#1- Action!
#2- Good Equipment
#3- Everything else
#2- Good Equipment
#3- Everything else
Why do you go to certain pool hall?
- Thread starter Buddha's Belly
- Start date
Agreed. Same here, mainly it is atmosphere & price.VIProfessor said:
I go to a specific pool hall because it is in Massachusetts and Mass is a non-smoking by law state, whereas New Hampshire allows smoking in pool rooms. You didn't really have that in the list, you had "atmosphere", but I don't think that was what you were referring to.
I have a 9' table here at home. Table time is paid already here, so no need to go out much. Sometimes I'll stop by the Slick Willie's down the street and see if they need a sub on a league team but that's about it.
When I walk in my favorite pool room most of the people and all of the staff know my name and say hello.
By the time I get to my table and screw my sticks together, the waitress delivers a soda without me even asking for it.
Normally, after I warm up a little, the players start grouping around and we either play a cheap 10 ball ring game, scotch doubles match with me always getting the weakest player for a partner or, for some reason, my table becomes the challenge table.
No big time action. Mostly very cheap practice sets.
Everyone gets along great. We even have bar-b-ques and parties at different players homes every couple of weeks. Just good people.
The only problem is the condition of the tables. The staff does a decent job of cleaning them but the table mechanic, if you can call him that, should have been put out to pasture years ago. There should be a federal law not letting this guy near a pool table.
The place has four 9 footers and at any one point two are out of play because of dead rails or something.
I guess you could call this place my "Cheers".
By the time I get to my table and screw my sticks together, the waitress delivers a soda without me even asking for it.
Normally, after I warm up a little, the players start grouping around and we either play a cheap 10 ball ring game, scotch doubles match with me always getting the weakest player for a partner or, for some reason, my table becomes the challenge table.
No big time action. Mostly very cheap practice sets.
Everyone gets along great. We even have bar-b-ques and parties at different players homes every couple of weeks. Just good people.
The only problem is the condition of the tables. The staff does a decent job of cleaning them but the table mechanic, if you can call him that, should have been put out to pasture years ago. There should be a federal law not letting this guy near a pool table.
The place has four 9 footers and at any one point two are out of play because of dead rails or something.
I guess you could call this place my "Cheers".
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I mostly visit one hall, the main factor is location. It is 5 minutes away from my house... The halls around here all have great equipment, so that is not really a factor in my case, but it definately would be a priority if there was junk around...
I visit two other halls, mainly for their weekly tournaments.
And there is one hall that I drop in every once in a while either looking for action or hiding from my regular spots...
Visiting different halls is absolutely nesissary to bring your game to the top. Not because of the equipment differences, but because of the diversity of skill level and style of play. Some halls have 15 year olds running racks like you wouldn't beleive and other halls have nothing but bar-shoots poking at the cue ball and not running anything... You have to have seek out the exposure to great players to become great.
I visit two other halls, mainly for their weekly tournaments.
And there is one hall that I drop in every once in a while either looking for action or hiding from my regular spots...
Visiting different halls is absolutely nesissary to bring your game to the top. Not because of the equipment differences, but because of the diversity of skill level and style of play. Some halls have 15 year olds running racks like you wouldn't beleive and other halls have nothing but bar-shoots poking at the cue ball and not running anything... You have to have seek out the exposure to great players to become great.
tables well maintained and good pool pals who can play. there is a little community of pool players here. We all met at the poolhall and we play together when we see each other.
Its like, you can always go and play by yourself but you will always meet one of the players in that community. Danny Hewitt trained most of us.
Its like, you can always go and play by yourself but you will always meet one of the players in that community. Danny Hewitt trained most of us.
For me, other than atmosphere, the most important consideration is the extent to which my privacy is respected while I shoot.
In my experience, most poolrooms have the "players only in the playing area" rule, but few rooms enforce it. I don't like it when people sit down alongside the table I'm playing, within the playing area, assuming they are welcome to stick around and watch. To me, the social experience between me and my partner is part of the joy of playing, and unwanted company can reduce that joy.
For this reason, whether a room enforces the "players only in the playing area" rule is extremely important to me.
At the Amsterdam Billiard Club, where I shoot, this rule is taken very seriously, and it is one of many reasons it is such a wonderful place to play pool.
In my experience, most poolrooms have the "players only in the playing area" rule, but few rooms enforce it. I don't like it when people sit down alongside the table I'm playing, within the playing area, assuming they are welcome to stick around and watch. To me, the social experience between me and my partner is part of the joy of playing, and unwanted company can reduce that joy.
For this reason, whether a room enforces the "players only in the playing area" rule is extremely important to me.
At the Amsterdam Billiard Club, where I shoot, this rule is taken very seriously, and it is one of many reasons it is such a wonderful place to play pool.
I say a good part of a pool hall I choose is atmosphere. Equipmant does play a part but if I don't like the place I'm at then it doesn't matter how well the equipment is.
Here in Atlanta there are 3 pool halls I mainly go to and for various reasons.
I go to the Pool Room Duluth when i'm hungry and want to be left alone. Which is often so I go there the most. I like the equipment also. But the tables are spread out, pockets tight, and you have waitress' that serve you plus great food.
When I want to be around better players or socialize with some I know I go to Mr. Cues 2. Not to mention I kind of like the smoky poolhall atmosphere there.
When I want to sort of just get away I go to "The Independent" in midtown Atlanta. I did work there and know many people there. But it's kind of nice to get towards midtown sometimes and away from your typical pool players.
I guess a lot depends on my mood. All are about 40minutes away from me. And if I decide I don't like the place I'm at then the others are about 10minutes away from each other so I can switch.
Here in Atlanta there are 3 pool halls I mainly go to and for various reasons.
I go to the Pool Room Duluth when i'm hungry and want to be left alone. Which is often so I go there the most. I like the equipment also. But the tables are spread out, pockets tight, and you have waitress' that serve you plus great food.
When I want to be around better players or socialize with some I know I go to Mr. Cues 2. Not to mention I kind of like the smoky poolhall atmosphere there.
When I want to sort of just get away I go to "The Independent" in midtown Atlanta. I did work there and know many people there. But it's kind of nice to get towards midtown sometimes and away from your typical pool players.
I guess a lot depends on my mood. All are about 40minutes away from me. And if I decide I don't like the place I'm at then the others are about 10minutes away from each other so I can switch.
I'm surprised no one has chosen good food/beverage on the poll yet, my favorite pool hall has excellent food and they sell alot of it. If you have good food and the customers are frequently ordering it there can be plenty of money to be made, I'm beside myself when I hear of places that have little or no food at all