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Does playing Pool with Families or Friends mess up your real game??

OneHandedBreak
Bavafongoul said:
To make it more interesting and enjoyable, I shoot every other shot opposite handed.

First my normal right hand stroke, then left handed, back to right, then left, etc. It does
2 things. It makes the game more even than if I just played right handed and at the same
time, I get to practice my left handed shots since I really hate bridges. I have a Tony Ryan
18” cue extension but bridges are still necessary on a 9’ table when you are only 5’8” tall.

Being able to shoot ambidextrously for some shots helps me obtain better position and
pocket balls better than if I used a bridge. God help me if I played snooker on a 12’ table.
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I'm going to guess you occasionally do the same with your pistol?
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Underappreciated Cue Makers Section

staticfire98
Bavafongoul said:
My taste in cues is narrowly defined in the sense I like points, veneers and a little jazz in the butt and forearm.

The cue can have 4 points, 6 points, heck, a picket fence 8 pointer. It is the proportional size of the points, inlays
and veneers color scheme that matters most to me, not the design complexity. The look of the forearm wood,
joint ring, shaft collars, butt design are important considerations that eventually combine into one’s impression.

Here’s a few questions to ponder. Some of the readers have already answered without even reading this. How could
that be? Well,because they’ve already experienced it. I’ve done it four times with Bob and Jerry. Got you curious or
have you already guessed what I’m going to ask? Okay, let’s just put the question of affordability aside for a moment.

If you could have a cue built, how long are you willing to wait for it and what would you ask the cue maker to build?
Is there a favorite cue maker you’d choose and would you consider getting a cue from the secondary resale market
instead of waiting? What is the most important quality you want in the cue maker you would choose to make a cue?

Remember that design complexity is not a consideration. Let’s just say the cue was handsome without being ornate.

I had Bob Owen build 2 cues I designed and Jerry Rauenzahn also did the same thing for me. Having a custom cue
ordered, waiting, tracking the build progress with photo updates from the cue maker and finally receiving the cue is
just a fantastic experience. Unfortunately, there are some cue makers that build great cues but can be unresponsive.
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I’ve learned a few things working with cue makers, and design complexity matters a quite a bit in choosing a builder. I like to collect cues and play with various types of cues.

I really love the Gulyassy cues I discussed earlier in this thread, but I would have struggled to convey a complex, highly specific design to Mike. Concepting something intricate and iterating through it with him probably would not have been a great fit. I only have good things to say about Mike and his cues, but the process felt a bit old school and required a lot of trust. I mean trust in the sense that details were discussed on the phone and then written down on scribbled and very brief notes. I was comfortable with that because I already knew what I wanted, and the design was straightforward. Delivery and timing was solid: both cues were delivered within about six months. It was a simple transaction, and he made the best playing cue that I own.

I had a very different experience with another maker mentioned in this thread. He was extremely creative with design and layout. It’s a themed cue, and his concept was outstanding — something I would not have come up with myself. He sent digital concepts, we iterated quickly, and for a while there were regular updates and photos. Then, silence. This is a cue that was really fun to watch come together and the process felt very cohesive for a bit. I still think I’ll get the cue eventually, but it’s been about three to four years with no movement.

I’m now in the pre-order stage with another up-and-coming maker from this thread. The wait is a bit longer, but he has a strong reputation for delivering high quality. So far the process feels closer to the Gulyassy experience. It has been really informal. I am struggling to convey a specific design and would prefer the maker to provide more guidance and leadership with design. I have a deposit down and I have decided I will probably just fly there and sit down with him to finalize details.
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Does playing Pool with Families or Friends mess up your real game??

OneHandedBreak
gregcantrall said:
Well wait a minute now.
I was on an out of town grocery store remodel with uh let's see maybe 8 of us on the crew with carpenters and laborers and a Superintendent. So the first night after work. I played the Superintendent for the first round. I had bragged uh significantly with my co workers and told them that, ^I could Play."
So I broke and ran to the 8 and hooked myself accidentally. The crew was laughing and encouraging our Superintendent with, "Well at least you will get to shoot." No He didn't, I called it and kicked it. Just had to prove that I wasn't full of Sh**. 🤷‍♂️
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schneider.webp
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Funny pic/gif thread...

David in FL
Jaden said:
of course of course and no one can talk to a horse of course, that is of course unless the horse is the famous mister ed, go right to the source and ask the horse he'll give you the answer that you endorse, he's always on a steady course, the famous mister ed. He may go yikkety yak a streak and waste your time of day, but mister ed will never speak unless he has something to say...
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Willlllber...!

Great show. 🙂
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Funny pic/gif thread...

Jaden
David in FL said:
A horse is a horse... 😁
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of course of course and no one can talk to a horse of course, that is of course unless the horse is the famous mister ed, go right to the source and ask the horse he'll give you the answer that you endorse, he's always on a steady course, the famous mister ed. He may go yikkety yak a streak and waste your time of day, but mister ed will never speak unless he has something to say...
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Possible Abe Rich Merry Widow — Looking for Confirmation

Chopdoc
Gemini AI (could be errors):

Major Championship Wins with Viking Cues
  • The "Gorst Slam" (2024): Current world #1 Fedor Gorst put together one of the most dominant single-calendar years in pool history using his official Viking Ovationbutt paired with a carbon fiber shaft. During this run, he won:
    • 2024 WPA World Nine-ball Championship
    • 2024 U.S. Open Nine-ball Championship
    • 2024 World Pool Masters [1, 2]
  • WPA World Championships (2006): Legendary Filipino pro Ronnie Alcano famously captured both the WPA World Nine-ball Championship and the WPA World Eight-ball Championship back-to-back in the mid-2000s while competing with a standard Viking cue setup. [1]
  • The Mosconi Cup: Multiple Viking-sponsored players have won pool's most famous team event. Fedor Gorst helped anchor Team USA, and Justin Bergman captured the title as a crucial part of the victorious 2019 Mosconi Cup Championship team. [1, 2]
  • Artistic Pool World Titles: Trick shot virtuoso Steve Markle won the prestigious 2025 Premier Billiards Masters Artistic Pool Championship utilizing a mix of specialized Viking equipment and the Viking Punch jump cue. [1, 2]
  • Modern Open Titles: Justin Bergman secured a major individual victory by winning the 2026 Ultimate Pool USA Florida Open Championship playing with his Carmeli by Viking setup. [1]
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Possible Abe Rich Merry Widow — Looking for Confirmation

Chopdoc
Gemini AI (could be errors):

Modern Pro Models & Co-Branded Series

1788056379227.png

Fedor Gorst: Plays with his official, co-branded Viking Ovation OV0400. It features a West African Ebony forearm, a Pau Ferro sleeve, premium pearl inlays, and an exclusive "FG" logo inlay. He pairs this setup with his low-deflection Whyte Carbon FG57 Signature Playing Shaft. [1, 2, 3]
1788056379236.png

Justin Bergman: Utilizes a model from the ultra-premium custom collaboration line: the Carmeli by Viking Red Diamond playing cue. He typically pairs it with a high-performance Viking Siege shaft. [1]

Historical & Professional Endorsement Series
  • Steve Mizerak: During the peak era of his endorsement, "The Miz" was heavily associated with the iconic Viking Mizerak Professional Series (often designated within the legacy catalog lines like the M or early vintage series). These cues were built to his exact preference for traditional, solid-hitting wood designs featuring birdseye maple and premium exotic hardwood combinations.
  • Jeanette Lee: Endorsed multiple special runs and promotional lines, frequently utilizing high-end models from the Viking V Series and VK Series, which showcased elaborate pearl inlays and bold aesthetics matching her iconic persona. [1]
  • Shawn Putnam: Competed at the highest international levels using high-performance cues selected from the specialized Viking SE (Special Edition) Series to support his powerful breaking and precise positioning. [1]
If you are tracking down a specific build from a certain era, let me know the approximate decade or design features (like the window style, logo typeface, or joint ring configuration), and I can help cross-reference it against the historical catalog series.
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Possible Abe Rich Merry Widow — Looking for Confirmation

Chopdoc
From Gemini AI (could be errors):

Notable Professional Players & Ambassadors


Professional PlayerCareer Highlights / Notes
Fedor GorstWPA World Nine-ball Champion (2019, 2024) and Mosconi Cup Team USA member; plays with an official signature Viking Ovation series cue and a Whyte carbon fiber shaft.
Justin Bergman2019 Mosconi Cup Champion and multiple-time Mosconi Cup selection; joined the Viking ambassador team.
Jeanette LeeFamously known as "The Black Widow," she frequently endorsed and played with Viking cues during her legendary career.
Steve MizerakBilliards Hall of Famer and legendary player known as "The Miz," who utilized Viking cues during his career.
Shawn PutnamTwo-time WPA World Pool-Billiard Association champion known for powerful breaks and precision using Viking equipment.
Steve MarkleProfessional player and renowned trick shot artist representing Viking Cues as a long-time brand ambassador.
Margaret Fefilova StyerElite professional player and European champion representing Viking Cues as an ambassador.
Angela JanicProfessional player holding records for high-level NAPA 8-ball performance, affiliated with Viking.
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