Thursday, June 18, 2009

Upper Plains treasure

This year I was attending a regional conference in Nebraska and made a suprising discovery.

Upon walking into this small establishment, my eyes were drawn to the pool area, as usual. Two bar tables and underneath a cover was a huge six legged table -- and what to my prying eyes should appear, but a 10' snooker table! Holy Cow!

I have always heard about small towns in the upper plains having snooker tables tucked away in little bars, almost like the saloon's of old, but I didn't think I would ever see one. The table played exceptionally well and true. No odd rolls or errant bumps. I played a corner to corner shot that was as true as it could be, played at pocket speed on a 10' table. Poetry in motion. The physics of a game I truly enjoy.

So, I took the opportunity to play several games, and started to regain the ease on a snooker table that I had learned while playing in my grandparents basement. My log in and title of this thread all revolve around the perfect run in snooker of 147. A Perfect Game.

No local games were available, so I had to impose upon my colleagues to play and they were wonderfully good sports as the table is unforgiving to even those who are well versed.

What a neat find. I feel a bit heartened, like Americana hasn't let this game escape from it's grasp completely, yet.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Olney Christened and other tragedies

Well, I finally got my New Olney cue out and gave it a good initiation into the world of billiards. The Friday night 10-ball at Big Dogs. I eventually went 3-2, but was 2-0 to start with two quality sets against opponents that I would have to play top-notch to beat. I am still having trouble with the shaft. (I went from a Z2, to the olney shaft and the angle shots w/ english and draw still are less than 60%. I just haven't had the time to get comfortable with the cue and shaft yet. It hits like a dream in every facet and i probably can't even blame the occasional miss on the cue. I just haven't figured out how to work it yet. Probably a lot like not having the handle on a stock car.... ain't the cars fault, just the driver.

I will paste a entry off of azbilliards that more accurately describes last night. I played better than expected and the cue again performed very admirably.

So last night Brad / Brian / Tom / Matt showed up to play league at Big Dogs to
find out they had a bye. Brad was trying to match up with someone/anyone
including Jon Brown. I said lets play a 4on4 team match. And i said we would
take Frost as our handicap. Me / Justin / Jon / Frost.

After some discussion we decided (brad did) that they needed spotted 6 games in a race to 25. Anyhow they beat us 25-13, lol

We agreed to trade Frost for Mikey H and play them race to 15
giving them 3. Went hill/hill and Matt playing me. Matt missed a run out and i
didnt. We break even, except for Mike H who actually made money, lol

Frost had
made a side bet, his $80 to win his $50 back. We really had alot of fun, all of
us had a good time making a game and playing it out.

Yes -- I was the goat in this latest escapade and couldn't finish a run out to win the whole set on the hill. Needless to say, I spent the better part of this morning working on that particular pattern. I won't blame the cue, but it was my uncertainty with it that was probably my undoing.

que sera sera.

Looks as if the summer is going to shape up into a fairly good pool summer - lots of action coming and TAR will be in the house in July! Can't wait.

Later