This one pocket video is a super match between Shannon and Efren. Early on, Efren puts Shannon in several seemingly inescapable traps. Daulton makes fantastic and creative shots to get out. After the 3rd or 4th time Efren must have been wondering what in the world he needs to do to force an error and get a shot. If you enjoy one pocket, you'll love the battles that play out in this video.

The January PoolSynergy is a wrap. The general topic is something non-pool related that can help our games. Many of the best and most commited owner/operators of pool websites are contributors to PoolSynergy. You can find a complete list of all of the posts at this month's host, Mike Fieldhammer's site Billiard Coach. You can read PoolBum's contribution here

Have you ever tried to thread a needle? When you tried for the first time, did you notice that you could hold the thread steady until you approached the eye of the needle, and when it was almost there your hand shook and the thread missed the eye? How does this relate to your pool game?

Danny Diliberto has been playing pool for more then 50 years. He has won major championships in every pool discipline in each of 4 decades and is in the One Pocket Hall of Fame. This video is a treasure...

This is great little video with Max Eberle discussing the importance of knowing your intentions before shooting. To demonstrate, he uses a shot that we all have scratched on.

The December PoolSynergy is a wrap. The general topic is an inspirational article relating to pool. Many of the best and most commited owner/operators of pool websites are contributors to PoolSynergy. You can find a complete list of all of the posts at this month's host, Samm Diep's Pool Tip Jar. You can read PoolBum's contribution here or by clicking the "read more" below. Enjoy, read them all and get ready to be inspired.

Another video installment of PoolBum's personal library of John Schmidt private pool lessons. In this video, John explains and demonstrates how he would play through a 9 ball rack. Get an inside view of how a champion makes shot selection decisions.

It is essential to develop and maintain a consistent pattern of eye movement if you want to be consistently successful at the pool table. Your system should be focused and deliberate for maximum accuracy, efficient enough to...

Karl Boyes of England had a great tournament finishing tied for 7th. The list of players he beat is pretty impressive. He sent Johnny Archer, Charlie Bryant and Jose Parica to the 1 loss side before losing to a hot Donnie Mills. Once in the west side of the brackets he sent Shane Van Boening packing with a convincing 11-4 win. Ultimately he would lose a hill-hill match to Kim Davenport.

The tournament promoter, Barry Behrman likes to acknowledge deserving people. He took time out in between matches to give a plaque to Nick Varner for (at that point) having the only back to back wins in the US Open history. He also gave a plaque to Joe Blackburn for hanging in with him for the last 25 years doing the cue repairs at the Open. He acknowledged Jim (King James) Rempe, new Hall of Fame inductee Allison Fisher and the Mayor of Chesapeake who has been very supportive of the Open. 

Barry also made a point of echoing the sentiments regarding Jose Parica being inducted into the Hall of Fame. That got a standing ovation from the crowd.

Other players who did well and made it past some big names were Chris Bartram and Mike Deschaine.

In my last article I talked about how crazy it is that slop counts in nine ball and how this is not helping our credibility and thus the marketability of pool in mainstream sports media. On a similar note, I would like to propose that making the nine on the break should not count as a win. Not only on ESPN but in all tournaments and in all rule books. The break shot is the beginning of a game and should serve as such. While a high level of effectiveness and consistency can be achieved on the break, it is arguably...

Imagine this. Tiger Woods trails Ernie Ells in the final round of the U.S. Open by 3 strokes going into the par 5, 17th hole. He launches his drive down the right side of the fairway where it hits a branch and bounces through the trees onto the adjacent 14th green...

The US Open 9 Ball Championships came off without a hitch, bringing in 216 of the best players in the world from 26 different countries. There were many double hill matches for those who needed to get their heart beating and plenty of stories within the big story that is the Open. Here are a few:

Kim Davenport hung in and finished tied for 5th place with Rodney Morris. This is his first US Open since his freak eye accident a few years ago. Kim is an avid golfer and was at a driving range when a lawn mower shoots a ball out and it hits him squarely in an eye. What are the odds? Well, years and some number of surgeries later California Kim is back in action. Kim had 2 back to back very long hill-hill matches before going to his 2am match in the TV arena with Lee Vann Corteza, a fine Filipino player. Kim represented himself well but was obviously very weary, losing 11-6. He had a great tournament.

Well folks, the PoolBum is in Chesapeake, VA to play and cover the action at the US Open. I am not a contender so I won't "blog" up these pages with personal stuff. Just a lot of photos and comments about the greats. These photos will be updated throughout the tournament. The photo on the left is Lee Vann Corteza. He is another great player from the Philippines. As of this writing he is still on the winner side having won 5 matches with no opponent getting past 6. He just had poor Earl Strickland talking to himself (and anyone else who would listen). Earl made it to 5. Lee's next match will be against Imran Majid from England.

PoolBum is stoked to welcome Max Eberle to the site. Not only is he a champion but he is known for his flawless fundamentals. Max is also a writer with the ability to communicate things in a clear way, sort of like having a conversation with him. Plus, you can get a $5 discount on his new DVD teaching series just by mentioning PoolBum. So far, I have posted NINE new articles (under the All Things Pool tab: Articles) and three videos. In the first, Max discusses and demonstrates playing to the pro side of a pocket, the second is on developing a straight stroke and the third is about how positive intentions will improve your game. Stop back often, more are in the works.