This is one of my favorite games to play. When I was a student at Georgia Tech, the pool hall had two "funny" looking tables with no pockets. They were larger and the cloth was obviously smoother than the crap they put on our pool tables. Any time I'd seen anyone playing on the tables, they tended to be asian students. After a while, I finally asked someone how the game was played and discovered the variations of carom, 3 cushion and "4" ball (I forget if there was a more proper name for that style of play).
We had a former professional player offering classes and though I never took the classes, I'd watch and learn. He was quite the boisterous character and oh my, what an ego! Still, he was generous in his knowledge and desire to pass on his passion for the game to willing students.
I never did learn any of the numbering systems, of which there seem to be hundreds. I always played the game by "feel", eyeing shots and visualizing what I thought would happen. Most of the time, the results were nothing like those in my mind's eye. As time flowed forward, I began to get better and better, to the point where at least 90% of the time, I knew what the shot was, even if I couldn't execute at a very high level of success.
I think this is one of the most artistic and infinitely challenging games one can ever take up. It is like chess in the regards that the rules of the game are easy to understand, but you'll spend a lifetime trying to master it.
Anyways, if you ever get to Atlanta and want to play some 3 cushion billiards on a championship class table, head to The Pool Room at 1355 Roswell Road. You may just find me there.
We had a former professional player offering classes and though I never took the classes, I'd watch and learn. He was quite the boisterous character and oh my, what an ego! Still, he was generous in his knowledge and desire to pass on his passion for the game to willing students.
I never did learn any of the numbering systems, of which there seem to be hundreds. I always played the game by "feel", eyeing shots and visualizing what I thought would happen. Most of the time, the results were nothing like those in my mind's eye. As time flowed forward, I began to get better and better, to the point where at least 90% of the time, I knew what the shot was, even if I couldn't execute at a very high level of success.
I think this is one of the most artistic and infinitely challenging games one can ever take up. It is like chess in the regards that the rules of the game are easy to understand, but you'll spend a lifetime trying to master it.
Anyways, if you ever get to Atlanta and want to play some 3 cushion billiards on a championship class table, head to The Pool Room at 1355 Roswell Road. You may just find me there.
