The Baltimore Bullet starring James Coburn, Omar Sharif, and Bruce Boxleitner with cameos by pro players Lou Butera, Irving Crane, Willie Mosconi, Allen Hopkins, James Rempe, Steve Mizerak, Mike Sigel and Jimmy Mataya. Released in the 80's (1980), this movie definitely fits the era. It screams of cheesy one-liners, campy humor, and a terrible soundtrack.
The Plot...6/10:
The Baltimore Bullet is about two pool hustlers, Nick Casey "The Baltimore Bullet" (James Coburn) and Billy Joe Robbins (Bruce Boxleitner) hustling on the road and trying to set up a big game. There are a few poorly choreographed fights, women, and complete nonsense along the way (all key ingredients for an 80's movie). For me, about mid-way through the movie, I almost turned it off. The middle portion of the movie strays pretty far from pool playing as Nick and Billy Joe are on the road to hustle up some cash so they can play "The Deacon" (Omar Sharif). Watching movies like this really makes me appreciate more modern films.
The Pool Scenes...5/10:
The early scenes are just Nick and Billy Joe hustling and there are not any considerably long scenes. Later in the movie, Nick and Billy Joe enter a pool tournament playing straight pool, although they spend more time showing what is happening off the table than on.
The Actors 7/10:
Overlooking the fact that this is a cheesy 1980 movie, the actors aren't too bad. I had heard the name James Coburn before, but wasn't familiar with any of his movies. The other actors I had never heard of. The acting wasn't too terrible and the script was probably in line with the 80's.
My Movie Rating...6/10:
I certainly wouldn't call this a "must watch" pool movie. In fact, I wouldn't recommend it at all, unless you were in the mood for a cheesy ridiculous 80's movie that happens to have a pool theme. However, if you care to spend nearly 2 hours watching this movie, it can be seen in full on YouTube at this link.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Pool on YouTube: An invaluable training tool
Sometime in the last couple of years or so, YouTube started allowing users to upload videos longer than 15 minutes. This has created a treasure trove of billiard videos you can use as a training tool.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to attend professional tournaments and watch the pros in action or live in an area where the pros hang out. So the next best thing (that's free) is to watch billiard videos on YouTube. Just for fun, I searched for "Billiards" on YouTube. The search says there are about 350,000 videos related to that search term! I narrowed it down some by applying filters of "Upload in the last year", "HD quality", and "Long 20 ~ minutes". That returns a little over 2,000 videos.
So how can you use billiard videos on YouTube as a training tool? I'll give you my list of what I watch for, then break each down a little.
1. Pattern play
2. When to play safe
3. How the pros escape trouble
4. Commentary
5. How the pros approach/think a shot
1. Pattern play. This, for me, is one of the most important things I like to watch. After the break, look at the layout of the table. Where are the trouble balls? Are some balls tied up? How will the pros break those up? Try to play the rack out in your mind. Watch how the pros play the rack out. Did they play out the rack how you thought it out? Also watch how they set themselves up for the next shot. Invaluable stuff.
2. When to play safe. A lot of times when I'm watching the pros play, it's interesting to see when they play safe and when they go for a shot. Watch what factors play into when they play safe. Is the next ball tied up? Is it early in the match or a hill-hill, do or die situation? Also, watch how they play safe.
3. How the pros escape trouble. This is also interesting to watch. Most of the top pros have such precise cue ball control they can really lock their opponent up. Does the pro jump over the ball, kick at the next ball, or play an intentional foul, further tying up balls? If they kick to escape trouble, is it a 1 rail kick? 2 rail kick, or more? Try to figure out why they played that particular shot.
4. Commentary. All of the tournament matches will have commentators calling the match. Most of the commentators are former or current pros, or have been around pool a long time in some fashion. For the most part, the commentators will give you a good idea of what the shooter is thinking and how he or she will play the shot. Not only will you get insight into the match, but maybe some good stories too!
5. How the pros approach/think a shot. Every player approaches the shot a little differently. Some walk around the table really studying the layout, some use their cue to point where the cue or object ball will go or where they are attempting to have the cue ball stop. And some players like Earl Strickland just bang the balls in.
Watching the pros play, how they play the rack, when they play safe, and listening to the commentary is an important training tool. Check out some of these videos on YouTube, take notes, practice some of the layouts to see how you do, and improve your game!
Not everyone is fortunate enough to attend professional tournaments and watch the pros in action or live in an area where the pros hang out. So the next best thing (that's free) is to watch billiard videos on YouTube. Just for fun, I searched for "Billiards" on YouTube. The search says there are about 350,000 videos related to that search term! I narrowed it down some by applying filters of "Upload in the last year", "HD quality", and "Long 20 ~ minutes". That returns a little over 2,000 videos.
So how can you use billiard videos on YouTube as a training tool? I'll give you my list of what I watch for, then break each down a little.
1. Pattern play
2. When to play safe
3. How the pros escape trouble
4. Commentary
5. How the pros approach/think a shot
1. Pattern play. This, for me, is one of the most important things I like to watch. After the break, look at the layout of the table. Where are the trouble balls? Are some balls tied up? How will the pros break those up? Try to play the rack out in your mind. Watch how the pros play the rack out. Did they play out the rack how you thought it out? Also watch how they set themselves up for the next shot. Invaluable stuff.
2. When to play safe. A lot of times when I'm watching the pros play, it's interesting to see when they play safe and when they go for a shot. Watch what factors play into when they play safe. Is the next ball tied up? Is it early in the match or a hill-hill, do or die situation? Also, watch how they play safe.
3. How the pros escape trouble. This is also interesting to watch. Most of the top pros have such precise cue ball control they can really lock their opponent up. Does the pro jump over the ball, kick at the next ball, or play an intentional foul, further tying up balls? If they kick to escape trouble, is it a 1 rail kick? 2 rail kick, or more? Try to figure out why they played that particular shot.
4. Commentary. All of the tournament matches will have commentators calling the match. Most of the commentators are former or current pros, or have been around pool a long time in some fashion. For the most part, the commentators will give you a good idea of what the shooter is thinking and how he or she will play the shot. Not only will you get insight into the match, but maybe some good stories too!
5. How the pros approach/think a shot. Every player approaches the shot a little differently. Some walk around the table really studying the layout, some use their cue to point where the cue or object ball will go or where they are attempting to have the cue ball stop. And some players like Earl Strickland just bang the balls in.
Watching the pros play, how they play the rack, when they play safe, and listening to the commentary is an important training tool. Check out some of these videos on YouTube, take notes, practice some of the layouts to see how you do, and improve your game!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
The Decider Results. Shane Van Boening vs. Earl Strickland
Well, it's all over except Earl's rants. Shane Van Boening swept Earl Strickland in all 3 days of pool in Helena, Montana.
Day 1 was a race to 30 in 9-ball. Shane Van Boening won by a score of 30-20.
Day 2 was a race to 30 in 8-ball. Shane strung together 8 racks to finish off Earl 30-22.
Day 3 was a race to 30 in 10-ball. Shane beat Earl by a score of 30-27.
Here are some stats compiled by Pool-Trax.net
Day 1 - 9-ball
Day 2 - 8-ball
Day 3 - 10-ball
I personally did not watch this event, seriously considered purchasing the PPV live stream, but decided against it. I would have liked to have watched Shane Van Boening run those last 8 racks on Day 2!! Maybe it will be up on YouTube sometime.
I really like these one-on-one matchups against top professional players. I hope many more of these types of events can be held. Earl Strickland thinks the pros should play on 10 foot tables. Apparently 8-ball is easier for the pros.
What do you think?
Day 1 was a race to 30 in 9-ball. Shane Van Boening won by a score of 30-20.
Day 2 was a race to 30 in 8-ball. Shane strung together 8 racks to finish off Earl 30-22.
Day 3 was a race to 30 in 10-ball. Shane beat Earl by a score of 30-27.
Here are some stats compiled by Pool-Trax.net
Day 1 - 9-ball
Day 2 - 8-ball
Day 3 - 10-ball
I personally did not watch this event, seriously considered purchasing the PPV live stream, but decided against it. I would have liked to have watched Shane Van Boening run those last 8 racks on Day 2!! Maybe it will be up on YouTube sometime.
I really like these one-on-one matchups against top professional players. I hope many more of these types of events can be held. Earl Strickland thinks the pros should play on 10 foot tables. Apparently 8-ball is easier for the pros.
What do you think?
Saturday, August 3, 2013
The Decider. Shane Van Boening vs. Earl Strickland
Two of the top professional pool players in the world, Shane Van Boening and Earl Strickland, are facing off this weekend in Helena, Montana in a 3-day match-up of 9-ball, 8-ball, and 10-ball. The competition is taking place on a 7 foot Diamond bar box table and is being live streamed by POVpool.com.
Yesterday, Shane and Earl played a race to 30 in 9-ball. Shane Van Boening won the match by a score of 30-20. Today, the action took place at 1 p.m. Pacific/4 p.m. Eastern and once again, Shane Van Boening came out on top by a score of 30-22. Shane found his break towards the end of the match and strung together 8 racks to finish off Earl.
Tomorrow, (August 4, 2013) the action starts again at 1 p.m. Pacific/4 p.m. Eastern with another race to 30, this time in 10-ball.
If you would like to tune in and watch live, go to http://povpool.com/decider-tickets/
Yesterday, Shane and Earl played a race to 30 in 9-ball. Shane Van Boening won the match by a score of 30-20. Today, the action took place at 1 p.m. Pacific/4 p.m. Eastern and once again, Shane Van Boening came out on top by a score of 30-22. Shane found his break towards the end of the match and strung together 8 racks to finish off Earl.
Tomorrow, (August 4, 2013) the action starts again at 1 p.m. Pacific/4 p.m. Eastern with another race to 30, this time in 10-ball.
If you would like to tune in and watch live, go to http://povpool.com/decider-tickets/
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