Russian Billiards, ever seen it?

benjaminwah

benjaminwah

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I pass by this restaurant everyday that is mostly cab drivers. I recently noticed they added a pool room, but it's only open sporadically. Tonight I stopped in. It's not pool, 3 Russian Billiard tables. Huge tables, like snooker tables, but the balls are bigger than normal pool balls. Looks impossible. They said that's what they play in Kyrgistan.
 

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There are videos on YouTube, of Earl Strickland playing in Russia. I can't figure out how to copy and past the url.
 
Ben,

There used to be a Russian table at the Las Vegas Cue Club. Not sure how the balls were made as the pockets are just slightly larger than the ball. Lots of Russian and Eastern European acrobats working in Vegas. Not enough to make the table viable and it disappeared between my visits to Vegas. One tough game. Think Mike Massey was Russian champion a few years ago.

Lyn
 
benjaminwah said:
Holy shit. If the pockets on the table in that YouTube video are as tight as the ones I saw that's some amazing shooting.
Click to expand...


The pockets in your photo actually look a little large to me.

I've seen some that were only about 1/8th of an inch larger than the ball. I think you could fit the ball and the thickness of a quarter in the pocket.

You should watch Stalev play some on youtube... it's amazing to me how straight he can deliver the cue with such a crazy-long backswing.

They make the pockets a little larger by hitting them hard enough to compress the cushion. I think that's why you usually see the corners of the pockets (tits) worn out.
 
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russian pyramid is very nice. Not so easy :) . IMHO cannot be compared to pool , because of the huge balls and their reactions ....

they have at least 3 disciplines : free pyramid (the easiest) , dynamic & combined pyramid. Free pyramid is easy to learn and easy to play ( relatively) , but combined pyramid is a real challenge ....

In Finland they have a variant called "kaisa", played with 5 balls on smaller tables (9 feet) . Very disturbing game !!!
 
First time I played Russian Billiards, I used one of their cues also....
....it was too long and too heavy for my tastes....64 inches....24 ounces.

Next time I brought one of my own cues....20 ounces, 57 inches.
....felt a lot better....the shorter cue gives you more strength.

...we were playing the version where you can pot or go in-off.
 
Russians have big balls and small pockets. :D

Interesting to watch, I have never played it.

I am interested in one of the cues at some point.






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For anyone passing through Saskatoon in western Canada, drop by Pacific Billiards. George bought a set of Russian Billiards balls a few years back. It certainly is humbling yet humorous to play on his 9' tables with those huge balls ... of course we played 9 ball not knowing any rules for Russian Billiards :thumbup:

Dave
 
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