Greg’s legendary stroke

Rack ‘em up! Playing Tournament pool last Saturday with Greg Puderbaugh, I was reminded of Greg’s legendary stroke. He might remain down stroking the cue long enough that opposing players nod off, or, wish they had. Presently Greg has a major jangle in his stroke, but he remains calm, strokes for a long time, and still hits where he intends to hit. When watching his now jangling stroke, it seems impossible for him to hit the cue ball correctly. Yet he does. Then I thought back to when we first met, he had a pool table back then. I was starting to play and asked Greg for a tip. Greg, as is his custom, hesitated, and then said, “take a beer bottle, lay it flat on the pool table, and stroke with your cue into the neck of the bottle without touching the sides for as long as you can.” I might have tried it more than once if it didn’t draw comments from another player named Ed Eisen. Greg told me Rick Reynolds had given him the advice. Rick, Greg explained, had said, “the real trick is not touching any part of the bottle EXCEPT the bottom. Then, you just move it a half-inch at a time down the table.” Do you have an idea how hard that is? Well yes, at least that hard. Greg must have practiced that drill shall we say, rather a lot, because the effort Greg put in back then, continues to serve him well, even years later to the present day. Hitting the cue ball correctly is the difference between playing ok and playing well.

FOR TUESDAY, 5/17/2022 » TEAM POSITIONS: ANGELIA’S

GRILL AND BAR TEAM #1» 8 wins; Angelina’s Grill and Bar Team # 2: 7 wins; Golden West Saloon Team # 1: 8 wins; Golden West Saloon Team # 2: 2 wins; Milano Hotel and Bar Team # 1: 15 wins; Milano Hotel and Bar Team # 2: 2 wins; Tip Top Lounge Team # 1: 15 wins; Tip Top Lounge Team # 2: 9 wins; Welcome Inn Team # 1: 11 wins; Welcome Inn Team # 2: 3 wins.

TOP PLAYER OF THEIR

TEAM: ANGELINA’S GRILLE & BAR TEAM # 1 » Hugh Miller; Angelina’s Grille & Bar Team # 2: Tony Matlick; Golden West Saloon Team # 1: Luke Pedersen; Golden West Team # 2: Mikael Haye; Milano Hotel and Bar Team # 1: Flaco Pat; Milano Hotel and Bar Team # 2: Mark Wright; Tip Top Lounge Team # 1: Dan Casteel; Tip Top Lounge team # 2: Randy Gibson; Welcome Inn Team # 1: Sam Banker; Welcome Inn Team # 2: Linda Long.

TOP 10 PLAYERS OF THE

LEAGUE » Dan Casteel with 27 wins; Luke Pedersen with 26 wins; Sam Banker with 23 wins; Flaco Pat, and Victor Munoz are tied with 22 wins; Mike Bohanon, Randy Gibson, and Gabe Medina are tied with 21 wins and Joel Vidal with 20 wins.

Visit the following Fort Bragg Pool League sponsors: Angelina’s Grille & Bar, Golden West Saloon, Milano Hotel and Bar, Tip Top Lounge, or Welcome Inn: all maintain a schedule of Fort Bragg Pool League players and teams. Look to the list for someone you know and find where they are playing. You might join a team, make new friends, or just watch 8-ball games as they unfold. The League plays Tuesday at 7 pm ending before 10 pm. Tournaments, if held, are after League play, or as likely on a different night. Tournament schedules are usually posted on bulletin boards near pool tables and anyone can enter to play.

8-BALL ON THE BREAK »

Flaco Pat, Gabe Medina, and Victor Munoz. Congratulations.

If visiting Fort Bragg, test your game against local players! Enjoy the good company, food, music, and full-service bars. With shuffleboard, dice, dart, or corn-hole in addition to billiards for your entertainment. Angelina’s Grill and Bar features Karaoke Friday evenings. If you like being outside, try Milano Hotel and Bar, with a patio and tables for enjoying the fresh air. Come, and spend time in Fort Bragg.

CUE TIP » The stroke of the cue stick is to aim precisely on the cue ball where you wish to strike it. Miscues or missed spin are due to poor aiming on the cue ball. Sometimes we barely look where to hit the cue ball instead we are looking at the object ball. Aim your cue stick by carefully stroking on the cue ball where you wish to hit, then on the last stroke, switch your focus and look to the exact spot on the object ball that you have determined is the correct contact point to hit on the object ball. Contact me at mcbohanon@gmail.com