What happened to billiard/pool halls?

[TurdFerguson]

Seems like they are dying off. Seems like the actual good halls with real tables are going the way of the dinosaur. Even the classic The "Met" at WVU in Morgantown is dead. I went there for years. None left around home, or even near by. Just random bars with the smaller pay tables that are beat to hell and covered in beer/bodily fluid stains. I took some photos of it before its doors closed for the last time. Not the best or cleanest but a lot of good memories. Gone but not forgotten I guess. Fucking Xbox/snapchat/bookface.

 

[Hookturnr]

Billiards requires a great deal of patience and practice...neither of which the younger generations possess.

I spent countless hours around a brunswick gold crown 3, covered in simonis, playing $5 on the $10 on the 9 or $1 a ball race to 200 straight pool in my teens and early twenties.

No one around with the skill or sack left to play the game anymore..truly a shame.

 

[candyx]

Get with the times download the Billiard App on your phone.

 

[Rthur]

Have tables around here in 90% of the bars.
Used to have some game back a bit.
Played some pups recently, they're lucky I don't drink/play for drinks anymore.

R

 

[loveha]

Played a lot when I was in the Marines. Event spent money on a really nice cue. Played 9 all the time in Iraq. Maybe I should try and find a hall, been almost a decade since I last played.

Nope, none near me. Would have to drive a few hours. Got two bowling halls... Rather curve a cue ball than a bowling ball. It's more satisfying.

Take that back, I found one, it's in one of the bowling halls. Winter hobby?

 

[powdahound76]

Grew up with a table. Shot a lot of pool with my dad and brothers.
got to the point I would play all my friends left handed because I would almost always clear the table in 2 turns.

whipped a guy (no money on the game) at pool in A bar when I was 19.
he wanted to fight about it because his feelers was hurt gettin whipped by a skinny kid.
never shot in a bar again.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Seems there is just no interest in pool anymore, a close friend got divorced and had a high end pool table, almost had to give it away. No market for it.

 

[candyx]

Seems there is just no interest in pool anymore, a close friend got divorced and had a high end pool table, almost had to give it away. No market for it.

Did he try PornHub because you still see girls being banged on them in the videos.

 

[loveha]

Pool hall has to stay in business somehow!

 

[hlee]

Pool tables are expensive to move. Once you factor in moving cost, there's not much to separate a used table from a new one. Our table is the table that was in my parents' house when I was growing up. I played a LOOOOOOOT of pool on that table. No smoke. Good lighting. Invite a few friends and play until dawn. I played in a few pool halls. They were either "family friendly" or places you were as likely to get cut as anything. The former I thought was over priced and underwhelming. The latter held no interest.

Oh, fucking on a pool table is not all it's cracked up to be...

 

[little_scrapper]

Cost too much to keep repairing and replacing everything. People just leaving cigaretts to burn a line on it or just straight put it out on it. Stealing the cues and balls. Dumping drinks into them and tearing the felt. Not least of which, if coin operated, wreck the whole thing by breaking into it to steal the coin. Not to mention the rif-raf that would generally hang out and cause problems.

 

[TheGerman]

Seems like they are dying off. Seems like the actual good halls with real tables are going the way of the dinosaur. Even the classic The "Met" at WVU in Morgantown is dead. I went there for years. None left around home, or even near by. Just random bars with the smaller pay tables that are beat to hell and covered in beer/bodily fluid stains. I took some photos of it before its doors closed for the last time. Not the best or cleanest but a lot of good memories. Gone but not forgotten I guess. Fucking Xbox/snapchat/bookface.

I suddenly want to drink a 40 at the Met.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

There’s an app for that...

Sirhr

 

[Bradu]

Still have a $700 stick in the basement but haven't played in 10 years or so. Mainly just bars around my area have tables, the pool hall closed up a long time ago.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Did he try PornHub because you still see girls being banged on them in the videos.

Thought that only happened to Jodie Foster when she hung around New Bedford fishermen....

Sirhr

 

[fxdwgkd]

One of my best friends growing up had a snooker table in his basement I played a lot on. His dad owned two halls one for under 21 (Q-ball then later Micks) and one for over 21 but can't remember the name of that one. Both have been closed for a long long time. He was a hell of a lot better than I ever was. Enjoyed playing but I was never really that good. Still have my table I brought from my first house that I have yet to set up.

 

[10ring'r]

Played a lot in my A.F. days and even after. Was the thing to do back then. Had to have your own cue, if you wanted to be "somebody"LoL! Won a lot of drinks and bills, even got into some fights. In the end, it was all good. The Good Ol Days, I'd live 85% of them, all over again. I think, this young gen. doesn't have what it takes, to learn the ability to concentrate, use the bodies dexterity and the art of aiming, to be an accomplished pool shark. They would rather sit on a comfy couch, wear V.R. goggles, use their P.C., or their phones. Less work and I almost forgot, to be able to....socialize. Mac

 

[rjacobs]

Wife and I are thinking of picking up a used Olhausen for the game room in the new house. Not high on the list, but looks like a $1000 buy a $5k original price table with delivery and new felt...

 

[Triple BB]

We had a really nice pool table years ago. Got bored playing and it turned into a junk table. Sold it for a lot less than what it cost. Saw one for sale on a local facebook classifieds page. They were basically giving it away to anyone who would haul it off...

 

[George63]

too many new opportunities for recreation, something has to decline - how about curling?

 

[abn31c]

I have a 9 foot Brunswick built in 1892, came out of a fire hall. 1 and a half inch slate. Its set up at my oldest sons house now. Still has all the ivory and silver. Love the game.

 

[Waorani]

Last actual pool hall (more than 2 tables) I was in was Rusty's in Opelika, AL. Also used to spend some time at Harry's in Auburn but both long gone and lost to time.

 

[Screehopper]

There are two pool halls within 4-5 miles of me and a billiards store. Near where I used to live there were a couple of pool halls along with two snooker halls (2/3 of the tables were snooker tables).

I don't have room in the home for a pool table so I settled for a nice Tornado Foosball table.

Back in college I'd spend time between classes at the recreation center at the pool tables. There was almost always someone there I'd know where I can jump in for some games.

 

[fxdwgkd]

I have a 9 foot Brunswick built in 1892, came out of a fire hall. 1 and a half inch slate. Its set up at my oldest sons house now. Still has all the ivory and silver. Love the game.

Only played a 9ft once and it was like playing on the deck of a carrier compared to my 8ft and a football field compared to bar tables

 

[HayStax]

Who has that kind of time anymore? “The Color of Money” is 35 yrs old

College kids aren’t drinking like they used to, no one likes smoke, and most pool halls are shitholes.

Also lots more fitness type activities available now. Crossfit, Juijitsu/MMA gyms, cycling, running, etc.

 

[niteshooter]

What happened?
Younger people do different things.
To easy to sit at home smoking pot or playing video games.
And if they have a girlfriend evenings must be spent on the couch watching the talent show or dancing with stars and probably still not getting layed.

The men raising families are supposed to hang up the hard hat at 5pm then rush home and put on an apron for another 4 hours then sit down to hold hands with the wife and watch the same stuff mentioned above on tv.

If your seen in a place playing pool having a drink your a loser not going anywhere in life or hiding from family problems at home. At least that’s how a lot of people think around my area seems like.
Yet those same people just sit at home and don’t do shit.

 

[Soulezoo]

I have a rather expensive Brunswick Ventura in my garage (finished and insulated 5 car).

That table gets used maybe a half dozen times a year.

 

[Maggot]

My senior year in high school I had three morning classes then split for either Chapman's or the Vista pool hall (both long defunct) to win money for weekend beer. The old type tables with leather pockets, no ball return.

The gambling pinball machines were a big draw as well. If you were good and learned how to shake them with out tilting, and get 5 in a row on the 6 card, you could win $200.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Ironically, we're in the middle of watching the Snooker championships (in England) right now. Just coming up on the Semi-Finals.

I've played a LOT of pool (8 and 9 ball) in a lot of bars, dorms, and halls. Over the decades. But what I remember most, relish most, and enjoy most was when my Grandfathers learned me how to play snooker. And all the years I've played snooker in the Legion's and whatnot,,, My Lady and I were just talking about it the other day. Time to take her to the Legion again, and play some quality snooker.

Unfortunately, they have given one of their tables away, simply because of lack of use. The one that is left though, I remember playing on that with my grandfather. So many years ago.

 

[Hippy_Steve]

I wonder what it's like to be so old and out of touch that you can't be bothered to go to any bar in town. Nooo, it's these damn kids fault and their computer widgets gizmos that they can't put down! I hope you old bastards can take your custom pool tables to the retirement home your kids dump you in.

 

[Strykervet]

VFW. They're dying out too though.

 

[MtnCreek]

Used to a lot of country stores would have a pool table in them. Now they're owned by foreigners and stink like their shit smelling food they eat.

 

[hlee]

I wonder what it's like to be so old and out of touch that you can't be bothered to go to any bar in town. Nooo, it's these damn kids fault and their computer widgets gizmos that they can't put down! I hope you old bastards can take your custom pool tables to the retirement home your kids dump you in.

A bar with one or 2 thread bare, not-quite-level pool tables is not a Pool Hall. You can get drinks at a pool hall, and you can often play pool at a bar. The two are, however, not the same thing...

 

[Colt45guy]

I love shooting pool. Used to hang out at the Golden 8 Ball in Phoenix--I swear, that place had 2 acres of green felt. After I PCSd, I only played a random game at bars here & there, but I recently moved to a new town.....and Grady's Billiards is 20 miles away!

It's a seedy little building that smells of cigarettes, stale beer and despair. Their tables are a bit worn, but the jukebox has all of our favorites and the owner/bartender knows us by name, drinks and table preferences.

It's cheap entertainment and it's our Date Night activity when we don't have something else planned. One of our retirement ideas is to build a little biker bar/pool hall out along one of the lake routes

 

[Maggot]

Billiard/pool halls have seen a decline in popularity in recent years due to a variety of factors. One major factor is the rise of alternative forms of entertainment such as video games and online streaming platforms. Additionally, the increasing popularity of home game rooms and the availability of affordable home billiard tables have also contributed to the decline of commercial billiard/pool halls. However, there are still many dedicated players and enthusiasts who continue to frequent and support these establishments.

Welcome to the Hide, good first post.

A few months ago I moved to Lawton Ok. and was pleased to find an old time pool hall, FLIX. They even have 2 9' tables, and complete with cigarette smoke. Came home smelling like an ashtray. My old damaged neck doesnt like to bend anymore. Makes it tough to get good view of the lines. Member @jbailey made me a beautiful new cue out of Brazilian Rosewood.

 

[Aftermath]

Along the same lines, where in the heck is Clark Kent going to change his clothes?

 

[cas6969]

Perhaps part of it's decline was it's popularity. Not too many years ago, at least around here, it went crazy. Very popular. It became trendy and new places opened up all over the place, like Starbucks or Dollar Generals every mile and a half. Nice new upscale places, some family friendly. Which probably hurt a lot of the old time hole in the wall joints. When the fad passed, they one by one closed their doors. I'd guess a lot of the small old places that were once "the only game in town" probably got hurt early on and may have shut down before the fad even peaked.

 

[NoDopes]

Billiard/pool halls have seen a decline in popularity in recent years due to a variety of factors. One major factor is the rise of alternative forms of entertainment such as video games and online streaming platforms. Additionally, the increasing popularity of home game rooms and the availability of affordable home billiard tables have also contributed to the decline of commercial billiard/pool halls. However, there are still many dedicated players and enthusiasts who continue to frequent and support these establishments.

This AI language model of this post needs some more work. It sounds more like a Wikipedia post than a natural speaking person.
But not bad... keep it up.

 

[Maggot]

Perhaps part of it's decline was it's popularity. Not too many years ago, at least around here, it went crazy. Very popular. It became trendy and new places opened up all over the place, like Starbucks or Dollar Generals every mile and a half. Nice new upscale places, some family friendly. Which probably hurt a lot of the old time hole in the wall joints. When the fad passed, they one by one closed their doors. I'd guess a lot of the small old places that were once "the only game in town" probably got hurt early on and may have shut down before the fad even peaked.

Why get up, leave the safe space, and risk facing reality, when you can sit on your ass in Mom's basement and operate a mouse?

 

[sirhrmechanic]

There's an app for that.

Kids don't want to leave their safe spaces. They don't want drivers licenses. They network with their nar nar friends on phones.

Billiard halls used to be forbidden places for kids... our parents said "Don't go there." So naturally we all went there.

Now, they want to play Candy Crush on their phones and dress like wimmen.

Sirhr

 

[cas6969]

Billiard/pool halls have seen a decline...

Suspected this was spam or a spam bot and was right. But we got the rope-a-dope, it wasn't in the first post.

 

[Austan]

^^^ 100%. The AI posting is either ramping up or I am just seeing more of the threads that have it.

 

[cas6969]

Why get up, leave the safe space, and risk facing reality, when you can sit on your ass in Mom's basement and operate a mouse?

I have a co-worker who works part time at carnivals in the summertime and invariably at some point every Monday we'll have to hear about how slow it was that weekend. I always tell him the same thing... "No shit huh? You mean people don't want to pay $5 to try to knock over a cement block with a wiffleball, to win a 15 cent prize? Shocker! It's slow because it's not 1958, they're all at home playing X-box and jacking off to porn on their phone!"

 

[acudaowner]

there are a few still around you just have to look for them .

 

[earthquake]

This. This is what happened.

 

[chevy_man]

We still have winter leagues, they just travel around to the 5 bars with tables in town.


The bar tables are busy most every night, from about 6pm to 2am.

I find it boring. My buddy had a table growing up so we got very good at it. Just zero desire to go play when it can be $50 a night with drinks and $1 a play tables.

 

[mosin46]

yea,haven't seen anything but bar tables in years. they do suck. but,to me,the only game worth playing was straight pool or maybe 1 pocket. those died out decades ago with the TV tournaments and stuff. same with poker. 5/7 stud and 5 draw,no wilds, died and went to hold em and other slop a long time ago.

 

[SilentStalkr]

Sad ain’t it?