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A champion pool cue

Lépine
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Well, doesn't get anymore off topic. I suppose collecting is collecting.

I have a passion for 8-ball and just any old cue just doesn't work for me. Some of these cues have taken years to make.
IMG_9518.webp



But one cue is above all else, it's been a champion many times in the hands of its former owner. It was created by Tad Kohara who was a Billiards Cue Hall Of Fame cue maker of the level of George Balabushika.

The cue was purchased in 1969 for about $1550 in today's currency.

This cue played:

US Open 9-Ball Chesapeake, VA 1992.
US Open Straight Pool Championship East Brunswick, NJ 2009.
Over 5 decades of Professional Tournaments.
That is high ranking women's professional champion Jasmin Ouschan he beat in photo.
52F1560A-7A4F-4245-9888-6458E43DDB59.webp IMG_0007.webp


Our gentleman professional player is still ranked in Top 15 Fargo Rate of the United States as of 2024. A greater gentleman player you won't find.
IMG_0005.webp


I will take care of this until I can no longer handle it. It comes with a story, does not get much better.
Edited:
 
Tony C.
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Cool! And while I was never really "into" pool (a played a little as a teenager), a few years ago I happened to stumble across an interesting, related topic: who was the best pool player ever? I had no opinion, of course, but I found myself reading, and listening to the opinions of some old-time professionals, who were, by definition, also "hustlers". One of them was Ronnie "Fast" Allen, a colorful character who specialized in "one pocket" pool.

The player who Ronnie believes was the greatest ever was Harold Worst, from Grand Rapids Michigan, and without spoiling the story, here's a link to Allen recounting his relationship with Worst, and explaining why he held him in such high regard. Well worth 12 minutes of your time, even if you know nothing about pool!

https://ia600207.us.archive.org/12/...oldWorst/RonnieAllenTalksAboutHaroldWorst.mov

And if your curiosity about Harold Worst is piqued by Allen's comments, here's a link to further confirmation, and colorful memories, of his legend:

http://www.thehypertexts.com/Harold Worst Pool Billiards the Best.htm



HW33.webp
 
hen
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Beatiful wood and workmanship in those cues. Impessing inlays and joints.

Btw I always prefer to play with a heavyer cue, but I have no idea why. Do you have any input on how the weight influences the use of the cue.
 
Dan S
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I know that we have at least one other pool cue collector on the forum, @Dr No, who is known for offering to trade a pool cue for a watch.
 
Lépine
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hen hen
Beatiful wood and workmanship in those cues. Impessing inlays and joints.

Btw I always prefer to play with a heavyer cue, but I have no idea why. Do you have any input on how the weight influences the use of the cue.
Absolutely, with thin cloth like simonis, I prefer a heavy cue around 21oz. I have three cues with the McDermott variable weight system that allows the weight bolts to be positioned anywhere inside the cue butt in any fashion you want. You can split up the bolts into smaller weights and locate them on the upper have of the cue and the lower half of the cue. Sounds like a gimick like the old coins on screw together toy cues, but these are on 5,000 COTY McDermotts. Depending on the bridge style and if you have a piston stroke or not, you may wish to move the weights to get the best ball control. I have some lighter cues as well like close to 19oz, these are better for smaller tables since an inch can determine if you are hooked or not and there is far less distance between object balls during the runout.
 
Lépine
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Dan S Dan S
I know that we have at least one other pool cue collector on the forum, @Dr No, who is known for offering to trade a pool cue for a watch.
Ah...bad news for me. I think Art is in my area 😀 but I am done with cues. I have too many already that I am afraid to take anywhere.

Below, no CNC machine, all done by hand and extremely accurate like a watchmaker. Hand cut inlays and vineers. No varnish or lacquer, some kind of oil finish?

IMG_0039.webp IMG_0038.webp IMG_0032.webp IMG_0033.webp IMG_0034.webp IMG_0035.webp
Edited:
 
140dave
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Really a cool collection, and thanks for sharing it!

Tony C. Tony C.
Cool! And while I was never really "into" pool (a played a little as a teenager), a few years ago I happened to stumble across an interesting, related topic: who was the best pool player ever?

I thought it was this guy, don’t remember his name….
IMG_0483.webp
 
Lépine
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I'm not very good, but I think I can take Vince 😀
 
Lépine
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4,253
Tony C. Tony C.
Cool! And while I was never really "into" pool (a played a little as a teenager), a few years ago I happened to stumble across an interesting, related topic: who was the best pool player ever? I had no opinion, of course, but I found myself reading, and listening to the opinions of some old-time professionals, who were, by definition, also "hustlers". One of them was Ronnie "Fast" Allen, a colorful character who specialized in "one pocket" pool.

The player who Ronnie believes was the greatest ever was Harold Worst, from Grand Rapids Michigan, and without spoiling the story, here's a link to Allen recounting his relationship with Worst, and explaining why he held him in such high regard. Well worth 12 minutes of your time, even if you know nothing about pool!

https://ia600207.us.archive.org/12/...oldWorst/RonnieAllenTalksAboutHaroldWorst.mov

And if your curiosity about Harold Worst is piqued by Allen's comments, here's a link to further confirmation, and colorful memories, of his legend:

http://www.thehypertexts.com/Harold Worst Pool Billiards the Best.htm



HW33.webp


I would have loved to have analyzed his games. It's amazing to watch how great players plan there shots and execute a run. The great players always get such great shape and roll deep into the narrows of the clear path triangle's giving themselves easy angles for the next shot in sequence. I bet Worst was just dead on every time. Great pool is a mental game and needs to be played like chess. Only you have to read the table before you make your run not the opponent.
 
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