Ronnie Rodas

Born 1973 and raised in Oakland, California, I began the dedicated study of pocket billiards as a teenager. In some of the underprivileged neighborhoods of Oakland at the time, emphasis predominantly in pool was to earn money through wagering. In the state of California, laws permit gambling at games of skill such as billiards.

Over the past thirty years, I have learned from some of the best "pool hustlers" in the Bay Area (names of these individuals are withheld by request - interested students are encouraged to ask about me and my reputation at local billiard establishments). However, now that my two sons have graduated university, I have become more interested in mentoring talented amateurs in the sport.

It is my observation that billiards has transformed in the past decade. In my opinion, the most popular (for the general public in the US) professional pool players are women - for example, Allison Fisher (England) "The Duchess of Doom," Jeanette Lee (United States) "The Black Widow," Karen Corr (Ireland) "The Irish Invader," Gayoung Kim (Korea) "Little Devil Girl," and Xiaoting Pan (China); who have surpassed legendary male players like Buddy Hall (US) "The Rifleman," or even the renowned Efren "Bata" (translation from Tagalog, "The Kid") Reyes (Philippines; articles and stories appear in The Atlantic - Reyes Article, also, National Public Radio - Broadcast Transcript), in reputation among the general American public. Once only occasionally televised, and then solely for exhibition games (an instance would be the match between Rudolf Wanderone "Minnesota Fats" and Willie Mosconi in 1978), pocket billiards is now a weekly feature on ESPN. In the US, games demanding high technical skill and tactics such as nine-ball and ten-ball (rotation category) are predominant for professional play with strategy games such as eight-ball and one-pocket (the latter, compared frequently to chess in its intellectual content) close behind. This is a dramatic change from the last historical period in which straight-pool comprised the standard.

Another significant change is the growth of amateur pool leagues under the auspices of organizations such as the APA (American Poolplayers Association) and BCA (Billiards Congress of America). These institutions sponsor weekly local tournaments which funnel talented amateurs to regional and national events. League play is an excellent way to advance in the sport, make lifelong friends, and form business connections. Pocket billiards has the following unique qualities.

• Women can compete on an equal level with men.
• It is a "lifetime sport", with people in their seventies outperforming younger players at strategy games in particular.
• It is an excellent sport for people with disabilities in that techniques and training systems are available to compensate (for example, inverted stance, one-handed play, wheel-chair play using the mechanical bridge, etc.) and compete on an equal level with non-disabled players. Negotiated wagering in this context (e.g. for table fees and drinks) can be rewarding not only for the player but also for interested third parties.

It is my experience that pool lessons can save players considerable time, not to mention money in table fees. Even a couple of hours of instruction can make the difference of six months of solo practice for a novice.

I play and give lessons regularly at The Broken Rack Billiards Parlor (Emeryville, CA; Powell Street exit just south of Ashby Ave exit to Berkeley, Route I80; for further information, see www.TheBrokenRack.com) where I proudly served as a part-time manager until July 2015. I recently retired from my two professional positions (billiard parlor manager, and property manager in Oakland, CA) to pursue my career in, teaching and competition, pocket billiards full-time.

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I believe the best way to develop talent is through one-on-one instruction. I utilize a range of methods with my students. We train with drills designed for fundamentals: shot routine, stance, bridge, stroke, balance and foot-work. I teach basic theory: aiming systems, cue ball placement, creating shape, banking/kicking systems, etc. For experienced players, I teach advanced techniques: varying stroke for power or accuracy, modern aiming systems such as Filipino carabao (also known as back-hand English), compensating drift with cue ball deflection, diamond systems, etc. Uniquely, I am a proponent of mock gambling exercises. For example, to a strong amateur, I might propose (as in Oakland, standard pro-am handicap), one-pocket giving 10-6 and all the breaks, $10 per game; or higher handicap; to place a student under tournament style pressure. After our session of games, we discuss tactical and strategic weaknesses, and find ways to improve. Similar "practical examinations" can be made for rotation games or eight-ball.

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Some students prefer to train with others and obtain immediate feedback through practice games. Group lessons are an inexpensive option for many players. These sessions can be scheduled through me or my assistant (see below).

I travel to deliver curriculum at billiard parlors throughout the extended San Francisco Bay Area including Sacramento and San Jose. I also give lessons at other venues such as clients' homes. My standard rate is $50/hour with negotiated discounts for a series of lessons (for example, three one hour lessons arranged over a three week period) and group instruction. Students are responsible for their own table fees. For individuals outside of Oakland/Berkeley, modest transportation fees may also apply.

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A quality billiard cue and case is a proper investment, even for a beginner. I am happy to help students select an appropriate model, reasonably priced. At Broken Rack Billiards Parlor, for example, there are a number of cues and cases for retail sale. These may be tried free of charge for selection and adjustment of weight and balance. A solid combination can be obtained at a total less than $120. Most players upgrade equipment as they advance in competition, selling used cues to colleagues thereto. Billiards need not be an expensive sport.

I supply some training equipment to students as part of regular lessons (hand-made placement markers for drill exercises, In the Zone Ghost Ball Trainer, cue ball target markers, etc.). I can also refer individuals to online suppliers for items that I believe are quality training devices (for example: Elephant Ball, Rempe Training Ball, Billiards Aim Trainer by Allison Fisher, etc.)

My colleagues and I are in the process of developing a line of billiards apparel in the spirit of the "Hustlin' USA" brand - "In The Zone" t-shirts, sweat-shirts, polo shirts, jackets, baseball style hats, etc (hand-crafted, reasonably priced, custom design). Photos of samples will be published herein shortly. For more information, contact as follows.

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