Mosconi Cup 2025, Dec. 3-6, Alexandra Palace, London

Btw, Greg Hogue, who I just watched lose two straight sets to a 620 Fargo in a barbox 9-ball tournament last week, was 1 rack away from qualifying for the Mosconi cup on points a couple years ago. Miss me with this "but, but, but life's not fair" BS
That's not really what's holding someone like Oscar back anyway. What holds him back is his ability to do basic math. For a player of his caliber, passion doesn't pay the bills. He's actually played his cards in life just about perfectly if you ask me.

A 800 Fargo Rated player CAN NOT make a living playing on the WNT, but a guy can play at a 800 level for maybe 40 years if they maintain their health. This makes this game nearly impossible to profit at. Maybe it's the U.S. players that are actually the smart ones.

Mosconi Cup 2025, Dec. 3-6, Alexandra Palace, London

...
It's far less cool to swallow your pride, hire a coach, and spend hours every day working on the boring stuff. It's cooler to be the best player in your city and spend your time in the pool room drinking and/or complaining about handicapped tournaments and how nitty the world is nowadays because nobody will match up with you.

Team USA gets shit-stomped in these events because there are hundreds of guys in Europe & Asia that have dedicated their lives to being pool players. Most of them will never even make the semi-finals of a major pool tournament much less sniff the Mosconi, but they gave it their all.
Gorst has done this exact thing.
SVB has done this exact thing minus the coach.
Tyler has taken a very professional approach to the game but he's just not world class.
‐‐‐---------------‐‐----‐------------------
Below the line are guys who have probably figured out the juice isn't worth the squeeze. Why should they be held to a different standard than most of us on AZ? I mean we all had to figure out the same thing at some point, either with pool or just generally in life. If Sky can have fun playing pool, have a family, and support them, what more is there really for him to gain by investing MORE time in this sport at his age? There's not millions of dollars sitting out there just waiting for any of these guys, except for MAYBE a small handful of them if that.

Mosconi Cup 2025, Dec. 3-6, Alexandra Palace, London

I really didn't think the US could get off to a worse start in the Mosconi, but the players somehow managed it. Worst start ever. The mistakes piled up early and often.

Forget the current or future US talent pool. The US didn’t lose today because of lack of talent. They lost mainly because of a slew of uncharacteristic mistakes that these same players seldom make in regular pool competition.

Not enough prep, or not the best prep? Maybe. Nerves? Certainly. Strategic errors and lack of tactical acumen? Yup. Lack of focus? That, too.

There is no reason a team with two of the best players in the world should lose like this, even if they are the clear underdogs.

It all started in the team game. Tyler blew easy position on the 5 ball after an Alcaide miss. Cost him the game. Then Billy missed a routine 9 he should make 99% of the time. Another avoidable loss. Then Gorst scratches on the break.

After the 5-2 team loss, the US players had to be thinking, not this again. You could see it in their faces.

Gorst and SVB then jump to a 2-0 lead over Filler and Alcaide, but some safety battle losses, another break scratch and subpar position play cost them that match. Now Team USA is down 2-0 and the nerves were really on fire.

Woodward should never be captain again (NorJeremy Jones). Picking himself to play the first singles match was just plain stupid. It should have been SVB or Gorst.

It was also a mistake to pair Gorst and SVB, especially in the first doubles. Big blow to the US morale if they lose. Plus it left Tyler and Billy to their own devices.

Woodward, for his part, has lost any right to ham it up - if he ever had it. He was not focused vs Shaw. He needs to just shut up and play.

Sky is very talented. He played arguably his best match ever in a hill-hill loss to Yapp at the International last week. That’s who he needs to be. Not this weird Mosconi persona.

Tyler made a semis this year at a MR major. Thorpe got to the quarters of a stacked Peri Open. Neither of those guys showed up today. I have never seen Styer play worse.

Once again, the US players tried some tough shots when safety play was the better option. The long thin cut Styer and Thorpe tried were good examples.

They also didn’t break well.

This team needs a real coach. MR has to fix this pronto.

There’s no doubt Europe has more talent and should be favored every Mosconi. But Team USA is making them look much better than they are because of self inflicted mistakes.


Now let’s see if anyone has any fight left.

3D Printed Cue Extension

Here is my etsy listing. The weight is slightly heavier than what's in the listing, as I increased the strength to give the best chance of survival. I had the listing turned off while I work out any bugs. I also adjusted the sizes to offer 2, 2.25, 2.5, and 3". But didn't update the pictures yet, so the listing shows the 2" size only, with the less infill weight. I'll put it here for you boys to see what I'm thinking:

Ordered a 2" one! Will order a 2.5 or 3 once they're on your store, thanks!

Dufferin Refinish

I had a cuemaker melt the logo before and he had to later plug it. Also someone else told me they melted one and now just go slower speed to stop that issue.
I wonder who out there might do the best Dufferin conversions for the price. I probably just need refinish, new shaft to match old one, new bumper and maybe the handle taken down 1-2 mm.

Table Difficulty Factor (TDF) for measuring table "toughness"

Calculate your Table Difficulty Factor (TDF) to determine how tough it plays relative to other tables. Only three pocket measurements are required, and you can use the TDF calculator or TDF spreadsheet to get your results.

username - table size, pocket mouth size, mouth-throat difference, shelf depth - TDF (table description)
Side Pocket - 10', 4 1/4", 1 1/4", 2 1/4" - 1.48 (1920s Brunswick)
CaptiveBred - 10', 4 1/8", >143.5°, 1 1/2" - 1.43 (Brunswick Anniversary)
Flakeandrun - 9', 4", 1/4", 1 1/8" - 1.41 (Diamond)
Flakeandrun - 9', 4 1/8", 9/16", 1.5" - 1.37 (Aileex)
Bob Dixon - 9', 4", 145°, 1 5/8" - 1.37 (Diamond)
gregcantrall - 10', 4", 5/8", 1 1/2" - 1.31 (Diamond)
SKILLZELITE - 9', 4 1/8", 144°, 1.5" - 1.30 (GC3)
Ricky Sy - 9', 3 3/4", 1/4", 5/8" - 1.25 (money table)
TEAM SLO - 9', 3.85", 0.6", 1.5" - 1.24 (Diamond)
acedonkeyace - 9", 4", 1/2", 2" - 1.22 (gamble table)
ChrisinNC - 10', 4 1/4", 11/16", 1 5/16" - 1.22 (Gabriel Sentinel)
8cree - 9", 4.125", 0.813", 1.562" - 1.21 (Diamond)
Bonus Ball - 9', 3 7/8", 1/8", 3/4" - 1.19 (Bonus Ball table)
Marc Vidal - 9', 4 1/8", 13/16", 1" - 1.18 (Brunswick Tournament)
takechiyo - 9', 10cm, 1.2cm, 3.5cm - 1.18 (GC5)
chevybob20 - 9', 4 1/8", 7/8", 1" - 1.18 (Centennial)
Baxter - 9', 4 1/4", 143°, 1 1/8" - 1.18 (AMF Grand Prix)
Qaddiction - 9', 4 1/8", 3/4", 1 3/8" - 1.16 (Diamond)
angluse - 8'+, 3 13/16", 9/16", 7/8" - 1.16 (1935 Brunswick Challenger)
Tom Cruise - 9', 4", 1/8", 1 3/8" - 1.15 (Golden West)
ChrisinNC - 10', 4 3/8", 11/16", 1 5/16" - 1.15 (Gabriel Sentinel)
rexus31 - 9', 4", 3/8", 1" - 1.15 (1950s AMF)
FatBoy - 9', 4", 1/4", 1" - 1.14 (GC)
TATE - 9', 4", 1/4", 7/8" - 1.14 (GC)
Phreaticus - 9’, 4.25”, 0.76”, 1.30" - 1.14 (GC6 Tournament Edition)
Mikjary - 9', 4", 9/16", 1 5/16" - 1.13 (Brunswick Centurion)
ChrisinNC - 9', 4 1/8", 5/8", 1 1/4" - 1.13 (Gabriel Signature)
rexus31 - 9', 4.125", 0.505", 1.125" - 1.12 (GC)
Cardigan Kid - 10', 4.5", 0.88", 1.5" - 1.12 (GC)
Ralph Kramden - 9', 4 5/16", 1", 1 3/4" - 1.12 (GC)
pocket - 9', 4 3/16", 7/16", 1 7/8" - 1.12 (unknown)
Justaneng - 8', 4", 7/8", 1 1/2" - 1.12 (Olhausen)
Double-Dave - 6', 3.55", 0.3", 1" - 1.12 (Maxima)
Jaden S - 9’, 4 1/4”, 3/4”, 1 3/8” - 1.11 (Olhausen)
ShaneVanNothin - 9', 4 1/4", 1", 2" - 1.10 (Brunswick)
Neil - 7':0.85, 4 1/8", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" - 1.10 (Valley)
MahnaMahna - 10', 5 1/2", 2", 2 1/2" - 1.09 (converted from snooker table)
tjlmbklr - 8'+, 4", 141°, 1 1/4" - 1.09 (unknown)
grobbs - 9', 4 1/4", 0.625", 1.5" - 1.09 (GC2)
Cardigan Kid - 9', 4 1/4", 0.45", 1 5/16" - 1.08 (GC2)
bbb - 9', 4 1/4", 5/8", 1" - 1.08 (GC)
kanzzo - 9', 4 1/4", 5/8", 1" - 1.08 (GC5)
Pubo - 8’, 4”, 1/4”, 1 1/4” - 1.08 (Rasson)
MSchaffer - 9', 4 7/16, 15/16", 1 5/8" - 1.07 (GC2)
cigardave - 9', 4 1/2", 1", 1 3/4" - 1.07 (Diamond)
peppersauce - 9', 4 1/4", 3/8", 1 1/4" - 1.06 (GC3)
Oilheadoug - 10', 4.5", 4.0", 0.5", 1.5" - 1.06 (Brunswick Anniversary)
Side Pocket - 10', 4 7/8", 1", 1 1/2" - 1.05 (1920s Brunswick)
Pool Hustler - 9', 4 1/4", 1/4", 15/16" - 1.05 (GC)
IbeAnEngineer - 9', 4.5", 1.0", 1.5" - 1.05 (GC)
JC - 9', 4 7/16", 143°, 1 3/8" - 1.05 (GC3)
TheGrandWazoo - 8', 4.15", 0.65", 1.5" - 1.05 (rebuilt Beach)
Banger - 9', 4 1/2", 7/8", 1 3/4" - 1.04 (GC3)
pw98 - 8.5', 4.25", 0.75", 1.0" - 1.04 (custom)
Jimmorrison - 7', 3 7/8", 7/16", 3/4" - 1.03 (Ruxton)
laedco58 - 9’: 4.5", 0.75": 1.75" - 1.02 (Diamond)
SloMoHolic - 9', 4 1/2", 7/8", 1 3/8" - 1.02 (Diamond)
jondrums - 9', 11.9cm, 2.5cm, 4.2cm - 1.02 (Diamond)
pw98 - 10', 5.0", 1.0", 1.0" - 1.02 (Brunswick Regent)
CoreyClark - 9', 5", 1", 2 1/8" - 1.02 (GC)
bignick31985 - 9', 4 3/8", 0.475", 1.5" - 1.01 (GC4)
"standard" table - 9', 4 7/16", 9/16", 1 5/8" - 1.00 (average-difficulty table)
DeadStick - 9', 4.5", 0.625", 1.75" - 1.00 (1958 Brunswick Centennial)
BRKNRUN - 9', 4.3", 0.4", 1.5" - 1.00 (GC1)
Tennesseejoe- 9', 4.25", 1/4", 1 3/8" - 1.00 (1912 Brunswick Saratoga)
coxcol15 - 7', 4.25", 1", 1.25" - 1.00 (Valley)
Goldball - 8', 12.2cm, 4cm, 5.4cm - 1.00 (Heiron & Smith)
pw98 - 8.5', 4.25", 0.5", 0.75" - 0.99 (Gandy Miss America)
dr_dave - 9', 5", 1 1/8", 1.5" - 0.99 (Olhausen)
dr_dave - 9', 5", 1 1/8", 1 3/8" - 0.99 (GC2)
Call_me_Tom - 7', 4", 1/2", 1" - 0.99 (Valley)
MVPCues - 9', 4 1/2", 1/2", 1 5/8" - 0.98 (1902 Brunswick Jefferson)
oldschool1478 - 9', 4 1/2", 0.625", 1.5" - 0.98 (Diamond)
freds - 8'+, 4.9", 1.1", 1.8" - 0.98 (Gandy Big G)
cjr3559 - 9', 4 1/2", 3/4", 1 1/4" - 0.97 (GC5 - Tournament)
Cardigan Kid - 9', 4 1/2", 3/4", 1 1/16" - 0.97 (GC3)
TheGrandWazoo - 9', 4 5/8", 3/4", 1 3/4" - 0.97 (Diamond)
Korsakoff - 9', 4 3/4", 3/4", 1 3/4" - 0.97 (Diamond Paragon)
wigglybridge - 9', 4 1/2", 5/8", 1 1/2" - 0.98 (rebuilt GC)
westcoast - 7', 4", 0", 1.5" - 0.98 (Valley)
BryanB - 9', 4 1/2"0, 3/4", 1 1/4" - 0.97 (1931 Brunswick)
Poolmanis - 9', 10.9cm, 1cm, 3.1cm - 0.97 (SAM)
Vahmurka - 9', 12.5cm, 20mm, 45mm - 0.97 (Brunswick Metro)
mamics - 9', 4 11/16", 143°, 1 3/16" - 0.97 (no-name)
Will Maynard - 9', 4 3/4", 1", 3/4" - 0.97 (1904 Brunswick Narragansett)
dzcues - 9', 4 7/8", 11/16", 1 15/16" - 0.96 (Diamond)
dr_dave - 9', 4 5/8", 9/16", 1 3/4" - 0.95 (modified Olhausen)
follownoone - 4.75", 0.75", 1.5" - 0.95 (GC4)
jviss - 9’, 4.98”, 0.76”, 1.625” - 0.95 (GC)
Hercus - 9’, 5”, 1", 1.5” - 0.95 (Brunswick Avalon II)
logical - 9', 5", 7/8", 1 3/4" - 0.95 (GC2)
dzcues - 9', 5", 15/16", 1 1/2" - 0.95 (Gandy Big G)
Sloppy Pockets - 8'+, 5", 1 1/8", 1 3/4" - 0.95 (A.E. Schmidt)
44Runner - 8', 4 3/8", 3/4", 1" - 0.94 (Diamond)
jtaylor-996 - 8'+, 4.5", 0.5", 1.625" - 0.93 (Diamond)
Taz - 8'+, 5", 1", 1.75" - 0.93 (Buckhorn)
Corwyn_8 - 9', 4 3/4", 1 3/4", 1 1/4" - 0.92 (Gandy Winchester)
Jedco - 9', 4 3/4", 3/4", 1 1/4" - 0.91 (GC)
beetle - 9', 13.1cm, 2.2cm, 4.3cm - 0.91 (Olhausen York)
frigopie - 9', 11.5cm, 138.7°, 3.5cm - 0.91 (Eurotour Dynamic III)
12squared - 9', 4 7/8", 3/4", 1 1/2" - 0.91 (GC)
iusedtoberich - 9', 5 1/8", 1":, 1 1/2" - 0.90 (GC)
MSchaffer - 9', 5 1/8", 3/4", 1 3/4" - 0.89 (GC2)
mfinkelstein3 - 9', 5 1/8", 7/8", 1 1/2" - 0.88 (GC3)
StraightPoolIU - 9', 4 7/8", 3/4", 1 1/4" - 0.88 (GC)
Vahmurka - 9', 5 1/8", 7/8", 1 1/2" - 0.88 (GC)
Dopc - 8', 4 1/2", 3/4", 1 1/4" - 0.87 (Connelly)
SloMoHolic - 8', 4 3/4", 3/4", 1 5/8" - 0.87 (Brunswick Medalist)
RobMan - 9', 5", 3/4", 1.5" - 0.86 (GC)
ljump12 - 8'+, 4 7/8", 4 1/8", 1.5" - 0.86 (GC)
sniggihs - 7', 4 1/2", 5/8", 1 3/4" - 0.85 (Diamond)
SloMoHolic - 8'+, 4 7/8", 7/8", 1 1/4" - 0.85 (Brunswick Medalist)
buckshotshoey - 8', 4 3/4", 3/4", 1 1/2" - 0.85 (American Heritage)
nateobot - 7', 4 3/8", 1/2", 1 3/4" - 0.85 (custom)
angluse - 8'+, 4 5/8", 7/16", 1 3/16" - 0.84 (1935 Brunswick Challenger)
dr_dave - 8', 4 3/4", 5/8", 1 3/8" - 0.84 (Connelly)
BRussell - 8', 5", 13/16", 1 1/2" - 0.83 (Olhausen)
Lovepool - 9', 13cm, 1cm, 3.5cm - 0.82 (home)
jtaylor996 - 7', 5 1/8", 146°, 1.51" - 0.82 (Legacy)
loggerhead12 - 8', 5", 13/16", 1 1/4" - 0.81 (Brunswick Manchester II)
kanzzo - 9', 5 1/8", 139°, 1 1/4" - 0.80 ("Legends of Pocket Billiards" GC3)
Mooneye - 7', 4 7/8", 3/4", 1 5/8" - 0.79 (Brunswick Ranchero)
dzcues - 7', 4 1/2", 0", 1/2" - 0.77 (Valley)
dr_dave - 7', 4 1/2", 0", 3/4" - 0.77 (Valley)
SloMoHolic - 6', 4 1/2", 0", 5/8" - 0.77 (Valley)
This dude is once again hitting a grand slam sharing info.

Extra Deflection on Mosconi Cup Table??

Well It's the same for every player, so that's a moot point.
I've heard that so many times for so many years I think it should be in Hustlin For Dummies. I imagine most accomplished players are optimized a certain way so differences do matter. Yeah I know adjust etc...

I haven't tested this but slidey cloth does seem to cause trickier cut angles. Object balls don't hook up as well so they don't initially throw as much. The easiest adjustment is to back off on the speed which those same ole balls only see less speed and react accordingly; often less than adequately.

I saw Louis Roberts slamming the pockets on a fresh tournament 9' table like it was a worn out bar table so must not be a problem for the players. Still, I'm curious about the what the actual issues are and what to do about 'em.

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