I knew there was some room for improvement in breaking so I decided to take a ride to Sandcastle Billiards in Edison, NJ this past Monday to see if I could help Busty to improve. :grin-square: :thumbup:
Okay, maybe it was me needing to do some improving.
So, off I went and am extremely glad I did.
I knew what to expect at Sandcastle from having gone there a couple of times before. First class, all the way! :thumbup: If a person deserves success in running a pool establishment, it has to be Ed. From the minute you walk through the door, you are made to feel like a VIP. Added to this is the fact that the equipment is maintained beautifully, there's a triple shimmed table for those who care to challenge themselves, and even a diamond barbox for those who prefer them. And, oh yeah, there is really nice music playing in the background. And last but not least is that this is the home of the accustats arena from where you can see their wednesday night streams.
To have had the chance to play a few races with Busty was a real joy. He did give me a few tips and I truly marvelled at finally getting to see that magnificent stroke up close and personal.
Despite all that we read about what mechanics to use that are supposed to provide us the best chances at potting balls, I'm starting to believe that these are just good reference points but there's always gonna be exceptions like the magic we've all seen from a side-slinging Keither or, as in this case, with the equally unorthodox style of django.
The beautiful 'locomotive stroke' in which he manages to deliver his cue so perfectly, is breathtaking. But there were two other components that I called him on and asked that he go slow so I could stop him at a couple of important points to discuss them.
One was at the time of cue delivery, exactly at the point the tip strikes whitey, Busty's forearm is way past vertical. Why is he having so much success 'pitchforking'?
He showed me the wrist snap he does to finish his stroke.
This next one remains beyond my comprehension and if I didn't see it with my own two eyeballs, I'd never have believed it.
Aside from him having an unusually long bridge, his final pull back before delivering the cue has the cue tip completely disappearing into his closed bridge (ala Johnny Archer during some breaks), then as he drives the cue forward it is actually banging into his middle knuckle on the way back through.
His knuckle was stained with blue chalk from this. How on earth is this man not only maintaining his accuracy, but doing so at world beating speed? :bow-down:
Apparently, some guys are blessed with so much natural talent that they are able to transcend certain things - Busty must be one of those guys.
This was a terrific clinic, I got some great pointers, and , in fact, Busty even said I was a better kicker than him. That made me feel good. Then immediately, I swear, I put him in jail (not terribly but blocked for sure) near the head end of the table with his next object ball close to the middle of the table and no direct path to it. He said, "you watch, I'm gonna make this ball in that side" as he pointed to the right center pocket. He shoots way left down table with right spin, hits the foot rail and whitey comes back up the middle of the table and c-u-t-s the five into the called side pocket. WHAT ? ! ? Yep, he did what he said he would and believe me, this was no hanger. On a 1 - 10 scale, 10 being the toughest, I'd easily rate this kick shot a 9. And oh yeah, if that weren't enough, he ended up perfect for the 6 ball. wtf! :thumbup:
As I'm sure many of you know, Busty is a great guy. A soft spoken man and, obviously, a brilliant tactician.
I'm not one to brag so I won't come right out and say who got the best of whom but maybe you can figure it out for yourselves based upon the picture below. lol!
What a great time I had. I encourage anyone within striking distance to make a bee-line for the encore clinic this coming Monday at Sandcastle.
Thank you, again, Ed, for your fine hospitality.k: We all need to be supporting great rooms like yours.
best,
brian kc <---- who really did get a heck of a break secret from Busty along with a few other pearls. :wink:
Okay, maybe it was me needing to do some improving.
So, off I went and am extremely glad I did.
I knew what to expect at Sandcastle from having gone there a couple of times before. First class, all the way! :thumbup: If a person deserves success in running a pool establishment, it has to be Ed. From the minute you walk through the door, you are made to feel like a VIP. Added to this is the fact that the equipment is maintained beautifully, there's a triple shimmed table for those who care to challenge themselves, and even a diamond barbox for those who prefer them. And, oh yeah, there is really nice music playing in the background. And last but not least is that this is the home of the accustats arena from where you can see their wednesday night streams.
To have had the chance to play a few races with Busty was a real joy. He did give me a few tips and I truly marvelled at finally getting to see that magnificent stroke up close and personal.
Despite all that we read about what mechanics to use that are supposed to provide us the best chances at potting balls, I'm starting to believe that these are just good reference points but there's always gonna be exceptions like the magic we've all seen from a side-slinging Keither or, as in this case, with the equally unorthodox style of django.
The beautiful 'locomotive stroke' in which he manages to deliver his cue so perfectly, is breathtaking. But there were two other components that I called him on and asked that he go slow so I could stop him at a couple of important points to discuss them.
One was at the time of cue delivery, exactly at the point the tip strikes whitey, Busty's forearm is way past vertical. Why is he having so much success 'pitchforking'?
He showed me the wrist snap he does to finish his stroke.This next one remains beyond my comprehension and if I didn't see it with my own two eyeballs, I'd never have believed it.
Aside from him having an unusually long bridge, his final pull back before delivering the cue has the cue tip completely disappearing into his closed bridge (ala Johnny Archer during some breaks), then as he drives the cue forward it is actually banging into his middle knuckle on the way back through.
His knuckle was stained with blue chalk from this. How on earth is this man not only maintaining his accuracy, but doing so at world beating speed? :bow-down: Apparently, some guys are blessed with so much natural talent that they are able to transcend certain things - Busty must be one of those guys.
This was a terrific clinic, I got some great pointers, and , in fact, Busty even said I was a better kicker than him. That made me feel good. Then immediately, I swear, I put him in jail (not terribly but blocked for sure) near the head end of the table with his next object ball close to the middle of the table and no direct path to it. He said, "you watch, I'm gonna make this ball in that side" as he pointed to the right center pocket. He shoots way left down table with right spin, hits the foot rail and whitey comes back up the middle of the table and c-u-t-s the five into the called side pocket. WHAT ? ! ? Yep, he did what he said he would and believe me, this was no hanger. On a 1 - 10 scale, 10 being the toughest, I'd easily rate this kick shot a 9. And oh yeah, if that weren't enough, he ended up perfect for the 6 ball. wtf! :thumbup:
As I'm sure many of you know, Busty is a great guy. A soft spoken man and, obviously, a brilliant tactician.
I'm not one to brag so I won't come right out and say who got the best of whom but maybe you can figure it out for yourselves based upon the picture below. lol!
What a great time I had. I encourage anyone within striking distance to make a bee-line for the encore clinic this coming Monday at Sandcastle.
Thank you, again, Ed, for your fine hospitality.
k: We all need to be supporting great rooms like yours.best,
brian kc <---- who really did get a heck of a break secret from Busty along with a few other pearls. :wink:
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I couldn't make it down there (you know my story), but given the opportunity, this would definitely be a prized one.
