Surprisingly, these death rates have been decreasing since 1990 — especially in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness. In 2011, there are more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. and this number continues to grow with the efforts of foundations such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

A well-respected custom cue maker from Englewood, Colorado is leading a quest of his own to raise money for this organization. Chris Byrne sets his sights high for a cause he believes so strongly in. “Stick it to Breast Cancer” hopes to raise over $10,000 for breast cancer by auctioning high-end custom cues from cue builders all around the country.

About seven years ago, Byrne’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and after his good friend Bob McBride’s wife passed away from the same illness he knew it was time to put his plan to action. “It makes you realize how short life is. I could’ve lost my mom. I feel very blessed that she’s still around. And then with my friend’s wife, she was only in her late 30′s,” Byrne recalls.

Byrne began spreading the word at the 2010 Super Billiards Expo, recruiting his fellow cue makers to build a unique cue for his cause. Many agreed and the response was overwhelming. This exclusive collection includes cues from such notable cue makers as Southwest, Ron Haley, Jacoby, Brent Hartman of BHQ, Eric Crisp of Sugartree Cues, Tony Zinzola, Mike Webb, Murray Tucker, and possibly Bill Schick. “There are actually quite a few more guys that wanted to donate but couldn’t, just because of the time constraints. Some of these guys are on a 10 year waiting list,” explained Byrne.

Among these original designs, Jacoby’s one of a kind cue has a pink coral and red coral ribbon inlay. The Jacoby logo is also in pink and it’s personally hand signed by David Jacoby himself. Southwest cues also engraved the ribbon logo into the joint pin. These auctions will run through the end of the year.

The first two auctions have already raised over $4,300. A new auction will run every 5-10 days for a new collectible custom cue worth anywhere from $500 to $3,500 with 100% of the proceeds going toward Susan G. Koman for the Cure®. In conjunction with the auction, a raffle will also be running through the duration of the fundraiser. Supporters will receive a raffle ticket for every $10 donated. The idea for the raffle was a last minute bonus when Byrne generously contributed an extra cue of his own. “Mine is the raffle cue and I also have one in the auction. I wanted to do something to help out the people that couldn’t afford to bid on the big cues.”

Byrne has been making cues since 1994 and builds about 25 cues a year, focusing on the higher end player cues. Check out his work at cbcues.com. More information on the Stick it to Breast Cancer fundraiser can be found at AzBilliards.com/stickit. See current and past auction listings, make a donation for a chance at the raffle cue, and learn more about breast cancer.

Breast Cancer statistics provided by the nonprofit organization, BreastCancer.org, the leading online resource for breast health and breast cancer information and support, and a dynamic peer support community. Also, learn more about Susan G. Koman for the Cure® at Komen.org, whose mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening, and treatment. Special thanks to Sean Thamrongpradith and Don Posri for their assistance with the “photo shoot.”

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Shot #1

In the semifinals against Alex Pagulayan, Darren runs these final three balls to move ahead 7-6. The most natural path for the cue ball, using some helping right-hand spin, sends it around the table three rails for position on the 8. The option that Darren has is to decide which pocket he wants to shoot the 8 ball.

Option A plays position to shoot the 8 ball in the corner pocket. If he’s able to get perfect on this ball, it’s not a bad choice. However, if he comes up short he could be left with a difficult shot. If he overruns position he will be flirting with the side pocket. Option A leaves a pretty small window for position.

Option B plays position to shoot the 8 ball in the side pocket. This was the option Darren chose. Opting to play the 8 ball in the side pocket affords a much bigger window to still have a good shot. If he comes up short he will send the cue ball around the 9 three rails for position. If he overruns position he can easily go around the table three rails the other direction for the 9 ball. It’s pretty difficult to foil this run out by choosing to play the 8 ball in the side pocket.

Shot #2

In this next example, Darren runs these three balls to advance 4-0 in the finals against Shawn Putnam. Darren is almost straight in on the 6 ball and again, has to decide which pocket he wants to play the 8 ball. I’ve seen many players in this instance just stop the cue ball guaranteeing they will have a shot on the 8. This may be the easier shot but perhaps not the most effective. Take a look at what a professional does.

Option A plays position for the 8 ball in the corner pocket by shooting a stop shot. The benefit to this option is the easier shot on the 6 ball but on the other hand, the position of the 8 ball can make the nearby side pocket seem awfully big if you end up with too much angle.

Option B plays position for the 8 ball in the side pocket by drawing straight back. This was the option Darren chose. The advantage to getting the cue ball to the center of the table is that, again, he has a much bigger window for position on the 8 ball. If he comes up short, he can go around the 9, if he’s straight in he shoots a stop shot, and if he goes too far he goes around the other end of the table; similar to the other example.

There are a couple different schools of thought on this second shot. Some may say the draw shot carries a higher risk of miscuing, which is true. Depending on your style of play, you may prefer less movement on the cue ball. Then, there’s also the rule of “don’t play position when you already have position” which, in this case, could easily apply.

There is one important thing to remember when faced with a situation like this. Of course you always want to select the shot you’re most comfortable shooting but remember, with three balls left on the table you want to be comfortable with all three of them, not just the one. Win more games and have more fun, the way the pros do it!

To purchase the DVD of this match or others like it, go to accu-stats.com and mention this article to receive $5 off.

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A collection of the best writing in pool.

This article is part of the 25th edition of PoolSynergy, a monthly collection of the best writing on pool. Our lovely hostess this month is Melinda and her appropriately selected theme is “Thankful”.

First, before I begin, I’d like to thank Melinda for giving me the perfect kick in the butt this week to start writing again. I know I’ve totally been slacking but that thing called LIFE just keeps getting in the way.

Where were we? Oh, yeah. Gratitude is one thing in life that I have always tried to be pretty conscious of. More so a couple years ago when my amazing, long-time friend gifted me my very own Gratitude Journal. I committed to writing in it every night before bed for one year and that’s exactly what I did.

Being grateful is a frame of mind. It requires constant awareness and positive thinking. Believe it or not, it takes practice. It’s not easy to be thankful for the most simple things in life that we usually take for granted. When we can truly appreciate how fortunate we are to have a warm meal and a comfortable bed somehow all the other problems can seem pretty insignificant.

So, for this month’s topic, I thought I’d reflect on:

The 10 Wonderful Things Pool Has Brought Into My Life

Basically, had it not been for my involvement with this beautiful sport, I never would have…

1. learned to speak on camera. It was never my intention to end up holding the mic but being in the right place at the right time, and loving the right sport opened this door for me.
2. become a writer. It’s funny. I have only recently referred to myself as “a writer.” I never considered myself a very good writer at all. Heck! English is not even my first language. But, through the surprising support of my peers and community, here I am now, with a syndicated monthly column, a couple feature columns, and a couple blogs, including our baby, PoolSynergy.
3. self published my own book. Had a group of us not been sitting around my friend’s pool table at his Halloween party throwing around D-player-isms, the concept never would’ve come together and I never would’ve researched and learned how to publish my own book.
4. learned to always give 100%. Not that I didn’t always do my best before, but in this sport, you get what you give. Ain’t that the truth?! I have never learned this lesson better than I have with pool. “Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good,” Malcom Gladwell (Outliers)
5. realized my passion for teaching pool. Who would’ve known? Over the past couple years, what’s become just as rewarding for me as playing is teaching. I taught violin lessons for nearly 10 years before ever teaching my first pool lesson. The look on my student’s face when he gets it or she shoots her first stop shot is absolutely priceless.
6. acquired such an extensive library. Through our individual years of collecting miscellaneous pool books and magazines, my husband and I have combined our collections, along with some generous donations from other thoughtful friends, to form the massive super-library that occupies a seven-foot tall book shelf filled with magazines spanning 15+ years, and the rarest books and videos that a player could dream of.
7. met so many special friends. Many of whom have graciously invited me to stay in their homes, and even to meet their friends and families. I cherish all my unique friendships.
8. learned so much about R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Pool has taught me so much about respect, not only when it comes to earning respect from others but also about giving proper respect where it’s due. This game is humbling. There are a lot of dues to be paid before any winning can take place. Respect is something to never take for granted.
9. experienced pool therapy. When life gets hectic, I sometimes forget that pool is my friend. It’s that friend that no matter how long you go without communicating, you still just pick right back up where you left off. Yeah, pool is there for me whenever I need it.
10. met and married my soul mate. If it were not for pool, I never would have found my one true love that could possibly put up with all my quirks and silliness. For this, I have all the reason in the world to be thankful…

These are some of the many reasons I am so ever thankful I was introduced to pool. Of course, there are so many more things I could am thankful for but I’ll let you have your turn now.

This article is the 25th of a series of posts written in coordination with other pool bloggers entitled “PoolSynergy“. This month’s theme is “Thankful” To read other articles on this topic, go to: http://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-thanks.html

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I was first introduced to this passage in 2004 by a former coach and mentor. He would repeat it over and over when he could see that I wasn’t fully committed to the shot or a decision. I never fully appreciated what he was saying to me until lately. In a recent professional turn in my life, I’ve found myself in a position where I have too many roles. Between managing, marketing, writing, teaching, reporting, and just simply trying to be a good wife, I was doing the best that I could but for the first time in years, I revisited the words of my former coach, “Half measures avail us nothing.”

We all wear many hats in our lives. We may be parents, teachers, neighbors, or pool players. Whatever the role may be, it’s impossible to give any of them 100% without awareness. Awareness is what allows us to identify with the specific task at hand and to perform it to our best. Awareness affords us the opportunity to enjoy ourselves when we accept a challenge. Without awareness, we would not be able to take full measures.

Examples of full measures we can practice in pool:

1. Do not look ahead on the tournament bracket. Only focus on the one match you are about to play. Too many times, I’ve seen players psych themselves out by whom their next opponent might be if they win or what time their next match is.
2. When shooting two-way shots, have a specific plan on which is more important, either the safety or the offensive shot. When we divide our efforts between both shots, often times we can miss them both and leave the table for our opponent.
3. If you show up to play in a 9-ball tournament, focus on the tournament. Try not to get caught up on any side action shenanigans. If your focus is to have a positive outcome at the tournament, gambling and playing other games will only distract you from the main event.
4. If you’re ever unsure or not fully committed to the shot, stand up and start the shot over again. Shooting while undecided will only reinforce bad habits.
5. While in a match, shut off your phone. The only way you can do your best at whatever it is you’re doing is by giving it your undivided attention.

The only way to avoid regret and disappointment is to always do your best and give all of yourself to whatever it is you’re doing. If you don’t succeed then you cannot blame yourself for not giving it 100%. If half measures avail us nothing then full measure will avail us everything.

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Volume 2 of “What Would the Pros Do?” takes us to the 2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships in Chesapeake, Virginia where the score is tied 5-5 between Efren Reyes and Marc Vidal. After making a remarkable shot on the 7 ball in the side, Efren leaves himself dead, straight in on the 8 ball with the 9 at the other end of the table.

Commentators quickly identified his dilemma and suggested he might attempt a jump or masse shot. Efren scratched his head and contemplated all the possibilities. In the end, the choice was clear. Let’s review his options:

Option A:   Cheat the pocket.

Option B:   Jump the cue ball.

Option C:   Masse the cue ball.

Option D:   Draw the cue ball.

Option E:   Pocket the 8 ball rail-first.

Efren chose Option E.

The risk of attempting to cheat the pocket in Option A is too high. So many things could go wrong with this choice. It’s far too easy to miss the shot when you place priority on playing position. Aside from missing the shot, there’s also the extreme danger of jumping either or both balls off the table.

Jumping the cue ball in Option B requires a perfect hit and is also incredibly risky. The possibility of the cue ball and/or the object ball jumping off the table is quite high. This shot also requires an elevated cue and a very firm stroke. Once again, there is a huge chance of missing the shot.

The masse shot in Option C is not a bad choice but it’s an extremely difficult shot that requires a lot of practice. This is not a practical shot and even with practice it’s not guaranteed that it can be executed properly under pressure in competition. If you are able to pocket the ball with the masse, the cue ball is sent loose and there is very little guarantee for position.

Drawing the cue ball straight back with low left-hand spin will get you close, but not close enough. You will have a hard time getting the cue ball anywhere near the center of the table. Once again, using such extreme spin and speed reduces the chances of pocketing the ball and in this case, with very little reward even if you do.

The best decision in this scenario is Option E. The only thing Efren has to do was decide what part of the rail to contact and adjust his speed accordingly. This shot is played with inside draw. The inside (right-hand) spin facilitates pocketing the ball and as an added bonus, it also causes the cue ball to bounce away from the 9 ball after it contacts the second rail.

This rail-first shot guarantees position on the 9 ball. In the event that you miss the 8 ball, it also carries the possibility of a safety because the cue ball is sent down table while the 8 ball usually remains up table. Efren also knew that with the newer cloth on the TV table, the balls slide more and shots are more forgiving.

Like any new shot, do not attempt to execute this without practice. If you miss the shot, pay close attention to what side of the ball you’re missing it. Don’t be afraid to cut this ball. It’s much better to overcut this shot than to undercut it. Remember that along with pocketing the ball, the other objective is to create distance between the cue ball and the 8 ball. Undercutting the 8 ball could easily result in selling out the shot.

Choosing the correct option won the game for Efren and allowed him to take the lead for the first time in the match. He went on to win 11-7. Both players demonstrated tremendous shot-making and defensive play in this feature Accu-stats match. Efren shot a .871 and Marc shot a .793.

To purchase this dvd or other great matches, go to accu-stats.com or call 1-800-828-0397 and mention this article to receive $5 off.

It was also the featured Simonis Shot of the Day on day five of the 2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships. (timestamp: 2:53)

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