Tang Hoa and Dave Hemmah

jay helfert

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
I don't start many threads here, but I felt these two guys deserve one.

Tang is en route right now to Valley Forge where he will be playing in the pro tournament. Kent Davis, the cuemaker is accompanying him. Tang has played pool only sporadically in the last year or so. He has pretty much stuck to the poker grind, coming out occasionally for a big tournament. Yet he usually does well, which is a testament to the high level of play he demands of himself.

Yesterday, Tang came over to my house in the afternoon to practice on my new Diamond table. He wanted one good workout prior to leaving for Valley Forge. I played a few games of Banks with him to get him loosened up. Then I let him practice alone awhile.

Mark Whitehead came by and played for a while with Tang, and finally Dave Hemmah showed up. Now the game got a little more serious, and they got into it. An hour or so of that and we ordered pizza. Following a quick dinner break, Tang and Dave got down to some real hard practice, playing races to eleven.

It was a pleasure to host these two fine players in my home and watch them go at it. Tang and Dave have been friends and roadies forever and have been through the best of times and some that were not so good. To say they are close friends is an understatement. Brothers might be a more accurate term to describe their relationship.

After a couple of hard fought races, they began a long process of dissecting Tang's game. Dave became in essence Tang's coach. No one really knows Tang's game any better than Dave. They spent a couple of hours working on Tang's Set Up. Remember that long thread on Stance that has been going on here. It was like the thread came to life in my living room. Dave worked with Tang to slightly adjust his Stance/Set Up.

Tang was having trouble lining up on the shot in a way that he was comfortable with. He kept saying he felt like he wasn't seeing the shot right. Dave worked with him until EUREKA, Tang found the Set Up he was looking for. And man, did the balls begin to pour in the pockets from every angle imaginable. To watch a great shooter when he finds the range is awesome.

And that was it. Dave went home to Momma and the baby and Tang took off to pack for his flight this morning.

So if any of you there in Valley Forge are sweating one of Tang's matches, do me one big favor. When he makes a great run out, yell TALLY HO one time for me. Thanks!
 
jay helfert said:
I don't start many threads here, but I felt these two guys deserve one.

Tang is en route right now to Valley Forge where he will be playing in the pro tournament. Kent Davis, the cuemaker is accompanying him. Tang has played pool only sporadically in the last year or so. He has pretty much stuck to the poker grind, coming out occasionally for a big tournament. Yet he usually does well, which is a testament to the high level of play he demands of himself.

Yesterday, Tang came over to my house in the afternoon to practice on my new Diamond table. He wanted one good workout prior to leaving for Valley Forge. I played a few games of Banks with him to get him loosened up. Then I let him practice alone awhile.

Mark Whitehead came by and played for a while with Tang, and finally Dave Hemmah showed up. Now the game got a little more serious, and they got into it. An hour or so of that and we ordered pizza. Following a quick dinner break, Tang and Dave got down to some real hard practice, playing races to eleven.

It was a pleasure to host these two fine players in my home and watch them go at it. Tang and Dave have been friends and roadies forever and have been through the best of times and some that were not so good. To say they are close friends is an understatement. Brothers might be a more accurate term to describe their relationship.

After a couple of hard fought races, they began a long process of dissecting Tang's game. Dave became in essence Tang's coach. No one really knows Tang's game any better than Dave. They spent a couple of hours working on Tang's Set Up. Remember that long thread on Stance that has been going on here. It was like the thread came to life in my living room. Dave worked with Tang to slightly adjust his Stance/Set Up.

Tang was having trouble lining up on the shot in a way that he was comfortable with. He kept saying he felt like he wasn't seeing the shot right. Dave worked with him until EUREKA, Tang found the Set Up he was looking for. And man, did the balls begin to pour in the pockets from every angle imaginable. To watch a great shooter when he finds the range is awesome.

And that was it. Dave went home to Momma and the baby and Tang took off to pack for his flight this morning.

So if any of you there in Valley Forge are sweating one of Tang's matches, do me one big favor. When he makes a great run out, yell TALLY HO one time for me. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Jay, it's about time Tang started playing again, he might love the poker grind but this guy has WORLD'S of talent at pool. When i first started playing pool i always looked up to Tang. I just loved to watch him play, it was like poetry in motion. I am glad he is playing again and i hope he does well in Valley Forge.........
 
jay helfert said:
I don't start many threads here, but I felt these two guys deserve one.

Tang is en route right now to Valley Forge where he will be playing in the pro tournament. Kent Davis, the cuemaker is accompanying him. Tang has played pool only sporadically in the last year or so. He has pretty much stuck to the poker grind, coming out occasionally for a big tournament. Yet he usually does well, which is a testament to the high level of play he demands of himself.

Yesterday, Tang came over to my house in the afternoon to practice on my new Diamond table. He wanted one good workout prior to leaving for Valley Forge. I played a few games of Banks with him to get him loosened up. Then I let him practice alone awhile.

Mark Whitehead came by and played for a while with Tang, and finally Dave Hemmah showed up. Now the game got a little more serious, and they got into it. An hour or so of that and we ordered pizza. Following a quick dinner break, Tang and Dave got down to some real hard practice, playing races to eleven.

It was a pleasure to host these two fine players in my home and watch them go at it. Tang and Dave have been friends and roadies forever and have been through the best of times and some that were not so good. To say they are close friends is an understatement. Brothers might be a more accurate term to describe their relationship.

After a couple of hard fought races, they began a long process of dissecting Tang's game. Dave became in essence Tang's coach. No one really knows Tang's game any better than Dave. They spent a couple of hours working on Tang's Set Up. Remember that long thread on Stance that has been going on here. It was like the thread came to life in my living room. Dave worked with Tang to slightly adjust his Stance/Set Up.

Tang was having trouble lining up on the shot in a way that he was comfortable with. He kept saying he felt like he wasn't seeing the shot right. Dave worked with him until EUREKA, Tang found the Set Up he was looking for. And man, did the balls begin to pour in the pockets from every angle imaginable. To watch a great shooter when he finds the range is awesome.

And that was it. Dave went home to Momma and the baby and Tang took off to pack for his flight this morning.

So if any of you there in Valley Forge are sweating one of Tang's matches, do me one big favor. When he makes a great run out, yell TALLY HO one time for me. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Both of these guys are great player and friends. I have had the pleasure of having Tang as a road partner when we were teens, and Dave as a tournament road partner a few years back.

Both guys are well dedicated to the game and as always it is a shame that they can not do this full time.

Sporatic is the nature of a good poolplayer that wants a roof over their head.
 
Having traveled with them and knowing them for years I can attest to both of their love for the game, integrity and talent. They are great ambassadors of the game and are a blast to relax and hang around with outside of the pool room.
 
jay helfert said:
I don't start many threads here, but I felt these two guys deserve one.

Tang is en route right now to Valley Forge where he will be playing in the pro tournament. Kent Davis, the cuemaker is accompanying him. Tang has played pool only sporadically in the last year or so. He has pretty much stuck to the poker grind, coming out occasionally for a big tournament. Yet he usually does well, which is a testament to the high level of play he demands of himself.

Yesterday, Tang came over to my house in the afternoon to practice on my new Diamond table. He wanted one good workout prior to leaving for Valley Forge. I played a few games of Banks with him to get him loosened up. Then I let him practice alone awhile.

Mark Whitehead came by and played for a while with Tang, and finally Dave Hemmah showed up. Now the game got a little more serious, and they got into it. An hour or so of that and we ordered pizza. Following a quick dinner break, Tang and Dave got down to some real hard practice, playing races to eleven.

It was a pleasure to host these two fine players in my home and watch them go at it. Tang and Dave have been friends and roadies forever and have been through the best of times and some that were not so good. To say they are close friends is an understatement. Brothers might be a more accurate term to describe their relationship.

After a couple of hard fought races, they began a long process of dissecting Tang's game. Dave became in essence Tang's coach. No one really knows Tang's game any better than Dave. They spent a couple of hours working on Tang's Set Up. Remember that long thread on Stance that has been going on here. It was like the thread came to life in my living room. Dave worked with Tang to slightly adjust his Stance/Set Up.

Tang was having trouble lining up on the shot in a way that he was comfortable with. He kept saying he felt like he wasn't seeing the shot right. Dave worked with him until EUREKA, Tang found the Set Up he was looking for. And man, did the balls begin to pour in the pockets from every angle imaginable. To watch a great shooter when he finds the range is awesome.

And that was it. Dave went home to Momma and the baby and Tang took off to pack for his flight this morning.

So if any of you there in Valley Forge are sweating one of Tang's matches, do me one big favor. When he makes a great run out, yell TALLY HO one time for me. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Lucky!!!!!
 
I remember when I had *just* started playing pool seriously and played in a local handicapped tournament in Northridge. I'm just watching people practice, and I see this guy drilling in 80 degree cuts along the length of the table. He's setting them up and them *wham* he smacks them uptable into the corner pocket time after time.

I go to my friend Jeff and ask, "Who is that guy!?"

"Dave Hemmah."

What a stroke that man has. Such talent and class.
 
Tang influence

I copied my 9ball break style from Tang back at Hardtimes in Bellflower CA in 1988. I have been using this style ever since. I look forward to seeing Tang at Valley Forge.

Kevin
 
jay helfert said:
I don't start many threads here, but I felt these two guys deserve one.

Tang is en route right now to Valley Forge where he will be playing in the pro tournament. Kent Davis, the cuemaker is accompanying him. Tang has played pool only sporadically in the last year or so. He has pretty much stuck to the poker grind, coming out occasionally for a big tournament. Yet he usually does well, which is a testament to the high level of play he demands of himself.

Yesterday, Tang came over to my house in the afternoon to practice on my new Diamond table. He wanted one good workout prior to leaving for Valley Forge. I played a few games of Banks with him to get him loosened up. Then I let him practice alone awhile.

Mark Whitehead came by and played for a while with Tang, and finally Dave Hemmah showed up. Now the game got a little more serious, and they got into it. An hour or so of that and we ordered pizza. Following a quick dinner break, Tang and Dave got down to some real hard practice, playing races to eleven.

It was a pleasure to host these two fine players in my home and watch them go at it. Tang and Dave have been friends and roadies forever and have been through the best of times and some that were not so good. To say they are close friends is an understatement. Brothers might be a more accurate term to describe their relationship.

After a couple of hard fought races, they began a long process of dissecting Tang's game. Dave became in essence Tang's coach. No one really knows Tang's game any better than Dave. They spent a couple of hours working on Tang's Set Up. Remember that long thread on Stance that has been going on here. It was like the thread came to life in my living room. Dave worked with Tang to slightly adjust his Stance/Set Up.

Tang was having trouble lining up on the shot in a way that he was comfortable with. He kept saying he felt like he wasn't seeing the shot right. Dave worked with him until EUREKA, Tang found the Set Up he was looking for. And man, did the balls begin to pour in the pockets from every angle imaginable. To watch a great shooter when he finds the range is awesome.

And that was it. Dave went home to Momma and the baby and Tang took off to pack for his flight this morning.

So if any of you there in Valley Forge are sweating one of Tang's matches, do me one big favor. When he makes a great run out, yell TALLY HO one time for me. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Jay,

Do you know if Dave is coming to play in the Desert Classic Tour in Phoenix this weekend. There was a post in another thread that said he may be coming over. I have not talked to him in a while, not sure if Jimmy has either.

Dennis
 
Thanks for sharing Jay. I struggle with my stance too and it's refreshing to hear players of that caliber dissecting some of the very fundamental parts of the game.
 
jay helfert said:
I don't start many threads here, but I felt these two guys deserve one.

Tang is en route right now to Valley Forge where he will be playing in the pro tournament. Kent Davis, the cuemaker is accompanying him. Tang has played pool only sporadically in the last year or so. He has pretty much stuck to the poker grind, coming out occasionally for a big tournament. Yet he usually does well, which is a testament to the high level of play he demands of himself.

Yesterday, Tang came over to my house in the afternoon to practice on my new Diamond table. He wanted one good workout prior to leaving for Valley Forge. I played a few games of Banks with him to get him loosened up. Then I let him practice alone awhile.

Mark Whitehead came by and played for a while with Tang, and finally Dave Hemmah showed up. Now the game got a little more serious, and they got into it. An hour or so of that and we ordered pizza. Following a quick dinner break, Tang and Dave got down to some real hard practice, playing races to eleven.

It was a pleasure to host these two fine players in my home and watch them go at it. Tang and Dave have been friends and roadies forever and have been through the best of times and some that were not so good. To say they are close friends is an understatement. Brothers might be a more accurate term to describe their relationship.

After a couple of hard fought races, they began a long process of dissecting Tang's game. Dave became in essence Tang's coach. No one really knows Tang's game any better than Dave. They spent a couple of hours working on Tang's Set Up. Remember that long thread on Stance that has been going on here. It was like the thread came to life in my living room. Dave worked with Tang to slightly adjust his Stance/Set Up.

Tang was having trouble lining up on the shot in a way that he was comfortable with. He kept saying he felt like he wasn't seeing the shot right. Dave worked with him until EUREKA, Tang found the Set Up he was looking for. And man, did the balls begin to pour in the pockets from every angle imaginable. To watch a great shooter when he finds the range is awesome.

And that was it. Dave went home to Momma and the baby and Tang took off to pack for his flight this morning.

So if any of you there in Valley Forge are sweating one of Tang's matches, do me one big favor. When he makes a great run out, yell TALLY HO one time for me. Thanks!
Click to expand...


What exactly was he doing? What was he looking for?

Elaborate....(or is it a secret)????

Curious minds would like to know.....;)
 
jay helfert said:
I don't start many threads here, but I felt these two guys deserve one.

Tang is en route right now to Valley Forge where he will be playing in the pro tournament. Kent Davis, the cuemaker is accompanying him. Tang has played pool only sporadically in the last year or so. He has pretty much stuck to the poker grind, coming out occasionally for a big tournament. Yet he usually does well, which is a testament to the high level of play he demands of himself.

Yesterday, Tang came over to my house in the afternoon to practice on my new Diamond table. He wanted one good workout prior to leaving for Valley Forge. I played a few games of Banks with him to get him loosened up. Then I let him practice alone awhile.

Mark Whitehead came by and played for a while with Tang, and finally Dave Hemmah showed up. Now the game got a little more serious, and they got into it. An hour or so of that and we ordered pizza. Following a quick dinner break, Tang and Dave got down to some real hard practice, playing races to eleven.

It was a pleasure to host these two fine players in my home and watch them go at it. Tang and Dave have been friends and roadies forever and have been through the best of times and some that were not so good. To say they are close friends is an understatement. Brothers might be a more accurate term to describe their relationship.

After a couple of hard fought races, they began a long process of dissecting Tang's game. Dave became in essence Tang's coach. No one really knows Tang's game any better than Dave. They spent a couple of hours working on Tang's Set Up. Remember that long thread on Stance that has been going on here. It was like the thread came to life in my living room. Dave worked with Tang to slightly adjust his Stance/Set Up.

Tang was having trouble lining up on the shot in a way that he was comfortable with. He kept saying he felt like he wasn't seeing the shot right. Dave worked with him until EUREKA, Tang found the Set Up he was looking for. And man, did the balls begin to pour in the pockets from every angle imaginable. To watch a great shooter when he finds the range is awesome.

And that was it. Dave went home to Momma and the baby and Tang took off to pack for his flight this morning.

So if any of you there in Valley Forge are sweating one of Tang's matches, do me one big favor. When he makes a great run out, yell TALLY HO one time for me. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I remember when Dave first came to Southern California from Arizona. A good player who has steadily gotten better to play as good as anyone. Tang picked up all the games as fast as anyone I ever saw. I believe he was the USA Snooker Champion one year. John Henderson
 
BRKNRUN said:
What exactly was he doing? What was he looking for?

Elaborate....(or is it a secret)????

Curious minds would like to know.....;)
Click to expand...

It was a jam session that went on for a couple of hours and I only witnessed a small part of it. I just let them do their thing.

They got really technical with alignment, sighting the ball and stroke. Sorry I can't elaborate more. Basically Dave totally dissected everything that Tang was doing when he was shooting. They were trying to find a better way for Tang to see the shot. And finally Dave was able to do that with Tang to his satisfaction.

I'll tell you this. Dave Hemmah is one fine intructor! He won't blow his horn so I will. He may be right up there with Briesath, Wilson and Robles among the pros. If you're on the West Coast and get a chance to get a lesson from him, jump at it.

It reminds me of Tiger Woods when he got his swing revamped a few years back. Dave helped Tang revamp his stroke, and did it in one night!
 
jay helfert said:
Yesterday, Tang came over to my house in the afternoon to practice on my new Diamond table. He wanted one good workout prior to leaving for Valley Forge. I played a few games of Banks with him to get him loosened up. Then I let him practice alone awhile.
Click to expand...

You lucky dog!!!
 
jay helfert said:
It was a jam session that went on for a couple of hours and I only witnessed a small part of it. I just let them do their thing.

They got really technical with alignment, sighting the ball and stroke. Sorry I can't elaborate more. Basically Dave totally dissected everything that Tang was doing when he was shooting. They were trying to find a better way for Tang to see the shot. And finally Dave was able to do that with Tang to his satisfaction.

I'll tell you this. Dave Hemmah is one fine intructor! He won't blow his horn so I will. He may be right up there with Briesath, Wilson and Robles among the pros. If you're on the West Coast and get a chance to get a lesson from him, jump at it.

It reminds me of Tiger Woods when he got his swing revamped a few years back. Dave helped Tang revamp his stroke, and did it in one night!
Click to expand...


How nice is that to have Dave Hemmah on the ready to help you work on your game???

The rest of us mortals have to decipher the info on the forum and figure it out on our own at the table or in front of a mirror... :)
 
the first rack I ever played Tang I won, I broke dry we traded safetys I finally got a shot and ran out, I should have stopped there so I could awalys say "Tang who? ;) ". I didnt and lost 2 of every 3 games we played, Anyways he has given me lessions 2 times one time dosent count because my back was so bad I had to stop, the first one was great-wow did that help. I consider Tang a good friend he calls me every 2-3 weeks or I call him, I remember the first time I saw him play LOL he was stalling big time, I told him about it and he laughed as he then remembered. He is a great guy, instructor and has been going to the gym eating better and looks great, he is working hard at it, he is in a good spot about his life right now, I wish him the best there, he should have came to the Derby.


I dont know Big Wave Dave, we have spoke on several occasions, i like him and he did good in the Swanee Tournment, Archer got him but thats like losing to Tiger.

hope they all do good
 
Ive talked to Dave a couple of times here and there, he is a really nice guy, and a hell of a shooter, his style is very methodical and deliberate, fun to watch him run out.
 
Dave Hemmah

Jay,

Now I need to come over and play some on your new table. I will know tonight if we are going out to AZ. this weekend. By the way Dave won the Shooters tournament this weekend. I let him off the hook in the second round.

Steve Leistikow
 
jay helfert said:
It was a jam session that went on for a couple of hours and I only witnessed a small part of it. I just let them do their thing.

They got really technical with alignment, sighting the ball and stroke. Sorry I can't elaborate more. Basically Dave totally dissected everything that Tang was doing when he was shooting. They were trying to find a better way for Tang to see the shot. And finally Dave was able to do that with Tang to his satisfaction.

I'll tell you this. Dave Hemmah is one fine intructor! He won't blow his horn so I will. He may be right up there with Briesath, Wilson and Robles among the pros. If you're on the West Coast and get a chance to get a lesson from him, jump at it.

It reminds me of Tiger Woods when he got his swing revamped a few years back. Dave helped Tang revamp his stroke, and did it in one night!
Click to expand...

I've known Dave for 28 years. I am the guy who mentored him quite a bit in South Dakota. All I can say is he has always been one of the classiest players I've known. I guess I'll get one of his alignment lessons when he makes it back to Sioux Falls!!! I think he owes me a coaching lesson or two. lol
 
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