Tobby Sweet

Tobby Sweet is in the house!For those of you that have never heard of Tobby,he is a real live legend!Many people not just some,will tell you he was the best money player ever!He used to own a room called Hollies here in N.Y. and man could he play!I was fortunate enough to be around too witness his play in his prime,although I was not even good enough to realize how good he was.But I can appreciate it today.It,s kinda funny he's here because I was just watching him play Wade Crane on an Accu-Stats video,that Mike the Fish lent me.But that's how pool players are you think or talk about them and they just appear from the smoke!Hopefully he came to play some,I would really like to see him in some action.Mike the Fish wants to see him play Joey King Kong,he thinks Joey is the favorite,but i don't see it that way.How can you bet against Tobby?I have not seen Joey in action so I cant really give you any information on how well he plays.But if they do play I know where my money goes!

As for me I still have a perfect record of not winning a single set!I don't even remember how many sets I played yesterday,but I know I didn't win a single one of them!My game has suffered some heavy set backs,and I'm pretty sure I know why!

I just have too much on my mind!With all this stuff running through my mind I don't see any way I'll be able to play my best!

I'm going to try to make it too the table today,Sunday is a good day at Diamond Jim's.I wish playing pool was like surfing for me,when I go surfing it washes away everything except what I'm doing at that moment.It's a therapy thing called "staying in the moment".As I'm writing this I realize that is maybe the key.If I could make pool wash away all my problems like surfing does I'd have the clear mind I need.You have to have a clear mind to play this game well! I need to find that place in my head where nothing matters except the shot!As usual that's easier said than done.When you go surfing as soon as you get wet nothing else in the world matters,the ocean just puts you in your place.How can I make pool do that?

Is it a Job

I ended up at Diamond Jim's yesterday,and soon found out that I didn't really want to be there!I have so much stuff on my mind it's crazy.You can't play pool with a full head of shit!At least I can't,I try but it just never works for me.You need a clear mind to play this game too your best ability!

I hooked up with this guy I call Talking Harry.I call him that because he never shuts up!I mean NEVER!It's a great shark,very effective,and how do you get him too stop.He doesn't do it too shark you on purpose,it's just who he is.Don't get me wrong he's a nice guy,and means well but come on you would think he has to stop talking sometime.I played him once before,and he did the same thing too me.It pulled me right out of stroke.And I swore I would never play him again.I know,you can't let these thing effect your game,but that's easier said then done.

So we hooked up too play 9 ball,and he wants a spot ball(a spot ball means he has more than 1 winning ball).He wants the 7/8(so he has 3 winning balls7-8-9)that's a really big spot,puts a lot of pressure on you.Basically if you don't run out you lose plain and simple!Now to be honest,I shouldn't be giving anyone a spot,I'm not playing good enough pool let alone the mind game just isn't there.So we come too an agreement,I'll be giving him the 8 ball.Maybe I'm wrong but I was always under the impression that if you can win with the 8 ball,you can win playing even!That doesn't mean you can give someone the 8 though.The 8 doesn't sound like a big spot too get,but too give it,is kinda big.It's another ball to worry about.And I really don't need anything more to worry about!We played 2 sets and as usual I lost both of them!

I don't have a winning record at Diamond Jim's that's for sure!I think the last time I won even a single set was when I beat Big Scott in a race too 9.Since then it has all been down hill!Granted I'm playing tough matches against guys I'm not supposed to beat,and I want to be playing these type of matches,but it wears on you.You begin to think you don't know how to win.That's the stage I'm at.I think playing the tough matches is good,but there needs to be a balance,you need to play some matches that you have confidence in your ability to win.You can't let losing be the only thing your learning.

I'm most likely going to end up at the pool hall today.I don't know if that's a good thing for me,but I think it will be better than me staying home.

The pool hall will be full of games today,Jersey Ken,Mike the Fish,Chino,Lyle,Talking Harry,Big Scott,etc.So if I want a tough match,I can find it.I'm not sure of what I want or need.But I am going to play today.I know a tough match would be really nice to win,but if I don't win it's another shot too my confidence.I don't know how many more shots I can take,my confidence is at a very low level.As soon as I walked into Diamond Jim's I knew I didn't want to be there.I think when I go today,I'm going to try and have an attitude of just having fun.The game has not been fun for me in weeks,it's been more like a job.

Talisman Hard will Have To Wait

Due too a glue failure my Talisman Hard tip review will have to wait.I noticed a small gap between the tip and ferrule last night while playing,and then I ripped it off.Unfortunately that was the only one I had,I had ordered 3 tips ,but only one hard tip.So I'll be placing an order soon,and then I'll get too it!

I got too the pool hall yesterday and played pretty well!I didn't win a single set,but I was happy with my game.The pool hall was pretty slow as far as players went,for most of the day it was just the four of us,Chino,Big Bill,Mike the Fish and myself.So Chino and Big Bill hooked up,and I played with Mike the Fish.Tough match is all I can say,I like it though.I'm very lucky to have these players around and willing to spar for next too nothing or nothing at all!You just wont get that in most rooms.Most of your better players are always going to make you pay to see their better game!

So it was me and The Fish.One of the reasons I was happy with my play was that in each set we played I was able to jump to an early lead.In a longer race the better player will usually win,and that was the case.Mike the Fish got me every time!But I played well,didn't give to much away,and made him work for it!That to me is an improvement over my last performance against him.So I feel I should be satisfied,and I think I am.

This post is going to span 2 days at Diamond Jim's,because I just don't have the creativity to write,I don't know why I just cant find it the past few days.

I'll give you a quick summary of yesterday.I was in action all day against Jersey Ken,I didn't win a single set!I lost a few hill/hill.

Next up was Jose' we played one set,I lost plain and simple.

I've been taking my beatings with out a doubt!But I have been playing tough matches for me!It's a little frustrating,but in the long run,I'm sure it will show in my game.

STRETCH

Memorial Weekend

I would like to start off by congratulating The New Jersey Devils on the Eastern Conference Championship which now pits them against the Western Conference Champions,the Las Angles Kings for The Stanley Cup Championship!

I haven't been at a table in the last 2 days!And I may not get too a table for a few more!You see I got the second best game killer you can have.A job!The first best game killer is a relationship outside of pool players,at least that has been my experience.Anyway back too reality,I'm hoping that the time off will do me some good,I know the money will be a nice change!I can't wait too put some bucks in my pocket,I'm sick of being broke!

I don't really want the time off,I'd rather not have these breaks in my game,I have plenty of enthusiasm and feel that's the only time you should take a break,when you don't want to be there you shouldn't and when you want too be there you should!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

STRETCH

Talisman Tip Review

I promised you guys my opinion on Talisman tips and here it comes.I want to start by saying,I'm no expert in tips,in fact through out my career I think I've only tried about a half dozen different tips on my OMEN cue. http://www.omencues.com/
The shaft I play with is a Predator 314 small cat.
The tips that I have tried are;Moori medium & hard,Molavia hard,Le Pro hard,Triangle hard,and finally Talisman Water Buffalo medium & hard.Now I like hard tips for a couple of reasons;
1:they last longer
2:the sound
3:the feel
4:they don't mushroom as easy
I've played most of my career with hard Triangle's as my favorite,so that is my benchmark tip.
I also must confess to you that I'm a tip abuser!I grind my chalk in,during my PSR(pre shot routine)and as a result a hard Triangle will only last about 4 weeks of play,this is with only shaping the tip on initial install to the radius of a dime,and letting it flatten too a nickle and then maintaining that radius.Which with a Hard Triangle is about 3 more times to be shaped with a tip tool.Now during that 4 weeks of play I'm at the table for 6 hours,5 days a week.So it's a fair amount of play.

First up is the Talisman WB Medium.This is the first laminated tip I've tried in years,I never had much luck with them in the past.For me they were too soft and I had a few de-laminate,let alone the cost of just one!
This was a nice tip for a medium.It played slightly softer than a hard Triangle when new,and was very consistent through out it's life till the very end of it.When I first put this tip on I was amazed at how well it grabbed the cue ball,I actually had to change the way I addressed the CB with spin,moving back closer too center ball for all shots.The amount and speed of draw shots was most impressive,and very nice to watch.I had too adjust my stroke too this tip,but that's to be expected when you change hardness in a tip.This tip also produced a nice sound when you stroked the ball.When I installed it I shaped it too a dime,and after break in,it was a nickle radius,and never changed.I never had too use a tip tool on this tip beyond a gentle taping too perforate it.This tip also holds chalk very well,the only time I miscued with this tip is when I jumped right out of the shot!It's pretty rare for me to miscue but it did happen a couple of times with this tip,but it definitely was me jumping up or dropping my elbow.The only complaint I have with this tip was it's life span,I wish it would have lasted more than 4 weeks for me.If it would have lasted say 5 weeks I'd be putting another Talisman WB medium on my OMEN!

Talisman WB Hard:
I've only had this tip on about a week,and love it so far.I'm going to hold off on this review till I grind it down a little further or it's on for 3 weeks or more.I feel that's the only way too give you a fair review of this tip.I can tell you, that it grabs the CB very nice,sound great,and feels great!But I feel it needs more time for initial break in than the medium.

Talisman Break/Jump Tip:
So,a B/J tip is an extremely hard material such as leather or plastic.
I chose to use a Talisman leather B/J tip over G10 fiberglass,because of the new tournament rules.I put this tip on my Xbreaker that had a G10 tip originally.

I've had to make some rather large adjustments to my break to get it to work for me,and I still don't have the results I was hoping for.So this probably wont be a favorable review.

The tip is hard but there is a loss of speed and power on the break shot.I've had to increase my tip speed dramatically which decreased my accuracy.This makes it very hard to control the cue ball,and squat the rock in the middle.When I do get the accuracy,speed and power the tip performs well.
As far as a jump shot goes I'm impressed with the feel and control you get when you can get it off the table.But getting the CB off the table is no easy task with this tip.It also requires a totally different stroke than the G10 tip that comes on an X-Breaker.It seems to me that this tip requires so much speed rather than power that you must spend a lot of time practicing your break and jump shots if your changing from a Phenolic or G10 tip.

Too be fair too Talisman I made a mistake when installing this tip and had a pad installed.I'm not positive that a pad would decrease the performance of the tip dramatically,but I do know it has a negative effect.The pad should not be there!So I will be getting another B/J tip from them in the future,and trying it with out a pad.I'll post that review also.

As far as mushrooming goes,I've had ZERO mushrooming with all three of these tips.Mushrooming is my biggest problem with tips and is one of the reasons I grind my tips too nothing.I always shape my tips too a dime the first time and let them flatten naturally too a nickle.So far none of these tips have ever moved from there!

The cost of Talisman tips? I got 4 tips for $37 shipped!
2 medium
1 hard
and a free B/J tip & a monogrammed hand towel!That's a good deal.I ordered directly from the Talisman website.
STRETCH

Still Waiting

Well I'm still waiting!I don't know how long I have to wait,but I am going to wait it out!Patience is key in this game,it seems like your always waiting for something or someone.Like today,I had to wait for a game to show up,not the usual Sunday at Diamond Jim's,I even arrived a little late.I didn't have to wait long though,Chino came through the door at about 1:00 pm.Here was the tough game I was looking for.Chino always wants to play, he rarely does any drill work.But maybe that's one of the reasons he's still playing the same speed as when I first met him at Toby Sweat's room Hollies.I think he was a B+ then and now he's A- that's not much of a change in all these years.I hope I don't stall like that,but I guess you can never tell till you get there.

I plan on playing the tough matches for my whole career,it might not sound like it in the last 2 posts,but after all was said here and done in my head,I was very happy to be playing Chino.Right now this is a real tough match for me too even be competitive in!But I'm trying very hard.I learned a couple of things today during my first session.One was that I need to adjust my game earlier in a set if I'm not feeling it.And today I didn't have it again.I think I have something going on in my back hand.I'm pretty sure that I'm not finishing my stoke with a straight wrist and that's not good for pocketing balls.I'm happy to report that I have been able to bring a lot of intensity too the table on each shot,maybe my concentration is a little off,but a lot of that has to do with confidence or maybe I should say lack off.

If there is one thing that almost every pool player says at one point or another it's "I think I've got it figured out".That's not what I'm saying here!You see for the last week I've been missing shots that I just shouldn't miss.I mean easy shots,at first I thought it was my concentration or focus,but I feel I have addressed that,it may not be perfect but it's not as bad as I've been missing.That leads me to believe that there is something wrong with my stroke,and I noticed it in my break.I'm not finishing straight,my wrist is slightly cocked in on my follow through!On the break shot any flaw in your stroke is magnified because your hitting so hard.And if this is the case it could be why I'm missing the easy shot!I actually hope it is I would love to have an answer.

My session with Chino was fun,I got crushed but was still having a good time.I tried too play him tough,as tough as I could.I just kept telling myself not to give any games away,make him work for it!I think I accomplished that,I played a lot of safes,maybe too many if there is such a thing when you can't get out.I had him kicking and mase'ing balls all the time in the first set.I really tried too not let him catch a stroke.I had a chance to win the first set but I blew it!It ended at 9-7.The second and third sets where just train wrecks for me.Chino had caught the stoke I tried so hard to impede.And I barley got too the table,when I did I was kicking,or had an extremely low percentage shot.I don't remember how many racks Chino ran but it was a lot.They ended 9-3 & 9-1.You don't have to say it,I know it's bad.

I played a second session with Ken "The Kernal",and as I'm sure you figured that didn't go my way either.Those 2 sets where fun too watch,he just breaks and runs out like tap water.But that's what you get when you play an OPEN class player with a big break.It is nice to watch the patterns that an open class player will play,you can learn a lot if you pay attention.Ken The "Kernal" will also tell you things too help your game,which most players will not do!And the way he does it is correct,he asks you why!Why did you do such and such,and after your response he makes a suggestion,and offers a new way of looking at the shot or pattern you chose.Most players wont do this for you,they will leave you too your own devices.

I'm going to play today,and I plan on doing some drill work but if a good game comes my way I'm sure I'll take it.But I know I need to do a day or two of drills real soon.
STRETCH

Patcience

I didn't play yesterday,I wanted to play but couldn't,I had other less important stuff too do.I also didn't wake up till 11:00am,and that's not like me,so I didn't finish my stuff till around 1:00pm,and I know Diamond Jim's is usually full by then.I definitely could have gone and gotten a game but probably would have done some sitting,and was not in the mood to sit and watch.I did a lot of that on Friday night,Big Al even said too me "man you got it bad huh?play all day & watch for hours".I like to watch good play,and I think it's just as important as practice or sparing,but it has too be good play.I can watch pool videos of the pros all day and all night!But that's not the same as clocking someone live.I'm more attentive live,the sound of pool balls clicking,that sweet pocket sound,the pong of a nice hitting cue,the chatter of players.It's all silence too me if that can make sense too you,maybe you're a player?I hear it all,but I don't listen too it when I'm concentrating,it helps me get into a zone.

Little did Big Al know,but I was clocking him,he was locked up with a guy named Eddie,I'd never seen the guy play before and have only seen him in the pool hall on league teams.Big Al was giving him the 8 ball,for how much I have no idea,but it looked pretty friendly so it couldn't have been much.I've been told Big Al dog's it for the cheese,this is the 1st time I've seen him in action that I'm aware.I've played with Big Al a couple of times and he never asked me too gamble,which is good because I'm so broke I can't afford to pay attention.The times I've played Big Al he played good,he get's out regularly and easily has the capability of stringing a few racks.I like his game,I hope to get too the point I can beat him even up soon.I've played him twice,and I gave away a set hill/hill(8-8)race too 9 so I know I can beat him!But he plays good,no doubt about that,he's one of the better players at Diamond Jim's!During the time I spent clocking his action game he made a lot of mistakes,and missed shots he would not have missed against me!Granted,this could be him laying down,because I think he won every set!I know I didn't see him lose a set!So if he was laying down,he was doing a pretty good job of it.
But I'm more inclined to believe that he does dog it!You see Big Al is a real gentleman,a genuine nice guy,and a school principle.All that makes me think that he's not going too try too rob anybody,he's going too play his game!Some guys can and will hustle I don't think he's a hustler.I just think he'll gamble.There is a big difference in a gambler and a hustler.A hustler will try and hide how good he is too keep you playing,and a gambler doesn't really hide his speed.With a gambler if you can not keep up he'll give you a spot.And I think that's what Big Al is a gambler of some sorts.I'll find out soon enough and report it here.

I plan on playing today,and hope to find a tough match again.Even though I got so down on myself the other day I know playing the tough matches is what's going too separate me from the rest of the players.This I truly believe!I've been taking some beatings,and my confidence has suffered because of it!But I have too learn from it and push on.I can't let it discourage me,that's the difference,the other day I got discouraged and wanted to quit.I can not let that happen again.Imagine what winning just 1 of these sets would do for my confidence!If I could win a race too 9 against any one of the tougher players Diamond Jim's has to offer,it should go through the roof!If I could do it on a regular basis then I know I'm really getting somewhere with my game.Too me it has to be at least a race to 9,because I believe anyone can win a race too 7 on any given day.The longer the race,the more likely the better player will come out on top.I'm not the better player in any match that I would like too play in today,but I still want to play them,and I think that says something about me!And if I can win 1 or a few of them it will say something about my game.I want too make a statement with my game in the near future,I really think I need to make a statement,I don't need to make a public statement I just need it for myself,I've been putting in a lot of hard work,and I want or need to see something for myself.I hope to see something today,but if I don't I need to remember to be patient and it will come as long as I keep working on it."Good thing come to those who wait"Abraham Lincoln. STRETCH