A collection of the best writing in pool.

Welcome to the 22nd Edition of PoolSynergy!

I’m so thrilled to be hosting this edition! I can’t believe we’re only a couple months away from our two year anniversary.

I hope everyone out there has been enjoying your summer. And speaking of summer, since that’s traditionally off-peak for pool, I wanted to keep this month’s topic pretty simple. As a result, you’re in for a real treat. I love the variety of submissions we got this month!

The theme: “10 Things”

Basically, list 10 things or reasons for something pool-related, e.g. your 10 favorite ???, 10 reasons why you ???, 10 tips on ???, 10 random pool thoughts???, essentially, a list of 10 anything pool-related.

It’s always a good PS month when the number of contributors are in the double digits, especially when we can welcome some newbies. This month, we are treated with 20 talented writers, and some I think you’ll recognize. *Our first seven are first-time PS’ers.

So, without further adieu, here are this month’s contributors…
(click on photo for summary)

1. Mark *

2. Suzanne *

3. Frank *

4. Marc *

5. Tim *

6. Ivan *

7. Jennifer *

8. Ace

9. Jarno

10. Markus

11. Mike

12. Melinda

13. Michael

14. Jake

15. Gail

16. Mike

17. Gary

18. Samm (me)

19. Alison

20. John

1. Mark Greenhaw

Welcome our first new contributor! Mark began playing in Birmingham, Alabama in 2009 and has since also introduced his loving wife of 20+ years to our world. Next will be his daughters. Mark’s been blogging about his experiences since December 2010 at Pool Padawan. “Padawan” is somewhat of a Jedi rookie which makes “Pool Padawan” quite an appropriate title for his blog.

Mark’s 10: Ten Things I’ve Learned Since Beginning

[return to top]

2. Suzanne Smith

[return to top]

3. Frank T. Dawg

Let’s welcome our four-legged friend Frank, the PoolDawg mascot. He’s been to more big events than most pool players. Since one of my favorite things to do is eat, Frank joined the bandwagon and listed ten of the places I’ve taken him for grub during our travels.

Frank’s 10: 10 Places Samm’s Taken me for Chow

[return to top]

4. Marc Vidal Claramunt

My sweet husband came to my rescue this month when one of our writers backed out at the last minute. I suppose I could’ve just changed the title to “19 Writers. 10 Things.” but it just didn’t quite have the same ring to it. Well, when you’re dealing with 19 different lives with 19 different things going on, this sort of thing is bound to happen. Marc threw this quick list together for us and believe me, the man has seen a lot of pool.

Marc’s 10: The Ten Best 9/10-Ball Players in the World Today

[return to top]

5. Tim “Trick Shot Tim” Chin

[return to top]

6. Ivan Lee

We’re graced by the presence of the one and only , Mr. Ivan Lee himself. In the 11th hour, I asked Ivan, Man of the Decade and President of Simonis Cloth (my personal cloth of choice), to send me a quick top ten list so I could complete my circle of 20. Within minutes, I had about 15 items. We whittled them down to 10 but it wasn’t easy. Maybe this will help you make a decision the next time you get your table recovered.

Ivan’s 10: 10 Great Reasons to Choose Simonis Cloth

[return to top]

7. Jennifer Barretta

Another newcomer that requires no introduction is the “9mm” herself, Jennifer Barretta. The uber talented professional player, body builder, model, actress, and mother has graciously agreed to contribute this month with a clever topic. Since 2009, she’s been giving us a little peek into her world through her blog as she cleverly puts it, “eviscerating my soul for your reading pleasure.”

Jen’s 10: 10 Ways to tell the level of a player without ever seeing them hit a ball

[return to top]

8. Ace Toscano

We are joined once again by our Ace in the hole. As he puts it, “I’m not one of those ‘give me lemons, I’ll give you lemonade’ kind of guys,” so his list of ten is quite appropriate. Though he’s an infrequent contributor, his blog is always up to date and I hope we will be seeing more of him in the future.

Ace’s 10: Ten Poolroom Things That Make Me Grumble

[return to top]

9. Jarno Virtanen

[return to top]

10. Markus Hofstatter

Everyone’s favorite Austrian photographer, Markus Hofstatter has attended and photographed just about every big pool event around the world. This month, he’s sharing some of those great memories with us.

Markus’s 10: 10 Most Exciting Pool Moments

[return to top]

11. Mike Feiman

Mike’s 10: 10 Things I Love / Hate About Pool

[return to top]

12. Melinda Bailey

We’re so proud to have on board the lovely Melinda Bailey and her BD’s runner-up for Best Blog of 2010. Though I tried to keep the topic light, Melinda admitted that she struggled to decide on something to write about. I like what she ended up going with. I’m sure we could all use a bit of this advice to ourselves.

Melinda’s 10: The Top Ten Things She Wish She Knew 10-15 years ago

[return to top]

13. Michael Reddick

Michael Reddick, our official BD’s Best Blog of 2010 award winner also went through a few topics before finally deciding on his list for this month. If you’ve been following his journey through his transformation and progress as a player, you’ll understand why his blog received such acclaim.

Michael’s 10: 10 Quick Ways to Improve Your Game

[return to top]

14. R.A. “Jake” Dyer

No matter how many different takes we get on a particular subject, we can always count on Jake to remind us of where it all came from. This month is no different. He reviews a list of 10 key players from before our times that were each significant in their own way.

Jak’s 10: 10 Important Dead Guys

[return to top]

15. Gail Glazebrook

I always love Gail’s stylings! Her witty posts keep us entertained and add a certain spice to the synergy pot each month. I’m sure we can all relate to her list of 10 things this month. I know I can!

Gail’s 10: My Top 10 Donkey Moments

[return to top]

16. Mike Fieldhammer

“I waded through my collection and plucked out 10 good ones that have meaning to me,” said Mike for his post this month.

Mike’s 10: Top 10 Favorite Pool Photographs

[return to top]

17. Gary Frerking

What the heck do Kung Fu Panda II, Forrest Gump, Eddie Van Halen shredding through the Eruption solo, and Tom Cruise’s character in Top Gun have to do with billiards? Find out in Gary’s article. Hope I didn’t give away too much. His posts are always worth reading and this one is no exception. What a great topic!

Gary’s 10: 10 Ways to Quiet the Mind

Gary will also be hosting our special two-year anniversary edition in October, When Sharks Attack. If you’re interested in contributing, let me know.

[return to top]

18. Samm (Diep) Vidal

I must have an obsession with “10 things.” Find out why in my post.

My 10: 100 Things

[return to top]

19. Alison Fischer

Alison Fischer, contributor for NYCGrind.com can be seen at many of the big events and works tirelessly with the rest of the staff to cover our world of pool through their eyes. They can all be truly admired for the work they do and would also be considered some great ambassadors for our sport themselves.

Alison’s 10: Top 10 Best Player Ambassadors for the Sport of Pool

[return to top]

20. John Biddle

John Biddle has had his hands full recently with all the additions to his family so we’re glad whenever he’s able to get away and join us for the synergy. This month, he shows us 10 shots involving the use of throw, caroms, billiards, rail-first, and more. There’s sure to be something to try here.

John’s 10: 10 Useful (and Fun) Shots

[return to top]

John will also be hosting next month’s edition of PoolSynergy with his theme: Practice: What Works for You? Don’t miss it! If you’d like to contribute, hit me up.

Share on Facebook

Ivan is my guest writer to the 22nd edition of PoolSynergy:

1. Simply put, Simonis cloth plays the best and is found everywhere there are good players.
2. Simonis supports professionalism, honesty and integrity in the sport.
3. Simonis is the most consistent cloth available, helping tables play the same worldwide.
4. Simonis supports the sport by sponsoring federations, events, tours and players worldwide including professionals, amateurs and juniors.
5. Simonis is the only textile mill in the world committed to the production of cloth for cue sports.
6. Simonis has been in business since 1680 and is the oldest and most respected company in the billiard industry.
7. Simonis is an environmentally responsible manufacturer. We use high efficiency heating and lighting at the factory, we treat all post manufacturing water to remove contaminants and we are involved in the Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon emissions as well as the amount of energy required to produce our products. One of my favorite reasons!
8. In addition, Belgium is a first-world economy, so people are paid living wages and treated with great respect as craftsmen of our fine products. Working conditions are safe and clean with no abuses. Another great reason!
9. Simonis has put more money back into the sport that any other cloth company and most other companies in the billiard industry. Ain’t that the truth!
10. Simonis will outlast woolen cloths by three times or more, all the while playing significantly better. Compared to other worsted cloths, Simonis will provide superior play without causing improper ball roll (many cloths will compress forming “divots” in the cloth that will cause the ball to roll off and some cloths are woven in such a way that the ball will follow the weave at the end of a shot). In addition, it has been shown that claims that other cloths outlast Simonis are baseless. Once Simonis is properly installed, it will not require re-stretching like many cloths do. It will not loosen or pucker on the bed and rails like you find with lesser quality worsted cloths.Simonis is not the least expensive cloth, but Simonis will provide the greatest overall value because of the combination of great playing characteristics, excellent durability and superior consistency. Couple that great value with a corporate culture of customer service and support, and we are unbeatable. Agreed!

I couldn’t have said any of that better myself, that’s why I asked for Ivan’s help. Now the next time you’re ready to recover your table, you don’t have to choose Simonis just for the quality. There are plenty other reasons for you.

Order your Simonis Cloth today from PoolDawg

See the rest of the posts here: http://www.pooltipjar.com/2011/08/10-things-ps-host/

Share on Facebook

1. Ching-Shun Yang
2. Dennis Orcollo
3. Chia-Ching Wu
4. Lee Vann Corteza
5. Ronnie Alcano
6. Johnny Archer
7. Mika Immonen
8. Shane Van Boening
9. Francisco Bustamante
10. Alex Pagulayan

Click here for the host post:

http://www.pooltipjar.com/2011/08/10-things-ps-host/

Share on Facebook

The following list of FAQ’s was put together by my friends as the USAPL office. They have been super efficient and helpful in getting the league going in Denver. Fall Session kicks off in September! Check out the website for more info: RockyMountainPool.com

1. How Much Are the Annual Membership Fees / Weekly Dues?
Unlike most other Nationally Sanctioned Pool Leagues, there is no annual membership fee at this time. It is completely FREE to join the USA Pool League until June 1, 2012.
The weekly player dues will be determined by your local USAPL Manager. You will simply pay your team captain one low weekly fee to get started. No annual membership fees, no team sponsorship fees, no administrative fees, no hidden costs, …. just one low weekly fee right from the beginning of your first week.

2. Who Operates the USA Pool League ?
The USA Pool League (USAPL) is owned and operated by CueSports International (CSI). In addition to the USAPL, CSI manages and produces the BCA Pool League, the US Open 10-Ball Championships, the US Open One Pocket Championships, the US Bar Table Championships, the Jay Swanson Memorial, along with numerous state and regional tournaments held all over the country every month. The CSI staff of 11 employees may be small, but features over 220 years of pool league and tournament management experience.

3. What is the Website to go and see our League Stats      
The stats for the Rocky Mountain USA Pool League can be found at www.leaguesys.net/usapl1286  - LeagueSys is a  league management software package that enables all players to see the league stats 24 hours a day including your league’s  team standings, individual MVP standings, score sheets from all matches ever played, schedules, player histories,…..and much more.

4. When is the 2012 USAPL National Championships in Las Vegas ?
There will be a singles and a team competition held at the USAPL National Championships in 2012.

  a.)  Singles – Wednesday May 9-11th (11th if necessary). The entry fee will be $125.00 and does not include green fees. All players playing in the singles must have 8 weeks of league play in a single division, within a single season. It will be the same format as in regular league play with each player “Racing” to their rating number. After the number of entries is determined, the entries will be broken down into separate divisions according to rating so that each player will be playing someone of a similar skill level or rating.

  b.) Teams – Thursday May 10th-12th.  There will be two separate Divisions, an Open Division with a 300 team rating limit and an Advanced Division with a 400 team rating limit. Teams can “Qualify” for a free entry depending on the size of their league (see league manager for details on how to win a free entry) or they can just pay the $500 entry fee and play. All players must play 8 weeks in a single session in a single division. Two of the team members must be “Original” team members that have all played 8 weeks on the same team, in the same division, in the same session. The other three players
can come from any division within the same league number, provided that they all have also played 8 weeks in a single session in a single division.

5. How can I enter the 2012 USAPL National Championships ?
Starting early in 2012, any eligible player (8 weeks of league play in a single season) may go www.ctsondemand.com , set up an account, and then be able to register for the singles or team event, or any future CueSports International (CSI) event.
Anyone can go to this site to see all the results from every CSI tournament ever played, see the scores from all tournament matches, and see tournament results and prize money payouts for all CSI tournaments, local or national.

6. Can I Play on Two Different Teams at the National Championships ?

Yes, a player can be on two different team rosters at the nationals in Las Vegas. However, if the two teams should happen to play each other, the common player(s) would have two choices. They could sit out the match and remain on both team rosters, or they could choose a team and they would be on only that team’s roster for the rest of the tournament.

7. What are the Rules for the USA Pool League?
You can find the basic information concerning rules of play, racking, breaking, shooting the 8-ball, scoring a match, missed  shots, ratings, rosters,….and much more in the USAPL player handbook that you will receive from your local USAPL Manager. You may also go to www.playusapool.com and click on the “Rules” tab to download a set of rules.
The rules for the game of 8-ball that are used by the USAPL are actually found in the “Official Rules of The BCA Pool League” rulebook on pages 35-38. To download the official rulebook, go to www.playbca.com and then click on “Leagues, rules, complete rule book”. To purchase an official rulebook, just call the CueSports International (CSI) office from M-F 9am – 5 pm (PST) at 702-719-7665

  Basic 8-Ball Rules are:
Open on the Break – No matter what happens on the break, the table is always. The first player to legally pocket a ball after the break will establish the groups (Stripes or Solids) that each player will have for that game.

Gentleman’s Call Shot – You only need to call the pocket (No need to call “kisses or rails”) for shots that are not “Obvious”. Because it is “GENTLEMAN’S” call shot game, if a shot is straight in or obvious, you don’t need to call the pocket, even on the 8-ball. The game will be won the way it should be, with skill, not on a “Not marking your pocket” technicality.

Fouls – Some basic fouls include:

Scratching – Cue ball goes into a pocket.

Object Ball Foul – You must hit one of your group (stripes or solids) first with the cue ball and then either the cue ball or an object ball must contact a rail, or you must pocket a ball.

Cue Ball Foul – If you touch the cue ball with anything (cue tip, piece of chalk, another ball,…) prior to your shot, it is a foul.

Ball flies off the table – If any ball flies off the table it is a foul. If the 8-ball flies off the table it is loss of game.

Disturbed Balls – If you move 1 object ball prior to your shot it is not a foul, but your opponent has the option to leave the ball in it’s new position or put it back where it was. If  you move a ball prior to your shot and pick it up and put it back without your opponents consent, then it is a foul. If you move two or more balls prior to your shot, it is a foul.

Ball in Motion – If you touch a ball that is rolling (ball in motion) with anything (cue tip, shaft of cue, chalk, hand,….) it is a foul.

Double Hit – It is a foul if your cue tip strikes the cue ball more than once on a single stroke.

Push Shot – It is a foul if you shoot a push shot.

Foul Penalties

Any foul will give your opponent “Ball in Hand” anywhere on the table. This includes any scratch or fouls on the break.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct fouls could range from loss of game, set, match, up to disqualification or expulsion from league for individuals and up to entire teams.

Coaching Time Outs

a.) A maximum of 15 time outs per match.

b.) A maximum of 3 time outs per individual set.

c.) No more than 1 time out per game.

d.) Time outs will last a maximum of 90 seconds.

e.) Once a time out is called, it must be taken.

f.) Coach is allowed to point and touch the table, but not mark the table.

See your local league bylaws for more details. (coming soon)

8. Scoring – How do I Score an Individual Set ?
The basic game scoring is as follows: The winner of the game will always receive 14 points (whether all 7 of his object balls and the 8-ball is pocketed, or even if his opponent knocks the 8-ball in out of turn or illegally) and the loser of the game will receive one point for each ball pocketed in their group (even if your opponent makes them on the break or during the game).

Filling out the score sheet for individual sets:

1. Division Name, Night of Play, Team Name – At the top of the score sheet fill in appropriate information.
2. Rating – Put the player’s rating here. You will find the player ratings on the bottom of the Team Total Score Sheet.
3. Visiting Player / Home Player – Enter player names.
4. Time Out #’s – Write the number of the games that the time outs were taken.
5. Game Score – Put the number of points scored for that particular game in the box underneath the game #.
6. Total Score – This is an accumulative total for all the points scored in the match.
7. Missed Shots – Mark a small upright hash mark for each missed shot. After making 4 upright hashmarks, put the 5th diagonally across the other 4. If needed, repeat the process. (Refer to the USAPL rule book or the USAPL scorekeeper’s guide for a detailed definition of a missed shot).
8. Total Boxes – Record the total points scored and the total missed shots in the appropriate “Total” box on the far right side of the score sheet.

9. Scoring – How do I Score the Entire Match ?
To find out the final score of a league match, you can fill out the “Team Totals Score Sheet.”
However, this is completely optional because when your USAPL Manager enters the individual game scores into LeagueSys, it will automatically compute the entire Team Totals score sheet for you.

If you would like to determine the exact score of the match on the night of league play, follow the steps below.

1. Date / Division – At the top of the score sheet fill in the date of play and division name.
2. Pool Table Size – Put a check mark next to the appropriate size of the pool table played on (7’, 8’, or 9’).
3. Rating – Enter the player’s rating in this box. You will find the current team roster and player ratings on the bottom of the Team Totals Score Sheet.
4. Player Name – Enter the player’s name here.
5. Score –  This is the total number of points scored in the match by the player.
6. Margin – The “Margin of Victory” (MOV) is determined by the number of points that you keep your opponent under his/her rating.
7. Add on – These “Add on” points are computed by taking the MOV and multiplying times 3.
8. Win Bonus – Put “100” in the box of the winner of each set. (Only the winner gets 100 Win Bonus points).
9. Total – This column on the right side of each team’s score sheet is where you put the total points scored for each set. To compute the winning player’s total points scored, add the three boxes that have a perforated border (Score, Add on, and Win Bonus). The losing player will only receive the points that they scored in the match, no “Add on” or “Win Bonus” points will be received.
10. Ratings Total – Add the column of player’s ratings down to get the team’s “Total” rating.
11. Ratings Bonus or Penalty Points – If a team’s total rating is under the team rating limit, put the number of points that the team is under the limit in the “Add (+)” box and multiply times one (1x) to calculate their “Bonus points”. If a team’s total rating is over the team rating limit, put the number of points that the team is over the limit in the “Subtract (-)” box and multiply times five (5x) to calculate the team’s “Penalty Points”. Then put either the team’s bonus points or penalty points in the right hand column so that they will be a part of the “Total Score”.

12. Bonus Points for Paperwork and Team Fees Paid – These points will be determined by each individual USAPL Manager. Refer to your league’s Local League Bylaws for details.
13. Total Score – This determines which team is the winner of the match. Add the right hand “Total” column down and put the total number of points scored in all sets in the “Set Points” box. Next add or subtract your bonus or penalty points for the team being under or over the team rating limit. Then add the bonus points for paperwork and team fees paid to calculate your team’s total score.

10. Can a Player Play Twice in One Night  for the Same Team ?
Yes, the USAPL has a “Duplicate Player” policy that allows a player to play twice in one match for his team. Only one player per team may play twice.
This policy is designed for emergency situations only and not to be used on a regular basis. The USAPL Manager may establish guidelines to limit the use of this policy so be sure to check your local league bylaws for details.

   If a team is short a player and needs one of their players to play twice, they must notify the opposing team at the designated start time of the match. The opposing team will then choose which player on the “Short” team will play twice.

   This player will only receive credit for one week of league play as far as eligibility for local playoffs, or state, regional, or national USAPL tournaments. In addition, this duplicate player will only receive MVP points for the first match played.

   However, the team will get credit for all the points scored in both sets played by the duplicate player.

11. How do I Score a Forfeited Set or Match?
If a team is forced to forfeit a set, the score keeper will place the number of points awarded in the score box for game # 1. This predetermined number will be established by the USAPL Manger. Please check your local league bylaws for details.

12. How are the Team Standings Determined ?
The team standings are first determined by “Average Points Per Set.” To calculate this average, simply take your team’s total number of points scored in a match and divide it by the number of sets played. For example, if a 5 player team scores 800 points in a match, their average points per set would be 160 (800 / 5 = 160). This number is rounded off to the nearest decimal.

In case of a tie with average points per set, the first tie breaker will be the teams win / loss record. If a tie still remains at this point, then the second tie breaker will be the total points scored by the team.

Team Standings – Does a “Bye” week affect the Team Standings?
Because the team standings are based on “Average Points Per Set” and not total points, a bye week will have no effect on that team’s average points per set. The team’s Average Points Per Set are determined by taking the total number of points scored in a match and dividing that number by the number of sets played.

By not using “Total Points” to determine team standings, it is not necessary for all teams to play the exact number of matches during the course of a season. This makes it easier for a league manager to add teams once a season has started, or to deal with teams that may have dropped out during the season without having to worry about “Make Up” matches to even out the schedule.

12. MVP Standings – What are They Based on?
The MVP formula used is fairly simple. If you play and lose your individual match, you will receive 100 MVP points. If you win your weekly match, you will receive 200 points plus 3 times the margin of victory (MOV). The MOV is the amount that you hold your opponent under their rating number. For example, say Tom and Joe and both 50 rated players and play each other. Joe wins 52-40. Joe’s “Margin of Victory” is 10 because he held Tom to 40 points, which is 10 points under his rating.
The reason the MOV points are based on how much you keep your opponent under their rating is because the most you can ever go over your rating is 13 points, but if you play exceptional on any given night, you may hold your opponent 20, 30, 40, or more points under their rating, you should be rewarded accordingly with a large number of MOV points.

Share on Facebook

First, CONGRATS TO MIKA!! (That’s nothing new.) Not only for returning to Finland for the Brunwick Iceman Open named in his honor but for, of course, snapping the thing off. Now, if you follow pool, you know there really is nothing unusual about Mika winning a big tournament. The part that piqued my interested was, “In the semifinals, he defeated his twin brother, Kari.”

Really?!??? Mika has a twin brother?

Me: “Marc, did you know Mika has a twin brother?”

Marc: “Yeah, but they don’t look anything alike.”

Am I the last to know this? There are two Icemen?

Well, inquiring minds want to know. So, I spent the next 20 minutes determined to see how unalike they really look. This was the only photo I could find of them together (snatched from Mika’s Facebook page, captioned, “This was a flyer to me & my Brothers Birtday party. 30×2=60. The picture itself is slightly old. Notice the outfits!“):

Awww... Aren't they adorable?!

And here they are now:

Kari pic by unknown, Mika pic by Biboy Soriano

I managed to find this photo of Kari on the net under the alias of “Kari Paloheimo”. And yes, my husband was right. They don’t look anything alike. Obviously, they’re fraternal twins.

Mika’s bio reads:

“Mika and Kari showed early athletic prowess along with a healthy competitive streak and both enjoyed competing in basketball and ice hockey among other popular sports. It would be an unbearably cold winters night that would find a then 16 year old Mika and his friends seeking refuge in the newly opened Blliard Parlor near his childhood home.”

Read the complete tournament write up on AzB here: Iceman returned home to win tournament named in his honor

Watch the brothers’ semi-finals match on ustream here (I think it’s them): http://www.ustream.tv/channel/rz-players

From Mika’s blog: I had to play my twin brother Kari. Its not easy to form killer instinct against your “own blood”.

Read his entire post here: Brunswick ICEMAN Open

Share on Facebook