OT: Pool/Billiards

[Kane One]

Since we have an OT thread about something as specific as chess, I thought to start one for my new favorite hobby: pool.

I’m in my third season of a team league and just joined an individual league. Both just started this week and I’m 1-0 in each.

f***ing love it. Any of you guys play?

Click to read more...

 

[Machinehead]

I suck but it's fun.

I play a lot of video pool since I suck.

I kinda suck at that too tbh.

 

[Kane One]

I suck but it's fun.

I play a lot of video pool since I suck.

I kinda suck at that too tbh.

I always thought it was fun even when I sucked but now I’ve been getting a lot better and watching YouTube videos on it 24/7.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Since have an OT thread about something as specific as chess, I thought to start one for my new favorite hobby: pool.

I’m in my third season of a team league and just joined an individual league. Both just started this week and I’m 1-0 in each.

f***ing love it. Any of you guys play?

I was in a bar pool league for year back in the 80s and 90s...even captained a number of them. Haven't played in a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG time, but I do love the game.

 

[TheWrongWay]

Since have an OT thread about something as specific as chess, I thought to start one for my new favorite hobby: pool.

I’m in my third season of a team league and just joined an individual league. Both just started this week and I’m 1-0 in each.

f***ing love it. Any of you guys play?

That's awesome and I'm glad you're loving it.

I haven't played since maybe the late 90s. Since you mentioned chess, I haven't played a game or tournament in over 20 years. Kind of staring me in the face how interests and hobbies can change over time for me.

I still do enjoy watching pool. I'll youtube Mosconi, Reyes, Caras, Sigel and I'm always awed watching the greats. The Hustler is always a great watch, too.

I can't imagine I'm the only one who played in the past and had a crush on Ewa (Mataya) Laurance

 

[Overcast]

I've played extremely casually throughout my life and always loved it.

The YouTube algorithm gave me some snooker videos a handful of years ago. "World's fastest snooker player vs. world's slowest snooker player" or something along those lines. The fastest player turned out to be Ronnie O'Sullivan who has been an absolute legend at the game since the early 90s. I would watch tournament highlights religiously for a while, but it's been just as long since I've really followed tourneys or anything. Earl Strickland and O'Sullivan played each other a few times, very entertaining to watch.

Also re: crushes, give me Jeanette Lee any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Holy moly.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

The only form of billiards I play is this:

Carom. No holes. 3 balls. And the goal of the game is to hit the 2nd ball, then 3 sides, and then the 3rd ball.

Tricky to master but it's a great way to familiarise yourself with geometry. My dad had me play this as a kid and I've loved it ever since. Even won some regional championships in different age groups as a kid. Immensely popular in Europe, but not so much in the US from my own experience.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

The only form of billiards I play is this:

Carom. No holes. 3 balls. And the goal of the game is to hit the 2nd ball, then 3 sides, and then the 3rd ball.

Tricky to master but it's a great way to familiarise yourself with geometry. My dad had me play this as a kid and I've loved it ever since. Even won some regional championships in different age groups as a kid. Immensely popular in Europe, but not so much in the US from my own experience.

View attachment 970186

i've only played 3 cushion billiards twice. couldn't get to touch the 2nd ball even once as i kept missing by millimeters.

favorite players to watch are earl strickland, rafael martinez, jimmy mataya, and efren reyes.

 

[Kane One]

The only form of billiards I play is this:

Carom. No holes. 3 balls. And the goal of the game is to hit the 2nd ball, then 3 sides, and then the 3rd ball.

Tricky to master but it's a great way to familiarise yourself with geometry. My dad had me play this as a kid and I've loved it ever since. Even won some regional championships in different age groups as a kid. Immensely popular in Europe, but not so much in the US from my own experience.

View attachment 970186

I watched a documentary on pool and this version is pretty old.

i've only played 3 cushion billiards twice. couldn't get to touch the 2nd ball even once as i kept missing by millimeters.

favorite players to watch are earl strickland, rafael martinez, jimmy mataya, and efren reyes.

FYI, Efren Reyes and Earl Strickland are playing tonight at Amsterdam Billiards. That’s where I play my leagues.

Hopefully it’s put on YouTube some time after.

 

[Harbour Dog]

I play way too much haha. Like 3-4 nights a week between league and hanging out with friends. It's the main reason I haven't been seeing as much of the Rangers this season.

Any snooker players here? I watch it frequently, and decided to try it a few months ago; WAY more difficult than I was expecting.

The only form of billiards I play is this:

Carom. No holes. 3 balls. And the goal of the game is to hit the 2nd ball, then 3 sides, and then the 3rd ball.

Tricky to master but it's a great way to familiarise yourself with geometry. My dad had me play this as a kid and I've loved it ever since. Even won some regional championships in different age groups as a kid. Immensely popular in Europe, but not so much in the US from my own experience.

View attachment 970186

I've only seen a couple random matches of this on Youtube before. Would you say it's bigger than snooker in Europe?

 

[Kane One]

I play way too much haha. Like 3-4 nights a week between league and hanging out with friends. It's the main reason I haven't been seeing as much of the Rangers this season.

Any snooker players here? I watch it frequently, and decided to try it a few months ago; WAY more difficult than I was expecting.



I've only seen a couple random matches of this on Youtube before. Would you say it's bigger than snooker in Europe?

I really want to try snooker but idk where to play. I’ve watched tons of videos and it looks so fun.

 

[Mandar]

Love the game although I havent played in years. Used to hustle for drinks in college.

Some great movies out there with pool being a central theme....The Hustler; The Color of Money, etc. And a great Twilight Zone episode too (Jack Klugman was a pool shark).

 

[Harbour Dog]

I really want to try snooker but idk where to play. I’ve watched tons of videos and it looks so fun.

Definitely not easy to find on this side of the Atlantic. There is only one snooker table here in St. John's, in one of the pool halls. Me and a friend gave it a shot.

I'd suggest that if you are able to try it at some point, do; it's eye opening! Pro snooker players are a different breed altogether. But also, go into it with expectations that you are going to blow chunks haha

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I've played extremely casually throughout my life and always loved it.

The YouTube algorithm gave me some snooker videos a handful of years ago. "World's fastest snooker player vs. world's slowest snooker player" or something along those lines. The fastest player turned out to be Ronnie O'Sullivan who has been an absolute legend at the game since the early 90s. I would watch tournament highlights religiously for a while, but it's been just as long since I've really followed tourneys or anything. Earl Strickland and O'Sullivan played each other a few times, very entertaining to watch.

Also re: crushes, give me Jeanette Lee any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Holy moly.

A lot of people I played against (especially Euros) said I would have been unbeatable at snooker because I had a knack for "hiding" the ball.

 

[mrmovies779]

Efren Reyes is a pool God.I love watching him on YouTube.im an average player,but I have fun regardless of winning and losing

A lot of people I played against (especially Euros) said I would have been unbeatable at snooker because I had a knack for "hiding" the ball.

My wife says the same thing to me about our money

 

[LORDE]

Since we have an OT thread about something as specific as chess, I thought to start one for my new favorite hobby: pool.

I’m in my third season of a team league and just joined an individual league. Both just started this week and I’m 1-0 in each.

f***ing love it. Any of you guys play?

My wife & I are on a team in an 8 ball APA league. We love it.

Thanks for starting this thread!

 

[Kane One]

My wife & I are on a team in an 8 ball APA league. We love it.

Thanks for starting this thread!

Nice! I joined a BCA team 8-ball league in about July. This past season we lost in the semifinals.

Then I got massively addicted and joined an individual 9- and 10-ball league; also BCA. I’m more excited about this one.

Maybe to keep this thread going, I’ll start recreating some shots I made or missed and ask how you guys would’ve approached it.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I play way too much haha. Like 3-4 nights a week between league and hanging out with friends. It's the main reason I haven't been seeing as much of the Rangers this season.

Any snooker players here? I watch it frequently, and decided to try it a few months ago; WAY more difficult than I was expecting.



I've only seen a couple random matches of this on Youtube before. Would you say it's bigger than snooker in Europe?

Snooker is big in the UK.

Carom is more popular on mainland Europe, mostly Western Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, France).

 

[LORDE]

Nice! I joined a BCA team 8-ball league in about July. This past season we lost in the semifinals.

Then I got massively addicted and joined an individual 9- and 10-ball league; also BCA. I’m more excited about this one.

Maybe to keep this thread going, I’ll start recreating some shots I made or missed and ask how you guys would’ve approached it.

I'd love that.

I was made a 6 (in APA the highest is a 7 in league but I'm not that good honestly) Since I've been a 6 I get destroyed by 7s all the time & even good 5s. It's a weird handicap system.

I mean I'm decent & I practice fairly regularly but don't have a table at home or anything.

I kinda feel like I've plateaued because I don't play with MUCH better players, & I'd love to.

I guess like any sport (or game if you want), the better you get the more nuanced it becomes & the harder it gets to just reach the next level.

I'm pretty down on my game lately because I just lose... a lot & let my team down.

But I still play whenever I can no matter how bad the table might be.

Shit, my wife & I had our honeymoon in Jamaica... over the water bungalow, butler... the whole deal.

We ended up playing pool at times on their AWFUL table... outside, it was literally falling apart actually.

That's how much we enjoy it lol

 

[Kane One]

I'd love that.

I was made a 6 (in APA the highest is a 7 in league but I'm not that good honestly) Since I've been a 6 I get destroyed by 7s all the time & even good 5s. It's a weird handicap system.

I mean I'm decent & I practice fairly regularly but don't have a table at home or anything.

I kinda feel like I've plateaued because I don't play with MUCH better players, & I'd love to.

I guess like any sport (or game if you want), the better you get the more nuanced it becomes & the harder it gets to just reach the next level.

I'm pretty down on my game lately because I just lose... a lot & let my team down.

But I still play whenever I can no matter how bad the table might be.

Shit, my wife & I had our honeymoon in Jamaica... over the water bungalow, butler... the whole deal.

We ended up playing pool at times on their AWFUL table... outside, it was literally falling apart actually.

That's how much we enjoy it lol

I’m currently a 4 in my team league. Their handicap system works where if you play someone above you, you’re given balls rather than wins. So a 4 playing a 5 would mean they only have to get 6 of their suits in, remove the last ball, and then go for the 8.

Or if a 4 plays a 6, they would only need to hit 5 of their suits, remove the last two balls, and then go for the 8.

Similarly in 9-ball, if a 4 plays a 6, if they call the 7 ball and legally pocket it, they win. So it can either be when they’re up to the 7 ball, or call the lowest ball into the 7 as a combo.

When I joined the league, I started as a 4 but kept losing to 3s because I kept giving them a ball. Then I got dropped to a 3, won games here and there, then once I consistently started beating 4s, they upped me to a 4 to start this season. Then my first match, I faced a 3 where they were given a ball, and this time I won. So it’s been fun progress. It was my first time beating someone who got a ball advantage because they were lower than me.

The individual league is different. There you’re just given wins based on the handicap. That league I started week 1 as a D and faced a D+ (they use letter rankings) and given two wins. Then I beat him by 3 and I was immediately bumped up to a D+ for week 2 this Sunday.

The individual league alternates between 9- and 10-ball and I’ve literally never played 10-ball in my life but I studied the rules and watched a lot of YouTube. I’m gunna practice tomorrow because this Sunday is 10-ball and then just cross my fingers lol.

 

[LORDE]

I’m currently a 4 in my team league. Their handicap system works where if you play someone above you, you’re given balls rather than wins. So a 4 playing a 5 would mean they only have to get 6 of their suits in, remove the last ball, and then go for the 8.

Or if a 4 plays a 6, they would only need to hit 5 of their suits, remove the last two balls, and then go for the 8.

Similarly in 9-ball, if a 4 plays a 6, if they call the 7 ball and legally pocket it, they win. So it can either be when they’re up to the 7 ball, or call the lowest ball into the 7 as a combo.

When I joined the league, I started as a 4 but kept losing to 3s because I kept giving them a ball. Then I got dropped to a 3, won games here and there, then once I consistently started beating 4s, they upped me to a 4 to start this season. Then my first match, I faced a 3 where they were given a ball, and this time I won. So it’s been fun progress.

The individual league is different. There you’re just given wins based on the handicap. That league I started week 1 as a D and faced a D+ (they use letter rankings) and given two wins. Then I beat him by 3 and I was immediately bumped up to a D+ for week 2 this Sunday.

The individual league alternates between 9- and 10-ball and I’ve literally never played 10-ball in my life but I studied the rules and watched a lot of YouTube. I’m gunna practice tomorrow because this Sunday is 10-ball and then just cross my fingers lol.

Damn that's some weird shit there with the 7 ball winning in 9 ball

That changes defense A LOT

I’m currently a 4 in my team league. Their handicap system works where if you play someone above you, you’re given balls rather than wins. So a 4 playing a 5 would mean they only have to get 6 of their suits in, remove the last ball, and then go for the 8.

Or if a 4 plays a 6, they would only need to hit 5 of their suits, remove the last two balls, and then go for the 8.

Similarly in 9-ball, if a 4 plays a 6, if they call the 7 ball and legally pocket it, they win. So it can either be when they’re up to the 7 ball, or call the lowest ball into the 7 as a combo.

When I joined the league, I started as a 4 but kept losing to 3s because I kept giving them a ball. Then I got dropped to a 3, won games here and there, then once I consistently started beating 4s, they upped me to a 4 to start this season. Then my first match, I faced a 3 where they were given a ball, and this time I won. So it’s been fun progress. It was my first time beating someone who got a ball advantage because they were lower than me.

The individual league is different. There you’re just given wins based on the handicap. That league I started week 1 as a D and faced a D+ (they use letter rankings) and given two wins. Then I beat him by 3 and I was immediately bumped up to a D+ for week 2 this Sunday.

The individual league alternates between 9- and 10-ball and I’ve literally never played 10-ball in my life but I studied the rules and watched a lot of YouTube. I’m gunna practice tomorrow because this Sunday is 10-ball and then just cross my fingers lol.

Good luck Sunday!

 

[Kane One]

Damn that's some weird shit there with the 7 ball winning in 9 ball

That changes defense A LOT

Yeah I honestly can’t stand it. I don’t know any defensive strategy in 8-ball except for just winning.

In 9-ball, if their money ball is the 8 rather than the 9 and I see the 8 is just hanging in the pocket, I’ll just take the foul and hit it in on purpose so it gets re-spotted. But if I pocket their money ball legally, it stays down and then they have to go for the 9 to win.

 

[LORDE]

I’m currently a 4 in my team league. Their handicap system works where if you play someone above you, you’re given balls rather than wins. So a 4 playing a 5 would mean they only have to get 6 of their suits in, remove the last ball, and then go for the 8.

Or if a 4 plays a 6, they would only need to hit 5 of their suits, remove the last two balls, and then go for the 8.

Similarly in 9-ball, if a 4 plays a 6, if they call the 7 ball and legally pocket it, they win. So it can either be when they’re up to the 7 ball, or call the lowest ball into the 7 as a combo.

When I joined the league, I started as a 4 but kept losing to 3s because I kept giving them a ball. Then I got dropped to a 3, won games here and there, then once I consistently started beating 4s, they upped me to a 4 to start this season. Then my first match, I faced a 3 where they were given a ball, and this time I won. So it’s been fun progress. It was my first time beating someone who got a ball advantage because they were lower than me.

The individual league is different. There you’re just given wins based on the handicap. That league I started week 1 as a D and faced a D+ (they use letter rankings) and given two wins. Then I beat him by 3 and I was immediately bumped up to a D+ for week 2 this Sunday.

The individual league alternates between 9- and 10-ball and I’ve literally never played 10-ball in my life but I studied the rules and watched a lot of YouTube. I’m gunna practice tomorrow because this Sunday is 10-ball and then just cross my fingers lol.

APA 8 Ball is slop counts (hit your ball 1st and anything goes except the 8 obv)

Each match is a handicap of games... so like if two 5 handicaps played, it would be an even race to 4 games... as a 6, when I play a 5 I need 5 games to their 4.

It makes sense for the most part but we have a girl on our team who never played in a league, but she's pretty decent. So everyone comes in as a 3 & then they adjust.

She's a 3 & wins her 1st match & they made her a 5.

I was like WTF?????

One match!

Yeah I honestly can’t stand it. I don’t know any defensive strategy in 8-ball except for just winning.

In 9-ball, if their money ball is the 8 rather than the 9 and I see the 8 is just hanging in the pocket, I’ll just take the foul and hit it in on purpose so it gets re-spotted. But if I pocket their money ball legally, it stays down and then they have to go for the 9 to win.

My biggest issue getting in how league play goes is defense.

I NEVER played that way.

My friends & I would call that "dirty pool"

It's absolutely a huge part of APA play & I still struggle with it. Not just WHEN but also how.

Nuanced

 

[Kane One]

APA 8 Ball is slop counts (hit your ball 1st and anything goes except the 8 obv)

Each match is a handicap of games... so like if two 5 handicaps played, it would be an even race to 4 games... as a 6, when I play a 5 I need 5 games to their 4.

It makes sense for the most part but we have a girl on our team who never played in a league, but she's pretty decent. So everyone comes in as a 3 & then they adjust.

She's a 3 & wins her 1st match & they made her a 5.

I was like WTF?????

One match!

Slop counts here in 9-ball here EXCEPT for the handicap ball (a 4 playing a 5 has to call the 8 ball; or a 4 playing a 6 has to call the 7 ball).

The handicap system you use is how it works for my individual league which to me makes a lot more sense. So in my last match it was a race to 9 and I started with 2 wins. The rankings change weekly.

In the team league, it’s normally only once a season or maybe even after the season.

My biggest issue getting in how league play goes is defense.

I NEVER played that way.

My friends & I would call that "dirty pool"

It's absolutely a huge part of APA play & I still struggle with it. Not just WHEN but also how.

Nuanced

In bar pool, defense is pretty lame. But I disagree completely when it comes to league play. Pros play defense too.