PDX said:

I was going through some stuff and found this old box of Le Pro’s. IIRC, the ones smooth on the bottom are supposed to be the “good ones”, is that correct?

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The more uniform and smooth. You can also weigh them or tap them with a screwdriver.

sjm that why i like vegas as the preferred choice.

all can find cheaper rates in the winter at least nearby. and the big plus is you can bring others with you who can find lots to do not pool related in town.
and winter weather isnt bad.

although the venue might not get as good of deals, but may at some of the smaller casinos, but maybe entry fees need to go up with the times.

100 bucks is the price of dinner out for two or breakfast out with the family. that isn't an entry fee but a ticket to a show.

and this way a major tournament can be a vacation as well and some may stay on after its over rather than ditching the joint as soon as they are out.

I forget the exact ratio, it has been discussed on here a lot, but take 90+% IPA and you put X tablespoons of Aramith ball cleaner in it.

Just shake before spraying. It works really well. I can't remember the formula off the top of my head.

total time limit can be bad. if you dont like a top player and wont win anyway and matched up with him just run out the clock and both lose.

or if it goes to some kind of sudden death, thats better than playing it out with him.

i got a much better chance of beating filler or any top pro in a lagging contest. so my strategy is to run out the clock by whatever means necessary.

maguiars final inspection #34 in the tan bottle.

that is the right number. this for me, has no wax or silicone and i think the only cleaner for to use in the ball polisher machines.

one quick light spray. experiment from there and not overdo it. real bad leather marks or black spots need rubbing off with your wet thumb.

Frosty said:

I still want to understand who thought having this event in the heart of winter in this location was a good idea?

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LOL. Sounds like you don't understand pool's business model.

Yes, I'd prefer June in Monte Carlo to January in Louisville, but the $3,000 room nights might be an issue, and maybe Monte Carlo doesn't need much help with filling its hotels in June, so no good deal could be cut by a potential pool event producer. In this very thread, we hear countless complaints that players can't afford the off-season rates at Caesar's? Is in-season really an option?

In truth, the Derby is one of the most successful business ventures in American pool history. As Diamond had hoped and planned for, it has proven a credible revival of one of the most successful and celebrated pool events in American history, namely the Johnston City All Around, Championships, contested from 1961-72.

The location derives from Louisville's proximity to the headquarters office of Diamond Billiards, but it is also tied to the fact that the fringe games like bank pool and one pocket have their biggest following in that part of the country. The time of year is all about being able to make the best possible deal with the venue. Room nights are more valuable to the host hotel off season, which enables Diamond to make a better deal with the hotel, which in turn enables them to keep entry fees low and keep payouts very respectable. What other events in pool have a $100 entry fee and a $20,000 first prize? Demand for participation has skyrocketed in recent years. The need to set a cap on field size is a relatively new thing at the Derby. How many American pro pool events can you name that have lasted more than 25 years? In my case, it isn't many.

Of course, the Derby is not without its problems and issues, but it remains one of the greatest shows in pool. It remains one of the great proving grounds for the game's greatest legends of all-around play, and for that reason it continues to capture our imagination.

Is the timing and location of the Derby really any different from what Matchroom has done in 2026, producing events in the sweltering August heat of a) Orlando, Florida, b) Yuma, Arizona, and c) Frisco, Texas, visiting hotels off-season in order to cut a better deal with them? No, it's the same. Until pool produces the kind of revenue that will enable event producers to stage events in better locations and in season, this is what we should expect. Speaking for myself, if this is what event producers must do to ensure that they can afford to add events and to continue paying big prize money, I'm all for it.

I think that is an older Filipino made cue. Maybe Chinese.

Ttt

Al_Camino said:

I'm using a Samsara jump/break and I like it a lot. It's very hard leather but holds chalk well with a light scuffing.

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I’ve tried a number of them and once I tried the Samsara break/jump tip, there is no reason to ever try anything else. For me, it provides just the right mix of power, control and feel.

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I've used some old Le Pro's. Some are good, some start to separate after a short time. I was putting them on myself, so I wasn't out anything but time trying them.

lfigueroa said:

With a time limit players will game the clock.

Any decent player knows how to go into lock down mode. If you don't need anymore balls you can just stall and bunt balls all day long and give your opponent nothing. Two and a half hours into the match one guy can shut it down and win.

Lou Figueroa

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The way I ran my tournament worked great. At the time limit, the player at the table finishes their inning. Then the next player gets one inning. If the game is not finished after that, both players lag for each remaining point, until the game is won. If that still doesn't win the match, then the players will lag for the entire next game, etc. Out of about 25 matches, I only had maybe 4 go to the time limit. One was won on the extra inning. The other 2 just needed 1-2 lags. And a single match needed 5 lags to determine the winner.

I got the idea from Pat in his 650U international Open 9 ball event that I played in. He did the same thing there if a 9 ball match was not finished. The players lagged for each remaining game until a winner was determined.

My format was single elimination, race to 2, 70 min time limit, no handicap, owed coins cancel out. I bought kitchen timers and put one on each table. I had 26 players, 8 tables, started at 7:30 pm (weeknight) and ended at 12:50am.

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