AuntyDan said:

... Interestingly this just popped up on my Facebook marketplace feed. Seems like a much more reasonable price point but no idea if it is legit or not: https://www.speculatek.com/products/bitmanrack-9-ball-pro

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$30 each. Made in the USA. Claims 38 thousand have been sold. $24 each if you buy 3.

Something doesn't add up.

AuntyDan said:

... although IIRC John Schmidt used one in some of his 14.1 record attempts. ....

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I think he was sponsored. Lou Sardo was present for some of the attempts.

Johnson said:

Who cares about the table, what color is the cloth???????????????????????????????????????????????????

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No. No. Pocket size?

Troll Troll Troll your boat…

Kris_b1104 said:

Who on AzB is trying to be a top pro? Lol

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The two top US players that might qualify as visitors/posters are Mike Dechaine and John Schmidt, but they both seem to have cut back on pro play. Schmidt hasn't won $10k in a year for ten years, and Mike hasn't for six years. John hasn't been on AZB for 10 years.

As for the aspiring players, we don't seem to get many young players here, but I could be mistaken. The young people do FB and such.

Does anyone here play in WNT majors?

Who cares about the table, what color is the cloth???????????????????????????????????????????????????

garczar said:

CF rules the roost when it comes to energy transfer and low-def. In wood you might try the Pred. Vantage. Really good power and low-d.

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The Becue Prime II 12.0 shaft feels like a wood shaft that transfers power like a CF shaft, my other CF shafts were stiffer and I didn't feel any feedback, this shaft has flex and feedback like a wood shaft, super long taper, I love this shaft.

iusedtoberich said:

I doubt anyone has tried both. They are so obscure, and to have access to both systems would be a stretch.

I didn't like the built in drills on mine that much. I preferred to use it to mark a random rack, then practice getting out that rack over and over. I had about 10 racks I'd cycle between.

The PPB is a father-son team. The son is the programmer, the father is the player. They might have had a secretary at one point too. They were always super responsive to me in both email and FB, even when I was being an ass. I also screwed up the Raspberry pi trying to reinstall some software (my fault). They told me to sent it back to them and they fixed it for me in a day and then sent it back. (this was around 2022 or so). I'm quite surprised there are recent reports of poor communication. I'm in that FB group and saw those reports also.

The ICA system I'd bet is also just Robin developing the drills and a programmer he hired, so just as small a company.

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I have tried them both because Robin Dreyer was selling the PPB first before he jumped ship with Bob on ICA. I upgraded from the PPB to I cats on the urging of Robin and sort of "traded in" my old system for the new. I think ICA has put a lot more thought into it JMO.

Having said that I have decided I am past the point of trying to improve my game much and just want to play and enjoy.

If anyone wants a complete ICA system with a long throw projector Viewsonic PA503W (Has to project from the end, not the side) I am moving my table to my new house and am on the fence whether to set it up or not. I would sell the entire setup for $750. It has all the base modules plus some of Robin's drills and Dr. Daves billiard university exams. There is a lot of expansion available from ICat.

Up for a true killer

FAST_N_LOOSE said:

So far, that is of public knowledge..... the ivory handled 8 point cue loaded with silver, or the Ebony nosed 8 ivory point cue.
The gold cues are up there as well.

There are also some special cues out there that aren't as "elaborate" but are super collectible and rare.

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"Most elaborate cues" from a certain maker are awesome and I've always been a huge fan of "more is better"..for me. But in this case, the more elaborate cues out of the Tascarella shop may not always be the most desirable and I know you are on a similar page..... You've had more than a few of the 1%'ers. As you've said, I think there are some special and/or very collectible ones that deserve attention too. One factor could be the materials used for the build that could help make them more desirable and put them towards the top of the "desired" heap. I know I may be veering away from the op's "most elaborate" question but you did bring up the other points to consider... For me, the 1st that comes to mind, and in my opinion the TOP cue to ever come out of the Tascarella shop that I know of, is the GTB cue built for Joe and Mark using one of the last few assembled George B. butts with a Gus blank found in George's shop after he passed. The shop finished the cue to Joe's and Mark's direction using all period correct materials and specs. It's very fancy but not the MOST elaborate for the op's question, but I would want THAT cue over any other built out of the Tascarella shop because it ties together the lineage and top tier craftsmanship between Balabushka, his connection with Gus Szamboti, and the continuation of excellence from the Tascarella shop...but that's me. Second would be my veneered diamond cue with one of George's original socket cap screws securing the delrin buttcap to the butt sleeve of course LOL

SKILLZELITE said:

@HueblerHustler7
I own the the fortis pro and fortis ld , imo these shafts have the best feedback/feel of any shaft Ive owned or tried in regard to carbon fiber shafts.
When comparing to the revo 11.8 , either of the fortis shafts offer similar LD/squirt to revo, but have alot more feel.
Compared to becue engage 11.8 or 12.3, fortis is not as stiff, but seems to have less squirt and definitely has better feel/feedback. The weight of the fortis Ld is 3.65oz, the weight of the fortis pro is 3.75oz.
Fortis pro is anywhere from .30oz- .50oz lighter than revo 11.8, engage 11.8.

Obviously as you know the tip can change the feel , but heres the thing , I have the ultraskin pro e.s. on the engage 11.8, revo 11.8, and fortis pro, and the fortis pro still clearly has better feel/feedback than all the others.

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The Becue Prime II 12.0 shaft feels like a wood shaft that transfers power better, there is feedback from the shaft as well as flex, last week my teammate said he wondered why I was hitting the cueball so hard because of the action on the cueball I was getting, a little later he came and said after watching me some more he realized I was not hitting the cueball hard at all and couldn't believe I was drawing the ball that far hitting it so easy, this is the best shaft I have ever owned

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Team USA needs to recruit this dude as an assistant coach for the Mosconi!!

Jsolo0919 said:

Up for grabs is a Merry Widow Carmeli cue. Signed and dated 1-12. Cocobolo with Spanish bull leather wrap and diamond inlays in the butt sleeve. Straight, modified 3/8x10 pin. There is maybe 1 or 2 very very minimal dents in the butt sleeve that can only be seen in perfect angle/lighting but other than that it’s immaculate. Looking to trade for other custom cues. Please message me all offers. Trade Value 1600, Cash Price 1500.

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100% vouch for Josh!

A bit of humor for the late night crew !

I think if you kick two rails into the back of the rack you'll make that ball that's frozen to the back of the rack almost every time.

hello all, I know @Jsolo0919 looks like new account but the guy isn’t active in azbilliard as much as facebook. I know n chat the josh regularly, the cue is beautiful and should not have any issues at all. You can ask Josh for video live chat, it should not be any issues or problems. GLWS Buddy.