Hal Houle has passed

I only talked to Hal once an I didn't understand a bit of what he was talking about. He was way to advanced for my blood. lol CENTER TO EDGE AN PIVOT. Alls I know is he was a genius. Our very own Albert Einstein. Pool gods got him back. RIP Mr. Hal Houle

Steviemoore.com
 
Hey Steve, did you know that Einstein played pool too?...and pretty well!

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

BLADE said:
I only talked to Hal once an I didn't understand a bit of what he was talking about. He was way to advanced for my blood. lol CENTER TO EDGE AN PIVOT. Alls I know is he was a genius. Our very own Albert Einstein. Pool gods got him back. RIP Mr. Hal Houle

Steviemoore.com
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SpiderWebComm said:
....I made it as far as JUST over the Tappan Zee Bridge when the phone rang with a 610 number that I hadn't recognized. I answered the phone and I heard, "Dave? This is Hal...Hal Houle."

***BREAK*** ***SCREEEECH*** >>> PULLS CAR OFF THE ROAD>>>

He always identified himself like James Bond, which I loved....
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now that, is a story! you did Hal justice, Dave. ;) his legacy will live on, through everyone's knowledge and memories.

my condolences to all.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
Koop - Firstly, I apologize for posting your pic--- Someone sent it to me and it might have been you. When I made the original post, I went through my pictures and most of the ones I had, Hal was laying in bed. Yours was the only picture of him shooting, so I posted it because I didn't want Hal to be remembered like that.

Of all the pictures of Hal I have in my possession, yours is my favorite.
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Dave, c'mon man, no apologies necessary. It's one of my favorites too.
 
WOW. I just read the news.

Like many others, Hal changed my game for the better, that one fateful day i finally decided to call him. Hal's gift to me, might have been the single most important improvement to my game.

I heard about Hal back in the days of RSB/ASP, when Hal was still living in the Bay area. In fact, I found his old (disconnected) phone number: (510) 581-3010. At the turn of the century (21st, not 20th, lol), we were referred to as "Houlegans". Hal's aiming system disciples.

I'm forever in his debt and thank him for sharing his knowledge. Godspeed, Hal.


Eric
 
Eric. said:
WOW. I just read the news.

Like many others, Hal changed my game for the better, that one fateful day i finally decided to call him. Hal's gift to me, might have been the single most important improvement to my game.

I heard about Hal back in the days of RSB/ASP, when Hal was still living in the Bay area. In fact, I found his old (disconnected) phone number: (510) 581-3010. At the turn of the century (21st, not 20th, lol), we were referred to as "Houlegans". Hal's aiming system disciples.

I'm forever in his debt and thank him for sharing his knowledge. Godspeed, Hal.


Eric
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I first encountered Hal on RSB also!
 
The first time I heard of Hal Houle was from a friend of mine. He said this guy has developed an aiming system called the point and pivot system that many professional players use.

Then I saw Dave Segal's video on youtube about shooting balls into pockets after a pivot and was highly intrigued.

A quick google search of his name introduced me to the AZ billiards forum for the first time. I spent about three months reading everything I could about posts on this forum before I did exactly what he was telling everyone to do. Countless posts saying in more or less words:

"call me, the information I give out is free"

and

"One Aim All Day Long. The Aim Is The Same All Day Long, No Matter The Angle Of Any Type Shot. Think About It. Hal Houle.
484 623 4144"

I must admit I was a little nervous calling him out of the blue to talk about one of the most highly controversial and heated topics that has ever been discussed on the AZbilliards website--Aiming one sphere to another sphere the same way but at different distances and getting the same consistent result.

One day I called him, he said, "Hello?" and I said, "Hi, my name is John. I've never met you but I got your phone number off a website from a post that was over three years old and I was hoping you could tell me how you aim." He proceeded to talk to me as if I were an old friend that he had known for all of his life. After six phone conversations I arranged to visit him in Walnutport, PA. He and Sunny welcomed me into their home and I got a pool lesson that changed the way I aim and line up shots which I still use today. Everything was for free and he gave me a pool cue at the end of my lesson. He was a very generous and intellectual man. I am happy to have met him and I give my condolences to the family. Rest in peace Hal and thank you.
 
Scott Lee said:
John...STOP IT...you're making me cry too! Great story...classic Hal! There will always be detractors (I have to admit that, like you, I was one in the beginning too), but the legions of us who are playing with, or teaching his methods to 1000's of new students will keep his knowledge alive forever!

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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I was not a detractor. I didn't care enough to even be part of the discussions. Not because I thought Hal's methods did not work but because I thought I didn't need them. Unlike most of you who sought him out Hal chose to spend some of his precious time on me.

That alone will forever endear this man to me. For all he knew I could have squandered his teaching and just blew it off.

As I read these many stories of his generosity I understand that not only was I fortunate to be in Denver at the right time but that Hal Houle was driven by passion that he couldn't help but share.

A light has gone out but while it burned it ignited many others.
 
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I was lucky to spend a couple of very enjoyable days at the old Family Fun Center at 38th and Sheridan in Denver, with John Barton and Hal debating aiming, cues, dogs, and about anything else that came up. Hal lived a very exciting and rewarding life, and I'm sure he left with few regrets.
 
These are the ones I have, Dave. If you know how to reach Timberly she might have more. She took these ones.

Koop
 
Here's a photo of Hal when I went to visit him. It was great to meet him as I described in a previous post.
 

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Was just sitting looking at something here on AZ and Hal popped into my head. So I went back to the intial post.
Dave your story was terrific. I just re-read it again a couple times. As were Scott's and Tom 's and many of the others. To many to name everyone.
TAP-TAP-TAP to all who thought so much of Hal.
And he should absolutely be inducted into the HOF.
 
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Did anyone read Dr. Dave's article in the current issue (Dec 2014) of Billiards Digest?

It is a must read for anyone who uses Hal's aiming systems.

Jeff Livingston
 
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