Issuu

SPM Billiards Magazine

Professional boxing fans adored ring announcer Michael Buffer; The Wide World of Sports cherished Howard Cosell; Major League Baseball embraced Harry Caray; the National Football League touted John Madden; international cue sports gave us Mark “The Mic” White, commentator extraordinaire for snooker, billiards and all things cue sports! He has earned his place among many other great commentators on a global scale!

My first thought, when I imagined myself as a local Pattaya(Puh-tie-yuh) resident, was hearing Mark’s London, English accent! He has a profound vocal presence that can be heard in many of the surrounding pool halls.

“The pool scene is one of the main reasons I’m in Pattaya, not Bangkok,” The Mic stated about living in Thailand for nearly the last year. “The pool scene in Pattaya is absolutely unbelievable. It’s tremendous,” he I started my ZOOM interview with Mark “The Mic” bragged. “There are numerous pool halls decked out White by saying, “Sa wad dee krab! Khun pen xyangri!” with Diamond and Predator tables of every size, among Which is a customary Thai greeting meaning, “Hello! How are you?” He chuckled and said, “That’s not too bad at all!” referring to my pronunciation and the fact that I spoke to him in Thai! This being my first ZOOM interview, EVER!, presented a bit of a challenge as not only do I deal with hearing loss but Mark has a strong, pronounced English accent. I first heard his accent when I watched his “A Passion For Pool” YouTube interview with Kelly Fisher, MBE. His demanding yet meticulous voice is hard not to notice as it gives him a very distinctive presence as a cue sports commentator. Another hurdle we faced was the 12-hour time difference between Eastern Standard Time with me being in Indiana and him on Indochina time in Eastern Thailand. Being 8,694 miles apart, across the North Pacific Ocean, you’ll find yourself situated in Pattaya, Thailand, beautifully hugging the Gulf of Thailand’s picture-perfect beaches visited by millions of tourists annually. 6

SPM Billiards Magazine

other brands. The tables are meticulously cared for and kept in ‘nearly new’ condition.” As if that weren’t enough, one of the primary reasons Mark resides in Pattaya is the cost of living. “Between my rent, gas, and electric I pay about $130 per month,” he said enthusiastically. Mark was a young lad of 7 years old when his parents allowed him to stay up late to watch a BBC 2 program called “Pot Black”, on black and white television, on a school night every Monday. It was this program that gave him the billiards bug. The following year his dad bought him a little 6x3’ pool table that used to go on top of a diamond table. “We’d play for hours, me and my dad,” he expounded. As The Mic became quite good at pool, at age 14, he was allowed to go into a local club before he was the required age of 16 to shoot around. Right about that same time, as Mark was honing his playing skills, his dad bought a restaurant called “The White House” donning the family name. Upstairs from the restaurant they had a social club that had pinball machines, a snooker table, and a pool table. You could usually find The Mic glued to the pool table, even staying up the whole night on occasion, shooting 100 racks one night. Mark became the local city champion at age 16, respectfully. His billiards accolades grew during the time he lived in England. This passion for billiards evolved into a stint as a coach with two professional referees who took him under their wings when they opened up a pool hall not far from his home in Essex. An Avid fan of the World Champion Snooker Tournament, he boasts that he has never missed one. This kept him distantly connected as a spectator. Mark found his way to Pattaya in 1989 for the first time. He began to discover the cue sports phenomenon teeming there. Then again in 2018, he made his 2nd return visit to Pattaya where he happened to find his soon-to-be favorite pool hall, Double Kiss which houses Diamond and Predator tables that are reclothed every 6 months. There was a tournament being run by a gentleman from the Philippines. He was running a Chinese 8-ball Masters

qualifier in Bangkok. Well, this gentleman walks into Double Kiss while The Mic is hanging out there with his pool family and asks, “Is there anyone here who speaks English and can commentate on pool?” Mark stuck his hand up because he always did for everything and he got the job! He goes to Bangkok and finds out he’s ok at it. They liked him and he liked them and The Mic got his first big break in the billiards pool world. After his initial commentating gig, while back home in England, Mike gets another call from a different promoter who asks if Mark would like to do some commentating for some matches he’s doing. The guy says, “I can’t pay ya, but it might lead to something.” So he accepts the offer and buys himself a microphone to use with his laptop and now he’s onto his second gig commentating these online challenges.

SPM Billiards Magazine

This exposure starts to get the ball rolling (no pun intended, hehe) for Mark as word spreads that this Englishman will do commentating. The gigs shoot out of the gate like a Thoroughbred! Mike DeMarco reached out to The Mic because he had been watching some of Marks’s commentary and liked what he saw so he asked if he would like to commentate a challenge match with some big-name players such as Billy Thorpe, Roberto Gomez among others.

says yes and they started a weekly podcast called the “Booths Brothers” borrowing from the Blues Brothers logo and replacing their faces with Joey and Marks.

They got to be creative with their interviews allowing them to have fun, get a bit crazy, and do some off-thewall shows that Mark remembers, “Oh they were crazy! I invented this alter ego that was a rapper who I called ‘2 Piece Cue’ where I would write a rap song about every guest that we had on each week!” The Mic smilingly This is when Mark connects with Joey Ryan who does recalled. “I’m famous for saying stupid things on the his own podcast called, Pool Player Podcast. Mike and microphone, really,” he brags laughingly. He compiled Joey have tremendous commentation working together a collection of bloopers that he recorded and posted on for the first time so Mike asks Joey if he would like to an Instagram page that went a bit viral. work with him on this idea he has for a podcast. Joey

SPM Billiards Magazine

As COVID was raging on, Mark was doing remote commentating when his next big break came from David Alcaide from Spain, owner of a television channel named One Pool T.V., who organized an online pool tournament for all the women that he called the Women World Championship tournament online. This is how Mark met Kelly Fisher, MBE, and became good friends with her even stating that she is one of his best friends.

to the booth to do interviews. Joey is conducting the interviews at the booth. Mark had no inclination Joey was asking for donations. Within two days the three of them got $2,700 working the booths and doing a little bit of commentary from the tables. He exclaims, “On the last day, the finals, Ozzy says, ‘We’ve been let down in the commentary for the 8-ball finals on the seven foot. Would you be willing to jump in on that?’”

The Booth Brothers got their next big break after they had Ozzy Reynolds owner and CEO of Cue Sports International, based out of Henderson, Nevada, on the podcast. “He runs the Cue Sports International Expo out of Las Vegas every year,” The Mic shared about their next big guest on the podcast. “This was run alongside Predators Pro Billiards events.” During the podcast, The Mic blurts out, “I basically said to him, ‘I want a job. I want to be a commentator!’” Ozzy responds, “Put it in writing and send me some clips of your commentary and we’ll get back to you. I can’t offer you any commentary work. But, if you want to come to the venue, I’ll give you a hotel room for the 10 days. I’ll give you a booth where you and Joey, ‘The Booth Brothers’ can set up a little booth and you can do player interviews and stuff like that. You can help me out in any way. That’ll be good as well. But you just need to get yourself there.”

The Mic declared, “Of course, I will! No problem!” cementing Mark’s first big break in doing billiard commentary. After getting back home, after two weeks on the road, he gets a call from Ozzy asking, “How fast can you get to Arizona?” Mark replies, “As fast as you can book me a flight!” Another commentator, Jeremy Jones, had caught COVID so Ozzy asked Mark to jump in to cover the commentating and Mark was off to becoming a commentator for Predator since 2021.

It was the spawning of his career from the “Booth Brothers” to jet-setting cue sports commentator for competitions all over the world on-site and remotely. As I said at the beginning of this article, Mark “The Mic” White is the epitome of cues sports commentators. His Mark recalls. “This is just at the end of COVID, but we’re first sponsor was Predator with current Sponsorships still having to wear masks and take COVID tests to fly from Jam Up Apparel, TAOM V10, and JFlowers cues, on an airplane. I actually flew to Mexico to quarantine respectively, as of this printing. for 2 weeks. I had no money, so I sold my car. I had about $3,000 when I left England. So I went to Vegas, I As of January 2025, JFlowers recognized his social media met Ozzy and he said, “Did you mean it when you said presence with his celebrity status as a commentator and podcast interviewer by adding “The Mic” to their family you’d do anything? Would you clean the toilets?” of sponsored cue sports personalities including Rodney “The Rocket” Morris, Jason “Eagle Eye” Shaw, Earl “The Mark insures him, “Yes I’ll clean the toilets!” Pearl” Strickland, Emily “The Bombshell” Duddy, and “No! No! No! No!, I’m not gonna get you to clean the Joe “Rackem” Watson among other recognizable names toilets! But will you clean the tables? Will you clean the in the billiards world. pool tables?” Ozzy asks intently. Mark clarifies, “Not the 300?” They had 9 nine footers and after each round, he’d As a member of the JFlowers family, they provided The Mic with an arsenal of JFlowers equipment, including a have to clean those off. loaded break cue, RPG jump cue, and Jason Shaw butt The Mic ends up talking to the players inviting them with SMO carbon fiber shaft. SPM Billiards Magazine

A little known secret that JFlowers is introducing a cue that incorporates carbon fiber into a wood shaft. Also, Jflowers has designed and built a studio that will allow Mark to do his podcasts and commentating from Pattaya. They’ll be utilizing a part of the studio to broadcast demos and techniques on an in house table. During the interview we shared how both of us are big fans of Philip B. Capelle, author of 11 billiards books, one of our favorites being “A Mind For Pool: How To Master The Mental Game”. Mark stated how he and Philip share the same mindset when it comes to the philosophy of cue sports.” We both share the exact same beliefs when it comes to the game,” Mark asserted with sincere conviction. Mark is one of those guys who arrives at the events usually a few days early to prepare for his commentary and interviews, but you’ll also see him helping set up tables and anything to do with the finishing touches for the event.

About 17 months ago Mark had a health scare. He suffered a mini-stroke. This has made a dramatic lifestyle change for him so much that he has cut out alcohol, sugar, junk food, and “all that rubbish!” he declared. He has made significant health improvements from these lifestyle changes as you can see in his energetic and flamboyant personality shining through! My hats off to you mate for your improved health! He needs to stay fit for all the demands of commentating, podcast interviews, and competing in various cue sports competitions. He is very passionate about cue sports and learning and sharing with every person that he has met along the way on his commentating journey! He emphasized how important it is for anyone who is involved with cue sports to go to a professional event. Witness it firsthand! Cue sports is one of the only sports where you can get up close and personal with professional players. Shoot with them, get lessons, and be personable with them about your shared passion for billiards. I would heed those words folks! Currently you will catch his remote coverage of the World Trick Shot Championships from Bay City, Michigan. His calendar is full of upcoming commentary! Be sure to check out his YouTube channel, “A Passion for Pool!” I conclude this article with this quote:

“Billiards is the well-developed art of thinking ahead. It’s not only a game, but first and foremost a demanding sport, which requires good stamina, the logical thinking of a chess player, and the stable hand of a concert pianist!” Author unknown Carpe Diem!

SPM Billiards Magazine

Your Name: Gregory Scott Bush, G.S.B. Cues City, State: Walton, Kentucky Facebook & Phone: GSBCUES.com - 513.446.6355 Describe your signature cue. This is a full core cue. It has highly figured orange stabilized black ash burl with stabilized tiger maple handle. The ring work is scrimshaw vines on elpheron. The playing cues has black buffalo horn with a copper radial pin. This cue has two high grain maple shafts with G2 medium tips It weighs 19.37 oz. This is a well-balanced cue for playability and control It produces a solid hit with a lot of action. The jump break cue is full core cue with a phenolic wood as the core. It has a uniloc quick release at the jump handle. It has a black G10 radial pin. Phenolic wood shaft with a Lexan break tip. Like the playing cue it has highly figured orange stabilized black ash burl with stabilized tiger maple handle. The ring work is scrimshaw vines on elpheron. This is a heavier cue at 21.5 oz and hits like a monster with little effort. A firm shot makes for an explosive break. The shortie cue for trouble shots and masse is a combination of phenolic black laminate and the highly figured orange stabilized black ash burl and stabilized tiger maple. It has a simple brass ring work and a high grain maple shaft. It is well balanced and weights 19 oz with a 13mm shaft. This cue is well balance and, in your 12

SPM Billiards Magazine

hands, you can’t even tell it not a full-size cue. The weight is in your hand so you don’t even miss the extra length.

What makes a perfect cue? For a perfect cue you need the correct balance of form, function, and artistry through quality woods. Highly figured woods in the right combination makes for a beautiful cue when paired correctly. I prefer merry widows as this shows off the true

beauty of the woods. Pointed cues are always classic and can add to the design along with inlays. The build process has to be correct as to get the correct balance and playability. Different materials can change the balance point and how the actual weight of the cue feels in your hands.

What is the price range for your cues? Cues start at around $650 and go up depending on materials and design.

What is your favorite wood to work with? I have a lot of favorite woods but a highly figured stabilized and cored burl really stands out in a cue. There is always figure, Tell me about your process - Each cue is made over color tones, and the grain figures are beautiful. months of processing and drying time. Shafts are stepped down over five months and then sit for the final cut for Who or what inspired you to want to learn cue-making? the correct size. The butts are stepped down once they are I always had a passion for pool in my younger years. I assembled. This is slightly less lengthy as they are stepped would play for hours every night. At first it was for gas down and processed before assembly. Inlays are done when and partying money. It was funny how much a $1 game the cue is almost to finishing size for a clean and smooth would get up to in the 90’s. I played through college cue before it is sanded and finished. Pins and weight bolts making it to nationals several times. are done before sanding. A lot of care has been taken to get the lathes that perform the critical work to less than After I graduated, I worked in maintenance, field service .002 of an inch. Machinery setup plays a more critical role engineering, manufacturing engineering, and industrial in the production of the cue than a lot of people give them engineering. I had a business degree from college also. I credit for. They have to be accurate and precise to avoid had always like making things out of wood growing up. problems and make the cue true and proper fit. Lamps, tables, clocks, cutting boards, etc. So, I decided to take my experience and education into something I

SPM Billiards Magazine

loved. You have to be so accurate making a cue I figured What’s your turnaround time for a custom cue to be made? it would be a good fit and challenge. Minimum turnaround time is 6 months if it is not already in process. I can some times reduce this if the wood has Years later I’m still at it just not as heavy in production already been processed in some previous steps. as previous years.

Where do you get your materials from? Materials come Who taught you how to do it and describe that? I learned from multiple suppliers from around the world. by watching videos and from cues maker groups. Have made a lot of friends over the years. I had and advantage What’s in your bag? In my bag I have my feature cues. as I had been dealing with machining and equipment They were a set and a three-year process to complete. for years previous. The biggest challenge was learning how to handle the woods as this was a big change from Do you have any celebrity or professional customers? I metals and plastics. make cues for several players over the years mostly local. Shannon Murphy, Mike Leek, TJ Back, Kat Stant, Dee Are there any products that you recommend to other Adkins Jr Program and others across the country. I’ve cue makers? If I was to recommend a product, I would made cues for various politicians and stars but we will say a good set of sanding mandrels will save you a lot of leave them unnamed as I do not want to use them for clout. heart ache when matching butts and shafts.

What is the one question everyone should ask about How long is your current waiting list? Minimum wait buying one of your cues, but doesn’t? If someone were time is 6 months and goes up from there depending on to buy a cue, I would say the question they need to ask is demand, complexity and materials. what can I get for my money instead of what does it cost. If you have a budget things can be worked into it. If you What other custom cue makers make you jealous? don’t, you can get anything you want but people don’t realize the amount materials have gone up over the years. I wouldn’t say I’m jealous but there are a few that I definitely admire. Rounceville make a very good full splice. This is an art to itself. Inlays I like Black Boar. Merry widows I’ve always been a Prewitt fan.

How many cues do you make every year? Currently, I make 5-10 cues a year. Tell me about your work area – I work in a roughly a 1200foot shop with various equipment. There are stations set up for specific functions to ensure accuracy and efficiency. There are two CNCs, Three lathes and another finishing lathe in a separate area. There are different presses and jigs. Couple router tables and sanding stations. Then the other standard wood working equipment as any wood shop.

SPM Billiards Magazine

In the realm of cue sports, 8-ball pool is often seen as a game of angles, patterns, and precision. But beneath the surface of potting balls and managing cue ball control lies a deeper, more cerebral aspect of the game: strategy.

opponent's potential strategy is akin to understanding the opening position in a chess game. The player who best reads the table—and their opponent’s intentions— has a significant advantage.

To the casual observer, pool might appear to be a game purely about shot-making. But to the seasoned player, it becomes a battleground of minds, resembling the complexities and foresight demanded in a chess match. Thus, the phrase "playing chess while others play pool" aptly captures the essence of high-level 8-ball strategy.

In chess, one wrong move can cost the game; in pool, one ill-advised shot can lead to a loss of control or even hand the match over to your opponent. Every decision matters, and the consequences of short-sighted play are often immediate and irreversible.

At first glance, the connection between 8-ball and chess may seem tenuous. After all, chess is played on a 64-square board with pieces that follow rigid movements, while pool is fluid, kinetic, and relies on the laws of physics. However, when examining the psychological components, decision-making processes, and the foresight required in both games, their similarities become unmistakably clear.

Understanding the Battlefield A chess player begins by evaluating the board, just as a pool player surveys the layout of the balls. Every piece and every ball has a purpose and potential. The master player identifies strengths and weaknesses in positioning and begins to craft a plan. In 8-ball, recognizing clusters, blocked pockets, and the 16

SPM Billiards Magazine

Positional Play: The Heart of Strategy Both chess and pool hinge on positional play. In chess, it’s about controlling key squares and developing pieces to influence the board. In 8-ball, it’s about cue ball placement, pattern play, and setting up for the next shot—or multiple shots ahead. A strong position leads to dominance, while poor position invites trouble. Playing safe, snookering your opponent, or breaking up clusters with precision mirrors chess tactics like pinning, skewering, or attacking an opponent’s weak points. The strategic player in 8-ball understands that not every shot must result in a pocketed ball. Sometimes, it’s wiser to play safe, to wait, to bait the opponent into error—just as in chess, where a wellplaced pawn or bishop can restrict an opponent’s movement and provoke mistakes.

Pattern Recognition and Planning Grandmasters in chess recognize patterns from thousands of games, allowing them to predict outcomes several moves in advance. In 8-ball, elite players develop similar foresight. Recognizing standard ball patterns and knowing which routes offer the most efficient runouts is a mark of a strategic mind. They don't just shoot the easiest ball first—they shoot the right ball first, with the endgame already in mind. This is where many amateur players falter. Focusing only on what’s in front of them, they miss the bigger picture. Professionals, however, build their runs like a chess endgame: minimizing risks, maximizing options, and staying several shots ahead. The phrase "chess while others play pool" reflects this mindset. While others are reacting, the strategist is dictating the pace and flow of the game.

Sacrifice and Psychological Warfare Another hallmark of chess is the concept of sacrifice— giving up a piece to gain a strategic advantage. In 8-ball, this can manifest as shooting a combo to pocket your opponent’s ball to gain a favorable position for yourself, or opting not to run out when the percentages don’t favor success. It's counterintuitive but often necessary. Moreover, both games are deeply psychological. The ability to read an opponent, to know when they’re under pressure or overly confident, can be as important as technical skill. Strong players use deception, tempo changes, and table presence to unnerve or mislead opponents. In chess, this might involve setting traps; in pool, it could involve an unexpected safety or an intentionally slow pace to break rhythm.

Tempo and Momentum Tempo—the ability to dictate the pace of the game—is essential in both chess and 8-ball. In pool, running racks quickly and confidently can intimidate an opponent, just as aggressive play in chess can force an opponent onto

Anthony Beeler is the current Billiards Instructor of the Decade and is a former BCAPL National Champion. He has numerous “Top 25” national finishes and is the primary author of the ACS National Billiards Instructor’s Manual. He has also authored the book Unstoppable! Positive Thinking for Pool Players. Anthony currently has the highest established Fargo Rating of any Master Instructor. He has won over 300 tournaments and has defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition. SPM Billiards Magazine

the back foot. Conversely, slowing the game, analyzing deeply, and pausing to plan can exert control and throw off opponents who thrive on speed.

When you begin to think in patterns, anticipate your opponent’s responses, and see several moves ahead, you are no longer just playing pool, Error Management and Risk Assessment you are playing chess. Good chess players and pool players alike learn to adapt their tempo. They sense when it’s time to press and when it’s time to retreat, regroup, and rethink. The player who controls tempo often controls the game.

The best pool players—and the best chess players—are not those who never make mistakes, but those who make fewer critical ones. They also know how to recover from mistakes without panicking. Risk assessment is ongoing: Should you go for a tough bank shot or play a lock-up safety? Should you launch an aggressive attack or solidify your defense?

To truly "play chess while others play pool," one must go beyond shot-making. They must become a student of psychology, geometry, and decision theory. They must accept delayed gratification, learning to play defense and sacrifice when necessary. They must focus not only Each decision must be weighed not just for its immediate on the cue ball, but on what their opponent sees—and reward but for its long-term implications. This is where doesn’t see. the mindsets of chess and pool converge most closely. The pool table, like the chess board, punishes poor Conclusion: Becoming the Strategic decisions and rewards careful planning.

Player

Learning from Losses

To rise above the crowd in 8-ball, you must shift your perspective. You must approach the game not just as Both games also share a culture of analysis and a shooter, but as a strategist. Each shot is a move in improvement. After a match, strong players will reflect a larger puzzle. Each position is a battle for control. on their decisions. What patterns did they miss? What When you begin to think in patterns, anticipate your opportunities did they ignore? Chess players analyze opponent’s responses, and see several moves ahead, you games with engines and mentors; pool players watch are no longer just playing pool—you are playing chess. match footage, break down run-outs, and talk strategy with peers. In this way, both games become lifetime In the end, the game within the game separates the good pursuits, rewarding those who never stop learning. from the great. Anyone can learn to make balls, but not Training the Mind Training for chess and 8-ball requires more than mechanical repetition. It demands the cultivation of mental discipline, emotional control, and the ability to think abstractly. Both games benefit from visualization skills—seeing sequences before they happen—and emotional intelligence, such as staying calm under pressure. 18

SPM Billiards Magazine

everyone can learn to win when the pressure is highest. Not everyone can keep their cool when the table is ugly, or wait patiently for their moment. So next time you approach the table, remember: You are not just here to shoot. You are here to outthink, outmaneuver, and outplay. You are here to play chess, while others play pool.

SPM Billiards Magazine

My involvement with CTE began in 2005 when Hal Houle, the pioneering constructor of Center-to-Edge Aiming, informed me that our game was being taught the wrong way. Houle indicated to me that what I needed to learn to right the ship was “so odd and so different that I would never figure it out”. Fast forward two decades. I have completely solved the mystery of CTE, and you are the beneficiary. It’s no secret: Center-to Edge Aiming (CTE) is one of the most controversial pool topics of all time. Proponents of CTE tout the phenomenon as having completely solved aiming, while the critics view CTE as just another adventure in feel. Many thanks to Garrett Troop and SPM Billiards Magazine for inviting me to share my Center-to-Edge Aiming expertise with the readers of SPM Billiards Magazine. I have ten years’ worth of CTE articles in my mind, and I’m rearing and ready to share. I’ll start with shedding some light on the truth about the middle of the cue ball. Have you ever wondered why American players generally favor a degree of outside spin for cut shots? They certainly do and there’s a reason for it—lack of center cue ball knowledge. Center cue ball alignments have never been properly explained on a big stage. That’s about to change thanks to SPM Billiards Magazine. 20

SPM Billiards Magazine

A CTE practitioner understands that the traditional dead middle of the cue ball is not the CTE working center. For this left cut shot, my tip is aligned to be at the center based on the right edge of the cue ball. This alignment is not on the true vertical axis. This is the center for professionals. A major CTE milestone for me occurred in 2007 when I declared to the pool world that the elites of our game

do not move straight down into their cueing alignments. I made a study of observing both the top players of the day and those of yesteryear. It became quite obvious that all top players bend or rotate into their shot lines depending upon the location of the cue ball and the object ball in relation to a given pocket. Immediately, I branded these movements as visual/physical sweeps and began teaching them to my CTE students under the heading of PRO ONE.

A center cue ball tip contact patch is about 3mm in width, consisting of about six or seven ticks. A pool ball has 360 ticks at its circumference. For a center cue ball cut-shot, whether it’s to the left or right, conventional instructors advocate alignment to the tick in the absolute middle of the patch. That’s not ideal because that’s a judgment center. Professional players, when aligning for a typical center cue ball cut shot, naturally align to the last outside tick in the patch. The one tick shot solution for a left cut is the last tick in the patch on the right. The one tick shot solution for a right cut is the last tick in the patch on the left. Since pros bend or rotate into their shot lines, it begs the question, “Why?” A sweeping movement always causes the player to focus on a particular half of the cue ball to see an edge-based center. Rather than moving straight down to align between the two edges of the cue ball, pros move toward one of the edges, subsequently aligning to a unique center that results in unequal cue ball halves.

My nose is turned a bit to the left toward the inside. My right eye is somewhat in charge of seeing the shot line. I must bend at my waist as my vision sweeps to the right to my personal mid-face alignment. My nose is turned slightly to the right toward the inside. My left eye is somewhat in charge of seeing the shot line. I must rotate my body to the left as my vision sweeps to the left to my personal mid-face alignment. No mumbo jumbo here, nothing silly, just the simple truth of how professional players really move into their shot lines. It’s not just the top players that are using a bend or a rotation to visually sweep into their shot lines. It’s a solid bet that you’re moving into your alignments just like the pros do. This understanding flies in the face of conventional wisdom. Instructors worldwide are teaching My alignment to the unique center is based on the right players to move straight down into their shot lines while cue ball edge. This results in unequal cue ball halves. The the masters of our game do something entirely different. tip is shown to be at a slight offset to the half-ball center. SPM Billiards Magazine

this instructor that explains why the Touch-of-Inside approach carries significant validity. I refer to this halfball revelation as S/s3 and look forward to covering it in detail in a future article. Due to the nature of unequal cue ball halves for cut shots, center cue ball alignments always yield an overcut to the ghost ball core. This is game-changing, priceless knowledge as it allows players of all abilities to increase their center cueing for cut shots rather than relying on iffy sidespin. CTE is the only alignment system that naturally factors in (to a significant degree) the negative effects of collision-induced throw. At times, I refer to CTE as a system, but the best descriptor is “phenomenon”. A great way of thinking about CTE is that it’s a reverse engineering feat that embodies a precise language that describes what the pros do to solve their center cue ball alignments. I personally do not care for man-made aiming systems such as ghost ball, contact points, or fractions. Pros do not use these systems. Pros visually gear cue ball/object ball relationships, subsequently basing their alignments on the half-ball center. My alignment to the unique center is based on the left I invite you to come along with me right here at SPM cue ball edge. This results in unequal cue ball halves. The Billiards Magazine as I share the truth about the real tip is shown to be at a slight offset to the half-ball center. Center-to-Edge Aiming, topic after topic, to include table geometry, PRO ONE visual and physical sweeps, Welcome to reality! The top players in the world are gearing, sighting, pivoting, cue-ball edge aiming, parallax engaging, knowingly or not, in half-ball alignments. viewing, stepping, S/s3, half-ball alignments, CTE and Amateurs who seek to align to dead-middle centers with spin, banking, combinations, caroms, and so much more. straight-down movements are severely handicapping their games in contrast to those players who base their Stan Shuffett is the world’s foremost authority on Centershot lines on half-ball alignments. to-Edge Aiming. In 2011 and 2013 Stan produced two top shelf CTE videos: “Stan Shuffett Presents PRO ONE A major implication of half-ball alignments is that the and Basic Center-to-Edge” and “Stan Shuffett’s CTE half-ball center almost always results in an unequal split PRO ONE: The Final Chapter”. In 2021 Stan authored of the cue ball. Although there are half-ball dead-center “Center Pocket Music: Using CTE PRO ONE to Improve exceptions, such as zero-angle shots, the thrust of this Your Pool Game”. Shuffett is a master instructor and writing is about cut shots. Typically for cut shots, the has been with the PBIA since its beginning in 1992. inside half of the cue ball is slightly wider and heavier, He specializes in individual instruction at his private while the outside half of the cue ball is a smidge thinner teaching facility in Greensburg, Kentucky. Stan’s website and lighter. It’s this very information uncovered by is www.justcueit.com. 22

SPM Billiards Magazine

Drill running is one of the best ways to improve a player’s game. The problem for many players is they don’t understand how a drill is supposed to better a player’s game. In order to perform at a high level, a player must have many sharp qualities that allow a player to survive against other players. Players need a combination of skill and smarts in order to play at a high level. Drilling is no different.

The Big Things are the Small Things. Hey everyone! Eric here. One of the most common lesson requests I get involved talking about cue ball control. Most of the time, however. It never gets that far because along the way we find stroke deficiency. What is stroke deficiency? Stroke deficiency is when the stroke is unable to perform what the student wants it to, often resulting in unfortunate events.

and more difficult adaptation. Each version should be shot 15 times at each cue ball distance for the maximum workout. Instead of working in exhaustion and doing them all, try picking one version to do per day to get some strong purposeful practice.

Version 1

Rolling the cue ball forward using high english. In this version, there is no pinpoint setup location for the cue ball. This training improves stroke deficiency, ball control, shot making ability, and mental focus.

Version 2

Stopping the cue ball using low english In this version, there setup location for the cue ball is very important. This training improves stroke deficiency, ball control, shot making ability, and mental focus.

Version 3

Drawing the cue ball using low english. In this version, there is no pinpoint setup location for the cue ball. This How can a player work on stroke deficiency? Is it possible training improves stroke deficiency, ball control, shot to work on this while working on cue ball control? making ability, and mental focus. The answer is yes, the player just needs patience and discipline to focus on the stroke. When a player focuses If the drill is going well for you, it’s now time to start on the stroke, cue ball control will get stronger with time. working on speed control. Identify a spot on the table where you’d like the cue ball to land in versions one Below, you will see a common drill that I do with my and three, and begin moving the cue ball to the chosen students to increase their stroke performance, while location as best as you can. Over time, you’ll start to see introducing the concepts of cue ball control. The drill is a cluster near your desired spot, which indicates a strong simple and smart, and can be adapted to any skill level. stroke and good cue ball control. There are 3 versions to this drill, and each has an easier 24

SPM Billiards Magazine

TRADITIONAL

Version 1

Rolling the cue ball forward using high english

Version 2

Stopping the cue ball using low english

Version 3

Drawing the cue ball using low english

If you are finding this drill difficult to both pocket the ball and work the cue ball, try this simpler adaptation.

SIMPLER

Version 1

Rolling the cue ball forward using high english

Version 2

Stopping the cue ball using low english

Version 3

Drawing the cue ball using low english

If you are finding this drill easy to do, try the harder version below.

DIFFICULT

Version 1

Rolling the cue ball forward using high english

Version 2

Stopping the cue ball using low english

Version 3

Drawing the cue ball using low english SPM Billiards Magazine

By now, you've certainly heard of the value of a pre-shot routine (PSR). You might have even spent time trying to build one. Take a moment to verbalize what your routine looks like before reading further. Did you describe something like this? "I chalk behind the shot, see my contact point, step in, take three practice strokes, and fire."

truth is, it really doesn't matter if you take three practice strokes, or three hundred, or zero. What matters is the one stroke that hits the cue ball. Here is our three-step framework for maximizing the effectiveness of your pre-shot ritual with consistency valued over counting:

Build Your Mindless Routine: The 3 P's of Pool

That sounds like a routine you want to have. Now, let’s consider what a real routine is. Think about this: When you cross your arms, which arm goes over the other? When you brush your teeth, which tooth does your brush touch first? I'd bet you brush almost the same number of strokes for the same amount of time every time you brush, and you've probably never counted them. These are real routines. They are so ingrained that you perform the same action without conscious thought. It would take concerted practice and effort to change them. The motions are so rote that trying to do something different feels unnatural. The reality is that every experienced player already has an automatic pre-shot routine which may or may not look like what you've read or seen it's supposed to look like. The difference is that the best players know how to harness their inherent routine to set themselves up for 1. Pondering: Think in the Thinking Position success—automatically and mindlessly.

(Embracing the Left Brain)

It doesn't matter how many practice strokes you take. The 26

SPM Billiards Magazine

This is where you plan. After identifying the shot and

safety factors, stand behind the shot and mentally verbalize the execution plan. This is the realm of the nerdy but logical, left brain. •

•

Use specific words: "It's a 30-degree half-ball hit, stun down the tangent line with 1/4 tip running English to get back to center table, lag speed." Crucial rule: This is done while standing. We do not shoot here, and we cannot miss here.

Kim "The Dragon" Young 2025 PBIA Instructor of the Year PBIA Master Certified 2. Painting: Visualize in the Visualization Position (Embracing the Right Brain) Here we transition from words to pictures. This is where the artistic and intuitive right brain paints the desired outcome, and the musical inclination of the right brain associates sounds with aim, spin, and speed. • • •

ACS Level 4 Instructor Senior Instructor at Billiard University

Visualize the outcome: “Hit the object ball here so the cue ball goes there.” Use sound cues: Tone (spin) and volume (speed) are critical. Crucial Rule: This is done while standing. We do not shoot here, and we cannot miss here. SPM Billiards Magazine

At Dragon Billiards Instruction, we teach our students how to miss like a pro before we teach them how to shoot like one. When a professional misses, you often have to watch the pocket to realize it because most often when they miss, they look exactly the same as when they make. When an amateur misses, we can often tell by watching the shooter. Learn to miss looking good. Learn to look exactly the same whether you pocketed the ball or missed it. When you can miss like a pro, you will inevitably start making more shots like one, too.

3. Performing: The Shooting Position (Incorporating the Body)

• • • •

Don't think in the shooting position. Don't shoot in the thinking position. Miss fewer shots by shooting fewer shots. If it doesn't seem right, you don't need to shoot it to find out!

All of your conscious thinking and visualization is complete. You are now down on the shot, and your body is going to either listen to the right brain and paint the picture, or listen to the left brain and second-guess/ make corrections at the last moment. You must operate solely on a binary system:

When you operate in pictures instead of words and focus on natural consistency instead of forced behaviors, your routine will become so automatic that you won't know how to describe it next time someone asks—just like you couldn't describe your tooth-brushing routine until you pretended to do it.

•

Ready to Take Control of Your Game?

• •

Green Light: All systems go. The vision aligns perfectly. FIRE. Red Light: There is any doubt, tension, or misalignment. STAND UP AND RESTART. There are no yellow lights and no thinking here; this is where we can miss. If it doesn't feel right, do not shoot! We never miss any shots that we don't take.

The Power of Missing Like a Pro The brain is not designed to multitask in the way we often demand of it. If you're down on the shot, thinking about how many practice strokes to take, who is aiming? It is perfectly fine if your pre-shot routine doesn't look like others. What isn't okay is when you don't look like yourself.

SPM Billiards Magazine

Join over 7,000 other students I’ve worked with in 62 countries to improve your game live online or inperson. We can work together wherever you are in the world with live online instruction. Honestly, it's usually more effective since we can work on smaller pieces more often rather than cramming many pieces into a weekend. Give me a call for a free consultation, and let's see if we make a good partnership.

Quit Draggin' and Get Dragon! Kim "The Dragon" Young 2025 PBIA Instructor of the Year PBIA Master Certified, ACS Level 4 Instructor, Senior Instructor at Billiard University

SPM Billiards Magazine

MENTAL SKILLS OF SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES

Strength comes not from physical prowess alone, but from a resolute mind. – Willie Mosconi

Pool players are athletes with fewer physical demands but more mental skill requirements than athletes in other sports. Once fundamental pool skills are mastered, pool primarily becomes a mental venture. So, the work you do on your pool mental skills is just as important as your time spent working on shotmaking and position play. And yet, most pool players do not spend much time addressing the mental aspects of playing pool. The mental side of pool is often overlooked. It is more fun to play pool or practice running balls than to work on mental skills. But fifteen to thirty minutes per week of mental training can significantly improve your pool playing abilities. This is because the words and images you put in your brain are endurance and flexibility, particularly in the arms, what create your physical motions. shoulders, and back. In addition, pool’s competitive nature and strategic gameplay set it apart from purely Sports generally require physical activity, while games recreational games. Given its blend of skill, strategy, tend to focus more on mental aptitude. Pool demands physical ability, and competitiveness, it is fair to say that a high level of mental aptitude. Pool players must pool leans more toward being a sport rather than a game. strategically plan their shots, visualize successful outcomes, manage anxiety and emotions, and focus Like elite athletes in other sports, the best pool players on the task at hand. But pool also requires a degree in the world are blessed with outstanding visual of physical prowess, particularly in terms of hand-eye perception, hand-eye coordination, stamina, and coordination and fine motor control. While it may not excellent mental skills. They have spent years of daily be as physically demanding as other sports, pool still practice and competitive play honing their physical and requires physical skill to perform well. High-level play mental skills. The Ohio School of Sports Psychology requires sustained focus and minimal physical fatigue reports nine specific mental skills that contribute over extended periods. Precise movements and control to success in sports. They are all learned and can be are essential for accurate pool shots, and maintaining improved with instruction and practice. proper posture and executing shots demands muscular 30

SPM Billiards Magazine

Nine Mental Skills of Successful Athletes* Successful Athletes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Choose and maintain a positive attitude Maintain a high level of self-motivation. Set high, realistic goals. Deal effectively with people. Use positive self-talk. Use positive mental imagery. Manage anxiety effectively. Manage their emotions effectively. Maintain concentration.

Like other sports, pool requires a whole lot of repetitions 3. Goals and Commitment

Detailed Descriptions of the Mental Skills

Successful athletes: • Set long-term and short-term goals that are realistic, measurable, and time-oriented. • Are aware of their current performance levels and can develop specific, detailed plans for attaining their goals. • Are highly committed to their goals and to carrying out the daily demands of their training programs.

1. Attitude

4. People Skills

Successful athletes: • Realize that attitude is a choice. • Choose an attitude that is predominantly positive. • View their sport as an opportunity to compete against themselves and learn from their successes and failures. • Pursue excellence, not perfection, and realize that they, as well as their coaches, teammates, officials, and others, are not perfect. • Maintain balance and perspective between their sport and the rest of their lives. • Respect their sport, other participants, coaches, officials, and themselves.

2. Motivation

Successful athletes: • Realize they are part of a larger system that includes their families, friends, teammates, coaches, and others. • When appropriate, communicate their thoughts, feelings, and needs to these people and listen to them as well. • Have learned effective skills for dealing with conflict, difficult opponents, and other people when they are negative or oppositional. 5. Self-Talk Successful athletes: • Maintain their self-confidence during difficult times with realistic, positive self-talk. • Talk to themselves the way they would talk to their own best friend. • Use self-talk to regulate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors during competition.

Successful athletes: • Are aware of the rewards and benefits that they expect to experience through their sports participation. • Are able to persist through difficult tasks and difficult times, even when these rewards and benefits are not 6. Mental Imagery immediately forthcoming. Successful athletes: • Realize that many of the benefits come from their • Prepare themselves for competition by imagining participation, not the outcome. themselves performing well in competition. • Create and use mental images that are detailed, SPM Billiards Magazine

•

specific, and realistic. Use imagery during competition to prepare for action and recover from errors and poor performances.

7. Dealing Effectively with Anxiety Successful athletes: • Accept anxiety as part of sport. • Realize that some degree of anxiety can help them perform well. • Know how to reduce anxiety when it becomes too strong, without losing its intensity. 8. Dealing Effectively with Emotions Successful athletes: • Accept strong emotions such as excitement, anger, and disappointment as part of the sports experience • Are able to use these emotions to improve, rather than interfere with high-level performance. 9. Concentration Successful athletes: • Know what they must pay attention to during each game or sport situation. • Have learned how to maintain focus and resist distractions, whether they come from the environment or from within themselves. • Are able to regain their focus when concentration is lost during competition. • Have learned how to play in the “here-and-now,” without regard to either past or anticipated future events. * Copyright © 1998 Ohio Center for Sport Psychology Ohio Center for Sport Psychology The Nine Mental Skills of Successful Athletes identified by the Ohio School of Sports Psychology are equally relevant for pool players. Despite the lower physical demands, pool players require even more mental skills than athletes in other sports. Therefore, the effort you put into developing your mental game of pool is just as crucial as the time spent on shotmaking, position play, defensive play, and strategic runouts. Embrace the mental challenges of pool, and you will see remarkable improvements in your pool playing abilities. 32

SPM Billiards Magazine

mcdermottcue.com/COTY SPM Billiards Magazine

In the movie Top Gun, 1% of all Naval aviators are invited to Miramar, CA every year to find out who is “best of the best”. The Navy’s most elite pilots come to train, learn new skills/techniques, and dogfight against each other to see who will be Top Gun! There is a similar proving ground playing out in the pool world right now, and it’s happening all across the country every day. An elite group of young girls and boys in training, learning new skills/techniques, and competing against each other, all on a mission to answer the question, who is Top Gun in junior pool right now in the United States? They come from different backgrounds but they share the same characteristics: become one with the game, soak up as much table time as possible, play in as many tournaments as possible, learn from higherskilled players, seek out professional instruction, spend countless hours working on drills, and develop the skills necessary to compete against the best of the best. Their insatiable appetite to compete fuels the fire to practice and improve which in turn allows their game to level up, win, and build confidence in themselves. This process keeps repeating itself over and over until once in a while during this chain reaction a star is born whose fire burns a little brighter and a few degrees hotter. If 2024 was a sky full of stars in the junior pool 34

SPM Billiards Magazine

world, there was one star that outshined them all…his Throw in a team NAPA title, countless local tourney wins, becoming a junior champion/content creator/ name, Hayden Ernst, call sign “Maverick”: spokesperson for the all-new Level Up Junior Billiards app, and a brand new sponsorship deal with Onboard • JAS STOP #1 - 14U Champion / 3rd 19U Sportswear, Maverick accomplished more in one year • JAS STOP #2 - 14U Champion / 3rd PRO-AM than most juniors accomplish in their entire careers. • JAS STOP #3 - 14U Runner Up • WORLD JUNIOR ALL AROUND - 3rd Banks / 3rd 9Ball Having witnessed this incredible year firsthand it’s not • JAS STOP #4 - 14U Champion / 3rd 19U • BEF Junior Nationals - 14U 9Ball National Champion hard to see why Fedor Gorst called this young man / 14U 8Ball National Champion / 16U 10Ball National the best 13-year-old in the world. Quite a compliment coming from the reigning World Champion himself, Champion / 14U Heyball National Champion both of whom play out of Railyard Billiards in Louisville, • JAS STOP #5 - 14U Champion KY which also happens to be home of Women’s World • Junior World Championships - 5th Champion, Kristina Tkach as well. • JAS STOP #7 - 14U Champion / 19U Champion • JAS STOP #8 - 14U Championships Champion / 14U Champion / 3rd PRO-AM Like a true “Maverick” (actually Hayden’s middle name) • JAS SERIES FINALE - 19U 5/6 he began playing pool when he was 7 years old at his • LEVEL UP FIGHT NIGHT Champion grandparent’s home. He and everyone on the junior tour • 2024 Nick Varner / Cues 4 Christ “Play Like HIM” affectionately know them as Amma & Pop. Lisa and Award Recipient Michael White, Hayden’s grandparents both have been

SPM Billiards Magazine

instrumental in helping Mavericks development and as a team, they’ve been on the junior tour together since 2019. Together as Team Mav, they have traveled all over the country and the world including 3 Junior World Tournaments in Puerto Rico, Austria, and New Zealand. “Junior pool today brings such a bright, promising future for the sport”, said Lisa who helps serve as Team Mav travel coordinator among other roles. “Witnessing the incredible up-and-coming talent in Junior pool is so amazing and entertaining. I love watching them learn the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. They make each other better!”

have great battles against each other on the junior tour.”

Me: “Given the choice to play with anyone in 9Ball scotch doubles who would you choose to be your partner?” Maverick: “I would choose Major Payne McBride, we always play really well together.” Me: “Who do you think are the Top 3 Juniors in the United States right now?” Maverick: “I would say Landon Hollingsworth, Laz Martinez, and Payne McBride but there are several that are very close.”

Me: “What are your thoughts on FargoRate and handicaps in pool?” Want to look inside the mind of a 13-year-old junior Maverick: “I think FargoRate is a decent system but I pool phenom? think everyone should have two different Fargos, one for 9’ competition and the other for barbox. I’m personally Me: “What is your favorite pool game?” not a fan of handicaps in pool because the best player Maverick: “My favorite game is 9ball and once I made 7 doesn’t always win.” balls on a break and yes I got out.” Me: “What are your pool goals for 2025?” Me: “If you could play a long set of 9ball against anyone Maverick: “Win the Predator Junior event in Las Vegas in the world, who would it be?” next month, medal at the World Championships this year, Maverick: “I would play Laz Martinez because we always and break the 700 FargoRate barrier (currently 661).” Me: “Team Shane or Team Fedor?” Maverick: “Cuetec, Team Shane of course!” Hayden “Maverick” Ernst is proudly sponsored by: Cuetec, Level Up Junior Billiards, Onboard Sportswear, Mako Tips, Cues 4 Christ, Railyard Billiards, Railbirds Cue Repair & Pro Shop Join us next month as we delve deeper into the fascinating world of junior pool! Every month I will be interviewing the brightest junior player stars in the United States, seeking advice from the top instructors in the country as we gain from the personal experiences of the parents, coaches, and people who make up Junior pool. What does it take to build a junior champion? How much does it cost to be out on tour all year long? What are proven ways to gain valuable junior sponsorships to fund a dream? How has social media made an impact on Junior pool? Who is “best of the best”? 36

SPM Billiards Magazine

Pool is one of the sports that can be enjoyed for many years. If you can pick up a cue, you can experience the joy this game brings. We all have different beginnings. Some start very young, growing up in a house with a pool table. Some started a little later when they could start going to the pool room. Some first picked up a cue in college. For others, it is later in life. The constant is that people enjoy playing when they do get started. People take breaks from time to time, but eventually they will come back. The game has that effect on people. Some people don’t branch out a lot. They may only play one or two different games, or they stick to league play

SPM Billiards Magazine

or tournament play. Whatever works for each player works for them. Some people, however, want to delve into this game as much as they can. Some want to play as many different games as they can and play as many formats as they can. For over 50 years, Linda Carter has been immersing herself in all aspects of the billiards industry. She got hooked on playing this game in college on pool tables at the student union. Something about the game drew her in. She started playing on a pool league team that had never placed well before. Within a year, that team was first in their division. Her determination and grit to get better were evident and rubbed off on her teammates.

The will to get better drove her to take a lesson with world champion Dan Louie. Linda was a competitive State gymnast in high school, which contributed to her fighting spirit in pool. Even though you are on a team, gymnastics is a very individual sport. It’s just you competing with everyone else in the event you practiced for. It’s the same in pool. It’s just you against your opponent on the table. This drive led her to find success in all levels of play, from being honored by the VNEA, taking the Grand Master title, and 2 Queen of the Hill titles in the Western BCA, qualifying for both the WPBA tour, representing the US in China, and being one of only 15 women in a field of over 150 players on the multimillion dollar IPT tour.. Just like in gymnastics, Linda wanted to learn all the different aspects of cue sports. This led her to not only play just 8-ball and rotation games, but also one pocket, banks, and even dabbling in artistic and speed pool. Her success led her to become the house pro at several different pool rooms, as well as running a very successful women’s tour in the Northwest. Today, Linda still enjoys the game as much as ever. Life is really busy as she not only publishes a local social emagazine and does a little caretaking, but also plays BCAPL and USAPL leagues, and a Women’s league in Grants Pass, and various weekly tournaments, as well as being house pro at Rack ‘Em where she runs tournaments and gives lessons.

pocket puts it all together: banking, kicking, caroms, Her next immediate goal is filming online casual lessons shotmaking. I’ve even won at golf on a snooker table at for the beginner to intermediate, with tips that you the old 211 Club in Seattle. probably won’t find anywhere else, that she has picked Many people have heard the term "House Pro" up from some of the greatest players in the game.

When did you first come in contact with pool? When I was 14, my stepsister had my brothers and me over to see her brand new pool table. I promptly ripped the felt. Not an auspicious beginning! Later, in my 2nd year of college, I was told I needed to learn the 5 P’s of the student union: Pool, Poker, Pinball, Pinochle, and Ping Pong. You have competed in many disciplines of cue sports.

before. Can you explain what that means, what your role is as a house pro?

I run tournaments and give lessons. When I was House Pro for Jillian’s in Seattle, I also ran Corporate parties, and I would pair people from Boeing and Microsoft who didn’t work in the same departments, and we would do triathlons of pool, ping pong, and darts.

What is your favorite game to play?

What are the pros and cons of that?

8-ball on bar boxes, and also 10 ball, then probably Each one teaches you different aspects of the game. One banks and 1 pocket. SPM Billiards Magazine

What is your least favorite game to play? 9-ball on bar boxes. Too much slop, and too easy.

What is a list of your favorite pool halls that you have been to?

The best piece of advice I give to new players is to start a scrapbook of firsts – first runout, first break and run, first wins, etc. because someday, you’ll be like me with my Sometimer’s Disease and forget just about all the dates and places.

If you could play one person, living or deceased, Well of course, Rack ‘Em, where I currently house pro, who would that be, and why and what game? and Jillian’s. The 211, Hard Times, and Plush Pocket in L.A.. My all-time favorite was the Casino Club/Nardo’s in Seattle, where my husband, Mike Zimmerman was House Pro, and I got to hang out privately with Efren and Luat. That was the heyday of pool in the NW.

Willie Mosconi, straight pool, and then 8-ball. I loved his demeanor, his skills, and his long standing record. I’ve already played Cornbread Red, Shane, Allison, John Schmidt, Mike Massey, and Jayson Shaw, to name a few. Some I have won against!

How did you get into instructing?

You have been playing this game for over 50 years. What keeps you going?

I coached beginner to elite gymnasts in a private club, as well as at a college. I was very good at recognizing body positions in the air and where they needed to be at any given time, as well as how to break them down into fundamental slices that they could understand. Some people can only play and some can only teach. I seem to have an aptitude for both. There are secrets to pool that, unless you are shown or taught, you will never know.

What do you see as the main thing amateur players need to work on? Fundamentals, understanding tangent lines, how the thickness of hit affects speed, and always play shape for your 3rd ball.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? When I took my lesson from Dan Louie (I had just won a tournament and wanted to invest my win into my first lesson, because I was just learning 9 ball (late 70’s) and needed to know how to go off multiple rails, instead of zone shooting in 8 ball. Well, at the time, I thought it was the worst piece of advice and lesson I had ever gotten because he said just shoot a million of them and you’ll find out! Well, to this day, I give the same advice, because until it becomes muscle memory, with different English and speed, you’ll never get it ingrained into your body. 40

SPM Billiards Magazine

This game never gets old. I like winning, lol. I like meeting newbies and introducing them to the intricacies of the game, which is why I joined the Grants Pass Women’s League.

With that long a career, what would you say are your top 3 career achievements? Whoo, there are certainly a lot, some I can’t even remember, lol, and there’s certainly way more than three. I guess founding the Association of Cuesports (ACW) Tour in the northwest, which is now the NWPA, and we were able to send 14 players up to the pros. I myself won a spot in the WPBA on the ACW, then won one at Hard Times in Sacramento in the Northern CA tour, and a 3rd spot in L.A. in the Southern CA tour. That was enough to get me invited to get into the WPBA.

for my magazine by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. And non-professionally, raising two absolutely wonderful human beings, Shawn and Carina, who are very successful in their multiple fields. We all had our 5 minutes of fame together when Mike and I were in 2 pool magazines for our finish in Atlantic City BCA Nationals, Shawn was on ESPN for aggressive inline skating, and Carina was on the inside front cover of People magazine, all in the same month. Being one of only 15 women playing in the International Pool Tour. I had a pretty good Break and Run record, considering you had to win a game to continue breaking. My high record of Consecutive Break and Runs was six in a row at McCorry’s in Woodinville, Washington, on an 8-footer with a big cueball. Being invited to represent the US in China, and getting to hang out with Kelly and Allison Fisher, Wei Wei, Rubilen Amit, and Chezka Centano. And then of course, professionally, being recognized as Greeter of the Year

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? If my eyesight, stamina, and body hold together at 76, I’d say I’ll likely be doing the same things, poolwise. Going to Lincoln City and Vegas to compete in BCA events, leagues, and other weekly tournaments, and of course, teaching.

SPM Billiards Magazine

I had the pleasure of interviewing Nelson Batista, the founder of Horo Tips, and the main thing I learned is he has an absolute wealth of knowledge in all things cuesports. Nelson has done it all from being the only national snooker coach in Portugal to hand-making his own tips. Nelson started Horo Tips around five years ago and has been dedicated to reinventing the wheel when it comes to cue tips and producing the highest quality tips on the market. Every Horo tip is 100% handmade in Portugal.

Horo Tips is to let the tip act as a spring to improve almost every aspect of the tip. When playing with the tip, it feels similar to most other tips but performs much differently. Horo Tips claims the spring-like tip allows for more spin and fewer miscues, and performs the same with any shot speed.

Horo Tips currently offers tips for a wide range of cues. There are tips available for American pool cues, English pool cues, and snooker cues. There is only one snooker tip available however there is a much more diverse set of If you have ever researched how tips are made, then you options for both American pool cues and English pool cues. most certainly don't know how Horo Tips are made. The differences in the manufacturing processes are very different, all to achieve the highest quality tip possible. For example, the jump and break tips are slightly different but are both chemical tips that turn into hard plastic. The real difference lies in the playing tips, however. The playing tips are all made of high-grade Italian leather, which is just the start. Each tip is seven layers of the same leather, but the leather used for the super soft tips is a completely different leather than what is used for the hard tips. The process unique to Horo Tips is that all of the tips are handmade and never compressed. Other brands compress the tips and keep them that way by impregnating the leather with resins and chemicals. Instead of smashing the leather down, the idea behind 42

SPM Billiards Magazine

There are four playing tips with the classic super soft, soft, medium, and hard options available. For break cues, there are two different options. One is designed for a designated break cue and the other is designed for a jump/break cue as two cue tournaments are becoming more common. For American pool, there is a tip designed specifically for the jump cue. All of the tips have a different color designated to each specific tip. For example, the designated break tip is black and the jump/ break tip is gold.

cuesports came from Snooker when he was young. Once he was old enough to get into the snooker hall, Nelson was hooked. He did what all the pro players did and practiced religiously until he became a century player. Unfortunately, Nelson had some previous injuries he couldn’t get past. His love for the game kept him close as he became the only national snooker coach in Portugal and started Horo Tips.

At the end of the day, Horo Tips are different from any other tip on the market from start to finish. Horo Tips With every tip being handmade, it’s all worth it to are sold all over the world and used by some of the top obtain the quality Horo Tips has achieved. Horo Tips level professionals. If you haven’t found a tip you like or has achieved some impressive feats including high-level are interested in trying something new, Horo Tips are professionals using the same playing tip for an entire completely unique. You can visit the Horo Tips website season and making an indestructible break tip. Even or Facebook page. with the break tip being so strong it can withstand an anvil, that’s not why the quality is impressive. Because the tips are handmade, each needs to pass a rigorous inspection. The main advantage in making the tips handmade is mistakes and defects are caught during the manufacturing process, well before the final screening. Horo Tips estimates around 50% of the original material is used for the tips and roughly 70% of the tips make it to market. The reason for the intense attention to detail comes from pure passion for the game. Nelson’s first love for SPM Billiards Magazine

The silent arbiter of a billiard player's touch, the cue stick, is a marvel of engineering and craftsmanship. While its shaft and butt command most of the visual attention, it's the often-unseen hero—the joint—that truly dictates the feel, feedback, and overall performance of the cue. Far from a mere connecting point, the joint is a sophisticated interface designed to seamlessly transfer energy from the player's stroke to the cue ball. Understanding the purpose and various types of billiard cue joints, and the benefits of the more popular styles, is crucial for any player looking to optimize their game.

the pin and the receiver (the female threaded part). One of the most ubiquitous and enduring joint styles is the 5/16 x 18 Modified Joint. Joint This refers to the threading size (5/16 inch diameter with 18 threads per inch) and a "Modified" pin profile, which is slightly different from a standard screw thread, often with a more aggressive pitch for quicker engagement. The benefits of this joint are numerous, contributing to its widespread popularity. Firstly, its relatively large and robust threads provide excellent durability, making it less prone to stripping or damage even with frequent assembly and disassembly. Secondly, the larger surface area of the threads allows for a secure and solid connection, which many players report translates to a "solid" hit and good feedback. The Modified joint is a workhorse, offering a reliable and consistent feel that appeals to a broad spectrum of players, from casual enthusiasts to seasoned professionals. Its widespread adoption also means that replacement parts and customization options are readily available.

At its core, the purpose of a billiard cue joint is twofold: to allow for easy portability and to provide a consistent and predictable hit. A solid, one-piece cue, while offering an uninterrupted transfer of energy, is cumbersome to transport. The joint solves this practical issue, allowing a cue to be broken down into two or more sections. However, this convenience must not come at the expense of performance. The joint must ensure that when assembled, the cue feels and performs as close to a single, Another highly regarded and increasingly popular solid unit as possible, maintaining rigidity, minimizing joint type is the Radial Pin Joint. Joint Characterized by its vibration, and facilitating a true, straight stroke. unique radial thread pattern, this joint typically features a larger diameter pin with fewer, wider threads that The variety of cue joint designs on the market is a spiral outwards from the center. The key benefit of the testament to manufacturers' ongoing quest for the Radial Pin joint lies in its exceptional concentricity perfect balance of feel and functionality. These designs and stability. The design promotes a very tight, precise primarily differ in their pin type (the male threaded fit between the pin and the receiver, minimizing any part), collar material, and the overall fit between lateral movement or play. This tight fit often results 44

SPM Billiards Magazine

in a very "crisp" and "direct" feel on impact, allowing players to feel the cue ball's reaction with great clarity. Many professional players gravitate towards Radial Pin joints for their enhanced feedback and the perceived ability to impart more nuanced spin on the cue ball. The wider threads also make it quicker to assemble and disassemble the cue.

The material of the joint collar also plays a significant role in the overall feel of the cue. Common materials include stainless steel, brass, and various types of high-impact plastics or composites like phenolic.

Stainless steel joints are known for providing a very solid, firm hit with excellent feedback. They are durable and resistant to wear. Brass joints tend to offer a slightly For players seeking an extremely consistent and often "softer" or warmer feel compared to steel, often preferred "softer" feel, the Uni-Loc Joint has gained considerable by players who like a little more absorption of impact traction. Unlike traditional threaded joints, the Uni- vibration. Phenolic or composite joints are lightweight Loc system utilizes a unique quick-release mechanism and can contribute to a more "lively" or responsive that locks the shaft and butt together with a single, feel, often found in cues designed for maximum power quick turn. The pin itself is often a proprietary design, transfer or reduced deflection. The choice of collar frequently featuring a stepped or conical shape. The material is largely a matter of personal preference and primary advantage of the Uni-Loc joint is its remarkable how a player perceives the resulting feedback. speed and ease of assembly. Players can break down and reassemble their cues in mere seconds, which is Ultimately, the "best" cue joint is a deeply personal a significant convenience in competitive play. From choice. What one player describes as a "solid" hit, a performance standpoint, Uni-Loc joints are often another might find too "stiff." The nuances of feel, praised for providing a very consistent and forgiving feedback, and playability are subjective. The purpose of hit. The design is engineered to minimize vibration and understanding the different joint types is not to declare often results in a feel that is less "harsh" than some metal- one definitively superior, but rather to equip players with on-metal joints, which can be preferred by players who the knowledge to make an informed decision based on want a smoother transfer of energy. their playing style and preferences. Many manufacturers offer cues with different joint options, allowing players Beyond these more dominant styles, other joint types to experiment and discover what truly resonates with exist, each with its own characteristics. Piloted joints, for their touch. In the intricate dance between player, cue, instance, feature a protruding "pilot" on either the pin or the and cue ball, the joint stands as a silent, yet crucial, receiver that precisely aligns the shaft and butt before the partner, profoundly influencing the communication threads engage. This design enhances stability and ensures between hand and sphere, and ultimately, the success a perfectly straight connection, further minimizing any of every stroke. potential for misalignment. While sometimes incorporated into 5/16 x 18 or Radial Pin designs, a distinct piloted joint often uses a different thread pattern.

SPM Billiards Magazine

I’m going to start with a different kind of pool, once a week every Thursday I take my son to his swimming lessons and relax with a coffee at the back of a viewing area they have, next to where they swim. He has been going for around two and a half years now and has slowly grown in strength during that time.

focus from where it should be, also at times increasing the perception of pressure and stress.

Behind everything else, this behavior is mostly backed by huge love and caring and comes from a place of such. However, there can be other elements that come into play and affect how a parent supports their child. Genuine From where I sit, I can see my son and its great to see how care can be distorted, and where parents believe that he enjoys the sessions, interacting with the instructor their actions and a desire for their child’s success are and the independence from myself, as well as mixing from a place of Love, the way that they are implemented and socialising with the other members of the group. I can greatly undermine the good intentions. There is am a huge people watcher, and really the reason why I probably nothing more important than the parent-child moved into the area I work within, is because human relationship, however, this can be greatly damaged by excessive pressure, scathing criticism, and the chase to behaviour fascinates me. win, over our children’s enjoyment and happiness. It’s here I watch as most of the other parents battle for the nearest seats, press up against the glass partition The outcome and result can quickly turn to be the and begin waving, gesturing and motioning to their driving focus with many factors encouraging this children, virtually swimming lengths through the glass, behaviour such as a parents missed opportunity when trying to demonstrate to their child what they should they were growing up or competing themselves, perceived pressure of expectation as there are signs of be doing. ability noticed by coaches, other parents and peers, or a These parents pay a monthly fee as I do for their need to prove a place within a certain community such children’s lessons, yet they miss some important as within those around the cue-sports scene. benefits that come from taking a step back. The parents seem to have forgotten that they have paid to give their True Love and caring are unconditional, where a children professional tuition, and by trying to coach child’s well-being and happiness are prioritized over themselves are not only making it extremely difficult achievements and victories, although there are indeed for the instructor but are also taking away the child’s many sporting successes who have spoken openly 48

SPM Billiards Magazine

about experiencing extremely determined parents, such The Signs as golf ’s Tiger Woods, Tennis star Andre Agassi, and swimmer Michael Phelps, all have reported physical and The main points that can indicate if someone is perhaps sometimes mental burn out and moments of extreme being overly involved is if you are finding yourself in outbursts and issues have been well reported. regular circumstances where there are arguments about performance, long periods of silence with parent and The situation is always a sensitive one, and to gain the child not talking, especially when traveling to and from highest of levels in life, determination, commitment, tournaments and practice. A parent’s conflicts with and sacrifice all play a part, yet a balance also needs others such as with coaching and training staff, referees, to be struck. Overall, there is far more chance of or other parents interfere with coaching decisions, and healthy improvements, growth, and achieving the perhaps regularly changing these due to different ideas larger sporting goals if a competitor has learned their and expectations. trade within a stable and balanced environment, and where reassurance and encouragement are placed with Micromanagement of training schedules, dictating discussing and learning from mistakes and losses, playing times and deciding when equipment like cues etc instead of these important moments being clouded by should be changed or not. Our relationship with sport, stress, anxiety, and annoyance. especially as we get more involved with it can become This situation has had many names over the years such as Pushy Parent Phenomenon and Helicopter parenting. Like many things, pointing out to another that they may be pushing too hard can be fraught with danger, and parents or guardians can feel attacked, defensive, embarrassed, or simply just justified in their actions, with a belief of “I know best and this is how you stand out from the crowd” I have worked with many youngsters over the years, these working relationships usually start with a parent contacting myself stating that their child could do with working on the mental side and when completing a first session sometimes it is evident that I am probably going to work with the parent just as much if not far more than their child. In my experience this has always worked well, at times discussions have been firm, yet once we have agreed that our goals are the same and that we are just aiming to achieve them from different angles it has been possible to move on and create a much more helpful environment for improvements to take place. When we are battling or fighting for something and where conflict is being fed there is often a sense of being stuck, frustrated, and misunderstood and the quicker we can gain a perspective and a change of mindset that we are now managing the situation, rather than being in conflict, the better.

increasingly strained. However, it’s incredibly important to maintain as much as possible, a healthy interest, even obsession, but again even more so for a child or young competitor coming up through the ranks. The hope is that a person has a long and rewarding career in the sport, so you would like to think that even with all the ups and downs that may hold, it will be somewhat of a happy and enjoyable one or can at least be reflected upon as such at its end. In truth, “pushy” parenting in sport can create huge amounts of excessive pressure where demands for improvement, setting unrealistic expectations and concentration on results instead of process make burn out more likely. It becomes so much easier for someone in this environment to lose a love and interest for something they once looked forward to, and when, and if this is a shared interest with a parent is such a shame, and the disappointment can greatly affect both when this is lost. The worst this has ever gotten for me was when I was at a tournament and a young person who I had never met before bravely approached me and asked if I was the person who worked with players, once confirmed they went on to disclose that they just didn’t want to be here, on asking what they meant, He explained “Not SPM Billiards Magazine

just at the tournament but here on earth, My Father and Grandfather keep telling me how I have to win, have to become professional as they have put all their time, money and effort into me” The young person had explained to myself that the pressure was unbearable, that he didn’t even want to play anymore and that he was so low that he was seriously thinking of suicide and had plans of how he would do this as he felt trapped.

As parents, we can achieve being huge positive role models, providing a safe and nurturing environment to develop our children in a rounded and more fulfilled way that can help in turn to create real solid foundations to build further upon, not only in sport but also everyday life. Stepping back and creating space may seem an incredibly hard thing to do, however, the weight of our unfulfilled dreams, our anxieties about our children’s future, and the relentless pressure of societal expectations can easily distort our intentions. We must constantly ask ourselves: Are we truly nurturing their love for the game, or are we projecting our ambitions onto them?

Thankfully this young person reached out to find help,and after reassurance we spoke together with his father and grandfather and informed them of how serious things had got. Although disappointed and confused the father especially was understanding and realised that things had to greatly change for the sake of Trophies and medals are a reward for doing as his child’s wellbeing. many things as possible right, but true success is in the development of resilience, perseverance, and a genuine love for the journey. Let us strive to be parents who celebrate effort over outcome, who Creating a Healthier Environment embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth, and There are several things that we all can do to create a who prioritise their child’s happiness above all else. healthy and positive learning environment in sports, not For in the end, the greatest victory lies in raising children only for young people but also for ourselves at any level. who are confident, compassionate, have stability and are fulfilled, both on and off the table and that’s real Remembering how and why we or a child started in sport winning. and the fun and enjoyment we gained from it is often a great start. Reflecting upon our participation, what For information about Matt Andrews Mentoring, please we have added to sporting events and groups, and how find him on Facebook, at Matt Andrews Mentoring, or far we have come during that time to get to this point just click the link below to learn more. can reinforce the importance of the process instead of winning at all costs and the pressures that can bring. It is important for all of us to feel that we have a safe and healthy environment to communicate within, which can help to establish realistic expectations, to talk over concerns and to learn from setbacks. Parents, guardians and coaches should regularly engage with honest self-reflection to assess their own motivations and behaviours. With awareness, people in a position of influence can continue to educate themselves regarding building healthy paths to development, how to help build confidence through encouragement and praise and how to avoid over involvement.

SPM Billiards Magazine

One of the questions I often ask my students is what they feel is the weakest part of their pool game. I get a lot of different answers to that question, but sooner or later, the application of sidespin often comes out. Most players are aware of the need to use sidespin on some shots, but a clear understanding of what is involved. In my class outline, I purposely have sidespin near the end of my workshops. This is because sidespin introduces a lot of different factors to the shot.

sidespin causes the cue ball to deviate from the standard aim line

causes the cue ball to deviate from the standard aim line A sidespin may be necessary to position the cue ball for which can lead to a missed shot. the next shot. The application of sidespin is primarily to alter the natural rebound angle when the cue ball Getting great cue ball position means nothing if you don’t contacts a cushion. The problem with sidespin is that it make your shot. So let’s explore what happens when we hit

SPM Billiards Magazine

the cue ball either right or left of the vertical centerline. The first term to understand is squirt. Squirt occurs when the tip makes contact off the cue ball centerline. The cue ball not only begins to travel in the direction the tip is moving. A small amount of energy also pushes the cue ball along a line from the tip contact point along a straight line through the center of the cue ball. Right spin pushes the cue ball slightly to the left. Left spin pushes the ball to the right. The farther off-center you hit, the greater the amount of squirt. The second thing to happen is known as ‘swerve’. Swerve causes the cue ball to curve back toward the original aim line. Swerve comes into play because there is almost always some elevation with the butt of the cue. Think of it like a very subtle masse’. A rolling cue ball will always try to straighten itself out as it moves across the table (gyroscopic procession). This results in the cue ball eventually following a track line nearly parallel to the original aim line. The end result is the cue ball is now traveling to a point that is offset from the original aiming point, creating a thicker or thinner hit than planned. That offset is the amount of deflection created. The amount of deflection varies in part to your cue. Low-deflection shafts flex more and produce less squirt. A stiffer shaft will increase the effects of squirt. You will need to practice using sidespin with your own cue to determine how much deflection your cue will produce. Hopefully, understanding what is actually happening will make it easier to adjust for deflection when you are using sidespin. Until next time Steve Jennings ACS/SPF/PBIA Master Instructor

Playing pool since the age of 10, first learning on a table at home, and into pool rooms a few years later, I won several base championships while in the service. After my discharge, I continued to play recreationally, and in several regional tour events. I started coaching and teaching game strategies in the 90s. I worked with several Master instructors reaching Master instructor status in 2015. Now Director of Training for the Southeastern Billiard Academy, and teaching classes as often as I can. I train/certify new instructors and look forward to help every player achieve their fullest potential.

SPM Billiards Magazine

Be A Student of Human Moves by Rick ‘The White Wolf’ Prince Hopefully, you’ve done your recon on your opponent prior to your match with them. Knowing your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses as you prepare to match up with them can greatly influence the outcome of the game.

Make their weaknesses your strengths. When I’m about to play “a heavy hitter”, I don’t only practice hard on my offensive game, I also practice my safety game. Let’s face it, the common rule is, if you don’t have a shot, duck! Now, most semi-pro and pro tournaments and some organized tournaments employ the “three foul rule”, where three conservative fouls in a game is a loss. If you’ve done your recon on your opponent, then hopefully you’ve picked up on their weaknesses.

the common rule is, if you don’t have a shot, duck! more credit than they deserve. When you place players above their ability level, It takes away from your own game. You begin to anticipate or predict an unfavorable outcome as to what is going to happen. Instead, think that now is the time to play your own game, play the table and simply forget who your opponent is.

For instance, I noticed that they struggle to get out of safeties by kicking. Then you best believe that if they Play the table, not your opponent. can’t kick, they have to learn real fast or take a loss. If they struggle with long shots, that’s what I try to leave We all sometimes fall into the trap of playing the them. If they aren’t good at banking, I’m setting them opponent and not the table. All player’s games would up for a bank shot. improve if they concentrated on their skills. Never take a win over an opponent for granted, but don’t Make their weaknesses your strengths. If you’re matched overestimate the talent of a “higher-echelon player”. up against a guy with a huge reputation, if you’re like Find your even keel by playing only the table. most players, we sometimes tend to give him or her 54

SPM Billiards Magazine

Tenacity.

The physical side.

Another great quality to develop when facing tough competition is tenacity. Be a bulldog, never give up. Even if you are down 8 - 1 in a race to 9, it doesn’t matter. We’ve seen countless matches in which players have been that far in the hole and come back to win. We’ve also seen players who after being up 8-1, completely lost their mental toughness as their opponent came back on them. Some players fold, but players with tenacity never fold. They want to beat their opponent as quickly as possible. This attitude comes from developing mental toughness through practice and experience.

That’s the mental side of it. Now what can you do physically to improve your chances? 8 Ball is an excellent game from which to draw examples of physical changes you might make in your game depending on the skill level of your opponent.

The game of 8 Ball so often comes down to timing, which is nothing more than knowing when to try to run out. If you’re playing a weaker player, chances are good that he or she won’t run out, but will clear only three or four balls and leave you a wide open table. All things being equal, if two players are evenly Psychological warfare. matched, the outcome usually comes down to who’s psychologically stronger. The player who plays the Always try to remain focused on the game better than strategically sound game is in a better position to win. your opponents do. It doesn’t matter what they do, or what they leave you with, or if they run five straight For example, if it’s prudent to play a safety in a match racks, stay focused! Play your own game when it’s your situation, the person with the better strategy will play turn. This can be difficult to do at first. the safety. A player with weaker strategic skills might take the flyer or try something off the wall in a desperate attempt to create something that isn’t there. These are the decisions that come back to haunt you. You’ll develop a sound strategy most quickly by facing tough competition over and over again. Building mental toughness and becoming aware of certain shots and situations is a process that takes time. The more you play the tougher you become. The tougher you become, the more matches you’ll win. You’ll develop mental calluses that enable you to shake off tense situations, surrounding distractions, and the pressure of knowing Most matches contain at least a small degree of what’s at stake. psychological warfare. The toughest part of the game is to watch while your opponent runs racks and gets the So, my advice to you, do your recon, whenever possible, great role. You’re sitting in the chair and can do nothing on all your upcoming opponents and prey on their about it. But rather than get frustrated and throw a weaknesses, just like “The Wolf ”!! tantrum which too many players do, you’re better off showing no emotion. This will get into your opponent’s Until Next Time, Happy Shootin’! heads. They’ll wonder, what’s he thinking about? Or Rick “The White Wolf ” Prince aren’t they worried? A tough mental attitude wears opponents down and gives you the edge. SPM Billiards Magazine

they want I like to get other information. How long do Your Name: Cary Brace, Dark Horse Cues they want the cue? How big are their hands? What kind City, State: Missoula, Montana Facebook & Phone: Dark Horse Cues - 605.680.1916 of taper do they want on the shaft?

Describe your signature cue. Saboia Ebony forearm and What is the price range for your cues? The base price butt, handle is Birdseye maple burl stained coco brown, with brass railroad track rings at all sections. What makes a perfect cue? A good solid hit where you can feel the transfer of energy through the whole cue, from tip to hand. It should have a good balance when the the player is holding it where they like. I feel that the balance point should be in front of the hand about 6-8 inches. This will let the cue want to drop towards the table. If too much weight is in the back the cue will want to “bounce” up when striking the ball. As far as shaft material, tip and ferrule goes it is entirely up to the player. Tell me about your process - When I talk to customers about building a cue for them I start with asking about what they like for a “hit”. Do they want a firm strike? Or a softer type of vibration when striking the cue ball? I ask what type of stroke are they most comfortable with, power or finesse? This will help determine what type of core they might want, such as maple or purpleheart. I like to have them find pictures of cues that they find attractive. This helps determine color schemes and wood types. Do they want simple designs or intricate? Traditional points or floating? Once I have the basic parameters for what 56

SPM Billiards Magazine

for a custom cue is $850 this would include their choice of woods, (there are time where there might be an extra charge for rare or exotic woods or burls that need to be stabilized) for the handle, basic joint and collars (phenolic, Juma, ABS or some other type). Their choice of pin, ferrule and tip on a AAA grade maple shaft. From their prices will grow for what they want to include. For example, if they want 4 veneered points add $225, Kielwood shaft add $125. I have a price list for just about anything that they would want to add like fancy rings or intricate inlays.

have him build me a cue that I designed the inlays for. This got me interested in the process of cue making. I believe that my love for pool and being a decent player helped me understand what makes a great cue.

Who taught you how to do it and describe that? I am a self-taught cue maker. One of the things that I teach is CAD/CAM (computer aided design & computer aided machining). So, with my background in woodworking, cabinet building and CNC machining I was able to bring that knowledge to my cue building. My first home CNC was an inexpensive small Chinese platform for doing What is your favorite wood to work with? For my own pockets and inlays. While it worked it did not have a personal favorite’s, I like working with stabilized burls. I 4th axis and was not capable of turning shafts or tapered handles. So, I decided to build my own 4 axis CNC for really like Buckeye burl in it’s natural coloring too. cues. I still use the first one I built and have made and Who or what inspired you to want to learn cue-making? sold some to other cue makers. I have been a shop teacher for more than 20 years and have always enjoyed turning things on lathes and Are there any products that you recommend to other making almost anything out of wood or metal. I have a cue makers? I recommend Fusion 360 and V-Carve pro friend in South Dakota that is a cue maker too. I decided for design software and the CNC machining process,

SPM Billiards Magazine

with these 2 CAD/CAM products you can make anything. But I do believe that you should buy the best tools that you can, high quality bits, accurate measuring calipers, quality materials. If you skimp on any of those your product will suffer.

Atlas billiards, Prather, Seyberts and a few others. For woods I like Gilmere woods out of Portland OR. Curlymaple.com, Bell forest products, Jesse Gilbert for specialty burls and stabilized woods that I don’t have time to stabilize myself.

How long is your current waiting list? I am about a year out on custom cues. But what I am probably most well known for are my break cues and jump cues and as I am always prepping material for those the wait is usually 4-8 weeks.

What’s in your bag? I have one of my break cues, and one of my jump cues, my knock around player that is a curly maple handle with a kielwood shaft deer antler ferrule with a Outsville Techno-dud tip, I keep in my case one of my personal custom cues that I use for display of my building skills, either my celtic knot cue or my ebony What other custom cue makers make you jealous? I am maple burl cue. I will sometime have a for sell break cue not jealous of other cue makers, I don’t envy their skills in my case too. or even their loyal customer base. I will admit that there is some envy in their shops and tools. It is always in my Do you have any Celebrity or Professional Customers? heart to have more stuff to build better stuff. I sponsor a National Junior Champion by the name of Eddie Vonderau, he uses my break and jump cues. How many cues do you make every year? I produce about 100-150 break cues each year and the number is growing. I like to think that I make one of the best break cues on the market and my customers tell me this is true. I build between 8-10 custom cues per year. I also build 5-6 spec cues (ones for sell that are builds that I came up with) a year.

What is the one question everyone should ask about buying one of your cues, but doesn’t? Can I get 10 more? Though I do have several customers that have ordered several break cues because someone always wants to buy theirs. And one customer that has been collecting my cues since I started making them and now owns 8 custom cues and 6 break cues.

Tell me about your work area – I have two shop areas. My build room is attached to my home and was a single car garage so about 140 sqft. It has 2 CNC’s and 2 cue lathes and my design computer. My finish room is in the back of our detached garage and is 8’X16’ so 128sqft. I have some old Taig lathes that I picked up from school auctions for turning cues slowly as I apply finish and a Joe Porper mini Q lathe that I still use when I go to tournaments to do tips and shaft work. What’s your turnaround time for a custom cue to be made? Usually about 8 months minimum. I do add time for materials like ebony that take longer to bring down to size and proper drying. Where do you get your materials from? I like to support other companies that sell cue making products like SPM Billiards Magazine

SPM Billiards Magazine

CURRENT RATINGS 62

SPM Billiards Magazine

CURRENT RATINGS SPM Billiards Magazine

For anyone who plays a sport, there is a pinnacle of achievement that only a select few can enter; the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is the ultimate award that will stay with people for the rest of their lives and far past. Anyone who is a member of a Hall of Fame is the crème de la crème of their given sport. Pool has a national Hall of Fame in the BCA Hall of Fame. States are establishing their own Billiards Hall of Fames to recognize individuals in the industry from the area. In this edition, we will highlight the Wisconsin Billiards Hall of Fame. Starting in 2018, the Wisconsin Billiards Hall of Fame has given the ultimate recognition of

SPM Billiards Magazine

Wisconsin Billiards' excellence. The potential Hall of Fame candida tes are nominated by and chosen by the Hall of Fame membership. Membership is open to anyone who pays for the membership, even if they are not from Wisconsin. 100% of the membership money is given to the Wisconsin pool community. The initial class for the Wisconsin Hall of Fame are Jerry Briesath, Willie Munson, Connie O’Heron, and Bruce Venzke. The event annual Hall of Fame event features a banquet, the Hall of Fame ceremony, and the Hall of Fame Tournaments. The Hall of Fame tournaments feature a mix of cue disciplines each year including 9 ball, 10 ball, straight pool, one pocket, banks, and 3-cushion. The

past winners are a list of who’s who in the Wisconsin pool including former Mosconi Cup member and Wisconsin native Tyler Styer. The Wisconsin Billiards Hall of Fame is run by a sevenperson board consisting of President and Founder Jon Kramer, Vice President and co-founder Gregg Andler, Treasurer Jan Maglio, Secretary Kelly O’Heron, and members Claudio Parrone Sr., Priya Nataraj, and Mat Strong. I had the opportunity to chat with Jon about the organization. For more information about the Wisconsin Billiards Hall of Fame, check out www.wibhof.org.

What do the HOF members receive?

Where did the idea for the Wisconsin Billiards Hall of Fame come from? Each inductee is given a custom-built award that resembles a cue design, but in a 1ft long version. They A friend of mine was inducted into the Waukesha, WI are all handcrafted by the award-winning Jacoby Billiards Hall of Fame. After seeing it posted on social Custom Cues each year. They also are added to the media, some of us started questioning why we didn't Hall of Fame pages on our website. And, there is a large have one for the entire state because we have so many plaque that holds all the inductee names each year, along legendary pool players, instructors, cue makers, and with our list of sponsors. After each event, the plaque more here. After researching, we found out there wasn't remains at that pool hall until the next year's event at a single state in the entire country that had its own Hall a new location, so it is essentially a traveling trophy for of Fame. There were several of the larger national ones, everyone to enjoy. of course, like BCA for example. We decided to give it a go. We did some fundraising on the idea and hired a Multiple people get to vote for the HOF. What do you lawyer to help us form the company as a 501c3. We felt personally look for in a candidate? that if we were to start a Hall of Fame, that it should also be a non-profit and designed to give back to the billiards We have specific criteria for eligibility, and candidates community in need. must check a few of the boxes but not necessarily all of them. Who determines the nominees for the HOF? 1. The nominee must have shown dignity, class, and respect Our ballot always has 15 nominees and 4 get inducted for the game of billiards and others around them. each year. The initial list was formed by a questionnaire 2. They must have either A: Attained proven, exemplary given to roughly 30 legendary players from our state, billiards achievements, or B: unquestionably promoted and who they felt was worthy of the Hall of Fame. We the game of billiards in Wisconsin. asked each of them to offer their top fifteen nominees 3. Must be a minimum of 45 years of age. and then compiled all those results to create the 4. The nominee must have been involved with billiards inaugural ballot. Then, each year our members, along in Wisconsin for a minimum of 20 years. with the board of directors, vote for four people. At the 5. They must not be on a billiards "ineligible list" same time, they can nominate new people to the ballot, derived from misconduct at a billiards event or a once again getting us back to fifteen nominees. personal criminal record (board decision).

SPM Billiards Magazine

When did you first see pool? We had a pool table in the house growing up, but I never really played. My dad had a friend come over regularly to shoot with him but at a young age didn't have much of an interest. I really started to play pool when I met a good friend of mine in college at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. He was and still is a great player and he took me under his wing and taught me the game. big team effort. After the banquet, the remainder of the Who are some of your favorite players to watch and why? weekend is comprised of various tournaments and we draw players from all over the state to compete. My favorite player has always been Thorsten Hohmann, he's incredibly talented and always seems so cool under The HOF tournament has a really cool touch with pressure. I've never met him but he seems like he's a multiple disciplines present. Whose idea was it to first really good guy. Also, as a player in the USA, how can have a tournament in conjunction with the event and you not cheer for a guy like Shane Van Boening! then to offer multiple cue sports?

What can you say about the inaugural class of 2018?

Our Hall of Fame Tournament each year is a little different. We mix up the formats and try some new things each The first Hall of Fame class will always be special for me year. Also, each venue is different so that plays a factor in because it's where it all started. We hosted our first event at how many players we can have, and what games make the the Mad Apple Burger and Billiard company in Appleton. most sense. Last year in 2024 was the first year we added a The guest speaker was Jeanette Lee, and we had 4 amazing junior event, fully funded and sponsored by WSPA! individuals get inducted. Class of 2018 was Jerry Briesath, Willie Munson, Connie O'Heron, and Bruce Venzke. If you could play any player, living or deceased, who would it be and what game? There are four members added each year. Is there a reason why the number is only four? Probably Willie Mosconi in straight pool, Efren Reyes in 9-ball or 10-ball, and I'd like to challenge Sky or Billy Initially, as a board, we decided on 4, a good even number. in banks someday. I'm not much of a 1-pocket player. There are talks that eventually we may reduce the number, but we have many worthy nominees for years to come! Where do you see the Wisconsin Billiards Hall of Fame in 5 years? Does your organization host any other events and who are some of the people responsible? Hopefully, still going strong! We built a business model that is funded through memberships and sponsorships so We only host one event each year, Hall of Fame Weekend, it is fully sustainable. Also, aside from operating costs like always in October. We rotate to different venues each maintaining our website, WIBHOF.ORG, all of our board year making sure we are representing the whole state of members are volunteers so there are no salaries being paid. Wisconsin. We host an amazing dinner banquet for the That was one of the initial things with forming the company, inductions. Great food and amazing speeches by some we said that it does no good if it's only here for a few years of the legends in our state. Our board of directors does and falls apart. It has to be done professionally and have a great job with all the planning that goes into it, so it's a bylaws in place that protect the future of the company. 66

SPM Billiards Magazine

Get ready to meet Josh (24yrs) and Pia Filler (27yrs), the power couple of pool! Young, and full of zest, verve, and the vigor of the Greek Gods Dionysus & Aphrodite themselves! This husband-and-wife team is burning up the billiards scene with the passion and fire of one of pool's most brilliant wildfires! Dominating the sport with their incredible skills and undeniable chemistry, this “Pool Romeo & Juliette” is like a modern-day pool, “Gone With The Wind” metamorphosis!

Josh Filler: The Prodigy Born in 2001, Josh Filler is a German pool player who's been crushing it on the international circuit. With multiple World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World Championships under his belt, Josh has proven himself to be one of the best players in the world.

Pia Filler: The Rising Star Pia Filler, Josh's wife, is a talented player in her own right. Born in 1998, Pia has been making waves in the pool world with her impressive skills and determination. She's a force to be reckoned with at the table! 68

SPM Billiards Magazine

Tournament Wins: A Winning Streak

The Lovers Quarrel – Husband vs Wife

Together, Josh and Pia have racked up an impressive list Joshua Filler met his wife, Pia Filler, in the Winners' of tournament wins. Some notable highlights include: Qualification at the 2022 European Open Pool Championship - one of the first times in history when • Josh Filler: 2018 World Cup of Pool champion a married couple has met in professional competition. (team Germany), 2020 WPA World Nine-ball Joshua dominated this match – beating her 9-2 in the Championship winner. ‘War Of The Roses’ gambit they entered on this occasion. • Pia Filler: Multiple European Pool Championships titles, 2020 WPA World Championship runner-up.

Conclusion

Mosconi Cup: A Stage for Greatness

The Killer Fillers are a dynamic duo who are shaking up the pool world with their incredible skills and The Mosconi Cup is one of the most prestigious team undeniable chemistry. With their tournament wins, events in pool, pitting Europe against the United Mosconi Cup performances, and infectious energy, States. Josh Filler has been a key player for Team Josh and Pia Filler are sure to continue dominating the Europe, contributing to several victories. His notable sport for years to come! performances include the 2018 and 2020 Mosconi Cup.

Jazzing Up the Pool World The Killer Fillers bring a unique energy to the pool world. Their passion, skill, and chemistry on and off the table make them a joy to watch. Whether they're competing in high-stakes tournaments or just having fun, Josh and Pia Filler are the ultimate power couple of pool!

SPM Billiards Magazine

LESSON#442 - LONEGUNMAN https://www.facebook.com/chip.klein.7 Massé with Body Reference Points Because I used several books over the years, some lessons may have the same number but be a different lesson. The length of the table massé shots can be made easier by using elevation relative to different body parts to give you proper degrees to increase or decrease how much curve you need. I hope I said that properly. • Max english left about chest height for 1 diamond curve. • Shoulder height for 2 diamonds, max left. • Chin high for 3 diamonds. Max left. Experiment using different heights and speeds because of personal height. Diagram is for measurement. Not a real situation as other options would be possible.

SPM Billiards Magazine