Cue Makers as Players

pharaoh68 said:
Good call Shorty. Pete Ohman is probably better than most. I talked with him for a while down at Valley Forge and he said rather modestly "Yeah. I play alright." One of the other guys in his booth looked at me and said "Don't be fooled. He's played with everyone from Ginky to Mizerak and even won a few of those matches." Used to play pro in Florida. I even wanted to play him that afternoon just for kicks until I saw him nail about 5 object ball jumps, length of the table.
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A found memory of Pete Ohman during his playing days was watching matched up with "New York Blackie" Al Bonife some One Pocket. He played real good against all comers and was/still very humble...a lost quality. :D
 
Voodoo Daddy said:
A found memory of Pete Ohman during his playing days was watching matched up with "New York Blackie" Al Bonife some One Pocket. He played real good against all comers and was/still very humble...a lost quality. :D
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Hey, Voodoo. You know Dennis Searing. Does he still play? If so, what speed?
Scott
 
cueman said:
I propose a World Nine Ball Championship for Cuemakers. You would need to be a member of the ACA or ICA or have been listed in the 2nd Edition Blue Book of Cues as a Cuemaker to qualify.

Magoo's in Tulsa had this tournament in, I think, the mid 90's. Bill Stroud won it.
Mike Betts is a strong player who makes/made a nice cue.
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misterpoole said:
cueman said:
I propose a World Nine Ball Championship for Cuemakers. You would need to be a member of the ACA or ICA or have been listed in the 2nd Edition Blue Book of Cues as a Cuemaker to qualify.

Magoo's in Tulsa had this tournament in, I think, the mid 90's. Bill Stroud won it.
Mike Betts is a strong player who makes/made a nice cue.
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I believe Dennis Searing also won one year.
Not sure if Mike is still making cues.
I bet Jim McD would be happy to consider hosting the tournament.
Scott
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ScottR said:
Hey, Voodoo. You know Dennis Searing. Does he still play? If so, what speed?
Scott
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Well <smilin'>, if he could get practicing more than 1 hour a week he is deadly. He plays such a simple game that he really doesnt need alot of practice to stay close to his real speed...I know he played in the BCA team thing last month in Vegas. Outta however many hundreds of teams there they came 5th. I'm gonna try to get him to play a lil more, kidnapp him and take him to the Derby in '06!! :p
 
cueman said:
I propose a World Nine Ball Championship for Cuemakers. You would need to be a member of the ACA or ICA or have been listed in the 2nd Edition Blue Book of Cues as a Cuemaker to qualify. That would eliminate a road player from proclaiming himself a cuemaker after building one sneaky pete and playing. Hopkins and I have discussed having just such a tournament at the EXPO in March but have not firmed it up. I think I can beat at least 80% of all the other cuemakers out there, but I am not foolish enough to think I am near the top. I know at least a couple of dozen I have no chance against in the long run. But race to 7 or 9 single elimination on Diamond smart tables could be anyones win.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
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I like Shawn Putnam's chances in this tourney. ;) I don't think he is in either organization, or the second issue of BB though.

Tracy
 
cueman said:
I propose a World Nine Ball Championship for Cuemakers. You would need to be a member of the ACA or ICA or have been listed in the 2nd Edition Blue Book of Cues as a Cuemaker to qualify. That would eliminate a road player from proclaiming himself a cuemaker after building one sneaky pete and playing. Hopkins and I have discussed having just such a tournament at the EXPO in March but have not firmed it up. I think I can beat at least 80% of all the other cuemakers out there, but I am not foolish enough to think I am near the top. I know at least a couple of dozen I have no chance against in the long run. But race to 7 or 9 single elimination on Diamond smart tables could be anyones win.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
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Make it One-Pocket and you can count me in! I'd probably take a swing at 9-ball if I were forced to but I think I'd be more competetive at one-pocket.

just more hot air!
Sherm
 
Craig Peterson was just above average as was David Kersenbrock (who still sneaks in some pool at the Chicago Bars) but Joey Gold played some pretty sporty pool. Joey cleaned up in the after hours action at the last Johnston City fest. He played good one pocket and was a hair under Freddy in banks.
 
CHICAGO7 said:
Craig Peterson was just above average as was David Kersenbrock (who still sneaks in some pool at the Chicago Bars) but Joey Gold played some pretty sporty pool. Joey cleaned up in the after hours action at the last Johnston City fest. He played good one pocket and was a hair under Freddy in banks.
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So very true about Joey Gold, CHICAGO7. Joey made a trip to Jackson, Miss. in the mid 70s and didn't book a loser here. Louisiana didn't like it much either. Yea, Joey could play.
 
Bob Owen

Bob Owen, partner and cuemaker in Shurtz Custom Cues and
Gabe's Dad, is a good player. They have 4 full sized tables in the front of
their shop with 1 pocket action all the time.
 
pharaoh68 said:
Good call Shorty. Pete Ohman is probably better than most. I talked with him for a while down at Valley Forge and he said rather modestly "Yeah. I play alright." One of the other guys in his booth looked at me and said "Don't be fooled. He's played with everyone from Ginky to Mizerak and even won a few of those matches." Used to play pro in Florida. I even wanted to play him that afternoon just for kicks until I saw him nail about 5 object ball jumps, length of the table.

Then there's Skip Weston. Played at Crown in Jersey where there are more than just a few players. Some real talent. Used to play tournaments there too and was rated an A+ player. Then, quit playing pool for like 5 to ten years and focused on cues and one night, showed up, played with the same same rating and won the whole thing. If I'm not mistaken Teddy G. was there too as that used to be his home room. They would be my votes.
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crown billiards used to be owned by carmen lombardo. teddy g used to be the house pro there. skip used to play great but havent seen him play in awhile.
 
ScottR said:
This subject of whether a cue maker is a "player" has been brought up in other threads. I believe someone who plays well has a distinct advantage in making a cue. Not taking anything away from the difficulty in constructing a quality cue; just in terms of the way it "feels". Very subjective I know.


Scott
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Scott
I think being a winning player is an advantage for me in building cues. It is sort of like playing golf. To play different shots in golf you need different woods or irons - because you need the ball to go different distances or the ball is going to contact different surfaces, etc. In pool the cue ball - depending on the game you are playing - needs to do different things (ie go longer, bank off the rail, jump, etc, etc). I used to have several cues that had different specs or qualities I used to help me when I played - came to the pool room with always more than one cue. So as a player -- good player -- I know those qualities and specs - it is just part of my knowledge that has been ingrained and gained from playing good winning pool for decades - played all - straight pool, one pocket, nine ball, banks, eight ball. Just like the old time good drag racer knew what he wanted in his race car and was his own mechanic so he could get there first.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
 
Rick Howard plays really strong 9 ball and I think frequently did very well in that Emerald Coast Open.
 
member, why??????????????

cueman said:
I propose a World Nine Ball Championship for Cuemakers. You would need to be a member of the ACA or ICA or have been listed in the 2nd Edition Blue Book of Cues as a Cuemaker to qualify. That would eliminate a road player from proclaiming himself a cuemaker after building one sneaky pete and playing. Hopkins and I have discussed having just such a tournament at the EXPO in March but have not firmed it up. I think I can beat at least 80% of all the other cuemakers out there, but I am not foolish enough to think I am near the top. I know at least a couple of dozen I have no chance against in the long run. But race to 7 or 9 single elimination on Diamond smart tables could be anyones win.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
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Hello Chris,

I don't think anyone should have to be a member of any association to play.

It's real easy to pick out who has a cue shop.

As you know Chris, I was the founder of the ACA. I'm no longer a member, {{my choice}}. Would I be bared?

I played better one hole than 9 ball and played 8 ball pretty sporty. I never was a world beater. But I played good enough to suport my family for many years. I tell everyone now a days, I quit playing pool and started making money. TRUE...

Several years ago, We had a one pocket, "cuemakers" tournament at MaGoo's in Tulsa. Stroud won,barley beating Bobby Hunter, [ hell of a match],followed by David Kikle,Bludworth. I mis-cued and it cost me the match with Bobby Hunter. I needed one ball to win the set. If I would of made the shot, I would of beat him that game 8 to zip. We all were struggling a lot. We had much fun.

Questions,

Why just 9-ball???????

Why not an all around? Keep it on an even keel.

{9-ball, one pocket, banks or 8-ball }

If your going to make it fair, it looks as if an all around would be in order.
Most of us older guys have no chance, with the likes of the younger crowd. However were in if allowed, and it would be a blast. Maybe have a senior event for the older guys?

Today you have X-bankers, stock-brokers, salesman and whatevers building cues.

I'm not saying there not cuemakers, but they sure as hell CAN'T play.
A good X player or current player who has some machining skills, a good brain and good equipment, can do wonders.

My question to all of thoses who think there cuemakers is this,
how can you build a violin, if you can play a fiddle?

Some, who build cues that have no pool talent, and have difficulty in building great cues. There in it for the cash only. They do not know what to look for in cue performance and do not understand how to make that happen.

I once ask a self proclaimed, master-cuemaker [ he ran adds stating this], how to through a ball? He said, pick it up with your hand and through it.

I would be happy to help with this.
I hope it comes about.
thanks
blud
 
cuemaker or not

bruin70 said:
might be splittin' hairs but i don't consider sigel a "cuemaker".
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bruin,
you might not consider Mike a cuemaker, but he is. He's stopped building cues a few month's back. He's went back to playing and is planning on opening a new room in Orlando in the near future.
Mike worked for Joss cues [dan janes] when he wasn't on the road playing for a couple seasons. Mike purchased all of his machinery from me about 14 or 15 years ago. He stayed in our shop and home for over a month getting his training.

He built many high-end cues that our friend, Kevin Treudx purchased yrs back. You might not like him or his cues, but yes sir, he knows how. He's still a great player to top it off.

blud
 
blud said:
bruin,
you might not consider Mike a cuemaker, but he is. He's stopped building cues a few month's back. He's went back to playing and is planning on opening a new room in Orlando in the near future.
Mike worked for Joss cues [dan janes] when he wasn't on the road playing for a couple seasons. Mike purchased all of his machinery from me about 14 or 15 years ago. He stayed in our shop and home for over a month getting his training.

He built many high-end cues that our friend, Kevin Treudx purchased yrs back. You might not like him or his cues, but yes sir, he knows how. He's still a great player to top it off.

blud
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yeah i know blud,,,and i knew i was going to get answers. i've never tried his cues, btw. my opinion stems from the fact sigel seemed to "all of a sudden" popped out of nowhere sellings cues at exhorbitant prices just cuz he's mike sigel. and yes, i'm sure sure he was well taught by a few,,,i think maybe even you mentioned you taught him.

but his entrance into cuemaking is akin to donna summers or tony curtis selling their artwork for $70,000+, just because they are who they are.

a cuemaker such as yourself with a HARD EARNED background, can understand where i'm coming from. just my pet peeve, B. technology has made a cuemaker out of everybody.
 
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