Big Ball/Matlock

[Rico]

Bigball

Thanks CJ if i remember you came with Rick Thomson .They were races to 9 .Buddy didnt want to play on the table Dallas had run 9 on.In THE 83 TOURN. Mike Seigel was winning everything came to the bar rag and1st rd bushwacker Gary N. runs6 on him wins 9-6 .2nd rd Dave M. RUNS6 WINS9-3. you WERE I THINK A TEEN . PRETTY GOOD AT THAT TIME YOU PLAYED STEVIE MANNICIA.YA I REMEMBER

 

[jay helfert]

Bill is right, Matlock played a different kind of game on the bar table. He simply overpowered the balls and that table, making it submit to his will. I never saw anyone else who could do that.

 

[ibuycues]

Dave Matlock and I have played in the same poolroom for over 20 years, and I play him now and then.

One time I told him I knew how good he played on the 9-footer, but there was a time when he was probably the best in the world on the bar box, and I wondered why the difference?

Although there are several contributors, his comment that stuck the most with me was when he said there was "no hard shot on a bar table". I certainly asked what he meant by that. He said when he plays on a bar box, because the table is only seven feet, he doesn't work as hard for shape, or to get close to his next ball, because in his mind it just isn't long no matter how far away the next shot is.

Because he isn't working so hard to get "perfect" shape and is comfortable with the table he doesn't miss shots by trying to run a perfectly executed rack.......not the only answer, but an interesting tidbit from David.

.......one of the best strokes in the history of the game helped a bit too....

BTW, you will not meet a more soft spoken, gentle and friendly person.

Will Prout

 

[CJ Wiley]

the "golden age" for pool

Thanks CJ if i remember you came with Rick Thomson .They were races to 9 .Buddy didnt want to play on the table Dallas had run 9 on.In THE 83 TOURN. Mike Seigel was winning everything came to the bar rag and1st rd bushwacker Gary N. runs6 on him wins 9-6 .2nd rd Dave M. RUNS6 WINS9-3. you WERE I THINK A TEEN . PRETTY GOOD AT THAT TIME YOU PLAYED STEVIE MANNICIA.YA I REMEMBER

That's right, Mannicia and Kitto were always together back then. I know you're right on the races, for some reason 10 was stuck in my mind. Dallas did run the 9 though and being there was like being in a movie. I still can't believe the characters from those days....I'm glad I caught the last of that era, it was the "golden age" for pool.

 

[Luxury]

Too bad this generation will never get to see how different and creative the matlock mind worked and played with the large Rock. The game david played on a box with the Big ball was as unique/different and on a level similar to efern and his impacting style of kicking and board play. David on a bar box in his prime was definitely something special to see. Almost every rack his shape or run out patterns were very different than his peers. Be nice to see footage of that, but didn't see much if any video of those days, in those bars, but it was def. Efren like thinking, and why not, david also played very good three cushion.

I see it as Thank God this generation will not have to care about the big cue ball. I always sucked at Croquet.

 

[Island Drive]

I see it as Thank God this generation will not have to care about the big cue ball. I always sucked at Croquet.

Yep, but there was allot of action in other forms, one handed, in the air. Then came W. coast little Sergio then the light big ball, then the MUD ball, and a few players back then would slip in diff cue balls during play ju$t because . Learning all the different principles of what ea ball could and could not do and add in different types of directional/slow/fast rag cloth, and toss in a little Houston or Louisiana humidity and it was part of the game. All these aspects give good players allot of advantage. I even remember Black Bart/Bob Osborne coming to colorado Springs to play Grady with the first red circle cue ball Early 70's and while matchin' up bob said....''I'll give ya a game in a race to eleven if we use this cue ball''....grady wasn't goin' for it, back then it was mostly the blue circle cue ball from the centennial set, which was the same wt as the obj balls, red circle was lighter, and of course still is.

 

[Fatboy]

That's right, Mannicia and Kitto were always together back then. I know you're right on the races, for some reason 10 was stuck in my mind. Dallas did run the 9 though and being there was like being in a movie. I still can't believe the characters from those days....I'm glad I caught the last of that era, it was the "golden age" for pool.

Kitto used to come thru Vegas some in the early 90's. Great talent.

 

[garczar]

I say "God bless the big-rock", during the 80's oil-boom every bar had a table with the big ball. On Friday nights a guy could play $10-20 eightball til the bar closed. As long you bought those roughnecks a Bud or two, they would damn near fight to blow their cash. Good times

 

[CJ Wiley]

Kitto used to come thru Vegas some in the early 90's. Great talent.

Yes, I played him many times as a teenager and then later he was on the PBTA - He quit for awhile, but I saw him win a tournament in Olathe a couple of years ago...it was him and Matlock in the finals...I'm pretty sure he won, he beat me to get to the semis.