This website uses cookies. to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

agree
  • Login
  • Register
Sign In Forgot Password?
Reset Password
Reset Cancel
Reset Password
Password must be at least 6 characters long with 1 special character
Save
Create Wishlist Save, compare and share your favourite items.
Password must be at least 6 characters long with 1 special character
Tick this box to hear from us about your wishlist, discounts and promotions. We will never share your details with any third party.
Register
Select Your Options
Coronavirus Update: Services all running as normal. Showrooms closed - Learn More
  • Games Room of the Year
  • Order Tracking
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Our Story
  • Meet The Team
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Videos
Home Leisure Direct
Multiple Award Winning
Games Room Retailer

0800 622 6464 or 01454 413636

0 items - £0.00

Wishlist View Basket / Checkout

Free Delivery on Everything*

  • Pool
    Tables
    • By Type
      • English Pool Tables
      • American Pool Tables
      • Pool Dining Tables
      • Luxury Pool Tables
      • Best Selling Luxury Pool Tables
      • Slate Bed Pool Tables
      • Car Pool Tables
      • Contemporary Pool Tables
      • Outdoor Pool Tables
      • Interest Free Pool Tables
      • Snooker Tables
      • 6ft Pool Tables
      • 7ft Pool Tables
      • 8ft Pool Tables
      • 9ft Pool Tables
      • 10ft Pool Tables
      • 12ft Pool Tables
      • Black Pool Tables
      • White Pool Tables
      • Pool Tables Sale
    • By Make
      • Signature Pool Tables
      • 247 Billiards by Porsche Design
      • Aramith Fusion Pool Tables
      • Bilhares Carrinho Pool Tables
      • Bilhares Xavigil Pool Tables
      • Billiards Montfort Pool Tables
      • Billiards Plaisance Pool Tables
      • Billiards Toulet Pool Tables
      • Brunswick Games Room Products
      • Brunswick Pool Tables
      • Buffalo Pool Tables
      • Designer Billiards
      • Diamond Pool Tables
      • DPT Pool Tables
      • Etrusco Pool Tables
      • Gatley Pool Tables
      • Hurricane Billiards
      • Jack Daniel's Pool Tables
      • Longoni Pool Tables
      • Mini Cooper Pool Table
      • Optima Pool Tables
      • Rasson Pool Tables
      • Sam Pool Tables
      • Supreme Pool Tables
    • Other Services
      • Pool Table Accessories
      • Football Club Pool Table Cloth
      • Furniture
      • Pool Coaching with Gareth Potts
    • Commercial
      • Contactless Pool Tables
      • Coin-Op Pool Tables
      • Pool Tables on Rental Agreements
      • Pool Tables on Profit Share Agreements
    • Teams & Brands
      • Chelsea FC
      • Tottenham Hotspur
      • West Ham United
      • Brunswick
      • Jack Daniel's Games Room Range
  • Luxury Pool
    Tables
    • By Type
      • All Luxury Pool Tables
      • Best Selling Luxury Pool Tables
      • Car Pool Tables
      • Contemporary Pool Tables
      • Traditional Pool Dining Tables
    • By Make
      • Signature Luxury Pool Tables
      • 247 Billiards by Porsche Design
      • Aramith Fusion Pool Tables
      • Billards Montfort Pool Tables
      • Billards Plaisance Pool Tables
      • Billards Toulet Pool Tables
      • Bilhares Carrinho Pool Tables
      • Bilhares Xavigil Pool Tables
      • Brunswick Pool Tables
      • Car Pool Tables
      • Designer Billiards
      • Diamond Pool Tables
      • Etrusco Pool Tables
      • Hurricane Billiards
      • Longoni Pool Tables
      • Rasson Pool Tables
      • RS Barcelona
      • Sam Pool Tables
    • Other Services
      • Pool Table Accessories
      • Football Club Pool Table Cloth
      • Furniture
      • Pool Coaching with Gareth Potts
    • Commercial
      • Commercial Luxury Pool Tables
    • Teams & Brands
      • Chelsea FC
      • Tottenham Hotspur
      • West Ham United
      • Brunswick
      • Jack Daniel
  • Pool
    Accessories
    • Cues
      • English 8 Ball Pool Cues
      • 1-Piece English Pool Cues
      • 2-Piece English Pool Cues
      • 3/4 Jointed English Pool Cues
      • 3-Section English Pool Cues
      • American Pool Cues
      • 1-Piece American Pool Cues
      • 2-Piece American Pool Cues
      • Jump and Break Cues
      • Snooker Cues
      • Chinese 8 Ball Cues
      • Britannia Cues
      • Buffalo Cues
      • Cannon Cues
      • Cuetec Cues
      • George Balabushka Cues
      • MacMorran Cues
      • Peradon Cues
    • Other
      • Pool Balls
      • Pool Table Cloth
      • Football Club Pool Table Cloth
      • Jack Daniel's Pool Table Cloth
      • Pool Table Covers
      • Pool Table Lighting
      • Pool Table Trolleys
      • Snooker Balls
      • Snooker Scoreboards
      • Table Care
      • Triangles & Diamonds
      • Cue Cases
      • Cue Chalk
      • Cue Racks
      • Cue Rests
      • Cue Tips
      • Pool Accessories Sale
    • Teams & Brands
      • Chelsea FC
      • Tottenham Hotspur
      • West Ham United
      • Brunswick
      • Jack Daniel's
  • Arcade
    Machines
    • By Type
      • Multigame Arcade Machines
      • New Arcade Machines
      • Used Arcade Machines
      • Vintage Arcade Machines
      • Arcade Stools
      • Arcade Machines Sale
    • By Make
      • ArcadePro Arcade Machines
      • Arcade1Up Arcade Machines
      • Bespoke Arcade Machines
      • GamePro Arcade Machines
      • Pac-Man Arcade Machines
      • New Sega Arcade Machines
      • New Namco Arcade Machines
      • Golden Tee Arcade Machines
    • By Genre
      • Driving Arcade Machines
      • Shooting Arcade Machines
    • Commercial
      • Arcade Machines on Rental Agreements
  • Pinball
    • By Type
      • New Pinball Machines
      • Reconditioned Pinball Machines
      • Virtual Pinball Machines
    • By Make
      • New Stern Pinball Machines
      • Reconditioned Stern Pinball Machines
      • Bally Midway Pinball
      • Williams Pinball Machines
    • Commercial
      • Pinball Machines on Rental Agreements
  • Table
    Tennis
    • By Type
      • Indoor Table Tennis Tables
      • Outdoor Table Tennis Tables
      • Concrete Table Tennis Tables
    • Accessories
      • Table Tennis Balls
      • Table Tennis Bats
      • Table Tennis Net and Post Sets
      • Table Tennis Table Care
      • Table Tennis Covers
      • Table Tennis Competition Equipment
    • By Make
      • Venom Table Tennis Tables
      • Butterfly Table Tennis Tables
      • Butterfly Indoor Table Tennis Tables
      • Butterfly Outdoor Table Tennis Tables
      • Cornilleau Table Tennis Tables
      • Cornilleau Indoor Table Tennis Tables
      • Cornilleau Outdoor Table Tennis Tables
      • Rasson Table Tennis Tables
      • RS Barcelona Table Tennis Tables
      • Teqball Tables
    • Commercial
      • Table Tennis Tables For Schools
  • Football
    Tables
    • By Type
      • All Football Tables
      • Home Use Football Tables
      • ITSF Football Tables
      • Outdoor Football Tables
      • Glass Top Football Tables
      • Football Tables For Schools
      • Football Table Accessories
      • Custom Football Tables
    • By Make
      • Bonzini Football Tables
      • Debuchy Football Tables
      • Garlando Football Tables
      • Jack Daniel's Football Tables
      • Leonhart Football Tables
      • Roberto Sport Football Tables
      • RS Barcelona Football Tables
      • Sam Football Tables
      • Sulpie Football Tables
    • Commercial
      • Commercial Tables
      • Football Tables on Rental Agreements
  • Jukeboxes
    • New Jukeboxes (By Type)
      • All New Jukeboxes
      • New CD Jukeboxes
      • New Vinyl Jukeboxes
      • New Digital Jukeboxes
    • New Jukeboxes (By Make)
      • All Sound Leisure Jukeboxes
      • Sound Leisure CD Jukeboxes
      • Sound Leisure Vinyl Jukeboxes
      • Sound Leisure Digital Jukeboxes
      • All Rock-Ola Jukeboxes
      • Rock-Ola CD Jukeboxes
      • Rock-Ola Vinyl Jukeboxes
      • Rock-Ola Digital Jukeboxes
    • Vintage Jukeboxes
      • All Vintage Jukeboxes
      • Wurlitzer Vintage Jukeboxes
      • AMI Vintage Jukebox
      • Rock-Ola Vintage Jukeboxes
    • Commercial
      • Jukeboxes for Commercial Use
  • Air
    Hockey
    • By Type
      • New Air Hockey Tables
    • By Make
      • Buffalo Air Hockey
      • Namco Air Hockey Tables
      • Sam Air Hockey Tables
      • Wik Air Hockey Tables
    • Commercial
      • Commercial Air Hockey Tables
  • Shuffle-
    board
    • By Type
      • All Shuffleboards
      • Shuffleboard Accessories
    • By Make
      • Brunswick Shuffleboards
      • Hudson Shuffleboards
      • Hurricane Shuffleboards
      • Jack Daniel's Shuffleboards
      • Signature Shuffleboards
    • Commercial
      • Shuffleboards on Rental Scheme
  • Cool
    Stuff
    • By Type
      • Jack Daniel's
      • Pool Accessories
      • Marshall Fridges
      • Skeeball
      • Dartboards and Darts
      • Jack Daniel's Darts Range
  • Commercial
    • By Type
      • View All Commercial Products
      • Contactless Pool Tables
      • Coin Op Pool Tables
      • Commercial Luxury Pool Tables
      • Hygiene Products and Signage
      • Commercial Table Tennis Tables
      • Coin Op Football Tables
      • Commercial Arcade Machines
      • Commercial Shuffleboards
      • Commercial Pinball Machines
      • Commercial Jukeboxes
      • Commercial Air Hockey
    • Rental Agreements
      • Pool Tables
      • Shuffleboard
      • Pinball Machines
      • Football Tables
      • Arcade Machines
    • Profit Share Pool Tables
    • Competitive Socialising 2020 Event
  • Buying Advice
  • How To Play
  • Commercial
  • Showroom
  • Finance
  • Games Room Designer
  • Clearance Sale

Select Your Channel

  • Home Leisure Direct TV - Homepage
  • Latest
  • Friday News Updates
  • Karl Boyes
  • Gareth Potts
  • Buyer's Guides
  • How to Play Pool
  • How to Play Table Football
  • How to Play Table Tennis
  • Pool Tables
  • Table Tennis
  • Football Tables
  • Arcade Machines
  • Pinball Machines
  • Pinball Technical Advice
  • Jukeboxes
  • Shuffleboard Tables
  • Home Bars

Catching Up With Karl Boyes

After competing in numerous tournaments, 3 time Mosconi Cup champion and former World Cup of Pool champion Karl Boyes sits down and talks about his time learning and playing the game of pool and 9-ball.

Transcript:

Ben: Here we are today joined by the former World Cup of Pool champion and three-time Mosconi cup champion, Karl Boyes. Carl welcome.

Karl: Thank you.

Ben: So we're going to quick fire some questions to you today to give viewers and followers a real understanding of nine-ball and just a bit about yourself really. So what kind of got you into cue sports in the beginning? 

Karl: I started playing English eight-ball when I was 14 years old. There was a pub over the road from where I lived with my parents. And I was just going there playing pool and the local guy who stood at the bar spotted me. And he said oh, it looks like he's got a good eye for the ball, you know, sort of potting the ball. So he signed me up to the team. And obviously, I was 14 years of age. I was playing Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday night, going over to pubs where obviously we weren't allowed. But they would asking if I were to go to pubs and whatnot. So when I was going to school the day after, I really didn't have the interest. I was just thinking about the pub and playing real pool. And it was good. So that's where it all started, to be honest.

Ben: Yeah. And what made you in transition then, I guess, from eight to nine? 

Karl: In 2006, there was a guy in America who set up the IPT, which was International Pool Tour. And it was eight ball on a nine ball table. And the money was unbelievable, so I was just desperate to get on the tour. And I went to America for a year basically. And I qualified for the tour. We played two events and it was unbelievable. We were playing on a Diamond pool table, which I had never seen before because I thought pool was English pool. And then when that died off and it weren't successful, the tour, I saw I couldn't face going back to English eight ball, because I realized that pool, in general, is American pool if you like. That's what they play all over the world. So I decided to stick playing nine ball and American eight ball.

Ben: Brilliant, so you talked about Diamond. You must have played on a variety of different tables over the years. Is there a particular style of table or size you prefer?

Karl: I think playing on the ten foot by five foot, which I never knew existed but apparently the heritage of nine ball in American cuesports, that's where it all began really.

Ben: Brilliant.

Karl: Obviously, they started making smaller tables to fit in bars, etc. So obviously that's why it's sort of changed, but I just think when you play on a bigger table, your cue action's gotta be more perfect. And obviously that catches the weaker players out, let's say, as opposed to on a smaller table.

Ben: Yeah, so you've played in a variety of different tournaments as well, both in this country and overseas. Is there a particular tournament or is there a highlight that really kind of sticks out?

Karl: Yeah, I mean there's been many. Obviously, I've won like Mosconi cups, world cups, world eight-ball championships. You know, I beat Shane Van Boening in America in a final on a ten by five, which not many people have. But it probably sounds a bit silly, but I think when I look back, the biggest sort of win I ever had was winning the Radcliffe pool individual singles. And that sounds a bit crazy because it was like two hundred pounds first prize and it was a race to three. But I think now I'm 32 when I was a kid I wanted it more than anything. Do you know what I mean? It was my life because where now, I never set out to be a nine ball player, see. So I can't really say it's been my dream because I didn't set out to do that. I set out to play English eight ball. So I remember speaking to my mom and my sister and whatnot, and I was just so desperate to win that title. And obviously it was only a race to two or three, I can't remember. And when I won it, I was like the happiest kid in the world. Do you know what I mean?

Ben: So from a practice then, from your practice then as a kid I guess, to where you now, do you have...is there a set routine? Because some people stick to routines, and some people say no, forget routine, I'm just going to play. 

Karl: Yeah, I mean, to be honest, I'm sort of more of a talented player. But obviously you've still got to put the hard work in. And at times it just doesn't pay off. In some ways you probably better off not being talented because you work harder, you know what I mean? But obviously, you know, you've got to practice things because if you don't play a lot, you feel rusty and stuff. So yeah, you've gotta do your routines and getting confidence from it really.

Ben: So we touched on your favorite size of table. So the ten foot sounds like you've had some great success at the ten foot. So from a maker table, what is your favorite, if you had to pick, favorite table? What would your favorite table be?

Karl: Yeah, I mean, through English eight ball and American pool, I think over the years I've played on all different types of brands of tables, obviously. Probably like 15 or 20 different brands of table. But at 32, having played 15, 16 years, I would say Diamond billiard tables are the best. They feel more strong. You feel like if you're walking around and you sort of accidentally nudge it, it's not going to go anywhere. And when you pot the ball, it sort of thuds and rolls in the pocket, the bounce off the cushion. It just seems to be made of real quality stuff. Do you know what I mean? As whereas some of the other tables, they can be a bit flimsy, let's say.

Ben: Okay, mate. This is another question that's coming from the team here, actually from here at Home Leisure, is what's it like to be the poster boy of nine ball? And did you even know you were the poster boy of nine ball?

Karl: Yeah. Of course. No, I mean, obviously, people say that and wherever else. But I think it's like when I first came on the scene, I was about 18, 18 and a half stone. And I went to the gym and I lost a lot of weight. And I think my looks improved a bit losing the weight and whatever. So it obviously gets mentioned. It's nice but at the end of the day, it doesn't win your tournaments, I suppose.

Ben: No. So when you win those tournaments, in the back of your head, because I wouldn't know what it's like obviously to play in front of millions of people, probably no more than five or ten. And that's obviously just local friends. What's it like, pressure-wise and do you even think about that pressure as you take those shots when you're live on TV or in a big competition?

Karl: Yeah, I mean, obviously when you're not playing a regular pool tournament where you have like anywhere between 10 or 20 tables in a big open space and there's no pressure because you might play in the corner of the room and what not, going to play on a one table setup, which we don't play many events like that. So it's not like we're used to it, like let's say golf or sort of snooker players or whatever else; you get used to it. I think you just don't want to sort of look silly, really. But I'm sort of used to looking a bit silly anyway. So if I make a silly mistake, I can just laugh at myself and people usually just forget about you, you know what I mean?

Ben: Yeah. But what about that final shot? You said that final shot is worth the championship which is worth the prize fund, obviously, and the accolade. What's it like having to take it, especially if it's a tricky one?

Karl: Well, I was just going to say it. You're sort of hoping you're straight on the nine and you can sort of pot it one handed, really. But I suppose if its a bit tricky, you're thinking 'Oh God, I've not landed too well on this shot'. But I suppose when you're in the heat of the moment and the pressure's on, you just sort of...that's what you practice about when you've played all your life. You've done it so many times before in practice and in match situations. And that's what experience is about, really.

Ben: Do you find that you zone out? Do you literally get into the zone of that ball? Or are you very aware of everything else that's kind of going on around you?

Karl: No, I think you sort of zone in, to be honest. And if you're not zoned on that particular shot, the chances are you're going to mess it up because you're thinking about what somebody said in the crowd or you're not happy with like the air cone or whatever. You're obviously, you're feeling it a bit. Your mind's not on the job, really.

Ben: Yeah. So at the world cup of pool there's obviously two of you?

Karl: Yeah.

Ben: So I guess play versus yourself and an opponent versus two of you, I guess there's a bit more camaraderie having watched you this year in the world cup of pool.

Karl: Yeah there is, but the thing with when you play Scotch doubles, I mean, it's great for TV and it's exciting. But as a player, you never feel relaxed because you're obviously not playing a lot of shots, aren't you? Your playing 50% of the shots. So I think that's why the drama's very good in it because you don't sort of find your cueing arm, if that makes sense. And sometimes you can have a bit of a nightmare and then that can affect your partner and whatever else. So it makes for good TV, to be honest. But I've always liked playing doubles or team events.

Ben: Yeah. So more so than solo?

Karl: Yeah, I think so. I think obviously I don't really like sort of being alone or being on me own. Like when I'm back home, I've got a lot of mates and our house is always full of everybody; it's full of family. Or somebody's always in the house; it's never like quiet, do you know what I mean? So if you're travelling around on your own and you're got to practice on your own, I find it a bit depressing. So I think I should have been a footballer, really. I'm getting a good laugh here, eh?

Ben: So talking football, any other sports you [inaudible 00:00:00] at? Are you any good at, I don't know, golf, football?

Karl: I liked to play a lot of golf when I was a kid before I started playing pool. I was a junior member with my dad, [inaudible 00:08:40] golf course in Radcliffe. And I still play alright now. Well, people say I could probably be single handicap. Football, I don't play enough to get that down, but I like to have a game. I like to play a bit of tennis, table tennis. That's probably about it, really.

Ben: Yeah. Not much of a footy man? Rugby? Cricket?

Karl: No, as a kid obviously growing up in Manchester, it was like the red and blue divide. And at school I was a sort of a red bloke, growing up watching the Derby days in the pubs. And the pubs getting smashed up, I just thought what's all this about? Sort of just concentrated on the pool, really. And so as I've got older, I watch the big champions league games, and obviously the big tournaments. But I don't really follow a particular team.

Ben: Alright, fair enough. So, Karl, you've obviously got your table that you've talked about, your Diamond at home. How does that play versus a table in a competition? Or a table that you're playing maybe on the TV? Is there a difference between your home table versus one in a tournament?

Karl: Yeah. I mean, even though it's the same table, you know, I bought my table from Diamond, who sponsor the tour. It's the exact same table, the same cloth, the same balls, but it plays like two different tables. And that's not obviously the table's fault, it's just the conditions. Imagine my converted garage, if you like. So it's a bit colder, I don't have table heaters on it. I don't have got TV lighting beaming down it, which makes a lot hotter. And obviously I don't change the cloth on it because I'm a bit tight. But when you play on a brand new cloth and it's really hot in the arena, it slides a lot more. So you could sort of aim a particular part on the cushion, on let's say my table at home, and then the same position on the TV table and it'll come off different. So you have to adjust. And I'm sort of not the best at adjusting on a TV table because I'm used to playing in the clubs and the pubs, really. So yeah, I'm sort of used to like battered tables with like rips in it and stuff like that.

Ben: Yeah, excellent. Okay, cool. So my final question Karl is what does the next 12 months look like for you? What have you got planned?

Karl: Yeah, I mean, the calendar in the sort of modern era has gone really crazy. We're starting to play a lot more in China. That seems to be the beginning of the year. And obviously, we've got, obviously, all the regular tournaments. So it's a packed season. And I sort of want to start the year off by losing some weight again and back into the gym. I've got like bad neck, bad knee. So I need to sort of control the diet. It's not easy when you're on the tour. But yeah, they're the sort of goals. And try and win another world championships, really.

Ben: Fantastic. Okay mate. Well look, thanks for stopping by. And from all of us here at Home Leisure...

Karl: Cheers, pal. Nice one.

Ben: ...good luck for the future.

Karl: Thanks, mate.

Read More

Karl Boyes - 9 Ball Pool

9-Ball Coaching with Karl Boyes: Playing a Frame

9-Ball Coaching with Karl Boyes: Finishing a Frame Earlier

9-Ball Coaching with Karl Boyes: Swerve Shots

9-Ball Coaching with Karl Boyes: Jump Shots

9-Ball Coaching with Karl Boyes: Types of 9-Ball Cue

9-Ball Coaching with Karl Boyes: Types of Break

Catching Up With Karl Boyes

9-Ball Coaching with Karl Boyes: Example Practice Routine

9-Ball Coaching with Karl Boyes: Inspecting a Rack

Secure Shopping - We use SagePay to handle all online payments
Free Delivery* - Everything we sell is delivered FREE to most of the UK
Price Promise - We check all our prices against major retailers every day

98% of customers are happy with our services

Industry leading security

Opayo by Elavon

We accept the following payments

Accepted Payments

Multiple award winners

  • Gold Trust eCommerce Awards 2014 Venda 2014 Worldpay
  • Venda 2013

Proud to be Official Merchandise Partner for these prestigious brands

  • Jack Daniels
  • Brunswick
  • Chelsea
  • Tottenham Hotspur
  • West Ham United

Proud to Supply

  • Skype
  • Sky
  • Google
  • Facebook
  • John Lewis
  • Microsoft
  • Oxford University
  • Manchester City FC

Proud to Sponsor

  • GB9 Tour
  • BFA
  • IPA
  • Pool Tour
  • London Pinball Championship

Join Us On Social Media

Useful Links

  • Careers
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Finance Information
  • Pool Tables
  • Luxury Pool Tables
  • Arcade Machines
  • Pinball Machines
  • Table Tennis Tables
  • Football Tables
  • Jukeboxes
  • Air Hockey
  • Shuffleboards

Join our Newsletter

Keep up to date with offers, new products and news from HLD

Sign Up

If you need help with anything
contact our team on

0800 622 6464 or 01454 413636

Offices Open
Monday - Friday 9am - 5:30pm
Saturday - Sunday 10am - 4pm

Showrooms Open*
Thursday - Friday 9am - 5:30pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
* When coronavirus restrictions allow for
pre-booked appointments only


Home Leisure Direct Limited is registered in England and Wales


Registered Office: Unit 7A Point 4 Distribution Centre, Second Way, Avonmouth, Bristol. BS11 8DF


Company Registration: 6364345 | VAT Registration: 914619912 | Consumer Credit License: 692501


Home Leisure Direct is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority


Home Leisure Direct acts as a credit broker and only offers credit products for Secure Trust Bank PLC trading as V12 Retail Finance


Credit provided subject to age and status.


Created by bluebox