Mentor

[Scrzbill]

One pocket has a large learning curve for most of us. Others they see the table and instinctively know the game. T-Rex was the latter. I am one of the ones that is still learning. I have been lucky in my pool efforts to have had mentor for the past thirty years. I have given John Henderson that dubious honor since I saw him play at California (Safeway)Billiards. I knew him from around. John carried himself as a gentleman first, a pool player next. I wanted that and I wanted his knowledge. He was a barker and so am I and we started off at 10-7. Sometimes I would go for a complete flyer because having four or five and if I made the flyer..........Well of course ten to John was a spot shot. He would make one, two, three and on his way. That big broad stoke, banking, combos, POW, POW. Now its 8-5 and we both need two. My end game wasn’t too bad but it got a whole lot better. It’s not about making one safety, its about making ten. Because that is how many times you have to play safe to get a shot. Unless you gave one up in those ten. Anyway John taught me more than playing, he taught me how to respect the game and those playing it. I don’t think they will ever call me gentleman Bill, but I have a mentor.

 

[NH Steve]

If you have had a mentor, that is a big help learning the game.

 

[ChicagoFats]

I learn a lot from this group of guys. I appreciate this forum and the opportunity to meet all the 1p.org participants.

 

[BRLongArm]

Great writeup for John. He has helped many West Coast players with their game. A great ambassador for one pocket.

 

[jrhendy]

Thanks Bill, at first I was just trying to ‘Mentor’ you out of your money, but we became great friends over the years, and have had many pool trips around the country playing, streaming and meeting new friends. I sure hope we get to do it some more before we hang up our cues.

Proud to call you my friend.

 

[ChicagoFats]

I wish I had the opportunity to lose some money to Hendy as well.

 

[crabbcatjohn]

My one pocket mentor was Jimmy "The Hat" Berkley. I was actually playing one pocket in Nashville with 12squared when I got the call from the pool room he had passed. They were looking to me for finding his relatives to notify them.

 

[jrhendy]

I wish I had the opportunity to lose some money to Hendy as well.

So do I Fats, so do I. Maybe somewhere down the road. I would enjoy playing no matter how it ends up.

 

[12squared]

My one pocket mentor was Jimmy "The Hat" Berkley. I was actually playing one pocket in Nashville with 12squared when I got the call from the pool room he had passed. They were looking to me for finding his relatives to notify them.

I remember how the sad news affected you during our set, it was clear what Jimmy meant to you. Although it ended our session earlier than planned, it was still one of my most enjoyable one pocket sessions. It was so nice of you to go out of your way to pick me up and take the time to play.

Thanks again.
Dave

 

[1 HOLE NUT]

Biloxi Mike Surber was my mentor, and I never thought I would have another till I found this group, all you guys help me get better. There is one guy that even though I give him weight, and get the best of most of the time, if it was not for him I would not be posting on here and traveling around the country to play with all you guys, he has kept 1 pkt, my passion since Mike's passing, we have played hours and hours of just 1 pkt, every now and then I try him some banks just to humble him. Col. Bille has helped my game more than anyone else, usually my thanks is me taking his cabbage, but, he knows that has helped us grow as players, he's gotten ten times better, and im ten times fatter(literally). Merry Christmas/Happy New Years to him and his family, and to all of yall as well.

 

[youngstown]

My mentor would be Bubba, aka Shawn Putnam, and Tom Wirth via his book. Before reading that, and playing with Shawn, I just didn’t get it. Others have tried mentoring me before his book came out, but I just wasn’t ready. Not that I know what I’m doing now, but at least i enjoy trying now, and that’s all that really matters. Knowing what to do is only one aspect of playing the game, being able to execute it is what separates most of us. That’s why Filler beat Chohan, and why we always read/hear about the Shooter/Mover arguments. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s just not fun.

 

[Mkbtank]

I wish I had the opportunity to lose some money to Hendy as well.

I think he has me stuck 200. If you want I can let you in for half.

 

[cincy_kid]

My one pocket mentor would have to be Ricky Carrelli, a Cincinnati shortstop who is a good friend of mine. Although I got to play with and learned from Gary Spaeth and a little from Steve Cook over the years, Ricky was by far who I played the most with and learned the most from. I hope once this covid clears up to be able to play some more with him for old times sake!

 

[beatle]

oiuytrew

 

[jtompilot]

Although several players in Phoenix wanted to play me 1P, I didn’t like the game at that time. I’d have to say that Cue and Cushion in St. Louis was my first mentor. I used to fly there on a regular basis in the 80’s. The local gang just took my money but I started finding the game of my life.

When I moved to Detroit in 96 my 1P started becoming my game of choice. I met Leil Gay on the Viking tour and we became friends. Leil would play me for $5 a game even, I don’t think I ever won a game but it started me down the path. RIP Leil

 

[jrhendy]

My mentor was a small Filipino man they called ‘Dado’. He taught me by taking my money for $5 a game on a 5 x 10 snooker table in the mid 50’s. I was a snooker player first, and did not play much on 4 1/2 x 9 tables for several years. He took me on a few short road trips a few miles from home, and I got a little taste of what life was like in other pool rooms.

I really did not have any idea how good he played until I was scuffling myself and watched him play Marvin Henderson getting 9/7 and hanging in their for what was serious money in those days. I think one of the first guys I gambled with playing one pocket other than Dado, was ‘Artesia’ Kenny Dodd down at The Billiard Palace in Bellflower. I believe Kenny is still knocking them around up in Oregon.

 

[lll]

i never got to play much onepocket once i learned about it and got addicted to it
so my early mentors were the accustats commentators ie billy incardona/grady/freddy
then all the vhs tapes i watched from grady/billy incardona willie jopling
and books
i also must say thank you to all the members of the site from the old days who answered my questions with patience and never made me feel embarrassed for my shot selections and did their best to help me learn(rodney was among those members..thanks rod.
too many others to list)
since i have started playing more
tom wirth has helped alot although i dont get to spend enough time with him
and mark coats my house pro really has spent alot of time with me
since covid i have been playing with jeff dovinsky
some of you might know of his brother john (R.I.P.)who i understand was pretty sporty player
i still need alot of "seasoning"
and more skill would help too LOL

 

[sorackem]

Just to add some content to this topic:
I can't really say I've had a mentor per-say, but a couple unofficial benefactors.
The stance, stroke and mechanics I taught myself. The basics seemed intuitive. Stance, arm position for a free and repeatable level stroke, sighting, etc.
The help I got when I first started (becoming serious rather than a bar-banger) was in learning the rules of the game, how to recognize run patterns, etc. George Pells was that fellow. Well liked and respected in our little pool-hall.
After that, Robert Byrne's 'Standard Book of Pool and Billiards' was a great help and really cemented concepts that helped me understand and improve quickly.
Then, more recently, after a 10 year lay-off, at Hard Times, I spent a lot of time playing a distinctly unique individual who has as much love for cue-sports as anyone possibly could; Art. He wasn't competing in tournaments or wagers as far as I know, but plays for the sheer joy of playing. He's free to play very creative shots and really opened my eyes to looking for unique opportunities. Frequently astounding me with, not fliers or whimsical shots, but very workable 'though unusual shots - that he (nor I) might not really choose to play in a serious contest. But he expanded my imagination with sound concepts. He moved balls around a One Pocket table pretty good.

One day about 6 months before the closures, I mentioned to Oscar Dominguez that I would appreciate it if I could arrange some time to get some pointers from him sometime in the near future. A couple weeks later one morning, as I was shooting in the back room with only a couple tables going he walks up and says "I've got a few minutes.." He spent 45 minutes with me covering about 5 or 6 perfectly tailored advanced adjustments and recommendations to my play. He had watched me play enough to know exactly what he was going to cover with me and did so in a very easily understood and efficient way. I spent the next two months playing as much as I could alone to work through and integrate his lessons until they seemed like they were always part of my game. It improved my play immensely. If anyone around Sacramento ever wants help - I can tell you - Oscar is a very effective coach, and one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.