A but bored? Kind of slow here?

[pwd72s]

Okay, some local gossip from the Cue Ball, Salem, Oregon.

That funny game played on a pocketless table call 3 cushion billiards? The local best at that game absolutely roasted a good 9 ball player. Hey, almost as exciting as a cow chewing a cud. right?

The story behind the story. The 9 ball player, really a lower level pro...very skilled. able to break and run sequential racks. Would often clean house in local BCAPL amateur league tournament. The league wants to remain amateur, so they use Fargo ratings to determine which class a player competes in. Their highest amateur rating is "grand master" class...the class my honorary nephew is in.

Anyway, this 9 ball player got banned from BCAPL tournaments. Foolishly, he bragged on twitter how he was able to keep his Fargo rating low by losing in tournaments that paid less. He is a really good player, but just not good enough to play with the big boys. If he went on the pro tour, he couldn't win enough to pay expenses. So, he would play in area tournaments paying $1,000 or up to the winner..usually winning those...it's easy for a low level pro to beat a working stiff although well skilled amateur. So now, he's down to hustling and small bar tournaments to try to make a living...a very tough row to hoe.

He came into the Cue Ball, wanting to hustle. Locals know this guy, naturally nobody wanted to play, not even with a generous spot. In desperation, he asked Leonard, a local retired guy, if he'd play 3 cushion for money. Leonard definitely not hurting for money, so he agreed. Like I said, Leonard roasted the 9 ball hustler. Beat him flat..was never close. Then Leonard wouldn't take the hustler's money. "I couldn't do that to you Stan, I know you're hurting now."

Hey, like I said, about as exciting as a cow chewing her cud...but it's something.

(edit) The moral...even pool players have a code. They don't really mind hustlers, but they don't like cheaters. There is a difference.

__________________

[Bob Kontak]

Had to do a quick study on 3 cushion billiards.

The tables are heated to promote spin. That's exciting right there.

Can you buy beer at the Cue Ball?

Appears to be a game where a noob bystander would see a world class shot and yawn.

Has to be like curling. Crowd erupts and the uninformed just stare.

Cool story. Their Facebook page displays a pretty cool looking venue. Lots of younger peeps there as well.

[pwd72s]

I didn't know the Cue Ball had a facebook page. I don't do it or twitter, so no big shock there.

3 cushion...to become proficient in that game is probably one of the toughest things to do in cue sports. A 10X5' table, no pockets. 3 balls, usually red, white, and yellow.
Balls a bit bigger and heavier than pool balls. The object of the game is what makes it tough. Hell, anybody can hit an object ball with a cue ball...but to have all three balls contacted with having to bounce off three rails? Well, you'd better be damned good at banking while having extreme knowledge of how English works.

Hit all 3 balls, one point. For someone to get 25 in a row is damned fine shooting.

Who is the best? Probably still a Turk name of Semih Sayginer. In an email, Evren reported seeing a new Mercedes with only 3 colored balls on the license plate.

A short video of Semih playing in the 2018 3 cushion world championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zde0Ace7lJQ

[red-beard]

Getting your but bored would be bad...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Getting your but bored would be bad...

Can't correct the title typo...sorry. But hey, walk into a legit pool hall, lay a hundred on the rail of a table...you'd probably end up getting your butt bored.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Can't correct the title typo...sorry. But hey, walk into a legit pool hall, lay a hundred on the rail of a table...you'd probably end up getting your butt bored.

Sure ya can...advanced edit the first post, edit the title....

Sorry, had a couple of glasses of wine and being sarcastic....

Drunken driving on the information super-highway. Could be worse. Could be on Amazon...

Now back to the pool hall

And yes. I would be Butt bored

[Bob Kontak]

From watching the video a minimum of three rails? Some shots were more than three.

The cue ball bounces (caroms?) off of the object ball, hits three rails and then kisses the remaining ball?

The cue ball does not have to be the white one, correct?

Does it have to be the cue ball or can the object ball hit three rails and touch the remaining ball?

Beer at the Cue Ball?

[red-beard]

For the three ball billiards, do they setup the balls, or does a judge set them up?

Or are they just where they landed from the last play?

[pwd72s]

No beer at the cue ball. It's a lot like the line in the movie the hustler.."no bar, no bowling alley, just pool. this is ames, mister." There is a juke in the back room, but usually the music is a classic rock station played at a low level. Pop and snacks vending machines, but that's it.

I don't play the game, but I think the opening shot has to be the white as the cue ball, but after that, any color ball can be used as your cue ball. 3 cushions or more.

Not sure on your last question, but it makes sense to me that the cue ball would be the best choice to go the three, because the shooter can control the speed better.

I really enjoyed the story of Leonard beating the hustler. He's always been nice to Cindy & I, gives us playing tips...We enjoy chatting with him.

There's an old Donald Duck video explaining one of the aiming systems used in 3 cushion...used in school math classes back when instruction was more important than indoctrination.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUoUZ2Wyt6g

[jyl]

Hey pwd72 I will be headed down to Eugene sometime in January. May try to meet you for a cup of coffee. Will PM you.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by jyl

Hey pwd72 I will be headed down to Eugene sometime in January. May try to meet you for a cup of coffee. Will PM you.

Sounds good...

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

There's an old Donald Duck video explaining one of the aiming systems used in 3 cushion...used in school math classes back when instruction was more important than indoctrination.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUoUZ2Wyt6g

That video is actually really good at explaining the "basic" of how to shoot

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by red-beard

That video is actually really good at explaining the "basic" of how to shoot

+1

I took a billiards class at Kent State back in the early 80's. A PE elective. All knowledge has faded but for a couple of months I used the diamonds at local bars. It worked on the basic stuff (eight ball) but this stuff is many layers deeper as to skills and practice.

I have to think it was a real treat to watch Leonard.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by red-beard

That video is actually really good at explaining the "basic" of how to shoot

Yep..if you are really good at math on the fly, you could be on your way to being a good 3 cushion player. Same math helps with banking at pool..except for the pesky speed and English coming into play. Hard shots come off the rail at a different angle than soft ones. If spin on the cue ball, the angle changes. Many factors.

"The game of billiards has ruined my naturally sweet disposition." -Mark Twain

"Pool is a beautiful game played by ugly people." -Joe Rogan, channeling Earl Strickland...a funny bit on youtube, but beware of language...

I just find it a fun and fascinating game that often makes me really mad at myself. My age and fluctuating vision due to AMD and diabetes doesn't help...but I just keep banging away at it anyway. The more I learn, the more I realize I know nothing.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

+1

I took a billiards class at Kent State back in the early 80's. A PE elective. All knowledge has faded but for a couple of months I used the diamonds at local bars. It worked on the basic stuff (eight ball) but this stuff is many layers deeper as to skills and practice.

I have to think it was a real treat to watch Leonard.

Leonard is quite a guy. Chinese ancestry, well educated. I'd guess his IQ well into the genius range. Retired executive type in his early 70's. People from all walks of life pick up a like for the game.

Funny about pool as an elective. My honorary nephew taught that class at U of O for a spell. Many of the football team took it. One "question"..do we have to show up? Answer was yes. He has some hilarious tales from teaching, but gave it up when he realized that the money paid barely covered his cost of commuting roughly 100
miles round trip. Said many of the skill position players had great eye/hand ability, but weren't as willing to take instruction as those playing line. In his opinion, some of them could have become damn good a the game, but of course they wouldn't be willing to put in the work and time needed. The young phenoms of the game? All started very young...as soon as they could hold a cue. Then comes hour of instruction and practice for those who wish to continue.

[slodave]

I hadn’t touched a cue in 6 months until NYE. Lost the first five games to my nemesis, which was to be expected. After he left, ran the table for most of the night (15-20 games). Finally lost to a British guy - we were both down to the 8 ball. Felt good to play again and that was with the crappy bar cues. I had left mine at home, not expecting to play that night.