Where in Tucson is the place to play .Im going there to work for a week maybe 3 months .Whos got the best tables ,where to catch some action and tournys ? Maybe a lil gambling myself ? Thanks Red
Tucson pool
- Thread starter camargored
- Start date
Basicaly 3 pool halls in Tucson, least last time I was there. Main Street Billards has the most tables, Pockets the best chow, and Clicks up near the Tucson mall. Several players float between Mainstreet and Pockets that are good for a little action, even a couple that are pretty sporty.
First thing you need for the tournaments is to get an Arizona rating. I went to mainstreet for that. There are very few open tournaments where a handicaps based on your rateing are not required.
Been a while since I've been there so things may have changed. I did favor the tables at Pockets though, man those things were FAST. A normal lag on 860 for me would go 2 1/2 rails or better. At Clicks the few gold crowns tend to be double or triple shimmed and play awkard because of it. Main Street covers it's tables on a rotating basis, usually some wore out and some new are available.
First thing you need for the tournaments is to get an Arizona rating. I went to mainstreet for that. There are very few open tournaments where a handicaps based on your rateing are not required.
Been a while since I've been there so things may have changed. I did favor the tables at Pockets though, man those things were FAST. A normal lag on 860 for me would go 2 1/2 rails or better. At Clicks the few gold crowns tend to be double or triple shimmed and play awkard because of it. Main Street covers it's tables on a rotating basis, usually some wore out and some new are available.
I played pool in Tucson in the 60's at a place called The Billiard Academy. Alf Taylor and Weldon Rogers were a couple of the players there. They were hot. My brother and I used to go there from a small town south of Tucson and get our butts whipped. Talk about intimidating!! "Hey Sierra, wanta shoot some?'camargored said:
If you want to play for anything more than $5, Click's is the only place to go. It only has 4 - 9' tables (one gandy w/ buckets, and 3 shimmed GC's), but everything is clean and very well maintained. The food selection is pretty poor, just stuff delivered from nearby, at a marked up price. There is almost always action, especially for one-pocket. Many of the players who are used to the buckets across town hate playing there because of the tight pockets, and the different lights.
Pockets has good food, well maintained equipment, and a few players that will play cheap. They also have a few billiard tables, and a snooker table as well. Their rates for table time are very reasonable, and they have a nice pro-shop also.
Main Street has tons of tables, tourneys all the time, and a bunch of players that will play cheap. The equipment there is pretty sub-par, and most players won't bet that water is wet, even the better ones. They do have a kitchen, but it's mostly fried foods. They are the only place for under 21, so it can get pretty filled up with loud, obnoxious kids at night.
The Fox & the Hound is mostly a restaurant, but has 5 or 6 nice tables. I think they have 1 9' diamond, and 4 or 5 8' diamonds. The table time is pretty steep, and there aren't usually any players there, but I have found action there a few times.
There is also a place in South Tucson that I don't know much about. I think it's mostly billiards there, and I don't even know if they are still open.
I guess where you go will depend on what you are looking for. Let me know when you get in town and maybe we can play a few games.
Pockets has good food, well maintained equipment, and a few players that will play cheap. They also have a few billiard tables, and a snooker table as well. Their rates for table time are very reasonable, and they have a nice pro-shop also.
Main Street has tons of tables, tourneys all the time, and a bunch of players that will play cheap. The equipment there is pretty sub-par, and most players won't bet that water is wet, even the better ones. They do have a kitchen, but it's mostly fried foods. They are the only place for under 21, so it can get pretty filled up with loud, obnoxious kids at night.
The Fox & the Hound is mostly a restaurant, but has 5 or 6 nice tables. I think they have 1 9' diamond, and 4 or 5 8' diamonds. The table time is pretty steep, and there aren't usually any players there, but I have found action there a few times.
There is also a place in South Tucson that I don't know much about. I think it's mostly billiards there, and I don't even know if they are still open.
I guess where you go will depend on what you are looking for. Let me know when you get in town and maybe we can play a few games.
Last edited:
Pretty much my take on Tucson. Though there were a couple guys at Main Street that rated as players in my book. Tom was one, another that seemed to help with the classes was another.
I be a lowly 8 but would be interested in learning 1 hole, seemed to popular at Clicks during the day. Must admit i am pretty much cheap. Be glad to cover table time and a few drinks though. Hopefully they have leaned the way to make pockets tighter is to lengthen the rails, not add plastic shims.
Anyways I am bored stiff, trying to decide between Texas and Arizona for the weekend. Advice on cheap motels appreciated also.
I be a lowly 8 but would be interested in learning 1 hole, seemed to popular at Clicks during the day. Must admit i am pretty much cheap. Be glad to cover table time and a few drinks though. Hopefully they have leaned the way to make pockets tighter is to lengthen the rails, not add plastic shims.
Anyways I am bored stiff, trying to decide between Texas and Arizona for the weekend. Advice on cheap motels appreciated also.
Jimk said:
Heh, Weldon was hot when he showed up in Phoenix too
Seriously, JR owned a room in Tucson for a awhile.
Pool halls in Tucson suck.The only good tables in the entire city are table 1 and table 10 in clicks billiards on first ave.There are excellent players in Tucson both in one pocket and 9 ball.u can get big action in Clicks.Look for Angel, George Ramirez,George Theyacheyya, galloway etc.Pockets is more a quiet environment.there is a 67 or 68 year old,blond haired guy from Iowa who hangs around pockets plays good one pocket.
do not under estimate tucson.you have very good players there.
do not under estimate tucson.you have very good players there.
vagabond said:
You're right about the tables, especially if you play 1-hole. I don't know about excellent, but we have a few decent players around here. Ramirez and Galloway aren't playing at all, and I won't go into why on here. You might still get action from Angel or George T though, and maybe a few others. When are you coming through town again? Anytime soon?
Gum9Ball said:
Hey Gum, do you know if that southside poolhall is still open? And if so where it is? By the way, I'm still waiting for an offer I can't refuse to come up to your house and play some. We can play some banks again if we get rid of that 3-rail kicking crap.
pool in tucson
ask tommy neil if he knows "sparky". the champion that lived in tucson. i played at the acadamy billiards on speedway also weldon was a friend of mine also alfie taylor and steve moore.good one pocket at clicks, pockets is low down , mainstreet ok. most players in tucson wouldnt bet fat meat is greasy! thanks again for the dough george.
ask tommy neil if he knows "sparky". the champion that lived in tucson. i played at the acadamy billiards on speedway also weldon was a friend of mine also alfie taylor and steve moore.good one pocket at clicks, pockets is low down , mainstreet ok. most players in tucson wouldnt bet fat meat is greasy! thanks again for the dough george.
desert1pocket said:
Well, well, well Mr Desert1pocket, the offer to have you come up to my house is always open. If you are going to play even 1P I'll send a limo but if you are looking for more than 11-6 I may stutter a bit when I say you can have 13-6 but I get the snaps. As for the banks, that 3-rail kick rule makes it so sweet, why get rid of all that Juicy Fruit.
