Hal Houle

Smorgass Bored said:
Originally Posted by Smorgass Bored
Yes, and I'm just waiting for the day when it dawns on AZB's participants that EVERYTHING has already been said (and most of it by many of AZB's participants)
Doug
( there's nothing new under the sun ) :)





What really cracks me up is that there are about 20 RSBers that are now AZBers that have responded to Hal Houle threads everytime his name/system pops up.

In my Search, I used the dates 1997-2003 & rec.sport.billiard as the criteria and asked Google to show 100 threads per page. They not only showed 100 threads per page, but 10 pages....Oy-Vey ! (that's 1,000 threads in six years)
http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q...=2003&safe=off

You'd think we'd have gotten to the bottom of this Hal Houle 'aiming system' by now, wouldn't you ? :)

Doug


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Smorg, what was the name of the guy that would pop up on the group, a couple times a year, and pitch his super duper secret double-ought-seven system for pool? It was something like ISHMARA, but I can't remember.

I was just thinking, with all the folks that are a fans of Hal's "The Aiming System that Can't Be Spoken," they'd love that guy.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
Smorg, what was the name of the guy that would pop up on the group, a couple times a year, and pitch his super duper secret double-ought-seven system for pool? It was something like ISHMARA, but I can't remember.

I was just thinking, with all the folks that are a fans of Hal's "The Aiming System that Can't Be Spoken," they'd love that guy.

Lou Figueroa
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You know, I am one of Hal's believers and friends but I definitely see where you are coming from based on the above post. I thought that guy was a complete kook.

Koop - loves Hal but IAMASHAM is another story
 
lfigueroa said:
Smorg, what was the name of the guy that would pop up on the group, a couple times a year, and pitch his super duper secret double-ought-seven system for pool? It was something like ISHMARA, but I can't remember.

I was just thinking, with all the folks that are a fans of Hal's "The Aiming System that Can't Be Spoken," they'd love that guy.

Lou Figueroa
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I think it was IMMSHARMA. I believe that he posted here at AZB as well as the other pool forums.
A brief search turned up this: http://forums.azbilliards.com/member.php?u=592
Doug
 
If someone would supply one good example which is both unique and doesn't violate Euclid and Newton, then I'm sure Pat would acknowledge it, or at least not disparage it.
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I reserve the right to shoot the messenger.

pj
chgo
 
I will

Patrick Johnson said:
Seriously, call him.

pj
chgo
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I did and will again. Not particularly for aiming systems because any aiming system is just a starting point anyway, but because it was a genuine pleasure to talk to him. Anything I learn about playing is strictly lagniappe.

Hu
 
Serious Question

Im only a B Player, but making balls is the least of my concerns. I can make just about any cut on the table most of the time. Would I benefit from anybodys aiming system? Or am I better off to just keep making balls my way?
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Hal has called me a coupla times and emailed me several times asking me to discuss pool with him. I've never taken the time to do that because I've never seen anything that makes me want to, either from Hal or his students.

If Hal had anything to say that I'd want to spend an hour of my time listening to I'd have heard at least one useful thing from him or one of his students in all the years I've been listening. I never have. Not once. And I wouldn't have heard so much nonsense from his students, but I have. Lots. In fact, what his students have to say is either nonsense or nothing. There's never anything else. Never.

Maybe these signals don't register on you, but they do on me - loud and clear.

pj
chgo
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It seems to me that the slightest bit of knowledge is worth something. And it is your loss for for not talking to Hal if in fact he has reached out to you. I spent some time on the phone with Hal near the end of this past year and found him to very sharing and entertaining. I obtained some knowledge about the game from him and I am grateful. I had thought about taking Hal up on his invitation to visit him in PA, but seriously wondered if the trip would be warranted. Reading this thread has convinced me that visiting him to share more pool knowledge is definitely something I need to do this year.
 
ShootingArts said:
I did and will again. Not particularly for aiming systems because any aiming system is just a starting point anyway, but because it was a genuine pleasure to talk to him. Anything I learn about playing is strictly lagniappe.

Hu
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You're absolutely on the mark, Hu.
1. Hal Houle is a genuine pleasure to talk to.
2. He has helped some people with their pool game.
3. He has helped some people a GREAT DEAL with their pool game.
4. He has lived more years than most of us will ever see.
5. He lived in an era that we can only read about or ask him about.
6. He is a very fine fellow.
7. BCA instructors teach a form of the aiming system that was originally taught to them by Hal Houle.
8. Hal has paid his dues but some don't want to see him get just credit.
9. Hal's aiming systems have brought a lot of accolades from a lot of people.
10. It doesn't matter if some will not benefit from his knowledge, he deserves better treatment than he has gotten from some, IMHO.
JoeyA
 
Majic said:
It seems to me that the slightest bit of knowledge is worth something. And it is your loss for for not talking to Hal if in fact he has reached out to you. I spent some time on the phone with Hal near the end of this past year and found him to very sharing and entertaining. I obtained some knowledge about the game from him and I am grateful. I had thought about taking Hal up on his invitation to visit him in PA, but seriously wondered if the trip would be warranted. Reading this thread has convinced me that visiting him to share more pool knowledge is definitely something I need to do this year.
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That's nice for you. I've never spent a second of my life wondering whether anybody talks to Hal, and all your worry about whether or not I do makes me think you have way too much time on your hands.

pj
chgo
 
Joey:
[Hal] deserves better treatment than he has gotten from some, IMHO.
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I agree. His students make him sound like a quack every time they open their mouths about him. Instead of asking them not to discuss his systems, he should ask them not to mention him at all.

pj
chgo
 
lfigueroa said:
Smorg, what was the name of the guy that would pop up on the group, a couple times a year, and pitch his super duper secret double-ought-seven system for pool? It was something like ISHMARA, but I can't remember.

I was just thinking, with all the folks that are a fans of Hal's "The Aiming System that Can't Be Spoken," they'd love that guy.

Lou Figueroa
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There is a meaningful difference though. Hal, regardless of the effectiveness or lack thereof of his systems, has never been trying to fleece anyone, ISHAMARA was. I don't find Hal's aiming systems, or any other aiming systems for that matter, particularly useful, but the guy is a hoot to talk to.
 
poolstar31 said:
Im only a B Player, but making balls is the least of my concerns. I can make just about any cut on the table most of the time. Would I benefit from anybodys aiming system? Or am I better off to just keep making balls my way?
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Keep making them your way. IMO, no aiming system is a substitute for shooting tons of shots until you can just aim by "feel".
 
Patrick Johnson said:
I agree. His students make him sound like a quack every time they open their mouths about him. Instead of asking them not to discuss his systems, he should ask them not to mention him at all.

pj
chgo
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That's not what I'm talking about................ but you already know that.
JoeyA
 
The main reason I think Hal's system wont work is if you dont know where center ball is which is actually quite common and many instructors can vouch for that.

But if you do know center ball then it's pretty simple.. I personally use Hal's system(s) that he taught me every day. Not every shot.. but every day a situation arises where I do need to use it. Could be a safety, a kick, a ridiculous cut I cant see the angle of.. etc.
 
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cubc said:
The main reason I think Hal's system wont work is if you dont know where center ball is which is actually quite common and many instructors can vouch for that.

But if you do know center ball then it's pretty simple.. I personally use Hal's system(s) that he taught me every day. Not every shot.. but every day a situation arises where I do need to use it. Could be a safety, a kick, a ridiculous cut I cant see the angle of.. etc.
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Not only that but the one thing Hal ingrained in me was the need to get your head over the shot. Much easier to see the line if you're directly over it.
 
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