He may have been the best Senior pool player on the planet for a number of years. He was barred from the BCA Seniors after winning it so many times.
Going out on a limb
- Thread starter jay helfert
- Start date
He may have been the best Senior pool player on the planet for a number of years. He was barred from the BCA Seniors after winning it so many times.
That sounds awful Johnny. I hope you're okay now. Thanks for the encouragement. :smile:
Jay Helfert saying he doesn't know how to stall (when he spent his life around the very best pool hustlers ever) is like reading about how Hulk Hogan doesn't know how to body slam.
Sorry Jay
Me thinks you MIGHT be able to stall (the card's certainly in the deck) 
Sorry Jay
Me thinks you MIGHT be able to stall (the card's certainly in the deck) 
I never talk much about it because to me it's somewhat irrelevant. U.J. Puckett once said, "How old would you be if you didn't know when you were born?" Sounds simple but is actually very profound. Puckett was a old wise man. So here I am after 67 years wondering what it will be like to get old. I still feel pretty damn good and ready to roll. A few of my bodily functions are not working quite up to snuff, but nothing really to complain about. I know I need more exercise and a better diet, but so far so good. I'm about 10-15 pounds over my ideal weight, not too fat as yet.
I have been a pool player for nearly 50 years now, with occasional breaks of anywhere from a few months to a few years (1976-79 the longest). I've decided that since I'm already back in pretty decent stroke I want to give pool one last honest effort to see how good I can play at my age. My goal is to try to get better every year from now on, not worse. I think that's a lofty goal for someone my age with a lukewarm motivation to play for several years now.
The way this will look for me is to play in whatever tournaments I can (I do have a pretty busy schedule these days, so I will be a part time tourney player at best) and get in action when possible (probably mostly for modest stakes compared to the high rollers on here - just call me Nit please). Right now I haven't done much on either end of this, failing to cash in the only tourneys I played in (two) and losing twice in money games ($80 and $40 :embarrassed2
What a great attitude, it puts things in perspective for me. Best of luck to you Jay, I got a feeling that you might surprise yourself.:thumbup:
Go get 'em Jay. Little children will keep you feeling young.
The comeback trail!
It can be done Jay. Bill Stroud came to Jamaica Joes here in OKC a few months ago. Finished second or maybe third in the bar box tourney. Beat Joey Gray. That would be the Joey who finished second to SVB! Triple A Billiards had a bb tourney last year and Walter Glass finished second to Joey in that event. He was supposed to win from what I heard. He called out Chip Compton and Chip declined all offers. AAA tourney is coming up last week of April and I will sell you my spot if interested. It's an Okla. Invitational tourney with 16 invites and 16 open players. Walter is coming again. Shelti (valley) tables with better rails (not Ridgeback but similar?) and better, faster cloth. Kent Taylor owns AAA Billiards and I will make him play you some one hole. Supposedly Kent used to play really well. Good luck on your trip to Geezerville! LOL.
It can be done Jay. Bill Stroud came to Jamaica Joes here in OKC a few months ago. Finished second or maybe third in the bar box tourney. Beat Joey Gray. That would be the Joey who finished second to SVB! Triple A Billiards had a bb tourney last year and Walter Glass finished second to Joey in that event. He was supposed to win from what I heard. He called out Chip Compton and Chip declined all offers. AAA tourney is coming up last week of April and I will sell you my spot if interested. It's an Okla. Invitational tourney with 16 invites and 16 open players. Walter is coming again. Shelti (valley) tables with better rails (not Ridgeback but similar?) and better, faster cloth. Kent Taylor owns AAA Billiards and I will make him play you some one hole. Supposedly Kent used to play really well. Good luck on your trip to Geezerville! LOL.
Jerry Forsyth
Well-known member
This is totally incorrect. Bob Vanover played his best pool WHENEVER he played me, regardless of his age. It got to where when we had to play his team on league night I would just bring a book. I sure wasn't going to be shooting.
I've known Walter forever! We played one time to a dead heat (in a bar somewhere) and that was it. I admire him for sticking with pool as long as he has and still playing as good as he does. He far surpassed me in that department.
P.S. Billy kept asking me about playing some Banks at DCC but we never could get together. I watched him play his match with Freddie and they both still bank good. I will play you though Billy, I'm not afraid of the big bad woof!
Just for the record I'm 2-0 against Artie and Cardone for 50 a game and I'd love to have your scalp too.
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Writing your goal down is a huge part of the battle. Posting it for all to see is also a major step. I suggest you print this and post it all over your house. Or just a photo of you in your prime playing your best.
If your goals aren't written down they're only a pipe dream.
Sounds like you're on your way.
If your goals aren't written down they're only a pipe dream.
Sounds like you're on your way.
I wish you the best Jay. The beauty of this game is that it can be played at a very high level as long as you can see.
I would recommend that you set some objective goals for yourself that can be measured. For example: set up your favorite drills and log how many times out of 10 or 20 etc that you can make them. Compare your results today with your results 30/60/90 days from today with x hrs per day of practice. You can also do this by playing the 9-ball ghost and logging the results. See where you are today, set a realistic goal of where you would like to be in 30/60/90 days, and see if you can get there.
One thing that I do is determine my weakest shot, then shoot a rack worth of that shot (15 balls) both when I first get to the table, and as the last thing I do before leaving the table. You would be surprised how quickly you can turn your weakness into a strong point.
Jay, you're a credit to this game, and I would like to see you around as a player as well as a personality for a very long time. Would like to hear you behind the mic on more of these streams as well.
Best of luck to you!
I would recommend that you set some objective goals for yourself that can be measured. For example: set up your favorite drills and log how many times out of 10 or 20 etc that you can make them. Compare your results today with your results 30/60/90 days from today with x hrs per day of practice. You can also do this by playing the 9-ball ghost and logging the results. See where you are today, set a realistic goal of where you would like to be in 30/60/90 days, and see if you can get there.
One thing that I do is determine my weakest shot, then shoot a rack worth of that shot (15 balls) both when I first get to the table, and as the last thing I do before leaving the table. You would be surprised how quickly you can turn your weakness into a strong point.
Jay, you're a credit to this game, and I would like to see you around as a player as well as a personality for a very long time. Would like to hear you behind the mic on more of these streams as well.
Best of luck to you!
Thanks for this and all the other well wishes. Right now my weakness is as much mental as physical. Only winning will give me the confidence I need. That much I know.
By the way, NOTHING ever improved my game as much as playing a long session with money on the line. I can remember playing guys all night long $5 or $10 9-Ball and after seven or eight hours we were both running out. Wonder if I have it in me to do that again. Just once! :smile:
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I wish but too far away.
Jay, Jay, Jay.....
When you were gracious enough to let me spend a night at your house @ 2.5 years ago, with Ming Ng there also, I felt blessed to play my first ever one pocket game on your Diamond. It was an honor to help you package your just released Pool Wars books in your office and observe the names that we postaged. Since then, I have learned the game well. Not a world beater, but I'm pretty handy. In any case.... In all games I have improved, in good part due to learning one hole. TY.
I want some of you. 3 sets all around for some cheese. I think we'd match up square and it'd be a good battle. Next opportunity - even if it takes until the Q in Oct - SHIP IT YOU OLE SOB! I'm calling you out in public brother! No cowering permitted!!! Hehehe
Matt <-- may live to regret this call-out
When you were gracious enough to let me spend a night at your house @ 2.5 years ago, with Ming Ng there also, I felt blessed to play my first ever one pocket game on your Diamond. It was an honor to help you package your just released Pool Wars books in your office and observe the names that we postaged. Since then, I have learned the game well. Not a world beater, but I'm pretty handy. In any case.... In all games I have improved, in good part due to learning one hole. TY.
I want some of you. 3 sets all around for some cheese. I think we'd match up square and it'd be a good battle. Next opportunity - even if it takes until the Q in Oct - SHIP IT YOU OLE SOB! I'm calling you out in public brother! No cowering permitted!!! Hehehe
Matt <-- may live to regret this call-out
In that case I'm 29!
Jay, best of luck on both your goals: (1) playing great pool again, and (2) getting your hands on a 29 year old female
If it makes you feel better I think you have a better shot at goal # 1
I never talk much about it because to me it's somewhat irrelevant. U.J. Puckett once said, "How old would you be if you didn't know when you were born?" Sounds simple but is actually very profound. Puckett was a old wise man. So here I am after 67 years wondering what it will be like to get old. I still feel pretty damn good and ready to roll. A few of my bodily functions are not working quite up to snuff, but nothing really to complain about. I know I need more exercise and a better diet, but so far so good. I'm about 10-15 pounds over my ideal weight, not too fat as yet.
I have been a pool player for nearly 50 years now, with occasional breaks of anywhere from a few months to a few years (1976-79 the longest). I've decided that since I'm already back in pretty decent stroke I want to give pool one last honest effort to see how good I can play at my age. My goal is to try to get better every year from now on, not worse. I think that's a lofty goal for someone my age with a lukewarm motivation to play for several years now.
The way this will look for me is to play in whatever tournaments I can (I do have a pretty busy schedule these days, so I will be a part time tourney player at best) and get in action when possible (probably mostly for modest stakes compared to the high rollers on here - just call me Nit please). Right now I haven't done much on either end of this, failing to cash in the only tourneys I played in (two) and losing twice in money games ($80 and $40 :embarrassed2
Nice post Jay and good luck with your game.I got to tell you i have always wondered how you play.Every now and then Popcorn talks about the good old days.(That's about everyday). Your name always seems to surface.Just wondering if you have any video's of yourself on the internet playing.Would like to see and would appreciate it.:smile: