Recent content by jay helfert

I'd like to know if you can buy a Rasson table in the U.S. Sure liked the ones I saw in the Phillippines. Over here (the PI) a very good pool table can be had for $2,500-3,000. No reason to buy a "name" brand that plays no better for a lot more. I could buy any table I wanted and did have some...

Little Al Romero used to leave a small bare spot in the middle of tip that he never roughed up. He said it played better that way. And then there's Rafael Martinez. He played with a tip worn down to the nub, barely anything there, just a little bump at the end of his ferrule. And he could make...

Karate as I recall. Pretty standard stuff back then but it helped make him a force on the tournament scene. He credited it for helping him mentally and physically.

That is correct. David learned how to put his whole torso into the break and used his legs for leverage. He was probably the first guy who "threw" himself into the break and didn't just use arm strength. He taught Jean Balukas how to break when it had been a weak part of her 9-Ball game before...

George got clocked after he hurt his shoulder and he had to take something off his break shot. He told me he had to be careful or he would dislocate it again.

HelfertRate says about 10% chance. It would be the upset of the century in pool!

One player I left out was James Christopher. We just called him James and everyone knew who he was. He was a great money player and liked high stakes games, where he made small fortunes on a regular basis. That was his stock and trade, go where the best players were playing for the most money...

Speaking of the best breaks, you must include Earl. He was the only player of his era that I saw practice the break prior to each match, so he had a good idea how to break on that particular table. Consequently he would almost always make a ball or balls on his break and if he could see the one...

Interesting that this thread is getting so much play. Does anyone really think Team USA has any chance against Team Europe? It's like doing the same thing over and over and thinking you will get a different result. Ain't gonna happen!

Europe has some new blood, two very good young players added. Meanwhile the USA looks like the same old, same old. We know how this one is going to end. High expectations going in and complete disappointment coming out. My line is USA +5.

I'd like to see Lukas Francasso Vernier get a chance. He is an excellent young player with good results against the top pros. He also happens to be a good money player, so he can handle pressure.

Thank you for this. I contend that there was no problem with the original ball colors on TV. All the cameramen had to do was close (pull in) on the balls to see any and all of them very clearly. That's called good camera work, which is often lacking in television and streaming matches.

They lived in two different pool worlds. Toby was careful not to give away his speed, even though he often played very good players. Wade was high profile on the East Coast and if Toby beat him (or even came close) he wouldn't ever get a game without giving up a spot. Wade wanted to play the...

The hardest breaks were probably Wade Crane, David Howard, Danny Medina, Tony Ellin and George Breedlove. I actually think George, who was not that big a guy, could hit them harder than anyone else, before he dislocated his shoulder. It hurt my ears if I was too close when he broke! No one else...

Grey Stevens, Richie Florence, Ed Kelly, Bernie Schwartz and Johnny Ervolino were all stone cold killers. Kelly played all games at the highest level. He was long considered the best All Around player alive. Searcy challenged the world and they didn't have to like it. He cleaned house playing...