Frosty said:

Meanwhile, on the latest episode of Tweakers……

Click to expand...

You mean that is not where you chalk the cue? Ha, all these years, and I still can't get it right

Bob Jewett said:

The normal state of the cue ball in motion is to be rolling smoothly on the cloth.

If the cue ball has spin that makes it curve, it is not rolling smoothly on the cloth. It will curve until it is rolling smoothly on the cloth.

While the cue ball is curving, that curve is a parabola.

There is no straight part of the path along the tangent line. The cue ball starts curving immediately after contact with an object ball.

Click to expand...

Given your expertise I always must defer to you in situations such as this. So that means I'm wrong when I say the CB only curves once.

I agree that Nick is one of the greatest all-around players we have seen.

The problem I have is the "organization" that created a whole series of billiard awards. Here's their website:


I suspect the whole thing was generated by AI. I have never heard of anyone on the "advisory committee". And I strongly disagree with some of their choices.

Somehow I overlooked this thread.

There is no fast track under the current PBIA certification program. There used to be a track that took about half as long for each step. The requirements for each level, including the "time in grade", are listed on the PBIA website.

Whether a certification course takes the whole three days is really up to the trainer. They have to be sure that you can cover the required concepts and techniques for each level. I have had trainees who had a lot of experience either in pool or other instruction who did not require three days of certification class.

I think the main point in getting certified is what you learn during the course about teaching pool. In my experience, few students are aware that there are certification programs, although that is starting to change. Most students come through word-of-mouth.

Playing skill is only somewhat connected to instruction level. As I'm sure you know, some great players cannot teach. You do need enough skill to demonstrate the techniques being taught. You do not have to play as well as the student.

bbb said:

Thats how politicians work
The award is well deserved(imho)
And your political irritation about it
should be directed at the ones who signed it
Post complaints to them or forums where they will see it
And not make nick the victim
Give nick the kudos he deserves?

Click to expand...

You're quite right. I have let my (somewhat intoxicated) irritation get the better of me. Instead of deleting, I will apologize & bow out of the thread.

Cord said:

Because the signatories are ridiculous people who did this entirely for show?

Bureaucrats love a parade they didn't march in. They need something shiny to staple to their newsletters so they can pretend they have a pulse on culture, so they rubber-stamp a plaque for a guy who was actually legit, just to soak up some of his residual paint.

We all know how good Varner was. This is show.

Click to expand...

Thats how politicians work
The award is well deserved(imho)
And your political irritation about it
should be directed at the ones who signed it
Post complaints to them or forums where they will see it
And not make nick the victim
Give nick the kudos he deserves?

bbb said:

How can you denigrate this honor to nick which is based on his acheivements

Click to expand...

Because the signatories are ridiculous people who did this entirely for show?

Bureaucrats love a parade they didn't march in. They need something shiny to staple to their newsletters so they can pretend they have a pulse on culture, so they rubber-stamp a plaque for a guy who was actually legit, just to soak up some of his residual paint.

We all know how good Varner was. This is show.