AzHousePro(P) Please submit your questions for Allison now

AzHousePro(P) Please give Allison a second to get comfortable with her interface for the chat

Hal2(Q) Allison, Good evening and thank you for being apart of this chat/forum. Now for your first easy question --- Up until now, who has been your toughest/stongest female competitor .... AND why?
allison(A) Hi and thanks. I guess Karen has to be one of the toughest out there. She never gives up and has become much more mentally stronger over the last few years. However, there are many great young players now who are fast and aggressive like Kelly Fisher and Ga Young. I do love the competition though! It makes me strive to be better

SlickRick_PCS(Q) What was your first impression when you first entered the States?
allison(A) I fell in love. I actually arrived in Vegas at the trade show to find out how to get on tour. After that my first event was in Charlotte. As soon as I walked in to the arena I felt at home - not with 9 ball immediately but with my surroundings and the professionalism.

buddha162(Q) Regarding talk about your evolving stance/mechanics: was it a conscious effort to "loosen up" from a traditional snooker stance, or did it happen naturally as you play the game of pool?
allison(A) I actually have the same stance as my Snooker days. However, there have been a times over the years when I have gone in to events with more of a pool stance to experiment. They both work very well. I tried the pool stance to ease my back a bit but it can be done by bending both knees if necessary in a Snooker stance. Other than that I have kept my Snooker mechanics

buddha162(Q) I know cuetec is your sponsor, and certainly you've done very well playing with their cues over the years...but hypothetically, if you were to play with another cue, what would it be?
allison(A) I was with Cuetec just before coming to America and they have been very loyal to me. We have been together for 11 years now and just signed for another 5. I really like the feel of my cue and the good thing is it is easily duplicated therefore the hit remains the same. With a custom cue no 2 are alike. I had my Snooker cue for my whole career and hated using any other cue. I feel that many custom cues are over rated. There are very few i like.

SlickRick_PCS(Q) Did you miss getting back into Snooker?
allison(A) No not really at all. I love playing pool and it is a constant learning experience. It is always a challenge. However, I hate the luck factor at pool. That doesn't come in to Snooker. When I gave up Snooker it was because I had enough. I didn't see it going anywhere and I was burned out.

billiardspro(Q) allison i know you and karen are both snooker champs....have you 2 ever played and do you have the edge on her
allison(A) We played many times at Snooker and I had the definite edge. However, Karen completely changed her game by slowing down, playing percentage shots and changing all of her mechanics. She has worked very hard and it has made her more consistent.

AzHousePro(Q) You have rarely played in open events while Karen seems to make it a habit. Why don't you play in more open events?
allison(A) I have a busy schedule doing exhibitions and teaching as well as tour stops. I value my time at home as it is rare and I don't like being on the road constantly. I am not the typical pool player.

Hal2(Q) What is your high run in straight pool and your number of consective runs in 9 ball?
allison(A) I won the US open years ago and I never play the game. My high run in that event I think was 60. I have run 6 racks in 9 ball in a WPBA event but now we alternate the break and so I don't have a chance to break it!

loohoo(Q) As a pro athlete, do you follow a fitness program. If so, is there any type of conditioning you do specifically for pool?
allison(A) I have been doing power yoga for about 4 or 5 months now and it is very tough but fantastic for pool. Every player should do some stretching before they play which I haven't done in years! We get in to unnatural positions with our necks and back and so we need to take care of that. I have had bad back and neck problems in the past and so my goal is to strengthen them and yoga really helps. My neck seized up a couple of years ago before the TV match in Miami and I couldn't play. I was very worried and I have had MRI's on my back and neck and it was muscle spasms. Now I am trying to take care of them.

ccn7(Q) Good Evening from Northern Calif.Do you think that there is such a thing as natural talent,or do you think we all have the talent just some of us develope it better
allison(A) Good evening. i like that question. Yes I do believe in natural talent but that means nothing without guidance and hard work. Natural talent can be wasted. I would say I have natural talent meaning a feel for the game, the weight of the balls, strength of shot ETC but without work it is not consistent. Working on your game gives confidence and consistency.

Eydie(Q) Allison, Thank you for joining us here tonight. Do you have a favorite yearly event, and if so which one is it and why?
allison(A) Another good one. I love going to Albuquerque because it has a nice feel to it there. However, our US open has been moved in 2007. I was really looking forward to the Nationals in Oregon this year as it reminds me of England and the weather was about the same! I have to say one of my favourites is San Diego. I love the weather and the surroundings.

Hal2(Q) You are an assest to the sport and I wish you well. You have answered all of my questions with candor. Good Luck in 2007 and beyond,
allison(A) Thanks.

BooBoo(Q) What does the future of pool in the U S look like to you. It seems like the rest of the world has caught up to and surpassed us.
allison(A) I am not sure what you mean about the rest of the World catching up and surpassing. I don't know why our sport hasn't really caught on in the corporate World as far as sponsors go. It seems the perfect match for some brands out there. I think the future is very bright though as there is so much pool televised now. The WPBA has every event televised on ESPN. There are promoters who hold several TV events and then the IPT which has potential to sky rocket the sport. We will have to wait and see! I will say in Asia I feel the sport is taken very seriously which is why we see amazing players coming out and winning major events. I will always feel that America is the home of pool.

Johnnyt(Q) Hi Allision. Congrats on your 47th win on the Wpba. There have been rumors that you have played and beat some top male pros for the cash. Is this true? I am not the IRS. Johnnyt
allison(A) I have played a couple of players about 10 years ago and won. However, I am solely a tournament player and that is the pressure I like. You have to perform on the day. Whereas, gambling is about who can stay alert for the longest time. I am sad to say that many players resort to unfair means to stimulate themselves and that is not a World I want to be a part of.

AzHousePro(Q) With the next generation of WPBA players like Jasmin Ouschan and Xiaoting Pan ready to make their mark on the game, what do you see in the future of the tour?
allison(A) These are two great players and it makes me happy to see them play so well. Of course I still hate to lose! As long as I feel like this I will still be battling away. Television has done an enormous amount for the game and will continue to do so. These players watch us on TV and are inspired to compete. I played Jasmin when she was 11 years old and she has worked very hard with a great coach by her side. I watched Xiaoting at the WC in Austria a few years ago and I was very impressed with her poise. I look forward to the years ahead and more young players coming through.

9balllvr(Q) at this point in your career, you probably do not experience this anymore, but initially, how did you combat the adrenaline rush you receive when you start a match?
allison(A) What do you mean at this point! Of course there is adrenaline there still. I am alive. I always think it is nice to get over the first match of an event for a little confidence boost. That is the time you are adjusting to the table and conditions too. What would the game be without adrenaline. You have to love it. The best thing is to breathe deeply and in a controlled manner. I think this is what keeps players coming back- the thrill and excitement under pressure. It is a game of self control.

ccn7(Q) Being the Top Female Player and winning so many tournments, do you still have fun and get excited about every match.
allison(A) I love to compete. Of course I go through times when it isn't easy but that is what makes the good times worthwhile. I feel that I really appreciate my wins more now. I don't dwell on success which is why I think I have been consistent. I try to have fun when I play but fun for me is being really focused and making the cue ball go where I want it to.

Nostroke(Q) WOW- You still hold out hope for the IPT?
allison(A) Yes I do. I feel that they did too much too soon. Why not hold out hope because pool could go far if it takes off.

jjinfla(Q) Were you offered the opportunity to play Mike Sigel?
allison(A) Yes I was. I had the contract and while talking over a couple of rules with Kevin and then asking the WPBA for a waiver Loree Jon was signed up behind my back. My personal feeling is the Mike was scared to play me. He needed to win to be King of the Hill for the first IPT event where he was guaranteed another $100,000. He admitted he didn't want to play me after the fact.

AzHousePro(Q) What current female and male player do you feel has the most natural talent?
allison(A) I think Ga Young Kim has so much natural talent and Earl Strickland.

Eydie(Q) I have heard so many wonderful things about your pool school. What is the best bit of knowledge you hope that your students will take away with them?
allison(A) Firstly, thank you for saying that. Both Gerda and I really enjoy teaching and we make it fun for our students as we are both very personable. We have taught hundreds of students and everything depends on how hard they work as to how good they want to be. We give them the knowledge and the tools to improve themselves. The best couple of pearls of wisdom are; Have a slow back swing before striking the cue ball and stay down after stroking the ball. You learn everything by staying down and absorbing all the information from a shot. Check out my web site for 2007 dates soon.

SlickRick_PCS(Q) Well, In case this chat is finished, I just want to make a comment and say that on behalf of myself (and perhaps a few in this crowd) I just really want to thank you for creating this sport into what it is right now and the way your skills have really taught alot of us how to play pool alot more sophisticated. I wish you the very best and that I will be rooting for you when I get a chance to... and to bid you the very best into getting the BCA Hall of Fame... --- Slick Rick
allison(A) Thank you. That means a lot to me. I appreciate the support of all of you out there over the years. I never felt that in England. I have loved playing and living over here so thank you.

Cornerman(Q) Since it's right around the corner... Derby City Classic. Have you played/would you play?
allison(A) Probably not. I have a nice Christmas break and that is my relaxing time. I wouldn't feel prepared or ready to play so early in the year. It is my time with my family.

Hal2(Q) Your mechanics are so very strong .... how did this come 'bout?
allison(A) I worked very hard on them back in England as a teenager and ever since. I owe a lot to Frank Callan , who years ago helped me out. Then I put in hard work.

AzHousePro(P) Allison is going to stick around for another 10 minutes to answer questions she already has received.

AzHousePro(Q) When you made the decision to come over here and take on 9-ball for real, did you ever imagine you would have this kind of success?
allison(A) I thought it may take 6 months to a year to win an event and was very surprised by 2 weeks! I never dreamed it would be like this. It has been an amazing run and I have enjoyed being here.

jjinfla(Q) Which woman on the tour do you find the hardest to beat. It has been a great run but how much longer do you see yourself staying on top?
allison(A) I think they all are now. With the WPBA format being alternate break, single elimination from the last 16 and races to 7 on TV it is anyones game. Who knows about my fate. All I know is that as long as I feel competitive I am there to win.

SlickRick_PCS(Q) Wow, if I might ask... what differences are there from a Pool to a Snooker stance.. I've seen greats like Ronnie O'Sulivan, Higgins and Steve Davis and I really do not find anything different... can you please describe?
allison(A) The Snooker stance has open hips and therefore faces the shot more. The pool stance is more of a 45 degree or even more closed to the line of aim.

allison(P) Thank you everyone for tuning in. Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New year! Allison

AzHousePro(P) That concludes our chat with Allison Fisher. We would like to thank Allison for taking the time to interact with the fans here.