THE BREAK ROOM

Shane Van Boening beat Alexander Kazakis 13-5 to win the 2026 Florida Open in Orlando. Here is how the final turned, what his Cuetec setup says about equipment, and what league players should steal from it.

Walk into any serious pool room in America and count the McDermotts. The Wisconsin cue maker has been building in the USA since the 1970s,

Ask ten league players to shoot the same cross-side bank and you will see ten different outcomes, most of them short. Banks have a reputation

Two sets up, two sets down, and a deciding set for a world title. That was the position Margarita Fefilova Styer faced on August 6

Hard shell, leather, soft, or backpack? A side by side 2026 comparison of Elite, Instroke, Lizard, and Action cue cases with honest picks for every kind of player.

Stop fearing the mechanical bridge. Technique, drills, and an honest look at elevated bridges and swerve, plus the bridge heads that make blocked positions routine.

The 2026 Florida Open runs August 4 through 9 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando. Steal the habits of the 256 player field, from break systems to pattern discipline, and see the Predator gear built for them.

Wood to wood, stainless steel, and quick release cue joints compared: how each changes feel, balance, and your shaft upgrade path, with picks from McDermott, Joss, Predator, and Pechauer.

Ghost ball, fractional aiming, and contact point systems compared honestly, where each one breaks down, and why a consistent low deflection setup from Lucasi makes any system easier to trust.

The APA World Pool Championships are underway at the Westgate Las Vegas through August 15. What the biggest amateur pool event on earth teaches league players, plus Viking cues built for the grind.