Rollie WilliamsRollie Williams from Kamui Brand is trying to get good at pool, and the only way to do that is by learning from the best. From the creator of 'Your Average Pool Player' comes the second installment in From Average To Good a.k.a. the long hard road to pool competence. This series is a deep dive into pool theory and just how demoralizing it can be to play against someone who truly knows what they're doing on a pool table.
After a very edifying lesson with Jennifer Barretta, (youtube.com/watch?v=CiRQTjx914Y) it was time to go uptown to Society Billiards for a few games with Jonathan Smith. Jon turned pro in 2000 and has been teaching lessons and playing in tournaments ever since then. After Jon takes me to the cleaners in a few games including one where I don't even get to play a single shot, he teaches me three very important lessons:
1) Speed Control 2) Deflection and Side Spin 3) Stance
Questions or comments? Leave 'em below and Rollie (me) will try to get to them. Thanks to Kamui Brand, Jon Smith, Society Billiards, and the New York Subway system. If you're interested in taking lessons with Jon (and I highly recommend it) visit http://www.societybilliards.com/proshop
Much like pool greats Efren Reyes, Willie Mosconi, Johnny Archer, Thorsten Hohmann, Allison Fisher, and Niels Feijen, you only get to the top by training with the best.
A lesson from pro pool player Jon Smith | From Average To GoodRollie Williams2019-04-11 | Rollie Williams from Kamui Brand is trying to get good at pool, and the only way to do that is by learning from the best. From the creator of 'Your Average Pool Player' comes the second installment in From Average To Good a.k.a. the long hard road to pool competence. This series is a deep dive into pool theory and just how demoralizing it can be to play against someone who truly knows what they're doing on a pool table.
After a very edifying lesson with Jennifer Barretta, (youtube.com/watch?v=CiRQTjx914Y) it was time to go uptown to Society Billiards for a few games with Jonathan Smith. Jon turned pro in 2000 and has been teaching lessons and playing in tournaments ever since then. After Jon takes me to the cleaners in a few games including one where I don't even get to play a single shot, he teaches me three very important lessons:
1) Speed Control 2) Deflection and Side Spin 3) Stance
Questions or comments? Leave 'em below and Rollie (me) will try to get to them. Thanks to Kamui Brand, Jon Smith, Society Billiards, and the New York Subway system. If you're interested in taking lessons with Jon (and I highly recommend it) visit http://www.societybilliards.com/proshop
Much like pool greats Efren Reyes, Willie Mosconi, Johnny Archer, Thorsten Hohmann, Allison Fisher, and Niels Feijen, you only get to the top by training with the best.An average pool players thrilling US Open conclusion | The Road To The US OpenRollie Williams2020-08-05 | Subscribe here: youtube.com/user/RollieWilliams?sub_confirmation=1
Well the Road to the 2020 US Open has come to an end, but I like to think it's about the journey, not the destination. Check out the final episode of the series.
Special thanks to: Society Billiards - instagram.com/society_billiards Kamui Brand - youtube.com/channel/UCAPfHpUZv4AnnFTyOzX0_TQ Hunter Lombardo - instagram.com/hunterlombardofficial/). Salotto - https://salotto.app/ Ekster - ekster.com/products/parliamentPro Pool Players Are Surprisingly Impressed by $10 Pool CueRollie Williams2020-06-17 | During the 2019 Pool US Open, Florian and Rollie bought the cheapest pool cue they could find to see how it performed. Against all odds, it wasn't that bad. Even professional players like 2-time World Pool Masters Champion David Alcaide and European Champion Francisco Sánchez Ruíz were able to make some technical shots with it.
To win the cue from the video, fill out this google form to be entered into the random drawing: https://forms.gle/NrM3Mmo4BfUR9eBWAProfessional Help With Pool World Champion Thorsten HohmannRollie Williams2020-05-06 | The game is much easier when every other shot is played by a world champion. Before Coronavirus swept the world, Rollie Williams (instagram.com/rolliewilliams) stopped by Society Billiards to get a lesson from World Champion Thorsten Hohmann (instagram.com/thorstenhohmann/). Thorsten and Rollie alternate shots to try to string together as many shots as possible. Predictably, there is a weak link.
Unlike 9-ball or 8-ball, straight pool (a.k.a. 14.1) allows you to hit any ball in any order, and when you get down to just 1 ball, you rack the other 14 back in the triangle and keep going. Thorsten has made a terrifying 408 without missing, so I figured he was a good person to get a straight pool lesson from. Filmed at Society Billiards in New York City.
Cue Lab: apps.apple.com/us/app/cue-lab-shots-layouts/id1480774300A Pool Tutorial With World Champion Thorsten HohmannRollie Williams2020-04-10 | Before everything in America shut down, I got the chance to talk to multiple time world champion Thorsten Hohmann about his thought process while playing straight pool. Unlike 9-ball or 8-ball, straight pool (a.k.a. 14.1) allows you to hit any ball in any order, and when you get down to just 1 ball, you rack the other 14 back in the triangle and keep going. Thorsten has made a terrifying 408 without missing, so I figured he was a good person to get a straight pool lesson from. Filmed at Society Billiards in New York City.
Also, check out Cue Lab! Thorsten developed an app that makes table diagramming easy. You can create drills, send setups, and more: facebook.com/cuelab.co
Thorsten Instagram: instagram.com/thorstenhohmann Rollie Instagram: instagram.com/rolliewilliams Society Billiards Instagram: instagram.com/society_billiardsPro Pool Player Breaks Down Pool Movies And TV Shows | Jennifer Barretta & Rollie Williams Ep. 1Rollie Williams2020-03-26 | Pro pool player Jennifer Barretta takes a look at iconic pool movies and tv scenes with Rollie Williams and discusses how accurate they are. They'll look at Poolhall Junkies, The Hustler, White Collar, Groundhog Day, and 9 Ball to determine which movies were realistic and which were not. We'll look at The Color of Money next episode.
In this time of staying at home and not being able to go outside, it's important to make the best of things. When that doesn't work, it's okay to make yourself a pool table. We made a DIY pool table out of a blanket, our kitchen table, some tape, clamps, rope, string, metal rods from a set of shelves I had in my room, and a set of billiard balls my dad gave me for Christmas a few years ago. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have.
In the 4th episode of The Road To The US Open, Hunter Lombardo (instagram.com/hunterlombardofficial) takes me through the startlingly difficult task of balancing while leaning. I thought after being an adult human I could pretty much stand properly, but there's a lot more to it when you're also trying to not get absolutely HOUSED at the US Open. Kamui Brand has been nice enough to sponsor me in The Pool US Open (April 13th-18th)
Thanks to Hunter Lombardo, Kamui Brand, and Society Billiards for the support.
Aaaaand we are BACK to for the third episode of The Road To The US Open, today we're covering the all-important Center Field Drill that Ralph Eckert help popularize as one of the most effective drills for improvement. To set the Center Field Drill up, mark off a 2-diamond by 2-diamond square in the center of the table. Put 4 balls 1 diamond by 1 diamond away from each corner pocket. Place the cue ball anywhere you want in the square to start, then hit any of the 4 balls and return to the square. Repeat with the remaining balls, returning to the square each time. Once you've hit all 4 and returned to the square, leave the cue ball where it lands, replace the 4 balls, and start again from that position. Your run ends when you fail to pocket a ball or fail to return to the square.
Kamui Brand has been nice enough to sponsor me in The pool US Open, and in an effort to not get rocked in every single game, I've enlisted the help of professional player Hunter Lombardo (instagram.com/hunterlombardofficial/). He'll be training me through this process and assessing my many liabilities in an attempt to help me improve.
Thanks to Hunter Lombardo, Kamui Brand, and Society Billiards for the support.
Subscribe to Kamui Brand: youtube.com/channel/UCAPfHpUZv4AnnFTyOzX0_TQBackspin and topspin advice from a professional pool player | The Road To The US OpenRollie Williams2020-02-28 | Subscribe here: youtube.com/user/RollieWilliams?sub_confirmation=1 Patreon: patreon.com/rolliewilliams Thanks for watching the second episode in a new series about a dead man walking. Today we'll be covering draw and follow. Kamui Brand has been nice enough to sponsor me in The pool US Open, and in an effort to not get rocked in every single game, I've enlisted the help of professional player Hunter Lombardo (instagram.com/hunterlombardofficial/). He'll be training me through this process and assessing my many liabilities in an attempt to help me improve.
Thanks to Hunter Lombardo, Kamui Brand, and Society Billiards for the support.
Subscribe to Kamui Brand: youtube.com/channel/UCAPfHpUZv4AnnFTyOzX0_TQAn average pool player in a professional tournament | The Road To The US OpenRollie Williams2020-02-21 | Subscribe here: youtube.com/user/RollieWilliams?sub_confirmation=1 Thanks for watching the first episode in a new series about a dead man walking. Kamui Brand has been nice enough to sponsor me in The pool US Open, and in an effort to not get rocked in every single game, I've enlisted the help of professional player Hunter Lombardo (instagram.com/hunterlombardofficial/). He'll be training me through this process and assessing my many liabilities in an attempt to help me improve.
Thanks to Hunter Lombardo, Kamui Brand, and Society Billiards for the support.
In this video, Pagulayan explains how to hit the double contact shot that comes up a lot when playing 8-ball with a blocked pocket or when playing one pocket. I'm sorry this took so long to edit, I'm also in grad school, so that takes up a lot of time.
Anyway, if you're familiar with pool, you'll know Alex is one of the all-time greats. He's from the Philippines but moved to Canada when he was 13, and has been an unstoppable force in the billiards world for the past 20 years.
Shoutout to Alex Pagulayan, Amsterdam Billiards, Society Billiards, Kamui Brand, and The Billiardists.
I started a Patreon page in case you want to see more frequent/longer pool videos. Anything donated there goes straight to making more videos: patreon.com/rolliewilliamsA Lesson from International Billiards Teacher Ralph Eckert | From Average To GoodRollie Williams2020-01-03 | Hey, I'm Rollie Williams ('Your Average Pool Player' with Kamui Brand), and I'm trying to get really good at pool. Why, you ask? I'm not 100% sure, but I love pool and frankly no one has told me to stop yet. For the past year I've been taking lessons from professionals and experts around the country, but this time Kamui Brand flew me all the way to Berlin, Germany to meet up with Internationally renown billiards champion and teacher Ralph Eckert (instagram.com/ralph_g._eckert)
For this 6th installment of From Average To Good, Ralph Eckert (youtube.com/channel/UCHkORQCwPbee0mjls3iE1cg) teaches me about getting back to the centerfield and gives me an invaluable shooting lesson. If you have any questions or comments or whatever please leave them below or don't because you've got your own life and things going on. I'm not here to judge. I'll never get as good as the likes of Ralph Eckert, Efren Reyes, Niels Feijen, Willie Mosconi, or Thorsten Hohmann, but I might be able to stop missing the 9-ball once in a while.
I started a Patreon page in case you want to see more frequent/longer pool videos. Anything donated there goes straight to making more videos: patreon.com/rolliewilliamsThe Impossible Jump Shot With World Champion Alex PagulayanRollie Williams2019-12-14 | I got the chance to hang out with professional pool player Alex Pagulayan in New York City, and I asked him to recreate a shot I had no idea was as complicated as it turned out to be. You may already know how to do this shot, but it was a new one for me. youtube.com/user/RollieWilliams?sub_confirmation=1
In this video, Alex teaches me the Impossible Jump Shot where you not only jump the cue ball, but also the object ball. I didn't think it could happen, but after he did it on the first try, I was convinced. The trick is to hit the ball in mid air but not too high up on the object ball. The video will probably do a good job of explaining it, actually, just watch it.
Alex is one of the all-time greats. He's from the Philippines but moved to Canada when he was 13, and has been an unstoppable force in the billiards world for the past 20 years.
Shoutout to Alex Pagulayan, Amsterdam Billiards, Society Billiards, Kamui Brand, and The Billiardists
I started a Patreon page in case you want to see more frequent/longer pool videos. Anything donated there goes straight to making more videos: patreon.com/rolliewilliamsBilliards expert Dr. Dave gives Rollie a pool master class | From Average To GoodRollie Williams2019-10-31 | Welcome to another installment of From Average To Good, a series where I try to get good at pool. We got a sponsor! Try Dashlane Premium free on your first device: dashlane.com/rollie - use the coupon code ‘rollie’ to get 10% off Dashlane Premium.
This episode is packed to the gills with pool information. Dr. Dave knows more about the game than almost anyone on the planet and he approaches pool in a uniquely mathematical way. It's never easy to get better, but I think I truly learned a boatload of information here.
Links: - Dr. Dave bio: https://billiards.colostate.edu/dr-dave - 90° rule (tangent line): https://billiards.colostate.edu/faq/stun/90-degree-rule - 30° rule (peace sign): https://billiards.colostate.edu/faq/30-90-rules/30-degree-rule - 3-times-the-angle ("good action" draw): https://billiards.colostate.edu/faq/draw/trisect - online pool tutorial: https://billiards.colostate.edu/tutorial - Billiard University (BU) Playing-Ability Exams: billiarduniversity.org/testing/exams - BU Summer School Boot Camps: billiarduniversity.org/instruction/school - "Got English?" T-shirt: drdavebilliards.com/products/T-shirt
Shot by James Clark Production Assistance by Kory KolarSpecial Announcement - Ill be playing in the US Open 9-Ball ChampionshipRollie Williams2019-10-07 | Let me just say, I'm as surprised as you are that I'm playing in the 2020 US Open 9 Ball Championship. My number one goal is to practice enough to not get completely blown out, but we'll see. My number two goal is to give people who can't attend the US Open a better idea of what it's like to actually be there. I'll be documenting the venue, the facilities, the bracket system, anything you want. If you have any ideas for ways I can accomplish that, leave them below in the comments.
Thank you to Kamui Brand for sponsoring my entry and to Society Billiards and Bar in New York City for the location. I will be posting videos of my progress as regularly as possible, so check back in here and on Kamui Brand's YouTube page: youtube.com/channel/UCAPfHpUZv4AnnFTyOzX0_TQ
In this video, Pagulayan talks through his thought process while playing out the rack. There will be one or two longer and more edited videos with Alex coming out soon, but I wanted to drop this preview because I'm supposed to be doing my homework for grad school and frankly I wanted to procrastinate.
Anyway, if you're familiar with pool, you'll know Alex is one of the all-time greats. He's from the Philippines but moved to Canada when he was 13, and has been an unstoppable force in the billiards world for the past 20 years.
Shoutout to Alex Pagulayan, Amsterdam Billiards, Society Billiards, Kamui Brand, and The Billiardists
I started a Patreon page in case you want to see more frequent/longer pool videos. Anything donated there goes straight to making more videos: patreon.com/rolliewilliamsA Lesson From Pro Pool Player Emily Duddy | From Average To GoodRollie Williams2019-08-26 | Hey, I'm Rollie Williams (I host 'Your Average Pool Player' with Kamui Brand), and I'm trying to get good at pool. It turns out, it's not as easy as I was hoping, so I'm taking lessons from professionals and experts across the country depending on who will take me.
The 4th installment of From Average To Good features professional pool player Emily Duddy. She's a house pro at Amsterdam Billiards in New York, and she teaches me about stance, keeping a level cue, and pattern play. It's an edifying experience for me, and I hope you enjoy it too. If you have any questions or comments or whatever please leave them below or don't because you've got your own life and things going on. I'm not here to judge. I'll never get as good as the likes of Efren Reyes, Niels Feijen, Willie Mosconi, or Thorsten Hohmann, but I might be able to stop missing the 9-ball once in a while.
I started a Patreon page in case you want to see more frequent/longer pool videos. Anything donated there goes straight to making more videos: patreon.com/rolliewilliamsRecreating 5 Efren Reyes Trick Shots with Florian Kohler and Rollie WilliamsRollie Williams2019-07-16 | If you follow professional billiards, chances are you know the name Efren Reyes. He was born in the Philippines, but came to America in 1984 to test his skills out against the best American pool players only to find himself carving through all challengers. Over the years, Efren has emerged as the greatest all-around player of all time, but he also picked up a repertoire of trickshots he uses in billiards demonstrations all over the world.
In my Kamui Brand video series Your Average Pool Player (youtube.com/watch?v=cKN6hAlimSA&list=PLqVm2hbVs27MbFKr7IqZMuqgXjvMJ7pa0) I tend to focus on actual shots made in real tournaments, and while I tend to stick to a theme, this special installment focuses on Efren’s trickshots. I wouldn't have tried something like this if I didn't have backup. Billiards phenom Florian ‘Venom’ Kohler will coach me through every shot to make sure I get home before bedtime.
Full lesson with Florian: youtube.com/watch?v=hCSTMkQBitc The track used in the video is 'Rest' by Otis McDonaldTrick shot champion Florian Venom Kohler gives Rollie a pool master class | From Average To GoodRollie Williams2019-05-20 | Hi, I'm Rollie Williams (Your Average Pool Player with Kamui Brand), and I'm trying to get good at pool. I wish I could just suddenly be amazing, but apparently the only way to get good is by learning from the best or tricking a leprechaun, and I don't know any leprechauns. I can't even spell leprechaun without googling it. ANYWAY, the third installment of From Average To Good features multiple time trick shot world champion Florian 'Venom' Kohler, his incredible house, and his delightful little dog. After playing 3 games of 9-ball and a 3-trickshot test, Florian taught me about jumping, masse shots, trick shots, 1-handed jumps, and more. It was a truly edifying experience.
I started a Patreon page in case you want to see more frequent/longer pool videos. Anything donated there goes straight to making more videos: patreon.com/rolliewilliams
Questions or comments? Leave 'em below and I will try to get to them. Thanks to Kamui Brand and Florian Kohler for the help.
Subscribe to Kamui Brand: youtube.com/channel/UCAPfHpUZv4AnnFTyOzX0_TQ?sub_confirmation=1Getting schooled by pro pool player Jennifer Barretta | From Average To GoodRollie Williams2019-02-28 | Rollie Williams from Kamui Brand is trying to get good at pool, and the only way to do that is by learning from the best. From the creator of 'Your Average Pool Player' comes the long hard road to pool competence. This series is a deep dive into pool theory and just how hopeless it is to play against someone who truly knows what they're doing on a pool table. Pool greats like Efren Reyes, Willie Mosconi, Johnny Archer, Thorsten Hohmann, Allison Fisher, and Niels Feijen got to the top by training with the best.
This episode features professional pool player Jennifer Barretta. Jennifer turned pro in 2003, won her first international title in 2006, and has been playing on and off the pro tour for the past 15 years. After Jennifer and Rollie play two games to diagnose his flaws, Jennifer runs him through two drills, one to find the correct line of the shot, and the wagon wheel drill to focus on cue ball position. Although he struggles with both drills, Jennifer officially says (under very specific circumstances) that Rollie is the second best pool player of all time. *The sincerest apologies for the poor audio quality.
Questions or comments? Leave 'em below and Rollie (me) will try to get to them. Why is this whole thing in third person when it's obviously Rollie who's writing this? I'm not exactly sure. It felt right at the beginning but now it's clearly the wrong choice. Huh. Well, time makes fools of us all. Thanks to Kamui Brand, Jennifer Barretta, Skyline Billiards, and the New York Subway system.Inverse Video Department Improv SetRollie Williams2018-04-29 | Justin Dodd, Rollie Williams, and Steve Ward leave the Inverse office to perform a little improv comedy at The Velvet Lounge. Equal parts reality and computers. Not in attendance: Samantha Riddell (she had to do actual work).Smear Campaign by Big Telecomm Companies Against ColoradoRollie Williams2018-01-05 | A ballot issue in Fort Collins, Colorado would let the city make broadband internet a utility AKA not have to go through the Internet Service Provider rigamaroll. Big Telecomm donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to shut it down. The bill went through, but beware more garBAGEThe Pool Hall SketchRollie Williams2017-06-15 | Will and Adrian's home pool hall is visited by a genuine sucker. Starring William Martinez and Adrian Frimpong Cinematography by Drew Luster Writing, directing, editing by Rollie Williams Shot on location at New York's best pool hall: Society Billiards (10 E 21st St, New York, NY 10010)3 Citi Bike Pro Tips to Optimize your New York ExperienceRollie Williams2017-05-25 | Just follow these 3 tips.Dark Down Deep Down Dark (Trailer)Rollie Williams2016-05-27 | A deadly collapse traps a group of miners deep underground with no hope of rescue. Put on a helmet and join a ragtag crew of brave Chilean miners to find out for yourself what it means to be trapped deep, down in the deepest, downest part of the dark. 50% international crisis, 50% haunted house, 100% comedy. Wear comfortable shoes.
"Say Something" vocals by Peter Smith, mix by Will Moritz
Andy ZouGiraffe cheats on dietRollie Williams2015-09-09 | Giraffes, man. I guess self-control is not located in the neck, because this giraffe can't stick to his diet.Snooker for Americans - Why Ronnie OSullivan Is The Greatest Competitor AliveRollie Williams2014-04-03 | I'm into snooker in a big way. This is the snooker video that got me hooked on the game.The stupidest idiots at a Boy Scout CampRollie Williams2013-08-13 | A bunch of foolhardy camp counselors take matters into their own hands when the horses escape from the horse corral.