Bernie Friend picked up his first cue at eight years old in his Uncle Bernie's basement in Leonia, New Jersey, where his cousin Michael taught him a closed bridge, the finger aiming technique, and the value of an open mind. By 24, he was dominating bar tournaments across Long Island with a punch stroke on slow cloth, winning over 65 titles in four years. Then he met a woman at a dance, brought her to watch him play, couldn't make a ball, and quit pool for nine years. When he came back, he locked himself in his apartment with Robert Byrne's video on repeat and emerged armed with position play to match his legendary shot-making. In January 2002, he beat 20 of New York's scariest players to win the Chances Calcutta Classic, the biggest eight-ball bar tournament ever held in the city. We discuss his right-brain approach to playing in the zone, why he believes 40 lessons from 40 teachers beats 40 from one, the punch stroke and slow cloth philosophy that made him dominant, his time on the IPT rubbing shoulders with Reyes and Fisher, and the short cue discovery that changed his game.
Contact Bernie for lessons (remote available worldwide): ilysfrie@aol.com