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There should be only one set of rules for any game. It is just a matter of how casual the competition, and thus how much cheating is overlooked. Beginners never know all the rules. When I began, the only penalized foul we kids recognized was a scratch. As play becomes more serious, players...

I don’t do ‘leagues’, but playing ‘all fouls’ most of my life, I’ve never called an opponent for a hair, shirt, etc. chickenshit foul. I’ve warned, and an honorable player would then pay attention and correct. While I am technically the ref when my opponent is shooting, I generally prefer the...

Could be that a rotation player would do especially well in a 9 ball ring game. With 15 balls on the table to run out, choosing out-of-order stripe combos can be advantageous practice.

If you’ve ever played in a bar where all the supplied cues had virtually no tip left, or so shiny it wouldn’t hold chalk (assuming there was any), you soon learn just how much CAN be done with only centerball. Usually, the balls were also filthy, so when no outside could be applied, one rail cut...

It helps if you don’t leave a cue leaning against the wall for years also. A reformed hustler/bar owner I knew left an ignored Balabushka leaning in the corner of his office. When I pulled it out to examine, it was like the trick cue from the ‘Shot in the Dark’ movie!

Learning how to get by without sidespin (adjusting to conditions) can also negate the complications of cue variation. ‘Deflection’ is moot with a center ball hit.

Been using them for years. They play like a soft tip, but don’t expand (I no longer need my burnishing tool), and last a very long time if you use a tapper only. Problem is, that some in the delivered batch are too thin to bother with installing.

I never did, until I watched Ruslan win the 14.1 championship while wearing a ball cap. I considered the old style green light shade instead, but since I couldn’t find a proper/comfortable one, and plus I’m now almost totally bald (and self conscious), I’ve learned to adjust. It DOES take some...

Severe ‘tennis elbow’ sort of ended my break practice sessions years ago, but I’m wondering: even with the template rack, is there ever a ‘diminishing returns’ issue with breaking force (?)

Rooms that routinely used 760 in the 90s have all gone 860HR. My new 760 was noticeably slower than the old, but playing 14.1 out on the used HR was quite annoying. Not only too slow, but tends to almost wrinkle when humid. Brand new plain 860 is just right for tournaments though.

I bought a couple of fancy Gus Z. cues from him back in the early 90s, but don’t recall he ever mailed me anything, Interesting guy. I used to beat him regularly on his own home table 😁.

Reminds me to english-steer the CB to avoid a scratch when target-directing a kicked OB. Thanks.

All the carom-steering OBs start out frozen though. The force-steering segment WAS instructive. Something I’ve always done instinctively, but (upon reflection) never thought much about.

OK, will do.

How fresh was that 760? In my experience, once it’s broken in, it plays like new 860, until it’s well worn, then it speeds up. Top pro running templated balls on a GC becomes more of an endurance contest. Beating over 300 on a Diamond sounds like a gauntlet thrown down (?).

Haven’t watched the video yet, just the contents list. Surprised I don’t recall any instruction re: steering a caromed OB with high or low english (?). When the balls are dirty, you can work miracles.

Back then, bonds were doing better than stocks.

I used that hair spray for a while (drugstore version though), and since I had double-facing mirrors, applying was easy. But, that was back when I was still handsome, so it was justified 😁.

Big GC pockets/760 cloth/template rack. Astounding achievement, but still, 14.1 championship tournament at V.B. was: tight Diamond/new 860/triangle rack. High Run record attempts should be updated/standardized (IMHO) to reflect more modern tournament conditions. If I videoed running a thousand...

The round shape of V10 DOES require a more concerted effort to replace on the rail right-side-up, but the more even wear pattern makes up for it.