|
     |
 Donny Lutz Pool & Billiards
News Archives
In 2004, Donny began publishing the Gainesville Billiard News for the purpose of promoting the game of pool and cooperation between business owners, league and tournament directors and players in North Central Florida. These archives include all the articles from past issues of the Gainesville Billiard News. Ads are not included here as some do not change from issue to issue, and some advertise for current promotions that are only of timely value. But we want to thank all our sponsors for their invaluable support in making the publication of the GBN possible:
Sadly, due to lack of cooperation from several advertisers and lack of any support from others in the business, the GBN was discontinued in '06. Issue 1: February '05 The GAINESVILLE BILLIARD NEWS NATIONAL POOL LEAGUE ASSOCIATIONS The American Poolplayers Association (APA) is currently the largest of the still existing national pool league associations, currently claiming 250,000 members. This is not surprising due to their corporate sponsorship by Budweiser. The AOA (previously the "Busch Leagues" and then the "Bud Lite" leagues) clearly caters to the beginner player. Their unique (and copyrighted) rules of "slop" and rather elaborate method of scoring discourage many more advanced players. Having played for four seasons in AOA leagues, I can attest to the fact that those "count safety shot" rules encourage (or at least allow for) "sand-bagging" to keep one's average down, and to make matters worse, the league directors can arbitrarily raise a players average at their discretion, even in the middle of tournament play. On their website they say that the APA was formed in 1981, because there was no organized national association. The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) had been in operation since 1948, although they were primarily running only national singles events until 1980. But the Valley National 8-Ball Association (VNEA) began their league system in 1979, and held their first national amateur team event in '81. But even before the current "big 3", the National Pocket Billiard Association was formed in Milwaukee in 1959, and began their league system in 1964. A league that I formed in 1966 eventually joined the NPBA and we competed in a number of their national events in the '70s and '80s. I don't believe the NPBA still exists, at least it can't be found on the Internet. The VNEA currently has close to 100,000 members and the BCA around 63,000. Both use basically the same set of rules, which have been carefully honed over the years to meet the requests of players and tournament directors nationwide. Perhaps the most important difference between these two and the APA is their qualification for national events. The APA holds a series of qualifiers and elimination events to earn a spot at the national championships. This system is very exciting and competitive, but can be costly for some teams to travel, etc. The bonus is that if you do make it through the qualifiers, your trip to Las Vegas and entry fees are paid. But believe me, it is very difficult for a strong team to make it through the elimination rounds because of the handicap system. (Editors note: since this article was written, we learned that this system has improved by creating two levels of play for teams and individuals in the qualifiers and at the nationals.) For me, one of the advantages of the BCA and VNEA is that if you play a minimum number of weeks in a league, you automatically qualify for the nationals. The downside is that you must pay your own way, but you can load up your team without having to worry about handicaps - in qualifiers or at the nationals. The BCA nationals offer numerous divisions and events: Open team, Womens' Open team, Master Mens' team, Master Womens' team, Open Men and Womens' singles, Masters Men and Womens' singles, Seniors divisions, Super Seniors, Artistic Pool, Skills Challenge, and more. And if you don't play in a sanctioned BCA or VNEA league, you can't play in the team events, but you can compete in singles by paying an annual $50 players fee. But sadly, no one from Gainesville can play in a BCA or VNEA team event because we have no BCA or VNEA sanctioned leagues in town. This does not speak well for the Gainesville pool scene, as most other cities of Gainesville' size in Florida, do have either a BCA or VNEA sanctioned league or both. It's a shame because having played on teams that have finished 5th or better in national events five times, I know that there are enough strong players in Gainesville to to field at least two teams that could do well in Las Vegas. And for me, playing among thousands of players at these national events is a real thrill, that all who love the game should experience at least once.
Eight-ball is the oldest of modern pocket billiard games, and surveys indicate that it's currently the most popular. It is considered an "equalizer" between variously talented players, but is also the game of choice for many of the "strategists" among top players. Eight-ball is a very different game from 9-ball, the next most popular game. While 9-ball demands a finely tuned stroke and the ability to control the cue ball over long distances, 8-ball requires more thinking, planning, and the precision cue ball control needed to deal with fifteen potential obstacles. While 9-ball requires defense against one ball, 8-ball may require defense against as many as seven balls at once. (14-1 requires defense against as many as fifteen balls, but they are usually in clusters, and 14-1 is still primarily a game of offensive play.) Strategically, 8-ball probably has more in common with chess than it does with 9-ball. At the professional level, perhaps half of the games of 9-ball are won without a defensive maneuver. This is not the case with 8-ball. The top 8-ball players are masters of defensive strategy: their defensive abilities are critical for success. This is not to infer that they are better players - but it is no secret that the two games require different skills. The great shot maker tends to win at 9-ball; the great thinker at 8-ball. Of course possessing ALL the various skills will make you a winner at ANY pool game. In 9-ball the object is to run racks, and the player with the better break has an important advantage. In 8-ball, the break is not a clear advantage - it is much more difficult to predict and master. In 9-ball it is usually fairly easy to play a safety after the break, and of course the opportunity for a "push" makes it even easier. Except for a few leagues, there is no "push" or "two-foul" rule in 8-ball, so the opening shot is generally more critical. It is very important to establish the choice of spots or stripes. This at least guarantees that if the second shot is missed, the opponent does not have choice, and their chances of running out are cut in half. At the beginner's level of play, you will still hear players complain that safety play (defensive shots) is "dirty pool". This is a very naïve view of how to play any billiards game. Defense is a vital part of any sport where your strategy has a direct effect on your opponent's opportunity to win. In football for example, punting on 4th down and long yardage or having the quarterback down the ball to run out the clock is not "dirty" football, it's smart football. Bowling, golf and track are among the few sports where defense is not an important part of winning. Only a fool tries to score on every play in football and the same is true in pocket billiards. The "legal shot" stipulations governing safety play in 8-ball control effectively the use of defensive maneuvers and prevent what might legitimately be called "dirty pool", such as simply pushing or "rolling out" whenever the shooter doesn't like his or her predicament. In 9-ball, all the object balls are the "enemy" and must be eliminated to get to the 9-ball on a table run. They are your "friend" only when you use them for a safety. Eight-ball is very different. Because seven balls on the table are "yours" and seven "belong to" your opponent, they are not enemies in the same sense. While your seven balls are on the table they are usually your friends: they can be used to improve your run through proper shot selection and by using them to thwart your opponent with safety play. Unless it is your shot and you are in a position for an easy run out, it is almost ALWAYS to your advantage to have more balls on the table than your opponent. The player who is not shooting and has only one or two balls on the table is at a distinct disadvantage, as the shooter usually can play defense relatively easily. One exception might be in a scoring system where handicaps dictate that one player needs only to pocket a certain number of balls (without actually winning the game) to win the match. Related to these principles are two time-tested axioms of 8-ball: Never save your toughest balls for last, and never go for a run unless you're pretty sure of success. There are occasional exceptions to these axioms, but they are keys to 8-ball strategy. Another key, and one that is ignored by most players is: plan ahead for a safety shot. Instead of waiting until you are in a difficult situation to start thinking safety, learn to predict and avoid tough situations. Rather than going for a difficult break shot and a chance for a run-out, play position for a safety. Let your opponent take the foolish chances. When a table is "run-able" - when all your balls are open and accessible - shot selection is still of utmost importance. If your shot selection is good (there are ALWAYS options), your run should become easier with each shot. To accomplish this, plan your run BACKWARD from the 8-ball. Try to save two or three balls that will afford easy position for the 8. But even during an "easy" run, always keep defense in mind - any shot can be missed. If you get out of line during the run, consider changing your plan or playing a safety. Imagination is the key to any "thinking" game, any pool game, and especially 8-ball. A good way to quickly improve your strategy and shot selection is to think of at least three options before EVERY shot. Your options should include multiple choices of which ball to shoot, multiple ways to pocket that ball, multiple ways to play position and multiple ways to play defense should you miss. The ideal position to be in is one where you can play offense and defense on the same shot. Obviously then, avoid putting yourself in a position where you MUST make a difficult shot to win the game. When playing a safety, look for a "lock" safe, instead of opting for the first safety that comes to mind. Put yourself in your opponent's shoes and imagine where would be the worst place for them to shoot from. Imagine what they will do with that shot. If you leave your opponent in a position to play a better safety back at you, your effort is wasted. Whenever possible, your safety should be an attempt to get ball in hand. At the top levels of 8-ball competition, champions are generally those who get ball in hand most often throughout the competition. If you obtain ball in hand and still have a difficult run, play another safety while moving your "trouble" balls into better position. Never move balls without a reason. Accidentally moving balls is among the most common strategy mistakes for the novice 8-ball player. It is imperative to maintain some control over ALL the balls on the table. On the other side of the coin, there are times when you will want to move some balls: besides moving your trouble balls into better position, you may have opportunities to move your opponent's balls into tough positions. The Golden Rule of 8-ball: Never go for a difficult shot unless you have no other options. You may not choose to play a safety, but CONSIDER a safety on every shot, with the possible exception of when you have an "un-missable" shot at the 8. If you can't leave your opponent "hooked", at least leave them with a bank or a long shot - something that is both difficult to make and difficult to play a safety on. If you can't avoid leaving them a fairly easy shot, at least try to leave them where their attempt to play position is as difficult as possible. Remember that physical skills are finite, and restricted by the amount of practice a player has time for. But mental skills are potentially unlimited: challenge yourself to constantly seek better shot selection by using your imagination. Finally, offensive pool is fun to play and fun to watch, but STRATEGIC POOL IS WINNING POOL. I've run eight racks of 8-ball a number of times, and once one a mini-tournament by running all 7 racks, but those are rare occurrences indeed. I've won many events, mostly with effective strategy play. A good player will never complain about your safety play, as long as you play by the rules and practice good sportsmanship. - Donny Lutz, BCA Certified Instructor, 1995 "THE GRUMPY OLD PRO" Q: What is the most common mistake among novice players? A: Easy. They don't chalk their cues! They're idiots. Chalk is free. You may not need to chalk up on every shot, but do it anyway. Then you'll never forget to chalk up when you need to! If you can't remember that, give up. Q: What is the best brand of cue? A: Stupid question! Look around you. There are hundreds of makes of cues. The top 20 pros on the circuit use 18 different brands of cues. I myself have been partial to Meuccis and Hueblers, but I won $5,000 in 1968 with house cues off the wall! Borrow cues from friends and try them until you find the brand that feels good to you. Or if you don't have any friends, buty the lowest price model from a popular cue maker and try it for a while - you can always sell the damn thing! Issue 2: March '05 The GAINESVILLE BILLIARD NEWS "LAST MINUTE" TOPS SILVER Q WEDNESDAY 8-BALL The "Last Minute" team of Chris Storter, Leroy Cromwell, Phil Rosen, Danny Firu, Doug Arcadia and Jay Visaria took top honrs as the Silver Q Wednesday 8-Ball League completed its winter season on Feb. 2. Averaging an impressive 9.1 points per game for its ten matches, they adged the "Chumpell" crew by just 40 points. Top twelve individual averages among the 57 players who played 25 or more games:
PECHAUER DONATES CUES FOR J. Pechauer Custom Cues, that highly respected Wisconsin cue maker, has donated two beautiful new JP-10 cues to be awarded to the winners of the Reitz Union Pool League this spring! The cues retail for $400 each and are on display at the Union Game Room. For the past four years the league has been directed by Matt Sherman, whose 'day job' is managing Gator Country Travel. A devoted family man, Matt also teaches Christian theology and is a nationally known collector of James Bond memorabilia. The league plays every Monday night and is made up mostly of two-person teams. Players who don't have a partner are allowed to play as individuals, although team play is encouraged. Players alternate between 8-Ball and 9-Ball, and go by strict BCA rules and handicap system. Among past champions are "Match" Murakami and Takako Ueno (2002), D. Lutz (2003), and Aaron Manalaysay (twice in 2004). The University of Florida has a history of successful pool competition for many years. William Rion represented UF as National ACUI Champion in the 1930s. J. L. Geiger won the National title in 1938, and Leff Mabie was National champ in'43 and '47. Hall of Famer Nick Varner won his second '72. Several local players are representing UF at this year's nationals at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. In addition to the Pechauer cues, the Reitz Union league champs get their names on a plaque that remains on display at the Union. All league players are allowed free playtime during the week, where they enjoy the pleasant smoke-free atmosphere and free lessons from Matt, part-time league coach D. Lutz, and Leisure Course instructor, Phil Rosen.
I know that most hotshot players don't have a lot of interest in team play. Calling on what I learned getting that most dangerous of all things, a minor in Psychology, I think those folks have a problem. Either they're downright greedy and just don't like sharing - money or fun - or they have a complex that doesn't seem to be satisfied without being number one, if even for a game or two. I'm the first to admit that I carry a little of that baggage around myself, but I still prefer team titles to individual titles. Having won a few of both, I know that winning a singles event is great, but in many cases you end up being the only person in the place with a smile on their face. Nobody else there (unless you're playing in front of a home crowd) has much to celebrate. But when you win a team event, you get to share the good times with your buds. A friend recently said something like, "Gambling for big bucks is pressure, - I don't know why anyone would feel pressure shooting on a team for $500". Anyone who has played any serious team pool knows better. Having played in the finals in a good number of singles and team events, and having choked up big time in both, I can tell you there's plenty of pressure in team competition, particularly if you shoot anchor as I had many opportunities to do. Being a witness to the evolution of team pool competition over the past 40 years, I saw the change from the old days when a safety shot was called "dirty pool" through the early days of sanctioned leagues when the NPBA out of Milwaukee had rules that allowed for a 'push' on every shot, - in other words, two foul ball-in-hand - and a 15-game match could take up to four or five hours! The early VNEA rules (circa 1981) included loss of game for three consecutive fouls. I think the BCA also had such a rule back then. But the 3-foul loss become such an effective tool for the defensive specialists that it was discarded, - it made the game less fun to watch for most folks and less fun to play for intermediate players. There were basically two types of pool teams in the early decades: teams of close friends and teams of strong players. The strong teams dominated play (and still do in "younger" leagues) because most leagues had only a few strong players. But as interest, skill level and prize funds increased, leagues became more competitive, and with the advent of the big national amateur events, putting together a serious team became almost a science. Naturally one wanted to field a team of the strongest players possible, but team chemistry, tournament experience and perhaps most of all a desire to play on a winning team also became keys to success. I played on a team back in '68 that also bowled and played golf together. We had more in common than just a little skill at pool. Probably the strongest team I ever played with was made up of six vegetarians. All the successful teams on which I played had at least one "veteran" to stabilize our emotions, at least one "strategist" who usually shot anchor and did most of the coaching, and at least one guy with a sense of humor. In '86, I was shooting with one of the Red Sails Resort tournament teams at a nice event in Mankato, Minnesota if memory serves me. Competition was very strong, - most of the same teams that vied for the Minnesota State Team title every spring were there. We waltzed through the winner's bracket rather easily, but then lost the first match of the finals in a squeaker. Then something really went wrong for us. We got into a bit of a team funk, and when Timmy Stellpflug missed an easy out in game 10 (of 15), all seemed lost. But as he walked past us, Mike Haggerty said dryly, "Well, that blew the whole f_____ season for us." For five seconds there was dead silence. Then we all burst out laughing in unison, realizing this was "Mike humor". It was just what we needed. We were 45 points down with five games to go. To make a long story short, Billy Steele broke and ran out. In game 2, our opponent made nothing on the break, and Bobby Shultz ran out. Then Mike broke and ran out. Then Timmy's opponent failed to pocket a ball on the break and he ran out. And of course, I had no option but to break and run out in the final rack for the 5-point victory! It was some nice clutch play by all of us, but the real hero was Mike, who made us laugh, took us out of funkland, and led us to the title, one of about twenty team titles won by Red Sails over a three-year span. I don't remember what the first place prize was (maybe $1000?), but that's more evidence that it's not just the bucks that count. I'll always remember that day for the great comeback and the friendship expressed by our support for each other. We had such a good time. I love team pool. - Donny Lutz
Q: I asked the best player in town to help me with my game and he no. Another just said that he wasn't a teacher. How can I learn? A: There's a new thing out there, maybe you've heard of it, it's called PAYING FOR POOL LESSONS. Top players often don't give lessons for three reasons. One, why teach someone who might beat you someday down the road? Two, they may not have teaching skills. After all, the great football, basketball and baseball coaches were rarely superstar players. They are teachers. Few top pool players are great teachers. And third, half of the pro players nowadays don't know what the hell they're doin' let alone how to teach it. But don't discount the learning you can do on your own. And I don't mean just playing a lot. Playing a lot with bad habits is worse than not playing at all. Get rid of those functional errors before they become ingrained. And when you watch other players, pay special attention to their stance, their grip, their bridge, and their stroke. Watch for head motion, poor follow-through. Note what body parts need to move and what actually do. Is that bridge arm straight or bent? How close to the cue is their chin. By watching good players you can learn by imitation. But don't imitate everyone! It seems like there's always a couple pros on tour that do everything wrong, and still manage to win occasionally. That's pool! Q: I try to draw the cue ball on the break, but sometimes I get all kinds of follow. How come? A: Believe it or not, it could be because of your lousy stroke. And it happens when you hit extra hard, right? Everyone's cue tip dips a little on a draw shot from the point that it begins forward motion (at the bridge) to the point of contact. In trying to hit harder, you are extending the distance of your follow-through before the dip, thereby actually hitting slightly above center on the cue ball even though you "aimed" for draw and your cue ended up on the tabletop. Think about it. Q: Who is the best player in the world? A: Efren Reyes.
Two of the most memorable matches I played during my 50 years on the felt were matches I lost! The first was a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Nick Varner in Las Vegas in 1982. The second was losing 7-6 to Patrick O'Neal at the Green Room in Baltimore in 1995. The final game included 19 safety shots; maybe the best game of 8-ball I ever played, despite losing that APA qualifier final. - Donny Lutz Issue 3: March '05 The GAINESVILLE BILLIARD NEWS DANIEL WINS March 13 FURY TOUR STOP AT JEWELL'S Back in the early '80s, American players seemed to dominate the world of pool. At least that's what American pool players thought. We had ignored European players since Creation or the Big Bang (or whatever fantasy you cling to) and Asia was where Chinese food came from. Then a diminutive player by the name of Efren came to America and taught us what pool is all about. It was a bit of a shock to find out that we were not so hot after all, and thanks to Efren and a host of others, we now see pool as it should be seen, - an international sport. We were humbled. Well this writer experienced something similar yesterday. I played in my first Fury Amateur Tour pool event. And I was the first one eliminated. I was humbled for two reasons. First, I played what may have been my worst five games ever in competition, losing 5-0 to a player who I probably should have beaten 5-1 or 5-0. A nice fellow, but not a real strong player. The second reason was that "amateur" players have improved dramatically during my years of competition, a fact that I was too stubborn to admit. I've been listed as a "master" amateur player for many years. Well, I'm NOT a master* player any more. The field in this tournament was not terribly strong, but still I was clearly not one of the better players. But enough about me (too much, really!). The event was won by Tim Daniel from Sanford, Florida. Tim went undefeated, although the final match was not played. Second place finisher Julio Aquina forfeited the finals, as it was getting late and the potential two-match finals (races to 7), could have taken several hours. Daniel is a fine player, but he might have been fortunate; Julio may have been the best player in the field. I saw him make an amazing safety shot that I can't even explain, let alone execute! But Tim played quite well, defeating DL 7-2, Jason Ford 7-3, Carlos Herrera 7-1, Justin Everts 7-4, and local favorite Chris Wall 7-2 in the winners bracket finals. In the losers bracket finals, Julio stopped Chris 5-2. Chris, whose beautifully compact stroke earned him third place and $175, had knocked off another local favorite, Treniss Evans, 7-3, in a match played to near perfection by the wily veteran. First place was $425 and second $240, in the small field of 28 contestants. I was surprised not to see more local players at the event. Apparently there was another local tournament that weekend that drew some players. Also, the Gainesville stop was mistakenly listed as March 27 in the Fury Schedule - a serious but forgivable error. The next stop on the Fury Tour was March 20 at South Daytona, to be followed by an event at St. Augustine on April 10. If you want to test your skills, or just witness some high level "amateur" competition, come to one of these well-run tournaments. For a complete schedule of both men's and women's events, check the website at www. furytour.com. *The problem with "master" player listings at the BCA, VNEA and other websites is that it can be confused with "professional" player". "Master" players are generally high-ranking "amateur" players, in that they are not members of professional organizations and have not cashed substantially in recent pro events. Also, most "master" amateurs achieved that status on bar tables in the '70s and '80s, and are often not as experienced on larger tables, making the designation rather arbitrary. - Donny Lutz It has been brought to our attention (we knew this already) that there is sometimes confusion between the terms "tournament" and "league". Most players know the difference; it would help if billiard center employees knew the difference so as to respond correctly to inquiries. A tournament is a single event, usually lasting one day, one weekend, or longer in the case of national competitions. "Leagues" are usually any number of teams, such as baseball leagues, football leagues, bowling leagues or pool leagues, that play a number of games or matches over a period of time, - a season. With bowling and pool, a team in a league may consist of anywhere from one to five or more players. "League tournaments" are usually one-time events at the end of a league season, open only to members of that league, or in the case of national events, to members of that league organization, such as the APA or BCA.
In the first issue of the GBN, we were a little tough with our criticism of the APA league format. Our statement that APA "rules encourage sand-bagging" was unfair. Because we had one negative experience with an APA league director in Baltimore some years ago, was not sufficient reason to make a blanket statement about the APA and its rules. Having gotten to know the local APA director, Chuck Strange, I'm confident that the local APA leagues are run in a fair and un-biased manner. The "Big 3" (or 4?) national league organizations each offer unique formats and opportunities for players of various levels of skill. Diversity is good for pool in general and especially for the million or so players who compete regularly in both sanctioned and un-sanctioned leagues and tournaments. And many players love playing in APA leagues.
Q: I hear about tournaments after they happen. Where can I find info about events before they happen? A: In newsletters such as the GBN, in national magazines that should be available at all billiard centers, or by doing a search on the Internet, looking for "pool tournaments" in your area. Or go to your local establishment and ask. Hopefully there will be someone there who knows what's going on. Q: I can draw the cue ball way back or stop it dead, but I have trouble with control in between. What should I do? A: Any decent instructor will show you how, but it's really no secret. Most skills are learned in increments. For you high school dropouts, this means " a little bit at a time". Set up an easy shot and stop it dead at least three times in a row. Then by lowering your hit on the cue ball ever so slightly, try for two inches of draw. When you can do this consistently, move on to four inches of draw. Do I have to continue? Remember, draw control (and dead stop) are also affected by the force of the shot. Q: Does playing on bar boxes hurt my overall game? A: Playing on 7-foot tables hurts your game only if play just on bar tables and you want to be able to play well on larger tables. It's much easier to go from a big table to a small table than the opposite. Playing only on the bar boxes with their "soft ears" will eventually cause "lazy aiming". Also, tables in bars tend not to be kept in top playing condition. For me, the ideal billiard establishment would include 7, 8 and 9-foot pocket tables, a 9 and 10-foot billiard table, a 10-foot snooker table and even a bumper pool table, which is great fun and a very competitive game when played correctly. Issue 4: May '05 The GAINESVILLE BILLIARD NEWS UNDERSTANDING THE DOUBLE HIT FOUL It should go without saying that IT IS ILLEGAL TO HIT THE CUE BALL TWICE ON ONE SHOT. Most people agree that when you 'nudge' the cue ball while aiming, and then quickly shoot to 'hide' the error, this is an illegal shot. Similarly, if you follow through so far that you hit the cue ball a second time on a "normal" shot, this is also an obvious foul. The problems appear when the cue ball is very close to the object ball and there may be disagreement about whether the cue touched the cue ball twice or not. When the object ball and the cue ball are less and ½ inch apart, it is EXTREMELY difficult to shoot straight through the balls (cue in line with the two balls), without hitting the cue ball a second time. So difficult, in fact, that even the world's top players do not attempt this shot (other than occasionally in trick shot exhibitions). Think about it. If the cue ball is ¼ inch from the object ball and you shoot straight at the object ball, your follow through (after hitting the cue ball) must be less than ¼ inch to avoid the second hit! This is because when the cue ball hits an object ball dead center, it MUST stop for a split second before it can move in any direction. When it stops, the cue tip almost inevitably hits the cue ball again. No player in the world can execute this maneuver legally with enough consistency to make it a practical option. The pros avoid the shot; beginners just shoot through the two balls, unaware of the double hit, or not caring about fouls in the first place. Or a hustler will sometimes use the shot to gain an advantage, if he or she thinks they can get away with it. For many years, this shot was a bone of contention and controversy among both gamblers and tournament players. Thankfully, the BCA, VNEA, APA and other organizations have dealt with this problem. In the BCA "General Rules of Pocket Billiards" the shot is explained as follows: 3.23 FOULS BY DOUBLE HITS If the cue ball is touching the required object ball prior to the shot, the player may shoot toward it, providing that any normal stoke is employed. If the cue stick strikes the cue ball more than once on a shot, or if the cue stick is in contact with the cue ball when or after the cue ball contacts an object ball, the shot is a foul. (See Rule 2.20 for judging this kind of shot.) If a third ball is close by, care should be taken not to foul that ball under the first part of this rule. 2.20 JUDGING DOUBLE HITS When the distance between the cue ball and the object ball is less than the width of a chalk cube, special attention from the referee is required. In such a situation, unless the referee can positively determine a legal shot has been performed, the following guidance may apply: if the cue ball follows through the object more than ½ ball, it is a foul. It is virtually impossible to make the cue ball follow an object ball when they are less than an inch apart. For the cue ball to follow an object ball it must have either room to build up momentum before it contacts the object ball, OR topspin (force follow) must be applied to cue ball, which requires a follow through that is next to impossible when the two balls are very close together. The experienced will recognize the tell tale "click" of the double hit on this shot. But even easier, if the cue ball follows the object ball at approximately the same speed as the object ball (they travel sort of 'together' down the table), it is a double hit. Sometimes this double hit foul is called a "push shot." This can then be confused with the "push" in 9-Ball, which is a legal shto having nothing to do with the double hit situation. The 9-Ball 'push' is allowed only on the first shot after the break. It is a good rule that gives the shooter a chance to recover from the misfortune of getting hooked on the break, thus taking some of the luck out the break shot. The player is allowed to shoot the cue ball to a better position without being subject to the normal legal shot rules. The opponent then has the option of taking the shot or giving it back to the shooter. Rule 2.20 refers to a "referee" for calling double hit fouls IN league play however, there generally no official referees. In this situation, WHENEVER YOU SEE YOUR OPPONENT ABOUT TO SHOOT AT AN OBJECT THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE CUE BALL, CALL A TIME OUT AND ASK A NEUTRAL PARTY TO CALL THE SHOT. This is a good idea even if the shooter is a good enough player to understand these rules, and even if it looks fairly easy to avoid the foul. Make sure that the person chosen to call the shot understands the rule and know how to make the call. HOW TO AVOID THE DOUBLE HIT FOUL There are several ways that trick shot artists avoid the double hit foul. One is to use a rail to stop the follow-through by allowing the back hand to actually hit the outside edge of the table. This is not easy, and can also hurt! Another is the "nip" stroke, and is accomplished with no arm stroke at all, but with just a small flex of the fingers and/or wrist to affect the required ½ inch or less follow-through. This maneuver is also quite difficult and almost never used in competition, even by the pros. The practical method advised, and that used by virtually all good players, is to raise the butt of the cue to at least a 45 degree angle (similar to a sharp masse). By doing this, the follow-through is down toward the table, rather than toward the object ball. This is what the BCA (and other) rules require when aiming the cue ball at or near the center of an object ball that is very close to the cue ball. The follow-through on this shot MUST be toward the surface of the table: if you aim the shot with the required 45+ degree angle, but bring the butt of the cue down with your follow-through, you will still likely double hit the cue ball. When the shot is hit correctly, the cue tip NEVER moves in the same direction that the cue ball will travel. In many situations however, the shooter will not be able to reach the shot easily enough to use the 45+ method. In such cases, a second method may be called for. You may be able to hit the cue ball off center with a level cue, if your cue is not aimed directly (or close to directly) at the center of the cue ball and object ball. Some players think they can avoid the double hit by simply using English on the side of the cue ball "away" from the object. This generally does not work, as the tip of the cue will be trqveling in the same direction as the cue ball as it caroms off the object ball. When you plan such shots, think about the direction the cue ball will be traveling, and where the cue tip will end up. The trick is not to use "outside" English, but actually inside English. By doing so, the cue ball will travel away from the cue tip as you follow through.. There are a few unique situations where some other methods may be applied. When I give lessons, I spend ample time on the subject of double hit fouls, especially if the student is a serious league or tournament player. When I organize new leagues, I make sure to explain the double hit rule to all team captains. I teach how to foresee the risk of a double hit, how to call the double hit, and how to avoid the double hit. The double hit foul situation comes up quite often. My experience in playing in three pool leagues this season is that the average players (and even some veteran players, team captains and league directors) do not fully understand the rule. One league director told me, "Well, the double hit is a foul, but we usually don't call it." This makes no sense to me. If the rule exists, it should be enforced. It exists for a good reason: to keep the game fair and to avoid arguments. A golfer cannot hit the ball twice off the tee without being penalized. A baseball batter is called out if he hits the ball a second time (example: accidentally on an attempted bunt). A tennis player cannot hit the ball twice on one volley. And it is illegal for a pool player to hit the cue ball twice on one shot.
The spring session of the Monday Night Pool League at the Reitz Union completed play on April 18th with An Bac "Han" Huynh and Mike Sanchez defeating Paul Hoerman and Sean Szopinski for the coveted title. The final match of 9-Ball ended near midnight, with the champs each winning beautiful new J. Pechauer custom cues for their effort.
Q: Why is a scratch on the 8-Ball a loss of game? A: It's not a loss of game in the BCA and I believe in the VNEA rules as well, and hasn't been for many years. The APA and many un-sanctioned leagues call it a loss. It's a BAD RULE. The idea comes from the dusty old days when a scratch gave your opponent a free shot from the "kitchen" (behind the head string). When both players were on the 8-ball, and shooter #1 had no decent shot at the 8-ball that was in the kitchen, he would intentionally scratch, forcing his opponent to kick for the 8, sometimes repeatedly, until the player #1 finally got a shot that he liked. It made for long, boring games. So, they made a scratch on the 8 a loss to prevent this "dirty" pool. The rule has long since out-lived its usefulness. IN modern rules, any foul, including pocketing the cue ball, gives the opponent ball in hand. This is the grown-up way to play. But why then should a scratch on the 8-ball be an additional penalty, a loss? Any other foul when shooting the 8-ball is ball in hand. That is ENOUGH PENALTY without taking the game as well. That leads to another good question: If losing the game for scratching on the 8 is a bad rule, what about when the MAKE the 8 and scratch? I don't like that rule much either for the same reasons. I may be a few years ahead of the current thinking on this one. Scratching on the 8-ball when making the shot became a loss with the advent of the bar tables. You couldn't get the 8-ball back to spot it up (the original rule from the old days) without paying 25 cents to the coin op, so when the 8-ball was pocketed, it pretty much had to be a win or a loss. Obviously, scratching on the 8 (an illegal shot, like any foul) could not be a win, so it had to be a loss. In the early days of team pool, virtually all league action was on the bar tables. But after the initial, amazing success of the bar table boom, there was also the appearance of many new billiard centers, and they soon began organizing their own, in-house leagues on 8 and 9 foot tables (non-coin op). There was no reason to use the "scratch on 8 is loss" rule on tables that were not coin operated. But as in all sports, the rules are often slow to keep up with the game as it evolves through increased skill levels, and technological improvements. We often hand on to stupid old rules because we are too lazy to think them through and make intelligent changes. Today, the "scratch on the 8 is a loss" rule is totally unnecessary on non-coin op tables, and even on the coin ops, if you keep an extra 8-ball or even a marked cue ball for such situations.
Fifty local pool enthusiasts competed in the Annual UF Homeless Council fundraiser. The format was 8-ball, races to 2, BCA rules, at the Reitz Union Game Room on April 14. The UF Homeless Council has nineteen active student members and more than 120 financial supporters. They are proud to be the only group at UF dedicated to personally going out and meeting the homeless, spending time with them and assisting them with their material, spiritual, emotional, and psychological needs, in order for them to get back on theior feet and live a healthy lifestyle. During the past year, UHC has helped with housing, utilities, tutoring children, health crises, and emergency funding for students. They have helped provide work shoes, bicycles and meals for those in need. One of the primary goals of the group is to establish relationship between students and homeless individuals. Every Tuesday, members work and play with homeless folks at the St. Francis House; every Friday they assist another local group delivering meals in the downtown area. Members have also established a Bible study where the homeless and students can share common faith. If you are interested in getting involved with the UHC, whether you are a student or community member, or if you are a person in need, please contact: Eric Leightman, President; 946-6916 or 219-2879 or visit their website. Eric directed the 2005 Pool Championships and made the event lots of fun, as he assumed the role of "sportscaster" for the final match. Matt Sherman and Donny Lutz defeated Chris Storter and Josh Schemech to capture their second straight title. Issue 5: Summer '05 The GAINESVILLE BILLIARD NEWS "NICE RACK" TEAM WINS TRIP TO APA NATIONALS The "Nice Rack" team, playing out of the GAINESVILLE APA 8-BALL TRAVEL LEAGUE on Wednesday nights, are the proud winners of a trip to Las Vegas to play in the American Poolplayers Association National Tournament. Team captain John Graham led his team to victory in the elimination tournament at Ocala in June. Other team members include Joey Kennedy, Linda Graham, Chris Hollinger, Michael Mitchell, John Randall, John Randi, Chris Fabian and Don Kreischer. Information on APA local leagues and tournament qualifiers can be found at their website.
After a rocky start, with three teams dropping out and one joining during the first half of the season, the JEWELLS TUESDAY 8-BALL LEAGUE completed play on June 7, with the "FNG" team taking home the First Place Prize of $1300! Team members included Scott Edwards, Akemi Harris, Allen Harris, Brent Moore, Charlie Mosier, Buddy Register and Bear Snay. In addition to the $1300, Scott won $30 for his share of first place in the season-ending Scotch Doubles Tourney, Alan cashed $20 for second in the Doubles, Brent finished with second high average for the season (9.26) for $50, and Akemi had high average among women players (9.12) for $50, giving the FNG team a total of $1450 in winnings. The competition for $100 MVP prize was keen, with the top six players going into the final night of the regular season as follows: 1 - Donny Lutz, 9.32 2 - Charlie Mosier, 9.31 3 - Brent Moore, 9.26 4 - Bear Snay, 9.13 5 - Akemi Harris, 9.12 6 - Alan Harris, 8.94
1 - Donny Lutz, 9.31 2 - Brent Moore, 9.26 3 - Akemi Harris, 9.12 4 - Charlie Mosier, 9.10 5 - Bear Snay, 9.02 6 - Alan Harris, 8.96
Q: Can women play pool as well as men? A: What planet do you live on? Or did you throw out your TV in the '80s? Ten years ago, the top women players were not close to being on a par with the top men. One of my teammates on my Tim Scruggs Cues Masters team in '92, Jimmy Scrima, often said he would play any woman in the world for money. He would have had his hands full even then, but it was not an outrageous claim. But if Jimmy still makes that claim, he may be living in a fantasy world. When Allison Fisher left England for the US in 1998, the world of pool changed forever. She dominated the women's pro tour as no one else had ever done. A couple years later, Karen Corr followed her from the British Isles (Ireland to be exact) and dominated for a year, before Fisher stepped her game up a notch and began to win titles once again. The other women on the tour, once they got over their initial shock, also raised their level of play, especially Jeannette Lee, and now the quality of women's play does compare with the men! In fact, Karen and Jeannette play in some men's events and do very well. It's only a matter of time until a woman actually wins a men's event. The only reason this hasn't happened yet, is that there are many more high level male players, so the men's tournaments are still harder to win than a women's event. Efren Reyes is still the best player in the world, but Allison may the most fundamentally sound. When I give lessons, I tell folks to imitate Allison. Bottom line is when you hear some idiot insult a male player with, "You play like a girl!" he is showing his stupidity as well as lack of respect for women. Granted, there aren't many good women players in Gainesville, but there are a few, maybe the best of which is Akemi Harris, who finished third in the competition for MVP in the Jewells Tuesday 8-Ball League with an average of 9.12! Q: Is there a secret to using English? A: Yes. DON'T! Forty years ago, Willie Mosconi told me I was using English on almost every shot when I didn't need to. Nine times out of ten, what the average player tries to accomplish with English can be accomplished by simply hitting higher or lower on the cue ball and/or adjusting the force applied to the shot. Avoiding the use of unnecessary English dramatically reduces the opportunity for error. Any good instructor will agree with this, and will demonstrate the principle for students. Remember the old "KISS" rule: Keep It Simple, Stupid!
The Color of Money is a pretty good pool team at the Silver Q, but it was a lousy pool movie. It couldn't hold a dim candle to The Hustler. Not only did I see The Hustler when it first came out in 1961, but I lived some of those incredible scenes from the '50s era of pool. I even won a few bucks off old Charlie Dierkop who was one of the pool hall characters in the movie. Paul Newman, AND Piper Laurie should have received Oscars for their amazing performances. On the other hand, The Color of Money sucked. The Hustler had Mosconi setting up or actually shooting most of the shots for Newman and Gleason. I don't know who the hell they had doing this stuff for "Money" but he sure didn't know the game of pool. The story became very tedious when Fast Eddie gave Vincent five chances to redeem himself after screwing up four times! I'd have dumped the kid after two failures. And most ridiculous of all, can you believe that Fast Eddie, or anyone in their right mind would actually toss a Balabushka across the room to Tom Cruise?
Proprietors: Maintain tables in good playing condition. Keep players informed by use of a bulletin board, intercom announcements and making the GBN available to customers. League Directors: Hand out and/or post league standings, schedules. Furnish copies of league rules for all team captains. Start play on time. When leagues start late and end late, it is costing the house money, as there is often a waiting list for tables when leagues are in action. Team Captains: Know the playing rules. Be responsible for making sure the team has enough players each week. Keep score of each match and fill out the entire score sheet. Collect fees from players. Have line-up made out and be ready to begin play at the scheduled time. Ask for postponements BEFORE the match is scheduled to begin, not when it's discovered that the team doesn't have enough players. Players: Show up on time. Let captain know in advance if you can't show up on time. Know the playing rules. Play by the rules and practice good sportsmanship.
The "Color of Money" team took top honors as the Silver Q Monday 8-Ball League completed play in June. Nick Scott led his teammates Josh Scott, Bruce Johnson, Shawn Mazzerle, Aspen Autry and Mike Bowman to victory with an average of 9.22. Second place honors went to The F-ing Hits team of Brendon, Jeff, Art, Steve, Sam and Matt. Finishing third, Balls Deep: Phil Prince, Happy Gilmore, John League, Brent Skotko and John Overstreet. Top six individual averages (25 or more games): 1 - Nick Scott, 9.22 2 - Bruce Johnson, 9.16 3 - Brendon, 9.06 4 - Josh Scott, 9.04 5 - Phil Prince, 8.99 6 - Jeff, 8.66
1 - Mike Bowman, 9.40 2 - Nick Scott, 9.11 3 - Shawn Mazzerle, 8.87 4 - Taer Bluett, 8.75 5 - Chris Storter, 8.61 6 - Carlos Mal, 8.58
1 - Donny Lutz, 9.60 2 - Mike Bowman, 9.57 3 - Shawn Mazzerle, 9.51 4 - Nick Scott, 9.39 5 - Joe, 8.96 6 - Josh Scott, 8.72 Issue 6: Fall '05 The GAINESVILLE BILLIARD NEWS HOGTOWN LEAGUE OLDEST IN GAINESVILLE We've been told that the Hogtown Pool League is the oldest league in the Gainesville area. One player told us that it began in the early '80s, another in the '70s. If anyone can give us more info on this, we'd love to include it in a subsequent issue of the GBN. But we do know that it's been around for a while. I've enjoyed playing in the Hogtown League for almost two seasons. Traveling from place to place brought back memories of the bar leagues I played in back in the '60s. Also the challenge of playing on a variety of table conditions is interesting to say the least! And maybe best of all, the league is competitive. There are no powerhouse teams in the league, but there are quite a few pretty good players, and most of the current ten teams have a good shot at the league title. Which makes it lots of fun. We also like that the league prize fund includes cash for every team. This generally prevents teams from dropping out during the season. I would like to see the league adopt the complete BCA Official Rules, and even become BCA sanctioned as they apparently were some years ago. It would be fun to send an 'all-star' team from the league to the BCA Nationals. The following piece offers the results of the Hogtown season that ended on August 1.
The spring/summer season of the Hogtown Pool League completed play on August 1. The Spindrifter's "Hustlers" team of Eric Larsen, Chris Walls, Joe Wattleworth, Paul Moss, Walter Joseph, Leonard Withey, Vince Walls and Tom Eagle defeated Panama Joe's "Ballbusters"; Mike Gunter, Mike McGraw, Rick Cheever, Bruce McElroy, Jami Beserock, Steve Emmons and Yukon Narlesky. Play-off results: 1 - Spindrifter's "Hustlers", $531 2 - Panama Joe's "Ballbustsers, $319 3 - Top Jewells, $287 4 - Panama Joe's "Top Fuel", $244 5 - J. P. Gators "Black Mariah", $191 6 - Gator City "Mullet Heads", $128 7 - Gator City "exeCuetioners", $85 8 - J. P. Gators "Untouchables", $85 9 - Round Bar "Rebels", $85 10- Eddie C's "Cuemasters", $85 11- Round Bar "Outlaws", $85
First place team: Top Jewells, $125 High average: Donny Lutz, $75 Second place: Panama Joe's Top Fuel, $75 Most improved: Sonny Thompson, $75
The league guarantees that every team will receive some prize money, while the previous league only paid some teams. There are about three sessions per year with annual dues of $10 per player and each team can carry up to eight players on their roster, with five playing each match. For additional info, check out the website, send email or come to the next Captain's Meeting at the end of the session at Panama Joe's on November 28th at7:30 PM. - Jami BeseRock, director of the Hogtown Pool League
If you play in a league or tournament whose results are not listed in the Gainesville Billiard News, urge your league or tournament director to send us the results! We'll include them in the next issue!
We had numerous responses to my critique of the movie, The Color of Money. Older players tended to agree with me that The Hustler was by far the better movie, both from a players' viewpoint and in the eyes of those who appreciate great acting, directing and cinematography. I understand that the youngsters don't relate to the pool scene as it was back in the '50s. One said that "Color" was better because Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was much better looking than Piper Laurie. I might agree, but must add that Mary Elizabeth was a good actress stuck in a poorly created role, while Piper was a brilliant actress who portrayed a character of great depth and emotion. Newman was good in "Color", but great in the Hustler, which was a believable double love story. It presented Fast Eddie Felson's love of pool in a way that can only be appreciated by a player, but it was not his experience on the tables that gave him "character" in the movie, - it was his love for Piper's tragic character that made the story complete. The only weakness in "The Hustler" was the image of Minnesota Fats that couldn't have been much farther from the truth. "Fats" was never the classy professional that Gleason portrayed. I saw Fats play, and spoke to folks who had played him. The "legendary" Fats was a rude, crude, hustler who made most of his fortune playing drunks. I have a hunch that the very kind portrayal of Fats in "The Hustler" was an attempt to improve the image of pool in general, but also of Willie Mosconi and Jackie Gleason, who were both known for their rather violent tempers. Yes, Neuman received his lone Oscar for "The Color of Money", but this was just an example of the Academy trying to atone for not giving him the award for "The Hustler" and other great roles. - Donny Lutz
1 Efren Reyes, $68,669
Back in the '40s and '50s, when the majority of "pool halls" were in fact rather sleazy, pool etiquette and sportsmanship were almost unmentionable, - a joke among the money players. They used every trick in the book to gain an advantage: distracting ("sharking") their opponents while shooting, moving balls while no one was looking, bad racks, and even doctoring up "home" tables by creating both tough and easy pockets, bad rails, etc. I even have a video tape that shows one of the all-time great players intentionally moving an object ball while spectators were watching the cue ball roll down the table! But a huge resurgence in the popularity of the game began in the '60s, with a host of "up-scale" establishments, with league play, ladies' nights, and even youth programs. Before long the BCA and other organizations began adding "code of conduct" rules to their general playing rules. The BCA Handbook even has a rule today forbidding referees from betting on matches! You might laugh at that one, but at an NPBA National Tournament in 1975, I actually had a referee ask me if I wanted to bet on our next match - which he was refereeing! If you watch the pros on TV, you may have noticed that when a player is shooting, the opponent is always seated. This is actually a rule. I first encountered this rule (and I loved it) at APA Singles Elimination events in Baltimore in the '90s, when we were told that if we were not seated when our opponent bent over to shoot, he or she could call a foul. Typically, players showed good sportsmanship by first asking the opponent to take their seat before enforcing the rule. Which brings up a good point. Many players aren't up on the rules, so it is common courtesy to give a warning before enforcing some of these rules. But think about it. If you don't like distractions when you're shooting, give your opponent the same respect that you would like to receive. If there is no place to sit, at least move away from the table. One of the frustrations of many league players is the constant milling around the table of opponents, spectators and even teammates, while they're trying to shoot. The BCA has a rule (1.8) that states, "While a match is in progress, practice is not allowed. Taking a shot that is not part of the match is a foul." If you begin to unscrew your cue before a game is over, that is considered conceding defeat, and your opponent can claim victory without shooting. The only exceptions to this might be when one is unscrewing a jump/break cue, or has lost a cue tip and must change shafts. Most of us have experienced opponents who may cough, drop their cue or even drop a drink while your shooting, to distract you. I once had an opponent "accidentally" spill a plastic cup of water into my cue case when I got on a hot streak. I no longer leave my case standing open where this might happen again. I have to admit I have at times been guilty of a little sharking (long ago, of course!), and about once a season I still throw my cue to the floor in disgust after missing an easy shot. But nowadays, as I get older, I find that getting along with other players is at least as important as winning, so I really make an effort to show other players courtesy and respect. It makes the game so much more enjoyable. - Donny Lutz
During the past year or so, I've bought five cues on eBay. Even when I'm not really looking for another cue, it's fun just to check out the endless variety of cues, cue cases and billiard equipment available. You can bid on cues that sell from anywhere from $10 to $10,000 or more. If you know what you're doing, you can get some really good deals. After seeing jump/break cues being offered for as much as $600, I chose a J & J cue with beautiful butterfly inlays and a phenolic tip that I got for $56, and am very pleased with. Ebay is also a good place to look if you have a cue for sale and need to get an idea of what that cue is selling for. But you must be careful. I got burned once on a cue that seemed like a great deal, only to find that the shaft was badly warped. Not wanting to pay the return shipping, I decided to try to straighten the shaft myself, and if that didn't work, order a new shaft. I'm still trying to straighten that original shaft. When bidding on Ebay, check out the ratings of sellers that are almost always available. Be cautious of new sellers. I'm also wary of sellers who offer very poor quality photos of their items, and also those who use good quality photos that clearly show that the cue was not taken very good care of - dirty shafts, mushroomed tips, 'blue' ferrules, etc. You can also tell much about the pool knowledge of the sellers by how they describe their items. The more info they offer, the more they probably know about pool and pool equipment. When pricing cues on Ebay, it's a good idea to visit other sites to compare prices on both new and used equipment. There are hundreds of sites to visit; I chose a dozen or so to keep as "favorites" in my computer. Perhaps most important of all, if you choose to use PayPal to pay for your purchase, be very careful. Last fall I had my identity stolen by a nation-wide scam that sent very honest-looking emails that pretended to by from PayPal asking for an update on your account information. They managed to extract over $3,000 from my account before being caught. Fortunately for me, Wachovia bank covered the loss and I came out OK. So DON"T respond to any emails from "Ebay" asking for your personal info. If you receive such emails, report them to Ebay by going to their website. By the way, the scam operation of which I'm speaking is still functioning, apparently there are clever and sophisticated enough to stay one step ahead of the FTC. - Donny Lutz
Q: What does it take to become a champion? A: It's really quite simple. All you have to learn is how to make one shot - your next shot! Duh! If you make your next shot, you will never miss and never lose (if you get a shot, of course). All the pros know this, but none have yet to master this principle! More realistically, becoming a champion requires only two things: love and dedication. The first is easy. Lots of us love the game, but few become champions. It's the dedication that's the trick. Enough dedication to practice every shot you miss until you can shoot it with some confidence. Enough dedication to take care of your mind and body - eating right, exercising, avoiding drugs. Most of the top players are athletes - they make a concerted effort to stay in shape. PRACTICE ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH. A little GOOD practice is far better than lots of POOR practice. Practicing bad habits only reinforces them. Top players know that you can learn even from players you can easily beat. Get lessons from as many people as you can, but be willing to pay for lessons from qualified instructors. They will often see faults that most players may miss. Dedicated players know that imagination and shot selection is critical - on a "wide open" table there are often countless ways to run out or play a safety. When you lose it is usually because you beat yourself: when you get a decent shot and don't win the game, it's YOUR FAULT, - it doesn't matter if you're playing Efren Reyes or the worst player in the world. The most important words in pool are: dedication, imagination, discipline, patience, execution and concentration. Get these and you've got it made.
When I first picked up a cue in 1955, the best player in my hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin was a fella named Jack Hoffman. At no more than 5'6" and maybe 190 pounds, he was a master at 9-Ball and Straight Pool. He had some legendary matches with touring pros such as his friend Ronnie Allen. Nobody in the area would play Jack for anything substantial, despite the fact that La Crosse had the reputation for having a number of fine players (as you'll see in subsequent installments of this column). I played Jack in a 3-cushion billiard tournament in '63, an event that he had won something like eight years in a row against some pretty strong players. I ran 6 against him for the high run of the event. Jack still crushed me 25-10! - Donny Lutz
MONDAY NIGHT The Color of Money team of Nick Scott, Josh Scott, Bruce Johnson, Shawn, Aspen Autrey and Mike Bowman took top honors and first prize of $900. Second place and $450 went to the Balls Deep team of Phil Prince, Happy Gilmore, John League, Brent Skokto and John Overstreet. Nick Scott won the Most Valuable Player title with a hefty average of 9.4, followed by Shawn Mazzerle 9.1, John League 9.0, Mike Bowman 9.1 and Josh Scott at 8.8. TUESDAY NIGHT The Tuesday competition was dominated by the Run-Out crew of Mike Bowman, Nick Scott, Taer Bluett, Shawn Mazzerle and Donny Lutz. They took home the top prize of any Gainesville league, $1,550; 2nd place ($775) went to Level 42: Mike Mutti, Matt Hampson, Mike Walsh, Carlos Mal, and Bear Snay. Most Valuable Player honors went to Mike Bowman with an average of 9.3, followed by Bear Snay 9.24, Mike Mutti 9.22, Nick Scott 9.0 and Brendon C. 8.87. WEDNESDAY NIGHT The Wednesday team title went to Chumpzilla. League champs Mike Bowman, Nick Scott, Josh Scott, Donny Lutz and Shawn Mazzerle split $900, while the Last Minute outfit of Chris Storter, Leroy Cromwell, Josh Scott and Leonard took second place and $450. Mike Bowman led the league (and all three Silver Q leagues) with a fat average of 9.5, followed by Nick Scott, 9.2, and Josh Scott, Chris Storter and Donny Lutz, all at 9.1
Perhaps the most consistently strong player in Gainesville league competition for the past several years, Mike Bowman has left the Gainesville area for California and a new job. Mike led his teams to some twelve league titles in recent seasons, and will be missed by teammates and foes alike.
Several readers said that our explanation of the "double hit foul" was a bit confusing. Admittedly, it is much easier to explain and demonstrate the double hit foul on a pool table rather than on the printed page. This is another reason why we offer lessons, and also are willing to demonstrate the principles to league directors and league players upon request. Once you see it demonstrated, it becomes rather simple, and you can then play by the official rules, which when understood, create less confusion rather than more. Issue 7: January '06 The GAINESVILLE BILLIARD NEWS RUN-OUT TEAM CHAMPS AGAIN To no one’s great surprise, the RUN-OUT team is once again champions of the Silver Q Tuesday 8-Ball League. Taer Bluitt, Donny Lutz, Shawn Mazzerle, Josh Scott and Nick Scott put nothing but distance between themselves and the second place finishers, THE F-HITS (Art Guy, Steve Vancastren, Benito Aragon, Chris Storter and Brendon C, as their winning margin was a whopping 134 points. The Run-outs took home the top prize of $1000, while the F-Hits pocketed $500. Donny edged out Taer for high individual average, 9.53 to 9.44. followed by Nicky at 9.11.
Congrats to Chung-Yu "Leo" Chang for beating all comers to win the title of UF Pool League Champion for the Fall ’05 semester! Prizes went to the top four spots including Predator pool cues, equipment and billiards books. The league features handicapped 8- and 9-ball play in a co-ed environment. Students and non-students alike are welcomed to play at UF’s Game Room on Monday nights in a comfortable, nonsmoking environment. The nine foot tables are in good shape and fast tables with Simonis cloth are available for league as well. A snooker table brings action, too, and two parking lots, videogames, bowling and a convenient fast food court all make the Reitz Union a great stop for each tournament week. In the top four wheel of play, James Larson was knocked into fourth place by Paul Nelson, who is turn went down to Chang. Leo then squared off against Matt Sherman, running several racks of nine ball from the snap in their match for the win. Monday nights’ league for Spring 2006 will feature weekly tournaments with a winners’ tournament for prizes at league end. Billiard books, billiard equipment and books including fiction and instructional books await the victors. For more information, please contact Matt Sherman at (352) 372-5094.
The fall season of the Hogtown Pool League completed play on November 21. Panama Joe’s “Top Fuel” team of John Odom, Roger League, Bill Walker, Chad Nelson, Tim Sandler, Fred Gordon, Jim North and Jared North defeated the Top Jewells crew of Rudy Appalsamy, Donny Lutz, Russ Sill, Kevin Sill, Monica Fox, Sonny Thompson, Steve Dia and Mike D for the Hogtown title. The championship match, played at Panama Joe’s, was a game of elusive momentum, as the lead changed hands four times. The final score was 188-181. Play-off results: 1 – Panama Joe’s “Top Fuel”, $419 2 – Top Jewells, $251 3 – Panama Joe’s “Ballbusters”, $226 4 – Spindrifter’s “Hustlers”, $193
First place team: Spindrifter’s “Hustlers”, $125 High average: Bill Walker, $75 Second place: Panama Joe’s “Top Fuel”, $75 Most improved: Leon Nehring, $75 The league finished the season with nine teams. The league director expects to add three teams for the next season, and double the length of the season to increase the prize fund. For additional info, check out the website or email.
Not being a big fan of most pool magazines, I was unaware of the formation of the “International Pool Tour” when I accidentally caught the televised edition of the first “King of the Hill” event on Dec. 11. Creator of the IPT, Kevin Trudeau claimed that the match between Loree Jon Jones and Mike Sigel was a contest between the two best 8-Ball players in the world. WHAT? Fifteen years ago, Loree may well have been the best female 8-Ball player on the planet, but she is not even one of the top dozen players today. Likewise, Mr. Mike Sigel is probably one of the greatest ten players of all time, but his day has long since passed. His ten-year absence from the various pro tours was not out of disinterest as much as the fact that he can no longer compete with the new breed of players that have replaced him, Allen Hopkins and other former champions. The fact that he claims a world 8-Ball title from the days when few pros played 8-Ball does not qualify him as the best anything today. Kevin Trudaeu, best known for his best-selling book, “Natural Cures” (which has received very mixed reviews) and a felony conviction for fraud, put up a ton of money to create the IPT (Details can be found at his pool tour website. Visit the site and form your own opinions. It looks as if the primary accomplishment was a virtual gift of $250,000 to his admitted “close friend”, Sigel: Sigel won $150,000 for beating Loree 9-2,9-2, (Loree “won” $75,00 for showing up), and $100,000 for losing 8-0, 8-5 to Efren Reyes a week later in the second event. Anyone who knows anything about pool could have predicted the result of the second match: Sigel can’t hold a candle to Efren or any number of other players on tour today. The first event had no qualifying or elimination format, - Trudeau simply picked two players to share the $225,000. The second tournament included 43 players arbitrarily picked by Trudeau. Of course, those players loved it; they each got a check for $30,000 just for showing up. The audience was filled with celebrities who could easily afford the $199 spectator fee (payable only in advance; don’t you just love it when such events are virtually closed to average folks?). I must admit to a bit of bias in my writing of this report. Sigel did an exhibition/”clinic” at a pool hall where I was working in ’92, and I found him rather obnoxious and condescending toward those in attendance. A year later he stopped into Champion Billiards in Laurel, MD, where I was league/tournament director and asked the manager if I would play him for money. I was torn between donating $50 to say I had played him and not wanting to give any money to someone who I found not very likeable. So I declined to play “The Mouth”, as he has been called for years. Apparently, he has not changed. He spoke of Loree in rather demeaning terms before and during their match, and spewed paltry excuses for getting whipped so badly by Efren, who by the way, is known as one of the nicest guys on tour. - Donny Lutz
Happy Hour Billiards (111 South Main Street, Gainesville, FL)
ALACHUA COUNTY WOMENS’ 8-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday, February 25, 2006 - Starting at 3:00 PM Double Elimination, 2 out of 3 game matches, Entry fee: $15 before 2/25, $20 day of event
First Place: $100 ALL PLAYERS NOT FINISHING IN THE CASH WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A DRAWING FOR $100 IN MERCHANDISE PRIZES! *Copies of the BCA rules will be available prior to event; Rules will be discussed and amended if necessary at a players meeting at 2:00 PM prior to the start of the event. A tournament director and a referee will be on hand to insure a quality event! For additional information contact the GBN at 336-9461 or email us.
Tommy Sneath was well on his way to becoming a “professional” gambler when I met him in 1955. He had a great scam. Being small in stature, he passed for my age (12) when he was 15, and used it to hustle the neighborhood kids in pool and other sports. I lost my weekly allowance of 75 cents to him for several months until I wised up and began to learn the game myself. Tommy used many of the hustler tricks that you only expect to see in older players, - a dozen different ways to shark you, out-bet you, and use illegal shots before the rest of us learned the rules. In subsequent years, he became a great player as well as a hustler, learning most of his stuff while living in Milwaukee for a while in the ‘60s. I got a little revenge by knocking him out of the La Crosse (Wisconsin) City Singles Tourney in ’71, but respect his skills to this day. Tommy Cremer (I hope I have the name spelling correct) was perhaps the best player to ever come out of La Crosse, Wisconsin, a town OF 50,000 that has produced MANY great shooters. He joined the Merchant Marines about the time I started playing, and spent half the year at sea, and half the year playing pool on the road. Apparently he had some drug problems, and lost most of the money he made on the tables. But the story goes that virtually no one would play him when he was even half sober. Some friends of mine told the story of a one-pocket game they saw him play against a world-beater in Milwaukee in the ‘70s. Playing for $500 a rack (a fortune back then), he was down 7-0 and faced with the situation of seeing his opponent’s match point ball sitting in the jaws, waiting to be pocketed. To the shock of the crowd, Tommy offered to double the bet before he attempted what certainly appeared to be an impossible shot. But he amazed all present by jacking up slightly and driving his opponents winning ball into the back of the pocket with such force that it jumped back OVER the cue ball, which he had stopped dead on the lip! As the story goes, he eventually lost the game 8-7, but still came out well ahead for the night. Onlookers still say that it was the greatest shot they ever saw! I got to play Tommy (who was known on the road as “Tom the Sailor”) a few games for $2 in 1971. He let me play even for a while before getting bored and making an exquisite one-handed, jacked up 4-rail bank that put me on a bar stool for the rest of the night. I was told that he had run as many as 10 straight racks of 9-ball, ONE HANDED JACKED UP! I also heard that even drunk, he busted Minnesota Fats once in the early ‘60s. Tom the Sailor is said to have died of a drug overdose in the ‘70s, a sad lesson for other players.
“THE GRUMPY OLD PRO” Q: Why do local pool leagues have such poor cash payouts? A: Did you never take ARITHMETIC in grade school? If you don’t put money in, you can’t get money out! Also, the league sessions tend to be shorter in Florida, which is not such a bad thing, as more sessions mean more possible winners. Up north, pool is much more popular than down here because of the long winters, and the top leagues usually charge a bit more per player per night. In addition, the leagues up north often have team sponsors, who kick in a fee to build up the prize fund. I played for a great team sponsor (Dick Skaff) from ’68 to ‘72 up in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In the ’71-’72 season, he sponsored ten pool teams, a bowling team and a softball team. ALL his teams wore “Dick & Ann’s” shirts and his business did very well. My next team sponsor (Grumpy’s Bar), bought its players shirts AND winter coats! Other generous sponsors were Steve Schwert (Don’s Seldom Inn) and Brian Harris (Alumni Inn). But the best team sponsor (among some 20 or more I’ve played for) was Jim Fox at Red Sails Resort. “Foxy” sponsored as many as eight teams per season throughout the ‘80s, and not only furnished all with classy shirts, but was even there with cash for his players when emergencies arose. He traveled with his teams and even did free cue repair for his players on the lathe in the basement at Red Sails, and his players rewarded him with three State and one National championships! If you ever get to one of the big national team events, you’ll see that most of the teams are wearing shirts furnished by sponsors – taverns, restaurants, clothing retailers, night clubs, cue makers, etc. Many have complete uniforms, - indeed, some of these events actually offer awards for the best-dressed teams! Part of the secret is that sponsors up north realize that team play is like guaranteed money for your business, just as it has been for years in the bowling business. The old (and successful) idea was that league play pays the bills, DEPENDABLY, while food, drink and equipment sales supply the profit. League players are REGULAR CUSTOMERS, and if they’re taken care of, are faithful to their sponsors and proprietors.
One of the critical decisions often facing serious players is the decision whether to jump, masse or kick for a ball when you have no open shot that affords any reward. Sometimes we’re faced with situations where you must MAKE a jump, masse or kick shot to win a game, but more often, we just need to get a legal hit to stay in the game. Factors in your decision: (1) What is the easiest way to make a legal hit, (2) Which method allows the best chance to make a called shot, and (3) Which choice offers the best chance for a safety. Keep in mind that (1) Jumping over the edge of a blocking ball is MUCH easier than jumping over a full ball, (2) the slight masse (with cue only slightly elevated) is much easier than a full masse, and (3) short distance kicks are much easier than long distance kicks. Other considerations: (1) “Good” cue balls (red dot, for example) are much easier to both jump and masse than over-size or weighted cue balls (such as you find on many bar tables), (2) when warming up, take note of any possible “bad” rails that could make banks and kicks very difficult, (3) try a couple of masses and jumps when warming up to see if the cloth (brand, weave, age) is conducive to jumps and masses, and (4) double check the condition of your tip before attempting masses or jumps, even when using a jump cue. Some of my teammates (and others) complain when I play a safety in practice. They are usually folks who don’t have the patience for safety shots, or have little concept of safety play. You must practice safety shots just as any other shot. And we all need practice on playing from safety positions, whether we try a long shot, a bank, a jump, a masse or a kick – especially a kick shot. The main reason why Filipino players have done so well on the pro tour in recent years is that they are the masters of kick shots. Just playing games – 8-Ball, 9-Ball or whatever is good, but it is not sufficient practice. When you miss a shot in a practice game, you don’t get to shoot the shot over, and you are left with an error in your memory bank the next time that shot appears. When practicing alone, you can shoot missed shots again until you achieve some measure of confidence in the shot. When the pros miss a shot in practice, they will repeat the shot as many as fifty times, until the memory of the miss is virtually forgotten. We all need to practice easy shots to maintain focus and concentration, and we need to practice our “trouble” shots or we will never improve. Serious players practice safety shots, lags, kicks, jumps, banks, masses, breaks, long shots, thin cuts, combos, caroms, “throw” shots and even intentional fouls (!), as well as stop, draw, follow and the limitless variety of spins that can be applied to the cue ball and object balls. You may not have the time or desire to practice the many hours required to become a top player, but if you want to improve at all, you must spend some time practicing seriously. It is not easy to become a professional player, but it is actually quite easy to become a pretty good league player with a lesson or two and some effective practice.
After a lull in tournament activity, it’s good to see that a few establishments are once again trying to host local amateur events. Recent winners of the Sunday 9-Ball at JEWELLS: 1/8: First – Mike Burris; Second – Donny Lutz Recent winners at SILVER Q (Usually Thursday nights): 12/29: Nick Scott over J. Scott; 1/2: Matty Hampson over Adam D’Amico; 1/4: Chris Storter over Taer Bluitt; 1/5: Nick Scott over Benito Aragon There has been some talk of late about forming a new league in town. Some of the better players are looking for opportunities to field strong teams and possibly compete in national events. One possibility is a sanctioned BCA league, for which a number of formats are possible. This writer experimented with a draft system for both bowling and pool leagues back in the ‘60s, with much success. The approach was this: Encourage a number of players to sign up for a draft lottery with the agreement that they will play with whoever drafts them. If enough sign up for an 8-team league for example, the top eight players (based on previous league averages) would be the team captains. They would then draw numbers and choose players from the draft list. This makes for a league of very evenly matched teams, and therefore a competitive and exciting season. With the new BCA format, such a league could field any number of teams to compete in the BCA National Open Team Event in Las Vegas, or an “all-star” team to compete in the Masters Division. The league could be made up of 3, 4 or 5-person teams. Talk to your friends about this idea and watch for further developments. Please email us with any thoughts and suggestions. Tables can be “tough” or challenging to play on for a variety of reasons. Obviously, a table that is not level can be very frustrating. Rails that are loose or not set at the proper angle make bank shots and kicks a nightmare. Tight pockets demand accuracy, but are legal only up to a point. They should be consistent, - not some tight and some “loose” on the same table, a condition that is very common around town, especially on some of the bar tables. Billiard balls that are not clean make many shots quite difficult and some near impossible. At a place where I worked back in the ‘90s, we cleaned all thirty-four sets of balls every day. Pool balls with chips and cavernous gouges have no place on a pool table, either. Dirty and/or damaged cloth is a real problem in a number of local establishments. Tables set too close to obstacles such as walls, pillars or bar stools are something that can usually be easily rectified if the owner or manager cares. So are bad lighting and no decent chalk for those players smart enough to actually use it. Did you know that there is a right and a wrong way to brush and/or vacuum tables? Some would say that such complaints mean that the complainer is just not a good player. I disagree. The pros play on very good tables at almost all tournaments. It’s more fun and perhaps more fair. Does it hurt one’s game to play on “bad” conditions? I would say yes and no. For more advanced players, tough conditions simply demand more strategy and focus. They will test the roll and the rails on strange tables before competition. They’ll examine the balls, the cloth and the pockets so that any potential problems can be avoided when planning shots. They usually don’t complain unless conditions are especially bad. But it’s a different story for the intermediate or novice player. It’s really rather difficult to learn the basics of the game under bad conditions. To learn how to make the simplest shots is not easy when you don’t know if you actually missed, or if the conditions caused the miss. It’s much easier to learn the game on decent tables with good lighting, etc. So, what is the state of affairs in Gainesville? Tables simply do not stay level, - people sit on rails and throw them off, and balls bounced off walls and the floor get nicks and chips. So, the conditions are sort of cyclical. They deteriorate until enough players complain, and those in charge (hopefully) respond. I don’t get to play at all the venues in town, but from what I hear from other players is that the best conditions are currently at JP Gators and Jewells. Rumor has it that Silver Q has promised to level their tables and fix a number of bad rails early in January. Maintaining good playing conditions is good business; proprietors should not be surprised if they lose customers for lack of attention to the above. - Donny Lutz Issue 8: June '06 The GAINESVILLE BILLIARD NEWS BETTINA CHASE CAPTURES FIRST ANNUAL WOMEN’S SINGLES TITLE AT HAPPY HOUR On February 25, HAPPY HOUR BILIARDS hosted the First Annual Alachua County Women’s 8-Ball Championships. Because of a conflict with an APA event, only nine players were able to compete in the competition, but all expressed their appreciation for a job well done by tournament director Dave Williams and this writer who acted as referee. Happy Hour owner Bobby Dixon had put new cloth on three tables and bought brand new sets of balls just for this event. Competition was double elimination; all matches a race to two wins. All the players seemed to rise to the occasion; this writer saw no “bad” games. Every match included some fine offensive and defensive play. When the field was reduced to the final four, it appeared to be the top four players remaining. Nicole Nesberg (who the previous weekend had finished a strong fourth in the ACUI Regional at Atlanta) had defeated Aspen Autrey, before being knocked into the loser’s bracket by Bettina Chase. Nicole then eliminated Amanda Francis (2-1 winner over Linda Puketsa) and faced Brittany Orr in the first quarterfinals match. Brittany had defeated Aspen, and then lost to veteran Peggy Rowe, before eliminating Michelle de Zayas and Shannon Freire (2-1 winner over Linda). Peggy began with wins over Brittany, Amanda and Shannon to earn a spot in the winners’ bracket final. Bettina bested Michelle and Nicole, before facing Peggy in an exciting match with several nice safeties and a couple of not–so-easy shots on the 8. Bettina’s 2-1 victory put her in the championship match. Meanwhile, Nicole did away with Brittany in two straight games to advance to the losers’ bracket finals against Peggy. As good as the competition had been, both players raised their level of play, with Nicole emerging victorious in a 2-1 match. Nicole would have to defeat Bettina twice in the finals, but this was not to be. The championship match was just as exciting as the semis, with only three missed shots. Bettina ended Nicole’s run with a clutch out to take the title and $80 First Prize. Nicole cashed $40 and Peggy $15. All players received prizes, including dinner for two at one of the DARDEN RESTAURANTS (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Smokey Bones and Seasons), free pool lessons, a personal cue bridgehead and free playing time at Happy Hour. It was gratifying to hear the positive comments by both players and spectators. There had been attempts to hold a women’s event previously, but none of the local proprietors showed any interest, one saying, “There aren’t enough women around who play, it will never happen”. Well, guess what? Another women’s tourney is planned for June at the Happy Hour; see the ad on page 5. Thanks again to Bobby at Happy Hour for hosting this successful event. Also, congratulations to the players at this event for choosing to use the BCA Official 8-Ball rules, something that the non-sanctioned local league directors seem to be afraid to use! -DL PLAYING CONDITIONS AT JEWELLS We got a call from Trennis Evans at Jewells a couple weeks back, concerning the question of who has the best playing conditions in town. He reminded us that he uses Simonis cloth on all his tables, which are Diamonds and Brunswick Gold Crowns. He has red dot cue balls available for all tables, and NO damaged balls will be found in any rack of balls at Jewells. As he is the only “player” among the owners of billiard establishments in town, he says he is especially motivated to maintain the highest standard for his tables. He offered to do an extensive interview regarding this issue, but we were unable to get together during the past several weeks. We regret not succeeding with this idea, and we also regret not receiving Jewells regular ad in time for this issue of the GBN. The ad was to focus on the extensive cash pay-off potential of the APA leagues at Jewells. Hopefully, if there is another issue of the GBN (see article on page 3), we can work this out. WHO IS THE BEST PLAYER IN GAINESVILLE? Who is the best pool player in Gainesville? Johnny Ferber? Trennis Evans? Chris Wall? If these are the top three players in the area, there are certainly a few others that are just below their level and can beat them on any given day. I won’t attempt to list this next level of players for fear of leaving some deserving person off the list. From what I’ve seen and heard, no one around can match the over-all experience and knowledge of Johnny F. Trennis is the only player who consistently displays the “fire” that it takes to be a big-time player. For my money, Chris is the most fundamentally sound player I’ve seen in the Gainesville area. There are several other players who I would place near the top of the list who apparently aren’t playing much currently. But really, all this to-do about who’s the best is pretty much a waste of time. We all have our good days and bad days, our ‘lucky’ streaks and ‘unlucky’ streaks. I’ve seen great players lose big time to novices who just got lucky for a few games. Also, the best 9-ball player may not be the best 8-ball player, the best one pocket player, etc. And of course, whether they’re playing on 7, 8 or 9-foot tables makes a difference as well. Who are the top women players in the area? The recent County Championship at Happy Hour gave us some clues. Bettina, Brittany, Peggy and Nicole are certainly among the elite. Others include Akemi Harris, Monica Fox and Derek Folds. We hope to see ALL of the area’s top women shooters at the next women’s event in June. One final thought: You don’t have to be “the best” to deserve respect. More important is that you truly enjoy playing the game, and respect is gained just as much by just improving your game and practicing good sportsmanship. -DL GREAT PLAYERS I’VE HAD THE PLEASURE (?) OF PLAYING: #4 & #5 Dave Wolfe was two years ahead of me in high school, but I didn’t really get to know him till we played 9-ball at Sheldon’s Cigar Store around 1962. At that time he was on the way to replacing the aging Jack Hoffman as the toughest player in the area (west Wisconsin). His quiet demeanor belied his fierce competitiveness. His John Kennedy, Jr. good looks were a magnet for the young womenfolk, and this was a good thing! In the mid-‘60s, we bowled on the same team, setting a city record with a 1201 game, and we once had an 824 3-game series in a best-ball doubles tournament. A couple years later, Dave joined me on four consecutive city champ pool teams. We had a standing offer to gamble with any two guys in a match that would include bowling and pool; we never had any takers! I had Dave’s number when it came to 8-ball, but I don’t think I ever saw him lose playing 9-ball on the 9-foot tables! Dave retired from pool in 1973 at age 32, the same year I quit bowling. I often wonder what path our lives might have taken had Dave abandoned bowling instead and I had quit pool. The first time I played Lenny Jaszewski (1967?) we nearly got in a serious argument over rules. We became rather bitter rivals for about twenty years. Lenny knew he was a better player than I, and I knew I was a better player than he! We probably played very evenly in tournament and open play over the years. He beat me in the finals for the city singles title in 1970; I beat him for the same title in ‘86. Lenny had a Pool can be a very frustrating and discouraging game. Almost as frustrating as golf? This is especially so, if you are too stubborn to seek out lessons from a qualified instructor. But even with good instruction, the game can be difficult. I know that every time I get in a “hot” streak, and my ego begins to swell, I always hit one of those horrendous nights where you miss easy shots, lose focus, concentration, and feel like giving the game up. If you really love the game, you must learn to play through these rough patches. When you’re in a slump, the first remedy is to go back to basics. If you’re not sure what this means, you REALLY need to talk to an instructor. But make no mistake about it, ALL players, including the world’s best, have their bad games, bad nights, even bad years! We’re human, we’re fallible, and that’s our curse! When you make mistakes, try to learn from them, and learn to live with them. One trick: when you’re struggling, shoot only very easy shots until you regain some confidence. If you’re in the middle of competition, take a break and wash your face and hands (always a good idea, anyway!). Step outside for a breath of fresh air. Take a moment to wipe off your cue, or work on your tip, - anything to clear your mind and perhaps change your mindset. If nothing seems to work, and you find yourself in a prolonged slump, you may want to step away from the game for a while – even a week or two or much longer. Often getting away will renew your interest, desire and dedication, and your game may take a step forward. -DL THIS MAY BE THE FINAL ISSUE OF THE GAINESVILLE BILLIARD NEWS Due to lack of any support by several of the local billiard establishments, and the logistical problems of being pretty much a one-person operation, we have decided to suspend publication of the GBN after this issue. We’ve had positive response from players, but not much interest shown by many who profit directly from the patronage of Gainesville pool players. Meeting with some advertisers to obtain copy and payment has been frustrating and stressful at times. We had always hoped to publish the results of all local leagues and tournaments, but this has proven difficult. It just cannot be done without the cooperation of league and tournament directors. The GBN is not a profitable enterprise, though it certainly has the potential to be so. We have been operating in the red now for almost a year and a half. We do want to thank those advertisers who have supported us, even with only one ad: JP Gators, Jewells, Happy Hour, Silver Q, Reitz Union, Russ Sill Custom Cues and Gator Travel. If any interest is shown by potential advertisers and others, we may resume publication at some future time. We may also continue to publish on our website, listed below. In the meanwhile, thanks again to our sponsors, and the players who have enjoyed our ramblings in the GBN. -DL THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT The first cue I actually bought was a 60” Schmelke in 1968. I didn’t need the length, but I played well with the cue on the first try, so I gave my buddy Bob Fehring 40 bucks for the old, used stick with its brass joint and bright red linen wrap. I used it for a couple years, despite the length getting in the way on many bar tables. I sold it in “71 and used standard length cues for the next decade. Around ’80, I won a no-name cue from some road player that was 55” in length. I didn’t really want the thing, but he ran out of cash. Surprisingly, when I felt obliged to at least try the cue, I found that it hit very well (it weighed 17 oz) and I actually played with it for a while. I finally gave it to a teammate of mine, who needed a shorter cue because of a serious childhood injury. Today, if you search among the zillion pool sites on the Internet, you’ll find countless arguments for longer, shorter, or standard cue lengths. Some pros are using shorter, lighter sticks, even for the break. I’ve actually experimented with breaking using 42 and 44-inch jump cues with some success! Among the arguments for longer, heavier cues is that one can impart more force and possibly more spin with less effort. The arguments for shorter and/or lighter sticks include that the extra weight makes the cue harder to control, especially that part of the cue that is behind the grip hand. I must admit I can’t make up my mind. Like many players, I seem to “adjust” well for different lengths and weights. I’d still like to experiment more with shorter cues. But my best play over the years has been with 58” sticks that weigh 18 to 19 oz. Note: At one time in the foggy distant past, all pool cues were one piece. Obviously, the two-piece cue came into vogue because it was easier to cart around. Some manufacturers couldn’t resist making three and four-piece cues that fit into a really uniquely compact carrying case. The 3 and 4s never caught on, because the hit just wasn’t good with the old technologies. Then the 3-piece jump/break cues came into vogue; I use one – a J & J. Jump/break cues sell for anywhere from $50 to $500 or more. I still like the idea of the 4 or even 5 piece cue. It’s great to be able to shorten your stick for a jump shot or to avoid an obstacle such as a close wall. It’s also nice to have a 4 to 10 inch extension as an option to the bridge. Today’s technology allows for such cues to play as well as any one or two-piece cue. While many of us are hauling around a big, fancy cue case with several butts, multiple shafts, a jump cue and a break cue, wouldn’t it be nice to have one 4-piece butt that adjusts for jump shots, “obstacle” shots, normal shots and long reach shots? One “normal” shaft and one “jump/break” shaft would be adequate. I’d love to carry all my stuff in a 1 X 2 case rather than the bulky and heavy 3 X 5 that I haul around now! -DL
“THE GRUMPY OLD PRO” Q: Why are pool players so discourteous? A: Let’s not get carried away here. Not all players are discourteous. Just most of them. It’s a flaw in the human psyche. Kind of like the person in line at the Post Office who complains about the slow service, then takes their damn time once they get to the counter. We expect a lot, but don’t give in return. Pool league players (until they gain experience) are notoriously rude or at least inconsiderate of other players. When it’s not your turn at the table, GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY! Granted some venues don’t offer much room for league players, - this is the fault of the business owner – but that’s no excuse. BCA and other rules state that when not shooting, players belong in a seat, OUT OF PEOPLE’S WAY! SILVER Q LEAGUE RESULTS The NOTHING PERSONAL team of Shawn Mazzerle, Nick Scott, Aspen Autrey, Donny Lutz, Derek Folds, Steve Lehr and Josh Scott captured the First Prize of $2000. Taking home second place cash of $1500 was the BALLS DEEP crew of Dave Williams, Seth Tucker, Brent Skotko, Phil Prince, John League and Matt Hampson. Finishing third for $1000 was DRINKERS (Paul Cedono, Aaron Hahn, Chris Robinson, Preston Marfuta and Lauren Schaffer). Competition for high individual average was intense, with Mattie edging out Donny, 9.60 to 9.56, a difference of just two balls for the 18 week season! Close behind was Nicky at 9.4, followed by Shawn – 9.1, Paul - 8.9, Bill Franklin – 8.7, Dave Williams – 8.6 and John League – 8.5. Leading the women was Nicole Nesberg at 8.2, followed by Derek Folds at 8.0 and Aspen Autrey at 7.8. Tuesday Night: “THE HITS” CAPTURE LEAGUE HONORS THE HITS are the new champions of the Tuesday 8-Ball League at Silver Q. Benito Aragon, Chris Storter, Brendan C, Art Guy, Steve Vancastren and Jeff ? shared the top cash prize of $1000 (Prizes in Silver Q leagues vary by number of teams and length of season). Second place and $500 went to BALLERS (Leroy Cromwell, Leonard Gaskin, Yukon Narlesky, Jeff ? and Joe ?. Third and $250 went to RUN-OUT (Shawn Mazzerle, Donny Lutz, Taer Bluett, Nick Scott and Aspen Autrey. Donny’s 9.04 individual average edged out Benito and Chris who tied at 8.98 (3 balls difference for the whole season), just ahead of Mike Walsh (8.67) and Taer (8.55). Wednesday Night: “CHUMPZILLA” REPEATS AS LEAGUE CHAMPS CHUMPZILLA is once again champ of the Silver Q Wednesday night 8-ball league. First prize of $1700 went to Donny Lutz, Taer Bluett, Shawn Mazzerle, Nick Scott, Josh Scott and Paul James. Second place honors and $850 went to the 2 OGs crew of Dave Williams, Leonard Gaskin, Phil Prince, Yukon Narlesky, Leroy Cromwell and Brent Skotko. The third of five teams in the money was JAD’S RAD-5: Matt Hampson, Mike Walsh, Rob Beall, Jad Mansour and Scott ? shared $500. Top individual honors: Donny, edged out Taer 9.50 to 9.38, followed by Joe ? at 9.0, Shawn at 8.8, Leonard at 8.7 and Mike Walsh, 8.4. Leading the women: Shannon Friere at 7,56: Rebecca ? at 7.52. REITZ UNION SPRING LEAGUE FINAL RESULTS It was exciting play on April 17th, with some fireworks in the early rounds. Hsiao-Wei Yu, a strong player, was shutout by Devin Hughes 6-0 in 9-Ball. Devin in turn was upset at 8-Ball by the team of Crystal Lai and Lyn Nguyen. I faced the gals and we went to the tenth game of 9-Ball. I did not have good opportunities and had to safe on the (three times before we tied the match. Our overtime match was 8-Ball and the score was decided by just two points! Frantisek (Frank) Vytykac, my old teammate, squared off with me in the finals. Our first game of 8-Ball was a nail biter as we traded more than a dozen safeties. I missed a key shot on the rail and that wait, followed by a “little ring around the e8: in the second game from yours truly before Frank closed me out in the third game to went the Russ Sill Orange & Blue custom made cue! Congratulations, Frank! He moves on to National ACUI play this July, so wish him well. Other prizes included pool books, fiction and non-fiction. I will update everyone soon on the next league semester. -Matt Sherman Donny Lutz Pool |
Gainesville Billiard News: