New to Snooker - hi from Switzerland

[Phil]

Hi

Playing sporadically snooker with my nephew since this summer's vacation. It's quite expensive around here and there's not too many snooker tables. But we're enjoying it very much and hope to keep it up. not always sure about the rules though

thinking about buying our on cues (probably Mastercue).

Phil

[Robert602]

Welcome to TSF Phil. Always good to hear about people taking the game up overseas. Snooker's a tough game at first but the more you play, the more you'll enjoy it (and you'll get the hang of the rules soon enough).

Definitely worth getting your own cues - they don't have to be amazing but just having something decent and familiar will help.

[spike]

Hi Phil, enjoy the forum

[Phil]

thanks

thank you guys.
@lawyer: no, I don't think it is really popular over here. just to state that fact: in the billard hall we are playing, there are around 30 billard tables, but only 2 snooker tables. another billard club closed down some years ago, they had a snooker table too. a new club that was opening 2 years ago only has billard tables.

so in fact there are only 2 tables for snooker around here. I'd have to drive some 45 km to find another one (which is quite a bit in this smal country with too much traffic!).

[Phil]

there is even a big Snooker event, the Swiss Open in Zofingen, that Ken Doherty won last year. still snooker not very well known - it's really Eurosport that brought it over here.
I'd say it has lots to do with the difficulty of the game and the rules too. we do have a pool (or something with those small tables... ) eurochampion though, but don't ask me about the name...

with tennis it's not even that wild here, football still is the nr. 1 (you wouldn't believe, do you?) along with skiing of course.

[bongo]

Hello and welcome,

If there is any question about the game or a query, then please don't hesitate to ask.

bongo

[Phil]

thanks bongo!
Indeed I had already some questions answered...

[Anastasia]

Hi Phil Welcome :snooker:

[Kathrin]

grüzi Phil, welcome to TSF

[Phil]

thanks to you as well... by the way, we don't say grüzi...

[noel]

Hi Phil

Although I'm not new to the game I am, like you, new to TSF.
It's amazing the fount of knowledge and expertise you'll find here as I have done and do... even today!
Thanks to Blondies' post in this thread http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board...ad.php?t=14028

I learned the following:

"The word ‘snooker’ certainly has military origins, as it was slang for a first year cadet at the Royal Military College. Having little military knowledge, the new recruits were consequently of low standing to their superiors. The term ‘snooker’ had been recently explained to Sir Neville, and he soon had an opportunity of exploiting it when one of his party failed to hole a coloured ball which was close to a corner pocket. ‘Why you’re a regular snooker!’ he proclaimed. To soothe the players feelings, Chamberlain qualified his remark by saying as they all played like beginners, it would be appropriate to call the game snooker. This was adopted with enthusiasm, so Chamberlain claims, and the game has been called Snooker ever since."
http://www.billiardsandsnookerarchive.co.uk/century.htm

Thus you not only are a "newbie" to snooker and TSF... you are a snooker!

Wecome!

Noel

[Kathrin]

by the way, we don't say grüzi...

You don´t? I´m shocked. Always thought the swiss say grüzi. You totally changed my view about switzerland

[Phil]

indeed! and we don't eat cheese and chocolat all day with a funny hat on and cows are quite rare nowadays... so you see, we are quite civilized!!!

in fact, we say lots of funny things, but not grüzi.

oh yeah, I forgot: and we do loose against Luxemburg!!!!

[Krypton]

Hi Phil

Wo spielt ihr dann?

So others can follow:
I'm from Winterthur (25km from Zürich) and we got quite a few tables near. Plus the 8 Tables in the (private) Club.

If you got any questions, esp. about snooker in/near ZH, just ask.

[Phil]

hi krypton

we play in Bettlach/Solothurn. and in that area it's real dry with tables...