Fish Attack

I didn't survive the onslaught of Mike the Fish!I think we played 3 or 4 sets,and the Fish won them all convincingly!I'm pretty sure the closest I got was 9-5.I played horrible!I could do no right,and I got every bad roll there was!Not to make excuses but that's how it went.

I recently hurt my back really bad,and have been having a hard time getting down on the ball.Normally playing pool with a bad back would not be thought of as a good move,but it seemed to help loosen up my spine.My injury is not muscular I think I slipped a disk,because when I did it,I felt something like bone on bone.Playing seemed to help,but I'm pretty sure I'm not getting down on the shot like I normally would.That could be a little of whats going on with my game for yesterday.No excuses in pool though,I just played bad.

I also played a race to 9 with Big Al and did not fair well either.I really like both of these guys games!Mike had asked me what I thought the game would be between them,and I said it would be even,well they matched up the other day.Mike said they played 6 sets and split,so there you have it.If I was asked where I thought there was any advantage it would be the break.Big Al has a slight advantage there,but not much,Mike The Fish doesn't give up much though.

I started a set,race to 7 with Jose' The Hosser,but had to leave in the middle.We left it at 4-4 and I'm breaking.I gave away 2 or 3 games in this set,and I cant afford to give away any more.

League Night

So last night was league night,and it was not a good night for me to play.I wrecked my back the other morning putting on my pants.Yeah,yeah laugh out loud.But really I was in so much pain,I didn't think I would be able to play.Big Scott and I got to the pool hall at 12:00pm,and when I first went to get over my shot it hurt so bad I didn't think I could do it again.But after a few games it became easier and easier.Then I found the magic cure,beer yup the elixir from the Gods!I took 2 Aleave's and slammed a Bud Ice tallboy,and by the time I got back to Diamond Jim's I was good to go!I don't like to take meds that are just masking agents it makes it to easy to put yourself in a vulnerable position,and create more damage.But I really think the beer was the one that did the trick,it relaxed me,and I think that's what my back needed.

I was the first to go last night,and I shouldn't have been.Nira put me up against a 4 that she should have played,and I should have played the second match against Lyle who recently dropped his handicap to a 4.Well it didn't work out the way we would have liked.Nira lost her match,after I had won my match.My match was pretty tough but Lyle was a little tougher.We did the best we could in our matches,Nira almost got the win!Next up was Big Scott,I think he played a 7.Big Scott did not play good at all,and lost his match.Next up was Matt also a newly ranked 7,he got off to a rough start but found a little stroke and came from behind to nail a win!I hope we can keep Matt a 7,because we really don't need an 8.I would love to see our team have lower handicaps with higher capability's.

Not Expected

I should have a lot to write about,since I have not posted any of whats gone on in the last 5-6 days.A lot has happened but I'm not sure I remember it all.I'll give it my best shot for you guys though.

This did not happen in order,it's just how I remember it.

I've played a ton in the last week,I was trying to get it in before starting a construction job that is going to consume all of my time for the next few weeks.The only reason I can even write this is,I hurt my back today,in the early morning I yanked something out of line,like a disc,it hurts really bad.

I'm going to start with my play as that's what I remember best.
I have had a significant improvement happen to my game!Not only have I noticed but other players have seen it too.But I'm not the only one in the pool hall to improve,Big Scott is right there with me,the other day we played for a few sets,and we pretty much went rack for rack of run outs.I hit him with a 2 pack and he hit right back with almost a 2 pack,that ALMOST was probably the set decider.I'm happy Big Scott and I are showing signs of improvement we have both put in a lot of work.
My game jumped the other day like a least a ball!That's a rather large jump,I didn't expect it to last for more than a day,but it did.I had what I hope was just a minor set back vs Chino yesterday.He beat me every set we played and the closest I got was I think 7-9.I'm calling it a minor set back because,Toby Sweet asked me a few questions that I answered,and as I answered,I was immediately enlightened to what had changed from that day to this day.It's a very simple fix,and I expect to be right back there again.Toby also gave me a flattering statement about my game,when he said "I have great mechanics".I was just as surprised as I was happy to hear that.My game is taking it's time,but it's coming!Good things come to those who wait.
I still have a few people on my list to beat.I played with Giant Jerry the other day,but we had to stop short in the second set and call it a game.I don't think he was playing all that good.I got him the first,and we stopped the 2nd set as a race to 5,in which he got me.

Toby Sweet almost had some good action,He was supposed to play Mike Wong.But they had some pre match drama,and could not agree on a game!This kid Wong was a real tool,you could tell he always got his way as a kid,because of the way he talked to Toby.He said he wanted to have to grind for the wins,and wanted to play sets.Toby wanted the REAL grind,he wanted to play by the game,and guarantee 8 hours of play per day!Now that's what I call a grind!Wong wanted rack your own ball,Toby wasn't falling for that trick either.Toby even offered to pay for a hotel for him.It's probably for the best that they didn't play,word is Wong will drive you nuts with how slow he plays,and I heard that from more than one player!So it was no action for Toby.
Toby did get a good game the other day from a truly unsuspecting,supposedly world champion in your own mind kinda guy.This guy come into Diamond Jim's,and just starts asking people for a game,so Jersey Ken points him in Toby's direction.This guy was another tool,and he had a travel pose' with him.So they agree to a game of Chicago.Now everybody in the room knows who Toby is except this guy.It was like watching a hustling movie.Toby beat this guy like 42 ways out of 50!

Talisman Hard Tip Review

I'm gonna try and give you a fair evaluation of the Talisman Water Buffalo Hard.

This is a hard hitting tip,and I like hard tips for a few reasons;
1. They last longer
2. They hold shape better
3. They sound better
4. They feel better
The only draw backs for a hard tip that I can think of is;
1. They don't hold chalk
2. They miscue easier
3. They don't grab the cue ball as well as say a medium tip
4. Some people may feel they get less feed back from the cue

That's all I can think of right now but if anyone has any other advantages or disadvantages please respond!

This tip has lasted about 6 weeks now which is a long time for me ,and still has about a week or 2 left in it.I'm very abusive with the chalk,and really grind them down to nothing just by chalking!

The cue is a Pete Omen
The shaft is a Predator 314 small cat

This is a great tip!By far the best laminated tip I've ever used!

This tip plays slightly harder than the hardest Triangle,but grabs the CB nicely.It holds a ton of chalk,gives great feedback,sounds good and solid.It doesn't grab as well as the Talisman WB medium,but it grabs well.The medium grabs maybe a little to much for my stroke.Miscues with this tip have only occurred a few times and only recently,the tip has maybe 1 good nickle left in it.When I installed this tip I had it shaped to a dime radius,and it flattened to a nickle,and never moved again!

I can highly recommend this tip for any player that likes a hard hitting tip!In fact this tip is the only tip that I can say plays better than the best Triangle!That's a bold statement,I've been playing hard Triangles for my whole career. But this Talisman Water Buffalo Hard wins that match up with a few things;
1. Holds shape better
2. Miscues less often
3. More consistent feel through out it's life span
4. Grabs the CB better

This tip is my new tip of choice!I'll be installing a new one shortly,and have all the confidence in the world that a new one will play the same.Talisman makes some bold statements on their web site,which I was skeptical of,but the tips do what the web site says!I'm totally impressed with this tip. It's the first tip for me that has now replaced hard Triangles as my tip of choice!

I Got Him Too

Yesterday was a tough day of play for me.Mikey Fish called me up the night before and set a match up,his usual Straight Pool game fell thru,so I guess I was the first person on his hit list.If that's the case then I'm flattered,I don't think it would be from my quality of play,I'm more inclined to believe he just likes to beat me up!Well the beatings continued yesterday,we played all day,and into the night for a few hours.

So I think this is how it went.We played 7 or 8 sets race to 9.Fish beat me up for I think the first 5 sets!I know it sounds bad ,but The Fish plays better than me!I'm not supposed to win,but I got him!Yes I did,I got him for 2 sets,if I remember correctly.That's a big thing for me,there are a few guys in here that I really need to get,for my confidence,and The Fish is one of them!

I know I can play with these guys,and be a favorite.My game is just coming back,I wish I was a natural at this game,but I always had to work hard for my game.I'm putting in the mileage with my game,and it's just starting to show!

I Got One of Them

Wow today was a quick day.I went to Diamond Jim's and played Big Al.It went so fast I really did not feel like I played!We only got three sets in,and I'm happy to report one of them went my way in a big way! I finally got him in the first set,9-3.The second set went hill/hill and I missed an 8 ball and gave the set away.The third set went his way also.I'm starting to have and play with confidence.This is great news for me,I've been playing with no confidence for weeks now,and I hope it's finally over.I really don't see why it wouldn't be over.

17 Hours of Action

I could probably write about 3 pages,with all that took place at Diamond Jim's yesterday!There was ACTION all day and all night,I know because I got there at 12:00 pm and left at 5:00am,that's a long day of pool and I never left the table!

I love Saturday's at Diamond Jim's the place is really alive,every table is lit,and characters come and go through out the day and night.

I'm not going to be capable of giving you the specifics of every match,I really don't remember it all,I don't even remember all of my own action.

We started off the day with three featured matches;
Table 1 Toby Sweet vs Chino
Table 2 Jose' "The Hoser" vs Ronnie "The Lock"
Table 3 Big Al vs "Stretch"

Out of respect and for the sake of privacy,all I'll ever say about players gambling is that they are in action.

Toby Sweet vs Chino; Now this was a special match!To have someone of Toby's caliber playing next too you is a treat!Arguably the best money player to play the game,I think Chino is a little out gunned.I really did not get a chance to sweat that match,as I was involved in my own war.I can say that I did see Toby breaking a lot.I also noticed that Toby is rarely shooting anything over 2 feet,and he's on the correct side of the ball every time! I wish I could have really watched this match,you could learn a lot.I am a little happy with myself for not watching,because that meant I kept my head on my game.

The Hoser vs The Lock; Now this is Ronnie The Lock's first appearance in my blog so lets talk a little about his game.I wish I could really tell you how The Lock plays but I don't have a ton of time watching him.One of the things I do know about his game is,it's dam good!And everyone tells me he has the simplest game in the room.But when your never out of line it always looks simple,and that's my take on his game!
Needless to say I believe Hoser was just out gunned also.I think the Hoser did pretty good against The Lock,I think they were playing even up,and I know at least one set went hill/hill.They played for four sets with the Lock winning all four!But to The Hoser's credit,if you can go hill/hill with The lock,for even just one set,you should be pretty happy!

Big Al vs Stretch; You would think I would know everything about this match up,since I played in it,but I don't!What I can tell you is,it was very competitive! I managed to go 7-9 2-9 7-9 and we played at least 2 more sets,but I don't remember the scores.I played pretty well and I'm happy with my results.Big Al plays at about an A class,so I was out gunned also.But I gave him a good shot,and I think he knew I was there.

The night session;
There was only one match for the night but it was long and tough.

Stretch vs Ian; Now this was a real test for me to see if I could dig deep and claw my way back into a stroke.I'd been at the table for around 9 hours when Ian called me out for the second time of the day.I will tell you this about the action,it's more than that for me!This was about food,and not just any food!This was about sushi!Do I have your attention now?Well I lost the first 2 sets,and was really not seeing the edge of the ball,it was just a giant blurr too me.We doubled the double and I wore him out,and edged him for the set!Now Ian and I are even.

I'm on my way back today.