Banking the rail
Rack ’em up!
You hear banking a ball is a low percentage shot, and don’t bank if there is any other shot, and maybe opinions of how to “feel” where to bank a ball off a rail. Well, I guess they haven’t been to bank-pool tournaments. I imagine they haven’t seen professional pool players playing tournaments with a high 90’s% average making banked balls. By design, if a pool table has a system based on math to play 1, 2, or more rails to a pocket, shouldn’t we use it? Systems were designed and learned by players from the start. Players that utilize one or more different aiming systems are alive and well. What system you use is personal. Even a” feel” can work. Leo Navarro once said, “it is surprising how many bank shots are a half-ball hit.” I agree, Leo.
FOR TUESDAY, 3/22/2022 >>
TEAM POSITIONS: ANGELIA’S GRILL AND BAR TEAM # 1>> 3 wins; Angelina’s Grill and Bar Team # 2: 4 wins; Golden West Saloon Team # 1: 4 wins; Golden West Saloon Team # 2: 1 win; Milano Hotel and Bar Team
# 1: 7 wins; Milano Hotel and Bar Team # 2: 2 wins; Tip Top Lounge Team # 1: 8 wins; Tip Top Lounge Team # 2: 5 wins; Welcome Inn Team # 1: 6 wins; Welcome Inn Team # 2: 0 wins.
TOP PLAYERS OF THEIR TEAMS: ANGELINA’S GRILLE & BAR TEAM # 1 >> James Thomason; Angelina’s Grille &
Bar Team # 2: Tomas Venegas;
Golden West Saloon Team # 1: Luke Pedersen; Golden West Team # 2: Mikael Haye; Milano Hotel and Bar Team # 1: Gabe Medina, Flaco Pat are tied; 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, Ian Rubesch are tied; Welcome Inn Team # 2: Rebecca Reynolds.
TOP PLAYERS OF LEAGUE >> Dan Casteel leads with 14 wins. Randy Gibson and Luke Pedersen tied with 13 wins. Sam Banker, Greg Brickey, Victor Munos, and Ian Rubesch tied at 12 wins each.
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. If they are held, Tournaments will be after League or likely on a different night. Tournament schedules are usually posted on bulletin boards near pool tables, and anyone can enter to play.
TOURNAMENT RESULTS: FOR 9-BALL >> John Borba won the match, Randy Gibson 2nd, and Dan Casteel 3rd.
For 8-ball: Victor Munos won the match with Randy Gibson 2nd and Greg Puderbaugh 3rd. You might notice Randy at 2nd in both tournaments. Randy has been playing exceptionally well, and it is only a matter of time before he is listed as winning these tournaments.
If you are visiting Fort Bragg, you can 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 an outdoor patio, try Milano Hotel and Bar, with a patio and tables to enjoy the fresh air and enjoy your time in Fort Bragg.
CUE TIP >> If trying to improve your pool game, quit playing. Huh? Playing a game of pool and winning is fun but adds little to improving your shot-making abilities. Playing is slow to improve shot-making, but you can learn about strategies and how to play under pressure as an opponent leans on you. If you wish to improve actual shot-making in the shortest time, you need practice! Mark each ball position to return the cue and object balls to the same spot after each attempt. That guarantees a faster learning curve to make the shot. That same shot might come up in different variations during a game with an opponent, and then again, it may not come up for several games or even for weeks to come. That is why playing the shot 30 or 40 times in a row, from the same spot, will give a quicker result in how to play it. When you play a game and miss a problematic shot, note it, and then get on a table alone and practice that same shot until you learn how to make it. Contact me at mcbohanon@gmail.com.