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I wonder why there are so few billiard (Russian billiard) [0] places in US? When I lived in Ukraine, where I'm originally from, we usually got together with fri

I wonder why there are so few billiard (Russian billiard) [0] places in US? When I lived in Ukraine, where I'm originally from, we usually got together with friends/co-workers to play billiard after work and it was a hell lot of fun. There were usually 10-15 billiard tables for adults and 1-2 pool tables for children. For comparison, this is the size of a pocket in Russian billiard [1]. When I moved to US, we had a few team outing events at a pool hall and the game was pretty boring (at least to me). I could easily pocket all the balls without giving a chance for the other players to even start playing. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_pyramid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_pyramid [1] https://i.redd.it/tbph52kvpngy.jpg https://i.redd.it/tbph52kvpngy.jpg

Nursie 7y ago
There seem to be quite a lot of games going by the name "Billiards" I play https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_billiards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_billiards semi regularly here in the UK, which is apparently of Russian origin as well!
- mannykannot 7y ago
  I am glad to hear that game is still played -- I had the impression that it had been replaced by pool in most venues. May I ask where one can find it?
  - cannam 7y ago
    If you should happen to be in Bath, I think they still have a table at the Bell on Walcot St. (A very fine pub no matter what)
  - Nursie 7y ago
    I play at a pub called "The Titanic" in Southampton. I have seen tables in two other pubs around the city, but never seen them in use there.
Symbiote 7y ago
Does anyone play snooker in the USA? That has tighter pockets than American (or English) pool, although not as tight as these Russian ones. It adds significant difficulty with the structure of play with the coloured balls.
- elf25 7y ago
  dear friend of mine grew up with a snooker table in his basement. Dude could shoot pool like nobody else.
- ucarion 7y ago
  Yes -- although it's rather rare. There's only one place in San Francisco with snooker tables, to my knowledge, but such places do exist: https://www.yelp.com/biz/legend-billiards-and-snooker-sf-san-francisco https://www.yelp.com/biz/legend-billiards-and-snooker-sf-san...
stuartd 7y ago
I bought a Russian cue off eBay many years ago hoping it's extra weight would improve my break, but it was so damn heavy I couldn't propel it fast enough.

Nursie 7y ago

There seem to be quite a lot of games going by the name "Billiards" I play https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_billiards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_billiards semi regularly here in the UK, which is apparently of Russian origin as well!

mannykannot 7y ago
I am glad to hear that game is still played -- I had the impression that it had been replaced by pool in most venues. May I ask where one can find it?
- cannam 7y ago
  If you should happen to be in Bath, I think they still have a table at the Bell on Walcot St. (A very fine pub no matter what)
- Nursie 7y ago
  I play at a pub called "The Titanic" in Southampton. I have seen tables in two other pubs around the city, but never seen them in use there.

Symbiote 7y ago

Does anyone play snooker in the USA? That has tighter pockets than American (or English) pool, although not as tight as these Russian ones. It adds significant difficulty with the structure of play with the coloured balls.

elf25 7y ago
dear friend of mine grew up with a snooker table in his basement. Dude could shoot pool like nobody else.
ucarion 7y ago
Yes -- although it's rather rare. There's only one place in San Francisco with snooker tables, to my knowledge, but such places do exist: https://www.yelp.com/biz/legend-billiards-and-snooker-sf-san-francisco https://www.yelp.com/biz/legend-billiards-and-snooker-sf-san...

stuartd 7y ago

I bought a Russian cue off eBay many years ago hoping it's extra weight would improve my break, but it was so damn heavy I couldn't propel it fast enough.