to use the standard cueball; however that is what they were used to so that is what they wanted to use.

This is obviously a very small sample since it only consisted to two teams; however, I am pretty sure I would get a consistent answer across the entire APA region that I play based on some conversations that I have had.
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Just wanted to further back up your comments. In my area (Massachusetts), I've had the same conversations in different counties at bars with leagues that had oversized or heavier cueballs. The general feedback from the better players was that they could go either way (it didn't matter to them), while the general feedback from the non-SL7's and SL6's were that they'd rather keep whatever their home cannonball cueball was, citing "home field advantage." And many of these places have 8' bar tables with some 9' bar tables. Sterling Billiards used to make a 9' bar table and it used a huge ball. There's also an overized 8' Brunswick bar table in one of the bars here. Same thing: oversized cueball. Both places could have gone open table a long time ago during leagues.

Of course, half of the players I talked to didn't have a clue of what "oversized" or "heavy" cueball meant. So, it could be that they just don't know what they don't know. If there was a way to just magically transport a Diamond Smart Table to some of these area, do you all think that the average bar pool league player would flock to it? Would it bring more pool league activity? Have other bar league bar owners seen a significant rise in activity or less griping or whatever with the introduction of the best bar table in the world? Does anyone out there have a side-by-side experiment that can share some actual results?

What I'm afraid of is that in my area, the average player could give a rat's ass and wouldn't know silk for shizzle. But, I'd like to be proven wrong. I'd like to prove myself wrong.

Fred
 
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Cornerman said:
half of the players I talked to didn't have a clue of what "oversized" or "heavy" cueball meant.

What I'm afraid of is that in my area, the average player could give a rat's ass and would know silk for shizzle. But, I'd like to be proven wrong. I'd like to prove myself wrong.

Fred
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Same condtions apply here Fred. I think there are very few who would even know the difference and if they did they just wouldn't care. Most are not interested in pool. Most are, imo, primarily interested in getting someone to buy them a beer or in getting "better acquainted" with the girl sitting at the bar.
 
Better equipment

I play at a a pretty high level myself and in the APA. One of my friends I have been playing with for years owned a bar and the table we played on had the big and I mean big ugly yellow cue ball. He would not change it out because he felt he had home team advantage. Now this was years ago and now he prefers better equipment due to him getting better.

One night I played hot tempered a guy I have had a great rivalry with and in a 5 to 5 match he got to the hill before me. I missed a thin cut on the eight to get on the hill and rattled it with the eight ending up on the end rail about two inches from the pocket. His next shot he decides to draw and he put all the draw he could muster to have the cue ball stop dead. The reaction from him was priceless. I won that rack and then snapped off an 8 on the break to win that match and he stormed out of the place. I don't know how that match would have turned out should we have had better equipment but I would paid money for a photo of this guy's expression when that cue ball stopped dead.

Yes, of course I prefer better equipment. In fact we substitute a measles ball for the bar table ball. The interesting thing is the only complaints we have had comes from level three female players. It has happened four times that I can recall and they will fight it to the point of calling the LO. Then they blame the fact they lost on the cue ball. One night I said OK we will play with the bar box ball and she must have scratched four or five times in five racks of pool on straight in shots. I just don't understand, she sees reds spots on the balls and does not want to play with them?
 
muffler tape

selftaut said:
This thread brings to mind Greg Sullivan's thread the other day

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=111977

Fred, it just wouldn't be the same without the duct tape over the holes, walmart chalk, 2 - 15 balls cause somebody stole the 13 ball, bricks for leg levelers.

Selftaut<<<lives in Massachusetts as well.
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How about a gold crown with muffler tape and the rails are so bad they are crumbling. I mean you feel the rubber under the felt and it fells like a bean bag.
 
I love the big heavy ball. Easy to break with and break out clusters. I used to play with the heavy ball and regular cue ball every day, and I was used to them both.

The bigger question is: Will Hal Houle's aiming system work with the big ball LOL LOL LOL.

Where Colin, where are you?
 
Bigkahuna said:
How about a gold crown with muffler tape and the rails are so bad they are crumbling. I mean you feel the rubber under the felt and it fells like a bean bag.
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LOL, better play good shape and avoid banking.

We got a bar here that used to be a slaughter house at the turn of the century. Back then they would slant the floor toward the street so the blood would run outside and down the gutter. So the floor is slanted so much in this place still that there are 2 bricks under each leg on one end to "sort of" level it to the other end, but you rack on the normal height end forcing you to break from the lower floor end, you often whack your elbow when breaking because you can't reach it unless your 6 foot 6. And yes they have 2 teams in leagues.
 
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Heavy Cue Ball

Boston Joey would always carry his own and use the heavy cue ball while on the road gambling. Gave him an advantage that he really did not need.

Regards,
Hal
 
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