Who has a table and how often do you play??
Just started again tonite after a long hiatus.
It’s a tough game to be proficient at.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Patrick chats with the BS* + Beer crew at this year's International Builders' Show.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
Dare I ask? Does it have a slate bed?
I was a fair hand at it when I was young but, as you observed, it's not like riding a bicycle.
Edited 8/12/2008 6:06 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Yes a three piece 1" thick slate.
An old leather pocket job from the 19 teens.
Must be a beauty then. I have fond memories of those old timers.
I sold a house in February and the owners were old friends of my family. They had an old Brunswick bar table (slightly smaller). A friend of mind did some work in the house to get it ready for sale, and they mentioned they weren't taking the table. My friend said he wanted it, and volunteered me to help move it. We broke it down into about 10 pieces, but it was a 1 piece slate table. I think it may have only been 3/4", but it was the heaviest G.D. thing I've ever laid my hands on. I'll never do that again. On a side note, pool tables a amazingly simple inside. Lots of little guide blocks and tons of glue. As a kid I had always envisioned lots of tubes and stuff like a big water slide. Taking this thing apart really rained on my parade.
I helped put togeter my table after I bought it.
I too was amazed at how simple , yet functional these things are.
View Image
Thats sharp. I love the room too with the chalk board paint. My daughter would love it. My wife and I just got back from St Lucia, and the resort we stayed in had pool table that was about 6'X14'. I can't imagine moving that thing.
That's a real beauty! In a real pool room too.
Methinks there may be sharks in these waters.
;-)
I used to have one. I liked having one and miss it. I was not that good but good enough. Streaky would be the best word for me.
I used to play everyday and just run a few racks. Maybe 45 or 60 balls shooting straight pool (14-1) rules.
My brother used to come over, especially during the lonnnnng winters and we'd shoot for a couple hours, usually late into the night. I miss that.
My strength was positioning. I also tended to make the impossible shots while missing the easier ones. Books on techniques helped me a lot to learn the subtle tricks that can substantially increase your skill level. Knowing how to "throw" a ball and "cheat the corner" are critical skills that most people don't know or think about.
We used to get bored a bit and we'd play our own version of 3 cushion billiards. I actually considered building a new top to lay over or change the cushions to a billiard style table. I get a kick out of scoring points in the game of billiards.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"
Jim,
If you can run 3 or 4 racks of straight you're a much better shooter than I.
No no no no no no! Sorry for misleading you. I used to pocket about that many balls on a regular basis. Sometimes it would only be a rack or two. There would be many, many misses in there LOL! I think my longest run was just over one rack..maybe 16 balls...possibly 17 but no more than that. I actually would like to own one of those old 5x10 snooker tables too. Maybe some day. Here in TX they could be set up outside in the patio. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"
Then our skill levels are similar.
I went to Mark Twains house in Hartford a number of years ago.
He had a 3rd floor pool room with beautiful woodwork. It was said he could run 100 balls fairly regularly. Not to mention spin a pretty good tale !!
Walter
I've often wondered how a pool table would function on a wood floor system. I'm jealous of guys that can run balls like that. I used to hang out in the pool hall during class and watch the guys play snooker and straight pool. There are some very good shooters out there. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"
That was my favorite class in college!<G>
I took the tour of that house too, about fifteen-twenty years ago. I remember the impressive woodwork and the pool room upstairs.
If we ever have a thread on historic homes that are worth visiting, that one would be a the top of my list.
I also went to Hartford's old capitol building, downtown, after working hours. It's worth the time too. Smaller than one might expect but full of interesting details.
Edited 8/12/2008 8:22 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Walter,
I played a lot in the late 60's and early 70's at Bert's Billiards in Bethesda, MD after school and summers when I was not cutting grass. Played a lot of One Pocket, Nine Ball, and Six Ball. I also sat in on a few Billiard and Snooker games.
Bert had a couple of Willie Hoppe ques.
I learned a lot of geometry playing pool.
Chuck S
Chuck,
Thats my favorite part - the geometry !
When it all clicks you feel quite elated.
I'll never be good but I do enjoy it.
Walter
i don't have a table, and have moved away from the friend who had one but,
Neil had wednesday as pool night, he would kick his wife out so just guys, and it strictly ended at 9 PM. You could come early, but at 9 you had to leave.
We would play for money, not a lot, but it doesn't take much for it to become very interesting. Some of the guys I played pool with were very good shooters, but after about an hour we were all the same.
We played 8 ball (by the book, glenn would bring the rule book), additional bets for banking the green ball (14 & 6), and last ball sunk, could even the money even though you lost the game.
Peas (a game where you draw peas or beads with numbers on them and then you shoot the balls in order and your numbers are worht money when you sink them,
and my favorite, 3 ball. for 3 ball everybody puts a buck in the kitty and we each have a turn at how many shots it takes to sink 3 balls. lowest score wins, but if its a tie you put in another buck and go around again. with 6 or 7 guys playing it doesn't take long for there to be a pile of money and the scores get consistently higher.
the best part about it was winner has to bring something for dinner next week, steaks, ribs, doesnt really matter, and of course something to wash it down with. but if you go out big winner you have to buy something for next week, so most of the preceeds for this event are shared with the participants, the money is just there to keep it interesting.
my best moment was when a big pile of money ($49?) was on the table in 3 ball, i didn't make anything on the break and had two ducks on the table and one hard shot. the hard shot was a very sharp cut (slice), so i took the hard shot first, it went in and then the cue bounced around and knocked in the two ducks, final score two shots (with none on the break) for the money.
this all kept the game from getting boring, and is a great way to share it with friends. I got invited the first time by another guest, not the owner, and quickly became friends with all.
what is this game of which you speak?
No Tag
they are all pool (billiards) games.
hmm
maybe i meant
rack 'em up and leave your money on the tableNo Tag
that doesn't make any sense either, but i will answer the question whether or not i understand it, thats just the kind of guy i am.
you seem like a swell guy to me.
No Tag
Poor but enthusiastic player. Wife bought me a table for a birthday once, best part was that my middle-school daughters began to play, and by high school they could beat all the boys who came over, lusting for free pool and whatever.
Walter
I spent a lot of my youth down and Pelzers Pool Hall on some real snooker and billiards tables and a whole lot more time at the local tavern on the coin-op tables, God I'd hate to think of the money I spent on pool, still enjoy the game but don't play much anymore.
Wish I had a table in the house, maybe someday.
Doug
Wish I had a table in the house, maybe someday.
Sometimes it is just a matter of keeping your ears open. I've run into several people who gave away pool tables. Probably 2 or 3 of them were actually nice slate tables (most were junk though). But so far each time a good one has come up, I haven't been able to take it because at the time I didn't have a room to install it in nor storage space for it. On one of them, I was tempted to U-store-it, but chickened out (they had someone in line behind me who actually had a room for it). jt8
We just bought one. My DW wanted one for her 40th BDay. Who am I to say no. :)
Small 7ft, but similar in size to what we played on in college. Always wondered why I got a C in Geology.
We found this table on Craig's List. We offered less than half of what he was asking, he countered with exactly half of what he was asking and come get it tonight. Lets just say that I am now even with 3 really good buddies.
So far, we've played it every other day and have not used it to fold the laundry.