Efren Reyes - some seriously super shots

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Pool Table Comes To Del Mar

In the fullness of time, a pool table has finally appeared in the village of Del Mar, where I live. This has never happened before, at least in the last 40 years! I took this photo through the front window; they were closed at the time.

The location is the new Debonair Barber Shop, 1202 Camino Del Mar. Ask for Lauren for a great cut. The table is "challenging" due to the absence of slate and the cushions are somewhat solid and rather unpredictable, but when you consider what they play on in third-world countries, it's ok. In my world, any pool table is better than no pool table.

I hear there will be tournaments in another month or so, when they finish the construction work out front.

You can tell they are catering to a manly clientele because of the paintings of naked ladies, and there's some hard liquor available for paying customers. Extra barber chairs for you while you wait.

Update: May 24, 2023, they are out of business. What were they thinking? Wood instead of slate? No way any serious pool player would get a haircut there.  

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MLK Day - Martin Luther King, Jr. shoots pool

I'd like to hear stories about how MLK got into the game...

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Shoreline Billiards is GONE!

In a recent 13 day road trip I found myself in Mountain View, California to visit the Computer History Museum (geek heaven, right?) and figured I stop by Shoreline Billiards to move a few racks around.

I Googled Shoreline Billiards to get the address for my GPS, and... OMG, WTF? Shoreline Billiards is gone. It has ceased to be! This is very troubling because it is/was the scene of one of my greatest triumphs; my undefeated win in the 2004 APA Amateur Championships for California.

Pool rooms are a disappearing breed of business in the digital age, and that is a sad thing indeed.




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The Jerry Scott Rambow Cue

Jerry Scott is a long time subscriber to this blog, and recently sent me a few photos of the cue that legendary cue maker Herman Rambow built for him 54 years ago in 1962... for only 47 bucks! I can't imagine what that beauty is worth today. But playing with that great cue is priceless.

This is the first time I've even seen photos of the great cue maker's work, so I asked Jerry if I could share the photos here, and of course he said "Yes!".  Thanks Jerry!

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My semi-private pool room just got lots better

I'm totally loving the 3 new 9' Diamond pro tables where I occasionally shoot pool. They replace a mismatched set of beat up tables that weren't regulation size... but I managed to win on them anyway (when my game was stronger).

These tables were just installed last week and are the gift of several of the players and a little donation from the county. I stopped by to check out the tables, and since this was the first time I've ever played on Diamond tables (1-piece slate!). They are Excellent, and since the pockets are a bit tighter than the previous ones, definitely more challenging, so I guess I have to up my game! 


Did I mention that table time is FREE!  Tough to beat that deal...

After I won the big quarterly tournament (on the old tables), I stopped competing and let the other guys get a shot at winning it.

Here's my little bit of immortality. A nice plaque on each table.

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Another one bites the dust

Every once in a while I take a couple of hours away from Global Domination to shoot some pool at the local pool hall.

In this case, it's not that local. About 20 miles away, but that's the closest. And now it's not. Not not closest, just not, as in that it has ceased to be. WTF? That's kind of rude, actually, not even an email, no notice whatsoever!

But I guess anybody could have seen it coming. It couldn't have been making money. It was like they weren't even trying.

Sad.

But I would not give up. It was still an hour before closing time at the nearby senior center where the weekly tournament was just finishing and we (good buddy Keenan M.) got to shoot a few racks before we got kicked out.

A little bit of pool is better than no pool at all.





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Among the best...

It's hard to be humble when you're me, 

but I work at it every day, 

and every so often somebody notices!

:)

Diary of a Pool Shooter has been featured in the Best Billiard Blog Awards:

 www.affordablebilliards.com.au/awards/best-billiard-blog-awards/

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Practice: Shane does Billiard University Exams

Practice: Shane does Billiard University Exams

Billiard University has devised Playing Ability Exams and world champion player Shane Van Boening gave it a go. Check these two videos of the exams, and try it on your own:

Fundamentals:

Advanced:

More info at BilliardUniversity.org

Practice

Dark Times

Today should be sad, but it passed without emotion, probably because I wasn't there when it happened. My pool table, for two years on loan to a tech client's company, was disassembled and the pieces wrapped and stored. For how long is anyone's guess, but it will cost a hundred bucks a month to keep it safe while it hibernates. Hope is strong that it will soon again see good play, and that I will be among the players. I had in mind a startup accelerator; it seems that a pool table is an essential for such places. And it would be good to hang with some startupists who are also cueists. I see a lot in common.

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No Matter How Small, by Tina Hou

This is such a worthy project by good friend and fellow pool shooter Tina Hou.  Meet her and learn more about her very fun children's book about learning to shoot pool.  Then sign up to support her project, and tell your friends!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/83460758/no-matter-how-small
Please Share With Your Friends only 6 days left

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Earl Stickland

Earl gets a lot of flack for some of his actions, but when he and I were shooting here at the Fun House (along with Johnny Archer), he was a real gentleman.  This video tribute to Earl's career is excellent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Namjr1Rkxwo




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