Perhaps it cyclical. Perhaps its a vintage retro thing that the new guys are finally catching on to and the old guard always knew about. However you want to look at it Straight Pool is having a resurgence. With big names like John "Mr. 400" Schmidt, Thorsten Hohman, Steve Lipsky (our local long island hero), even Jasmin Ouschan the wonder girl of pool are now being held in an even higher regard than they were before because of their straight pool prowess.
When I was seventeen and first started learning the game everything was nine ball. If there was gambling it was nine ball, if there was a tournament it was nine ball. Very occasionally you would see eight ball but always nine ball. However in the last year and a half my home pool room has done a turn around and the majority of the players are now playing straight pool myself included.
Now Im not a world class player or even an open level or A player but I love the game. My high run is in the upper forties and that only happened recently lol. I have to say that even though I know there was mixed opinions about the Dragon Promotions Event that the dress code being enforced definitely harkens back to a day of gentleman playing the game we love.
In my opinion I love watching amateurs play. I have a buddy of mine who can barely run five balls but I explained the infamous straight pool triangle to him for the first time and not only did he get out of a rack (five balls on the table) but he got perfect on his break ball AND MADE IT!!!!! The look on his face was pure pride and there was a little more strut in his step after that. About ten minutes later I overheard him explaining the triangle to one of his friends who plays worse than him lol. More importantly I owe my love of this game to the guy who showed me that same infamous triangle. Watching him is like watching Crane or Mosconi. Not in the high runs and not in the shots but his demeanor at the table. The focus, the determination and sheer will at the table.
Im not sure what I was trying to do with this little rant but I know one thing I love straight pool and Im going to bust those balls until I hit a hundred and when I do im throwing a party and every Az'er and i do mean every az'er even the ones that dont like me are invited.
Keep the high runs coming guys shoot well out there.
Charlie
When I was seventeen and first started learning the game everything was nine ball. If there was gambling it was nine ball, if there was a tournament it was nine ball. Very occasionally you would see eight ball but always nine ball. However in the last year and a half my home pool room has done a turn around and the majority of the players are now playing straight pool myself included.
Now Im not a world class player or even an open level or A player but I love the game. My high run is in the upper forties and that only happened recently lol. I have to say that even though I know there was mixed opinions about the Dragon Promotions Event that the dress code being enforced definitely harkens back to a day of gentleman playing the game we love.
In my opinion I love watching amateurs play. I have a buddy of mine who can barely run five balls but I explained the infamous straight pool triangle to him for the first time and not only did he get out of a rack (five balls on the table) but he got perfect on his break ball AND MADE IT!!!!! The look on his face was pure pride and there was a little more strut in his step after that. About ten minutes later I overheard him explaining the triangle to one of his friends who plays worse than him lol. More importantly I owe my love of this game to the guy who showed me that same infamous triangle. Watching him is like watching Crane or Mosconi. Not in the high runs and not in the shots but his demeanor at the table. The focus, the determination and sheer will at the table.
Im not sure what I was trying to do with this little rant but I know one thing I love straight pool and Im going to bust those balls until I hit a hundred and when I do im throwing a party and every Az'er and i do mean every az'er even the ones that dont like me are invited.
Keep the high runs coming guys shoot well out there.
Charlie
JMHO
