Why I'll never own a pool table

[hang-the-9]

Your stove analogy is on point, I suppose that if going out to eat was the ONLY thing that gets me out of the house socially, that I'd turn away from getting a stove if I didn't have one. Trust me, if most houses came with a pool table like they do stoves, I don't think I'd go out of my way to make a big fuss about it.

My point being that I'm socially awkward, to some people's perspective. I do not get out much, and pool is one of the only outlets I have.

So in your case you are using having to go out to play pool in a similar way people that set the clock back 10 minutes use it for. Instead of having to be late by just getting ready earlier they are faking themselves to be 10 minutes early so whey they are late they are on time, you not having a table is to force yourself to leave the house and hang out with people, it is a good idea if it works for you. I go out exactly because I like to socialize or just hang out and shoot in a place with other people, watch the goings-one at the bar tables with drunk bangers, maybe run into someone I have not seen for a while. l don't play pool just to play pool, if the whole of the game was pocketing balls in your house alone I doubt I would play much.

 

[Get_A_Grip]

I have a 9 foot Brunswick with 4.5" pockets at home on the first floor, but I go out 2-3 nights a week to play with others. My home table is where I hone my skills and practice. I can't really practice if I'm not at home. I go out to play against others and I don't like inviting dudes to my house to play. Pool players as a whole aren't the most trustworthy people....LOL

 

[Bob Jewett]

I had a table in my house for 15 years. After the first couple of years it became a magnet for paper since it was a large flat surface. I would occasionally clear off an area to try a particular shot. There was a pool hall five minutes down the road.

 

[mikemosconi]

Willie had a home table he almost never used (no penalty for missing), but back when I was competing regularly, I found that hitting drills for an hour before going out allowed me to get in stroke quicker after the match started.

HA! that was always a one of the tricks back in the day- guys would try to grab someone for a money game as soon as the walked into the room - grabbing a guy who was cold in his stroke and jump out to a quick lead! I always turned down anyone who asked until I spent a half hour or so at the tables - after you have been burnt a few times- you learn! Later in time; my home table used for pre- pool room practice became a "secret weapon" against those crafty sharks!

 

[Z-Nole]

You're cheating yourself. If you want to go out then go out. Having a table at home let's you play pool when ever you want. You're over thinking this.

 

[boogieman]

I have one and I love it. My local area has no real pool tables unless I want to drive an hour away, I'll be playing on a valley in poor condition in a bar. Nothing wrong with that, and I do so maybe once a month just for a change of pace. I'm a hermit so I never really go out other than work or to see family on the weekends. Having a pool sanctuary in my basement is just amazing. My table has good cloth, it's brutally unforgiving, so it gets me good. Also it's an oversize 8 (8.5') so there are no longer any long shots on the 7' Valleys around town. I can invite friends over, and play against my wife any day.

I hate going out and having social interaction at bars, maybe if there were a pool hall nearby it would change my mind, but bars you always end up dealing with some jackass sooner or later. I'd also rather spend money on my own equipment than pay by the hour to play on somebody else's. I leveled my own table, put the cloth on, nitpick the hell out of it so it's more fun to me to be able to do this stuff and know the table is set up right.

 

[9andout]

It might seem crazy, but here's my theory on why I don't want to have a pool table in my own home, even though one will fit.

Pool is my social outlet. If I had one I wouldn't get out to play, and I don't think I would go on trips to play pool as much.
Pool gets me out of the house, when most other things on weekends wouldn't. I'm a shut-in like that.

That being said - I can see how it would possibly save me money in the long run, and improve my game (maybe?)

Curious what everyone's take on my thoughts are.......

Love my home table and playing out.
Just had a new tip put on.
Asked them how they were doing during these crazy times.
He said because of COVID a lot of people were getting their first home table. Business is great for him!

 

[Maniac]

I've had a home table for about 13 years. I can honestly say that having one has made me a better player.

I still go out to play pool, but I really enjoy practicing at home either alone or with my wife. Until he moved away, the most fun I ever had with my home table was when a good friend of mine with similar playing ability would come over weekly and we played various games for a few hours. I miss those days.

I turned my living room into a pool room. When company (usually family) comes over, we visit while we shoot pool. Everyone enjoys it.

I would highly recommend owning your own table if money and room are not a problem.

Maniac

 

[Bic D]

After reading the OP, it got me thinking about my routine and I may be a little weird.

I have a table in my FROG that I play on everyday. I play(ed) in tournaments every Mon - Tuesday pre-covid. I also go to this same bar most every Friday, Saturday and maybe another night during the week for which I never even touch a stick. People will ask me to play I just refuse. We are too small for a league but I wouldn't play in one anyway. I guess I have no desire to play unless it's a tournament setting.

 

[336Robin]

It might seem crazy, but here's my theory on why I don't want to have a pool table in my own home, even though one will fit.

Pool is my social outlet. If I had one I wouldn't get out to play, and I don't think I would go on trips to play pool as much.
Pool gets me out of the house, when most other things on weekends wouldn't. I'm a shut-in like that.

That being said - I can see how it would possibly save me money in the long run, and improve my game (maybe?)

Curious what everyone's take on my thoughts are.......

Understandable but I use a pool table for meditation. Sometimes I just want to hit balls and be left alone.

I may end up adding on to the house over it. I can't stand too many structures around a house.

 

[The_JV]

I never had a home table up until one was given to me a couple of years ago. It sat in pieces in my basement until the lock downs and I was sent scrambling trying to find outlets for the wife and kids.

Now that I have one, I find it allows me to play games I wouldn't have played otherwise (14.1 for example). I also find it's made my overall proficiency worse...lol. The pockets are huge, and the upside down 15yr old cloth is so slow. I'd refinish it, but I prefer it to be kid friendly.

Of course pool has a social aspect to it, and that's the sole reason I play in a league. However, throughout my "career", pool has been about competing. While there are a few strong local players I enjoy matching up with foe sake of bragging rights. There's nothing better than walking into a battle of wills with an unknown player. Can't get that at home.

 

[ShootingArts]

People usually settle to one extreme or another. Either they spend a lot of time on a home table or pretty much none! I did a good bit of both for a few years as a youngster. Now, there are only a couple halls I prefer to my home table and they are both long drives. It isn't much of a table but I like the company!

A friend spends a lot of time in pool halls. A rare day he isn't in a couple, mostly socializing. Happily married for many years, he was considering getting a table. I pointed out there would be little justification for his road running if he had a table at home. Also pointed out that noise might be an issue with a home table.

I don't know what the decider was but I do notice that several years later there is no table in his home.

Hu

 

[ShootingArts]

HA! that was always a one of the tricks back in the day- guys would try to grab someone for a money game as soon as the walked into the room - grabbing a guy who was cold in his stroke and jump out to a quick lead! I always turned down anyone who asked until I spent a half hour or so at the tables - after you have been burnt a few times- you learn! Later in time; my home table used for pre- pool room practice became a "secret weapon" against those crafty sharks!

I had a home table, just junk but it helped. Then I started tuning on some snooker tables at a ratty old hall few went to and very few from other places I played. When I stumbled in cold you could be sure I had been tuning on the snooker tables, or could have been sure if you knew of their existence! I had a local small time hustler that had lit at my place about a week. After a few days I got to missing snooker practice and took him to the old hall. I didn't tell him what it was about. He fussed and cussed but after about forty-five minutes and a little coaching he was making a few balls. Another hour and I hauled him to a place with bar tables to play on. He got in action first. When he hit the very first ball he came up off of the shot looking at me and grinning. I just said "Yeah!" I knew he was seeing the same thing I did, those big bar table pockets on a seven foot table looked like #3 washtubs after playing on a snooker table.

Hu