I use a 20oz and it seems just right for me.
New Player With Questions
- Thread starter weezymagic
- Start date
I use a 20oz and it seems just right for me.
Every play with a White delrin buttcap scruggs sneaky? Wood to-wood joint, but piloted.
weezymagic
New member
two questions have aroused...
1) whats the point of a wrap? is it just personal choice or does it do anything?
2) how do you change tips? (im about to leave for work, if this has an obvious answer, ill find it when im home.) if i want to try different tips
1) whats the point of a wrap? is it just personal choice or does it do anything?
2) how do you change tips? (im about to leave for work, if this has an obvious answer, ill find it when im home.) if i want to try different tips
Even McDermott? I thought their lifetime warranty was just that. I sure could be wrong, tho...never tested it.
nksmfamjp said:
This is gold. Read it again right before you go to the pool hall every time until you've got it memorized. Seriously.
There's a lot of good information in this thread, and I've only got a couple things to add to your second question that I didn't see anybody mention yet.
- Don't just play one game. I'm primarily a 9/10 ball player, and that's the game I really love -- you plenty of opportunities to let your stroke out, safeties are more complex and interesting with 2 balls to control, and while there's a decent amount of strategy to play, but don't have to play chess with your opponent like in some of the other popular games. That said, I play 8 ball a couple of times a week, try to get some straight pool in on a regular basis, and will play more one pocket when my skills get to a level that will allow me to do so competently. These other games help me because they add different skills to my toolbox that "9 ball only" players don't have, and the 9 ball skills open up options that strict 8 ball guys don't usually have available. Try to figure out what the key to each game is and work on that the most. 8 ball is all about planning your strategy so that you get your trouble balls dealt with before the other guy (and give him some more of them if you can). They keys to 9 ball are controlling the cueball, thinking at least 3 balls ahead, and taking the correct route from each ball to the next.
- Play competitively. At this point in your game, find a handicapped league in your area, join it, and show up every week. I know the APA gets a lot of negative press around here, and I understand why, but it's a great way to learn the basics. You'll make some friends and learn a lot. That said, once you get to their skill level 5 or so, you should get away from the handicaps and start playing in tournaments. I know too many people who just never get any better because the handicap system is a good crutch for people who know how to work it.
- Somebody else mentioned this, but watch good players. Watch more than you play. I used to spend hours sitting next to the gambling table in my poolroom and watching people play one pocket, but any game played well will do. It's really fascinating, and if you actually think about what's going on and try to understand why they make the choices they do, you'll learn a lot more about what path the cueball needs to take to get from point a to point b and how to handle situations you don't see a solution for.
- If you can afford it, find a good instructor in your area and spend some time with him or her. If you can't read all you can on the internet. Learn about SPF and use it. Just like the APA, there's some debate over SPF here, but the biggest problem for most people is that they're used to stroking the ball the way they've always stroked it and it's hard to change that. Your stroke is probably still early in its development, and it's a good idea to start off on the right foot. The vast majority of SPF players will tell you that it gave them a big improvement.
- Finally, take every opportunity you get to play with people who will really beat you badly, as long as you're not going to bet on it. You'll learn a lot from seeing how they approach things, and you're a lot less likely to lose focus if you get used to playing guys who will run out if you miss. One of the biggest problems good players have is slacking off on the shots they think are the easiest and missing them. It's not usually the hard shots that are a problem, because we look at them closely and pay attention to them. It's the no-brainers that will destroy you.
This game is the most fascinating and enriching endeavor I've ever taken on. I've met some amazing talents, made a ton of great friends, and learned a type of critical thinking that's pretty hard to find elsewhere. Additionally, I've felt the thrill of accomplishment at playing above my level and winning tournaments or beating opponents as the massive underdog, and the crushing frustration at getting losing to people who can't even see straight, it's made me a happier and stronger person in other areas of my life as well. I wish all the same to you. Good luck on the tables, and maybe one day we'll get to shoot sometime.
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The McD warranty requires you to register the cue when you buy it new. I don't know that the warranty is transferable. It is probably more accurate to say that is a warranty for the lifetime of your ownership of a new McD purchased from a certified supplier.
Starting Pool Journey
Welcome to the long road of pool. My suggestion is that you find someone in your area to take some lessons. This will cut years off your learning curve. Learn to do things correctly when you are young rather than learn bad habits that you have to break.
Even if you could save up and take one lesson a month or so, it would be worth your time. At least until you get really good fundamentals. Then you can practice yourself.
Good luck//Mark
Welcome to the long road of pool. My suggestion is that you find someone in your area to take some lessons. This will cut years off your learning curve. Learn to do things correctly when you are young rather than learn bad habits that you have to break.
Even if you could save up and take one lesson a month or so, it would be worth your time. At least until you get really good fundamentals. Then you can practice yourself.
Good luck//Mark
first cue
if you're still evolving as a player and looking for a inexpensive but good hitting cue, look into a used McDermott, they hit well, are adjustable in weight - in case you want to do some experimenting, and have a 3/8 x 10 joint - if you want to start experimenting with predator or any other shafts for that matter, there's lots around. mcdermotts will take you a long way. great quality for the money.
if you're still evolving as a player and looking for a inexpensive but good hitting cue, look into a used McDermott, they hit well, are adjustable in weight - in case you want to do some experimenting, and have a 3/8 x 10 joint - if you want to start experimenting with predator or any other shafts for that matter, there's lots around. mcdermotts will take you a long way. great quality for the money.
If you didn't already get this stuff answered:
The wrap is pretty unimportant. It's usually irish linen, or there can be nothing at all. I hardly notice it unless I am sweating a lot and it's irish linen. Then it seems to hold the sweat in and get super grungy and just looks and feels nasty. But there are different levels of it, and part of it comes down to how often you wash your hands too.
The tip is usually something you pay another guy to do. It'll run you 10-25 bucks depending on the quality of the replacement tip and how much he likes you. Ask the counter person at the local pool hall.
The wrap is pretty unimportant. It's usually irish linen, or there can be nothing at all. I hardly notice it unless I am sweating a lot and it's irish linen. Then it seems to hold the sweat in and get super grungy and just looks and feels nasty. But there are different levels of it, and part of it comes down to how often you wash your hands too.
The tip is usually something you pay another guy to do. It'll run you 10-25 bucks depending on the quality of the replacement tip and how much he likes you. Ask the counter person at the local pool hall.
A quick answer for you. A guy interviewed some top notch players of different games and sports and found out that they all had one thing in common.Ten thousand hours of practice.