Should tournaments ban the use of bar-box tables?

[Inaction]

The bar tables are basically a pool vending machine. Self Serve if working right.

In Sioux Falls, there used to be more large time tables, but now, there are only a few left. One each in two pool halls, and two at a bowling alley (that I am aware of). The Market forces at work.

Complaining about bar boxes makes as much sense as complaining about the sun coming up every morning. What can be done to change it?

 

[justadub]

I'll admit that I haven't found what I expected when clicking on this thread.

It's so much more! Great chuckles for an early morning. Both those who get it, and especially those who haven't caught on yet......

Sanka! bwahaha

 

[Skippy27]

Um...didn't pool start out on larger tables? Wasn't the bar box a more recent development to appeal to space considerations in a bar or tavern type environment?

KMRUNOUT

Valley/Dynamo archives go back to 1950s so dont think I would say it is a "more recent development".

They were made to accommodate smaller foot print and to create fast churn of games as the more games played per hour the more revenues. They were also made to be very easily serviced. They certainly are one of the easiest to maintain.

Around here there are very few 9' tables and just about every bar you go into will have at least 1 7 footer.

I was at a place last night that had 5 9' Diamond tables and 13 Diamond 7' tables (if I recall correctly). The pockets were much tighter than the 7' Valleys I typically play on so it was an adjustment. I rarely play on 9' tables so I used that opportunity to play a little on it.

 

[erhino41]

I don't really have an issue with the seven foot diamond tables. They are nice tables and the give the option to fit a pool table into the homes of many more people, and that is a very good thing. I also understand that diamond has to push their product,a necessary product in my opinion, for the reason mentioned above. My only grip is with calling a tournament the us open and playing it on seven footers.

The analogy of golf was used so I'll give it a try. It would be like holding the us open on a par three course. Even if it were the toughest par three course in existence it is still not the same. Hold all the "bar box" tournaments you want, just call them that. I have zero desire to watch pros play on seven foot tables. I love a good clustered game of eight ball where actual thought and skill is required, but a seven footer offers no other advantage than that, and takes away the shot making element. Rotation on a nine footer is shot making at its best, rotation on a seven for is pitch and putt.

I do have an issue with the huge pocketed, quarter suckers that populate most bars. Those should be completely outlawed.

 

[realkingcobra]

I do have an issue with the huge pocketed, quarter suckers that populate most bars. Those should be completely outlawed.

So, if YOU could pass a law that would in effect, eliminate all the Valley/Dynamo coin operated pool tables in this country.....what kind of effect do you think your "feelings" would have on the unemployment rate across the country?

 

[Kevin3824]

I started reading this thread the other night at first I thought it was a joke. It went from banning something in tournament to outlawing tables in states. I do not see either thing happening. There was at least one poster that wanted to disqualify people who learned to play pool on a bar box. While personally I do not like the Dynamo/valley tables myself I realize they are the most popular. Their popularity in peoples homes is largely due to the available space just like in a bar. I always saw it this way if a table was under 6' it was a toy, Six & Seven foot tables were bar tables. Eight and eight and a half foot tables weredesigned for home use back before many homes reduced the sizes of their rooms. Nine and ten foot tables were designed for Professionals to play on. Twelve foot tables were designed for snooker. I am a big fan of the idea of having standards and one set of rules in pool. I don't even think that will happen here. There are too many public places like bars that have their own set of rules. The Valley / Dynamo tables will never be out of the picture and you will always have people using them. After playing on and owning a 7 foot Diamond table, I understand there is a huge difference in quality to any of the other 7 foot tables I have played on. I would prefer to see all the major tournaments played on the highest quality tables as is available. On the other hand, The APA for example is a bar league and the most common table nationwide in bars is the valley table. The bar leagues in general do not promote individuals to excel to professional level they are more team based.

 

[jasonlaus]

I started reading this thread the other night at first I thought it was a joke. ^^^^^^^^^^^


It was/is