Wheelchair Poolplayers

I have seen Aaron play a few times. What a great draw stroke! I was very impressed and couldn't use my height as an excuse anymore. :p

One player I haven't seen mentioned is Hydred I think from SF area. She is gorgeous and plays pretty decently.
 
Theirs a girl in SoCal that plays real good out of a chair. When I was playing apa I was an 8 so I can shoot every now and then. Anyways one night she asked me to play a few sets for cash and at first I wanted to say no but thought that would be insulting so I went ahead. She played damn good. On a 9 footer with shimmed pockets. I ended up being up only one set after 2 or 3 hours. I have much respect for her. She had to play much smarter position than I did. We played even. Before I would have given her some heavy wheight but if I did I would have been broke. She didnt ask for it. She had the heart of a champion and the stroke of a fine pool player. After that I knew. If I was ever in a wheelchair. I definately would not give up playing pool. If anyone knows Hydra, tell her. Thanks for the match. Your a great shot!!!!
 
I'm still doing some digging, but this site is ligit with the technology. I also read somewhere that there's a team of college students trying to use that wheel chair tech, in conjuction with an operator, to comply with a more sophisticated action like; operating a wheelbarrow and bending over a pool table and making a shot.

I wish I would have saved the link.
 
This post is a fairly subjective one, but to *try* and provide any sort of objective measurement of one's game

:

Aaron plays in USPPA tournaments and is rated a 90 speed, which is pretty sporty.

For comparison, here are some numbers:

-Local Hollywood pro Max Eberle is a 172
-Nor Cal pro Tony Chohan is a 152
-AZ Billiards Forum contributor "wayne" is a 104
-AZ Billiards Forum contributor and son of Ernesto Dominguez (Oscar) is a 108
-After two years of play, I am a measly 55

Tony and Max would certainly be classified as pros, while Oscar and Wayne (at 104, 108) would be classified at semi-pro with pro potential.

So if the numbers and rating system is correct, Aaron would get a game or two on the wire from any A+ player. However, from a pro he'd get 4 on the wire in a race to 11. Against a low B player like me, he'd be spotting 4 games to 11.

Aaron is a solid A player, but probably wouldn't be able to compete with the semi-pros consistently and most definitely not with the pros.

Take all this as you wish.
 
People might not know that Finland has also another World Champion besides Mika Immonen. Wheelchair player Jouni Tähti won wheelchair division 9-ball World Champs back in 2002 or 2003 beating Sweden's Henrik Larsson in the final. I think Jouni Tähti beat Aragorn in the semi final or something. So, Europe has also at least 2 capable wheelchair players, Finland's Tähti and Sweden's Larsson.

Yes, I have to agree with sjm. I'd rate them both as "A" or low "A". Both are capable of running a couple of racks but usually they can't string racks together.
 
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?
Click to expand...
I'd say the best wheelchair professional is on par with the number three ranked player in the WPBA.

IMO, of course.

Fred
 
I just want to thank everyone for their great comments...and yes, I know Keith Hill, just not sure if he remembers me or not. He is a helluva money player...always good when it comes to "playing for the chilli" as he calls it.

I just hope to find a few more wheelchair players around here to match up with. I find matching up with the able bodied is tough to do because they generally won't give up weight AT ALL. I only know of one other person around here in a chair that plays, and he is pretty decent, but I still think I can beat him. He doesn't gamble though from what I can tell.

Thanks again,
Shorty
 
That would be Hydred, like rackmsukr mentioned (as opposed to "Hydra").

maximillion said:
Theirs a girl in SoCal that plays real good out of a chair. When I was playing apa I was an 8 so I can shoot every now and then. Anyways one night she asked me to play a few sets for cash and at first I wanted to say no but thought that would be insulting so I went ahead. She played damn good. On a 9 footer with shimmed pockets. I ended up being up only one set after 2 or 3 hours. I have much respect for her. She had to play much smarter position than I did. We played even. Before I would have given her some heavy wheight but if I did I would have been broke. She didnt ask for it. She had the heart of a champion and the stroke of a fine pool player. After that I knew. If I was ever in a wheelchair. I definately would not give up playing pool. If anyone knows Hydra, tell her. Thanks for the match. Your a great shot!!!!
Click to expand...
 
Smorgass Bored said:
t is a Foul if their butt is up off the seat of the chair,even a little bit (
Click to expand...
So... is it a two cheek rule, or at least one cheek on the seat rule?

Fred
 
BillYards said:
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?
Click to expand...

Though very expensive, another of Dean Kaman's innovations was the gyrsocope controlled wheelchair, the iBot does much of things you are thinking of.

http://black.csl.uiuc.edu/~chadjic/itr/related_sites/related_sites2.html

Fred
 
Cornerman said:
So... is it a two cheek rule, or at least one cheek on the seat rule?

Fred
Click to expand...

It's two cheeks actually Fred. I personally don't care for the rule, but I understand why it's there. Nothing to keep some of these guys from standing up and making a shot. I, however, feel that this rule really sucks for me. I often get up on my knees to play a shot or break...and I rarely pay attention to where my butt cheeks are. I mainly do it to get that extra inch or two of height. It also is handy for leverage on the break to get more power by transferring my weight from my back leg to my front leg as I break the rack...in other words putting what little weight I have into the shot. I think the rule should be that you have to keep at least some lower body part on the seat of the chair...whether it be knees or butt cheeks. I know Keith Hill does not having any legs and he has been known to get up similar to me for certain shots.

JMO,
Shorty
 
Cornerman said:
Though very expensive, another of Dean Kaman's innovations was the gyrsocope controlled wheelchair, the iBot does much of things you are thinking of.

http://black.csl.uiuc.edu/~chadjic/itr/related_sites/related_sites2.html

Fred
Click to expand...

Yeah, the iBot is pretty darn cool but with a 25k pricetag. I personally don't like the idea of being up only on two wheels. I instead opted for a chair with a seat that lifts up and down...

http://www.permobil.com/templates/ProductPage.aspx?id=1277

It really has helped my game some and I can really see the table a lot better than before. I am still adjusting to seeing things differently sometimes. I find I am better down lower on some shots and up higher on other shots...depends on the shot really. I also love this chair because it allows me to get down on the floor and play with my kids and my dogs and cats.

Shorty
 
Good players in their own right !

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...


I saw aragon and another wheeled player in the finals playing what we call "Cincinnatti 8 or 9ball" somwhere with Earl and Johnny as their partners and it was an excellent match . In Cincinatti 8 or 9ball you take turns shooting what your partner leaves you .As long as you make a ball you keep on rotating until the game is won .

My wife and one of my best friends who had a motorcycle accident are both paraplegics and I have played with them on a number of occassions. My friend Pat is a damn good shot in his own right .He plays close to the rail and is deadly with a bridge when one is needed .

I had to use a chair myself for a while after back surgery and from my observations

1. they make it look easy ,it isn't !
2. their line of sight is great ,making it possible to see shots better than us
3. try keeping the cue ball close to the rail for every shot ,remember they cant stretch over the tables like we do with ease

My wife ended up with cancer that put her in a chair 20 years ago altho' she is not a real good player yet she does shoot surprisingly well for someone who never plays or practices ,I am getting an old barbox after the first of the year and cant wait to see her game improve along with mine as well ..lololol

Ratchet - big respect for the handicapped players
 
Ratchet said:
I saw aragon and another wheeled player in the finals playing what we call "Cincinnatti 8 or 9ball" somwhere with Earl and Johnny as their partners and it was an excellent match . In Cincinatti 8 or 9ball you take turns shooting what your partner leaves you .As long as you make a ball you keep on rotating until the game is won .
Click to expand...

Scotch Doubles

Fred
 
I got the hookup ...I think

Cornerman said:
Though very expensive, another of Dean Kaman's innovations was the gyrsocope controlled wheelchair, the iBot does much of things you are thinking of.

http://black.csl.uiuc.edu/~chadjic/itr/related_sites/related_sites2.html

Fred
Click to expand...


I won't go into details because if my idea can be made to work it could potentially be worth millions ,All I need is a team of engineers which would have to work from the handicapped perspective and some investment money to make it work I know my idea would work ,with todays technology it is possible to stand a handicapped person eye to eye and nose to nose .

If any one knows somebody legitimate who I can turn to with my concept I would deeply and sincerely appreciate it.... I had another idea once that I gave to an engineering firm but they simply disappeared .I dont know if they threw it out or built it .....

My motives , My wife of 23 years has been in a chair since a year and a half after we married ,the culprit ,Cancer of the spine....I would just once if possible be able to look into her eyes , eye to eye standing up again.
she carried our 1st child just fine but ended up paralyzed 6 weeks after delivery ,I played Mr. Mom for 3 months while she lived at a rehabilitation center for 3 months learning how to adjust to our new life

My idea ..feasably possible
My dilemna ...no one that I know to propose it to who could make it work
My fear ....Having my idea ripped off by unscrupulous a$$holes

Ratchet - Damn thing of it is it was me with a back injury that was supposed to be chairbound ....
 
Aragon

Not to quibble, but Aaron beat Don Steele and Greg Wilson in this years US Open. He is the best I have seen. Merry Christmas to all.
 
nineballpaul said:
Not to quibble, but Aaron beat Don Steele and Greg Wilson in this years US Open. He is the best I have seen. Merry Christmas to all.
Click to expand...

No worries man...thats great!

Like I said, Aaron is probably the best I have seen play in tournaments...Keith is probably the best I have seen play for the cash.

And I am not going to toot my own horn, but back when I played alot, I could probably say I was in the top 40 in a wheelchair in the US. Nowadays, I highly doubt that to be the case...family and job have presidence.

Shorty
 
Ratchet said:
I saw aragon and another wheeled player in the finals playing what we call "Cincinnatti 8 or 9ball" somwhere with Earl and Johnny as their partners and it was an excellent match . In Cincinatti 8 or 9ball you take turns shooting what your partner leaves you .As long as you make a ball you keep on rotating until the game is won .
Ratchet - big respect for the handicapped players
Click to expand...

I was the TD for that four day event and the two players were A. Aragon & Barbox Charlie Hans playing Scotch Doubles with Earl S. & J. Archer in the finals taped by ESPN.There were players from all over the world in that event (England, Australia,Japan,etc.).I came up with idea of having Johnny play Earl a game while both used a wheelchair, but at the production meeting it became 'someone else's' idea and it was decided that the tournament should be called an Invitational.Along with Eva & Mitch,ESPN brought in Steve Tipton as the 'on air' TD. Apparently,if I had been on screen,there would not have been enough room to view the players or the table.(That's the match where Earl & I had a few 'words' during the match,but ESPN edited it out.What's new?) Earl apologised afterwards and of course I accepted, being a big Earl fan at the time.
Speaking of Earl... when I run the monthly 9-Ball Tournament I implement what I like to call the "Earl Rule".If a player misses the 9 and leaves it hanging or scratches leaving only the 9 to shoot with b.i.h.,he is 'allowed' to concede THAT shot and take loss of THAT game.If a player rakes the remaining balls off the table during a game or concedes MORE than just the nineball,it is loss of that game and the NEXT game.He is issued a warning and if he concedes more than the final ball again,it is loss of the match.I would prefer not conceding ANY balls,but the makeup of our monthly tournament has many amateurs as well as HOFers conceding the nine to their opponents.Our monthly tournament is well run and runs smoothly.No cigarettes at the table,no lurking around the table during the opponents turn (go sit in your chair), no talking while it's your opponents turn,no cell phones,etc... Violators will be shot.
 
Shorty,there have been nine Major wheelchair events at Planet 9-Ball (and a handful of minor events) since they opened eight years ago.There is no acceptable excuse (imo) for you not attending at least one event.It's not THAT far from your home.Don't let it happen again in the future. ok? OK?..... lol, Doug
 
Btw Shorty, you could drive over strictly for the pool,you don't HAVE to partake of the debauchery of the massive quantities of food,booze and naked girls,just because the other wheelchair players do... imo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top