Basics, the return to pool is either stalled from alcohol induced memory loss or having shot enough 20 years ago that I "knew" what to do without really understanding what I was doing. There are a couple of guys in gainesville but getting time off from work when they are available is tough. I would travel if I could afford it, but money is tight in the new economy. The APA league is taking some getting used too. The points thing is contrary to what I was taught about 9 ball. Thinking about switching to 8 ball as winning the game is still winning the game. I am having a really hard time getting any kind of useful draw, missing center ball even on set up shots. The players locally want to "play" 9 ball games as practice and I want to run drills. I like hanging out, but I worked in a pool hall years ago and the better players always ran drills during the slow days so they were "on" when the money was on the line. Maybe just old, but I believe structured practice and instruction will move my game along faster. So, I have already tried to see if a couple people would be willing to pitch in for a clinic, and the answer was no. They think it is a waste of money or just don't have the money. They believe Fury is a great brand and can't understand why I would get a custom cue. I will change teams after this session, probably. If you want to win you have to do what the winners did to get their. John