Billiard Coach – Mike Fieldhammer

A Growing Obsession with Billiards

Posted on 15. Jul, 2010 by Mike Fieldhammer.

PoolSynergy – July edition – “What’s your story?”

This month’s theme, What’s your story? will be hosted by Michael Reddick, Angle of Reflection and you can view the summary and links to all this month’s articles at:

http://angleofreflection.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/poolsynergy-whats-your-story/

My pool playing experience began in my maternal grandfather’s basement in Glenwood, Minnesota. High on a hill, overlooking Lake Minnewaska, my grandparents had a split level home with a rec room just beneath the ground level with a big 8’ Brunswick from the 30’s or 40’s. Scarred with cigarette burns from its previous home in a bar, it resembled the anniversary model by Brunswick. It had tattered white plastic wrapping on the two oval legs, but did have the white racing stripes around the skirt.  One side of the table was bleached from the southern sun pouring in through the picture window. Classic red pockets were held in place by weak tacks and crumpled newspapers from the 60’s.

From a bar to Grandpa's Rec Room.

I’m not sure of the first time I played pool, but this was definitely the table and the time was probably when I was about seven years old in the 70’s.  Before that my younger brother and I started horsing around on the table by whipping balls down the length of the table at each other trying to cause a mid-table collision. This occasionally got out of hand and turned into a game of chicken.  We learned to watch our fingers or they might get squished against the cushion or worse yet a game ending smash between balls while reaching for or releasing the next projectile.

This kamikaze game didn’t last long—grandpa hated when balls hit the press-on tile floor or when a grandson was leaking tears. When he coaxed me into holding a short stick and pushing balls around with the cue, I was hooked. Even watching my older cousin Brad, who had his own blue two-piece cue, was interesting.  When grandpa deemed me old enough to join a game of 8-ball or cut-throat, I dove right in.

Grandpa modeling a stylish gift

Grandpa taught proper chalking and gave me the line to the pocket from the object ball to help me sink balls.  Sink. This was a word he used constantly and not a word I hear commonly around the pool rooms. The other Grandpa terms used were “Kitchen” for behind the head string and “Granny” for the mechanical bridge. Not Grandma upstairs in the kitchen. She was “Mother”. Granddad’s aiming aid was standing behind the pocket and hovering his cue stick over the pocket with just the tip barely on the other side of the object ball. “Just hit the six below my tip,” he’d say. The instructions were simple and true, but not easy to execute.

Grandpa had some old school house rules.

1. Break the balls with the break cue ball and then swap it for the playing cue ball.  No penalty, but don’t improve your position. If the replacement was very delicate, one more shot was required before the ball exchange.

2. In 8-Ball, scratch and you spot one. Make one and scratch, spot two.

3. Always play scratches from the kitchen.

4. I don’t recall the drive a ball to the rail penalties, but other fouls were shoot from the kitchen.

5. He had to bank the 8-ball to win. This was his spot to give me a chance for the first couple of years.

Grandpa was never a great player, but he really enjoyed having a game with the boys and visiting about guy stuff in the basement.  It was about being social first and about competition second. As I was pleased to sit and watch the men play before I was old enough to join in, Grandpa was happy to sit and watch the younger fellows play when he got older and wasn’t quite up to playing. His classic table is still in the family and holds great memories. Four generations have played on and talked over games on the old Brunswick.

End of part 1.  In the next part of this story, I go to college. One with four regulation 9 foot tables!  Please stay tuned.

Note:  I’m searching for some old photographs to add to this article. I am hoping to dig up a couple of shots soon. Also, I am considering posting comments by my Mother and two Aunts.  These are all three of my grandpa’s children.

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Streaming video from Montana

Posted on 30. Nov, 2008 by Fieldhammer.

OTBnTV, the online version of On The Break News will be streaming live on November 30 from 2008 Finals of the Holiday Classic in Eagles Club Bozeman, Montana.

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Northern Lights Casino 8-Ball Tournament

Posted on 21. Oct, 2008 by Fieldhammer.

Joe and Linda Thomas put on another 8-Ball tournament October 17-19, 2008 at Northern Lights Casino in Walker, MN.  Four divisions vied for a hefty prize fund.

Singer sinks another

Jessica and Jeri

More photos are HERE.

Northern Lights Casino Winners

October 17-19, 2008

Men’s Open (128 players)

1 Mike Singer $1,400

2 Jody Helmin 900

These top two actually split the prize money. Jody was in the drivers seat and their first match Mike beat him. They then decided to split and flipped a coin for first spot.

3 Ross Krmpotich 600

4 Dave Mullen 460

5-6 Bruce Carrier 300

5-6 Dave Strachen 300

7-8 Jesse Engel 200

7-8 Bob Larson 200

9-12 Mark Finken 160

9-12 Chad Folken 160

9-12 Tim Krug 160

9-12 Konrad Tellinghuisen160

13-16 Jared Bailey 120

13-16 Dan Fisher 120

13-16 Ken Hilliard 120

13-16 Dan Herman 120

17-24 Ron Sully 80

17-24 Vince Simon 80

17-24 Jason Blanski 80

17-24 Mike Decelles 80

17-24 Steve Baker 80

17-24 Bruno Nadeau 80

17-24 Bill Frisby 80

17-24 Jim Andres 80

25-32 Jamie Bartlett 40

25-32 Jeremy Wheelock 40

25-32 Tom Budik 40

25-32 Danton Tibbetts 40

25-32 Greg Hyttinen 40

25-32 Mike Garnett 40

25-32 Rich Ciponi 40

25-32 Chris Messer 40

Men’s Masters (31 players)

1 Vince Chambers $1,200

2 Felix Beardy 800

3 Jeff Clare 600

4 Mike Frechette 380

5-6 Mike Fieldhammer 200

5-6 John Traverse 200

7-8 Josh Burbul 100

7-8 Rod Carl 100

Rising Stars (32 players)

1 Lori Nelson $680

2 Julie Brunelle 400

3 Sue Roberts 300

4 Shawn Helmin 200

5-6 Rose Mackenzie 100

5-6 Gail Seagris 100

7-8 Joanne Cheechoo 40

7-8 April Kasstan 40

Stars of the North (16 players)

1 Jessica Frideres $1,000

2 Jeri Bouvette 600

3 Beth Fondell 400

4 Carol Graham 300

$200 Cash Winners

James Henry

Eric Hyttenin

Mike Frechette

Jason Blanski

Rene Aggamaway

A huge thanks from Six Arrows Pool Tournament Coordinators and staff, Linda, Joe, Floreen, and Beverly.

Thank you to Steve Schoenfelder of Schuler Legacy Cue Sales and Service.

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