Snooker USA

[Nugget]

I have a copy of the match between Mizerak and Davis, and currently have it listed on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=350186171920

They play straight pool, snooker and 9 ball.

[RocketRoy1983]

I always think that introducing snooker to the American public would be great exposure for the game but think "would it develop it" or would they take it and change it in that great way they do sometimes and ruin the game for us "traditionalists"? What do you reckon?

[rivercard]

I always think that introducing snooker to the American public would be great exposure for the game but think "would it develop it" or would they take it and change it in that great way they do sometimes and ruin the game for us "traditionalists"? What do you reckon?

There are people who are trying. Not so long ago there was a match between Jeremy Jones (a well-known pool pro) and a decent(ish) American snooker player which was streamed live, and it's also on youtube I think.

I think the biggest problem is that there are too many "easy" tables in the USA, which makes peple think that it's not such a hard game after all, and that if you can play good pool, you can also play snooker quite well. A few days ago someone on the AZBilliards board (which has more members than TSF) said, that he thinks most people on that forum could make a half-century in snooker. I almost fell off my chair.. I mean if there was such strenght in depth in snooker in the USA than surely they would have 1 or 2 players who could make it as a pro.

[Rethunk]

A few days ago someone on the AZBilliards board (which has more members than TSF) said, that he thinks most people on that forum could make a half-century in snooker. I almost fell off my chair..

Yeah, that's total B.S. It seems likely that most posters are "C" players. Assuming they can even run a rack or two in 8-ball or 9-ball, that's a far cry from running at least 14 balls in a row on a 6 x 12 table with rounded pockets: 12 balls if black + red are shot six times in a row to yield 48 points, then (13) another red to 49, and then (14) a color to get above 50 points.

I mean if there was such strenght in depth in snooker in the USA than surely they would have 1 or 2 players who could make it as a pro.

I believe some of the strongest straight pool players could become competitive snooker players in time. John Schmidt ("Mr. 400") has posted high snooker runs on AzBilliards.com, so he's a likely candidate.

Currently I'm compiling a list of pool halls in the U.S. with snooker tables.
Snooker needs more exposure in the States.

Stay tuned.

[rivercard]

I would really like to see some of the better American snooker players (or pool players who play snooker from time to time at a reasonable standard) enter the World Amateur Snooker Championship, that could be the first step.
It would also be interesting if one of them would come over to the UK and watch some of the pros practice or even play a few frames against them (not for money of course).

[brettski]

It would be nice to see some American players having a go to be honest, but like alot of people on the forum I can't stand it when the yanks bang on about how easy they think snooker is and compare it too pool. Given enough time and practice anyone can be reasonably good at snooker, I'll tell you when I get there

[poolqjunkie]

Americans has no patience to learn the game of snooker.

[Rethunk]

Americans has no patience to learn the game of snooker.

Some do.

http://www.snookerusa.com/ussaorgani...ship_entry.php

John Schmidt, whose specialty is straight pool, made some respectable runs when he first gave snooker a try:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=91949

I'd be curious to know how many snooker players could match Schmidt in running 400+ balls (over 26 racks) playing straight pool.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_pool

The U.S. Open (9-ball) admits players from outside the U.S. A quick look at past winners reveals that Asians and Europeans do not dominate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Open...l_Championship

Pros typically aren't dismissive of those who play a different game.

[poolqjunkie]

John Schmidt, whose specialty is straight pool, made some respectable runs when he first gave snooker a try:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=91949

I'd be curious to know how many snooker players could match Schmidt in running 400+ balls (over 26 racks) playing straight pool.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_pool

I dont know how John Schimdt play snooker because I have never seen it. I have seen Jeremy Jones and I am not impressed.

I think snooker players can pick up 14.1 much faster than 9 ball, because the game is more similiar to snooker.

[rivercard]

John Schmidt, whose specialty is straight pool, made some respectable runs when he first gave snooker a try:

That's all nice, but so much depends on the table and the opponent (I assume Schmidt just practiced alone). Making centuries in practice and making one in competition are two very different things. And of course snooker is a bit more than making big breaks, without a decent tactical game it's hard to even get in and score.

I'd be curious to know how many snooker players could match Schmidt in running 400+ balls (over 26 racks) playing straight pool.

So would I. Shame we will never know that as 14.1 isn't a popular game in Europe, and there is still so much more money in snooker (very few gamble here in Europe).

[Nugget]

That's all nice, but so much depends on the table and the opponent (I assume Schmidt just practiced alone). Making centuries in practice and making one in competition are two very different things. And of course snooker is a bit more than making big breaks, without a decent tactical game it's hard to even get in and score.



So would I. Shame we will never know that as 14.1 isn't a popular game in Europe, and there is still so much more money in snooker (very few gamble here in Europe).

I think if there's any pool discipline that snooker players would really excel at, it's straight pool. Quinten Hann tried to arrange a match with John Schmidt, playing snooker, 14.1 and 8 ball I think, but Schmidt backed down. The whole thing is on the AzBilliards forum.

There's no money in straight pool, so it's unlikely we'll see any snooker players give it a go. Still, someone should suggest it to Ronnie in the summer, see how many he could run. With his touch and unrivalled ability to develop clusters I think he'd do alright.

[rivercard]

I think if there's any pool discipline that snooker players would really excel at, it's straight pool. Quinten Hann tried to arrange a match with John Schmidt, playing snooker, 14.1 and 8 ball I think, but Schmidt backed down. The whole thing is on the AzBilliards forum.

There's no money in straight pool, so it's unlikely we'll see any snooker players give it a go. Still, someone should suggest it to Ronnie in the summer, see how many he could run. With his touch and unrivalled ability to develop clusters I think he'd do alright.

Yes, I know about that Hann-Schmidt "woofing".. Schmidt backed out, which is not that surprising.
I think any pro would do alright, most of them would be able to run between 100-200 balls with very little practice, but 300-400 would need some dedication from them, and I just can't see that happen. I mean why practice 14.1 instead of snooker when there's hardly any money in it?

[Rethunk]

snooker tables here

Arnold
Bill & Billie's Q Club
1244 Ritchie Hwy # 4
(410) 544-8185

Kensington
Dave & Busters
11301 Rockville Pike
(301) 230-5151

Bill & Billie's has closed.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=73585

The Dave & Buster's in Kensington doesn't currently have a table; I called them on 17 May.


Currently I only have one listing for Maryland:

Big Daddy's Billiards LLC
7954 Baltimore Annapolis # 2G
Glen Burnie, MD
(410) 760-1332

They have a 6 x 12 table and run tournaments.

[good19]

I always think that introducing snooker to the American public would be great exposure for the game but think "would it develop it" or would they take it and change it in that great way they do sometimes and ruin the game for us "traditionalists"? What do you reckon?

Yes, Americans would wreck the game. We already have. We have our own set of rules, we have shrunk the table to 5 X 10', and the way the reds are racked. For example, in most billiard halls in America, when there were such things, the triangle would contain 9 reds and the pink would be placed in the center of the rack. Or, the traingle would contain 15 reds, but the pink would be placed against the wooden tip of the triangle before removing it from the reds. This allowed the reds to be broke with a power break as in 9-ball. I'm sure this practice would quickly end if we were playing some of you guys, and that wide-open break would be our last shot. Also, we in America, cannot remember the numerical value of the colors, so here they have their piont value made into them (but then why aren't all the reds marked with "1")? And, the pink isn't pink on most American snooker tables, it's orange. Only the oldest Brunswick table will be found with the flat faced rubbers on the cushions, otherwise it's the sharp edged "pool" type rubbers.

And finally, most tables in America have had the curved rubber at the pocket openings modified in an effort to make the pockets larger, hence easier. The result of this is that it is now impossible for the pocket to receive, for instance, a hard black off it's spot as is a common shot when opening the pack of reds. The "flatening" of the curve makes this black bounce back onto the table instead of deflecting it into the pocket. In other words, the only way to make balls is to acutally roll them off the slate and have them drop into the pocket. There is no such thing as a ball striking the far jaw and rebounding into the pocket as is done when the pockets have the proper curveture of the rubber.

Keep your standards high. Do not change the game in any way to make it move along faster. Kill this "shot clock" idea as quickly as possible. I, for one, admire the British et al's respect for tradition.

[RocketRoy1983]

Yes, Americans would wreck the game. We already have. We have our own set of rules, we have shrunk the table to 5 X 10', and the way the reds are racked. For example, in most billiard halls in America, when there were such things, the triangle would contain 9 reds and the pink would be placed in the center of the rack. Or, the traingle would contain 15 reds, but the pink would be placed against the wooden tip of the triangle before removing it from the reds. This allowed the reds to be broke with a power break as in 9-ball. I'm sure this practice would quickly end if we were playing some of you guys, and that wide-open break would be our last shot. Also, we in America, cannot remember the numerical value of the colors, so here they have their piont value made into them (but then why aren't all the reds marked with "1")? And, the pink isn't pink on most American snooker tables, it's orange. Only the oldest Brunswick table will be found with the flat faced rubbers on the cushions, otherwise it's the sharp edged "pool" type rubbers.

And finally, most tables in America have had the curved rubber at the pocket openings modified in an effort to make the pockets larger, hence easier. The result of this is that it is now impossible for the pocket to receive, for instance, a hard black off it's spot as is a common shot when opening the pack of reds. The "flatening" of the curve makes this black bounce back onto the table instead of deflecting it into the pocket. In other words, the only way to make balls is to acutally roll them off the slate and have them drop into the pocket. There is no such thing as a ball striking the far jaw and rebounding into the pocket as is done when the pockets have the proper curveture of the rubber.

Keep your standards high. Do not change the game in any way to make it move along faster. Kill this "shot clock" idea as quickly as possible. I, for one, admire the British et al's respect for tradition.

Yes I understand what you mean and hope you realise I wasnt being disrespectful towards Americans.