Questions for Mike Dechaine

Icon of Sin said:
That you for this thread.

1. What did you think of the Maryland Straight Pool tournament? Congrats on on the 125 and out there BTW

2. When you feel you are playing poorly in a tourney/match/whatever, what do you do to try to snap yourself out of it?

Thanks again!

-H
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Thanks!! That tournament is great and Peter is a awesome dude. Maybe the pockets to have been a little tighter but thats okay.

If I am playing poorly, I try to slow myself down. I start to think about everything a little bit more and go back to the basics. I may also play a couple more safeties to try to slow them down. Depends really on who I am playing.
 
JAM said:
I admire you for stepping up to the plate on this forum and opening yourself up to questions, not knowing what may follow. That takes big gonads! :cool:

A question for you? Let me think here. When did you know that you crossed over from so-so play to pro-caliber play? In other words, was it a tournament win or gambling win? When did you recognize that you were able to compete with the big guns?

Also, what percentage of the game do you believe is the break? Some players can run out from anywhere, but they may have lousy breaks. Do you attribute your breaking strategy to your success?
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It happened when i won the amateur tournament in Valley Forge. I was 19 and told that I could play in the amateur tournament again, so I step up to the big leagues. I had some success as well. I didn't win anything but I beat some good players, so thats when I knew it could be done.

The break is big, but I am not sure what percentage it is. Maybe 40%. It is a big part of my success. Although I feel like a pocket balls pretty well, I try to make sure that I make a ball and get a shot on the one every time.

Thanks
 
Mainplayer said:
Not really. For myself, finding the a cue that I love is HUGE. I feel like I know how to play the game. Then for the longest time, I needed a cue to do what I wanted. lol. This is the truth.
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It is the truth, I've seen Mike shoot without his regular shaft, it's not pretty :D

On the cue topic, Monday night you were not using your BK2 butt, what was that cue? Forgot to ask you then.

Also, I noticed that you and Nelson have a very very similar break, were you picking up some things from him when you were learning? Every time I see you two line up for the break with how the bridge hand is, how you zero in on the contact point, even the final hit, looks almost identical.
 
darren_simion said:
Have you ever gambled in the Philippines? If so, how did you do and against who? Elaborate stories would be well appreciated.
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I did and it was beautiful. I played Gomez and beat him playing rack your own ten ball. Corey and I played partners against Efren and Busty and beat them. That was an awesome opportunity. Then I lost to a guy with one tooth. LOL. Boy did he play good. They play amazing over there and they're day is just pool, it truly is amazing.
 
hang-the-9 said:
It is the truth, I've seen Mike shoot without his regular shaft, it's not pretty :D

On the cue topic, Monday night you were not using your BK2 butt, what was that cue? Forgot to ask you then.

Also, I noticed that you and Nelson have a very very similar break, were you picking up some things from him when you were learning? Every time I see you two line up for the break with how the bridge hand is, how you zero in on the contact point, even the final hit, looks almost identical.
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I am playing with all Predator Products, even down to the chalk. I am really happy with my equipment right now and know them, they will probably have something even better out in the future.
 
Sorry if I have missed any questions. If I did, please send me a pm and I will get back to you.

Thanks
MD
 
Pangit said:
You could have been a World Class Road Player? Your demeanor around the table...nothing flashy, unassuming, don't "whore" the spotlight.

To be honest you sort of "seem" like Chip Douglas from "My Three Son's" All American boy.

Too famous for that now....too bad...that could have been a Caesar Morales type situation.
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Have you ever been to sPangit's fantasy land?
 
First, congrats on the the win at Turning Stone. Second, thanks for the Q & A. It is refreshing for a pro to come on here and offer this type of info. Good luck in the future, and any potential sponsors should jump on board now. Finally, I think that the sport needs players with some emotion. If this game is going to grow, it will be the players that will be the catalyst.
 
I would like to know where you HONESTLY rate your self as a player against the other top pro's WORLD WIDE. Do you think you are in the top 5, 10, 20, players in the the world?

You recently played Hatch at TAR. Do you have any one else in your sites that you want to hook up with?

Now that you are going full time with Pool, will you be traveling around the world more? Doing some of the Asian and middle eastern tournament?

Personally, I don't care if your the biggest ***** in the world. You can flat out play. I enjoy watching you shoot, and watching you grow as a player. It is easy to tell you are really starting to come into your own. Congratulations on the recent success, and hopefully we will see this same patern continued.
 
Brendan Sullivan asked earlier and I did not see an answer:

Who taught you how to break or was it natural?

Can you give the rest of us any tips on getting a solid repetitive break like you have?


BTW, congrats on this win and your stellar tournament play of late. Good thing I didn't take your bet about your finishing position at the DCC.
 
hello,

Not including yourself, who do you consider to be in the top 5 best players in the world right now? Who do you think are the toughest to beat and why?
 
jhanso18 said:
I would like to know where you HONESTLY rate your self as a player against the other top pro's WORLD WIDE. Do you think you are in the top 5, 10, 20, players in the the world?

You recently played Hatch at TAR. Do you have any one else in your sites that you want to hook up with?

Now that you are going full time with Pool, will you be traveling around the world more? Doing some of the Asian and middle eastern tournament?

Personally, I don't care if your the biggest ***** in the world. You can flat out play. I enjoy watching you shoot, and watching you grow as a player. It is easy to tell you are really starting to come into your own. Congratulations on the recent success, and hopefully we will see this same patern continued.
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1. Thats what gets me in trouble in the first place so I will pass on that one;)

2. I am going to China in two weeks and hope to stay for two tournaments. I plan on traveling overseas a lot more in the near future.
 
iba7467 said:
Brendan Sullivan asked earlier and I did not see an answer:

Who taught you how to break or was it natural?

Can you give the rest of us any tips on getting a solid repetitive break like you have?


BTW, congrats on this win and your stellar tournament play of late. Good thing I didn't take your bet about your finishing position at the DCC.
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Tiffany Nelson from Maine had a huge break. I guess I just payed attention and watched the timing and developed my own. Timing is huge and I am also breaking harder with the BK3 prototype.
 
f210 said:
hello,

Not including yourself, who do you consider to be in the top 5 best players in the world right now? Who do you think are the toughest to beat and why?
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I truthfully don't pay much attention to this. I mean I can name some of the players that come here from the Philippines that play unreal, but I like to worry about my game.
 
First off, thanks for the thread. Now I know you said timing is huge with your break. But are there any other tips you can give for someone who is struggling to find a consistent break?
 
For what its worth, you strike me as an intelligent decent guy. This thread changed your image for me, lots of negative talk but turns out it means nothing. Keep rising to the top, Mike!

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
 
Mainplayer said:
1. Thats what gets me in trouble in the first place so I will pass on that one;)

2. I am going to China in two weeks and hope to stay for two tournaments. I plan on traveling overseas a lot more in the near future.
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(Number 1 is where Mike's got it right. He recognizes when he has a problem with something. People that are real jerks just don't care if there's a problem. Just be the best you that you can be and the rest will take care of itself.)

Number 2.. Mike, bring us back some of that Chinese yuan!

Very nice win, keep it up and thanks for participating here. It's nice to see a Mainer putting a stamp on something. :thumbup:
 
This is easily one of the best threads we have had here in a while...

Wish more of the pro would come on here and do something like this, but I can also understand their reluctance to do so.

Thanks a lot Mike.
 
I don't know much about your past and your image, but I watched you a bit while you were playing in the Tournament at Steinway Billiards in Queens.

You're an excellent shot, and you semed like a normal guy, in a room where all the egos are pretty big. not sure if I just caught you on an off night, or if all the critic about being a tool, is being carried foward from your illspent youth.
 
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