Yet even on a day that I play poorly, I can hardly wait to return to the table to find my groove again. I still struggle, as do all carom players, because of the dynamic conditions of our sport and our bodies.
Carom billiards series#
But as I gained experience and confidence I improved to begin making a series of points, and then to play for next-shot positions and advantageous defensive leaves. Initially I struggled just to make a point. Soon after I began learning the basics, and with Doug’s patient weekly lessons I began my journey. I was immediately captivated by this insanely difficult game. There I met USBA board member Doug Deitel, who was managing the tournament where some of the best players in the country were gathered to compete. I personally came to play carom billiards a little over 5 years ago after having played pocket billiards for 40 years (mostly one pocket and 9-ball.) In the fall of 2012, on a lark, I went as a spectator to a United States Billiard Association (USBA) Open Three Cushion tournament that was held at what was then Paris Bida. And it helps that the sport today is immensely popular in their home countries! Asians and Latinos have the requisite nature and temperament which is conducive to good carom play. Three cushion billiards requires much more patience and thought, to calculate shot systems, angles, momentum, and evaluate dynamic table conditions. I also think Americans fancy pool more because of the instant gratification of sinking a ball into a pocket. I think Americans gravitate mostly to pocket billiards because it is an easier “sell” to a date or a group of friends gathering after work. Along with the Europeans those folks seem most attracted to the game over pocket pool. So, why is there this resurgence in carom billiards in Houston? I think because Houston in 2018 is one of the most diverse cities in the US with large Asian and Latino populations. All told there are now close to 40 regulation carom tables in the Houston area, placing the city only behind Los Angeles as one of the top two carom markets in the US. Many carom billiards players like myself are willing to drive 30-40 minutes or more to find a decent heated carom table on which to practice and compete. The larger rooms have 6 tables and more - a substantial investment for the room owner, and shear joy for the players. A few scattered rooms can be found in the northwest area and one or two south of downtown as well.
Most of Houston's carom rooms, a room with at least one reasonably maintained 5' x 10' heated regulation table, are located on the west side of town. Carom billiards rooms seem to be sprouting up like mushrooms, leading to a resurgence of interest in the sport here in Houston. But beginning with the turn of the millennium the carom games have arrived or - depending on whom you ask - have been re-discovered. When I moved to Houston in 1979 I played pool at LeCue Billiards and later at The Cushion & Cue - both long since shuttered. A decidedly pocket billiards / pool-player's town since the 1940’s, the city was famous for rooms such as Big Tyme Billiards, Legends Billiards, and Bogey’s Billiards. The sport of carom billiards is a relative newcomer to Houston, Texas.
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