SPM Billiard Magazine Issue 39

BILLIARD NEWS

BILLIARD NEWS

FROM OUR EDITOR

Dear readers,

It has been an incredible journey these past two years as the editor of SPM Billiards. I have had the honor of meeting and interviewing talented players, writing articles, and forging relationships within the industry. Time seems to have flown by, yet it feels like I have been a part of this community for a long time.

My dedication to SPM has always been to provide you with the most up-to-date news and stories about players while striving to be a great interviewer. This month, I decided to give the magazine a complete makeover, redesigning it from scratch. It has been an arduous task, but I am thrilled to share the final result with you.

Slowly but surely, I have been moving away from the name Sneaky Pete Mafia. Not because I have anything against it, but because I believe that SPM has the potential to stand for so much more. Shooting Pool Masterfully is one of the options that come to mind, but there are many other possibilities.

We have already had a fantastic year, and it is only going to get better. We are welcoming new sponsors into the SPM family, and I am eager to introduce them to you properly. My friend Mark White recently saw the new magazine layout, and he described it as having a modern and fresh look.

As always, I am on the lookout for new players to interview and share the latest stories. Let us all continue to strive for excellence and hit those pockets!

Yours sincerely,

Kat

THE TRUTH ABOUT PRACTICE TIME

If you don’t manage your poolplaying expectations, then you most likely will not enjoy playing very much. Worse, you probably won’t see any improvement in overall performance.

For about three-to four years, I didn’t enjoy playing pool, and it essentially had to do with unrealistic expectations. The combination of not practicing enough, thinking I could win more tournaments than I should, and not even playing that

want to get to a certain level of play, time will be a determining factor. This will significantly influence what your expectations should be.

Situation #1: You have very little to almost no time to practice or play very much.

I would say that most of you reading this article fall into this category.

You work a full-time job. You might be married with kids. As much as

If you can’t play or practice much, you won’t have many previous experiences to build on. Playing a tournament in February and then your next one in late September without picking up a cue in between means that literally anything is possible when you go out to play (usually bad).

In fact, unless you were a major player at one point in your life, it’s almost impossible to improve at pool with very infrequent practice

much made my time on the table unenjoyable.

This article will center on time. Why? Because time is one of the most precious resources that continually holds players back. If you

you would like for pool to be a focal point of your life, it’s just not. It probably won’t be until you retire.

If this is you, I advise you to set a few expectations for your overall performance.

or play. Your only goal should be to have fun; don’t worry about making huge gains because it’s unrealistic.

Situation #2: You play on average once a week and can devote a few hours of practice

This is another category most pool players fall into. If you are in this group, there can be a reasonable expectation of improvement if you spend your time wisely. Playing once a week is enough to see progress over time.

Progress in pool occurs in small steps. You make small breakthroughs, and then maybe you have a setback or two. But if you can keep practicing and playing a decent amount, you will see small incremental progress that will build over time.

Situation #3: I have the time; I want to see how great I can become! The last scenario is what most of you would love to be doing. If you are in this final category, you have time to practice almost daily and can play as much as 2-4 times a week.

strategy, and defensive play.

If you are serious about improving your pool stroke, I suggest enrolling at Virtual Billiard Academy. We have a long track record of accelerating student progress by adequately evaluating your overall game.

Making huge strides with your pool game requires total effort. It’s a combination of mechanics, mental game, strategy, practice, and playing. The reality is all aspects require a great deal of time to master. If you have that time, go for it. Please don’t fool yourself into thinking you can do it by playing infrequently and not practicing much.

Take a careful look at these three categories. See which one you fall into regarding how much time

MAKING HUGE STRIDES WITH YOUR POOL GAME REQUIRES A TOTAL EFFORT. IT’S A COMBINATION OF MECHANICS, MENTAL GAME, STRATEGY, PRACTICE, AND PLAYING.

This is the amount of time that is going to be necessary to make considerable strides in your overall game.

At this point, you know that pool is a challenging game. It will take a lot of time and effort if you want to get to the top. There is simply no shortcut around this.

You must improve stroking the cue ball to get better and run 100 balls. There’s just no way around it. That’s not to say you should abandon everything else. You must still be very good at patterns,

you can dedicate to the game. There may be some exceptions, but I recommend adjusting your expectations based on how much time you can practice and play. At the end of the day, the more you practice, the better you are going to get.

Anthony Beeler is the current Billiards Instructor of the Decade and is a former BCAPL National Champion. He has numerous “Top 25” national finishes and is the primary author of the ACS National Billiards Instructor’s Manual. He has also authored the book Unstoppable! Positive Thinking for Pool Players.

Anthony currently has the highest established Fargo Rating of any Master Instructor. He has won over 300 tournaments and has defeated numerous professional players in tournament competitions.

He has numerous “Top 25” national finishes and is the primary author of the ACS National Billiards Instructor’s Manual. He has also authored the book Unstoppable! Positive Thinking for Pool Players.

Anthony currently has the highest established Fargo Rating of any Master Instructor. He has won over 300 tournaments and has defeated numerous professional players in tournament competitions.

WANNA “PICK UP YOUR SKILL LEVEL” IN POOL?

Then Drop Your EGO!!

Your EGO misses more shots than your Stroke,

In high-stakes pool, there aren’t as many turnovers or times at the table as there may be at your favorite pool hall or your local amateur tournaments. Therefore, you first Must think carefully prior to every shot taken, as one miss may very well send you rackin’ up your Cue and heading for your Lazy boy Recliner.

So, it’s vital to “Keep it Real.” You must Know your true limitations.

How do I do this if I don’t try the difficult shots?

But, when my hard-earned money is on the line, you better believe I know my limitations, and you best believe that after a few games with you, I’ll be picked up on a few of yours (Student of the Game!) and you will get those “ difficult for you shots” much more often than not. Make a mental note, hell, even write it down, those shots you miss and continue to struggle to make.

Get with another Good player and have them help you set up these shots. (A partner may pick up on Why you’re missing faster than you by watching you shoot.)

Remember, it’s the shots we fear that cause us to “Flinch” or “Jump up.” Don’t just shoot those shots until you can make them. Shoot those shots till you don’t miss them any longer.!!

I practice a shot until I can make it Five times in a row, then as I progress, I’ll set it up and shoot it till I make it 10 times in a row, and if I miss, I start back over from the beginning.

Keep your EGO on a firm leash and know Your limitations, and I promise you, Your Skill level Shall Rise!!

Happy Shootin’!!

“The White Wolf”

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

This month I am asking you to indulge me as I shift gears for just a moment. This column is designed to offer information to help readers learn and grow in their pool game. Today, I want to reflect on something that happened in my own journey as a billiards instructor.

Last month, an historic event took place which I was fortunate enough to play a part in. The two professional organizations for pool instructors, the PBIA and the ACS, joined together to hold the first International Conference of Instructors in Quincy, IL. About 50 professional instructors from around the world came together along side the BEF Junior National Championship tournament. Imagine the very best junior pool players and the top professional pool instructors gathered together for several days sharing the same hotel and convention center. The atmosphere was electric!

Among the instructors attending were such notable names as Jerry Briesath, the Godfather of modern pool instruction, RandyG, one of the foremost instructors in the country, Tom Dr. Cue Rossman, author Steve Campana, Dr, Dave Alciatore, and dozens more. All told, there were hundreds of years of pool knowledge and experience at the summit.

In addition to the daily seminars, workshops, presentations, and demonstrations, the real value came with the after hours discussions and conversations where we were able to exchange ideas and information to help every instructor attending to become better at our jobs. That was also our time to mingle with the junior players who share our love and passion for our sport. How exciting to see firsthand that the future of pool is definitely in good hands. I’m also very proud to

say that, during our summit, the instructors were able to raise $1,000 to donate to the Billiard Education Foundation to support the junior players. I have attended several instructor meetings in the past, but this joint conference was, by far, the biggest, best, and most exciting of my career. I came away from it with a renewed energy and excitement about the work I do.

If you are a professional pool instructor who was unable to attend this year’s summit, I strongly encourage you to make plans to attend next summer. If you have ever considered becoming an instructor, or have a passion for helping other players, feel free to contact me at 980 253 0211 and let me help you get started on your new career path. And if you’re a player who simply wants to add new knowledge and skill to your game, reach out to a PBIA or ACS instructor to guide you in your pool journey.

I truly believe that learning is the only way we can continue to move forward. I am so grateful for the chance I was given this past July to expand my knowledge as a pool instructor. In the coming months, I look forward to sharing some new ideas on these pages and in my in-person classes. I hope you’ll join me.

Steve Jennings

PBIA/ACS Master Level Instructor

980 253-0211

As a brand new instructor, having the opportunity to meet and learn from so many of the top of our field was mind-blowing! Being able to listen to how others teach specific subjects was great. From Roy Pastor explaining how he incorporates music and Dr. Dave discussing the physics of two spheres colliding, to Randy Goettlicher going through the history of billiards instruction, any one of these would have been worth the trip! This will become a definite “can’t miss” event as we move forward.

— R. Jeff Smith

R. Jeff Smith is a life-long pool player, professional photographer since 1999, and recent Certified PBIA and ACS Instructor based in the Dallas, Texas area.

BRENDAN CROCKETT MEMORIAL 2023

SVB SMASHES HIS WAY THROUGH 158 PLAYERS

Every year, in August, Hard Times Billiards in Sacramento hosts one of the biggest tournaments on the West Coast, Brendan Crockett Memorial, usually gathering over 150 players, pros and amateurs, from all over the country. This year wasn’t any different. A weekend full of pool, celebrating the life of a pool prodigy, Brendan Crockett, who has been taken away from us way too soon.

The 10K added tournament started on Saturday with 158 players and an emotional player meeting, where Oscar Dominguez, the owner of Hard Times Billiards, managed to put everyone to tears, including himself. A beautiful selection of memories was put together in a short commemorative video, with names like Melissa Helland, Max Eberle, Tyler Styer, and Sal Butera talking about Brendan and their amazing friendships with him.

This year, the line-up was exquisite, the locals being able to

play along some of the best pros in the country and even the world. Mosconi Cup Team members: Oscar Dominguez, Tyler Styer, and Shane Van Boening, also John Morra, Nick DeLeon, Ernesto Dominguez, Brian Parks, Stephen Holem, Spencer Ladin, to mention a few. Juniors were nicely represented by Adrian Prasad, Savannah Easton, Joey Tate, and Nathan Nunez, and the ladies didn’t slouch either with more than 10 of them lining up, names like Melissa Helland, Margaret Fefilova Styer, Kat Guest, Revelina Um, and Janna Sue Nelson.

The First round commenced around noon and brought the eternal rivalry once again, Oscar Dominguez drew John Morra. After a few tied games, Oscar took off to win 7-5. As expected, these two were about to match up again in the top 16, with Mr. Smooth ready to avenge his loss in the first round. The Canadian won that one 7-1 against Oscar, and the debt was paid. “I am tired, I slept 2 hours last night, but I have plenty of time to sleep with the money in my pocket. It’s more sweet” said John when I asked him how he was feeling.

Shane van Boening flew through the field, win after win, to finally get the hot seat. Despite using his playing cue the whole time, his monstrous break smashed the rack to pieces every time, potting 2-4 balls and

OSCAR DOMINGUEZ PHOTO BY CRIS CONSTANTIN

making everyone else look weak and unprepared. Behind him, Tyler Styer, John Morra, Ernesto Dominguez, Adrian Prasad, Spencer Ladin, and Nick de Leon were fighting for every game.

The second day was set for the last 32. Oscar loses to Adrian Prasad and Morra, and he’s out, Styer almost gets SVB 8-9, De Leon beats Ernesto Dominguez and loses to Styer. Ladin puts up a great fight in this monster field, but only to lose to SVB and Morra. 10 pm on Sunday, and the last four are fighting for the 5,000$ check for the first place. Styer, Morra, and De Leon are battling to meet Shane in the finals. Nick is motivated by his desire to finally play Shane, both Cuetec-sponsored players. He fell short, and Morra sent him to 4 th place. Styer plays an awesome set against Mr. Smooth and wins over

Canadian 7-6 and advances to the finals while John is eliminated in 3 rd place (the most games played of any player in this tournament, 14)

The finals are starting around 1.30 am. Van Boening and Styer are going neck to neck until Tyler makes the move and runs three racks to get on the hill, 8-6. His last break goes dry, and Shane runs the table and breaks and runs everything to the end. Final score 9-8, SVB wins undefeated. The podium is set :

1 st SVB – $5000$

2 nd Tyler Styer – $3000

3 rd John Morra - $2000

4 th Nick De Leon - $1500

The ladder continues with 5 th -6 th Ernesto Dominguez and Spencer Ladin, both $800, and 7 th -8 th Adrian Prasad and Angelo Inness, $650 each.

Special mention to Savannah Easton, who fought hard to earn a spot in the top 32, and Margaret Styer, who almost made it to the top 16 and was awarded top female performance in this competition.

This kind of event is probably the reason why our sport is so exciting. It’s not easy to gather over 150 players of all levels and make them play for over 14 hours/ day, battling not only for the money or fame, but to support a great cause and celebrate the life and achievements of a friend and fellow pool player.

I hope Brendan watched it from above and smiled. He knows he’s missed, and this event is meant to bring together his old friends and celebrate like they used to when he was alive.

The sponsors this year: Omin

SHANE VAN BOENING PHOTO BY CRIS CONSTANTIN

Cues, Cueless, and How Tips, as well as the entire team at HT Sacramento (T.D. Desiree Dominguez, Window’s Open - Mike Molina, Oscar Dominguez, and everyone else involved), did an awesome job running

and coordinating the tournament and taking care of everyone. The atmosphere is always full of emotions and very competitive, but friendly and warm nonetheless.

Next year is set to be an even bigger one, with more money added and hopefully more sponsors to contribute, so for those interested, you can follow Hard Times Of Sacramento on social media or Oscar Dominguez-Pool Player page for updates.

See you all next year!

Photos and text by Cris Constantin

MARGARET STYER PHOTO BY CRIS CONSTANTIN

THE ADVENTURES OF CONNOR BENSON

DRIVING THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL MOUNTAIN RANGE

CONNOR IS MAKING HIS WAY TO A SMALL BEACH TOWN THAT OFFERS ONE OF THE BEST ACTION ROOMS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Driving through the California coastal mountain range Connor is making his way to a small beach town that offers one of the best action rooms in northern California. Beach Billiards is hosting a one thousand dollar added open 9 ball tournament that starts Saturday morning.

Although the tournament is 9 ball everyone knows if you are looking for action at The Beach your one pocket game better be on point because that’s what the locals play and from what people say, some of them play pretty sporty.

Its right around 3 o’clock Friday afternoon as Connor descends from the mountain range on to the coastal highway. The traffic

was heavier than expected but he only had a couple of miles to his exit and he was happy with the thought of having a good stretch and a bite to eat.

He soon exits the highway and follows his directions to a large shopping center. Pulling in to the center he can see a Target, a few restaurants and some smaller retail stores. He drove around the parking lot until he found Beach Billiards, he was happy to see “Mom’s old fashion burgers” right next door.

After a quick stop at Mom’s Connor was ready to make his way into the pool room. Connor strutted through the door like a champion. His George case slung over his shoulder and still

wearing his sunglasses. A nervous excitement rushed through his body, he was a bit taken back by this feeling of uncertainty but how could he not feel this way, after all this was the first time this 18 year old had ever ventured out of his home town to play.

A slightly overweight grey-haired man greeted Connor at the counter. As he handed over a set of balls. He asked if Connor was in town for the tournament, Connor replied that he was. The man introduced himself as Tippy and he gave Connor the once over and directed him to table 9.

The pool room hosted twenty 9 foot gold crowns, two dart boards a few TV’s and eight stools at the counter. Connor made his way

to his table while looking around to see what was happening in the room. There were some guys playing one pocket on the front two tables and a couple of tables with some 9 ball action. There were a few guys at the counter with their cases hanging on the back of their stools. The rest of the people in the room just seemed like a typical Friday late afternoon banger crowd that every pool room needs to pay the bills.

Connor wanted so badly to get some action that his inexperience shined through right away. He racked all 15 balls and hit a one pocket break. That’s like going to Mike Tyson’s house with a pair of boxing gloves on. It took less than 10 minuets for Tippy to come over and ask Connor if he was looking to play some. Connor said he would like to play some 9 ball. Tippy chuckled and said why are you practicing one pocket then.

Tippy’s shift was over at 6 pm. The place was filling up with players coming to practice for the weekend’s tournament. A couple of guys came over to Connor and told him that Tippy said they could take over the table and that he was to go over to table 2 if he wanted to play. As Connor approached the table Tippy was already hitting balls, before Connor could even put his stuff down Tippy barked at him “hundred dollars a game one pocket, even. flip for the first break”

This hit Connor like a bag of rocks. Up till now Connor has only played at his local pool room. He did gamble with the guys some but nothing big and truth be told he didn’t really know how to play one pocket. He has played it before but that was either for fun or for five dollars a game with the guys, nothing like this. He didn’t

understand how someone could jump up and play for a hundred a game. This is when Connor realized that the real world of pool was way different than what he thought it was. Connor took this trip hoping to get some action, Connor thought he was ready, Connor wanted to prove that he was a player to be reckoned with, at that moment, Connor had absolutely no idea what to do.

Tippy flipped the coin before Connor could try to negotiate a cheaper game, instead of saying hang on a minuet while the coin was rotating through the air Connor said tails. The coin landed heads and for some strange reason Connor felt relieved that he didn’t have to break first.

Tippy’s break left the cue ball near the center diamond of the side rail behind the stack. The corner ball was right in front of his hole with a couple of other drifters close by and nothing that Connor could shoot at. Connor’s heart was thumping through his chest and his bridge hand was starting to shake. After a good minute of agonizing over what to do he shot the cue ball softly off the far end rail towards his opponent’s pocket. The cue ball hit the side rail then the object ball then it teetered right on the edge of the pocket for what seemed to be forever before it dropped. Connor felt deflated but then he heard the rail birds talking about what a great shot that was, how it almost stayed up. How could they call that a great shot he wondered, I scratched.

Tippy made three balls before hitting into the stack pushing most of the balls towards his pocket while leaving nothing. Again, Connor’s inexperience shined through when he hit a stupid shot trying a bank combination

to his hole and letting the cue ball loose. He left the table wide open for Tippy and that was that. Connor immediately got ready to break the balls as one pocket is commonly played with alternating breaks. He was mad at himself and the idea of quitting never crossed his mind. Connor struck the second ball with inside English. The cue ball glanced off of the corner ball and went straight in to the corner pocket.

The rest of that game and the next were just a blur to Connor. Humiliated and heart broke he quit after losing three games and three hundred dollars. As he packed up guys were coming over telling him how good he played and asking his name and where he was from. At first, he thought they were messing with him but then he realized they were being genuine. He talked to the guys for a while and started feeling a little better. That’s when he realized that other that yourself no one cares if you win or lose. The watchers like to watch, the side betters like the action and the house collects the table time.

Connor, left with less than one hundred dollars in his pocket decided to forget about the tournament and start heading home. He was not happy with his performance or his decisions. He walked in to an unknown poolroom like a big shot and ducked out like a schmuck. But as time will prove, this experience will turn out to be invaluable to our young road agent.

That’s our story for this month folks. The adventures of Connor Benson is a series of fictional short stories written for SPM magazine. we hope you enjoyed it and until next month everybody…..stay safe out there and keep the cue ball rollin

Tommy Hill Bio

Tommy is a master instructor with both the PBIA & AMP; ACS. When he was a youngerman Tommy played on the Men’s Professional Billiards Tour and the Camel Pro Tour. Like many un-sponsored pro players of that era he also played on the road in order to keep the dream alive. Tommy has spent 40 plus years in the billiards industry. The adventures of Connor Benson are fictional short stories of a road player. Although fictional, some stories may derive from his own experiences, stories he had heard or things he witnessed along the way.

IMAGE IS EVERYTHING: THE EYES THAT BEHOLD CUE SPORTS

It is often said that pool is a beautiful game played by ugly people. In this instance, the ugly refers more to behavioral characteristics rather than physical ones. It is also said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what is the lens that these eyes are looking through? What image is conjured up when people mention pool? The Hustler? The Color of Money? Poolhall Junkies? If that is their perception of our game, why is it so? I will say that it is mainly because we perpetuate it ourselves. Many, not all, of the people who complain that Pool has a bad image turn around and expound on the merits of movies that show only that shady side of pool. I wish I had a dollar for every time someone says we need

another Hustler movie. No, we really don’t, at least not in the context in which most people think.

Hustling and gambling (they are not the same thing) have been associated with pool almost from the outset. Now, why is it that other sports have hustling and gambling but not the image problem that pool has developed? It happens with golf on a much higher scale than it does with pool. The difference is thought to be that one occurs in country clubs and the other in a pool room or bar in a bad part of town. The difference in image is more about the public variants than just location. Yes, some guy is hustling a few lawyers, doctors, and people in business, but hey,

we have Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods on TV, playing in a friendly tournament, telling us their stories as they win major events. Pool seems to just have the hustling and gambling being broadcasted. Many major sports stars have been associated with gambling, but they are associated with a whole lot more.

They also have publicists, PR firms, and marketing people. Pool does not. They have connections with fans. People know their stories, their history, and, in some cases, even their families. Pool players do not. Even many hardcore pool fans are more likely to be able to tell you about a big money match or some great hustling score that was pulled off by a road player than who

won the 1974 US Open without looking it up.

Pool is finally gaining a little traction with new events being added to the schedule and the early beginnings of a tour shaping up with rankings and seeding. Money is ever so slowly getting better, and more juniors are playing in organized events than any time I can remember. The talent level is soaring, and the number of talented players is soaring as well, with a huge upsurge of young players coming out of Europe and Asia. The US is finally getting more junior programs and junior events, and it will also see an increase in its talent level in the future.

In terms of image, though, talent hasn’t been the problem for pool. I can walk into a local league, and there will be few players that

can name any pro player. They may have heard of Mosconi, Fats, and the “Just Showin’ Off” guy. They have all heard of Jeanette Lee, though. She has probably been the brightest spot in terms of image for American Ppool. She marketed herself, she made those personal connections with not only amateur players but average Americans as well. She had a story to tell, and she told it, and more importantly, she is still sharing it.

We have so much potential right in front of us. Mohammad Soufi is a terrific human-interest story. His migration from Syria to Germany to his finishing runnerup in the World Championship. Tony Chohan and his winning the Derby City One Pocket Championship and how much he has overcome to get to the

pinnacle of his specialty. How about Shane Van Boening, growing up with his hearing loss and how pool and his family connection to it helped him develop into a true success story. Fedor Gorst leaving his country to come to the US and not being allowed to participate in his own sport because of what his government chose to do. Do you not think there are other people out there who might be interested in the lives of these people? People who are facing adversity and might be able to connect with someone who already went through such difficulties?

The legends of the game, like Strickland, Reyes, and Varner, never really got their stories told, but I bet there are people who want to know them beyond the pool playing. Beyond Jeanette

Lee, do you not think that Allison Fisher, Seo Seoa, Chezka Centeno, and Siming Chen have great personal stories to share? We have a lot of potential junior players and fans, and many are young women looking for inspiration. Every player is different, and every one of them has a unique story to tell, and there is someone who will connect with that story. Someone who can connect without sport.

The game has evolved, and the equipment that it is played on is evolving. The thing that is not evolving is the culture and perception given to the rest of the world. That is on us. The people who represent and/or support this sport. The best thing is that a better image can benefit everyone! Professional players, promoters, leagues, and room owners. Their goals, of course are varied, but they all gain with an overall better image of the game and the people in it. There

will always be some bad apples. Check the news, they are all over, but they do not have to be front and center in the game. They do not have to continue to be the face of our game unless we allow them to be.

Many niche sports have risen from obscurity and/or a bad look to higher levels of success: Skateboarding, rock climbing, darts, MMA, and NASCAR. Pool will likely not reach NBA money, but it can certainly move well past where it is so that its elite players can enjoy a comfortable living.

We have young and upcoming players like Shane Wolford here in the US and Pijus Labutis in Lithuania. We have so many junior players who are on the rise. These players are doing a lot of their own marketing on social media. We need to get organized and get behind them. Fans must identify with a player if

we want them to invest their time and money in our sport. We must get their investment before we can get sponsors and commercial investment beyond table and cue suppliers. It won’t be easy, and it won’t be quick, but it can be done. In fact, it must be done if we are to continue to move forward with the rest of the world.

We are responsible for our sport’s image. Period. One of the things I find most encouraging about Matchroom is having heard them say that they need to make the players known to the public. Promoters, streamers, and media publishers all need to work to improve how the players are presented to the public. The balls on the table will take care of themselves as long as the face representing them does so in a positive light.

LESSONS FROM DAD

BRANDON JACOBY TALKS ABOUT LESSONS FROM DAD, DAVE JACOBY

I had a dear friend call me when my dad was sick. He explained to me that my dad was the very best – I was good, but my dad was the best.

Ihave to agree; my dad was the best. I knew this much of my life, but it struck me deeply as I saw the hundreds of people arrive to say goodbye. So, if you are hoping, as I am, to one day be described as “the best,” I will let you in on some tidbits of wisdom my dad taught me.

Love and family are everything. Both my mom and dad’s families have always scooped people up, everyone and anyone who needed someone. My mom’s family took in foster kids until their house was full. My dad’s family of nine lived in a tiny three-bedroom house but still took in cousins and

made them their own. Our family culture is one that gathers people, friends, and family. My dad was always able to look past people’s faults and love them.

Make time to do what you love. Dad always seemed to know how to do this. From the time he was a kid, my dad loved spending time with our large, wonderful extended family. He told old stories about the great aunts and uncles and cousins working and playing together, of mischief and good times. Dad loved playing pool. Every day, when he got up, he hit balls around the table as he enjoyed his morning coffee. He loved playing in leagues and tournaments. When he got sick, he seemed to worry most about whether he would be able to play in the state tournament with me. Dad dabbled in farming, feeding our family and the deer. Most of the pictures he took were of hunting and fishing expeditions. He made an instant connection while on the road with others who shared these passions. Dad lived life to the fullest.

Go all in and live with no regrets. When we first decided to incorporate the business, we had to hire a business consultant to secure the loan. He said that if we were going to make this whole cue business thing work, we had to go all in. The analogy was that once Dad crossed the river, he had to burn his boat so there would be no attempt to cross back over; success was the only option. Dad burned his boats. He left his job at the mill and started making cues full-time. As he made this decision to go all in with me, I remember him reflecting that he didn’t want to look back when he was eighty and regret not taking the chance. I only understand, now that I am older, what it meant for him to leave what was secure and comfortable to take this leap of faith with his twenty-two-year-old son.

“You gotta make hay when the sun is shining.”

My kids will forever cringe when they hear me say this because it means that no matter how tired you are or how much work you have already put in, you must seize the opportunity when it presents itself. This saying was one of my dad’s favorites, especially when we were starting out in the cue business. The farming reference made it even more perfect. My dad and mom had a small hobby farm when I was a kid, and even if my dad was dead-tired from working at the paper mill, if the weather was right, he would put in another full day of farming. This transferred easily to the cue business. There were long trips and long days and hours, but Dad was right when he said, “Brandon, we gotta make hay when the sun is shining.” It made all the difference.

“Sometimes you gotta eat crow.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WISCONSIN BILLIARDS HALL OF FAME

You will make mistakes. Instinct will tell you to explain why it was not your mistake. Resist that urge. Dad would explain that it didn’t matter if you were right or not; you needed to take responsibility and make things right, even if that meant eating a little crow.

You have control over how you react to what happens in your life. As we built the business, there were times when things didn’t work out as we had hoped. Things would happen that were simply beyond our control. A customer may have been terrible to work with, a show was a flop, a machine was broken, or we were stranded for extra days on the road when our van broke down. In those times when things were bad, Dad and I would talk, and the life lesson was that while

we don’t always have control over what happens in our lives, we have control over how we react. We would do the best we could to stay positive and work through whatever situation we were presented with. In Dad’s final weeks, this attitude became an example to all of us. Logic said he should have been angry. His medical team had failed to see what was wrong, and he was cheated out of his golden years. However, after a day to reflect, he talked instead about gratitude, gratitude for all the people he has loved, gratitude for a life welllived. He maintained this positive outlook all through his final days, never angry or unkind. This was the final gift he gave us- the ability to let go, instead of holding sorrow or anger, holding onto gratitude for the memories, life,

and love we shared.

So, in a nutshell, here is what my dad taught me: do what you love, work hard, go all in, seize the opportunity, and if all else fails, eat crow, do what you can, and start over again tomorrow… but for heaven’s sake, most of all love people. Call on an old friend, make a new friend, buy your wife some flowers, play a game or two of pool with your son, take the grandkids out hunting, and live this wonderful life. Live a life with no regrets.

DAVE AND BRANDON JACOBY

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Sponsor A Junior The Future of Billiards!

WHY IS POOL PRACTICE BORING?

HOW CAN IT BECOME FUN?

Do you agree with the formula: Pocket Billiards + Practice = Boredom? You can be honest. Sure, most pool players would agree as well. This month’s featured drill provides some tough challenges that can result in your making a lot more clutch shots with cue ball shape on an open table. How do you know for certain if your skills are improving overall?

What if I can show you a way to make practice fun as you see yourself progressing toward increasing your average?

I can and here’s how. It’s through the time-tested method of shooting and recording the results of my Pro Skill Drills pool training drills. That’s all there is to it! This is what worked for me when I turned pro at the young age of 19 shooting drills like this month’s

Walking the Line drill.

It’s a simple question, do you want to play better or not? I have the rudiments that will push you past the plateaus that seem to hold you back. Now you’re the one who has to get to work and record the results.

Nothing increases personal playing skills like practicing professional training drills. They develop your utmost in focused concentration, isolate effective shot making, and establish your pace and technique and execution. Your overall player skill level will be improved and I guarantee it.

This month’s fun drill is called, Walking the Line.

This drill perfects your shot making skills for balls that are in the center of the table.

The Drill can be adjusted for Beginner and Advanced Level Players.

We’ll start with Level 1,

1. Start with ball-in-hand and from either end of the table as shown-your choice.

2. Shoot any ball in any of the six pockets on the table in any order.

This drill perfects your shot making skills for balls that are in the center of the table.

3. Avoid hitting any of the other balls on each shot. If you miss a shot or hit another ball, reset the line, and start over.

Advanced to Pro players and use Level 2,

1. Start with ball-in-hand from either end of the table.

2. From the first ball pocketed, continue pocketing the balls (in any pocket) in their successive order as they are lined up the table.

3. Avoid running into any of the other balls on each shot. If you miss a shot or hit another ball, reset the line and start again.

During your next match, as you survey the table layout, take notice as to how many shots resemble shots from this month’s drill. You can then shoot the shots in the match with confidence like they are part of the Walking the Line drill!

Sure, you’ll still miss pocketing a ball from time to time as a result of bad aim or a misaligned stroke-everyone does. However, with a renewed focus on doing my drills, you won’t be the person you used to be at the table.

If you want my complete set of training drills and critical shots, visit, and join DITV today. All the Pro Skill Drills table layout and

videos are up there plus so much more.

Also, on my website, you can inquire about private lessons with The Drill Instructor.

Learning The Drill Instructor Way makes practice fun because you’ll be winning more than ever before.

MOHAMMAD SOUFI RISING

SOUFI’S UNIQUE AND DECISIVE PLAYING STYLE IS A REAL TREAT TO WATCH, AND IT’S NO WONDER THAT HE’S QUICKLY BECOME A NOTABLE NAME IN THE WORLD OF POOL.

Mohammad Soufi’s rise in the world of pool was nothing short of remarkable. Though he was relatively unknown on the global stage, Soufi’s performance at the European Open in 2022 caught the attention of many. He continued to impress as he made it all the way to the finals of Matchroom’s World Pool Championship in February of 2023, where he faced off against Francisco Sanchez Ruiz. Soufi quickly became a fan favorite, capturing the hearts of viewers both in Kielce, Poland, and around the world. Although he placed second to Sanchez Ruiz in the end, Soufi’s victory over Wu Kun Lin in an

11-6 match that took him to the finals was still an impressive feat. In fact, Soufi went on to win the Dynamic EuroTour in Tallinn, Estonia, where he faced off against Sanchez Ruiz once again--this time, with a different outcome. Soufi’s unique and decisive playing style is a real treat to watch, and it’s no wonder that he’s quickly become a notable name in the world of pool. Predator stated in a post that Soufi is an impressive example of what Champions are made of.

In a previous interview with Phil Yates, Mohammad Soufi’s statements stood out and

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAKAIMAGES FOR MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

boiled down to Soufi having a clear goal: playing in America. With the right support, he is confident that he can achieve great things and become a champion. His determination to succeed and help his family has earned him praise from those around him, including Alyousef. Soufi’s potential is limitless, and his hometown of Latakia has a history of producing legendary athletes, such as Mustafa Hamsho. Despite facing challenges for over a decade, Soufi’s hunger, drive, enthusiasm, and untapped potential make him unstoppable.

I finally got Soufi to answer a few questions in his busy schedule.

-Tell us a little bit about yourself. How old are you? Where did you grow up? Where are you living now?

I’m 29 years old, and for 21 years, I’ve been playing pool. Pool is not just a sport for me; it’s my passion. I can say that my life is divided into two parts: me, a young and happy boy who grew up near the sea in the most beautiful place on the earth, Latakia, and me, a strong man who should leave his country because of war to have the possibility to support his family, but all this time spent in happy and hard moments my passion - pool with me.

I was born in Syria in 1993 in a family of big pool fans - my father,

Khaled, is the one who brought me this love for the game First I grew and enjoyed his playing, but at the age of 8, I took a cue to try and understood - I enjoy this game. So, after a lot of training and tournaments at the age of 18, I took my first biggest prize- 1st place in the West Asian Championship.

But unfortunately, I couldn’t enjoy my star time, as bad times came to my country- war, and I’m like the man of my big family who decided to move to another country to have the possibility of supporting my big family. I have 4 sisters and 2 brothers. So, I decided to move to Germany, where the country started to be my home and my support.

PHOTO BY TAKAIMAGES FOR MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

When did you first begin to develop an interest in playing pool?

Since my childhood, as my father played pool first, I observed and enjoyed his game, after I took a cue to my hands and developed my own game.

Did you have any interests besides pool when you were younger?

Like all small kids, I liked to play football with other boys in the yard, and as I lived near the seaswimming was my passion.

Who were your first influences and who were some of the players that you admired, and were there any on whom you tried to model yourself?

Earl Strickland, I like this sportsman as his game was an example for me. He enjoys it.

How popular is pool in your home country, and what are the local rooms and clubs like in terms of local interest as you were developing as a player? Did you play leagues and tournaments?

Pool is very popular in Syria, so many players play in the world pool area. I started my career In a club of my father named Soufi; my father was my trainer and the one who helped me grow in this sport. From 2012 till 2017, I helped the champion of Syria.

What was your very first win as a player?

I can say that the first big game for me was the Asian Champions in Dubai in 2011. I won that tournament, which is how my career started.

What was it like for you migrating to Europe from your homeland? What types of obstacles did you face?

It was a long and hard way, started in my country I traveled to Lebanon, with the hope that the war would finish soon. I stayed there 6 months, and after way to Turkey, I stayed there 9 months, and The situation in the country made me understand that I needed to support my family and I need to find a professional club and play high league, that’s why I made a decision to come to Germany.

How was it settling into a new country? Are you starting to feel more comfortable in new surroundings?

First 3 years in Germany I participated in small competitions, as in the city where I lived, there was no billiard club after I started to play for Schwerte Club, and now I am part of billiard Freunde Bremen.

I feel very comfortable in Germany, as there are a lot of possibilities to grow as a professional player, and of course, I like the country so much.

Do you have any regular players that you work with to help you sharpen your skills and keep yourself in ready mode?

I am training for myself. And soon, I will train Junior players.

Your second-place finish at the World Championships this year was very impressive. What was it like preparing for such a big event in the midst of just having moved to a whole new continent?

I am very happy with this result; of course, to have this place, I made

a few thinks: hard training and meditation. I freed my mind and concentrated all my thoughts on winning this tournament. I want to mention that the organization of the tournament by Matchroom and the public in Poland was amazing because of the support of people who came to see the game and, of course, my family and friends. I wanted to show the best game.

The professional game I would like to show not only in Europe, but in the world area in big tournaments like in the USA, but unfortunately, I cannot take part in it as for 5 years I’ve been waiting for the confirmation of my Visa to the USA.

How confident were you heading into the World Championship, and when did you start to feel like you were in control with a definite chance to win?

After the last 32, my feelings were - I can do it, in my mind, always “Let.”

Mohammad Soufi is a player that is champion material and is a treat to watch at the table when he is playing! His story is full of courage, compassion, strength, and hope and his fight to be a winner.

BILLIARDS INSTRUCTOR ERIC NARETTO

whenever he wanted, with or without anyone being around.

Soon, he discovered he wasn’t playing very well and needed a teacher. Soon after that, he met a man named George Sweitzer. George helped Eric become a better person and a better player. “George is the reason I continue to pursue all things pool. He passed away in 2019, and I can’t help but think he is always watching over me,” he said. Eric has also collaborated with Kim Young and has even taken lessons with Stan Shuffett. Eric is now a certified Master Instructor with the PBIA.

Eric Naretto is a no-nonsense pool instructor with 11 years of experience. When he was a senior in high school, he had a bad experience with his baseball coach and went looking for another sport to fill the void.

He loved pool and played it with friends, so he decided that it was going to be his game because he could be the master of his own destiny. While playing pool nobody could force him to sit on the sidelines. He could play pool

Eric gives between 15 to 25 hours of instruction a week. He has trained a former Illinois State Champion and has had multiple students go on to win their skilllevel MVP awards in the APA. “My philosophy is to do what I can to make the student happy while getting them to understand the steps of improvement. Some people THINK they know what is wrong with them when they don’t. Some others do and want someone to help them with it. My goal is to give players the tools to improve their game when I am not present,” he said.

When asked about his playing equipment, Eric mentioned Sawdust Custom Cues. “Jack Tan of Sawdust Custom Cues is my cue sponsor. He makes great

ERIC NARETTO SPEAKING AT 2023 INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS SUMMIT — PHOTO BY R. JEFF SMITH

equipment and stands behind it if anything happens to it. I highly recommend one for purchase if you are looking for a nice hitting cue and an honest man that makes them,” he said.

Eric plays in about one tournament a month. His primary focus is on instruction.

32 players out of the 128 that entered,” he said. “I enter the Midwest Cue Expo 7-foot event at Big Dawgs in Des Moines Iowa every year. That event had 160 players and I finished 2nd this year,” he elaborated.

Out of all the professional players he has had the pleasure

If he could change one thing about pool, Eric says he would love to see leading advertisers work hard to support instructors. “There are many people in the world that don’t even know there is such a thing as a Billiard Instructor,” he said.

Out of all the professional players he has had the pleasure of watching, Neils Feijen and Sky Woodward are two of his favorite players.

He has a 672 Fargo rating, which is stellar. He recently placed 3rd at the 2023 APA 8-Ball National Event in Las Vegas.

Eric has also played in the Omega Billiards 7-foot event at Racks on the Rocks (Peoria Illinois). “That wasn’t just a pro event, but it was an open event. I placed in the top

of watching, Neils Feijen and Sky Woodward are two of his favorite players. He says, Niels is a tough to play guy that is stone cold. No emotion, just a killer instinct. He also enjoys playing with Sky Woodward. He says that they banter back and forth and have a lot of fun with one another.

Eric believes, “All students are all capable of being great, and through hard work and determination, we can surpass our current situation to obtain a better one.” If you are currently looking for instruction, Eric currently resides in the Pontiac, Illinois area and can be reached through his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ g1billiards

Or you can email him at: ericnaretto@gmail.com

ERIC NARETTO AT 2023 INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS SUMMIT — PHOTO BY R. JEFF SMITH

ANTHONY BEELER PBIA INSTRUCTOR/WRITER

SCENARIO#1: WHAT WOULD A SUCKER DO?

If you look around the room and don’t see any suckers….YOU are the sucker!

You have stripes here. You are snookered and have only one ball remaining. Your smiling opponent has 5 balls left that are all makeable with no obstructions. What do you do?

“Kick at the stripe!”

“Send the cue ball 5 rails!”

“Jump the cue ball!”

“Massé!”

Suckers.

In this case, it is unlikely that you will even hit your object ball, let alone make it and leave yourself in a position to make the 8. Whether you make a legal shot or not, you are left in the unenviable position of taking your seat and watching your opponent run out.

If you prefer to take a more aggressive and proactive approach, consider taking an intentional foul by hitting the 8-ball in order to block the corner pocket. Instead of returning to the table to run out, your opponent now has a much more difficult layout and some problem balls to contend with.

Rather than watching your opponent run out, you will most likely have at least one more turn at the table.

JACKIE KAROL PBIA INSTRUCTOR

JASMIN OUSCHAN INTERVIEW WITH MARK WHITE

FEDOR GORST IN POLE POSITION FOR MOSCONI CUP

Fedor Gorst snapped off the Turning Stone Classic XXXVII at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY moving him into the next Mosconi Cup automatic qualification spot for Team Europe via the World Nineball Tour Rankings.

The $10,000 top prize for beating Mika Immonen 13-10 in a high-strung final sees him overtake European Open Pool Championship winner David Alcaide into second place in Team Europe’s standings.

With the next automatic cut-off for qualification coming after the US Open Pool Championship, a strong run at the Barry Behrman trophy could see the former World Pool Champion sew-up his spot in the trans-atlantic tussle at Alexandra Palace, from December 6-9th in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and DAZN in the United States.

ADAM CLAPHAM MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

FEDOR GOEAR AT THE EUROPEAN OPEN PHOTO BY TAKAIMAGES FOR MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

In his third-appearance at the Turning Stone Classic, Gorst fought through an impressive 128-man field to lift his first title. Former World Cup of Pool winner Lee Van Corteza was beaten in a hill-hill epic, before sweeping aside Thorsten Hohmann 9-2 in the semi-final. Having lost to Immonen in the hot-seat match, revenge was sweet for the Ghost in the final.

Immonen had been the formman of the tournament, with victories over two-time World Pool Champion Hohmann and seven-time Turning Stone Classic victor Jayson Shaw.

Hunter Lombardo and recent Bob Stocks Memorial 9 Ball winner BJ Ussery strengthened their Mosconi Cup hopes for

Team USA. Connecticut-born Jeremy Sossei entered the fray with an impressive finish in fourth place.

NEXT WORLD NINEBALL TOUR RANKING EVENT

Fedor Gorst will be in action once again as the Raxx MVP Tour Open gets underway from September 14-17th in West Hempstead, New York, with already confirmed Mosconi Cup players Skyler Woodward and World Champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, and World Pool Masters ChampionKo Pin Yi set to contest the $10,000 prize.

More information is available here.

NEXT MATCHROOM EVENT

The signature Matchroom multi-table and oldest major in the sport, the US Open Pool Championship takes place at Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City, USA from September 25-30 where Francisco Sanchez Ruiz will look to defend his title. The SVB Junior Open will return on September 28-29 with full information and available entries open to Juniors aged 17 and under here.

SPM Family,

Welcome to the new SPM Billiards Media. I have very exciting news for you. We have expanded our team and our vision, and l know you will not see these changes in everything we do.

Simply, we needed help. Kat Day has her hands full redesigning the magazine and taking care of media and content, and I couldn’t do this alone any longer. Having brought SPM this far, it grew to the point the volume of attention needed was simply overwhelming. I found Matt Necroto through his billiard lifestyle art and quickly learned that he was our missing piece. He was ‘raised in the pool halls of Long Island,’ a classic pool hall junkie, and an artist who specializes in elevated billiard lifestyle art, with 25 years of experience in marketing and sales. Many of you have met him already. Please be sure to welcome him to our family.

A major reason I brought Matt in is his integrity. Once you speak with him, you will quickly learn something. Maybe about

marketing or art, but always about what it means to do the right thing and build our billiard community. His reputation speaks for itself, and we need that right now.

I have made many mistakes in the past. I am very sorry—some of those mistakes involved not doing the right thing. Matt and I talk about these things a lot. In trying to build this company, some corners were cut, and promises were broken. I appreciate that now.

I feel that along life’s road, there are so many bumps and potholes. I’m learning how to drive through this life and cleaning up the road.

For my magazine, the billiards community, and for you, my SPM family, I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart. We will fix this. We have begun this process already; ask around.

SPM will continue to bring you nothing short of the most engaging content in billiards. We are rapidly growing the scope of our content and, more

importantly, the reach of our massive community. We are a family of billiard enthusiasts. Our future’s so bright, and we’re ready to dive in.

We Wthank you for your continued support.

...The beard

POINTS - THE SPORT OF BILLIARDS

Points - The Sport of Billiards

Ireleased Points just over a year ago & look how far we’ve gone already! SPM Magazine picked up my story at the very beginning of my journey in issue #31.

Thanks to them, you all have a chance to follow me along this quest I’m on to bring billiards back to its’ roots & back to mainstream television here in the U.S. This is true history in the making. Thank you, Garret Troop & Kat Day.

Points is now a year old & it’s time to take The New Age of Billiards to the next level. Welcome to “POINTS -THE SPORT OF BILLIARDS”

My goal has always been to help ensure that the game of billiards lives on for many generations to come. However, billiards have to compete today with a far more

complicated & technologically advanced society. There are so many options for the next generation to choose as activities & careers. Will they ever think about being a Professional Billiards Player or even want to try the game? I have a plan to draw them to the sport & so much more.

My plan will legitimize the sport & show the next generation a clear pathway to becoming professional athletes. They will have real corporate sponsorships & be compensated as they should be.

Currently, we have the only socalled Professional athletes that work their entire lives perfecting their craft for almost zero compensation for that lifetime of dedication. They do it all for our entertainment. It’s time we change that. Don’t you think? I want the next generation to want

to play & if we show them a way that they can be truly successful, they will want to try. That alone is our success.

Excitement & keeping the audience genuinely entertained has to become our first priority. Building a larger fan base will give us the best potential for continuing to bring in new players & build billiards into the sport we all want it to be.

Billiards players of the past had it good. It was like the Golden Age back then & the professional players all had real personalities. Minnesota Fats was the King of Sharking & everyone worshiped him. Today’s players are missing this attribute & in my opinion, it needs to be brought back to the game. We want attitude & real emotions on full display from our heroes of the clothed slate.

Without going too much into the technical details about how I am going to bring all of this together, let’s talk about the sport & how it will work.

I modeled the sport after a very successful sports business, Mixed Martial Arts. The UFC, for instance, holds Fight Nights with title implications 3 weeks out of a month & PPV events once a month. Points will have the same formula except 3 weeks out of the month, we will hold #1 contender tournaments & our once-a-month PPV events will be guaranteed title matches.

Points will have seven different divisions or weight classes with seven different champions. Each champion will have to defend their title twice a year.

As the weight classes go down in numbers, the game becomes even more challenging. Fewer balls, fewer shots & fewer options for players to make points. Below is the list of the seven different divisions. They are double-named for a reason.

First is the big, bold numbers signifying how many balls & shots you play with & the weight class name represents my personal bond or martial arts.

1. 15/16

Heavyweight

2. 10/11

Light Heavyweight

3. 9/10

Middle Weight

4. 7/8

Welter Weight

5. 5/6

Light Weight

6. 3/4

Feather Weight

7. 1/2

Bantam Weight

Before any of you squawk & heckle at the notion of only using one ball as a division, you should realize that division is reserved for a very special breed of player. One that feels like there is no amount of pressure that can phase them.

The Bantam Weight division takes a certain kind of person to be able to compete. Imagine, for just a minute, you are walking out to the TV table. The One Ball is on the spot & the Cue Ball is waiting for you in the kitchen.

As you are walking out, the crowd erupts as you raise your cue in the air like a gallant knight stepping onto the battlefield... The crowd knows who you are & what you are about to do. It’s just YOU out there... YOU & just two shots to make as many points as you can for your chance to win the Points World Bantam Weight Title! Talk about PRESSURE!

That’s more pressure than even I am willing to attempt, but guess what... There WILL be players willing to make that walk & they will command respect. If you wear a 1/2 Patch, people will move out of your way! YOU are not just Points players; you are our bravest warriors & I bow.

All of this is going to take time, but I will not stop! I see a better future for generations to come. Billiards needs a much bigger audience so we can ensure the game lives on.

Billiards belongs in schools as an elective sport. If we are going to keep those institutions, then the sport should be offered just like baseball, football, or any other sport. Imagine what one generation of Points players

would be like.

In closing, I want you all to know my passion for this game we all love so dearly runs through me like water flowing over Niagra. I understand how we have all grown up with the exact same games & that trying something new could mean we play those cherished games a bit less. Without growth, we are doomed. Without a real change, billiards could be gone within just two generations.

Points breathe new life into the entire industry & our billiards family will have Great, Great Grandchildren who will be able to live the life of a TRUE professional athlete!

Until next time...

Albert Charbonneau - InventorAuthor

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A LOWDEFLECTION SHAFT?

Pete the Player: What should I look for in a low-deflection shaft?

The Lone Gunman, Chip Klein:

Many are not aware of the energy that crosses any sphere when it is acted on by any force. In billiards, we have our linear energy (the stick direction) and energy that passes to the CENTER of the sphere. Basically, two lines of force are introduced to our round white ball. The angle of approach of linear (stick direction) can be changed to equalize these energies so our cueball takes the line that is in line with our bridge hand and the top of the cueball.

So even though our stick is pointed far to the left or right of our target, the cueball will still track on that line that is your bridge hand and top of the cueball.

The problem is if your bridge length is too long or too short, our equation that equalizes these energy lines is off a bit. Yikes!

Here is where it gets good. If you have a comfortable bridge

length of 7 inches, then this is where you may like the sweet spot to be, and therefore you may want a shaft that is known as regular deflection. Many house cues have this sweet-spot point at about 5-7 inches. This means you can aim at a ball as though shooting with no English, apply inside English WITH BACK HAND (bridge hand should not move), and you will still pocket the shot.

For those of us that bridge longer, a low-deflection shaft is desirable, meaning the sweet spot will be back 8-15 inches. This means if you bridge far back and you were to pivot with inside English and pocket the ball, that would be the sweet spot on that particular shaft. Revos are around 8-12 inches. Test this for yourself.

Adjusting for OUTSIDE ENGLISH WITH A LOW DEFLECTION STICK can be done by simply applying half or one tip of front hand. Additional spin can then be added with backhand.

I attribute my victories over World and US OPEN Champions to the understanding of these spin techniques. Less practice is needed once you know and understand.

Finding low Deflection Cues:

*Very skinny regular wood shaft.

*Short ferrule, light end mass.

*Hollowed out from ferrule 5-6 inches deep.

* Very light wood.

* Carbon Fiber

Any additional weight, such as metal inserts near the front of the shaft, increases end mass and will cause increased deflection. The laws of physics dictate this.

Thank you. Enjoy.

Chip Klein