Anyone remember Hal Mix?

O

oncue4u

14.1 to life
Wondering if anyone has a story involving Hal Mix (RIP). I was a pretty good friend to Hal for over 20 years.
He showed me quite a bit about pool.
He was always experimenting with aiming systems and knowledge he acquired over the years from many of the top well know players. He had many stories about the more colorful players of the past.
He was Nick Varner's coach when Nick was at the top of his game.
Many people confuse him with Hal Houle. It was ironic that both Hals lived in Northern California but I seem to only hear about Hal Houle.
The two Hals were distinctly different in their approach to the game.
Anyone else ever ran across Hal Mix??
 
Hi Eric-- When I lived in the Eureka, Calif. area, I travelled up to Salem, Oregon to take a lesson from Hal. I believe that was in '96 or '97. He lived not too far away on the coast with a young oriental woman.

As I recall, Hal was 86 at the time, but his mind and eyesight were still razor sharp. He had a storehouse of knowledge, and his observations were fresh and insightful. My regret was not having taped the 3 hour session!! I was able to write a lot of the info down, made some diagrams, and bought a copy of his book.

Hal coached several name players, some of whom were from the central Calif. area, e.g. Tinsley Johnson.

The last time I saw him was at the Reno Open, I think in '98. I sat with him observing a few matches, and he remained generous with his information. At that time he said that he felt Ginky San Souci had the best stroke of the current players. He may have had a point.

Doc
 
Hal Mix took me under his wing for a short period of time in the late sixties. I spent a brief period of time in the bay area of California. I learned quite a lot from him. At that time I was amazed at his knowledge and understanding of the game and its mechanics. He was quite a good player too.
 
I ran into Hal Mix one time, in Las Vegas, in the very early 80's. He showed me some very cool proposition shots, that I still remember, and use, to this day! A very nice gentleman, who really knew pool!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
oncue4u said:
Wondering if anyone has a story involving Hal Mix (RIP). I was a pretty good friend to Hal for over 20 years.
He showed me quite a bit about pool.
He was always experimenting with aiming systems and knowledge he acquired over the years from many of the top well know players. He had many stories about the more colorful players of the past.
He was Nick Varner's coach when Nick was at the top of his game.
Many people confuse him with Hal Houle. It was ironic that both Hals lived in Northern California but I seem to only hear about Hal Houle.
The two Hals were distinctly different in their approach to the game.
Anyone else ever ran across Hal Mix??
Click to expand...

Eric, I met Hal about the same time I met you at California Billiards in San Jose. Hal & I had a mutual friend, Buck Barrett, who was from Oklahoma, and Hal and Buck had been friends for years. Buck was a good old school one pocket player and staked Ronnie Allen sometimes. Hal and I also became pretty good friends and I even bougt a couple of cues from him.

I was sitting with Hal after hours at one of the Reno tournaments and Jimmy Wetch was playing a set with Santos for $1,500 and drilling him. Hal said Jimmy would come over to talk to him after the set because he had been asking Hal some questions about his game. Hal did not care for the spread eagle stance that Jimmy used that was similar to the way Jimmy Rempe played. Hal could be a little brutal sometimes and when Jimmy came over after he won the set and asked Hal what he thought, Hal told him he didn't like his stance. Jimmy asked him what was wrong with it and Hal said " It's ok if you are trying to take a leak and not get any on your shoes, but it's no good for pool". Jimmy didn't ask Hal any more questions after that, which was Hal's goal in the first place. John Henderson
 
He invented the tangent line aiming "system".
WHich I think is the nuts.

Here comes the aiming brigade!

God bless Hal.
 
Thats too funny John! I remember Hal and I watching one of his long time students struggle time after time with many of the easier things a pool player must grasp in order to become a "better player". Hal said to me "there are two kinds of pool players, one's that are "pool stupid" and the one's that are "pool smart", unfortunately this one is "pool stupid".
Yes he could be harsh at times.
 
I met Hal Mix sometime around the early 90's. I believe he was coaching Mike Coltrain at the time. He and I spoke a little on the phone and met in LA. I was living in Northern Cal at the time. He watched me shoot a little and I bought one of his books. He sent me the book and inside he wrote a personal message that contained some great advice. Those words alone resulted in huge improvements with my game. I still have the book and it is one of my few prized possessions. Hal was a great guy!
 
Joey...I don't know if Hal invented it or not, but Willie Jopling was the first person to explain it in print.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

JoeyInCali said:
He invented the tangent line aiming "system".
WHich I think is the nuts.

Here comes the aiming brigade!

God bless Hal.
Click to expand...
 
Scott Lee said:
Joey...I don't know if Hal invented it or not, but Willie Jopling was the first person to explain it in print.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...
Me's bad.
I read Hal's article on one of those Northern Cal/North Pacific billiard periodicals. He was touting it as the nuts.
I believe Hal said " Pool is a forward game." too, as I was told by Danny K's.
Hal took Varner under his wings and he took off from there iirc.
 
Is this not the same guy that showed Nick Varner a few things back in Nick's younger yrs?
 
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