Cue Tips: Blinded by the Tooth Enamel
If you were at any of the Fort Bragg Pool League games on Tuesday, you would have noticed the enormous amount of enamel on display. Enamel? Yep, it was tooth enamel, and everyone was grinning and smiling so much I was blinded, then I blinked. When my eyes opened, I had lost my first match of the Fall season of Fort Bragg Pool League of 2021. Oh my, I made such a spectacle claiming that it must have been a rigged game, that I didn’t really lose, I had been blinded, blah blah. Well, not really, if you had watched, after my miss, you would have seen R.R. play a beautiful full table shot that she drilled into a corner pocket. When the cue ball came off the rail for shape for the next ball, I entered into a littleused formal protest dance, but my Captain told me to can it and sit down. I had no choice, I had to watch and be quiet. The next play she had to make was a long and difficult cut shot. Oh, thank goodness! Maybe there was still hope for me after all? Nope, she drilled that ball in the pocket also. I didn’t have anything I could do to stop the steady decline of a chance for me to win. Then, of course, after that ball went down, she drilled the 8-ball into the pocket, and the Welcome Inn Team # 2 erupted in applause for their collective win. Oh my, I had let my team down, but next week I might get to try again, after all, the season doesn’t end until December 14, 2021. I may have time to redeem myself, but I’m not at all sure of it, after all, there are many good pool players in the Fort Bragg Pool League. If you are going to lose, though, hope for an opponent as I had. They made a difficult runout look easy, which is always fun to watch, even while losing the match.
This season’s big news was the silence coming from Golden West Saloon, which didn’t have any teams to play. Both Golden West Saloon teams lack Captains or players, which means, of course, there may be 12 positions still available for a new player. Check with the Golden West management for a spot on their teams, and you could become a Captain! There has never been an easier moment in time to join a League team.
FOR TUESDAY, 09/07/2021 »
Team position: Golden West Saloon Team # 1: 0 wins; Golden West Saloon Team # 2: 0 wins;Tip Top Lounge Team # 1: 1 win; Tip Top Team # 2: 0 wins; Angelina’s Grille & Bar Team # 1: 1 win; Angelina’s Grill and Bar Team # 2: 0 wins; Welcome Inn Team # 1: 1 win; Welcome Inn Team # 2: 0 wins
Teams are a bit disorganized at present, but team openings for new players are being filled quickly. If you are interested, contact a League player or Captain and make your wishes known.
Visit Angelina’s Grille &
Bar, Golden West Saloon, Tip Top Lounge, or Welcome Inn: all will maintain a calendar of play. Look to the list for someone you know and find where they play. You might join a team, meet new people, or just watch the 8-ball games as they are played. League play starts at 7 pm and is over by 10 pm. Tournaments, however, usually take a couple of hours to complete, and anyone can enter. If visiting Fort Bragg, test out your game with local players! Good company, food, and music, a full bar with Shuffleboard, Dice, and Dart games in addition to billiards for entertainment. Angelina’s Grill and Bar also features Karaoke Thursday evenings. If you like a venue with an outdoor Patio, try Malano’s bar, friendly patrons, a full-service bar, and a patio to enjoy the outside air. Come and enjoy today in Fort Bragg.
CUE TIP » When you are ready to make a ball, stroke your cue to the spot on the cue ball you wish to hit. When you are sure of where it will strike the cue ball, and on your last stroke just before starting your hit, switch your attention to where you wish to hit the object ball—slow your backstroke and laser focus on where you wish the cue ball to go. With its handeye coordination, your subconscious mind should take care of the rest, and you will have a good chance of making the ball.