Rack ‘em up:
Willie Mosconi was a great pool player, and of that, there is no doubt. It is also noted that he didn’t seem to love the sport much. How do you feel about pool games? I like them. I enjoy watching nearly as much as playing sometimes. However, that actually might depend on who is playing the pool game. I’m always interested in improving my pool game, and when two good players are on a table together, I watch closely. Watching a ball go down the pocket doesn’t make sense to me. I watch the shooter during and after the shot to observe the stance and stroke form. I also watched the cue ball after the shot to learn what spin was used. If, instead, they are using poor playing form, I don’t watch. I figured that using a poor stance or stroke meant they were not that accomplished, and I would be better off practicing pool than watching them.
The old Snooker player retired. He had several cue sticks to sell, and Leonardo tried to help. Still, nobody was interested. I wish now that I had bought at least one of his 16-ounce cues. I can’t shoot very hard or be very accurate, and a light cue stick works better for me. It took years to decide what weight cue stick to play with.
If you ask almost any pro player for help deciding on a weight to use, nearly 100% report that they use a 19 to 19-ounce cue. A road player, supposedly traveling, stopped at a local bar. He explained that he used a 20-ounce cue for long shots, and for almost all others, he used a 16.5-ounce cue stick. I was excited at the time that I had discovered some “inside information” that would help make me a great pool player. I never utterly tested his theories or became a great pool player, though, at times, I still consider buying a 16.5-ounce cue stick.
For Tuesday, 04/09/2024:
Team positions: Angelia’s Grill and Bar Team #1: 5 wins; Angelina’s Grill and Bar Team #2: 6 wins; Golden West Saloon Team #1: 9 wins Golden West Saloon Team #2: 4 wins; Milano Hotel and Bar Team #1: 12 wins; Milano Hotel and Bar Team #2: 1 win; Noyo River Grill Team #1: 13 wins; Noyo River Grill Team #2: 13 wins; Welcome Inn Team #1: 10 wins; Welcome Inn Team #2: 2 wins.
Top players of each Team: Angelina’s Grill & Bar Team #1: Bill Carter; Angelina’s Grille & Bar Team #2: Roy Yanez; Golden West Saloon Team #1: Sai Jorgensen; Golden West Team #2: Raven Dean; Milano Hotel and Bar Team #1: Rafael Briseno; Milano Hotel and Bar Team #2: Jimmy Jennings; Noyo River Grill Team #1: Joshua House; Noyo River Grill Team #2: Lance Evans; Welcome Inn Team #1: Steve Jackson and Sean Wristen are tied; Welcome Inn Team #2: Schelagh Fredson.
Top 5 players in League: Rafael Briseno leads the Fort Bragg Pool League with 26 wins and four losses. Lance Evans is 23 -5. Dan Casteel is 22-6, while Joshua House and Sai Jorgensen are tied at 22-8.
Angelina’s Grill & Bar, Golden West Saloon, Milano Hotel and Bar, and Noyo River Grill: All have pool tables and schedules of Fort Bragg Pool League players and upcoming events.
Look for the list of someone you know and where they are playing next. Come watch, and you might meet new friends watching 8-ball pool games. The League games start Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and usually end before 10 p.m. Tournaments, when held, are open for everyone.
Cue Tip: Almost all Pool players like to have a pool table that rolls flat. Why would some players add gobs of powder to ruin that? Sometimes, they cover their entire palm or even both palms! Do they think about it when their white handprints appear all over the felt? If so, I bet they would stop. Brushing to rid the table of the white streaks and prints accumulates powder under the felt. Eventually, the powder slows the rolling balls, making them dirty and dull and keeping them from rolling well. It wears the felt in spots that lead to holes. Stop spreading excess chalk dust if you like playing at a level pool table. If used, put it sparingly on the spots you need on your fingers. We agree we don’t need to douse our palms first and then play pool, transferring most of it to the table felt. Contact me at mcbohanon@gmail.com.
