Blair Dreyfus
The weather outside is frightful, at least everywhere else it seems. But not here! Here we get to enjoy ourselves outdoors should we choose. My outdoor activity has slowed down to a crawl—that’s why I’ve taken to this role as Billiards Club president. If I’ve chosen to be more of an “indoor cat,” I want to make that experience the best I can. So far, so good in the Billiards Club. Watch out whichever club I decide to join next.
As far as pool playing goes, I’m just like everyone else. I have my good days and my bad days but relish the good ones whenever I can. I enjoy challenging myself against my fellow club members in our weekly 8-, 9-, and 10-ball tournaments. I don’t get my name on the list of tournament winners as often as I did, but I still enjoy the challenge. We won’t get better if we don’t practice and then challenge ourselves. Playing recreationally can be enjoyable, but even at my age that competitive nature still resides within.
Like many of you, my back won’t let me practice or play for an extended period of time. Our men’s club has open play doubles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, and I’ve been going there later and later but enjoy it more. My practice time at home is rarely more than 15 minutes at a time, but I work on my stroke and staying down through the shot, which are my two biggest problems.
I will recommend that whenever you go to the pool room to play that you have a short warm–up plan—10 or 15 minutes is all that is needed—before you jump in and start playing. If there are two of you, you can each have half of the table. Start by placing the cue ball one diamond from the rail and hit the cue ball to the other rail, hold your cue stick at impact, and have the cue ball bounce back off the rail and hit the tip of your stick. Do that three or four times (not as easy as you think). This will ensure that you are hitting the center of the cue ball. Then place an object ball on the head or foot spot and the cue ball directly in line with the corner pocket. Make the ball using a stop shot without hitting the side of the pocket, a follow shot (should follow without touching pocket sides) and a draw shot (again, directly back to your stick). Do that twice and you are ready to play your best. Hope this friendly advice helps your game. Sure helps mine.
January Winners
Here are the winners from January tournaments. Congrats to all. And if you haven’t come out to play in any of these, please make this month the month you test your skills!
Monday noon to 2 p.m. Short rack 8-ball: Joe Browner (2), Rene Lefevre (1)
Tuesday 8 a.m. to noon Regular 8-ball: Lynn Warren (4)
Thursday 10 a.m. to noon 9-ball: Eric Spanos (1), Lynn Warren (1)
Friday 8 a.m. to noon 10-ball: Rene Lefevre, Lynn Warren, Dan Harris, and Bill Frustaglia (1 each)
Friday 4 to 6 p.m. 10-ball: Lynn Warren (2)
Player of the Month: Lynn Warren!