Playing pool

“When I was a kid, my parents were in a couples bowling league in my small city. They would bring me and I would have saved quarters throughout the week to play the arcade games in the bar. They also had a bar box that took quarters. I would just shoot at balls for something to do. Ended up getting good at actually potting a ball. Then I saw billiards on television. They used to have mini lessons during breaks, and they would use a dotted "TV Ball." That's when I found out about using English. My trips to the bar became all about "what happens when I hit here" ... now here .... like this... Ended up teaching myself the basics from TV on a bad bar table. Went to a pool hall during high school. Was there enough that you learn through watching and osmosis! The regulars began to show me things. Then I would pay to play in the ring games when they were desperate for another player. Knowing I would lose. To me it was like paying for lessons. Then you start occasionally making a money ball, almost running racks, entering handicapped tournaments... all while getting tips from the regulars.”

“Sometimes you have to take a little break in the middle of all that persistence to come back fresh. Our playing had waned off at the end of last year. On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve 2018 my friend and I decide on a whim to go play since it was free all day. I won the game in eight minutes. I’d never played so well. I’ve since had great games (both through decent technique and pure dumb luck), but that first “comeback” game was all I needed to inspire me to keep practicing and keep playing. [...] now I can really dig into pool, get curious about improving my game, admire what my pool-playing partner does well, and keep improving and celebrating my successes. [...] I look forward to weekends when I can drink beer, crack jokes, and play. My left-handed shots are getting pretty good. My friend and I are finally at the point where we can talk trash to each other. Most importantly, the fun hasn’t worn off.”

“The first time I showed up happened to also be the first time I ever played a game of 9 ball. Luckily for me it was a handicapped tourney. I don't remember what they made me play as, but I do remember grabbing a cue off the rack and missing an easy shot to take 3rd place against a bunch of much older men, some of which were grumpier than others regarding my handicap or fundamentals or pool hall etiquette. I won just enough money to buy my first "nice" cue. It was a plain Mali cue, lol, but it was a Balabushka compared to the the screw on tip cues from Koenings that I had been playing with for years.”