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grandpapkusky

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Danny,
How old were you when you first played? What were your early days like? Did you know you had potential or was it lots of practice?
Thank you.
 
I started playing when I was 14 years old, I played 3 cushion billiards in Portugal, then played sporadically pocket billiards. I was without playing on a regular basis for a good 12/14 years and now I am back.
I always felt I had a lot of potential but needed time on the table. I try to incorporate my 3 cushion background with my pocket billiards game and that helps me a lot on my game. I am a rookie APA 6 now and my game is improving every day.
This weekend I played on a USPPA handicapped tournament and I was finally able to get to the money. That for me is an accomplishment. Also got to the money bracket in the BCA in Vegas this year.
 
I started playing competively when I was 8 Years old in a Junior Pool league. When I was 10 I decided to save up and buy a table. Bought an 8 Foot Brunswick and the madness started there. I wouldnt say I was someone who was blessed with natural talent as I had to work hard to get were I am today. I have a lot of friends that just have the talent though. I am 21 now and I do believe I am in my prime now as owning a home really forces me to stay home and play on the home table because I cannot afford to go out haha. When I was 15-16 years old I place 2nd both years in the VNEA International Junior tourny. I had thought I was in my prime then but I feel that I am a wiser player now.
 
I started playing just short of my 18th birthday. I wanted something new to do at night, so a friend of mine took me to a pool hall. He proclaimed himself to be a good player, with his own cue and everything. Boy, was I getting ready for a whooping... But that's not what happened. I beat him in 8-ball 9-2. Got to say, that's quite the confidence builder for a beginner. With my interests piqued, I began showing up on a regular basis. Picked up the nickname "Junior" for having the same name as a better player in the hall, so I was John "Junior."

Went to the University of Illinois and started playing for their billiards club. The new people and the new competition, along with the good players back home, kept me aspiring to be on their level. Two years later, I'm approaching that level and hitting the harder part of the curve.
 
I talked my dad into buying a table at an auction when I was ten, it was in our living room for awhile then it moved upstairs into my room ( I had the entire upstairs to myself) so I had an 8 footer in my bedroom as a kid and played on it all the time except I had no concept of drawing the cueball or anything like that but I became a good shot maker and natural english player.

When I was about 14 I was playing in a local legion hall and a semi-pro player spotted me and struck up a conversation and eventually invited me to his house once a week to mentor me, he taught me about english, cue ball position and a lot of other things and loaned me books and videos to practice from and talked me into buying a Meucci which was my first good cue.

Soon after that I started hanging out in the local bars playing anyone with a buck, I lost a lot for awhile but eventually started winning most of the time and I started traveling to tournaments weekly with my mentor.

I got addicted to pool at an early age and I am still addicted to this day.
 
Received a small bar table for Christmas when I was 10. Same as above, I had no concept of position play or english, but I learned how to pocket balls. Played for a couple years then sold the table in a yard sell. Fast foward to when I was 16, my manager at work asked if I wanted to go play after work. I agreed and thought that I was going to beat him. As I was racking the balls to play 8 ball, he asks "BCA rules?". I had no idea what he was talking about. Lol. He ends up beating me and at the end of the night we do a race to 3 for the time and tab. Of course he wins that as well. From that night on I was determined to learn everything I could and practice as much as I could. I bought a bunch of books and videos, and luckily I received free pool at Slick Willies here in Houston. Got my first cue (Pechauer) for Christmas when I was 17. Never looked back since then.
 
I started playing because of my ex actually. She and her best friend liked to play pool, and she wanted to go out and find a guy... so all 3 of us went out. Started playing and realized that I was winning against everyone in our little group, but I'd lose against guys the friend was hitting on.
Went to a library, grabbed a book or 2 and went to google.
3 years later here I am.
-Not danny
 
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