Set of Aramith Premium balls, barely used.

$12.12

Cleaned and ready to go.

(not for sale)

Been a few months since my first blog post about my Equal Offense practice routine, so it’s time for an update.

I’ve been working on mechanics, and along with some decent table time I’ve seen improvement, that is until my overall score is evaluated.

The goal to move up a level requires an average of 120 pocketed balls over 10 innings. I’m somewhere in the 111-112 range.

Interestingly while my average hasn’t increased much since May, I’ve had some good...

Wanted to keep updating the home pool room blog where I left off last fall. The room is completed, but wanted to continue with the chronicle.

These pics are of moving the shed, groundbreaking and foundation laying.

The wife and I had some time to shoot again the other night and thought we’d continue our success by playing some more ‘Mr. and Mrs. Pocket Billiards’.

Apparently my skills have increased in the last couple weeks. She had won 4 out of 6 games last time (2 because I fouled out), but this time I took the first game handily by getting some clear shots on the 1-2-3 and by getting a nice 4-15 combo.

Quickly her interest in this game fell when I continued my runs in game...

After watching Jerry Briesath’s latest instructional videos I learned more about ‘Equal Offense’ and the practice version to help improve your game.

I’ve taken a lot of Jerry’s tips in his videos seriously to help improve my game, and I have noticed a difference.

In practice Equal Offense the goal is to score 120 points over 10 innings to promote yourself to the next level of difficulty.

To check my skill level, I started out with 5 balls in hand per...

On the occasion when I can get the wife to play, finding a game that can be fun and competitive can be tricky.

The universally known 8-Ball is an obvious choice, but handicapping is trial and error. Since she’s a beginner and I’m intermediate level, finding a balance between easy and tough on both ends of the spectrum is a guessing game.

So after brushing up on my rules in the BCA handbook I found an alternative game called ‘Mr. and Mrs. Pocket Billiards’. And it...

Exactly one year ago today we broke ground on a home game room for a pool table I’ve been wanting for three decades.

As an anniversary gift to myself, thought I’d start a blog showing the development.

Here’s the spot. We have a detached garage and the new space is built right behind it. Say goodbye to the shed, it’s getting moved further back in the yard.

We did all the proper planning we could to ensure the room would fit a 9’ foot table. The city...

I was really on my game last night. Won all four my games, limiting my opponent to 22 points. I almost had a 10-0 in the first game in which I ran all 7 of my side but missed the 8. Oh so close.

The other three games went well, there was a strategic game in which I thought I played well with positioning of the object balls in my favor.

I really felt 'on' my game last night. Not sure what it was, but I was really tuned in like I couldn't miss a shot. I think I...

Slipping in the standings. Our team has been in a slump for several weeks. I believe we lost all 5 rounds last night. We were tied for 4th, but lost to the 5th place team.

I won two and lost two while shooting a 30. I can't believe it, but I had the high score for our team. My opponent was pretty good; I would say he was definitely one of the top three players. The first three games were close, but the last one he had a good run and left me with three on the table. I was...

Played the best team in the league last night. Yep, they're good. Not only were they good shot makers, they had the best cue-ball control and position play I've seen in the league. Needless to say, we lost all 5 rounds. I got 40'ed right after a week where I got a 40. Feat or famine. I managed to squeak out 22 points, 4th best on our team. Not good.

Well with that loss, we slip in the standings. The team we played said they lost 3-2 against the 3rd place team last week, and...

We played the worst team in the league, and we did OK as a team. (won 3 rounds, lost 2) Our second place standing should be preserved, but the third place team is catching us. We will have to wait and see the outcome of the match between the first and third place teams before we can figure out where we stand. All I know is we play the first place team Monday, and they're pretty good. We really need to bring our 'A' game.

I shot a 40 (my second of the year), but my opponent was...

Pivotal week! Uh oh. My captain had a word with me after the session this evening, and I may be headed for the bench. We're playing a make up game a week from Monday against the best team in the league, and I may need to take a seat. This is completely understandable. I want the team to be the best, so if I have to lay out for a couple/three games then that's cool. I'm lucky I've even been able to play that much since this is my first time ever participating in a league.

As...

Back at home. We played the same team from last week and beat them. I scored a 36, but only thanks to bad playing of my opponent. A scratch on the 8, and a ball in hand on the 8 gave me the opportunity to win at least two. I can't recall how I won my third game, but I'm sure it was given to me.

It seems that I play better against better players, and worse against worse players. Not sure how to fix that, but it's something to keep in mind.

Our team won the evening...

On the road this week. Interesting how that even when you play better, your score stays the same. Last week I didn't play very well and I scored 29 points winning 1 of 4. This week I won 2 of 4, played better and still scored 29 points.

I think I was slightly better than my opponent, and I should have won 3 of 4. I have to say he got lucky on an 8-ball bank in one of his victories. I think he was playing it straight off the rail, but it kissed off one of my object balls and went...

Not a very good showing at all. Lost three of four, but should have won three of four. Missed too many easy shots. I will have to say my opponent lucked out on some rolls, though; nearly pocketing the 8 early once. Either way, I gave them too many chances and I lost. (scored 29 points - average is now 7.8)

The team won the matchup, but the guys were disappointed that we didn't win by more. Considering we were playing on our home turf, we should have played better.
...

On the road. The bar we played in had red felted tables with dim, red lights. The tables were clean and in good shape, but visibility was challenging. Even so, I won all 4 games. Made a good cross corner bank on the 8 in the first game.

I thought I did well, but my opponent was rated a 5.6. He missed a number of questionable shots, miscued several times, and gave me ball in hand at least 4 times which made me scratch my head. The most notable ball in hand opportunity was with...

We were at home. I won 2 and lost 2, scoring 32 points. This increased my average from 5.8 to 6.8. My opponent was strong, but missed some shots. I think we were evenly matched up. Our team won the round.

I have to think back to my first night, which was actually the third week of the schedule. (the first week was a bye, and I missed the second week).

We played on the road, and I was 1-3, scoring 23 points. My opponent was a solid player, and I needed to play safe a number of times to keep him from running out. Our team lost the round, but it was close.

I've been playing off and on since I was 12. Just recently I decided to join a league to play more often than with my friends every 2-3 months. This blog is just an account of my progress in the league.