I was in film school when I first saw Paul Newman pick up a cue stick in the 1961 movie “The Hustler.” Ever since then, I’ve been in love with the game, and I still play on a regular basis. There’s something very comforting about a dark pool hall and the sound of a strong break. Shooting pool is how I relax.
Unfortunately, loving a game isn’t always enough to make you a great player. Sure, I can pull off a tricky bank shot, but I still have days when I feel like an absolute beginner. That’s frustrating because the key to any skill is being able to deliver on a consistent basis.
As luck would have it, I just signed a Canadian named Lisa who has “expert pool player” listed on her résumé. We talked about this, and she revealed her dad was a professional who taught her the game. (That’s right. Canadians play pool. Who knew?) So as a way of thanking me for taking her on as a client, Lisa agreed to spend the afternoon with yours truly at his favorite pool hall.
