Mosconi Home Video

Where is Blackjack's original thread?

Relative to the 5 or 6 balls ahead thing, I have to think he's oversimplifying things a bit. He was talking about when the balls are all open, which means he must know what his break ball will be and where his last two or so are. Beyond that he must be looking for any problem balls, (which in fact he does in the sample run were he has 2 balls on the rail). So given these things, he's already looking forward the whole rack. If he has his last few figured out, and there are no problem balls, and you have perfect cue ball control, then he'll probably get by fine figuring out the next 5 or 6 at a time. He's probably thinking along the lines of "I'll get this group over here, then that group over there and that'll get me to the key balls."

I think in this internet era we tend to study things to the nth degree.

Having said all that, it's just a guess. Guys like Bob Jewett who knew and played with the Jimmy Caras types could probably give a better explanation than I could. :o
 
Dan White said:
... If he has his last few figured out, and there are no problem balls, and you have perfect cue ball control, then he'll probably get by fine figuring out the next 5 or 6 at a time. He's probably thinking along the lines of "I'll get this group over here, then that group over there and that'll get me to the key balls." ...
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I suspect that this is what he meant. Caras said that Mosconi was only a middle of the pack player until he mastered the last 5 balls.

The other thing is that there was probably no explicit planning going on, such as "2 draw to the 5 stop for the 11 follow for the 9 off the rail for the 12," but rather a general pattern recognition as you say such as "that group of five by the foot rail and then the standard three ball pattern up the side going to the single ball by the head rail coming down for the closing set."
 
I think it surprised me because I expected him to be able to see something different than the others did, being the great player that he was. I suppose I wanted to believe there was more to this game at the highest level. But maybe, aside from some basic patterns, it is just cueball control and pocketing balls.
 
If you have identified the break shot, have great cue ball control, and can pocket balls, then 5 balls ahead should lead to infinite runs.
 
bluepepper said:
... I thought it was interesting that Willie said that he didn't think any more than 5 shots ahead. This surprised me.
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I thought it was interesting that he said that to shoot a ball frozen on the cushion (and about a half-ball cut) that you should hit the ball and the cushion at the same time. I suppose he actually believed this myth.
 
In the first 10-20 seconds of that video I saw a guy who looked like Dave Piona, he looked to be about what Daves age would have been back then. I doubt its him, i checked and its at 26-27 seconds when the camera pan the room.


Bob whats the right way to hit a frozen ball? I know this might sound rediclous but nobody has ever told me, i dont have a problem with them and I awalys thought I hit the rail and the bal at the same time, thus I believe a myth too. :confused: on the shot he did, with no english, hell I dont know how I do it I just make it work,


he needed to get a tip tapper or something man he miscued alot in that video.
 
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Fatboy said:
Bob whats the right way to hit a frozen ball?
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I've found that it's rail before ball for everything except a severe throw with outside english. On this I try to hit them at about the same time.
 
Great video, bluepepper and blackjack, thanks for sharing. "Not bad for an old guy," indeed!
 
Fatboy said:
... Bob whats the right way to hit a frozen ball? ..
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Someone already spilled the beans, but Byrne covers it pretty well. Koehler covers it in great detail.

Mizerak probably has the most effective suggestion: ignore the rail.
 
At one point in the video, someone asks Willie what the record high run is. I think that Willie responds with something other than 526. I can't hear it clearly -- can anyone else?
 
Bob Jewett said:
At one point in the video, someone asks Willie what the record high run is. I think that Willie responds with something other than 526. I can't hear it clearly -- can anyone else?
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Willie said he held the record at 526 and then said something about how it was reported that someone broke the 526 figure. So he went at it again and ran a 609, which is the new high run. He also said he never missed on the 526. He got tired and just quit. Not sure if he's taking artistic license there or not.
 
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