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My dad's parents owned a pool table when he was young. My grandfather taught him how to play, and when my dad attended university, he spent quite a bit of time at local pool halls and competing in small tournaments. When he and my mother moved to the town where I grew up, he purchased a table for himself, and he taught me and my sister the game.
One of my high school friends frequented a pool bar near me, but I usually didn't have the time to join him, especially during my college days. However, I've always enjoyed the game, and I've always wanted to get better than I am.
Recently I learned that another friend of mine, this time from the arcade community, used to be an avid pool player. We visited a pool hall close to his house a few months ago, and since then, I've begun to play once every few weeks. This friend is the same friend with whom I would go to a local pinball bar as well, but since we've returned to the billiard table, we haven't gone back to pinball once.
My pool skills have rapidly improved since we started playing together. I still miss the pocket with some regularity, but my bank shots are getting better, and my cross-table shots have vastly improved. With any luck, I'll soon get better at pool than I am at pinball.
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[Last updated: 2023-04-20]