A formal thank you to Lou Figueroa, and Dustin Miller

nineballsafety8

nineballsafety8

6ft 5" 285, hits 'em hard
Silver Member
So Friday night was the first time I EVER played a rack of one pocket against another player... EVER. I went out Friday night and played TWO, count them TWO racks of one pocket with another player.
Saturday morning rolls around and I put on a fresh pot of coffee, and try to settle my nerves, as at roughly 10:00 Lou was due at my doorstep to play on my table, and share some of his extensive knowledge with this COMPLETE one pocket newb. Upon Lou's arrival we poored our coffee and headed downstairs to begin our session. He let my drool over his Gina, and we commenced playing. While I was like a fish out of water and had very little clue what to do, Lou walked me through some shot selection, and got me to where I felt like I wasn't a COMPLETE idiot. He was extremely nice, and he shared some amazing stories, and some insider tips that were more help than I think he could ever know. Upon completion of our session, Lou mentioned that there was a gentleman that was relatively local to me, and that I should look him up. This man was Dustin Miller (aka Miller on AZB). It turns out that Dustin had already extended an invite to play on his home table via PM previously. So I looked in my Inbox and retrieved his number and shot him a line.
Sunday at 1:00 I arrived at Dustin's home and was greeted most generously. I have to say that Dustin's Diamond is truly the most PERFECT table that I have ever played on... it was IMMACULATE! (I can now also say that the Cyclop Balls are THE NUTZ).
Dustin and I played for about 4 hours, and again I feel that I learned alot!!! And more than anything, I had a BLAST! He also let me hit some balls with his Southwest... which was MOST generous!

So I would like to give my formal thanks to both Gentlemen, both for their shared knowledge and fellowship.
I look forward to continued chaos in the world of one pocket, and while I truly appreciate you guys getting me turned on to the game, I also want to say JERKS... no I have to learn how to play again LMAO just kidding.
It was great guys, THANK YOU!
 
You're making Lou sound like he's a nice guy.

You better be careful or you are going to ruin his reputation.:thumbup:
 
Lou is a nice guy, as long as he's.................

BasementDweller said:
You're making Lou sound like he's a nice guy.

You better be careful or you are going to ruin his reputation.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Lou is a nice guy, as long as he's not angry.

hulklou.jpg
 
play

I am usually only off on Sundays but will play cheap one pocket anytime.

Brendan Sullivan
 
jay

thank you for the kind words and right back at you.....

now we just gotta figure out how to trap bmsclayton and IBA into a partners match....:p:smile:
 
nineballsafety8 said:
So Friday night was the first time I EVER played a rack of one pocket against another player... EVER. I went out Friday night and played TWO, count them TWO racks of one pocket with another player.
Saturday morning rolls around and I put on a fresh pot of coffee, and try to settle my nerves, as at roughly 10:00 Lou was due at my doorstep to play on my table, and share some of his extensive knowledge with this COMPLETE one pocket newb. Upon Lou's arrival we poored our coffee and headed downstairs to begin our session. He let my drool over his Gina, and we commenced playing. While I was like a fish out of water and had very little clue what to do, Lou walked me through some shot selection, and got me to where I felt like I wasn't a COMPLETE idiot. He was extremely nice, and he shared some amazing stories, and some insider tips that were more help than I think he could ever know. Upon completion of our session, Lou mentioned that there was a gentleman that was relatively local to me, and that I should look him up. This man was Dustin Miller (aka Miller on AZB). It turns out that Dustin had already extended an invite to play on his home table via PM previously. So I looked in my Inbox and retrieved his number and shot him a line.
Sunday at 1:00 I arrived at Dustin's home and was greeted most generously. I have to say that Dustin's Diamond is truly the most PERFECT table that I have ever played on... it was IMMACULATE! (I can now also say that the Cyclop Balls are THE NUTZ).
Dustin and I played for about 4 hours, and again I feel that I learned alot!!! And more than anything, I had a BLAST! He also let me hit some balls with his Southwest... which was MOST generous!

So I would like to give my formal thanks to both Gentlemen, both for their shared knowledge and fellowship.
I look forward to continued chaos in the world of one pocket, and while I truly appreciate you guys getting me turned on to the game, I also want to say JERKS... no I have to learn how to play again LMAO just kidding.
It was great guys, THANK YOU!
Click to expand...


Somehow I missed this this morning (believe it or not I don't read every thread tracking down JB, I just buzz in and out over a cappuccino and zoom out :-)

So Jay, who has served two combat tours (Iraq and Afghanistan), asked me to get together a while back. I told him I was tied up focusing on the JB match and a few other things so to ping me afterwards and he did. And getting together with him this weekend was a great experience, I think for both of us. I don't know about you guys but getting together with guys from the group who want to learn a little about 1pocket and having the opportunity to share a little of whatever knowledge has accumulated in the back o' me brain over the years is something I love doing.

Jay has a wonderful man cave in his basement, about 30 minutes outside of St. Louis, and it was my honor to share several hours with him showing him some 1pocket stuff. He made me feel like a star, when his wife, who was out of town, called and he told her we were playing. Having watched my match with John on line with her husband she somehow got the impression I was too big to wander into their basement (if only she knew). But that's the great thing about pool players. Most of the guys I have met online have a love for the game that makes it pure pleasure to get together and swap stories, experiences, and tips and Jay was no exception. And he could not have done better than to get together with my wingman for the Barton match than Dustin, who I will always consider a great, great friend.

Thanks, Jay. The pleasure was all mine.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
Somehow I missed this this morning (believe it or not I don't read every thread tracking down JB, I just buzz in and out over a cappuccino and zoom out :-)

So Jay, who has served two combat tours (Iraq and Afghanistan), asked me to get together a while back. I told him I was tied up focusing on the JB match and a few other things so to ping me afterwards and he did. And getting together with him this weekend was a great experience, I think for both of us. I don't know about you guys but getting together with guys from the group who want to learn a little about 1pocket and having the opportunity to share a little of whatever knowledge has accumulated in the back o' me brain over the years is something I love doing.

Jay has a wonderful man cave in his basement, about 30 minutes outside of St. Louis, and it was my honor to share several hours with him showing him some 1pocket stuff. He made me feel like a star, when his wife, who was out of town, called and he told her we were playing. Having watched my match with John on line with her husband she somehow got the impression I was too big to wander into their basement (if only she knew). But that's the great thing about pool players. Most of the guys I have met online have a love for the game that makes it pure pleasure to get together and swap stories, experiences, and tips and Jay was no exception. And he could not have done better than to get together with my wingman for the Barton match than Dustin, who I will always consider a great, great friend.

Thanks, Jay. The pleasure was all mine.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

I found it extrememly interesting how different it was playing you on my table versus playing Dustin on his. On my table I had to play much more traditional one pocket, while on Dustin's Diamond I was able to play alot more agressive and utilize my shot making MUCH more. Dustin can attest that I was getting out from places that I feel most wouldn't. It was nice to be able to keep up with Dustin, even lacking in my knowledge. You on the other hand just dusted me like I was hardly present LOL.

Thanks again to both of you!
 
nineballsafety8 said:
I found it extrememly interesting how different it was playing you on my table versus playing Dustin on his. On my table I had to play much more traditional one pocket, while on Dustin's Diamond I was able to play alot more agressive and utilize my shot making MUCH more. Dustin can attest that I was getting out from places that I feel most wouldn't. It was nice to be able to keep up with Dustin, even lacking in my knowledge. You on the other hand just dusted me like I was hardly present LOL.

Thanks again to both of you!
Click to expand...


Oh. I always knew you were present, Jay :-)

Lou Figueroa
 
When you have eyes for the pockets, you have eyes for the pockets. You either see where to hit em or you don't. You could paint my rails black and cover the diamonds, as the only thing I use them for is tracking my quarter around the table.

I play by feel, always have, and always will


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
That must be interesting.

nineballsafety8 said:
Systems were not a topic.
Never used them, nor do I have interest in doing so. I see where the balls go sans system


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

You play pool without using any system at all? That must be interesting. ;)

PS: "feel" is systematic
 
CJ Wiley said:
You play pool without using any system at all? That must be interesting. ;)

PS: "feel" is systematic
Click to expand...


Your definition of what constitutes a "system" at pool is all over the board and that's pretty silly. On my book shelf I have a complete set of the late Walt Harris' "Billiard Atlas of Systems and Techniques." In those books are over 800 pages of huge steaming piles of "systems." And, what makes those books even more valuable is that the author differentiates between system and technique.

You cannot just call everything a player does "a system."

Lou Figueroa
 
No offense to Mr. Wiley, as you have my utmost respect as an elite player, but you said yourself in your explanation of TOI I saw on your youtube channel (the brief description that you gave, with little info on how the system might actually work, to encourage people to buy it)... that when you were on the road, you needed something to give you an edge, as you couldn't rely on just your ability. You needed an "edge". While I understand where you are coming from, and I fully respect the time and effort you put into your edge... my edge is HEART and TABLE TIME.

I don't need a railroad, or my ferrule, or the edge of the ball, or some fancy laser pointer taped to my cue... I put in enough time that I KNOW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what contact point will take me to the exact center of the pocket. I also know that based on throw, and english induced throw, what portion of the pocket that I need to direct my object ball towards. Whether or not I make a shot has ZERO to do with whether or not I was aiming in the correct spot, as that may happen .05% of the time. If I miss a ball, it is because I HIT IT BAD. I am fully aware that my stroke is the weak point in my game, and that is where I dedicate my practice time to.
If you are unable to see where the balls go, just by looking at them, then I sincerely feel sorry for you, as that is an obsctacle that I cannot even imagine trying to overcome. I applaud your ability to work through your genetic short comings, and wish that I will attain even half of your success in the world of pool. I however will do so without a system.
OF ANY KIND
 
also, to Mr. Wiley,
On a side note... do you ever actually enjoy playing pool when you have all of the mental hoops to jump through as part of your preshot routine?
Pool as a game is mentally taxing as it is, I cannot imagine what it must be like to have a dynamic shot routine that is everchanging, and disallows you to just get down and shoot.
 
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