r/billiards

I usually play in pool halls, but I also spend a lot of time at my girlfriend's place an hour away. When I'm there, I play pool at the local dive bar. There is this one guy who always says "I'm just here to have fun man, I don't take it so seriously" and then proceeds to take everything seriously. He really just wants to play his way. The problem is he is one of the best players there and almost always wins the table. This is the type of player who makes you call "kiss or clean" on blocked pockets. I play mostly BCA, ball in hand, where that is not a thing and it is always open on the break.

Well last night we are tied in a 3 game race. He breaks and I don't have a shot. I tell him I'm going to combo the 14 into the 4 and he goes off. "No you can't do that. You pick solids or stripes." I tell him "It's still open, all the balls are neutral." And he proceeds to act like that's not a thing. I have to only hit one or the other. The only other player at the time agrees with him. I gave in and tried to pocket a solid but missed, having no shot.

He proceeded to run the table and win. ​​ later on in the night of course he shoots the 8 in, kissing off my ball. So I told him "you didn't call that," as he stormed off. I know I'm going to run into this guy again and when I tell him Google confirms he is wrong, he's going to make a big deal about it and act like I'm being a bitch.

What is the deal with bar rules anyways? If your object ball is behind the line what is to stop you from just putting the cue ball behind the line and shooting it in on a quarter table where it can't be spotted and just giving up your turn? What is to stop you from just purposely scratching when they are on the 8 ball and it's behind the line? It seems like there are certain things that are within the rules but frowned upon, like hitting the ball only a few inches to play safety. Players often bully others when these situations come up.

There always seems to be some blowhard wanting to dictate what legitimate bar rules even are. How do you handle these situations? The last time I tried to clarify rules before the game, I was once again accused of "taking things too seriously" when this guy does exactly that when it comes to always making sure the game is played only on his terms. When he said "my table, my rules," I just feel like making him play BCA, ball in hand every time it's my table. But that also seems a bit petty. I guess it would be funny to see what he would bitch about then. I'm sure once again that would be killing the vibe.

I play casually amongst friends, but over the past year I’ve found myself at a table enough to want my own equipment and I wanted some recommendations that anyone may have

TL;DR I've been playing for casual fun for decades, have access to good/decent equipment, I really suck, and anxiety/imposter syndrome is preventing my from playing in public.

My city is spoiled for tables.  From the fantastic sandwhich shop with a crappy coin-op, several bowling alleys and random bars, to the smokey dive with 20 ok tables and warped cues (which I used to play at weekly), the hall that doubles as a pawn shop for cues, and, enticingly a spot outfitted with several 8 and 9 foot diamonds, supposedly decent house cues, and serving craft beer only a short drive away.  I'd really like to go to that last one, the ***"nice place."***

I've been playing pool, for fun, since I was 5 years old (almost 35 years now).  Did I mention my Dad has a beautiful Andrew Gille's 8 (9?) foot with elephant legs?

And I suck.  I spent highschool playing with friends, who also sucked, and my thirties with a girlfriend who had zero idea how to aim.  Only once played a stranger (in another crappy table in a dive).  I can barely make basic shots.  Banks, kicks, and caroms were always "this will be fun to try and see what happens.". Basic cuts and full length table shots are 50/50.

Most of my life has just been knocking balls around and occasionally making some easy shots.

I've always wanted to take it seriously and truly learn.  The last few months I've been trying.  I also am using it as a way to connect with my Dad (and am still unlearning all the psychotic bar rules he taught me).  Though the last ten years he hasn't played and his low quality cues were missing tips.

To that effect I bought 4 cues at the pawn shop (the ultra expert cue collector gave me their league discount since I spent hours asking questions and trying different ones).  A two Viking's (hard rock Maple and not Chinese), a Jacoby (I actually like the Vikings better), and a random break/jump (one Viking is mine, the others I got for him).  I also got him a set of Amarith Premium balls.  (I figured it'd be nice to have a baseline of decent equipment, that it'd be more consistent, enabling learning and fun...  the balls don't randomly curve around when moving slowly!).  I also got a magic rack but am unsure if we like it.

I'm agoraphobic, social anxious, avoidant, and barely leave the house.  I've been practicing on my Dad's table a few times a week and occasionally playing with him (which is fun!  and even more than a decade with no one to play with and no regular practice he destroys me every time).

So that's my situation.  I want to get good.  I want to have fun playing with people that play decently well.

I'm terrified and embarrassed to go to the ***"nice place"***, and even more so to bring my cue out into public.  Why the hell does a terrible recreational plalayer own decent 2-piece cues?  Why can't he make basic shots?  Are randomly people going to watch me, judge me, critique me, laugh at me, challenge me to games?  If I'm this bad and playing against myself am I wasting table space?

I have no one else to play with, maybe I could take my Dad to a bar, but he's old and tired and just as socially awkward as me.  He joked I shouldn't take my cue out.

I figure I should at least go without my cue, during non-busy hours, and shoot 1 rack, and see what happens.  But what kind of amateur goes to the nicest spot and shoots one rack?

Intellectually I know all kinds play everywhere and not to worry, but it'd help to understand what it's actually like "out there", hear stories of other newbies who went to the nicest place in town, people who bought a cue "too early that they didn't need."

Is it possible I could play in some kind of league somewhere and not be constantly destroyed and embarrassed and laughed at?

p.s. My cue has Irish linen and a frog!  That's justification enough for my sweaty reptile loving butt to own it right?

p.p.s I'm looking at buying a house and wanting space for an okay slate table.  I've convinced myself I need an 8 foot, but a 7 foot would be much easier to fit, and a 6 foot is useless (but could fit in any house I'm looking at).  But I see so many people saying a 6ft is useless and with a 7ft you might as well play in public on 8ft.  Please tell me a 7ft is ok for someone like me.  Will it teach me bad habits? It would just be fun to have a table, but I don't want a table that is useless, and will literally buy a house based on nothing but "can it fit a table, and does the kitchen have counter space."

If I ever play in an amateur tournament or league is it even worth my time or will I just be wasting other players time?

P.p.p.s I didn't use AI, I'm just one of those marginally intelligent weirdos with decent grammer and a verbose writing style.

p.p.p.p.s should this post multiple posts?

***EDIT: I have tried to absorb Dr. Dave's beginner videos and just started with Bullseye Billiards (50/50 making a lag!)

How do you play to your level? Im playing BCA trios league. I went 5-1 the last two weeks. I leave feeling nothing but disdain for myself because I could have played better. Zero confidence in my game. I tighten up and miss clutch shots that are my bread and butter. Been beat too many times. I feel like I should lose before the match even starts if i know the skill level of my opponent. Or i think i have multiple shots coming and just miss. I know I am better than this. So godamn Infuriating.

Can i combo my ball into my opponents into the same pocket if theirs go’s in first and mine follows, not the 8 ball just a normal stripe and solid…?

I am a mid-400s Fargo, which for me, means I miss position on my next shot on a regular basis. I'm noticing that I'm having a tough time letting go of the annoyance at at my own bad cue-ball control before my next shot. This is a minor but noticeable distraction for me, and I'd like to work on that. Does anyone have tips?

Here's what I'm doing now:

- regular and consistent physical pre-shot routine
- attempt at a consistent mental pre-shot routine (evaluate table, evaluate options, choose speed/spin, then aim)

However, as a get down on the shot and try to focus on delivery, I'm noting -- unhelpfully at this point -- that this shot would be easier if I had gotten better position on my last shot.

As the saying goes, I'm not good enough to be mad at missing. I get that, and I'm not mad (don't put in the newspaper that I'm mad). But I am annoyed.

What do y'all do from shot to to shot to avoid this?

I recently joined BCA. With never having a Fargo the league operator talked to several players that know me and they started me much lower than I expected. 565 considering my captain is 637 and I am better than him, I was surprised. Later find out the majority of the league is below what their fargo should be.
I use to play BCA way back when handicap wasn't Fargo and it was 1-10 number. So I was familiar with format and rules. But didn't realize each week I played I'd only get 5 Robustness because of playing only 5 games. I've played 3 weeks which is 15 games. Week 1 was 4 wins and 1 loss where I broke dry and he (a 495) ran out. Week 2 was 4 wins and 1 loss where I missed 1 ball and he (about 520) ran out. Week 3 was 4 wins and 1 loss where a 378 broke and ran on me - yes a 378 (who is an apa 4/5) broke and ran on me for his first break and run ever. Each week the Fargo changes were +3, +3, and +2 to have me at 573. I'm not really sure how these are being calculated - and with nothing other than win or loss recorded it doesn't really show innings, how they win/lose.

But after 3 weeks I've going gained 15 robustness and it will take me forever to get my robustness up to 200.

How else do I build this robustness if there are no local Fargo Rate tournaments?
I've heard of salotto but never tried it
any other options?

Or even slapping the REVO BK-R onto the BK4 butt?

Aesthetically I prefer the look of the BK4 but I picked up my first carbon shaft 2 weeks and am enjoying the feel of it over the wooden one I used before (on my play cue).

People who have experienced both what do you recommend?

My family just acquired a free but pretty nice Brunswick table. About 20 years old($2k+ when purchased), 3 piece slate, felt removed, rails need redone (soft in some spots, firm in others). We are going to have it professionally set up and with new felt and new rails.

I practice and play league at a place that only has Diamond tables. With the tables being the same size, I’d like to try to replicate the ones I play on as best as possible.

Is it possible and worth it to have the pockets shrunk and get the same felt and rails?

There’s 0% I’ll be able to afford a real Diamond for the foreseeable future, so even if it’s not a perfect replica, is it worth throwing $1-2k at?

Id like to put a table in a home with limited sq ft. I could make it work in my living room if I were able to slide it out of the way when needed. My thoughts were to use furniture sliders to move it on hardwood flooring. I realize this is not optimal, but will it compromise the table integrity? Is this a stupid idea?

Hi. I just finished my basement. It’s a big open area, enough for a 8’ table (and more).

I’ve done some research, visited a couple of local stores. I looked on FB for second hand tables.

I’m leaning towards a new table for $5k. Olhausen has a few solid wood tables close to that range. I keep asking why their solid wood tables range from $4k to $12k. I’m told it’s just the intricate wood that’s the difference? Is there anything inside that’s different? Is it actual hardwood all the way through? The laminate tables are $500-$1k cheaper. I don’t mind that, but I think I prefer solid wood.

I did just read about the Olhusen ball popping out issue.

Use will be mostly me and my sons who are just becoming teenagers, so I expect it to be me playing mostly for a few years before they get into it. I’m less bothered by aesthetics than price. Something that will last. I’m not a serious player, it’s just for recreation.

Are there any other brands I should consider? I prefer US made tables as I perceive the quality is likely to be better?

I’m thinking of getting the wider top rail.

Models I’m considering

Augusta; Classic;Reno

TIA

Hey everyone I want to know what everyone's favorite cue tips are and why. I just got a new sawdust custom cue and the tip seems hard, I'm interested in the Caiden warrior, tiger nitro, or other tips I normally like a tip that gives me good control and spin for long draw shops.