This question came to me after I noticed that very few people make comments in the "carom billiards" section of the forum. In Mexico it's very common to see carom tables but in the US I have not seen one yet. I go to school in San Diego, CA (SDSU), and I don't know of any place where there is a carom table. I hope to read what you guys think.
Why is Caroms not so popular in America?
- Thread starter Hernan7
- Start date
Hernan7 said:
I am not sure whether College Billiard is still around. I remember seeing 2 or 3 tables there. Robert Raiford lives in San Diego and he might be able to tell you more places.
The other useful source is USBA site:
http://usba.net/html/california.html
cuetable said:
I live on the other coast in Miami. However, Pedro Piedrabuena (the current US champion) lives in San Diego now, and you can find him at College Billiards where he is one of the owners. The address is 5303 El Cajon Blvd. There will be a tournament there Sept. 8 & 9, so maybe you can stop by and check it out.
Robert
Could be the cost of table + space + time + players = little profit for Room.
But with players like Sayginer, Ira Lee, and now Mike Massey [ OK! even Jeanette Lee], plus the numerous regular USBA players - promoting 3 Cushion Billiard. You will see increasing tournament and interest in Carom Billiard.
Robert Raiford, Thank for your commentated as a commentator with Jan Carl during the 2007 SLI Tournament in New York on Caromtv.
But with players like Sayginer, Ira Lee, and now Mike Massey [ OK! even Jeanette Lee], plus the numerous regular USBA players - promoting 3 Cushion Billiard. You will see increasing tournament and interest in Carom Billiard.
Robert Raiford, Thank for your commentated as a commentator with Jan Carl during the 2007 SLI Tournament in New York on Caromtv.
3C declined in popularity and got take over by pool in the US after about the 50-60s. There are alot of pool players that have never even heard of it. Every person that has ever seen my billiards table has said, "What happened to the pockets?"
So there's not a huge group of players in the US. There are alot of places where I am that used to have billiards tables and got rid of them because they could make more money replacing it with a pool table. Usually the places that have them are big enough that they can afford to have one 3C table, or are owned by a billiards player, or are near a large foreign-born population that is familiar with the game.
Things seem to be changing. I've heard a few places around NYC have gone in reverse and replaced some pool tables with billiards tables.
So there's not a huge group of players in the US. There are alot of places where I am that used to have billiards tables and got rid of them because they could make more money replacing it with a pool table. Usually the places that have them are big enough that they can afford to have one 3C table, or are owned by a billiards player, or are near a large foreign-born population that is familiar with the game.
Things seem to be changing. I've heard a few places around NYC have gone in reverse and replaced some pool tables with billiards tables.
Agreed, im very puzzled by this. I totally admire the game. And now to goto a 3C hall is a bit of a travel.Hernan7 said:
I consider myself lucky... in my area I have a korean owened pool hall that has 2 floors...1st floor all pooltables and second floor all korean 4 ball tables and 2 full size 3 cushion tables.. the pool hall that I frequent (daily 
) has 4 3 cushion tables 
lucky I am indeed
) has 4 3 cushion tables lucky I am indeed
seven said:I consider myself lucky... in my area I have a korean owened pool hall that has 2 floors...1st floor all pooltables and second floor all korean 4 ball tables and 2 full size 3 cushion tables.. the pool hall that I frequent (daily
contraire to what you posted, seven, what differences is there from a Korean 4-ball table to a 5x10 carom table? And where is this place at so I could pay a visit sometime?
I got mixed up in my head..
What town is that!!!seven said:I consider myself lucky... in my area I have a korean owened pool hall that has 2 floors...1st floor all pooltables and second floor all korean 4 ball tables and 2 full size 3 cushion tables.. the pool hall that I frequent (daily
Great response
I'm glad a lot of members shared their points of view, and yes you are lucke SEVEN, but let me tell you that a friend of mine told me about a place en Tijuana, Mexico, which is very near from San Diego, where there are 8 3-Cushion tables. Yes, I said 8 tables, I'll try to go there this weekend and take some pictures.
I'm glad a lot of members shared their points of view, and yes you are lucke SEVEN, but let me tell you that a friend of mine told me about a place en Tijuana, Mexico, which is very near from San Diego, where there are 8 3-Cushion tables. Yes, I said 8 tables, I'll try to go there this weekend and take some pictures.
SlickRick_PCS said:
Korean 4 ball tables are 4 X 8. Balls are bigger than standard carom balls
some people do grab regular 3 cushion balls and play 3 cushion on the 4 ball tables
3kushn said:
That would be Philadelphia. "Tacony Billiards" (4 tables) Tacony section on the city
Korean place "123 Billiards" Olney section on the city
Hernan7 said:
I think there are several rooms in Tijuana, but you should definitely check out College Billiards on El Cajon near 53rd. They just put in six Verhoeven tables, and with Pedro in charge they will certainly cater to three-cushion players. And, as Robert pointed out, there is going to be a tournament there next weekend (Sept. 8 and 9).
Mark
seven said:
Do you have an idea where I can purchase a Korean cut?
If you say that it could fit both 4-ball and regular carom billiard balls in, then I would be quite interested in purchasing one.
3 cushion
I agree with all the thoughts on here. i am in Grand rapids MI and we are trying to bring 3 cushion back to the US. One of our local pool halls has 3 tables. I am also a member of a local private club with 4 very nice 3 cushion tables. It is made up mainly of older dutch guys but we are starting to gain new younger members. I think people just arent familiar with the game these days.
I agree with all the thoughts on here. i am in Grand rapids MI and we are trying to bring 3 cushion back to the US. One of our local pool halls has 3 tables. I am also a member of a local private club with 4 very nice 3 cushion tables. It is made up mainly of older dutch guys but we are starting to gain new younger members. I think people just arent familiar with the game these days.
mikek18 said:
Fun you should mention private club. Because I noticed during numerous research - European, Spainish/Latin, and Asian countries seem to have numerous private billiard clubs, and teach youth in the these clubs, along with 3C Team tournaments which is not found in United States.
Mikek18, maybe you could give us more information about your Billiard Club. Funny USBA doesn't mention anything about Team competition in their bylaw or did I miss that part. Got any pictures you might be able to post?
Bob Watson
I can think of 6 places in the DC area that have billiards tables. Only 2 w/ 10 footers though.
private clubs
Yeah, we need some details on the private club. I've heard about them in Europe. I think it's really common in Spain, but I've never heard of anything like that in the US. How many people are involved? How'd that get started?
Yeah, we need some details on the private club. I've heard about them in Europe. I think it's really common in Spain, but I've never heard of anything like that in the US. How many people are involved? How'd that get started?
billiardshot said:
grand rapids
we have allot of members but there are 3 categories of members. last year we started a dart league on Monday nights and that atracted allot of people. we have the die hard 3 cushion players like myself but most of the members are into standard caroms. I would guess that total we have around 100 members.
the club started years ago buy some older dutch guys and has just been expanding. It is tough financialy to make things work. For instance this year we needed new cloth and rails on 2 of the tables. we were able to afford the rails but not the cloth. between 3 members they chipped in and personaly paid for the new cloth on those 2 tables.
we have leagues about 4 days a week. the rest of the time is open play. All members have keys and can go whenever they want. We lease the building and are looking at expanding and adding a couple of pool tables to attract a few more members. Our membership is around $300 a year and you can play in leagues for free.
we have a club president, secretary and few other people that donate there time to make things happen. we have meetings like twice a year to talk about stuff and make decisions. We are a nonprofit organazation.
i will try to post some pics early next week. if you have any questions feel free to ask. We are trying to bring billiards back to the usa. we are talking about having a usba seniors tournament at our club next year.
we have allot of members but there are 3 categories of members. last year we started a dart league on Monday nights and that atracted allot of people. we have the die hard 3 cushion players like myself but most of the members are into standard caroms. I would guess that total we have around 100 members.
the club started years ago buy some older dutch guys and has just been expanding. It is tough financialy to make things work. For instance this year we needed new cloth and rails on 2 of the tables. we were able to afford the rails but not the cloth. between 3 members they chipped in and personaly paid for the new cloth on those 2 tables.
we have leagues about 4 days a week. the rest of the time is open play. All members have keys and can go whenever they want. We lease the building and are looking at expanding and adding a couple of pool tables to attract a few more members. Our membership is around $300 a year and you can play in leagues for free.
we have a club president, secretary and few other people that donate there time to make things happen. we have meetings like twice a year to talk about stuff and make decisions. We are a nonprofit organazation.
i will try to post some pics early next week. if you have any questions feel free to ask. We are trying to bring billiards back to the usa. we are talking about having a usba seniors tournament at our club next year.