Things I Wish I Were Better At: Billiards

elSicomoro · 03-15-2003, 02:27 AM

Playing 9-ball on my mobile phone got me thinking...I wish I were better at pool.

I used to play pool a lot when I was a teenager. We used to go to this pool hall near my house and play for hours. It was cheap, safe, and a lot of fun.

But I was never good at it. I'd make shots on luck or force, but I never really knew the dynamics of it. I was just trying to get the balls in, without really thinking about it.

But as I started playing 9-ball on my phone, I saw just what kind of skill is needed to actually play good billiards. Using the diamonds, the strength of your shot, the angle at which you hit the ball. Suddenly, it all became obvious. THAT'S how you play pool! My God...why did it take me 27 years to figure that shit out?

There's a 24-hour billiards joint near my house. Though those kind of places seem to attract surly folk in the wee hours, I might have to check it out to test my new "skills."

wolf · 03-15-2003, 08:58 AM

I miss playing pool on a regular basis ... it's something I did a lot of in college, but since then I've not had access to a table.

There WAS a really nice pool hall up where my boyfriend lives, but that's closed down. Except for weekend nights (when they did a blacklight pool/dance party thing that was OVERLY crowded with teens) he and I were pretty much the only ones in there ...

Most of the pool halls around the Phila area are frequented by folks that I socially don't wish to hang with ... besides, it often makes my patients uncomfortable to have me around.

If anyone knows of a "nice, respectable place" in Mongtomery County, do let me know.

Ah well ... one day I shall have a basement. And a really nice table.

elSicomoro · 03-15-2003, 12:43 PM

During my final year of high school, the senior class had the (unfortunate) honor of being the first to perform (mandatory) community service.

Many schools already had this set up, where you had people sign off on your hours as you did them. You had to do so many hours in a given period of time.

Not us...they gave us the month of January 1994 off to perform 90 hours. And there was a big booklet of places we could do our service...over 100 choices.

So, while I did mine at an inner-city school in St. Louis, helping to teach children, all my friends went to the St. Louis State Hospital/Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center. And what did they do? Help run the canteen, and play Nintendo and pool with the patients.

Damnit, I should have taken that easy route.

wolf · 03-15-2003, 12:59 PM

I have played pool with mental patients.

I have serious concerns about that. You oughtn't be giving people with a history of violent acting out long, weighted sticks and balls.

Ping Pong and volleyball are much better for inpt facilities. there's relatively little damage you can do with a ping pong paddle. It doesn't have the reach.

Big clue ... if it's a weapon in Road Rash, you shouldn't let a nut get their hands on it.

SteveDallas · 03-17-2003, 10:09 AM

Yeah, I'd love to have a pool table. I played a bit in college. I was taught to play by a friend who managed the game room at the university. She and her twin sister (flaming redheads, stereotypical Irish features) must have been quite a sight in their earlier career. Their dad was in the army and they used to scam cash at the local pool hall by playing pool for money with soldiers who just assumed those "cute lil girls" would be easy marks. (They could have been indulging in a little tall tale telling, but they were awfully damned good at pool.)

03-15-2003, 02:27 AM	#1
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Things I Wish I Were Better At: Billiards Playing 9-ball on my mobile phone got me thinking...I wish I were better at pool. I used to play pool a lot when I was a teenager. We used to go to this pool hall near my house and play for hours. It was cheap, safe, and a lot of fun. But I was never good at it. I'd make shots on luck or force, but I never really knew the dynamics of it. I was just trying to get the balls in, without really thinking about it. But as I started playing 9-ball on my phone, I saw just what kind of skill is needed to actually play good billiards. Using the diamonds, the strength of your shot, the angle at which you hit the ball. Suddenly, it all became obvious. THAT'S how you play pool! My God...why did it take me 27 years to figure that shit out? There's a 24-hour billiards joint near my house. Though those kind of places seem to attract surly folk in the wee hours, I might have to check it out to test my new "skills."

03-15-2003, 08:58 AM	#2
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I miss playing pool on a regular basis ... it's something I did a lot of in college, but since then I've not had access to a table. There WAS a really nice pool hall up where my boyfriend lives, but that's closed down. Except for weekend nights (when they did a blacklight pool/dance party thing that was OVERLY crowded with teens) he and I were pretty much the only ones in there ... Most of the pool halls around the Phila area are frequented by folks that I socially don't wish to hang with ... besides, it often makes my patients uncomfortable to have me around. If anyone knows of a "nice, respectable place" in Mongtomery County, do let me know. Ah well ... one day I shall have a basement. And a really nice table. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-15-2003, 12:59 PM	#4
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I have played pool with mental patients. I have serious concerns about that. You oughtn't be giving people with a history of violent acting out long, weighted sticks and balls. Ping Pong and volleyball are much better for inpt facilities. there's relatively little damage you can do with a ping pong paddle. It doesn't have the reach. Big clue ... if it's a weapon in Road Rash, you shouldn't let a nut get their hands on it. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-15-2003, 12:43 PM	#3
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	During my final year of high school, the senior class had the (unfortunate) honor of being the first to perform (mandatory) community service. Many schools already had this set up, where you had people sign off on your hours as you did them. You had to do so many hours in a given period of time. Not us...they gave us the month of January 1994 off to perform 90 hours. And there was a big booklet of places we could do our service...over 100 choices. So, while I did mine at an inner-city school in St. Louis, helping to teach children, all my friends went to the St. Louis State Hospital/Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center. And what did they do? Help run the canteen, and play Nintendo and pool with the patients. Damnit, I should have taken that easy route.

03-17-2003, 10:09 AM	#5
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Yeah, I'd love to have a pool table. I played a bit in college. I was taught to play by a friend who managed the game room at the university. She and her twin sister (flaming redheads, stereotypical Irish features) must have been quite a sight in their earlier career. Their dad was in the army and they used to scam cash at the local pool hall by playing pool for money with soldiers who just assumed those "cute lil girls" would be easy marks. (They could have been indulging in a little tall tale telling, but they were awfully damned good at pool.)

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