Pool Players: League, Hints, Tips and Opinions

Wynona · Jul 26, 2023

For some odd reason, the thread on Rufus (Rufus: The Reliable USB Formatting Utility) has gotten cluttered up with Pool Players (I'm as guilty as the next person). Sooo, I thought that since Pool (knocking little balls around on a table) seems to be an interesting and popular topic, I'd create a place for discussion.

I'm a league player, so it follows that I play on those coin operated tables in a bar. Luckily, this one is primarily for pool players; no tables for sitting around and drinking booze.

Although booze is served, of course. I play at CJ'z Downtown Billiards in Benton, Arkansas.

I've been playing league for about six years and am a low skill level player; meaning I bounce between a 1 & 2 in 9-Ball and have never risen above a 2 in 8-Ball. Even so, I enjoy playing; it gets me out of the house, and is even good exercise. Oh, BTW, the handicap system for 9-Ball gives me a chance to beat higher level players . . . Occasionally, I can even beat a Level 5! Not often enough, but . . .

So, jump into the discussion, folks! We now have our own thread!

cereberus · Jul 26, 2023

The problem with pool is so many different rules sets ranging from pub simple rules to World 8 pool rules and variations.

Most people play simple rules - you get a free shot if opponent fouls, amd you carry free shot until you male an error, then you can use free shot, Usually, no free shot on black. No pocket nominations needed.

More professional games, you have to either hit a cushion with object ball or pot ball to avoid a foul shot. This prevents you running cue ball up behind an object ball to total (we say snooker in UK although rules say you have to declare totaled).

In UK, full pool size tables are rare - most places only have half size tables due to limited space.

We get a perennial discussion in UK which is better pool or snooker but they are different beasts. A pool game is generally much faster e.g. 10-15 mins.

A snooker game takes more time e.g. 20+ to say 40 minutes. Due to much larger tables, snooker is only really played in clubs, snooker halls.

Snooker is too slow for pubs really. However, it has incredible skill - getting a maximum 147 is beyond mere mortals. I have cleared a pool table from break quite a few times (potting eight balls in sequence), but my best ever break at snooker was 56 (7 reds, 7 blacks) but more normal with my skill level (say) 32 (4 reds, 4 blacks) - even then that is pretty rare. Sure, you rack up breaks with different colours, but just red and black is hard.

Pool requires rather more strength in shots as balls are larger (more inertia), whereas snooker is more precision.

Pool is is a better game for pub teams. Typically we have a team of 7 players in two rounds (substitutes allowed) - 14 games taking roughly 2-3 hours. Snooker would take up to 7 hours - far too long for pub competitions.

Really skilled pool players play amazing combination shots - not really a snooker thing.

So, saying one is better than the other is a rather meaningless statement as each at pro level has a lot of skill - just different.

I have seen skilled pool players who are average at snooker and vice versa.

The one thing about snooker is that everybody know the rules making it popular TV. Despite efforts to make Pool popular on TV in UK, most viewers are baffled by the rules, and hence it is never popular with the public in general which is a shame.

I really think pool would be more popular in UK with TV viewers if there was a common rule set.

Of course, in US life is different as pool is more culturally ingrained - indeed most US public would probably find snooker boring.

jvickers · Jul 30, 2023

I used to play on the APA league years ago. I was a 5. Then, I moved out of the country for 3 years and just never got back into it league-wise. I do play at a local bar with a 9" table and a couple of bar tables.

I like snooker and used to play it on and off when I lived in Tampa, FL. No snooker around where I live now, though. Plus, I don't have a snooker cue.

Wynona · Jul 30, 2023

jvickers said:
I used to play on the APA league years ago. I was a 5. Then, I moved out of the country for 3 years and just never got back into it league-wise. I do play at a local bar with a 9" table and a couple of bar tables.

I like snooker and used to play it on and off when I lived in Tampa, FL. No snooker around where I live now, though. Plus, I don't have a snooker cue.

Our league is APA. I play double jeopardy on Wednesdays and 9-ball on Thursdays. Yep, I'm a glutton for punishment.

cereberus · Jul 31, 2023

jvickers said:
I used to play on the APA league years ago. I was a 5. Then, I moved out of the country for 3 years and just never got back into it league-wise. I do play at a local bar with a 9" table and a couple of bar tables.

I like snooker and used to play it on and off when I lived in Tampa, FL. No snooker around where I live now, though. Plus, I don't have a snooker cue.

Must be a tiny bar with a 9" table?