Big cueball

David Matlock was an absolute wizard with the big rock. In his prime i think he was the favorite playing anyone with that cueball. Another was John Shuput and surfer rod. Both loved that big ball.
 
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I’ve only had two money sessions with the big ball, but I played pretty good….I refused to play with a magnetic ball.….
…..the big ball is predictable, the magnetic ball is not.
Well the magnet responsive balls came in 2 variations that I have experienced. One had a metal skeleton and was always off balance and could produce funny curls at the end of the roll. The other we called the mud ball. The resin was impregnated with metal. Making it darker and heavier but balanced. The mud ball was good for the break and forced follow. 🤷‍♂️
 
Dave Matlock, Gary “Bushwhacker” Nolan, Little Gary Flannery, Buddy Hall. I always found this a circus side show though, as while it’s an unpopular opinion with most, Bar Box isn’t pool IMO.
 
David Matlock was an absolute wizard with the big rock. In his prime i think he was the favorite playing anyone with that cueball. Another was John Shuput and surfer rod. Both loved that big ball.

There was time when nobody beat Joe Salazar.., he doesn't play anymore but if you catch him a Cue show or one of the big tournaments stop by his both, not only some of the best cues for sale, but some cool Pool stories too!
 
There was time when nobody beat Joe Salazar.., he doesn't play anymore but if you catch him a Cue show or one of the big tournaments stop by his both, not only some of the best cues for sale, but some cool Pool stories too!
Joe was a monster. I've talked to him quite a bit at tournaments where he was selling cues. I still think 'in prime' Matlock had the highest gear. His break, monster stroke and 3c knowledge made him almost unbeatable. Even at 70 he's still running 10+game packages on people at Shooters in Olathe where he works.
 
I know a Gal that could jump a whole ball at 12 inches with the big ball using her shooter. Back before the jump cues. In fact I played Her in the finals of a C tournament in Spokane. The most money I ever won in tournament. Just 10 bucks shy of 900. Not bad for 50 dollar or maybe 40 entry. with a side pot with 190 in it. Debie beat me the first set going to 7 playing 9 ball on the 9 foot gold crowns.
She pointed me out to the tournament director on day 1. It was a good battle in the final set but I prevailing beat a Girl......but she was a Really Big Girl. 😉
Ooops was looking for the Rambler thread....excuse me. 😉
 
Well the magnet responsive balls came in 2 variations that I have experienced. One had a metal skeleton and was always off balance and could produce funny curls at the end of the roll. The other we called the mud ball. The resin was impregnated with metal. Making it darker and heavier but balanced. The mud ball was good for the break and forced follow. 🤷‍♂️
I have an Aramith magnetic ball. It's slightly heavier than the measles ball but I can't tell the difference in performance. I can't remember the weight, maybe 6.2 to 5.9. The surface finish is much less durable, though.
 
With two magnetic balls already described I will say there were at least three. I saw one break that had what looked like a section of pipe or a pipe collar in it. This metal was huge, came almost to the surface on the ends. No surprise it eventually broke.

Now on to the subject of the thread, Scotty Townsend was the best with the mudball that I saw up close and personal. Mike Massey of artistic pool fame was no slouch with the mud ball back in the day. Not to be bashful, I liked the mud ball and shot just fine with it. It is easier to predict where an eight hundred pound gorilla is going to go than a cue ball the same size/weight or what I really hated, an undersized cue ball.

I think I saw Dave Matlock playing across the room which would make him the best I ever saw. I think his record stringing break and runs is twenty-six or twenty-eight games. Try to fade that!

Keith has mentioned a fondness for the mud ball if I am not mistaken. A lot of people back in the day were. Reminds me, I played Danny Medina and Johnny Archer with the mud ball so they certainly belong on any "best I ever saw" list.

Anybody who insists a barbox isn't a pool table, when is the last time you saw somebody run out a tournament on one? If the table seems like a toy, bet more. When hundreds and thousands start getting slapped down on the rail the pockets get a lot tighter!

The big or heavy cue balls were probably behind the "draw for show, follow for dough" saying from way back when. Hard to draw much so the barbox specialists usually built their game around follow I believe. Certainly true of players in my neck of the woods. I also have to say that the Diamond seven footers play so much better than Valleys and similar tables that I don't put them in the same category unless the Diamond edit: I meant Valley of course. has had cushions swapped and been rebuilt by someone that knew their business.

Getting old, left out my old sometimes road partner, Bobby Slaven. When he was in the mood he could tear up a barbox with the mudball! To include the ladies, Bobby's sister Betty was good enough to win medium sized tournaments in Houston, Becky whose last name I don't recall, won her share and then some around Baton Rouge. I cut my teeth playing a few tough ladies and later played Tammy Wesley(Jones). These ladies all handled the mud ball well. They were deadly to the egos of men who thought ladies couldn't play!

Hu
 
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you brought it on pal. once again. as long as people like you keep saying barbox pool is not pool i'm calling you out. different game?? of course, no one's arguing that but to say its not pool is idiotic.
He is right
 
With two magnetic balls already described I will say there were at least three. I saw one break that had what looked like a section of pipe or a pipe collar in it. This metal was huge, came almost to the surface on the ends. No surprise it eventually broke.

Now on to the subject of the thread, Scotty Townsend was the best with the mudball that I saw up close and personal. Mike Massey of artistic pool fame was no slouch with the mud ball back in the day. Not to be bashful, I liked the mud ball and shot just fine with it. It is easier to predict where an eight hundred pound gorilla is going to go than a cue ball the same size/weight or what I really hated, an undersized cue ball.

I think I saw Dave Matlock playing across the room which would make him the best I ever saw. I think his record stringing break and runs is twenty-six or twenty-eight games. Try to fade that!

Keith has mentioned a fondness for the mud ball if I am not mistaken. A lot of people back in the day were. Reminds me, I played Danny Medina and Johnny Archer with the mud ball so they certainly belong on any "best I ever saw" list.

Anybody who insists a barbox isn't a pool table, when is the last time you saw somebody run out a tournament on one? If the table seems like a toy, bet more. When hundreds and thousands start getting slapped down on the rail the pockets get a lot tighter!

The big or heavy cue balls were probably behind the "draw for show, follow for dough" saying from way back when. Hard to draw much so the barbox specialists usually built their game around follow I believe. Certainly true of players in my neck of the woods. I also have to say that the Diamond seven footers play so much better than Valleys and similar tables that I don't put them in the same category unless the Diamond has had cushions swapped and been rebuilt by someone that knew their business.

Getting old, left out my old sometimes road partner, Bobby Slaven. When he was in the mood he could tear up a barbox with the mudball! To include the ladies, Bobby's sister Betty was good enough to win medium sized tournaments in Houston, Becky whose last name I don't recall, won her share and then some around Baton Rouge. I cut my teeth playing a few tough ladies and later played Tammy Wesley(Jones). These ladies all handled the mud ball well. They were deadly to the egos of men who thought ladies couldn't play!

Hu
killer post right there.
 
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