Welcome (Thanks for checking us out)

Billiards has had a huge impact in my life. It helped me through many rough times, including a couple that were life changing. It’s fair to say that pool has caused me a good bit of grief as well. However, the same passion that compelled me to hurry to the pool hall day after day for so many years, eat marginal food, neglect my relationships and lose my money also taught me...

how to relax under pressure, to stay focused which helped me overcome my ADD, how to win with grace and how to appreciate the beauty of a purely hit and well executed shot... even if it's the one that knocks me out of a tournament. Being an American who is living in (and loving) the center of the pool universe, the Philippines, makes a strong case for just how much it has affected my life! This site is my attempt to give something back to the pool community.

I hope PoolBum will be entertaining and useful to anyone involved in pool. There's a lot planned but for now you will find links that will help you shop for just about anything pool related. There are also links to your favorite pro pool player and in-person and online pool instruction to improve your game. Recently, I've been able to add a new feature of videos of John Schmidt (Mr. 400) teaching a variety of shots. I will be adding to the library of articles as we go along and will have guest contributors. You are invited to feel at home here so I encourage you to post comments and Forum threads. If you have a comment or a suggestion for this site, there's a Forum topic for just that purpose. Got an opinion about your pool cue that you love or the case that didn’t last 3 months? Write a review! Pool gear, training gadgets, tournaments or even that nice clean $30 per night motel near the tournament (with free coffee and a cute desk clerk). People will appreciate it.

If you have a passion for pool, you're a part of this sub-culture and a part of what makes pool the great sport that it is (or at least the game we love to hate, lol). So much of my life has been shaped by it. Just coming to this site says you have an interest in pool and are one of many I want to thank. Here's my chance: Thanks very much, or as is said here in the Philippines: Daghan kaayong salamat! Enjoy the site and keep a look out for new stuff. 

PoolBum

The PoolBum logo & character were created by Lucas Hussack.