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Any Chewers play pool?

post #1 of 49
10/20/06 at 5:25am
Thread Starter 
Anyone here play pool?

I've recently started playing again after about 13 years off, and I have to say the bug has bitten me once again. Makes me wonder how I went so long without playing! I used to play league pool in England once or twice a week, as well as the usual friendly stuff most nights. Never played for money much, that didn't interest me. Well, not for big amounts, just a little side bet or a beer!

What got me into it was my folks ran a pub when I was younger (back in the dark ages) & when I was about 17 we got a pool table. I used to practice 2 hours a day during the week & longer on weekends. Then I'd spend my evenings in the pub playing the locals & eventually formed a team. All of us were about the same age & new to league pool but we did well, capping it off with winning our town trophy.

Once my dad & me had left the pub (after my mom died) I played less pool & ended up trying snooker. I did OK at that but was never as good as I was at pool. Won a couple of team trophies but individually not so great. Still had fun though! I stopped completely during my first marriage, basically because I couldn't go out anywhere on my own without getting a phone call that my wife had done something stupid (attempted suicide, set fire to the house, etc.) Yep, I'd married a lunatic!

Now, nearly 4 years into my 2nd marriage (and she is great, I never would have believed it was possible to love someone as much as I love her) I've started to play pool again. For the last 3 months, me & my buddie (who we met through a workmate of my wife) have been racking 'em up once a week & sometimes imbibing just a little too much beer! Now the pool hall we go to has a weekly 9-ball tournament & I've been looking at it every week & slowly but surely I came around to thinking I want a crack at it!

Problem is, 9-ball is completely alien to me! I've always played 8-ball. After a few weeks my friend has been telling me I should go for it. He thinks I can do well, probably because I've been whupping him at 8-ball! The thing is, whenever we play 9-ball he generally beats me! It's just a different way of thinking to me. Anyway, tonight we both entered the tourney. My first competetive pool in years, and I don't mind saying I was as nervous as hell!

It's a double elimination thing, so I figure at least I'll get 2 games! $10 to enter, $200 to the winner. God knows I could use the cash! So we start, the matches are a race to 4. I lose the first rack badly, not too surprised at that. I then go on to win 4-1. I was really shocked! My opponent is a decent guy & gives me plenty of info on who the good players are, etc.

Next game I go up 3-0, lose the 4th on a close call & then my opponent sinks the 9-ball on the break to make it 3-2. I'm getting nervous again, but hold on to win 4-2. I'm feeling well pleased by now! This doesn't last long, in the next round the other guy breaks, runs out & I get a total of 2 shots as I'm hammered 4-0. Wake-up call or what!

Now I get my second chance, this time it's a race to 3. With the score at 2-2 my opponent downs the 9 on the break so my night is over. Surprisingly, I'm not too pissed off, I've enjoyed it & learned a lot. Sadly, my friend loses both his games so it's an early end for both of us. We're both in good spirits about the experience & we'll definitely be back for more.

I'm just amazed how nervous I was though. I had the chance to play then-world champion Jim Rempe back in 1988 & I felt exactly the same way tonight before I got going. I was a mess when I played Rempe, 300 people watching as he showed me how the game is really played! Never thought I'd feel like that again.

So who else here plays the game? Whether it's for fun, money or what. I know I'm hooked on it all over again, anyone else like that? I'd like to hear your stories, where you play, even recommend some good places to play. Who knows, maybe if we're lucky enough some of us could get together for a game!

I'm sure this is the longest post I've ever written here, if you're still reading, thanks for sticking around!
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post #2 of 49
10/20/06 at 6:25am
My roommate and I have a weekly game at a local hall on Friday nights. He rekindled my love for the game, and I've since started remembering that I used to be pretty decent. He's awakened enough of my former skills now that it makes for a good string of games.

The hall we go to has half-price pool from 6-9 pm...and we usually get in around 7 and play till 9.

2 hrs of pool for 8 bucks isn't a bad deal, especially since we jump between 8-ball and 9-ball, and a game of 9-ball usually only lasts about 10 minutes.
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post #3 of 49
10/20/06 at 9:49am
The college has a rec. room in the Student Center with pool, table tennis, chess, and foosball. I've been thoroughly abusing my rights as a student to use it all for free.
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post #4 of 49
10/20/06 at 9:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlmightyShmun
The college has a rec. room in the Student Center with pool, table tennis, chess, and foosball. I've been thoroughly abusing my rights as a student to use it all for free.
It's not abuse, look at the last bill you got for tuition.
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post #5 of 49
10/20/06 at 10:26am
I played every night when I was in college, and when I first graduated. I actually used to skip out on a night class at the break to play in a weekly tourney at my school where first prize was a pizza. This one hippie guy and myself were always the final two. The 2nd prize was a $10 credit to the on-campus food place. The teacher from that class actually came up to the Rathskellar one night after class and saw me playing--I think that kind of pissed her off...especially since I was still making an "A" in the class.

When I graduated, I had a night job (4-Midnight), and would head out to a local strip club after work and play pool until they closed. I got to know the door guy, so he'd let me in for free, and I met a guy there that basically ran the place, and he was really good at pool, so he helped me out a lot with my game.

I play sparingly now, but I'm still decent.
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post #6 of 49
10/20/06 at 11:32am
I play causually but just got recruited to play on my local bar's pool team. I'm excited to play in a real competition. I usually do better under pressure.
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post #7 of 49
10/20/06 at 11:35am
I play very very badly. However, when I do find myself in a bar, I enjoy playing my friends. They also play very badly. From those of you who play more often, maybe you can explain this phenomena though, the completely unskilled but incredibly lucky player. I have this buddy who basically just hits the cue ball as hard as he can in the general direction of the ball he'd like to sink, and damned if it doesn't go in! Now, we play called shots, and it never goes in how he calls it, but it still has some sort of strange force guiding it home, anyone else seen this happen?
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post #8 of 49
10/20/06 at 11:39am
I played pretty regularly for about a year -- one of my friends and I both had Mondays off and the local pool place had free pool from 11 to 4 weekdays, so we'd kill a few hours there every week. What surprised me was I would tend to play better with a good buzz on -- I guess I played without thinking as much and more by instinct. Either that or I was drunk enough to try some crazy shit that worked by pure luck.
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post #9 of 49
10/20/06 at 11:58am
At one point, billiards was my chosen religion. I spent every spare minute at the pool hall and would play for 6, 7 sometimes 8 hours straight. I played in tournaments alot (never won, but came close once or twice), hustled college kids, got hustled...it was a blast.

Then, the guy with whom I always went to the pool hall got a DWI and was barred from any sort of "bar" establishment. Once he stopped going, I found myself not going as much - then not at all. Took about two years off (right after I got a brand new Viper cue - beautiful thing - and it was relegated to the closet) and I've recently started going back sporadically. I got a lot of rust to work off as my game has dipped significantly, but I had forgotten how good it felt to have that cue in my hand. And my mother-in-law, who lives next door, just had a pool table put up in her garage. I'm pretty sure I'll end up over there alot, but there's something to be said for the whole "pool hall" environment.
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post #10 of 49
10/20/06 at 12:41pm
I will say that there's nothing sexier than a woman leaning over a pool table with a cue in her hand.
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post #11 of 49
10/20/06 at 12:43pm
I'm joining an all girl pool team. The top three ladies rank as 5 and 6's, which is pretty rare. They're cuties to boot. I've tried watching the professional women's pool competition on ESPN, but those "ladies" scare the bejesus out of me.
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post #12 of 49
10/20/06 at 12:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva
I'm joining an all girl pool team. The top three ladies rank as 5 and 6's, which is pretty rare. They're cuties to boot. I've tried watching the professional women's pool competition on ESPN, but those "ladies" scare the bejesus out of me.
What's her name...Allison? Allison...Sweeney? Hell, I don't remember - but she's blonde, she's a hellvua player and she's cute. There's another brunette who's a looker too, but I completely blank on her name.
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post #13 of 49
10/20/06 at 1:24pm
Allison Fisher? She's cuter than the other ladies, but I wouldn't look at her twice if I passed her on the street. But in comparison, she's way hotter than Karen Corr.
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post #14 of 49
10/20/06 at 2:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Miller
the completely unskilled but incredibly lucky player. I have this buddy who basically just hits the cue ball as hard as he can in the general direction of the ball he'd like to sink, and damned if it doesn't go in! Now, we play called shots, and it never goes in how he calls it, but it still has some sort of strange force guiding it home, anyone else seen this happen?
If you hit a ball hard enough, it's bound to bounce around and find a hole.

That's slop, I always play called shots - I'm pretty heinous these days, but I haven't been playing AT ALL for probably the period of a year or two. When I get some steady practice in, I'm OK. Nothing great but I've won my share of games vs OK competition.
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post #15 of 49
10/20/06 at 2:43pm
For hot pool chicks, it's all about Jeanette Lee.
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post #16 of 49
10/20/06 at 2:44pm
You win.
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post #17 of 49
10/20/06 at 2:48pm
Ewa Mataya was no slouch in her day. A friend of mine was on his honeymoon in Las Vegas, and they were filming a tournament there, and he got her picture and autograph for me one of our other pool-playing friends.

She's also the co-host of "Ballbusters"--a game show revolving around pool that I have no idea whether is still on or not. Adrienne Curry was the "rack girl".
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post #18 of 49
10/21/06 at 3:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva
I play causually but just got recruited to play on my local bar's pool team. I'm excited to play in a real competition. I usually do better under pressure.
It's the best way to play if you want to improve your game. I've always been lucky enough to be able to "switch off" whatever is going on around me & just concentrate on my shot when I play a match. Last night was a little hard though, as I said it was my first match for years & I was nervous. Partly because it was 9-ball & also because I'm still learning the different ways of playing pool here in the USA. Add to that my stepdaughter (who's 10) was raiding me for quarters while I was playing, she was hitting the games & gum machines! None of that put me off track at all, although I did tell my wife when she was leaving that if I lost after she'd gone it was all her fault, she was my lucky charm! She left, I lost. Told her later I'm not speaking to her!!

Diva, from what you said about your team-mates rankings, 5-6, is that an APA league you play in? That's a really interesting system, I've read up on it but we don't have a league here. Crazy really, the place I go to has 20 tables & I'm sure a league based there could work well. I'd love to get back into that but the nearest league to me that I know of is in Ft. Worth. Not a million miles away but I'm used to being able to walk to the pub! Hard habit to break!

Please do keep us updated on your progress Diva. Hope you do well, I'll be cheering you on as best I can! Oh, and what is your rating as a newbie?

As for me, I think I'll be tackling the tourney again next Thursday. My pal is out of town & the wife can't make it so no support this time. But then I've done that before. As I always say, head down, ignore everything but the shot. My old motto was "The easiest shots are the easiest ones to miss." Always concentrate.
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post #19 of 49
10/21/06 at 5:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson
For hot pool chicks, it's all about Jeanette Lee.

Yeah, I'd throw some dick up in the black widow. Lori Jon Jones isn't bad either (she's in that top right pic). I may have even rubbed one out to one of those broads on espn2 a while back. Diva, thank you for scaring the bejesus out of me with that Karen Corr pic. She looks like Steven Colbert if he weren't funny and had big tits.

How many times have you people run the table in 8-ball? From the break of course, so the other guy never gets to shoot. I used to have a count going on the wall of my basement that I lost interest in when it got into the 20s. There is nothing better than playing someone for money and running the table while they just stand there eating shit and never getting to shoot. Marking the wall afterwards was such a beautiful addition of insult to injury. I would also normally add something like "thanks for coming out" or "now you can go fucking kill yourself" as well. For the record, the other guy was always talking shit before the game started.
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post #20 of 49
10/21/06 at 6:05am
Thread Starter 
I honestly have no idea how many times I've run out in 8-ball. Quite a few times. Back when I used to play regularly in England the big deal was the "whitewash." When your opponent has all 7 of his balls left on the table when you sink the 8-ball.

I used to keep count of that, and just after I'd hit the 100 mark I was on the receiving end of the feat. It was a very surreal moment, everyone in the pub was willing the guy on to do it. Probably just to shut me up! The best part of it was the guy that handed me my first ever whitewash was not one of the better players that frequented the pub. Far from it. He rarely won a game, but he just loved to play. As he was closing in on the last few balls I found myself willing him on, it had to happen to me sometime & for him to do it, I knew how much of a kick he'd get out of it!

The place fucking erupted when he sank the 8-ball! You'd think he'd won the world championship! I'll be honest, I was a little disappointed to lose my clean record but to see how thrilled he was was bloody worth it! I went straight over & bought him a drink. I think a few other people bought him one too!

Damn, those were good times. I think the only thing that bothered me that night was seeing my dad (who owned the pub) cheer him on. I think I said something along the lines of "Thanks a fucking lot for the support!" I think he was pissed off that it wasn't him that whupped my ass! Although he did that from time to time.

As to keeping count of the whitewash's (or 7-baller's) I gave up after passing the 200 mark. I had a few handed to me along the way but that will always be the one I remember, and for the best of reasons.
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post #21 of 49
10/21/06 at 6:36am
Thread Starter 
Maybe one day we could have a tournament between all the players here. Call it the CHUD Chewer Championship. If nothing else, it's catchy!

Never mind the IPT, here's the Cha - cha _cha!

OK, I know. It's lame. Blame it on the beer & Friday night. Oops, make that Saturday morning!
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post #22 of 49
10/21/06 at 6:58am
Does pocket pool count?
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post #23 of 49
10/21/06 at 6:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva
Allison Fisher? She's cuter than the other ladies, but I wouldn't look at her twice if I passed her on the street. But in comparison, she's way hotter than Karen Corr.

Billy Jean King is hot.
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post #24 of 49
10/21/06 at 1:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ade Brooks
Diva, from what you said about your team-mates rankings, 5-6, is that an APA league you play in? That's a really interesting system, I've read up on it but we don't have a league here. Crazy really, the place I go to has 20 tables & I'm sure a league based there could work well. I'd love to get back into that but the nearest league to me that I know of is in Ft. Worth. Not a million miles away but I'm used to being able to walk to the pub! Hard habit to break!

Please do keep us updated on your progress Diva. Hope you do well, I'll be cheering you on as best I can! Oh, and what is your rating as a newbie?
It is an APA league. I'm still learning all the rules, but from what I can gather your rank is determined by your skill level and that is determined not only by your win/loss ratio, but by how many innings it takes for you to win. So someone who runs the table will have a much higher rank than someone who consistently wins their matches, but takes many turns to complete the win.

However, it's not clear how your score is determined as a newbie, particular if you are a good newbie. I think the capatian just tells the league your rank, so often peopel underestimate their players skills. My ranking is a 2. That means I must win two games before my opponent wins their games. It's determined by rank, so if I played a 5, they would have to win 5 games to my 2. I think the ranking system goes up to 7, but I've been told there aren't any women in the league ranked that high.

The ranking system is interesting because the captain also has to strategize and try and pair up the right people in order to ensure the best possible scenario for winning. While it might seem good to pair up a 2 and 7, it's actually better to pair the 2 with say a 5. The 7 can and probably will run the table from the break. The 5, while being an above averge player, has room for error, giving the 2 a chance to play.

The ranks can change throughout the season, so if I win X amount of games in a row (I don't know the exact number), then my rank will go up. Vice versa. If a 5 starts losing, s/he may drop to a 4. From what I have seen from watching past season's games, the rankings can be misleading. 2's are definitely the least skilled and 6 and 7's the most, but generally 3-5 ranked people are interchangable.

The only other rule I know of is that you don't have to call the pocket. Everything counts, with th exception that you hit one of your balls first. The 8-ball pocket not only must be called, but you have to place a marker on the pocket so it's clear to everyone in the room.

Right now I'm trying to learn to play defense. In bar rules play, I just shoot for everything, not worrying about my opponent. In league play, it's not always a good idea to go after your balls, even if you can make them (unless you can run the table). For example, if it's my shot and my opponent only has the 8-ball left, it may be more benefitial to me to take a shot that will leave the cue ball in such a position to make it extremely difficult for the opponent to either hit the 8 ball first (if they don't touch the 8 first they lose automatically) or make a pocket.

The season doesn't start for another month or so, so in the mean time I'm just gonna play whenever I have the chance (which is not very often). A friend of mine just bought a new stick and gave me his old one, so I have my own cue which is great. I'm excited for this. I'm gonna suck ass, but it'll be fun.
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post #25 of 49
10/21/06 at 4:48pm
Ade, you understand the "running the table" that I'm talking about is a "whitewash" without your opponent ever getting an oppportunity to shoot, right?
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post #26 of 49
10/21/06 at 5:08pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I get that. No idea how often I've done that.
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post #27 of 49
10/23/06 at 4:14am
Thread Starter 
Well, it's only early Monday morning & I'm thinking about this week's tourney already. Need some more practice though & that can get expensive. Sounds like the place Psychward goes to has a good deal.

At my local I think it's about $8 per hour on weeknights then $9.50 on Sturday nights. The best deals they offer are Sat & Sun 11-3 when it's $4 an hour or weekdays you can get free pool with lunch. Never the best times for me to go unfortunately.

I really have to convince my wife that a pool table in our garage would be a good thing!
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post #28 of 49
10/23/06 at 4:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ade Brooks
I really have to convince my wife that a pool table in our garage would be a good thing!
Traffick drugs...and tell her that the pool table legs are the best way to hide the drug money.

It'll work.
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post #29 of 49
10/25/06 at 3:06am
Thread Starter 
Nope, she didn't go for that one. I really think that the biggest incentive would be that I'd have to clean the garage out! But that's enough to put me off doing anything. I kid, if it meant I could get a table in there the place would be empty in no time! Even the stuff we want would be in the street!

Except the fridge, that's where the beer is. You don't mess with the beer.
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post #30 of 49
10/25/06 at 3:16am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva
I've tried watching the professional women's pool competition on ESPN, but those "ladies" scare the bejesus out of me.
I think this may be one of the ones that scared you.


The first time my wife saw her she said "I thought this was the women's tour?"

Apologies to Julie Kelly, but that's what you get when you look like that.
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post #31 of 49
10/25/06 at 3:44am
On that note, opinions on using a bridge?

Personally, I can't use them...I always eff it up somehow.
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post #32 of 49
10/25/06 at 1:04pm
Cool thread.

When I was about 6, we went to visit one of my dad's old buddies and he had a table downstairs. I could barely get myself up high enough to make a shot, but I knew I liked it right away. The colors, the sounds, even the smell.

Fast forward a couple years later, and I find myself in some family's home in Tennessee with my dad, looking at their pool table. We were moving to the northeast in a few months, and my dad was already excited about having a basement to turn into our own family pub. I didn't know it at the time, but he was also excited about grooming me in a way, to carry on the family tradition. He and his brothers used to play a lot in college, and I think he missed that. He wanted to be able to play with his son. So our pool table became the best way for my dad and I to spend time together. We'd play for hours. He always seemed to be up for playing, no matter what else was going on.

I took to it pretty quickly. Pool is one of the few things in my life that I ever found myself to have a natural gift for. It just sort of made sense. The stick felt right, the angles seemed clear, and the balls went down. I have older sisters, and I remember hustling their friends when they came over. They didn't expect much from me, this little pipsqueak. One weekend my dad took me to a Holiday Inn where there was a charity benefit. "Play the Rhode Island State 9-Ball Champ!" Somehow my dad convinced me to get in and play the guy. He kicked my ass the first game. So I'd know to respect the game, he said. Which makes more sense to me know than it did then. Then, it just pissed me off. I "won" on the second game, but even though he clearly let me win, I sank the 9 on a sweet reverse bank shot that got some applause.

Unfortunately, like most things kids get handed to them, I got sick of it. My dad wanted to play a lot. All my friends wanted to do when they came over was play. I came to hate that table. I wanted to play Nintendo.

Of course, once I moved away to college, I missed the game. Now I'm like a piano player who gets the urge to belt out a tune when he sees an old piano in a store. Every time I see a table, I want to play. I play when I can. Sometimes I flash some magic of the player I used to be. More often than not I'm streaky. But I play when I can. I have fun with it. I'd like to get in on the tournament gig but I just don't have the time now. More than anything, I'd like to get a table when I have a family, and teach my kids what my dad taught me.

Sorry for the long post. Also, I just realized I probably made it sound like my dad passed away. Nope, both my folks are very much alive, just retired. So I don't feel bad about kicking his ass when we play.
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post #33 of 49
10/25/06 at 1:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PsYcHwArD101
On that note, opinions on using a bridge?

Personally, I can't use them...I always eff it up somehow.
I see a lot of people set the bridge then leave it alone. Try to use both hands on both sticks if you can. It'll make the shooting stick seem more stable.
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post #34 of 49
10/25/06 at 1:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan Banks is my hero
I see a lot of people set the bridge then leave it alone. Try to use both hands on both sticks if you can. It'll make the shooting stick seem more stable.
I've got my regular game on Friday...and another on Sunday...I'll give it a shot.
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post #35 of 49
10/26/06 at 3:02am
Thread Starter 
If you ever get the chance to play on a snooker table try using the bridges on there. They're about 9 feet long & wobbly as hell! After that the little ones on a pool table seem easy.

But do what JB said, keep one hand on the bridge (holding the butt on the table if possible) & keep a nice steady stroke with your cue. I always keep my shooting elbow away from my body when using the bridge, elbow almost level with my shoulder. Gives you a nice, clean view down the cue.
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post #36 of 49
10/26/06 at 11:04am
One of my favorite pool stories goes like this:

I had gone out one night with a friend from high school, and in the process of finding somewhere to go on a Friday night, we ended up at a friend's house. He had a pool table, and some guys were playing when we got there. There were 3 of them, so two of them challenged me and my friend to a game. They were obnoxious guys, and were drinking, so that made it even worse. The game goes on, and we're both down to the 8 ball. It's at the top of the table, and the guy shooting before me scratches. So now I get the ball above the line, but the 8 ball is above the line as well as on the rail in front of the corner pocket, but I have to shoot the cue ball down the table first. The guy that scratches takes the cue ball out, and laughing loudly, slams the cue ball down on the table and says, "Good luck!" So I move the cue ball, line up my shot, and shoot the ball down the length of the table, it bounces off the rail and comes right back up the table, hits the 8 ball perfectly, and knocks it in. The guy stopped laughing about 3/4 of the way through the shot, and then broke his stick after the 8 ball went in. Our friend suggested that we leave after that. Which was truly funny, because we hadn't bet anything on the game, we were just playing. It was great to see the expression on the guy's face, though, and to see him get mad enough to break the stick.
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post #37 of 49
10/26/06 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ade Brooks
Isn't that from the Next Gen episode where Geordi and O'Brien are stuck in that Bosom Buddies holodeck program?
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post #38 of 49
10/26/06 at 1:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson
Isn't that from the Next Gen episode where Geordi and O'Brien are stuck in that Bosom Buddies holodeck program?

Is that real? I mean, does it breathe? I'm disturbed by that. I do play pool though. I shoot probably every other week. Nothing special like in tournaments or such. Had to learn how to play as a kid. Kinda like a family thing.
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post #39 of 49
10/27/06 at 2:39am
That chick/dude looks like Capt Lou Albano from classic WWF.

That's a good shot Martianman with the bank and the slide. But if the other guy already scratched you get ball in hand anywhere on the table, not behind the headstring according to the official rules. but people play crazy barroom rules and make shit up on the fly, I know how it goes. That's why I always try to nail down what rules are being played by in a money game. I also always entertained when someone breaks a stick.
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post #40 of 49
10/28/06 at 5:49am
Thread Starter 
Well, my plans for next week are to play some pool with my bud on Tuesday night then go for the 9-ball tourney again on Thursday. I couldn't make it this week, too much stuff going on. I really missed playing this week, the game is a bug, now I'm back into it I want to play all the time!

I could just go for Thursday night but my bud & me do have some fun playing, I don't want to lose that. Plus, there are a few things I want to work on & I also promised to give him a few bits of advice.

Dammit, I'm hooked on the game again! I even had a dream last night about having our own table at home!! If only there wasn't so much junk in the garage!
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post #41 of 49
11/3/06 at 9:38pm
Thread Starter 
Didn't play the tourney after all. My buddy wanted to get some practice & having not picked up the cue in 2 weeks it seemed like the best plan. I had a bunch of things I wanted to work on & to be honest I found myself over-thinking each shot! I really wasn't playing well at all. To make matters worse my back was killing me!

I was up about 4-1 & getting really annoyed with several miscues (including jumping the CB off the table) which turned out to be the shitty chalk I was using. Went back to the normal stuff & that stopped. Now, after deciding to just play my usual game & not overdo the thinking my game improved. I broke & ran out once & missed on the final ball 3 times! Overall score was 15-5 in my favour! I still thought I should've done better but my friend would have none of it, thanking me for the ass-whupping.

I was dreading waking up this morning, expecting my back to have frozen right up but thankfully it was fine. So, next week we practice Wednesday & go for the money on Thursday. As usual, I can't wait!
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post #42 of 49
11/17/06 at 9:02pm
Thread Starter 
I guess I better give an update. Still trying in the weekly tourney but can't seem to win it! 2 weeks in a row I've gotten to within 2 games of making some money & then I blow out. I definitely need to be playing more than once a week, especially after discovering last night that this event is apparently one of the hardest to win around here. Seems it's the fave of some of the better local players, God knows it looked like that last night!

My biggest surprise this week was playing against a fellow Englishman in the 3rd round. Turns out he's working over here for awhile & decided to play some pool. I'm glad I beat him because my wife would've given me hell at losing to another Brit!

No tournament next week due to Thanksgiving so it's just pool & beer on Wednesday instead, but what could be better than that?
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post #43 of 49
1/14/07 at 5:21am
I've been playing off and on since I was about seven and I would play with my dad every so often but not anymore, though I've been meaning to play him again. I just bought my first cue stick - a Fury for about $120 with the case and I'm looking to practice consistently to improve my game. I'm ok, I can put together some decent runs but I've got alot to learn in terms of set-up and english. I usually go to a place called "Campus Cue" which is down the street from UH and a few blocks from my house. I was just there a few nights ago on my birthday playing with a friend until 6 a.m. after a night of drinking, getting high, and playing poker. There's also a place called "Hawaiian Brian's" which considered the premier pool hall in Hawai'i with 30-plus tables, a fun arcade, and a shop - which is where I bought my stick. I enjoy playing on bar tables when I drink with friends because you know, it's always fun to play when you drink but my preference is regulation size just for the aesthetic.

Billiardsdigest.com is a cool website, check out the "Untold Stories" and "Featured Stories" archives for some fun reads. There's also a "Dear Jeanette" section for all you "Black Widow" fans.

What are some of your favorite pool films? I'll have to go with the classics of "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money." With "The Hustler," I love the initial scene in which Paul Newman's "Fast Eddie Felson" challenges Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleeson) for some high-stakes and they play for over 24 hours while drinking their favorite spirits and just when "Fast Eddie" is on the verge of beating him and winding down from exhaustion, "Fats" comes back with a resurgence and pulls a hustle on him, taking his money in the process. I've still yet to check out "Poolhall Junkies" or "Stickmen" which I hear are good films. Anyone have any recommendations and btw, how are your games coming along?
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post #44 of 49
1/14/07 at 3:18pm
Poolhall junkies is crap for the most part. Ridiculous overacting, and an extremely stupid ending only a moron could appreciate.
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post #45 of 49
1/14/07 at 6:27pm
Thread Starter 
Hey KBM. Sounds like a decent cue for the price, I'm sure you'll see some improvement once you get used to it. Just using the same stick all the time works wonders!

I haven't checked out billiardsdigest yet, I've been spending a lot of time at AZbilliards.com. That's partly why I haven't been around here so much lately, so much to read & learn there. A good bunch of people, including several pro players who post regularly. I use the name "chilli66" over there if you ever look in.

As for my game, I'm fairly pleased with it at the moment. I'm getting back to where I used to be years ago & playing with a lot more confidence. Still prone to stupid errors though, I got knocked out of our local tourney last week due to that after beating one of the better players! Friendly play I'm getting very hard to live with, looking to break & run as often as I can. My regular playing buddy still enjoys it though, even though it took 11 racks before he won one the other day!!

Pool movies? Obviously The Hustler & TCOM. I do have Poolhall Junkies on my Netflix list but from what Swedish Miyagi says I'm not so sure I'm looking forward to seeing it!
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post #46 of 49
1/27/07 at 12:04am
Thread Starter 
Well, I watched Poolhall Junkies this week & Miyagi is pretty much right. A few entertaining moments but that's about it. And yes, the ending is pure shit.

The one thing I did like was the use of real pool people (although they were played by actors.) One of these, "Toupee Jay" is a regular poster on AZBilliards.com & is a very interesting guy. He has some great stories about some of the legends of pool.

So, on the whole, don't bother watching it.

By the way, I played some of the worst pool of my life last night. Really, really bad.
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post #47 of 49
1/29/07 at 1:14am
Poolhall Junkies was so-so. I couldn't take the plot seriously, but it did have some pretty shots and Walken was funny. I also just watched Stickmen, which is a New Zealand film centering on a few guys who enter a high-stakes pool tournament to help their friend whose bar is being held as collateral for debts to the guy running the tournament - didn't really like it.

You're right Ade, now that I'm using the same cue, I can concentrate on the shot more rather than compensating for flaws in any old stick. I played some pool last night at a bar called "Spinners." Sometimes the drunken-master technique works, but I think I'd rather not play so trashed.
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post #48 of 49
1/29/07 at 3:36am
Thread Starter 
KBM, you own a far nicer cue than I. I'm currently shooting with a Minnesota Fats stick. Cost me about $50, it was all I could afford at the time but still way better than using a house cue. Nothing great but I can play well with it. LOL, when I'm playing well that is!

I did change the tip on it. I followed an idea from a guy on the AZBilliards forums. I bought an Elkmaster tip, soaked it in milk for 24 hours then compressed it in a clamp for another 24 hours. So basically you turn a soft tip into a harder one. Trust me, it works really well! It'll give you great response when using draw or English (or as we English call it, side!) Yes, you still need to be able to control the cue ball but it really does grip the CB well. It's what's known as a "milk dud!"

KBM, if you like the game & want to learn more head here http://forums.azbilliards.com/index.php

Get yourself registered. Trust me, you will not regret it.
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post #49 of 49
1/29/07 at 4:32am
I absolutely suck at it, but it and darts are two of my favorite social activities at a bar. My favorite place around here has them both.
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