Earbuds Are Broken

So, I went to practice on Wednesday night. Got there about 615pm, noticed how quiet it was, hardly anyone in there, no smokers around me, etc. I put the earbuds of my ipod in my ears and off I went, practicing ten-ball on the 9 foot tables to some great hip hop music!

A few people started to wander in an hour later and the friends who I knew would walk by and I would graciously stop, take one of the earbuds out to say hello, maybe even give a hug, and then get right back to my practice. Then about 730pm, the dreaded drunk walks in. The place is getting fuller and fuller of the young peeps drinking around the pool table, thinking they can play; the regulars that hang out near the bar area; the video game masters of the evening; the two teams playing in their league that night; and the guys who showed up for the 8ball bar table tourney.

But the drunk guy distracts me. He walks straight over to the tall, round table near the 9foot I am playing on, can barely keep his head up and eyes open, as he sits there, smoking his cigarette and stares at me playing by myself.

I ignore him, as others still walk up to say hi every now and then. A friend brought in his dinner and was watching me play across the other table, but he knows when I practice to just say our hellos and let me go back to conditioning my fundamentals.

The drunk... well, he knows no better.

After 30 minutes of watching me, he finally stumbles up to me as I take out a few balls in the pockets nearest him and place them on the felt.

I take out my earbud, as he is obviously standing right next to me trying to say something, but I can't hear him.

"What?"

"Do you work at..." (some place that starts with an L)

"No I don't."

"Oh..." he mumbles.

I put my earbud back in and take a few more balls out and he walks back up to me.

I have to take my ear bud back out, "What?"

"Do you know Sally?"

"No."

I look at him and put my earbud back in and go about my business. He stammers back to his chair.

I shoot a few shots and of course he comes back.

"What?" I say (again!) as I take my earbud out, clearly agitated by now. Everytime he walks up to me, he is saying something, but I can't hear him and I *thought* it was obvious I was busy anyway.

"Have you played in the Texas Open?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Okay. "

He stands there a few seconds, not talking, then adds, "My name is Buddy."

He shows his hand, I shake it and reply,

"Hi, I'm Melinda."

"Oh, okay."

I try to put my earbud back in and he interrupts my action,

"Do you know Little David?"

"Yes."

"Oh, do you know...." (he couldn't remember the other name he was trying to think of)

I just looked at him. Waiting with anticipation (yea, right) and finally gave up on his lack of remembering and put my earbud back in and shot a few more balls.

He walks back up. He is trying to again talk to me when I can't hear him; I take my earbud out again, "what?"

"Do you know the big guy from Austin?"

"I dunno."

I put my earbud back in much quicker this time and try my darnedest to focus back on pool, wondering when he might walk back up and interrupt me.

I need to get rid of these earbuds, they obviously don't work.

My New Shaft

As I mentioned in another post, I tried out a friend's OB-2 for a few games one evening and really liked it. I had tried the OB-1 shaft about 3 years ago or so and even though I used it for about 6months, I stopped using it. I thought I used too much English to appreciate the shafts' low deflection and since I was self taught, I knew it would take a long time to un-do that, lol, so I stopped using it. Well, the OB shafts in my opinion have improved for some reason, I can't explain why, but I have heard a few people who used one before and stopped, are now using a new OB that they recently tried again. I am now one of those people. :)

Of course, it could be I like the OB-2 better.

I thought the OB-2 would be too skinny for me, but I actually love it even more so than the OB-1 size.

The OB shafts are low deflection shafts. Here are the specs of the OB-2:

• 11.75mm tip diameter
• 1/2" Laminated Maple Ferrule
  
• Combination pro/conical taper
• Everest Tip by Tiger Products
• Available to fit all the popular joint sizes and styles

The first time I used my new OB-2, I shot with it in a straight pool match (that I won). I then hit balls with it for an hour the next day during my practice session. I then used it during my last two tournaments where I placed 5th, and 2nd (and 1st in a team event). While I know my skills got me the wins, I love the OB-2 shaft!


I read on a thread on AZB where people asked why they like low deflection shafts and why not. While there are many more reasons why people like them, it is true it gives you confidence because you are less likely to miss certain shots that seems to always have deflection (that has plagued my game on long shots or extreme-English shots) and you can also draw further. But it's more than that - it allows you to move the cueball more precisely.

For some reason, my reasoning for not using the OB-1 before is not still viable - I use the same English and am very satisfied with the OB-2 shaft. The cut shots I had trouble with before with the OB-1 I no longer have trouble making. Of course, my game has also improved as I am more comfortable with my game, but now I am also more comfortable with the SHAFT, which obviously is an important part of our game, right?

The OB-2 feels "right" through my bridge hand, almost like an extension from my arm/hand rather than a shaft I shoot with. It's very difficult to explain. But, I love it!

What High Run?

I called my new teammate, Ash, the next day after my new high run and we were about to talk about team things when she excitingly interrupted me and asked,

"guess what?! guess what?!"

She is in the straight pool league I am in, but in the division that races to 150. I applaud her for wanting to play in the top division. I want to try and ace my race-to-100 division before going to "that" division, lol. So, we have different styles but we both LOVE straight pool and know it will help our over-all pool games. We are also both in-love with the lovely game of straight pool. :)

I replied, very interested and intrigued,

"What?"

She answered, "I beat my high run last night!"

I added, "OMG, so did I!."

We were both giddy! She continued:

"I was practicing with Scotty (her b/f) and if this guy wouldn't have walked up to me during a shot, it might have even been higher."

She proudly continued, "I ran 42!"

I sat there with a deflated feeling and a little funny and the sense of embarrassment snuck up on me as she naturally asked in return,

"what was your new high run?"

"19," I said sheepishly, LOL!

She was still very happy for me. :)

She stated with this high run she felt like she belongs in her division now and it has given her more confidence in general. I was very excited for her (and myself, lol) for our new high runs. :)

Luckily in straight pool, new high runs are appreciated no matter what they are and no matter who gets them. :) Congrat's to both of us!

Here is me and Ash at a tournament a week after our high runs: