this post may be long, abstract, but in my opinion happens to be a glaring and highly important and overlooked issue facing the serious pool player in america.
when a player walks into a typical pool hall establishment in the u.s.a. in 2005/2006 they will notice that the pool hall caters to the typical "i can't play to save my life/i'm on a date/pool is fun player.
which means that the cloth is worn, filthy filled with grease, and powder, the balls are old and pitted, and slow, the cushions are "funny/wrong" and all the equipment is off to say the least.
worse yet, the music is horrible and BLASTING the lighting above the table is carless, and the entire establishment reeks of "we do not care, most of you can't play anyway"
there seems to be two different types of pool halls in the usa, before the release of "the color of money", and post the color of money.
the pool halls before the color of money are filled with fat old bald men smoking stinky cigars, who have been at the same place since they were 7 years old, there is no music, men only and it is depressing and boring.
the pool halls post color of money are disco clubs, and night clubs that happen to have some pool tables in them somewhere, they are filled with loud blaring inappropiate music at rock concert volume, and feature dim sexy lighting for romantic couples on their first date.
in other words, YOU CAN'T WIN you simply can not win. if you play golf, the non-pro vs the PGA have everything the same, the course, clubs, and everything else is identical except the talent. people who play golf WANT to improve and all of them take lessons. there is no blaring music, or crazy distractions.
if someone wants to learn how to be a brain surgeoun they would do it in a quiet classroom and take it seriously. if someone want to learn anything or take anything seriously in this world, they would do it quietly, with care and respect.
to sum up what i'm saying, i am saying it doesn't matter if pool becomes huge or not, it matters that all current pool halls go out of business, close down and fail on there ass. then and only then can we re-build the pool hall, to fit the way it should be, in order for healthy growth. pool halls should have two clients ~~ players that are very good to excellent, or players who aren't good but want lessons. let's get rid of ball banging daters who go to pool halls for the music and food, for them i suggest going to a resturant and then to a club with music, stay out of the pool halls and stop ruining a great sport.
i as an ipt member find it harder and harder to get practice in due to all of the issues mentioned above. and as far as put it out of your mind, and play pool? why should i? it's time to reboot pool in american's minds, and return the game back to the "players" a hybrid between the old and new would work well for me, for instance, a pool hall with perfect condition tables, cloth etc. etc. that only plays soft classical or soft beatles music. they serve red wine, fine cigars, with big air filters so non-smokers can breath, host straight pool 3-cushion and 8-ball tournaments, and have many qualified certified pool instructers on hand, for people who want to learn. the pool halls should also have movie theatre arena seating with electronic score boards. in other words, let's get down and back to where pool should be going~~~ into a serious room with soft nice music with women that geniunely want to learn, and a room where pool is the main thing, not the music or the food, or the flirting. i know there will be lots of comments, so be it, i will not be a player in the current world. i shall give the ipt my best shot, but if the aura of the current day pool room doesn't change, then as a serious player, i shall bow out gracefully, Bernie Friend. IPT player since 2005
when a player walks into a typical pool hall establishment in the u.s.a. in 2005/2006 they will notice that the pool hall caters to the typical "i can't play to save my life/i'm on a date/pool is fun player.
which means that the cloth is worn, filthy filled with grease, and powder, the balls are old and pitted, and slow, the cushions are "funny/wrong" and all the equipment is off to say the least.
worse yet, the music is horrible and BLASTING the lighting above the table is carless, and the entire establishment reeks of "we do not care, most of you can't play anyway"
there seems to be two different types of pool halls in the usa, before the release of "the color of money", and post the color of money.
the pool halls before the color of money are filled with fat old bald men smoking stinky cigars, who have been at the same place since they were 7 years old, there is no music, men only and it is depressing and boring.
the pool halls post color of money are disco clubs, and night clubs that happen to have some pool tables in them somewhere, they are filled with loud blaring inappropiate music at rock concert volume, and feature dim sexy lighting for romantic couples on their first date.
in other words, YOU CAN'T WIN you simply can not win. if you play golf, the non-pro vs the PGA have everything the same, the course, clubs, and everything else is identical except the talent. people who play golf WANT to improve and all of them take lessons. there is no blaring music, or crazy distractions.
if someone wants to learn how to be a brain surgeoun they would do it in a quiet classroom and take it seriously. if someone want to learn anything or take anything seriously in this world, they would do it quietly, with care and respect.
to sum up what i'm saying, i am saying it doesn't matter if pool becomes huge or not, it matters that all current pool halls go out of business, close down and fail on there ass. then and only then can we re-build the pool hall, to fit the way it should be, in order for healthy growth. pool halls should have two clients ~~ players that are very good to excellent, or players who aren't good but want lessons. let's get rid of ball banging daters who go to pool halls for the music and food, for them i suggest going to a resturant and then to a club with music, stay out of the pool halls and stop ruining a great sport.
i as an ipt member find it harder and harder to get practice in due to all of the issues mentioned above. and as far as put it out of your mind, and play pool? why should i? it's time to reboot pool in american's minds, and return the game back to the "players" a hybrid between the old and new would work well for me, for instance, a pool hall with perfect condition tables, cloth etc. etc. that only plays soft classical or soft beatles music. they serve red wine, fine cigars, with big air filters so non-smokers can breath, host straight pool 3-cushion and 8-ball tournaments, and have many qualified certified pool instructers on hand, for people who want to learn. the pool halls should also have movie theatre arena seating with electronic score boards. in other words, let's get down and back to where pool should be going~~~ into a serious room with soft nice music with women that geniunely want to learn, and a room where pool is the main thing, not the music or the food, or the flirting. i know there will be lots of comments, so be it, i will not be a player in the current world. i shall give the ipt my best shot, but if the aura of the current day pool room doesn't change, then as a serious player, i shall bow out gracefully, Bernie Friend. IPT player since 2005
