Big Money Match

zpele

zpele

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So yesterday I was down at Ivory Billiards in Holyoke, MA and watched as Mike Dechaine played a big money match against one of our local players using a bridge on every shot.

I left before it was over but Mike won both of the sets while I was there. He seems like a down to earth guy and I learned some things from watching him play. Mainly how to hustle with a bridge:)

Recently Mike Masse and Bruce Barthelette have also blown through the billiard hall for some three cushion action and I have to say that Mike Masse is a very easy going, nice guy.

Not to toot Ivory's horn but there is always something going on tournament wise. We just need more players to come on down and the prize pool will swell:)

Don't take this post wrong I am in no way affiliated with Ivory I just frequent there and want more interest in the tournaments so more money is involved.
 
That would have been cool to watch considering how badly I play with a bridge. That's one part of my game that really needs work. I met MD a few years back at Hollywood Billiards and he seemed like a nice guy.
 
zpele said:
So yesterday I was down at Ivory Billiards in Holyoke, MA and watched as Mike Dechaine played a big money match against one of our local players using a bridge on every shot.

I left before it was over but Mike won both of the sets while I was there. He seems like a down to earth guy and I learned some things from watching him play. Mainly how to hustle with a bridge:)

Recently Mike Masse and Bruce Barthelette have also blown through the billiard hall for some three cushion action and I have to say that Mike Masse is a very easy going, nice guy.

Not to toot Ivory's horn but there is always something going on tournament wise. We just need more players to come on down and the prize pool will swell:)

Don't take this post wrong I am in no way affiliated with Ivory I just frequent there and want more interest in the tournaments so more money is involved.
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Playing with a bridge is a big suckers (gaff) game, i would bet that Mike d game does not drop much at all useing a bridge every shot, watch how he uses it, not your regular way at all, if Mike is resting the bridge on his shoulder and shooting he will play all most as good as his real speed!
 
You're right Richie,
I'm sure you've seen Bo N. play with a bridge the same way. He's pretty good with that thing too.

Merry Christmas to you and yours,

Tom
 
Several years ago Corey Deuel hustled all over using the bridge for every shot. He wrapped his arm around the bridge, so that only a foot of bridge was in front of his hand. Problem is, you can only use it once per town...then everybody knows the trick. If I was bettin', I'd make 'em hold the bridge on the far end (normal) for every shot. LOL

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
 
Interesting... One of my most glaring observations on Mike's shortcomings on his game is his unwillingness to use a bridge. I've seen him in critical situations get on his tippy toes vs using a bridge. Getting off balance through the stroke and executing poorly. He's not the only one. Is it pride? Drives me nuts...

Ain't like he's 6'2". Sounds like this is good for his development. JMO
 
Scott Lee said:
Several years ago Corey Deuel hustled all over using the bridge for every shot. He wrapped his arm around the bridge, so that only a foot of bridge was in front of his hand. Problem is, you can only use it once per town...then everybody knows the trick. If I was bettin', I'd make 'em hold the bridge on the far end (normal) for every shot. LOL

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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I remember this ^^^^^
 
Scott Lee said:
Several years ago Corey Deuel hustled all over using the bridge for every shot. He wrapped his arm around the bridge, so that only a foot of bridge was in front of his hand. Problem is, you can only use it once per town...then everybody knows the trick. If I was bettin', I'd make 'em hold the bridge on the far end (normal) for every shot. LOL

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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Cory can't give himself the 7 playing with a bridge....
 
Yes I did learn some things from watching him but his speed was definitely affected. Either that or he was just hustling but I plan on trying out this bridge technique tonight if I get a chance to see how hard it is.
 
Allison Fisher plays very well with the bridge. She use to practice for hours just using a bridge. Johnnyt
 
Sounds like an awesome way to improve your bridge play.

But I'm reading these guys use some tricks that make their bridge play almost as good as their normal playing? One guy says wrap your arms around it, the other says rest it on your shoulder...

so is this one of the great underrated secrets of pool? The 'normal way' we use bridges is all wrong? Or do these tricks only work when the shot is in striking distance anyway, and not in situations where you'd traditionally bust out the bridge?
 
CreeDo said:
Sounds like an awesome way to improve your bridge play.

But I'm reading these guys use some tricks that make their bridge play almost as good as their normal playing? One guy says wrap your arms around it, the other says rest it on your shoulder...

so is this one of the great underrated secrets of pool? The 'normal way' we use bridges is all wrong? Or do these tricks only work when the shot is in striking distance anyway, and not in situations where you'd traditionally bust out the bridge?
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This is no good for improving you regular bridge play, if you are right handed you would lay the stick part of the bridge across you left shoulder and hold the front part of the bridge with your left hand this would give you a very firm hold on the bridge, then you would slide you cue back and forth in one of the slots in the bridge, try it one day its a lot easier then it sounds! on long shots you would use the bridge like you always would.
 
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Alright so Mike Dechaine came back to Ivory again to play the same local player. This time he gave the local player the 7 and out. Won the first set and lost the second. Right after losing the second set he said, 'double or nothing?' And the local player agreed.....

Needless to say Mike beat the living snot out of the local player the third set. At this point I am highly considering telling the local player what is going on but then again I am also enjoying chatting with Mike.

At some point down the line I think he will have won so much he might consider playing me in a few racks for free just to give me a few pointers in hustling if not in pool itself:)
 
zpele said:
Alright so Mike Dechaine came back to Ivory again to play the same local player. This time he gave the local player the 7 and out. Won the first set and lost the second. Right after losing the second set he said, 'double or nothing?' And the local player agreed.....

Needless to say Mike beat the living snot out of the local player the third set. At this point I am highly considering telling the local player what is going on but then again I am also enjoying chatting with Mike.

At some point down the line I think he will have won so much he might consider playing me in a few racks for free just to give me a few pointers in hustling if not in pool itself:)
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I'll give you 11:1 this does not happen.
 
I've seen him play just for funsies and offer advice, at least as far as how to play a particular shot. But for not-so-common knowledge (think "Racking Secrets" type stuff), I've heard of him charging.

So had the local guy ever heard of him before he strolled into the room?
 
CreeDo said:
I've seen him play just for funsies and offer advice, at least as far as how to play a particular shot. But for not-so-common knowledge (think "Racking Secrets" type stuff), I've heard of him charging.

So had the local guy ever heard of him before he strolled into the room?
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He has visited Ivory before with Bruce Barthelette. The owners of the pool room are good friends with Bruce as well as many others. Actually it was Bruce that introduced me to Mike the first time.

As far as the local guy knowing him I think he had been wanting to play Mike since his first appearance at Ivory. He also plays in some of the Predator tour stops and the other pro stops in the area so I think he's met Mike there before.

This guy could be considered a great mark for hustling by some but he is a great guy and a joy to play with.

I think he's around a B-C speed.
 
Recently I watched a friend play one-pocket using just the bridge...I'm talking turning the bridge around and actually hitting the cue ball with the end of the bridge.
This particular bridge had a rounded end, no bumper, and he chalked it and hit the cue ball with a distinctive "tink" sound. He didn't miscue as long as he hit the cue ball in the center. Had to use an open bridge, since he was holding the skinny end of the bridge and hitting with the butt end (a negative taper, try it).
The spot was 10 balls to 1 (in a normal one-pocket game with this guy, my friend would want 10-6 or 9-7). He refused an offer of 14-2, saying making just one ball was tough enough. Four games took about five hours, the last game taking almost 2 hours. Lots of side action too, and about 20 guys sweated the match until 4am.
So if you're coming to Seattle, check out The Golden Fleece for some action.
 
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