On a flight several years ago I found a Time Magazine in the seat back pouch in front of me. A corner of one page was folded over, so I knew that something in the publication’s content must have caught the attention of the person reading it.
As many of you know, it is easy to reach a level of play where you feel as if you cannot continue to improve much more without really stretching your limits.
To Respective WPA Confederations, Promoters, and Room Owners:
We would like to request any and all federations structured under the umbrella of the World Pool – Billiards Association (WPA), plus interested room Owners and/or Promoters to submit their interest in hosting/promoting the 2012 or the 2013WPA World “Artistic Pool” Championship. Each event will take place at an agreeable date to Promoters/Room Owners/Federations that are interested. The sooner all details and dating can be arranged… The better of course for all concerned. Read more
There are a lot of trick shots that are practical and make sense to learn, simply because of their likelihood of coming up during actual gameplay. A lot of shots, however, are simply for fun. For instance, most of the shots involving multiple balls are merely for show. On the other hand, though, a lot of the stroke shots we perform in competition and exhibitions are truly exaggerations of strokes you would utilize in everyday games. Rarely, if ever, would you shoot the passing lane masse in a game. You are, though, occasionally frozen to an object ball and might shoot through it with spin.
The 2010 Dr. Cue Classic “Artistic” Cup IV has etched its signature mark in billiard history once again. 16 of the world’s greatest Artistic Pool Playing Artists participated in this unique “Artistic Pool” Pro-Am Challenge at the beautiful Side Pockets in St. Charles, MO on December 3, 4, and 5. Florian “Venom” Kohler from France raced to the “artistic” victory circle – taking home the first place guaranteed prize money, beautiful “Victory” Cup trophy, and title honors!
Several months ago Steve Lillis, founder of Gospel Trick Shot Ministries, referred me to Maged Fawzy, leader of KDEC Sports Ministry, which has a very special outreach around Egypt and the Middle East. Maged asked me if I could attend a family / youth sports festival at a retreat center in Beit el Wadi, Egypt (about 1.5 hours north of Cairo). He wanted me to perform several shows and share my billiard journey / personal testimony with the attendees. The “Wadi Experience”, as I now call it, had an amazing impact on my understanding of open eyes, open ears, open minds, and open hearts and the special needs that take residence in them. What happened in Wadi is hard to explain in words! Following is my account of this special journey!
Everyone likes an easy trick shot to keep in their pocket to whip out just to show off from time to time. Sometimes the shots I feature here are quite difficult, but I like to put in some easy ones on occasion. This is a shot that is pretty easy, so long as you set it up right and use a good jump cue. Start by placing the three balls at the side pocket, as diagrammed. The two balls closest to the side pocket are in line, directly across table. Set the third ball up, accounting for a bit of throw, aimed about a diamond short of the corner pocket. With this set-up, you should be able to strike the middle ball and pocket all three with one stroke. The way it is diagrammed, I have you jumping the cue ball over a wall of balls to pocket the easy three. The only trick to this one is planning where the cue ball will land before striking the middle ball. If you hit it too hard or too soft, it changes the throw of the third ball, so practice with a consistent hit and consistent elevation. If you jump too hard and land on the middle ball, it will throw the middle ball too much.
WPA Masse World Champion
This shot is an old favorite of mine. The first time I saw it was on a video where Mike Massey performed the shot effortlessly with his massive stroke. When I first saw it, due to the quality of the video, I was so perplexed as to what was actually happening. As in the diagram, you use a striped ball to shoot a cue ball into the far corner. Then, you use a second cue ball to shoot the striped ball straight up the table. When the striped ball hits the short rail, it shoots over to the left to pocket a ball in the side pocket. What the video didn’t reflect, due to the pixilation, is that the striped ball was spinning madly. So, when it strikes the far rail, it jerks over to the left.
Jump Strokes
By Eric “The Preacher” Yow
WPA Masse World Champion
There’s an old saying, “different strokes for different folks.” I’ve never heard it used where it actually made sense and honestly, I’m not old enough that I can say I’ve ever used it in any context. However, it is fitting for this article about jump strokes. If you’re like most readers of this publication, you are a serious player, you own several cues, you own at least one jump cue, and you read these articles to educate yourself further in the game. People ask me from time to time how I accelerated in the game at the pace at which I did and I always tell them, “I read as much as I could.” You, like I, want to learn as much as you can about the little nuances of the game and improve your abilities in any way possible.
An Interesting Rail Jump
By Eric “The Preacher” Yow!
WPA Masse World Champion
In this issue I want to describe for you an interesting jump shot that I discovered recently while playing around with my Eric Yow Jump Cue (now available online at www.JOERACKEM.com). One thing I love about the game of pool is that it is always
CUE-DEAN-“E”TM TALENT SEARCH STAR PERFORMERS CROWNED!!
JASON “THE MICHIGAN KID” LYNCH BECOMES NEXT “TABLE TROTTER” OF POOL!!
One of the most unique events ever to take place in the billiard industry occurred November 21, 2009 at The Bank Shot Bar & Grill in Laurel, MD. In Search of Cue-Dean-“E”TM was done in association with the Dr. Cue Classic Artistic Cup III, APPA (Artistic Pool Playing Artists), and The Foundation of R.A.C.K. This was the 1st time an “artistic pool” event has ever been streamed – Cue & A Promotions Ray Hansen, aka, “Big Truck” traveled from Texas to film each act of this amazing “show” entertainment concept, as well as each Artistic Pool “sport” round from the Dr. Cue Classic Artistic Cup III from 11/20 to 11/22.
Nick “Quick Nick” Nikolaidis raced to the “artistic” victory circle on November 20, 21, and 22, 2009 at The Bank Shot Bar & Grill in Laurel, MD. Nick displayed burning focus, poise, and brilliant skill shot execution in the process. Ray Hansen of Cue and A Promotions did a live stream at the event, which was the 1st time an “artistic pool” event has ever been covered online. You may view all round play, the awards ceremony, and Cue-Dean-“E” at: www.ustream.tv/channel/drcue2009.
This issue I want to teach you to shoot a shot that comes up every now and again, but is often overlooked. There are occasions where your cue ball will be frozen to a ball, in this case one of your own. It is difficult to decide how to proceed because you must make a legal hit on a ball and since you are frozen, many opponents will accuse you of a double-kiss if you shoot through the ball.
ANDY SEGAL WINS 2009 TRICK SHOT MAGIC TITLE
The 2009 ESPN ZONE BILLIARDS SHOOTOUT was held September 17 in Las Vegas. Andy Segal defeated Sebastian Giumelli for the TRICK SHOT MAGIC title and the lion’s share of the $30,000 purse. ESPN Zone Las Vegas was host to the event which was taped for three 1-hour telecasts on ESPN November 22.
