Lessons Are Valuable

I was skimming through Facebook the other day (something I don't do that often anymore), and something caught me eye.

It was this post from Joey Gray:

Hopefully you all remember I interviewed Joey (and his best friend Chip) in Dec 2018.  In that interview he mentioned he gives lessons.

But what caught my eye was these two kids in the photo and what Joey said about them (click the image above if you need to enlarge it). He said, they are both "checking their elbow alignment" (as both kids are looking behind themselves while in stance).

Checking their elbow alignment?

What?

This is a perfect example to let you know how valuable lessons are.

You see, I don't know anything about 'elbow alignment.'  I mean, I kinda remember a few people throughout the 25 years of me playing pool saying something about it, but it was never something I worked on, really knew about, or learned about.

These kids are learning this important part of their stance and stroke at such a young age!  And as person who never took lessons, can you imagine how much sooner my game would have improved and also how it would have helped me throughout my entire pool journey if I had?!

It kinda reminds me of golf.  MANY people take golf lessons. How come we don't have the same attitude and respect toward our pool game?

Obviously, players can get well and have success without knowing about this thing called 'elbow alignment.' But, imagine how great it would have been if I already knew about this and had incorpated it in my game.

Just another blog post expressing how important lessons are.

P.S. If you want to know more about Joey and his lessons, where he will be, or contact him, check him out on Facebook at "Joey Gray Coaching."

Pool Chair with a Twist

I'm amazed how much I relate everything to pool.

This chair was floating around on Facebook a few weeks ago.  I, however, barely noticed it was perfect for wine.  I noticed I could put my chalk on the front left carved-out section, and that I could lean my cue in the groove where the wine glass was resting.

Everyone knows any chair with a groove is a spot for your cue.

People!  This isn't a wine chair.  It's so obvious it's a chair for pool players.  Come on!

Silver Investment

How much to do you like silver?

Well, Tiffany and Co thinks somebody does/will:

If you have close to $1,000 to spend, this could be yours!  Even saw a matching silver chalk holder.

Pretty neat with the Roman Numerals, too. 

Go ahead - put it on your wish list and maybe Santa will see it.

Paper Brackets - Goodbye, Mementos

I can tell I'm moving on from my pool playing days.

I recently came across all these paper brackets I had saved from the numerous Ladies Tour Second Chance tourneys that I won:

These paper brackets were proof of the little successful beginner in me. 

Let's face it, the first true steps in moving up the pool ladder are always the first few tourneys you win, no matter how small the field.  These tourneys only had 10-18 players, but your first wins are still so awesome, right?

I recall how after each win, I would be so proud to be able to take these home and save them to remember my accomplishments!  These wins were few and far between and I cherished them so much, and wanted to always remember them!  (so I thought.)

But, I have already delicately placed all these paper memories into my recycle bin. 

I felt funny parting with these large brackets, the proof of my early successes, but I admit the newer plaques and trophies obviously mean so much more to me.

But after I leave this world, who is really going to keep these around because the win column says "Melinda"?

Time to recycle.  :)

Photo Shows Staying Down on Shot

What's cool abt this photo from last weekend at a tourney, you can see the cueball and the 2 ball moving, but I stayed down well during the entire shot.

It's taken me years not to jump up or rush shots or lift my head as I shoot.   Game elevation, peeps.

GREAT Reminder (photo)

Saw this on a door of a pool room, as you walked out!

One of my league mates said, "That should be a on the door at home as a good reminder before I leave the house, too."  LOL

Billiards Paraphernalia (solo photo)

Pool is loved everywhere!

Check out what I saw in a restaurant as I walked by heading to my gate to fly out for a work trip back in August:

Who You Barking At?

Guess my dog Lily wants the 7ball from me, since she keep barking!

When You Really Need to Smoke....

Visiting a pool room in Louisiana in June, I ventured into the bathroom and saw this little gem:

Is this bathroom really that old that an ashtray is in there still?

I hadn't seen this in years, so of course I had to take a pic of my "find."

Yikes....

Best GiftCard for a Pool Player

Right??

:)

Good Bye, Memories

So sad....

Ferrule Me This (photo)

Saw this at BCAPL Texas State.  I didn't even know something like this was possible!

It was on her break cue.  Pretty cool.

Nailed It (photo)

Some players are serious about pool.  And nails.  And ensuring their nails match the theme of the season, year, holiday....or event!

Check this nail art out:

Co-Worker Love

I went to Silver Spring, Maryland for a work meeting back in September (I live and work back in Texas).

I visited a couple of my colleagues at their office before we headed out for lunch one day and walked up to their cubicles and saw this:

(click photo to enlarge)

I was like, "HEY"!

It was a print-out of my blog entry from May, that stated I was an ACS National Champion!

It was SO cute how proud they were - that they printed it out and hung it up for the coworkers to see.  And that made ME proud.  :)

I don't normally share my pool journey with people I work with, but these two (Fran and Pete), I do happen to share (and Pete reads my blogs because he likes pool, too).  

What a surprise!  Thank you, Fran and Pete! 

Contract Signed

A few months ago I was at an Omega tourney and a guy walked in who always barks at me wanting to play/gamble.

I asked him how much and what game?  Let's get this figured out right now.

He told me what his idea was, and I agreed with it.

Since I was running the tournament and could not play that day, I got a crazy idea to write it down!  Then we each signed it, lol. 

I didn't want him to forget and I wanted to hold him accountable, lol.

Here is the contract:

Six ahead for $300, 9-ball on a 9-foot table.

I haven't played him yet and this was signed back in early October, but one of these days, I will play him like this!

(to be continued....)

Parking Sign (photo)

While on my September vacation, stopped by this small pool room in a REALLY small town in the Carolina's.  Only about 3 cars were there on this afternoon in the middle of the week, and so we parked in the next open spot in front of the old building that housed the pool room.

And we see this sign on the buidling right in front of our vehicle, lol:

While we didn't play pool this day, we do feel like winners.  :)

Rules for a Pool Table (photo)

Saw this posted last week at my league pool room.

Um, really?  I can't play one-handed??

Why the hell not?!

Not that I would, but why can't I?

Does that hurt the pool table?

I guess at one point recently who-ever was playing one handed damaged or almost damaged one of the two pool tables in this location, and now we are all suffering from their lack of skills with this new rule in effect.

No Choice - Pool on My Mind Everyday

I have a loaner car.

This is what comes on the screen every time I turn on the car!  :)

I may see this for 4-5 weeks.  Cool, huh?

What would You Do? Hill-Hill Shot

This was one of the shots, HILL-HILL, during my Sunday League playoffs, in the Finals!

What Would You Do?

My team was stripes.  Our opponent was at the table on the 8-ball.  He was accidentally left this shot, btw.

What Would You Do?

Everyone on the sidelines thought instead of going for the bank in the side (because he might sell out if he misses), to play safe and nestle the cueball behind the 9-ball as a safety.  He tried that, but was not successful.

We ended up winning.

TOUGH match.  Lots of unfortunate roles for the other team in this game, but my teammate prevailed over nerves and we won the playoffs hill-hill!

What Would You Have Done?

Photo Pressure

I played the last match of my Sunday league back in early May. 

One of my teammates brought a couple of older relatives with him. 

I play two of my games and notice they are clapping for me a lot.  I don't mind support; it was cool.

But then I see my teammate point to a photo on the wall, and then point to me.  "I was like OMG are you really showing them that?"

It was the team pic from when my ladies team won the BCAPL Women's Team Open back in 2012.

Of course after that I felt so much pressure, that I of course didn't play as well.

I walk by them to play another match and they ask me, "are you the best player here? " 

"No, no," laughing with embarrassment, "THAT guy is, " pointing to THEIR relative.

It's amazing how much pressure we put ourselves under lol.  I could not play well after that.  Ugh.

You would think success would give you confidence.....but not all the time.  Sometimes we add invisible pressie to ourselves.   

 I need to figure this out.  Happened last weekend in big tourney, too.  (blog entry to come)   Yikes.