Q. john from florida asks...
Do prefer 9 ball or 10 ball
and why?
A. Rodney answers...
John, I definitely prefer 10 ball over 9 ball. In ten ball you're not guaranteed to make the corner ball on the break, for one. Secondly, that one extra ball means that there's one more chance something might be tied up where you can't run out as easy. You might think that it works against me, too. True, but anything that makes the game tougher is gonna favor the player playing better at that time. I wanna win when I'm playing good. In 9 ball it seems that the better breaker wins all the time. I'm not too fond of break contests myself. I prefer playing pool. Don't get me wrong. I'm still gonna work on my break and win. That's just what a champion has to do. No excuses. Take care.
Q. Mike W. from NYC asks...
Hey Rodney, how did you get so smooth? I know you like to play fast and loose, but when you're on you make it look more effortless than almost everyone else. It's just like boom, boom, boom. When I watch other top players, I can pretty much see their pre-shot routine, step-by-step, but when you play it just seems like everythings flowing. Did you have to spend a lot of practice getting that smooth?
A. Rodney answers...
My mindset in a big match is this. I try to put myself in an environment where I'm most comfortable. "Hawaiian" Brian used to tell me to play within myself. Pool is such a nerve-racking game that it's very easy to intimidate yourself. That's why I like to practice like it's hill-hill in the finals of the World Championships or something. So when I actually get there, it'll seem like I've been there before. Similiar to when I used to practice shooting a basketball. I always shot a shot like it was against Michael Jordan in the NBA finals or something. And when I played in a real game, I felt confident that I would make any shot. And I usually did. That's how you get into a zone, by practicing in a zone.
Q. John from Manchester, New Hampshire asks...
Rodney,
Your are definately one of the top pros in the game today. How many hours per day or week should someone play/practice to get the pro level.
Thanks and Aloha
Your Fan: John
A. Rodney answers...
When I was younger, I would play every waking moment. The last four years, I can honestly say that I put in about an hour a day, if that. Needless to say, that isn't getting it done. So now that I'm tired of losing, I'm making sure that I put in at least six to eight hours of quality play, about for or five days a week. I have to have some balance now that we have a new baby at home. If you have more time then I would suggest playing more. Just don't play too much where you get burnt out mentally. And remember, it's not practice that makes perfect. It's PERFECT practice that makes perfect. So don't waste your time banging balls into the rails.
Q. Steve from Hawaii asks...
Hey Rocket
Do you think anybody can reach your level of play if they put all the "pieces of the puzzle" together just right, or do you think one of the pieces must be natural born talent? For basketball you need to be tall, for football you need to be big. What, other than drive, do you need to be born with to be one of the best pool players? My sistah Jess from Kiki's says wassup!
A. Rodney answers...
Steve, I think natural talent at anything is a must, but how much. I believe that I have a tremendous amount of ability, but let's not forget the 14-16 hours a day I practiced every day for my first three years. I used to sleep under the pool tables until somebody woke me up. I was just so fascinated by the game of nine ball. I mean, there's just so much to this game that I'm still learning something every time I play. Eyesight is very imporatant. I just had LASIK surgery done a couple of years ago, and it's made a world of difference. But in this game, you need to play all the time. Here at Capone's Billiards in Spring Hill, Floida, I've been practicing for about six to eight hours everyday, and I can see my game coming around. Finally, I think my game is back to where it was when I was playing my best. There's no substitute for hard work. And you'd be surprised how many awesome players have very little talent.
p.s.- Wassup Jess. Miss you guys at Kiki's.
Q. Joseph Ortega from dallas TX asks...
I have seen you on tv as relaxed as can be and having the time of your life playing for thousands. How do you do it?
A. Rodney answers...
I always get nervous when I'm playing serious. Without that, I wouldn't play. I need that adrenalin. But I definitely want to enjoy myself. And playing in front of a huge crowd on t.v. is the ultimate good time for me. But I dog it like everybody else. What I do to try and relax is what Hawaiian Brian told me when I was 20 years old. He said you have to play within yourself. That's why sometimes I talk to myself. I'm trying to focus on me and only me. Because I'm the only one that can make something good happen. So I try to make myself happy out there. And being alone, if only in my own mind, helps me to relax and enjoy myself.
Q. bruin70 asks...
can you talk about the lifestyle you led in hawaii, and your growth as a player under hawaiian brian?
A. Rodney answers...
Brian "Hawaiian Brian" Hashimoto is not only a legend and a great pool player, he is probably the smartest man I've known. The knowledge that he tried to pass on to me cannot be measured. I love him to death. Without his help on the mental side of pool, I would still just be the best player in Hawaii. Growing up in the Hawaiian Brian's Billiards family was special. Everybody looks out for each other. I can honestly say that, if it weren't for Hawaiian Brian's, I would probably be dead or in prison right now without any hope to recover. The atmosphere in Hawaii growing up is unmatched. There's likely more kids under 18 years that play runout nine-ball than any other state. Playing pool really saved me back in thse days and continues to today. My only wish is that I can someday make people like Hawaiian Brian proud of the person and pool player that I've become. And hopefully I can give back to this awesome game as much as I've been given.
Q. Bud Green from California asks...
I've heard your dad was a bodyguard for someone very famous (Elvis)...is this true?
A. Rodney answers...
When I was two years old my father and mother split. My mother then started seeing a man named Fred Brewster. Fred raised me from 1972 to 1980. He did bodyguard for Elvis. I remember him coming home crying the day Elvis died. He is a 6th degree black belt in Kenpo Karate. He was taught by a famous instructor named Ed Parker. Keith McCready can tell you some great stories about him. I guess my dad was some kind of tough guy. I just know him as dad.
Q. mark from ghost ball asks...
Rodney, I remember an interview where you said you enjoy cooking, especially soup. Now that you are cooking on the table, do you still cook in the kitchen?
A. Rodney answers...
I graduated from Pearl City High School in Hawaii and had a culinary arts scholarship. My signature dish in school was my seafood gumbo. I do not cook at all anymore, but I still love to eat. Sheina does all the cooking at home now. And she is terrific. Just look at me and you can tell.
Q. Nate from California asks...
Rodney, I think you have one of the most powerful and accurate strokes pool has ever seen. What's the secret to having such a big stroke? You maneuver the cueball around the table effortlessly, but when the shot requires it, you can really juice up the ball with precision. I know practice makes perfect, but alot top players don't have as powerful a stroke as you. Is it just a matter of staying loose, or is there something you are doing in your mechanics that I am missing? Thanks for your time.
A. Rodney answers...
My secret to having such a big stroke is just practicing. I know it's been said so much, but there really is no substitute. I actually practice shooting the balls hard all the time. My thinking is, if I have that power shot in my arsneal, I can feel confident when it's time to use it. And the accuracy part comes with repitition. Granted I also feel that we shouldn't try things that are out of our limitations. I grew up watching Earl and I always wanted a stroke as powerful as his. You just have to build it up gradually. Start slow and then try a shot a little further, then a little more, and so on. And remember, everybody is different. Some people have different stances for certain shots. Fool around with your mechanics until you find what helps you to hit the ball the hardest while maintaining accuracy.
