AzBilliards Forums - Blogs http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php This is a billiards community hosted by azbilliards.com en Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:45:59 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.azbilliards.com/images/techtwo/misc/rss.jpg AzBilliards Forums - Blogs http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php Varney J/b http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=268 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:33:14 GMT Just got my varney j/b man that thing is awesome. Gonna hook up the radar gun and see if it gives me more speed. It sure feels like it does. Just got my varney j/b man that thing is awesome. Gonna hook up the radar gun and see if it gives me more speed. It sure feels like it does. ]]> TXsouthpaw http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=268 Tuesday March 16 2010 http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=267 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:32:00 GMT Got some practice in, going to play in a tourney will post results. Got some practice in, going to play in a tourney will post results. ]]> TXsouthpaw http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=267 Proper cue length a player’s height http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=266 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:06:44 GMT Does anyone know the recommended cue length as it compares to a players height?
I know in some perspective that the length of your arms matter as well.
My issue is that I am 6 foot, ½ inches tall (not really tall).
My cue length is 58 inches (29” butt & 29” shaft).
I noticed that my teammates who are 5’ 8” to 5’ 10” don’t have the same issues I have.
A lot of times I find back hand between the wrap and the end of the butt. There are also a few times that I am almost at the end. Needless to say I think my stick is too short for me.
This puts me in the market for at least a new 30” shaft to address this issue.
What if I need a 30” butt and a 30” shaft?
I don’t want to waste any money, times being what they are :smile:

Does anyone have any reliable information on this subject? ]]> twal http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=266 San Diego Classic http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=264 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:45:32 GMT First game of the tournament for Denise Bellanger! Looking forward to a great season! Good luck Denise:thumbup: First game of the tournament for Denise Bellanger! Looking forward to a great season!
Good luck Denise:thumbup: ]]> R G Daniels http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=264 ICCS Trip Report http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=263 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:50:51 GMT ---Quote (Originally by quequa)--- I would like to know more about the David Kersenbrock cue. Are you the original owner, if so what state and city did David live. What year was cue made,and how did you authenticate it. Thank you, please let me know. ---End Quote--- I would like to see pic of...
Quote:
Originally Posted by quequa View Post
I would like to know more about the David Kersenbrock cue. Are you the original owner, if so what state and city did David live. What year was cue made,and how did you authenticate it. Thank you, please let me know.
I would like to see pic of the whole Kersenbrock cue if its available and some info would be nice also. ]]> jrackman http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=263 Wed March 3 2010 http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=262 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:25:58 GMT Just checking this thing out. :grin-square: Just checking this thing out. :grin-square: ]]> TXsouthpaw http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=262 2010 VA State 14.1 Championships = Mental/Physical Exhaustion http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=261 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:29:13 GMT The evening before this tournament I watched some of the John Schmidt/Danny Harriman DVDs to get myself in the right frame of mind. I went to sleep around 9pm after setting my alarm for 6:25am.

I didn't have to set the alarm. My son woke me up at 5:45am (probably due to the molars working their way into his little baby gums) so I showered and got cleaned up. My hair was being extra difficult so I forced it into submission with some extra-hold hair spray. Please don't hate. I have what my friends like to call a "jew fro" that gets exponentially curlier the longer it gets. I went downstairs and ate a giant bowl of lucky charms... and they are magically delicious, if you were wondering. I still had plenty of time left before I had to leave so I did a few house chores... cleaned up the dog crap, took out the trash, and got some laundry ready.

On my way out the door around 7:40 I downed a 5-hour energy to hopefully give me an edge early on. I got to Obelisk Billiard Club around 8 followed closely by Josh (JMD in VA) the tournament director.

We admired the trophies and the setup of the tables, and chatted about some recent AZB topics. We swapped cues and shot a few, admiring the hit and design of each. He has a nice steel-jointed scruggs... and honestly you can't go wrong with one of those. He also liked the hit of my thin-walled steel jointed Carmeli and said he was a new fan .

Soon after that around 9 or 9:30 Greg Ferguson (manager and soon-to-be owner of Obelisk) came out and released the few of us that had trickled in to start practicing on the tables. I set up and fired at a few break shots all the while trying to convince myself I had a chance to place in the money.

Matches started around 10:30 and since I had no idea who was who, I just hoped I was in stroke and didn't draw Bobby Chamberlain. I was not in stroke, but I also didn't draw Bobby Chamberlain. I got several chances from my opponent (a nice middle-aged black fellow) but failed to capitalize. I was pretty nervous, and several times could hear my heart beating in my chest. This was by far the biggest tournament I've ever played in. The next biggest on my list was a Saturday tournament at Q-Masters or the Friday 9-ball at Obelisk (in which my best finish is 2nd). This was definitely a huge step up. I kept reminding myself that I've played there hundreds of times, and that seemed to help a bit. I ran a few 11 or 12 ball runs and took the lead, but I couldn't seem to get my aim down for some reason. 1/3 of the way through the match my opponent passed me by and kept going. I gave him so many chances I lost count. I ended up at 68 points to his 100.

I ended up getting a bye in the first round on the loser's side, so I sat down for a while to rest my feet and watch the matches. After 10 or 15 minutes I couldn't wait any more and hopped on an empty table to practice. I was slowly getting my confidence and stroke back over time, and making break shots I was missing in my match. Before I knew it over 2 hours had gone by and my feet/back were getting sore. I sat down for another 10 or 15 minutes and got antsy again. I didn't want to lose my stroke right after I found it! I played for another 45 minutes before I was finally told my next match was ready. The match I was waiting on had a very slow player and went over 3 hours. Turns out the slow player lost.

I don't remember his name, but this guy must've been a CPA. He analyzed every little detail of every little factor when I missed and gave him the table. He studied it like his life depended on it, easily taking 1 to 3 minutes PER shot. Sometimes MORE. I was shooting pretty well in the beginning, but over time the pace just wore me out mentally. All I could think about was that if I missed, I would have to sit for 10 or 15 minutes so this guy could run 4 or 5 balls and miss or safe me. I learned really quick that I don't have the mental discipline to handle that kind of opponent. By the time he (it felt inevitable) won, my feet, back, and mind were so worn out I felt like I couldn't shoot another ball.

Despite shooting much better in the early half of the second match, I only ended up at 71 points. He sank the final ball after I failed to execute a decent safety.

On my way home around 7:45 (that's right... almost 10 hours for 3 rounds) I kept seeing angles and shots superimposed on everyday objects. Storefronts became overhead views of pool tables, flagpoles became cues, etc. I came home to my wife Sarah, who had some friends over at the time. I know they were talking about various topics, but all I could think about was how their heads were pool balls, and I imagined shooting them all in the corner of the room where I was imagining a pocket. Not much later I was fast asleep dreaming about the tournament and pool in general.

I had some shining moments, but overall I shot below average. Despite that fact, I learned a LOT about myself from this event that helped take my game to the next level. I know what I need to work on. I need patience, a little more confidence, and DISCIPLINE out the back end. I might take up Tai Chi :p

I'm going to try my hand at the next VA State 9-ball Championships. Hopefully it's not too far away in distance or time. I'm feeling pretty good :) ]]> Hierovision http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=261 chuck starkey cues http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=259 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:51:14 GMT Does anyone know how that I can get a hold of Chuck??? I need to find out if the cue I bought is his, or thats what a lot of people I shoot pool say that it is his, but I need to know for sure.:grin-square: Does anyone know how that I can get a hold of Chuck??? I need to find out if the cue I bought is his, or thats what a lot of people I shoot pool say that it is his, but I need to know for sure.:grin-square: ]]> BELLA8385 http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=259 Blatant Copies! :-( http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=258 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:48:56 GMT Why is it that if a someone lists a cue for sale that is an identical copy of a famous maker's work then the members go bat-crazy over it and denounce both the maker and the seller BUT when the same thing is done to a famous case maker's work then not a peep is uttered?

Here is a blatant Whitten ripoff
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=177125

Here is an Instroke ripoff
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=176691

I am not talking about cases which use SOME elements of design from another maker but show improvements or other changes. That's normal to "borrow" elements of design and just about every case maker has used elements from others in their work.

No, I am talking about the deliberate 1:1 copying for the purpose of making money off of the iconic design that another maker established.

If you look at all the iterations of the Fellini case you will see that each new brand brought something new to the table. (well most did). But even Fellini borrowed from Gina cases before him.

When I owned Instroke I was sick to see these ripoffs hit the market. And Whitten's "look" has always been an inspiration for more than 15 years for domestic brands as well as imports. They weren't copied verbatim.

It's sad however for me to see these new Whitten knockoffs hitting the market and people don't say a word of condemnation.

But let a cue maker copy a Gina or a Joss West and watch the venom come out.

I don't want to get into a debate about economics and copyrights and patents and trademarks. It's like this - no matter whether it's legal or not - it's immoral to trade on the designs of other living producing case makers whose design is also their trademark.

Kinda sad if you ask me that not one person steps up to at least voice a little protest. ]]> JB Cases http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=258 Traditional EIR Hoppe http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=257 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:17:35 GMT This is a cue that turned out great. It hits very solid and has a nice steel joint ping. This is a cue that turned out great. It hits very solid and has a nice steel joint ping.
Attached Images
   
]]> SK Custom Cues http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=257 Proper Terms in Leather Working http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=256 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:27:01 GMT I get pretty pissy when it comes to people who try to "redefine" terms in leather working so that they can better market their products.

The latest example: A person calls pyrography a "cue tattoo" by choosing that moniker as the name of a service he offers.

Pyrography and Tattooing are separate art forms and when a person uses one to define the other he is diluting both.

This is pyrography in it's highest form:

http://www.suewalters.com/
http://pyromuse.org/dino.html

These artists would not want to be called wood tattooists. They have perfected the art of shading wood and leather and what they do is not similar to tattooing at all.

Tattooing is the art of injecting INK into the skin cells. It is a precise endeavor that has nothing whatsoever to do with burning the leather.

Both of these techniques are used to create some amazing work and some not so inspiring work. Like all art forms there is the mundane "tourist trap" quickie versions and then there are the pieces that take your breath away.

And neither should be confused with the other.

I find it morally unethical for anyone to deliberately blur that line.

Another one that galls me are the people who say that the work is "tooled" when it is embossed. Tooled as used in leather working circles is synonymous with HAND tooled. Meaning that the decorator did the work using their hands and was not mechanically assisted.

Embossed is when the decorator uses a rolling plate or a press to imprint the image onto the leather.

Laser engraving is when you use a computer controlled laser beam to burn the image onto the leather. It's not "tooled".

All of these techniques are perfectly legitimate ways to decorate leather and each can be done with a high degree of skill or quite sloppily. Only the customers who study the methods can appreciate the differences.

Which is part of why so many people like to use the wrong term to describe how they decorate the leather. They either want to cover up one method by insinuating that another method was used that is perceived to be of higher value. Or they want to simplify the description so that people can understand the work easier.

Which wouldn't be a problem if the creator of the "Cue Tattoo" would have simply said that his technique is like a tattoo in that it makes a permanent mark on dead animal skin instead of also NAMING his product the "Cue Tattoo".

I understand marketing, I have been in this business for 20 years. I understand the difference between naming a product and the literal meaning of the words. This is not about that, it's about blurring lines in art forms that shouldn't be and don't need to be blurred.

Please, just use proper terms.

It's better for the artists and better for the consumers. ]]> JB Cases http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=256 MythBusting about wooden cues and moisture. http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=255 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:01:53 GMT MythBusting about wooden cues and moisture. It has come to my attention that some people are spreading the idea that a case which is sealed or otherwise hugs the cues and does not allow a free flow of air around the cue is somehow able to warp the cue. This idea is patently false. Before... MythBusting about wooden cues and moisture.

It has come to my attention that some people are spreading the idea that a case which is sealed or otherwise hugs the cues and does not allow a free flow of air around the cue is somehow able to warp the cue.

This idea is patently false.

Before discussing the science I will discuss the common sense evidence. From the 40’s until today there have been cue cases in use which seal the cavity, these include Harvey Martin cases, Gina Cases, Fellini cases, Centennial Cases, It’s George, and GTF Cases to name a few. Other cases which hug the cue and surround it with fabric, i.e. cutting off airflow are the plethora of soft cases out there and the O’Neil suitcase style cases. I have been active as a player since I was 12 years old. That was in 1980. I didn’t however start taking an active interest in my equipment until I was 16 years old. I made my first cue case when I was 22.

During my time as a pool player and a case maker I have come across no epidemic of cues being warped when kept in sealed or well padded cases. So common sense tells us that the case is not the culprit when a cue warps. Everyone has some story about a cue warping and usually they are looking for anyone to blame other than themselves and the cue maker.

The fact is that the largest factor in whether a cue will warp or not is due to its construction. If the wood itself was not properly dried and seasoned then it’s likely to warp. If the cue is put together with loose tolerances which allow huge moisture swings through the end grain then it’s likely to warp and develop noises. It’s not magic, a pool cue takes time to build it properly and that includes cutting the wood a little bit at a time and allowing it to move, then cutting it again, allow it to move and so one until it reaches the point where it won’t move any more.

Cue makers who follow this procedure have very few issues with warpage. Cue makers who don’t and try to take shortcuts often have cues that are prone to warping.

Now, of course the situation can be made worse by the way the cue is handled once it leaves the cue maker’s shop. If you subject the cue to extremes of heat and cold then the wood will expand and contract and moisture will work with the heat and cold against the wood. In this situation any cue case is better than no cue case just for the insulation factor alone. If the case goes further and wraps the cue in a dry cloth then that’s another layer of protection. If the case is sealed and protects further against more moisture getting in then so much the better.

Now, some people will contend that if you put a cue up “wet” i.e. put it in the case in an already moist environment and seal it up then that moisture inside will act on the cue negatively. This contention is unproven and goes to the heart of the matter than NO ONE KNOWS what happens to pool cues in cases in regards to moisture because no one has ever studied it.

Going back to the fact that sealed cases have been in use for more than 60 years though I have to say that the evidence points to NO PROBLEM.

Now, SOME case makers will contend that their case is “better” because the cues are held loosely and allow airflow around the cues. This is malarkey. First of all there is no significant airflow happening in their case when it is closed. If the case is not sealed then of course latent moisture can evaporate out of the case if the opening is UP. If the case is laying on its side then the moisture condenses at the uppermost part. There is normally not enough heat applied to create a convective atmosphere. But let’s look at the flip side of their argument. Since they contend that their unsealed loose case allows airflow then doesn’t that mean that it allows air (and moisture along with it) IN to the case as well? So if one were to go from say an 8% moisture environment to a 50% environment wouldn’t the case which is allows so much airflow be inviting the moisture INTO IT?

The fact is that in just about every situation where high end equipment is to be stored it is stored in form-fitted cases which restrict airflow. A lot of those cases come with gaskets to seal the case and make it air and water tight. This applies especially to guitar cases where the very best of them have many barriers to moisture.

So please don’t believe the nonsense when someone tries to tell you that a cue case which hugs your cue is bad for it. 60 years of continuous use of these types of cases proves otherwise.

Ok, so now let’s add in one more myth to bust.

Some people have the idea that a padded interior adds too much pressure to the cue and can warp it.

This is not true for the cases we build. Our padded interiors hold the cue gently at the top and bottom and have zero padding in the center. When the cues are placed into our cases the foam at the top and bottom conforms to the shape of the cue and holds the parts snugly but not tightly. There is no chance whatsoever that any pressure is applied to the center of the cue parts and thus no chance that warpage can occur.



While it’s certainly “possible” that a cue case “could” be built which theoretically could have so much foam rubber through out the case that the parts could get bent in the middle, and here I am referring mainly to the shafts, I feel that such a case has never been made to date and probably never will be made because it would quite apparent to the case maker that it was not practical to use. In my 20 years in the business I certainly have never seen any case which would apply enough pressure through the center to harm a cue.

So I count both of these myths as BUSTED.

Do your homework people before you start spreading falsehoods. All the information you want to know is out there for you learn the facts before repeating what some "dealer" who happens to sell competing brands of cases has to say about it.

Listen to what we say, listen to what they say and go verify it for yourself. Study the subject rather than take someone's word as gospel. It's likely that they don't know what they are talking about and have an ulterior motive for spreading misinformation. My CLEAR motive is to get you to see the facts for yourself because I am confident that what I say to you will bear out as the truth.

John Barton - Case Maker on a Protection Soapbox :-) ]]> JB Cases http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=255 Looking for a billiard graphic artist http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=254 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:38:42 GMT Anyone know a few specialst in this area? I'm writing a book and need some great graphics. ]]> rrick33 http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=254 Pool/Billard Tables? http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=253 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 15:32:46 GMT Does any one know what type of table this might be? The frame and structure are metal. See attached photo. I would like to put together. Thanks, Greg Does any one know what type of table this might be? The frame and structure are metal.
See attached photo.

I would like to put together.

Thanks, Greg
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]]> gwhiteia http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=253 Think http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=252 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:10:32 GMT :)*Why is it on our best day we play like gods. Were on our wrost day we should of stayed home and played with ourselves!!! * :)
Why is it on our best day we play like gods. Were on our wrost day we should of stayed home and played with ourselves!!!
]]> Giggty http://forums.azbilliards.com//blog.php?b=252