3-Cushion Billiard Challenge Shot Contest a "HIT” with Pocket Pool Players

Finally, we have a billiard program designed to attract Pocket Billiard Players to the game of 3-Cushion Billiards. It is called the “3-Cushion Billiard Challenge Shot Contest” and it is unique in its own way. For the first time room owners that have only one or two billiard tables will be part of a bigger picture. The format is simple, easy and fun to play.

A room owner that has only one table can now have competition and give their customers a chance to learn the game. All paperwork and diagrammed shots are sent to the room owners in a small packet ahead of time to be displayed on a bulletin board giving their players a chance to learn the shots. This also brings some additional revenue to the room owners while the players practice the shots several weeks ahead of time.
The quickest way to get new players to play the game of 3-Cushion is to reach out to pool players.

Professor-Q-Ball (Paul Frankel) and USBA Secretary Jim Shovak are the driving forces behind this great idea. The Rack, in Memphis TN, held the Shot Contest and it was a huge success. Thirteen pool players signed on and were willing to test their skills at the game of 3-Cushion Billiards. As the event date was set for Sunday at 2:00pm, on May 3rd 2009, players had a full month to practice the shots. Entry Fee was $10.00 which included an additional $ 5.00 per player for a luncheon that was personally cooked on a barbeque grill by Jerry Ramey, owner of The Rack. At the player’s meeting, Paul Frankel explained all the rules of the “Shot Contest” and thanked all contestants for accepting the CHALLENGE and then went on to explain the format.

A small recap of how the 3-Cushion Billiard Challenge Shot Contest works:

FORMAT: Players will shoot up to 8 diagrammed shots. Each player will shoot each of the shots 3 times (24 shots total). Each shot is worth 2 points (48 pts max) and the total number of points wins. Three small round dots (stick-ons) are placed on the table, which will represent the exact placement of the diagrammed shots. All players will have the same shot and same placement of the 3 balls. Then the dots will be removed and replaced for the next shot selection.

Special Note: After each shot, a player will attempt a straight rail carom shot (no rails required) after the balls come to rest. If they make it, it will be worth 1 point added to their previous scores. This means that the maximum possible score will be 72 points if they made every shot.

Payout:
Waymon Earnest 1st place $200
Gary Baker 2nd place $100
Jeremy Marcello 3rd Place $55
Krishna Ravinuthala Wins Professor-Q-Ball’s Power Cue

PDF File of the Shot Contest Chart

Back row: Gary Baker (3rd), Jermery Marcello (2nd), Paul Spain (Scorekeeper) Front row: Don Chow (Referee), Waymon Earnest- (1st)

This type of program will benefit the USBA in its efforts to attract more members by introducing this program to billiard room owners who sponsor 3-cushion billiard events.
As the contest entered the 8th and last shot there were several players that were very close in score. After all players finished their shots, 3 players were tied for first. The tie-breaker shot was the break shot. See chart for final results.

Attention all room owners - for more information on how you can have a "3-Cushion Billiard Challenge Shot Contest, call Paul Frankel at 901-756-2594 or Jim Shovak at 516 238-6193.

Hotel and Rental Car Discounts:

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