Texas BCAPL DVDs Arrived...

I actually ordered two DVDs from the BCAPL Texas State tourney held in April.

I ordered the streamed women's singles final (which I won) and also the streamed scotch doubles final (it went two sets), which my partner (Marty Jones) and I won, as well.

A BIG thank you to Rail2Rail TV for the stream and for the getting the matches on DVD!

I honestly only bought them to show to my best friend.  I don't really care to watch them alone. I only cared to show them to him so we could talk about my shots that led to my accomplishments. 

I was excited to be able to show him my shots in the finals of both divisions, because he couldn't be there in person.  And to share the experience with someone I cared about, was really all I cared about. 

Otherwise, I wont watch them alone.  I see no point.

Straight Pool Match - Full of Surprises

My first straight pool match of this season (Spring session) was quite interesting.  Let's see if I can keep it a short blog entry, lol.

I need to play four matches a month, and had my first match Jan 17th (I know, I'm starting late).  My first opponent of the season had already defeated the top player in our league division (which races to 100).  So, I was already apprehensive about playing this guy.

Luckily, my friend Brian convinced me to play in an eight ball tournament the night before at the same pool room, which allowed me to get some good, quality time on the sames tables I would be playing my straight pool match on.

However, so many little, crazy things were bothersome before the match even started!

I received a text from my opponent about noon (our match was scheduled at 330pm) that said, "in the interest of fair play you should wear some baggy sweats and have curlers in your hair."  Then he added in a follow up text, "So I wont be distracted."

I contemplated my response and finally replied, "Whatever, I hear you are playing good.  You already beat Danny."

He replied about an hour later, "Whatever yourself.  Maybe a burka."

Can you also see what happened here?  Yes, he might have been joking and playing, but I *could* have used his verbal pre-match fodder as an excuse if I did not win because I *could* have taken his words as a shark tactic.  However, did you notice I kinda sharked him back?  I mentioned he beat the top player.  That's tough for many folks to fade, actually.  That could get to his head, too.

Anyway, I didn't respond to his last text.

Instead, I watched a straight pool match on DVD.  My Mom's satellite receiver went out and therefore I gave her mine from upstairs.  Since I had no tv to watch, I took advantage and watched Mike Sigel run "150 and out" against Mike Zuglan, commented by Grady Mathews and the late, great Beenie Weenie.

What a treat that was!  I ate my lunch, watched some good 14.1 play, listened to some great commentating, and tried to absorbed what I witnessed on the screen.  Ironically, this is the EXACT match ESPN Magazine mentions as a "perfect record" (which I gathered stats for that issue). Since this was the first time I watched this DVD, I didn't realize this until the end of the DVD when Mike ran the entire 150 for the match, lol.  This was the 1992 US Open Championship.

I then take a quick shower but I am running late.  I hate being rushed anyway, but to run late to a straight pool match is even worse, in my book.  I need to be calm, cool, and collected, not rushed, adrenaline racing, agitated for being late, and driving too fast which causes angst.

To top it off, I can't find my rings.  I always wear a ring and a bracelet on each hand/wrist and I couldn't find my rings.  OMG!  I can't play pool without my normalcy!  Eeeek!  I was really upset and worried.

To top things off further, I'm a mile from my house and look down at my black pants and boy did I need to use a lint brush - I had major cat hair on my pants.  Of course, I don't have time to turn around and I don't carry a lint brush in my car.  :(

I am SO stressed! 

So, now I look like a rushed, dirty, no-jewelry-wearing buffoon!

On the fast drive, I vaguely remember my rings *might* be at the bottom of my purse and I dig in the pockets and was SO relieved they were there!  Woo-hoo!

I show up to the pool room, grab my cue, my purse, my phone, my sweater and ramble in the door.

Still discombobulated, I go to the bathroom and as expected, water does not work like a lint brush.  :(  I had to try, right?  I resign to the fact I am going to have to accept looking foolish, if anyone even notices.

My opponent immediately tells me two things:  (1) I am not wearing sweats and look nice, and (2) that he beat Danny because Danny was playing poorly.

He then asks me what I did all day, because he knew I had the day off (otherwise, how could I play pool in the afternoon), but instead of sharing and sharking him with  "I just watched a GREAT straight pool match all afternoon!" instead I simply replied, "eh, nothing really."

We started the match. I lose the lag and had to break.  Oh well.

But I found myself up 15 to 5.... when all of a sudden in inning 6 I had a 23-ball run!  TWENTY THREE!  My second highest run so far in my life and in the first match of the season?  Eeek!  Thank you Accu-Stats, Sigel, Weenie, Mathews, and Brian.  :)

Guess I got over all my stresses and worries.  Honestly, now that I reflect, I didn't think about any worries once the match got started.  Cool!

It's now 38-8.  Then:

45-17
56-29
60-37
75-51
85-66

Then I go on a run of 15 to close out the win 100-66.

Afterwards, I confided that I watched the Sigel match earlier in the afternoon.  He shared some of his favorite DVD matches, then joked he was going to tell the league director I wasn't wearing sweats.

Danny happened to be there playing a match also, so we were able to set a time for our own match for next Monday evening.  

I felt good about the win.  I felt good about my staying down.  I still have some focus issues - thinking too-feel-good about my play interferes with my play.  Can't play P-O-O-L if you are thinking about how badly or goodly (lol) you are playing while down on a shot, right?

I wonder how my next matches will go? 

Until Next Time.

High Stakes Pool - Reality TV Show

My friends Andrew Clearly and Jay Helfert shot a pilot for a Reality TV show earlier this year in Los Angeles called High Stakes Pool.

What is High Stakes Pool? It's a Ten Ball ring game for real money! In this episode (remember it's just a pilot), Morro Paez, Rafael Martinez, and John Schmidt hook up to play a little $100-a-man Ten Ball.

These 3 playa's played all day to find an eventual winner, and the money was paid off after every game. If they ever sell this show, the stakes will be raised to $500-a-man with a 10K backer. 

Scott Frost and Ron Wiseman were suppose to be in this pilot, also, but were not able to attend.  But even without them, Rafael, Moro and John are already talkers and characters!  To see these guys in action, talking crap, the use of body English, probably making jokes - should make for a great pilot! 

Andrew recently changed the name from High Stakes Pool to "The Pool Hustlers." 

The pilot is an hour and 45 minutes of 5 hours of action.  Andrew did an amazing job with the editing and camera work.  If you want to order a copy of the DVD, email Jay at jayhelfert@yahoo.com.

In the meantime, check out the teaser!!


high stakes pool from andrew cleary on Vimeo.
the pilot sizzle reel for high stakes pool/the pool hustler. Produced by Jay Helfert and Andrew Cleary.
Directed and edited by Andrew Cleary.

My PoolSynergy Recommendations

As the host of this month's PoolSynergy month, I asked the writers of PoolSynergy to recommend a favorite book and a favorite DVD.

Well, what do I recommend?

My Fav DVD: 

Anyone who has read enough of my blog prolly knows what my favorite DVD is and therefore what  I will recommend.  I honestly watch this DVD before big tournaments, especially if I hadn't had a chance to practice ON the table before a big event.  I swear this player review by Buddy Hall and Grady Matthews prepares me because I get to watch such smart pool, along with the "why's" of the shots because Buddy and Grady are the commentators of the DVD. This was a match from the June 1992 Sands Regency Open.

I thoroughly enjoy watching this DVD several times a year because each time I watch it, I always learn from it.  When I show up at a tournament after watching this DVD, I can SEE the shots, patterns, and choices so much clearer.  I can even hear Buddy and Grady in my head, telling me how I should position the cueball for my next shot!

 
My Fav Book:

I have so many favorite books. I almost decided to recommend a book in every pool genre (8ball, mental, 9ball, one pocket, etc). lol. Instead, I picked my most recent fav book that was recommended to me by the lovely and talented Liz Ford.

In March I emailed Professional Pool Player Liz Ford:

"I was looking through Billiards Digest and saw from the Feb issue you were in the Quick Hits section.  I loved your response to the Q: 'What specif area of your game are you working on right now?'"

She answered in Billiards Digest:

"I am always working on my game but this year I am focused on believing in myself.  There is a difference between showing up at a tournament and wanting to do your best and showing up at a tournament prepared to take people down."

I wanted an explanation - I was VERY curious what exactly she meant.

She explained to me via email:

"I can't remember if I said that before or after reading Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert.  I think it was before but that sentiment was reinforced heavily by that book.

For a long time I focused on all the things that I didn't know.  It gave me determination to get better and an unending quest for knowledge - but come tournament time I never felt confident.  In trying to get better all the time I never really thought or felt a sense of pride about all the things I already did really well.  Practice is for learning but competition is about executing what you do best.

In terms of being prepared to take people down... I'm not sure if it is just the phase of life I am in or if Winning Ugly changed my brain in some way, but lately I take great joy in dismantling my opponents mentally.  I want to push them to the point where there game breaks down.  It has nothing to do with sharking or mind games and everything to do with having a plan to be the smarter, more aware and mentally stronger player.  I don't feel like I can explain it adequately... you should definitely read the book."

So, I did.

And guess what?  I think I finally found the killer instinct.  I can't explain why, I can't explain what exactly this tennis book by Brad Gilbert shared that changed my mindset but Liz is correct: I want to win more than ever and I have no ill feelings if you happen to scratch, I beat you 7-0, or I follow the rules which leads to you losing.  I no longer am scared to win or take someone down or feel bad for my opponent.  As Liz explains, I too now take pride when my opponents are frustrated; I sometimes smile to myself, even.

I am simply more prepared to win.

Although Winning Ugly sounds like the book may be about sharking, it has nothing to do with. In tennis, Brad Gilbert "is the best in the world at the mental side of the game" and he shares his wealth of knowledge in this book and explains how he won millions (by being prepared).  

Brad Gilbert is not a well-known tennis player but pro tennis players know him well.  They would tell him he won ugly because he wasn't necessarily talented.  But he PREPARED.  The book tells you how he prepared.  How he took down the greats.  How he prepared before even setting foot in the arena.

I highly recommend the book - it's an easy read and chalk-full of great tips to develop a stronger mental game, if you've been looking for that.

I wish I could explain exactly how the book helped me be a more confident, prepared player, but I can't.  All I know is, if you have problems with the killer instinct or you want to be more prepared to "take people down" as Liz stated, I highly recommend Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert. 

Gabe Owen One Pocket DVDs

Gabe Owen, U.S. Open Champion and U.S. One Pocket Champion, has produced two new instructional One-Pocket DVDs called, One Pocket My Way! 

Gabe recently announced the news and I am very fortunate to be a part of this process.  Gabe is not only a personal friend of mine, I'm also his webmaster (yep, another website I maintain).  :)  The photos you see on the covers are from the Texas State Open of this year (Sept 2010) where Gabe placed 2nd (thank goodness I caught some good snapshots of him!).

The cover design is from his cousin who has helped such clients as Nike.  It is super sharp and snazzy!  I love the design.

Gabe and I recently updated his website to include the DVDs so you can find out more about the DVDs and if you are interested, then purchase them easily and securely through PayPal directly from his website.  (Sound familiar?  Yep, I just recently updated Phil Capelle's website similarly, also.) 

Gabe has two DVDs available - Beginner / Intermediate and Advanced.  I can't wait to check them out!  You neither?  Then check out the shipping info and even a teaser clip from the DVDs on his website:  http://www.gabeowen.net/onepocketdvds.html

Go ahead, tell him Trigger sent ya.  :)

[I don't get any special compensation or even brownies, but it would be cool for someone to use my nickname in a sentence.  ;) ]

Listen to Recommendations

I was told by two or three friends that the straight pool DVD match between Dick Lane and Johnny Archer from the 1992 U.S. Open 14.1 Tourney in New York, commentated by Dick Lane and Pat Fleming was a VERY good match to watch. They told me Dick Lane commentated very well, not only about straight pool but also about 9ball during the game.

I am REALLY loving my goal this year to watch at least one video/DVD a month. I am not sure why I didn't do this before, because it has been VERY helpful and enlightening; NOT to simply fulfill the goal, but because of all the learning!

In May I re-watched the John Schmidt DVD running 164 when he is mic'd up that I LOVE, but it wasn't a new video I watched that month. :( This month I made up for it by inserting the Archer/Lane DVD one evening in early June!

Well, I was not disappointed! My goodness that is a GREAT match with awesome commentating! My friends were right, Dick is a great commentator! I really enjoyed his pointers and tidbits about straight pool and 9ball. I liked the DVD SO much!

I happened to look over Johnny's recap article I wrote for his website back from the 2000 U.S. OPEN 14.1 Straight-Pool event and he had this to say about Dick Lane: "He impressed me a lot again in this tournament - I like watching him play because he doesn't make many mistakes."

In the DVD, Dick's high run is 81 and Johnny's is 74. The match stays close and the final score is 150-121 (good match, right?!), but I wont tell you who wins in case you are lucky enough to see this informative match for yourself!

Photo Copyright JohnnyArcher.net and Melinda Bailey

April One Pocket

Well, I'm slacking. :( One of my goals for 2010 to play one pocket at least once a month is about to be a big fat FAIL. Eeek. However, I decided to mix TWO goals into one and I think I might have saved the day! Yay. :)

One of my other goals is to watch a DVD once a month, and even though I already accomplished it this month (April) when I watched the phenomenal John Schmidt DVD How I Run 100's (read my review here), I decided earlier this week since I had yet to play one pocket this month, I will at least watch a DVD of a one pocket match.

So, last night I grabbed my personal copy of the Pool Hall Master Movie and proceeded to watch for the first time the One Pocket match that is added as a second DVD when you buy the movie.

Two talented and professional one pocket players race to 8 for a few thousand and the match is commentated BY them. It was awesome to get inside their head and hear WHY they shot what. Many times, the reason for shooting a certain shot is 3-fold! That's why I love one pocket so much - challenging and creative!

The players also talked some about pressure - which was interesting to hear that they are very aware of their opponents scratches, ball count, who broke, etc. They recognize when to add more pressure in the game and/or match. I always wondered if pro players were aware of situations like this and they do indeed sometimes turn up the heat during certain times or played a certain way because of ball counts and emotions of the other player.

Even though I technically didn't PLAY one pocket, at least it got absorbed into my brain last night with this awesome match. :)

BTW, I strongly feel that player reviews are the BEST matches to watch on dvd!

John Makes It Look So Easy

I watched Schmidt's DVD of his 245 Straight Pool run a couple of years back, but that was before I started my straight pool league a year ago, so I didn't really understand his comments too much back then.

Now that I play straight pool more often, I wanted to re-watch his video, which I did on a Wed night last week. Then the next night I watched his 164 run that he commentates WHILE he is shooting.

He makes it look so easy! He runs rack after rack after rack.

I feel like I just pot balls around the table and can't to get too far (my highest run is only 28 - altho I admit I'm pretty proud of it).

I love these two tapes though - his thought process is very helpful! WOW!

I can say that the 164 video is invaluable if you haven't watched it. I don't recall him talking about the last three balls (triangle) so much in the 245 run, and in this video he explains SO much about little important things: getting balls off the rail, getting them off the rail before a second break, hardly moving the cueball, etc. I also noticed he hardly shot any balls up table to the top corner pockets. He didn't say why, but even if a ball could go into the top corner pockets, he still wouldn't shoot them. He always had a plan for them later.

I can't wait to play my next straight pool match after seeing the 164 vid!! I posted these comments in the 14.1 Section of AZBilliards.com and many people responded, including John. John thanked me for the kind words and then added: "Believe me the game is hard for me too and I still get a kick out of running 100 or more. I'm just like you guys - the game challenges me and is fun."

It's refreshing to hear that from Mr. 400 himself. And, it's very true what he is saying about Straight Pool, isn't it?