Wheelchair Poolplayers

Shorty

Shorty

A banger at best...
Silver Member
I want to ask everyone a general question...

What do you think of the speed of wheelchair pool players? By that I mean, do you think some of them are on par with able bodied professional men, or are they closer to the women's speed, or even below that?

I am not trying to start a flame war, I am just curious as to if any of you know any good wheelchair players that are not on radar. I know Aaron and Charlie play pretty strong...but beyond those two, who else is a good wheelchair player?

Seems we all fly pretty low in a chair...

Shorty
 
Shorty said:
I want to ask everyone a general question...

What do you think of the speed of wheelchair pool players? By that I mean, do you think some of them are on par with able bodied professional men, or are they closer to the women's speed, or even below that?

I am not trying to start a flame war, I am just curious as to if any of you know any good wheelchair players that are not on radar. I know Aaron and Charlie play pretty strong...but beyond those two, who else is a good wheelchair player?

Seems we all fly pretty low in a chair...

Shorty
Click to expand...

Jeff Dozell is a very good wheelchair player here in VA. He played in a straight pool league with me.
Purdman:cool:
 
Purdman said:
Jeff Dozell is a very good wheelchair player here in VA. He played in a straight pool league with me.
Purdman:cool:
Click to expand...
I have not seen Jeff Dozell in some time...
Must be because the elevator does not make it to the second floor (First Break).
 
From what I"ve seen, which isn't a whole lot. wheelchair players play as fast as if not faster than some regular pool players. I really admire the shape they play, closer to the rails instead of centre of the table.

James
 
alpine9430 said:
I have not seen Jeff Dozell in some time...
Must be because the elevator does not make it to the second floor (First Break).
Click to expand...

I know he is still playing, he has a table at home. Why don't they fix the elevator at First Break? Same reason they don't fix the fire system I suppose.

alpine 9430, Friday is looking better every day.
Gomer:eek:
 
I lived in Palo Alto Ca, for quite a while and used to play with a guy we called Broadway Joe. He was a hell of a player and gave me all the game I could handle. He also was just plain fun to hang out with. Used to run into him at Antonio's Nut House on California Ave.
Dan
 
Purdman said:
I know he is still playing, he has a table at home. Why don't they fix the elevator at First Break? Same reason they don't fix the fire system I suppose.

alpine 9430, Friday is looking better every day.
Gomer:eek:
Click to expand...
But they did fix the soda dispenser.

I used to watch Jeff play and he was amazing.
He had his wheelchair configured with with all his cue accessories so they were easily in reach.
Jeff moved around the table effortlessly and he had a very nice stroke.

supergreenman said:
I really admire the shape they play, closer to the rails instead of centre of the table.
James
Click to expand...
Have to agree with this statement as well.
If I could play as well as Jeff off the rail, I would be competing at a pro level.
 
Aragon is the man

Best I've ever seen was Aaron Aragon, 23 time National Champion. Saw him this year at the US Open where he won three or four matches and finished just out of the money. Outstanding player, and a real gentleman. Plays a complte game and has all the shots.
 
This post makes me laugh, but not in a derogatory way. I broke my ankle very badly in August. I couldn't stand sitting around all day, so I dug my cues out, and found a rolling stool to play on. I had to relearn how to play a longer position, because I couldn't reach a lot of shots. What I noticed most of all, was how exausted I was mentally, not just physically. I already had respect for wheelchair players, but this only built it up more for me. I tried to play in Reno, and I think it was too much of a challenge for me to play very well. One thing that is very different, is the difference of being able to walk around freely, and study the table and/or drop down on the line of aim easier. From up high, it is 10 times easier than sitting along side the table.
 
I'm very proud to have been the TD for seven wheelchair events,including the U.S.Open 9-Ball Wheelchair event,five years in a row.While Aaron Aragon and Charlie "Barbox Charlie" Hans are at the top of the wheelchair food chain,there are a number of chair players nipping at their tires. Kenny "The Rolling Shark" Miller is right up there along with Jeff Dozell,Joe Dowling,Mark Jones and "Rootin Tootin Straight Shootin" Danny Luton (a name that I gave him) and a number more whose name's escape me at the moment.Chair players are like 'walkers', some play slow and some play fast.Some play VERY slow (lol) and some are quick like a bunny.I've seen wheelchair players from all over the globe in these tournaments and they all have one thing in common, they strive for excellence and fair play.Never underestimate these players.
 
What do you think of the speed of wheelchair pool players?

I played hundreds of games (maybe thousands) with a wheelchair player. Not too many players can play his speed. He is very close to being as good as any player in his area. He plays several hours every day so it is only a matter of time..

I am just curious as to if any of you know any good wheelchair players that are not on radar...who else is a good wheelchair player?
Dan Bloom in AZ is well on his way. I suspect he will enter wheelchair competitions someday. Would feel like cheating though. His chair does not slow him down at all. He is an excellent jumper too. He only has one weakness for being in a chair. You can leave him in the middle of the table over a ball where he can't see. That is his only hinderance. In all other aspects of the game, he is fully capable of being equal to anybody else. He also has the HARDEST break I have ever seen.
 
I came back to post some additional information that I'm not certain as been brought up previously.There are some wheelchair players that are quite capable of getting out of their chair to play pool.When wheelchair players are playing in a tournament,it is a Foul if their butt is up off the seat of the chair,even a little bit (but it's one of the fouls that TDs don't go check VERY close up or with their hands).You do not need to be handicapped or confined to a wheelchair to PLAY in a wheelchair event,you need only play from a wheelchair to meet the requirements.Anyone can borrow or rent a wheelchair and enter one of their events.Good luck if you chose this tactic.. imo
 
nineballpaul said:
Best I've ever seen was Aaron Aragon, 23 time National Champion. Saw him this year at the US Open where he won three or four matches and finished just out of the money. Outstanding player, and a real gentleman. Plays a complte game and has all the shots.
Click to expand...

Not to dispute you here, but the brackets I saw he was two and out. Maybe there was an error in online reporting. Kid D got him I am sure...not sure who the other loss was to.

Shorty
 
Just a few more comments...

Aaron is by far the best I have ever seen play the game in a wheelchair, and yes, he is a wheelchair user full time as far as I know. He is also one helluva nice guy. The tourney he and I shot in 1995, he won a really nice Ti titanium wheelchair that was super lightweight. This one gentleman who finished like 4th or 5th had a really heavy and old POS wheelchair, and Aaron donated the wheelchair to him. That gentleman was almost in tears in accepting the chair...he really needed it because he could hardly push himself in the old clunker because he was a quad. And Aaron also plays pretty darn sporty for the cheese as well...seen him match up with my buddy Keith Hill for a few sets of good money action.

People often down here want me to match up with Ken Miller, asking me how I think he and I could play...I honestly have no clue, but I assume he gets to play alot more than I do, so I would definitely have to ask for a spot more than likely.

Thanks to you all for your input and especially yours Smorgass Bored.

Shorty
 
I've seen Aragon play on a few occasions. I'd probably rate him as a low "A" player.
 
Smorgass Bored said:
I came back to post some additional information that I'm not certain as been brought up previously.There are some wheelchair players that are quite capable of getting out of their chair to play pool.When wheelchair players are playing in a tournament,it is a Foul if their butt is up off the seat of the chair,even a little bit (but it's one of the fouls that TDs don't go check VERY close up or with their hands).You do not need to be handicapped or confined to a wheelchair to PLAY in a wheelchair event,you need only play from a wheelchair to meet the requirements.Anyone can borrow or rent a wheelchair and enter one of their events.Good luck if you chose this tactic.. imo
Click to expand...

I had a student a couple of weeks ago who played in a chair. After the lesson, she asked if I would like to try it. Let me tell you all...you get a totally different perspective from the edge of the table, and seeing the angles is much more difficult. Not to mention, you are almost forced to use a side arm stroke. It was much more difficult that I had ever imagined. I have the utmost respect for anyone who can compete from a chair.
Steve
 
I am really showing my ignorance here, Shorty, but I have thought about this subject before and was wondering if a Segway could be modified to act as the legs for some of these players, making them able to stand, navigate around, and even bend over a table, much like a walking person. Seems like they could build a leg strap system and handlebars that could raise and lower easily (allowing access to the table)... Any thoughts on that?
 
Besides the ones mentioned here, and I guess I'll add that Barbox Charlie Hans is one of my player reps, there's another WC player who doesn't play too many tournaments, but is one of the top in the world. His name is Keith Hill, and I hope I'm not knocking his action, but I haven't heard of him playing recently. a few years back he did show up at one of the major WC tourneys, but he was there to gamble! He offered Aaron the 8, but he wisely turned it down. He then offered to take himself against the entire field in the tourney for 10 large! No one took him up on that one either. He did end up winning the tourney undefeated, and afterwards he offered Aaron the 7! Aaron took the wild 7 and ended up coming up one set IIRC! Keith played better out of the chair than a lot of the mid tier pros played standing.


just more hot air!


Sherm
 
Shorty, You asked about wheelchair players "under the radar". We have one in Western Arkansas that spots most of the top players around here. As a matter of fact, several of us got together and offered to "sponsor" him to go to a few wheelchair events, but he just doesn't want to leave town. He was injured in a motorcycle accident in 1981, and to my knowledge, the farthest he's ever ventured from Western Arkansas was Dallas, TX, and that was just recently to meet his new wife's friends.

Damn shame we can't get him to travel... he's a good solid A player, with God days in his venue. Great sense of humour, also. Seabiscuit (my travelling partner, Darryl) and I was in a pool room in Fort Smith Arkansas one night and he comes in tossing a hackey sac (I don't know if I spelled that right or not, but the little beanbag thing the kids kick around), and just parked in front of me playing with that damn bag, tossing it up, catching it... Finally, I took the bait and asked him what he was doing. He said. "Bob, I'm on a paraplegic hackey sac league... haven't you ever seen paraplegic hackey sac?" I wrinkled my forehead and said "no". So he says, "Ok, watch this... I've been practicing!" He throws this damn bag 4 or 5 feet into the air and it hits dead in the middle of his tennis shoe and falls off in the floor... He just shrugged his shoulders and said "Damn! It does that every f#$king time". That's just Barry. Barry Coddington is his name, BTW, and he is a great friend, great guy and a very fine poolplayer.

Later,
Bob

Deleted part of this post, because he lurks from time to time and there might have been something in there that he didn't want his new wife to know about! :)
 
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