Any Pool Players in the house?

[MadPlumbarian]

I was wondering if anyone here shoots pool? I used to shoot with my cousin when I was back in college then when we moved totally forgot about it.. But since we moved again we met someone who shoots once a week, so fun! The place we go is more of a bar then a pool hall, but hay free tables, and food omg good! So any players? JR

[Toolslinger]

I play occasionally. Got my own table in the basement when I got my new place a few years back. Need to get down there more often, it's been too long...

[derekmac]

I played a lot in high school, and probably for 5 years or so after.  Haven't played in a few years now though.

[Monrogue]

I've only occasionally ever played, and I do enjoy it, but I suck.  If I had one in my basement though, I'd probably practice.  I do have a pool game app on my smartphone....does that count?

[Higgins617]

I play a bit, though not well. I do enjoy it though

[styx]

well I played. even ranked good in a few amateur tournaments, but it really depends on my beer consumption and focus

[Aloha]

I also played a lot when I was in HS and frequently in my 20's and throughout the years.  Its a fun game and great way to spend an evening.  In my city for a while upper class pool joints popped up all over.  I haven't seen any in a long time though.   

[MadPlumbarian]

I've only occasionally ever played, and I do enjoy it, but I suck.  If I had one in my basement though, I'd probably practice.  I do have a pool game app on my smartphone....does that count?

Um, no, that doesn't count, lol..

well I played. even ranked good in a few amateur tournaments, but it really depends on my beer consumption and focus

I never ranked myself, if it's one thing I hate it's calling shots, but I'm ok, got my own cue and case(nothing great) kinda looked for a diff one but haven't found anything too expensive! JR

[AimlessWanderer]

I used to play both pool and snooker quite a bit, but I'm well out of practice now. Last few times I played pool, I was atrocious at it, and I dread to think how bad I'd be on a snooker table now 

[MadPlumbarian]

I used to play both pool and snooker quite a bit, but I'm well out of practice now. Last few times I played pool, I was atrocious at it, and I dread to think how bad I'd be on a snooker table now 

Never played snooker, almost did but didn't, I did play bumper, my grandfather had a table in his basement and when I was like really little I used to just putts around.. 9ball is my fav! JR

[captain spaulding]

I played from about 6yrs old to 25yrs old, but quit playing after that. Not because of lack of interest, but I no longer had a table and just had other things going on. I definitely intend on buying another table in the future though.

[zoidberg]

Pool, darts and table tennis. Bring it on! 

[Megan]

I love it.
I hope to have my own table some day. Grew up playing pool.

[styx]

Pool, darts and table tennis. Bring it on! 

add to that extreme chess and marathon shots and you got yourself drinklympycs

[MadPlumbarian]

Pool, darts and table tennis. Bring it on! 

My cousin, the same who got me really into shooting pool back in the day was in some club with darts, him and his father were really into them, he had a fancy board in his house(in the living room, not the basement) and tried to get me also in to them, they were the thick wood ones, not the plastic ones. Didn't get me to join but I was pretty good, but I did get him to join a bowling league! JR

[Breezy12]

I don't play nearly as much as I used to, but I still love to get out and shoot pool when I can.

I was in an amateur league for awhile -- learned a lot from the more experienced players and got pretty good myself. I had a table at home for awhile, but then had to sell it to make room for the kids and all their crap.

[Etherealicer]

I'm a playa and like to hang at the pool, does that count?

I play pool from time to time, but what I'm really good at is tabletop soccer .

[MadPlumbarian]

I don't play nearly as much as I used to, but I still love to get out and shoot pool when I can.

I was in an amateur league for awhile -- learned a lot from the more experienced players and got pretty good myself. I had a table at home for awhile, but then had to sell it to make room for the kids and all their crap.

Don't you just love that, then they don't appreciate what they have, as if they don't have enough! JR

[MadPlumbarian]

I'm a playa and like to hang at the pool, does that count?

I play pool from time to time, but what I'm really good at is tabletop soccer .

You mean foosball? That game I'll admit, I suck at! JR

[Etherealicer]

I'm a playa and like to hang at the pool, does that count?

I play pool from time to time, but what I'm really good at is tabletop soccer .

You mean foosball? That game I'll admit, I suck at! JR

Well, in Switzerland we say Töggelichaschte (loosely translated that would mean wood-figurine-box)

[MadPlumbarian]

I'm a playa and like to hang at the pool, does that count?

I play pool from time to time, but what I'm really good at is tabletop soccer .

You mean foosball? That game I'll admit, I suck at! JR

Well, in Switzerland we say Töggelichaschte (loosely translated that would mean wood-figurine-box)

hmm, interesting, makes complete sense.. JR

[sir_mike]

Yeah, played for many years and was considered a class A player as I won tournaments and money doing it as a teenager.  I was taught by a guy who was state champ when he was about 13 years old if memory serves me.  He was around the 30's at this time.  I worked/grew up in a pool hall working for him so also loved ping pong, darts, snooker and of course video games!  These were my way to subsidize my income as well as bowling and darts!

We even had a team here where I live and traveled to four other cities to play in a pool league.  Won every year!!

There was even a guy that I knew that traveled around in a van with a pool table in a trailer doing trick shots back then!  Can't remember who sponsored him though!

Been many years since I played consistantly but I was fortunate enough to teach alot of other people how to play and enjoy the game!

[MadPlumbarian]

Wooow, cool! If it was one thing I was good at it was bowling, back in my younger years I had tons of trophys, but I always wanted to get into pool. The bowling lanes had its own pool hall, and if I had any cash, I'd try to get a table between leagues. I'd love to be able to run a table like these two guys that came in a few weeks ago, omg did the one guy play, wow! But I got his attention on one of my shots, I ran three balls but screwed myself, yet I jumped it and almost made it, he even said nice shot. JR

[sir_mike]

Wooow, cool! If it was one thing I was good at it was bowling, back in my younger years I had tons of trophys, but I always wanted to get into pool. The bowling lanes had its own pool hall, and if I had any cash, I'd try to get a table between leagues. I'd love to be able to run a table like these two guys that came in a few weeks ago, omg did the one guy play, wow! But I got his attention on one of my shots, I ran three balls but screwed myself, yet I jumped it and almost made it, he even said nice shot. JR

Ah, the days of running the table, playing position and knowing how to put "english" on the ball!  Played alot of nine ball, straight pool, snooker and even billards (no pockets on table).  The pool tables were regulation size like 4x8 and the snooker was 6x12.  You would literally lay on the table to make a shot if the ball if needed as well as using a 7 foot cue with a bridge to reach!

The owner/guy that taught me was from down state where his parents lived and they owned a pool hall.  It was his dad who taught me billiards and his wife was a top ten female player in the state or world.  Looking back, they were probably in their late 20's at the time.  Their whole family were players and I guess that is why they opened up these pool halls!  I seen alot of money change hands over the years. 

Those were the days with fancy two piece McDermott and Mosconi inlayed cues with nice velvet lined hard cases! LOL 

EDIT:  on a side note, if wasnt all fun and games as we delivered and setup pool tables all over the state and those darn slates were heavy, not to mention some places where folks wanted their table setup at.  Like up a tight stair case that twists around almost like a spiral stair case but not quite and did some of them too!

[MadPlumbarian]

9balls my fav, we also played some cut throat since our friend showed up two hours late. My friends good at banking, that's my weakness, I'm good at long shots and that's his weakness, so we're trying to teach each other, yesterday I tought him to jump, he's nervis on ripping the felt, lol.. The cue I got is just a cheap "champs" I think I got it at Kmart back in 98? And in a cheap case, nothing hard, I'd like to get something a little better, I liked the one the guy brought in, it was leather and held two cues. But there just way to freaking exspencive.. JR

[captain spaulding]

9balls my fav, we also played some cut throat since our friend showed up two hours late. My friends good at banking, that's my weakness, I'm good at long shots and that's his weakness, so we're trying to teach each other, yesterday I tought him to jump, he's nervis on ripping the felt, lol.. The cue I got is just a cheap "champs" I think I got it at Kmart back in 98? And in a cheap case, nothing hard, I'd like to get something a little better, I liked the one the guy brought in, it was leather and held two cues. But there just way to freaking exspencive.. JR

Cut throat is fun. 

[sir_mike]

9balls my fav, we also played some cut throat since our friend showed up two hours late. My friends good at banking, that's my weakness, I'm good at long shots and that's his weakness, so we're trying to teach each other, yesterday I tought him to jump, he's nervis on ripping the felt, lol.. The cue I got is just a cheap "champs" I think I got it at Kmart back in 98? And in a cheap case, nothing hard, I'd like to get something a little better, I liked the one the guy brought in, it was leather and held two cues. But there just way to freaking exspencive.. JR

I loved the looks of the cues I had in the sweet cases but when I traveled to other cities to hustle, I would only carry a two piece cue that looked just like a house cue in a cheapo zip case!  If you showed up with a fancy molded case and pulled out the $500 cue, you wouldnt get a game unless you were in a pool hall with other players! 

[MadPlumbarian]

Well yeah, I'd like to play rather then just sit there and watch someone keep running the table. My two piece cue was the only one I really liked cause it felt solid and it didn't have that string on it as a handle, that I never could stand. My cousin broke down and bought a $120 cue, iszy I believe. Didn't really like it. My buddy has a titanium graphite one that looks sweet, but I don't  think I could ever break with it, I'd be afraid to break it. JR

[sir_mike]

Well yeah, I'd like to play rather then just sit there and watch someone keep running the table. My two piece cue was the only one I really liked cause it felt solid and it didn't have that string on it as a handle, that I never could stand. My cousin broke down and bought a $120 cue, iszy I believe. Didn't really like it. My buddy has a titanium graphite one that looks sweet, but I don't  think I could ever break with it, I'd be afraid to break it. JR

Yeah, breaking with two piece cues werent good for most of them til you got up in the higher dollar range ~$400+ custom made cues where they had like double joints in them.  Most guys including myself just used a house cue to break with.  My main cue had two different size shafts for it and had a big blue hard case that held multiple shafts, extra tips, chalk etc. but like I said, you didnt bring them to bars or clubs if you wanted a game!

If you get a chance look up "George Middleditch".  He passed away a few years ago but he was the guy that I played a few tournaments with and had the van and matching trailor with a pool table in it.  I believe that Shell Oil bought the van and trailor back then.  This was in the mid to late 70's and I havent played much or seriously since the late 80's - early 90's.

[MadPlumbarian]

That's the one reason I liked mine so much, it feels so solid, again nothing special, sorry the pics suck, the case has the little pocket with the chalk, extra tip, and that white block soap stuff. I'm looking at a halex case cause there cheap, but not a soft one like I have, then sooner or later maybe a new cue, it just sucks cause there's no where around here, so I would have to order it offline, and I'm one that likes to look something over and hold it befor buying it! JR