Recent content by BlueRaider

30 minutes each way is my max, and I won't sign up for any league that doesn't essentially guarantee I'm playing that night (whether it's Double Jeopardy APA or another format). I used to live one block away from my league room and didn't mind the nights I didn't play because I enjoyed just...

Is it possible to reach the top 75 globally in anything as an adult, even if you start your journey as a strong amateur? I say no unless it's something extremely niche. Reaching 800 would put him one point ahead of John Morra. He'd be 5 points behind Chris Melling and Jeff De Luna. Guys who...

Eliminate wishful thinking. Focus and TRY, even when it means putting myself "out there" and risking failure despite my best efforts. Good position isn't achieved by "hoping" I'll get good on the next ball. And having good tip accuracy isn't achieved by "hoping" my tip will strike the cue ball...

The elite young guys seem unfazed by Filler. Gorst (for the most part), Little Ko, Yapp, Chua, and Kaci. But I think Filler has a big psychological advantage over most of the older elite pros.

Filler just absolutely smoking Shaw 11-2 is wild. Shaw had a run of what, 3-4 years of being known as the guy with supernatural ball pocketing skills who made the game look easy. Then Filler came along with even better ball pocketing skills and even more “I am inevitable” confidence. And he...

Not possible to make this available on the older models?

I imagine most of the people posting those kinds of comments don't/rarely compete. If I haven't competed in a while, I'm always surprised by how much it affects me, at least while I'm adjusting to it. It's an entirely different world compared to practicing or even playing friendly matches with a...

Pool players with kids who show interest in the game should teach them the basics, ensure their fundamentals are solid, and help them get up to about Fargo 550 or so, and then turn them loose to dominate the frat house/dive bar tables in college (and maybe join a league when they're in their 20s...

Zero? Bergman is unremarkable at the MC. 2014 Doubles: 1-1 Singles 0-2 2015 Doubles: 1-1 Singles: 1-2 2016 Doubles: 2-1 Singles: 0-1 2019 Doubles: 1-2 Singles: 0-1 One singles win in four MCs. Losing record in doubles. Not sure where this notion that he's Team USA's missing...

Filler put the worst stroke I've ever seen from him on a long (but makeable) 8 ball in the 8th rack vs He.

There's a great room near my house with a mixture of 8' and 9' Gold Crowns. The owner owns the building and has for many decades. The problem is he's getting up there in age--late 70s I believe--and I worry about its future after he's gone. Hopefully he has a succession plan in place. I'd hate...

Was rooting for SVB but also happy for Morra. Biggest win of his career?

IMO YouTubers like Dr. Dave, Sharivari, Tor Lowry, etc., are making the biggest difference for pool right now by making it more accessible and easier to improve at. I started playing somewhat regularly in 2009 and spent the next six years as a casual player because I (and all of my friends)...

Filler is the best rotation player of all time.

Alignment. Bridge hand wasn't in the exact right spot. I think people blame stroke maladies or mechanical flaws too quickly/often. They obviously can and do cause misses, but IMO, most of the "why did I miss that?" misses happen because of misalignment. Here's an interesting almost 20-year-old...