I Met Mark Tadd

[JAM]

At the last TPP tourney in Sterling, a group of us were standing around talking and a novice walked over & asked if the new tip he has was too tall... if it needed to be cut down. Both Mike Davis & Shawn Putnam were in this group & after assuring the guy 2 or 3 times that his tip was ok, he started asking more questions about when to re-tip, etc... Shawn said that he replaces his tip monthly. I could be wrong about the exact amount of time but it's very often. His reasoning was that you never have to get used to a new tip if you keep a new tip on your cue. I personally had never given that any thought but it sure did make a lot of sense once he said it.

I think different players have preferences which suit them. For instance, have you taken a look at Mike Davis' tip? It's all but nonexistent!

I haven't noticed Shawn's tips, but it makes sense what he says, to me at least.

Keith does NOT like playing with a brand-new tip. He wants to break it in for a spell before it can provide its PEAK performance (LOL).

JAM

 

[JAM]

JAM funny you should mention that.
Tips aren't just the way they used to be.
The repair people really are at the mercy of the tips and glues/epoxy we use.
The Triangle tip I put on Mark's breaker was hard pressed. And it was still too mushy for him. I've had some Triangles just break down during installation too.

I have seen this on several occasions: brand-new tips mushrooming after several hours of use!

That's pretty much true with the old brands I think.
I put an Everest layered tip on Mark's breaker last night.
I hope he likes that one. It did cut nicely.
It would behoove players to come to tournaments with already broken-in tips.
Maybe just get the sides trimmed if they mushroom during the tournament.
I myself hate playing with new tips. After all, just like shoes, they are leather and takes break-in time.

That does make sense. Not too many people can wear brand-new leather shoes and be comfortable in them right away.

It also makes sense that the player should come PREPARED to the tournament and not wait until the beginning of the competition to get their weapons of mass destruction worked on. JMHO, FWIW!

JAM

 

[Timberly]

I think different players have preferences which suit them. For instance, have you taken a look at Mike Davis' tip? It's all but nonexistent!

JAM

As far as Mike Davis is concerned , "normal" is nonexistent when it comes to anything pool related. A nonexistent tip makes perfect sense for him... he's got a nonexistent stroke too. LOL, I don't know how he does it! I'm just glad he's a nice guy with a sense of humor that allows me to pick on him about these things.

 

[wayne]

Hmmm...that's not what he said last week. He commented that he has a weak break therefore he can't give any advice on how to break better or explain any of its secrets. Are you sure you saw the "REAL MARK TADD"?
Who is the "Real Mark Tadd"?

He never said he had a weak break, he said he didn't have the best or a great break. He is a bit of a perfectionist from hearing him talk so what he considers not a great break may be better than 98% who post here. One player was explaining to me how he used to practice his break for 12 hours straight, just breaking, re-racking, breaking, etc. Also, they would leave late at night and come back the next day and he would still be practicing shots. It is unlikely he will get close to his old level unless this dedication comes back. However, he still plays very good.

Wayne

 

[frankncali]

He never said he had a weak break, he said he didn't have the best or a great break. He is a bit of a perfectionist from hearing him talk so what he considers not a great break may be better than 98% who post here. One player was explaining to me how he used to practice his break for 12 hours straight, just breaking, re-racking, breaking, etc. Also, they would leave late at night and come back the next day and he would still be practicing shots. It is unlikely he will get close to his old level unless this dedication comes back. However, he still plays very good.

Wayne

In NC years ago I saw Mark Break for 5 straight hours. I had already seen him play and found it a little odd that in those 5 hours he had not shot one ball. Someone asked him what he was doing and he said that he "KNEW" that he got a good shot after the break that he was out. He also said something
about he was trying to get the sound of a good break down.
I was not able to see any of his matches this weekend but I did in his strong years. Its tough to say he was overly impressive because he really never did anything fancy. Just after a while you would start thinking that the guy had not missed in a long time. If he got a tough shot he made it and was right back in line.
I hope that maybe the IPT kicks in and Mark along with some other great players get back on their top games and get out there. It will be fun to watch.

 

[LastTwo]

Apparently Kim Davenport is back in stroke, I believe he is playing the semi finals at Shooters Riverside right now. Efren is out and Parica is in the hot seat. Ernesto came in 4th I believe.

 

[F8it]

I've got two HARD Mooris and two Le Pros right now in our possession, given to me as a kind gift by an AzBilliards Discussion Forum member. I hope to get them applied SOON, like before the next competitive event on the road.

I believe he has tried the Triangle tip, but he seems to lean towards the HARD Moori. Keith likes to break them in for several weeks before he plays in a tournament, but he seems to change his tips like some people change their socks. I've never seen anything like it.

Apparently, according to him, it's not that easy to get used to a brand-new tip right off the bat. After he shaves it down to his liking, it takes a period of time before the tip is "perfect."

Tip perfection doesn't last too long, though, because a tournament or two later, a new one is being applied.

JAM

Hi JAM!!!,

Please ask Keith if he's tried the Chandivert "Rocky" French Tips? Supposedly one of the hardest "classic" tips available, and perhaps the same high quality standards of the old days.

 

[RSB-Refugee]

I think different players have preferences which suit them. For instance, have you taken a look at Mike Davis' tip? It's all but nonexistent!

I haven't noticed Shawn's tips, but it makes sense what he says, to me at least.

Keith does NOT like playing with a brand-new tip. He wants to break it in for a spell before it can provide its PEAK performance (LOL).

JAM

Jam,
I have only seen Kieth play a couple of times, once on ESPN Skins and a couple of nights ago on BCN. I noticed he licked his finger and rubbed it on the side of the tip. Do you know what he does that for? I sometimes get a little spit on my finger and apply it around the side of the tip. After I do that, I burnish it with little remnants of brown grocery bags. It helps to harden the side and will even undo slight mushrooming.

Tracy

 

[drivermaker]

I hear the BEST all-time tip favorite among old-school players is Champions, if you can find the "old" ones.

JAM

Now, THOSE suckers were hard. I have an old one on one of my shafts and love the way it hits. I know where to get a few more, but they'll be going on some of my other shafts. Tell Keith sorry, but I'm just a rotten guy at heart.

 

[JAM]

Hi JAM!!!,

Please ask Keith if he's tried the Chandivert "Rocky" French Tips? Supposedly one of the hardest "classic" tips available, and perhaps the same high quality standards of the old days.

Hi, F8it! Keith said he hadn't heard of the Chandivert "Rocky" French tip before, but if I ever get my hands on one, I'd like to see him give them a try.

JAM

 

[JAM]

Jam,
I have only seen Kieth play a couple of times, once on ESPN Skins and a couple of nights ago on BCN. I noticed he licked his finger and rubbed it on the side of the tip. Do you know what he does that for? I sometimes get a little spit on my finger and apply it around the side of the tip. After I do that, I burnish it with little remnants of brown grocery bags. It helps to harden the side and will even undo slight mushrooming.

I asked him why he licks the ferrule between shots, and he said "to keep my tip blackened." He doesn't like to see brown, but he likes to see black. I have even see him request cue maintenance and repairmen to mark the diameter of the ferrule, right beneath the tip, with a black marker. Then he gets a piece of leather to darken it, if one is available.

I guess if he can't find leather, he uses his tongue!

JAM

 

[JAM]

Now, THOSE suckers were hard. I have an old one on one of my shafts and love the way it hits. I know where to get a few more, but they'll be going on some of my other shafts. Tell Keith sorry, but I'm just a rotten guy at heart.

I know where a "secret stash" of Champions, the old ones, are in Virginia. I'm heading down that way soon and will get me some! Maybe I'll send you a couple if I can get a bunch.

JAM

 

[Timberly]

I know where a "secret stash" of Champions, the old ones, are in Virginia. I'm heading down that way soon and will get me some! Maybe I'll send you a couple if I can get a bunch.

JAM

DM, this should make you feel like shit... You were stingy with yours & she's offering to send you some if she gets them.... WOW....

 

[barrett9ball]

As far as Mike Davis is concerned , "normal" is nonexistent when it comes to anything pool related. A nonexistent tip makes perfect sense for him... he's got a nonexistent stroke too. LOL, I don't know how he does it! I'm just glad he's a nice guy with a sense of humor that allows me to pick on him about these things.

I've been trying for years to figure out how Mike does it.... I've even tried a couple of things after he explained it to me.. Nah,, wasn't for me. All the odd stuff he does makes good sense when he explains it but personally I chalk it up to pure muscle memory for him. You should have seen his form and stroke before he left Hagerstown to go on the road several years ago. If you think it's odd now you should have seen it then. When he came back off the road he had a more upright stance and shorter stroke. He said the lower more stretched out stance gave him a sore back during long sessions. But hey, it works for him. Nobody can dispute that

 

[Timberly]

If you think it's odd now you should have seen it then. When he came back off the road he had a more upright stance and shorter stroke. He said the lower more stretched out stance gave him a sore back during long sessions. But hey, it works for him. Nobody can dispute that

We were discussing this the last time we were in H-town. He mentioned that he's tried many different strokes. (I couldn't change my stroke...I would have to actually think about it & it would feel too foreign). And no, there's no disputing that it works for him. He's been doing great the last couple of yrs!

 

[drivermaker]

DM, this should make you feel like shit... You were stingy with yours & she's offering to send you some if she gets them.... WOW....

No not really.

I'll concede right now...JAM has ALWAYS been a much better person than I.

 

[F8it]

Hi, F8it! Keith said he hadn't heard of the Chandivert "Rocky" French tip before, but if I ever get my hands on one, I'd like to see him give them a try.

JAM

Hi JAM!!!

Used to be able to get them from Mueller's Sporting Goods and Billiard Supply. They're on the net. I meant to say the Chandivert Co. (in France?) has been around a long time and still in business, so in that sense they're "classic". The Rocky's are supposed to be the hardest ones you can get. Maybe they're comparable to the vintage Champions. I hope Keith can try them so we can get an expert review on e'm. Please PM or post if he does!!! Thanks!!

 

[BRKNRUN]

Hmmm...that's not what he said last week. He commented that he has a weak break therefore he can't give any advice on how to break better or explain any of its secrets. Are you sure you saw the "REAL MARK TADD"?
Who is the "Real Mark Tadd"?

He does have pretty big break. I don't think he was real happy with it though. The timing looked a little off to me.

I spoke with him at Riverside and I run into him from time to time in Phoenix, He really is a nice guy always laughing about something.

I really doub't anyone is going to get any "secrets" from him though.

Mark is a one of a kind person, and he really does things "his own way" and I think that if he tried to explain anything, most would probably not understand him...and both sides would get frustrated....I am not even sure if he knows what his secrets are at this point. He seems to me like one of those guys that is really good at something but can't explain why...they just are...kind of like, why does an orange taste like a orange...(It just does)

I doub't I will ever even ask him "how" he plays pool. I will just be freindly to him and let him play...

 

[barrett9ball]

We were discussing this the last time we were in H-town. He mentioned that he's tried many different strokes. (I couldn't change my stroke...I would have to actually think about it & it would feel too foreign). And no, there's no disputing that it works for him. He's been doing great the last couple of yrs!

When he changes his stroke it is only very subtle things that we likely wouldn't notice unless he told us. But we all know that the subtle things can make big differences. Your right though. Whatever he is doing he needs to stay with it.

 

[Celtic]

true that. Efren's break is 'weak' too, remember.

Yeah but with Mark Tadd it is more like calling Bustamente's break "weak". Trust me, he could crush the balls as hard as anyone, but I think he tones it down in tournies and only bigs out the serious break for the $. Lucky few have got to watch him practice the break and he is the last person you would say has a weak break.