If you could no longer physically play pool...

How pool saved the world?

I have enough suspicions that the pool world served as a spy ring in Early colonial times.

In French times its likely the pool world was established to create an alternative to the pulpit of the throne.

Global pool history is not documented on the internet, however there are several resources available at libraries and archives around the world.

Imagine the pool table installer or promoter that sold it to Kings and Presidents, what secret message would you entrust to the billiard table maker? The same table maker that travels the world like Emily Frazer does. Emily is something of a peacemaker and a bridge between peoples. The table maker could transport valuable information between leaders. Leaders that may or may not be trusted. That is why the pool community existed, enough people to make sure power is distributed and monitored.

Write stories about pool and people.

Masako Katsura I have suspicions she played a role in the Korean War. She is a Japanese rail player.

If anyone wants to do code breaking I suspect there are codes hidden within billiard reports.
 
Torn labrum surgery coming up in the near future so I’ll be down for a while. I imagine I’ll do a bunch of YouTube match watching, I subscribe to at least a dozen channels, I also love the Zoom 3 cushion stuff. Might head out to watch some live matches as well and sweat some action here in Chicago and catch up with some of the old familiar faces. Not being able to play and not continue to be active in the billiard community isn’t in my dna. Not yet anyways.
 
If ( i) could no longer physically play pool...

Kind of hard to think that one through?
Comfortable with the notion that like a lot of people: (maybe :) ) i coulda been a contendah in my 20's, but chose to let life get in the way and after getting back into it in my 60's, never will be much of a contender at any level that matters.

OTOH, last year facing the big 70, it occurred to me that there were a number of other activities that meant more to me in whatever healthy years remain, & that focusing on pool again might be limiting my perspective. For instance, another activity i had let lapse since my 30's was skiing. Last winter i became a near full time ski instructor for the first time in my life. Stopping by the local billiards establishment occasionally on the way home in early evening as players warmed up, it was gratifying to have people remember me and suggest i join their team. But i never could have maintained on the ski slopes at this age if i was out late in leagues and such. In the summer i'm just crazy about little airplanes, though i work on them more than fly myself - some of that is income related.

In between, especially fall, i work on the house, and slowly our billiard room is starting to come together.
So maybe when i can't do other things, or when there is actually a table set up here, i'll be able to practice again.
If my arms, back, or nerves, or eyesight get worse, maybe i can still work in the shop and resume learning how to make a few sticks again, now that i hear they aren't popular anymore.

:)

smt
 
If ( i) could no longer physically play pool...

Kind of hard to think that one through?
Comfortable with the notion that like a lot of people: (maybe :) ) i coulda been a contendah in my 20's, but chose to let life get in the way and after getting back into it in my 60's, never will be much of a contender at any level that matters.

OTOH, last year facing the big 70, it occurred to me that there were a number of other activities that meant more to me in whatever healthy years remain, & that focusing on pool again might be limiting my perspective. For instance, another activity i had let lapse since my 30's was skiing. Last winter i became a near full time ski instructor for the first time in my life. Stopping by the local billiards establishment occasionally on the way home in early evening as players warmed up, it was gratifying to have people remember me and suggest i join their team. But i never could have maintained on the ski slopes at this age if i was out late in leagues and such. In the summer i'm just crazy about little airplanes, though i work on them more than fly myself - some of that is income related.

In between, especially fall, i work on the house, and slowly our billiard room is starting to come together.
So maybe when i can't do other things, or when there is actually a table set up here, i'll be able to practice again.
If my arms, back, or nerves, or eyesight get worse, maybe i can still work in the shop and resume learning how to make a few sticks again, now that i hear they aren't popular anymore.

:)

smt
smt, Sounds like a full life and at seventy wow, And the rest will fly ... Pool to you...
 
I would have some gaps in the week that I would need to find a new purpose for... and honestly, I'd get a bit depressed, I feel.
 
Well Joe , I certainly hope I could do better than some who are trying to color commentaries now , I'd also try to get interviews before and after each match .
Since there's so much talk about trying to grow the viewing audience and expand the market place to increase the total pay outs .
Doing commentary seems easy, but knowledge is only one piece of the puzzle. There are four or five things one has to do competently. Failure at one stands out. And even if you do everything well, people will still complain, and people will think they can do better. It’s human nature. Once you get haters, you know you’ve succeeded. It’s a jealousy thing.
 
I’m a living embodiment of the above. I can no longer play competitive pool due to my challenges with the yips. (For those new hearing this, it ain’t just nerves). But I still attend DCC, US Open etc.
I've seen pro golfers and regular Joe golfers have the yips badly with putting. Where and how does it enter into the pool stroke? Back stroke? Forward stroke? Soft feathered strokes? Hard strokes? Grip pressure? Where the cue is gripped in the hand? Light cue? Heavy cue? This is very interesting.
 
I totally agree cornerman , color commentary isn't easy you have to do your homework and be prepared before the match begins . I've sat in one quite a few production meetings for sporting events while working for production companies so I have a fair grasp on what is required .

I wasn't being overly critical of anyone just suggesting a different approach .
 
I've seen pro golfers and regular Joe golfers have the yips badly with putting. Where and how does it enter into the pool stroke? Back stroke? Forward stroke? Soft feathered strokes? Hard strokes? Grip pressure? Where the cue is gripped in the hand? Light cue? Heavy cue? This is very interesting.
All sorts of strokes. It started with the break, but certain stretched out shots and certain position shots. And if I showed you some of these shots, you’d be shocked. Here’s a photo of shot that got me. 6-ball to the 7-ball, which is virtually hanging.

If someone were to rack the balls while I was in the bathroom, my body won’t even let me put my bridge hand on the table as if it forgot what to do. I was just on a table that was just a little lower than I’m used to, and my legs could never find my normal stance. In true yips it’s like my brain and body get disconnected, and if I happen to get into position, trying to take warm up strokes is like having momentary Tourette’s.

I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
 

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All sorts of strokes. It started with the break, but certain stretched out shots and certain position shots. And if I showed you some of these shots, you’d be shocked. Here’s a photo of shot that got me. 6-ball to the 7-ball, which is virtually hanging.

If someone were to rack the balls while I was in the bathroom, my body won’t even let me put my bridge hand on the table as if it forgot what to do. I was just on a table that was just a little lower than I’m used to, and my legs could never find my normal stance. In true yips it’s like my brain and body get disconnected, and if I happen to get into position, trying to take warm up strokes is like having momentary Tourette’s.

I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
Have you tried valium or something similar?
 
Have you tried valium or something similar?
This also affects me when shooting by myself!!! So, I'd always be on valium! Lol! But, I have tried CBD, THC, propranolol and of course alcohol. This has been going on since at least 2007, so this has been an ongoing nightmare with which I've come to terms.
 
If you could no longer physically play pool, Would you still love and enjoy viewing as many games as you could ?
Yes I'd watch, just not as much. I used to road race motorcycles a long time ago, but still watch the pros. Now however I'm not looking for techniques tips from them. Instead I get frightened knowing what might happen if they go over the edge of traction just a bit too far. I used to be immortal, not anymore.
 
All sorts of strokes. It started with the break, but certain stretched out shots and certain position shots. And if I showed you some of these shots, you’d be shocked. Here’s a photo of shot that got me. 6-ball to the 7-ball, which is virtually hanging.

If someone were to rack the balls while I was in the bathroom, my body won’t even let me put my bridge hand on the table as if it forgot what to do. I was just on a table that was just a little lower than I’m used to, and my legs could never find my normal stance. In true yips it’s like my brain and body get disconnected, and if I happen to get into position, trying to take warm up strokes is like having momentary Tourette’s.

I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
Fred, I could easily see myself having issues with that 6 ball shot. The cue ball is on the rail and you’ve got to pop it pretty good to get back out far enough on the 7 to get shape on the 8.

I’m struggling myself anytime the cue ball is on the rail and I’m stroking perpendicular to the rail - often missing easy shots badly, even double hitting the cue ball. Very strange, as otherwise I’m perfectly fine.
 
Fred, I could easily see myself having issues with that 6 ball shot. The cue ball is on the rail and you’ve got to pop it pretty good to get back out far enough on the 7 to get shape on the 8.

I’m struggling myself anytime the cue ball is on the rail and I’m stroking perpendicular to the rail - often missing easy shots badly, even double hitting the cue ball. Very strange, as otherwise I’m perfectly fine.

I was in your place a few weeks back trying to get used to a carbon fiber shaft. Couldn't do it, too many shots felt alien to me and it was getting into my head. When you told me that you'd tried for 2 yrs an then went back and I know how good you play, I thought you know I'm done fighting it and went back to my Jacoby Hybrid shafts. I figure that alone gave me another 5 yrs but my lower back is talking to me.
 
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