Many of the world's best 3-C players were surveyed on what cue tips they use. Most top players use tip sizes between 11. And 12. Mm. The stiff shaft allows for much better cue ball deflection, thus better object ball hits.
Many of the world's best 3-C players were surveyed on what cue tips they use. Most top players use tip sizes between 11. And 12. Mm. The stiff shaft allows for much better cue ball deflection, thus better object ball hits.
Many of the world's best 3-C players were surveyed on what cue tips they use. Most top players use tip sizes between 11. And 12. Mm. The stiff shaft allows for much better cue ball deflection, thus better object ball hits.
would still beat everybody." Bob Byrne related a story where Ceulemans once said that when he found a good tip, he would remove it from his shaft and save it for future use since he favored a good tip that is broken in. As new cue information arrives it will be added here---check back
A Good Tip During the 2001 Las Vegas World Cup, many of the worlds best 3-C players were surveyed on what cue tips they use, along with other cue data. It seems that most Belgium players stayed with tradition, which is to use a smaller tip size, while most other top players use tip sizes bet- ween 11.5 and 12.0 mm. Name Tip Size mm Tip Make Type Shaft type Bitalis 11.4 Mori Hard Extra Stiff Blomdahl 12.0 Mori Medium Varies with table Ceulemans 12.0 Triangle Medium Stiff DeBacker 11.6 Mori Medium Medium Stiff Dielis 9.5 Chandivert Hard Stiff Habraken 11.0 LePro Medium Stiff Jaspers 11.7 Mori Medium Stiff Leppens 10.5 Mori Medium Extra Stiff Piedrabuena 12.0 Mori Medium Medium Stiff Sang Lee 12.0 Mori Medium Medium Stiff Sayginer 12.0 Mori Medium Stiff Theriaga 12.0 Mori Medium Stiff Sanetti 12.0 Chandivert Medium Medium Stiff While all were quizzed on their tip size and shaft configuration selections, Dick Jaspers summed up this subject best by stating that the 12 mm size was best for power shots, while the 11.5 size handled cue ball spin best---an 11.7 mm tip was his selection. In my 3-C travels, it seems that the average 3-C player does not use a cue that has tip and shaft configurations that compares to the above. Incidently, most new cues come with inexpensive tip material. The stiff shaft allows for much better cue ball deflection, thus much better object ball hits---same for 12mm tip sizes---yet, having a good feel for cue ball spin, is important.
Ball Polish
For those players who desire cue ball slide, a certain product is available and is listed below---coatings are not to affect the cushion edge, or the cue tip.
The 3-M corporation has one liquid as the cleaner and the other liquid as the final finish---the cleaner is named Finesse-It and the final finish is named 3-M Liquid Polish, Clear Coat Face---this is a two coat operation and can be hand buffed or machine buffed, to a final gloss--- usually found at automobile supply stores.
Corner Pocket in Ft Lauderdale Florida, and Master Billiards in New York, use this type of ball conditioning.
Top pocket billiard players are known for not liking this type of ball slide ---someday, somewhere, a 9-ball event will feature this type of cue ball slide, and the locals will have the advantage---maybe China ?
Ten Second Lesson
At the 1999 Las Vegas World Cup I asked Raymond Ceulemans what would be the most important "stroke advice" he would offer the average player.
"Try to move only the arm below the elbow and do not use much wrist for most shots", was his reply.. Much can go wrong if you do not follow his advice. This has a lot to do with losing control of the shot and becoming a better player.
Its easy to classify billiard players; those who stroke the ball correctly, and those who do not. For example, most players move their head or upper body as they strike the cue ballnotice this when observing others. The player must stay motionless until the cue ball is gone. Peeking at the shot too quickly causes problems such as slightly pulling up and not follow- ing through completely. Shoot most shots without using much wrist, especially short angle shots. The forearm and hand work as a unit and have much more control of the cue ball with better results.
Once practiced, your stroke will magically improve.
A Ladder Tournament
River City Miracle
In Wichita, I selfishly organized these locals recently using Bondzinski's ladder club concept so that they could see their averages and have their hearts on improvement. It worked too. There are 14 players. In one month they've played over 100 games and the housemen are cleaning the table everyday. Without 4 pounds of chalk, they play longer and rather well. Then, I make available the Atlas books for those that stand still long enough to read a select page or two. Most will.
Those of us that rely on the books and our working our way through them (one new thing at a time) "call our shots" to each other, so we can compare and discuss the many approaches. It's a minor miracle, right here in River City. One guy will say, "Rising Sun," another offers, "Dead Ball here", "Sid", "Walt's," "Sang Lee," "Plus," all those familiar names in the books.
Here's the punch-line: "these writings have given even Wichita a body of infor- mation that is improving play and interest in the game...not just for students and 3 cushion fanatics, like me, but for the newcomers and converted pool players in town. The way these books play a part in the improvement of the game is probably greater than Walt will ever know."
Author of the above, David from Wichita, Kansas , December 12, 1998 < DKS411@aol.com> Ladder expert, Frank Bondzinski,1301 Ironwood Dr. Mount Prospect, IL 60056.
Simple Reverse-the-Rail System (Cho-dan-cho)
One of Korea's World Class Players CHUL MIN KIM donated this simple reverse-the rail system.
Table and ball conditions vary so you may have to adjust a little....a level cue with a full follow through stroke is needed....shoot softly for desired cue ball spin....Cho-dan-cho makes billiard life easier. Q-ball at 20 on short rail---Object balls at 10 on short rail. 20 + 10 = 30 Aim point on long rail is 30.
99 to 1
Many thanks to Sancho, the Frenchman, for locating this fourth rail cue ball path ---which originates from the short rail (A)--- to a target on the opposite short rail (B)---with numbers as shown.
The odds of scoring a billiard here are 99 to 1 ! Example: Cue ball (Q) origin = 25---fourth rail destination = 30. Select a point on the origin rail (A) that is opposite the fourth rail target on (B) (which is 30)---then divide by 2 (which is 15), this is the base line. Formula is: Origin on rail (A) is 25, minus 15 = 10---aim at 10 on rail (B).
Cue ball origins from 15 to 0 are outside the system limits
Greek Backout
Antonios Gallopoulos, a 3-Cushion systems player from Greece, donated this unique "Backout" system. If cue ball is at position "5 or 12" and first ball (Red) is at position "5 - 3" the first rail hit point is 5.
If cue ball is at position "5 or 12" and first ball (Red) is at position "7 + 4" the first rail hit point is 12.
For other short rail cue ball origins put together the origin rail multiplier and first ball (red ball) number and make the calculation e.g. as in the drawing. (cue ball origin number is at 3x). 3 x 7 + 4 = 25 when red ball is at position "7 + 4". 3 x 5 - 3 = 12 when red ball is at position "5 - 3".
Two Thirds System
Here's another short angle gem from Greece (where the angle into the first rail is less then 45 degrees).
Antonios Gallopoulos has simplified the Billiard Atlas's "two thirds" system ---and it becomes "3/2"
Suppose we want an arrival at diamond 3---multiply 3 x 3/2 = 4.5
On the line 4.5 to 0, find a spot on the wall , aim the cue ball---et viola !!
Center Cue ball hit---soft stroke---spot on the wall distance is important--- for distance, use the distance from the cue ball's origin rail to the first rail.
Latest Word Note: With practice, a player can use this aim point and add one, two, or three tips of side english to the cue ball---each tip of side english adds 1/3 of diamond to the third rail hit point---an excellent drill for accuracy---note that a center cue hit can spell path trouble on certain tables.
A short angle example is shown here:
Billiard Posters from Professorqball
Thanks to Paul Frankel, the billiard world can finally see large colored posters showing "systems and techniques"