Checkout the SPM review of the iCue training cueball https://youtu.be/rFvNbCJ5Nfc #iCue #SneakyPeteMafia #icueclinic #PoolSchool #GarretTroop #billiardequipment #sneakypetemafiamagazine #Reviews

“So you are thinking about buying a pool table” Obviously you can purchase a new one, but depending on your budget, you may consider purchasing a pre-owned table, which can be a good alternative to a new one, offering you more “bang for your buck.” One of the first things you want to consider is the style. Do you want a furniture style or a commercial style. Today many people are putting their pool table in the living room or a very nice family room and want a table that look

Very few pool players understand that their performance will reach a stalemate after they master many of the mental and physical aspects of the game. This “lack of improvement” occurs because they have not developed the ability to balance both their conscious and subconscious mind. The fact remains that you cannot play pool completely subconsciously. This is a common problem that needs to be addressed—if you can’t clearly define where the problem lies in your mind, how can

Recently one of my students asked, “How can I erase the memory of a missed shot and not let it create self-doubt for the rest of my match? Whenever I play a bad match I immediately start to think about how much that’s affected my chances to win that particular tournament. Negative thoughts start to creep in…it’s hard to rebound from a poor performance.” As a coach, I usually tell my students that thoughts are just thoughts and to treat them as such. When your brain produces

Grady “The Professor” Mathews once said, “Pool is 70 percent mental.” Over the years, you have probably made enough poor decisions to believe this is true. Why, then, do we associate our playing ability with physical skill? Honestly, some players are more definable by the way they think than by the way they stroke the cue ball. Take the big breaker who crushes the rack but throws a temper tantrum every time he scratches: Yes, he’s got a powerful stroke, but before long his em

General FAQs – Laws of Pool These apply to just about everyone. It is nearly impossible to avoid these laws and their consequence. They don’t apply every time, but when they do, it is a personal intervention from the hands of any one of the many billiard gods. • The more balls you make in an inning, the easier it is to miss an easy shot. • On a 9 Ball hill-hill game, if you make the 9 ball, the cue ball will scratch. • The better you play, the easier you can be beaten by a

We all know that our beliefs have a huge impact on our lives. From an early age we are in pursuit of the elusive self-belief. Discover it and almost anything can seem achievable, but we are also told that self-belief is something we either have or don’t have. It’s essentially a gift we are born with. The reality is you may not have natural self-belief but you can create it and it’s so much easier than you may think. For a greater understanding allow me to tell you a story. Sa

#1 Best selling author Steven H. Gifford afforded me the opportunity to interview him today. He has a lot to say about pool and has been a driving motivator and leader throughout his life, writer, pool player, Marine, and USA patriot. I have just downloaded Gifford’s book entitled, ‘Final Expense Boot Camp: Earn Your Stripes Today,’ and have gleaned some insight into the man behind ‘Top Shots,’ and so many other upcoming books on the game of pocket billiards & pool. The first

Billiards is a game of skill. Pocket billiards the game of choice for so many in the US and worldwide. Players invest in nice cues that sometimes cost thousands of dollars. Some types of tip chalk costs twenty-plus dollars a piece. Sure, it’s great to have nice things, but ultimately pool is about how well one plays the game. Respect is earned by a players skill, ability to run out, make shots, win — not by how much his or her pool cue cost. Some say, “the game is the teac

In this industry we are all looking for that competitive edge. In the end your stroke and creativity on the table is the only thing that will separate you. With that being said the equipment that you choose to put in your case and on your cue really defines what you’re capable of doing on the table. The tip has the most contact with the cue ball. So tip contact is important. The brand Taom chalk has been in the industry for a while now and is always making improvements i

As you well know, I’m a Master Instructor that focuses a lot on mental game, so if you think you are getting a magical stroke tip here, this article may disappoint you. But if you want enhance the way you think and allow yourself to deliver more straight, smooth strokes, well then maybe I can be of assistance. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRACTICING AND PLAYING There are fundamental differences between practicing and playing. One of the major differences between the two environme

As a Master Instructor, I work with numerous students each year. One of the most popular topics in pool of late has been the discussion of how professional players aim. Many pros use the old ghost ball system, or aim through the aid of their memory from thousands of shots they have struck during their careers. However, the majority of professionals prefer to use some type of concrete aiming system. Aiming systems range from the very simple to the complex (Center to Edge). P

As a Master Instructor, I get the privilege of working with junior players of all ability levels. Some are among the best in the world and many are striving to become the best they can be. Mental coaching for junior player is perhaps the most rewarding work I do. Teaching a young player how to develop a positive mindset and watching them grow in both ability and confidence is great! I not only help them become better players, but it will also help them in school and other s

When you are to arrive at your goals in pocket billiards you need to know exactly what your goals are. You don’t walk up to the ticket counter and ask for a ticket to California. You must specify which city and airport you intend to land in. Many players start out in this game with no real goal. They play, pound balls and learn from other amatuers as they go along. If they do have a goal it is vague with no real way to measure it. “I want to see how good I can get” is not me

The name Willie Mosconi is or should be familiar to anyone who follows professional billiards on television – the annual Mosconi 9-ball US vs. EU tournament is named after him. You can read more about him on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Mosconi The name Jimmy Caras is not as familiar, though as a contemporary of Mosconi’s, he was equally legendary in his time. You can read a brief biography of Caras on this BCA Hall Of Fame page: http://bca-pool.com/?page=3

FACBOOK POSTS & BILLIARDS OUTAKES, Volume 1.87: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS — TEAM PEP TALK (The Tallahassee Squirrel always talking shit {and backing it up}): We have been on a winning streak for a while now, and also, I’ve been personally doing better on an individual level, which gives our team a boost. It’s been fun most of all, being a part of a team with some cool peeps. Andrew, Lee, Ricardo, D Boy, Phil, (Sam, maybe if he ever comes out…lol), and Lee — and we have won now for

Tyler ‘Airborne’ Styer The 2018 Mosconi Cup, held this year in London, England in the Alexandra Palace December 4th through the 7th, was a clash of the Titans billiards battle for the ages — USA winning it ultimately 11-9 — team Europe making a comeback the final day from a 9-6 deficit. Woodward won the first match that final day vs former world number one, Albin Ouschan, and SVB (Shane Van Boening) came through against Alexander Kazakis of Greece, the combination US-duo pr

Jake is about to play his first-round match. His preparation on the practice table has been exceptional. He has remained focused and confident. His timing and delivery of the cue are admired by many of the established players who attend the same club. However, as Jake sits and waits for his opportunity to display his current form on the all-important match table he begins to experience those familiar doubts in his mind coupled with the physical feelings of anxiety. This is in

“I’ve paid my dues Time after time. I’ve done my sentence But committed no crime. And bad mistakes‒ I’ve made a few. I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face But I’ve come through… We are the champions, my friends. And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end. We are the champions. We are the champions. No time for losers ‘Cause we are the champions of the world.” –MERCURY, FREDERICK. The Mosconi Cup 2018 between Europe, and 13 other countries and the US just concluded

There are a lot of different styles of breaking cues appearing on the market today. Some are lighter than others and it really depends on your style and stroke as to what is best for the player. For those of you that like the forward weighted breaking cues there are some options. The idea is that the forward weight stabilizes the stroke. The Pechauer Black Ice takes that idea and puts it into this new cue. They infused the maple shaft with four chemicals to treat the shaf