dquarasr said:

FWIW, here's my take, from a lowly "C" player (most if not all of it stating the painfully obvious):

- The game requires dedication and practice. Performing at a very high level requires the knowledge of what to shoot, and how to shoot it. But it's a small part of the picture.
- On the winner's side, I saw exceptional confidence and "trust the process" reflected in the performance
- On the loser's side, I saw hesitancy and doubt reflected in the performance, in spite of the knowledge and talent players possess
- As everyone here already knows, mental toughness is a key component to optimal performance
- If professionals can succumb to distractions, self-doubt, and pressure, then who am I, a lowly banger, to get all pissy when I miss a shot?
- There is a HUGE difference between practicing and playing for fun, and playing in "for real" competition. I can prove this to myself week after week at league and small local tournament nights.

Now, as many times as I have promised myself I would GTFO of my head, relax, and trust the process, I am only baby steps toward doing so. That will be my takeaway. I know how to shoot. I don't know how to perform. I don't know how to win when shooting matters. SO MUCH to learn.

If anything, watching 2025 Mosconi Cup only encourages me yet again to shift my focus from controlling execution, to trusting and having confidence. If you knew me, you would think that as much as I talk about it, I'd be further along in this respect.

If only . . . .

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maha said:

true but the opponent getting ahead can wedge balls up table and force you to sell out or forfeit because your time will run out.

no way should a time clock can be made to effect your outcome from your opponents play of it.

it isnt like chess but where one player can make games last much longer.

example your down 3 to 0 in a race to five. he slows the game down and you have no chance of ever getting past him in the score.
so you might have to slam break balls open so the games can go faster.

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Bavafongoul said:

I finally decided these are my favorite 3 cues to play with using 3rd party Kielwood shafts I bought.
And one of these cues just plays a notch above the other two, both of which are really nice to use.

However, if I only play using the orig. maple shafts, only the Scruggs remains in both top 3 groups.
What amazed me is how KW shafts really do play better than the same weight original maple shafts.

The other 3 cues in my case (6x12) have the same threads as the cues in the photo so I can pull one
any time and play with a Kielwood shaft. Screw CF….I’ve always played wood shafts & KW is great.

p.s. I think custom cues will endure over time and at least retain orig. value rather drop like other cues.

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Rusty in Montana said:

Hello Rackaday , my Mike Gulyassy cue isn't fancy it has a black linen wrap that is like what he put on some of his sledgehammer cues , the tips on both shafts are G2 medium tips with a dime arc .
My cell phone camera is awful for taking close up pictures of cues , I've tried quite a few times and it just doesn't work out to my satisfaction , which if I'm not happy with them I'm sure no one else would be either .
As for carbon fiber shafts , I had a JP cue with a maple shaft and a rouge 12.4 shaft , yes it hit a ball very well I just didn't care for it !
I maybe just go old fashioned and prefer wood over carbon .

If someone else likes carbon better then good for them , to me it's a Ford , Chevy Dodge or which girl is prettiest ha ha we have to go with what is right for us and go from there .
Back to my Gulyassy cue there is a learning curve to it at times I'm a slow learner but I'm very comfortable playing with it now much to the dismay of many I play against at league games .

I've got a couple other fine pool cues one was a gift from a old friend who can no longer play it hits a ball very well however it lacks something when I play with it maybe a tip replacement would do the trick but then I like a 13 mm shaft or larger .

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