BasementDweller said:

Gorst, SVB, Tyler, Bergman, and .... Skyler.

It doesn't matter if they earned it or not, Matchroom needs the most competitive U.S. team to try an keep this train on the rails.

The team listed above, if given a month or two to get dialed in....ahem...Skyler...ahem.... would actually have a fighting chance. We still haven't seen a comfortable Gorst in MC play. If he plays well, the pressure would minimize for everyone else. Gorst is the key. If he plays like the number one player in the world, the U.S. could actually win. Still underdogs, but maybe +150 or so.

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I feel like the U.S always puts up Gorst and SVB up early against Europe's best players where it's 50/50 who wins and if they lose it starts to look terrible for America.

Most pool captains seem to have the convention to put out their best players first. When I played in a team if we knew our opponents were better we'd always put out our weaker players first, it's basically a free hit, let the opposition waste their best players playing guys that weren't likely to win anyhow. Then have our best players playing players they could actually beat. If your poor players cause an upset you can win, and even if they don't you have a good chance of getting a draw. Best way to play it when your outgunned IMHO and I'm always amazed the U.S never takes that approach at the Mosconi. Wonder if Johan will see the strategy differently.

jay helfert said:

As I suspected, the better players are at an advantage in push out situations. You underline it here.

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I wonder if it's the better jumpers that are at an advantage. I know if I was Gorst I'd certainly be leaving a jump shot if I was pushing out knowing I'm better than my opponent at jump shots.

Bob Jewett said:

In general the cue ball will have some curve immediately after it hits any object. If you play a 3-cushion shot with follow off a ball, the cue ball will curve after it hits the object ball, and then it will curve after hitting each cushion. I think "the CB curves only once" is correct only if you have a lot of other explanation.

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Yes, of course you're right. When I say it only curves once I'm referring to the big visible curve which can occur off the OB or off a rail, depending on speed and distance.
In general, I'm usually using this explanation in regards to a side of the rack breakshot in straight pool for purposes of scratch avoidance. When people say they scratch on certain shots when they use follow I tell them to use more speed. That ensures the big curve occurs after rack contact, not before, otherwise a scratch may be in play. Any subsequent curve is very small and very seldom plays a role in practical terms.

Yes bbb, that's a situation where the "big curve" occurs after rail, not ball, contact.

Black-Balled said:

I would NOT buy off Amazon unless it is a well known entity...and then I'd reach out directly to purchase directly.

Amazon is rife with fakes and saving the little you will is NOT worth it.

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Its free shipping and returns guaranteed and they have good reviews, but I appreciate your opinion.

Gorst, SVB, Tyler, Bergman, and .... Skyler.

It doesn't matter if they earned it or not, Matchroom needs the most competitive U.S. team to try an keep this train on the rails.

The team listed above, if given a month or two to get dialed in....ahem...Skyler...ahem.... would actually have a fighting chance. We still haven't seen a comfortable Gorst in MC play. If he plays well, the pressure would minimize for everyone else. Gorst is the key. If he plays like the number one player in the world, the U.S. could actually win. Still underdogs, but maybe +150 or so.

TheGrandWazoo said:

Needs more vibe…

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I gave a little pass. Would you be so kind as to give me your opinion now since you were so kind to give it to me in the first place. Its been incredibly difficult to get any feedback. I am thinking of adding some short videos to get people over the fear of signing up and creating leagues.

JPB2 said:

I think lack of interest is a bigger factor than fear. I personally have no interest in this. There are established pool leagues I play in. I can play people outside of leagues. I’ve played in an in- house schedule your own league that was going to end up as a ladder type deal. It died. Played in a schedule your own 14.1 league. It died. The limited places that want to do this aren’t being held back by lack of the right internet resource IMO.

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I totally get it. I myself have been on ladders that die for one reason or another. I built DuroMatch with that in mind. It makes competing in the ladder more interesting than your regular ladder. It has built in rules to motivate you to compete and discouraging you from being inactive. In a way, it is like a supra-game on top of your own. And, for those that rank well there will be opportunities beyond the local league, like participating in tournaments at city, region, country, or international level. Sure, that is not here yet, but the mechanism is in place and your kids will likely get to enjoy it.

one situation maybe where the spin affects the rebound is when the object ball is very close to the rail
you hit it full with topspin
after ball contact and rail contact the cue ball can stop /bouce off and go back to the rail
not sure this situation is what you want since really the cue balls forward spin is what brings it back to the rail

jay helfert said:

Once was enough for me. Playing in a bar in L.A. five and ten dollar eight ball. I had one of those nights, couldn't lose a game. I must have held the table for thirty or more games.

Pretty soon only one left to challenge. All the other names were off the board. He asked me if I wanted to play for 20 a game. Sure, why not. I was drinking bottled water only and feeling good. Pretty soon I'm losing every game and missing easy shots. I still felt good but somehow lost my eye.

Later on I was told (by some guy I didn't even know) what they did to me. While I was shooting someone had put something in my water bottle.

I blew back maybe 100 or so, but still left the place with a decent win. Never went back there though.

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Somebody got me one night, never knew for sure who or what. Another night I felt something small and solid in my beer. I didn't even finish the game, late for the door! I was only a few minutes from home and when whatever kicked in I wanted to be locked behind my own doors!

It was funny, people got jarred in certain places seemed like more than people jarring everywhere they went. Same clientele two places, one people would get jarred, the other not. I think somebody working there was in on the jarring, in fact I know they were!

Hu

macbookmike said:

From what I've gathered from all the replies, the cue ball will curve after hitting the object ball and then curve after hitting a rail as well until it's rolling smoothly on the cloth.

So my idea of angle in = angle out in my first diagram is incorrect if the cue ball still has a lot of top spin when it hits the rail (not rolling smoothly)? Maybe I just can't tell but when I play shots like the one in my diagram it doesn't seem like the cue ball curves off the rail and it only curves after hitting the object ball. Is it possible for the curve off the rail to be so slight that it's hard to notice?

This is opposed as to when I kick the cue ball into a rail with spin and notice immediately that the cue ball curves

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Yes, the big looping action you see after the 1st contact is kind of the only curve you'll see without slow motion.

maha said:

the old viscene eye drops worked wonders for that or just a small shot of soap.

and never ever let your eyes off a drink when gambling at some bar.
i used to walk outside and send mine flying between games. or the flower pot if they had one inside.
i would have 5 or 6 beers with only a small slug of each when i first got them.

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Once was enough for me. Playing in a bar in L.A. five and ten dollar eight ball. I had one of those nights, couldn't lose a game. I must have held the table for thirty or more games.

Pretty soon only one left to challenge. All the other names were off the board. He asked me if I wanted to play for 20 a game. Sure, why not. I was drinking bottled water only and feeling good. Pretty soon I'm losing every game and missing easy shots. I still felt good but somehow lost my eye.

Later on I was told (by some guy I didn't even know) what they did to me. While I was shooting someone had put something in my water bottle.

I blew back maybe 100 or so, but still left the place with a decent win. Never went back there though.