Recent content by Matt

I don't know if I've even seen it in writing before, but I found a similar effect when I was experimenting with grips myself. I play fairly well with a loose grip (barely touching the web between thumb and forefinger, if at all) most of the time, but it gives me a lot of room to turn my wrist...

I think that playing your opponent is especially important when you're playing handicapped tournaments or leagues. For example, knowing that a weaker opponent isn't likely to run out a rack might allow you to play more aggressively early in a set or play a weak safety with the expectation of...

I recently bought a JB rugged 3x6 to replace a sterling wave case because they have the same interior design. The wave case exterior has begun to wear and the faux leather exterior is peeling, but the interior is showing no signs of giving out. If the nylon exterior of the JB rugged holds up...

I think the wording of this is subtle, but important. It wouldn't surprise me to find that several of those players are fairly proficient with their off hand, but when it comes down to the choice of using a mechanical bridge, shooting behind the back, choosing a different shot, or shooting with...

My guess is that it's mostly from the ball's surface either sliding against the tip or grabbing and dragging the tip down before releasing it when the ball is rolling vs. just the sound of impact when it's not. Maybe you can have someone shoot a stop shot into the tip of you cue to test that...

In other news, I like chocolate ice cream, so vanilla represents everything that is wrong with this world and anyone that likes it is an idiot. Seriously, though...every time this topic comes up (it seems like at least once a year), I'm impressed by the amount of passion some folks have...

I agree, but would add that the calculation involved in deciding to pass or shoot on a tough shot is really complicated (including a lot of guesswork) and often favors taking a swing at a low percentage (less than 50%) shot if there's not an easy defensive opportunity, especially against better...

I've always considered the bulk of the chalk a sort of handle for the bit that you're actually going to use. After years of picking up regular size pieces, I would find it mildly irritating to fiddle around with a little half piece of chalk. At home, I just toss out any chalk that gets worn down...

I agree that DE is generally terrible for a nightly amateur pool tournament, but think that it does make some sense for a large event that's meant to draw a crowd for multiple days. I would love to see a round robin group feeding a SE bracket as a format for a pool tournament. Does anyone...

When I played masters, I always took the break if I had the option in a regular match, especially against players I didn't know. I would definitely do the same in a race to 2. Any competitive masters player is capable of running 2 straight racks of 8 or 9. If I lost the lag and my opponent took...

The title isn't wrong. It is the championship tournament of all the APA teams in the world. Even if all the APA teams were all in a 5 mile radius, it would still be the "APA World Championships" if there were all eligible to qualify for it. Welcome to marketing.

It's rarely the higher level league players that complain about slop shots. On the rare occasion that it determines the outcome of a match, they might comment on it, but they generally laugh it off and move on. Slop is really more of an issue among the lower to mid level players; players that...

Sure, none of these guys make a living playing competitively, but they are certainly pool professionals and act in a more professional manner than most players. Combine that with the fact that players come and go in popularity depending on their success and public image, and it makes perfect...

For speed control, follow is generally more reliable because the behavior of a draw shot can vary so much based on the cloth and balls. A rolling cue ball is more predictable than a sliding one, especially over longer distances. With ball in hand, I will always choose to roll forwards into...

I think there are a couple of situations in which LD shafts can be disadvantageous, but before going into that, I'd like to clarify some terminology. I know a lot of the folks on here know this already, but I think it's worth restating to avoid confusion... The term "low deflection shaft" is a...