Player Spotlight: Liz Ford Gears Up to Go Global at the World 9-Ball Championships

Liz Ford

By NYC Grind Contributor, Alison M. Fischer

With another New Yorker now having earned a spot in the WPA Women’s World 9-ball Championships at the JPNEWT qualifier, the USA will now have two ladies representing NYC at the Worlds in China.  As we played a race to seven at Amsterdam Billiards, WPBA touring pro Liz Ford informed me that she had received an invitation to compete in this prestigious event.  However, she also told me that initially, she was not going to accept this invitation.

If you’re from the New York area, you’re probably quite familiar with Ms. Ford, and may have even walked away on the losing end of a match against her.  Although at first glance, Liz would not easily be pegged as a pool player, it’s hard to look away when she’s running out a rack of 9-ball.

And no, I’m not just talking about her good looks.  Liz’s style at the table is one that I find really appealing to watch… as she moves around the table, she looks comfortable, yet deliberate, with a clear focus at the task at hand.  She knows where she’s going and what she needs to do to get there.  A consummate professional.  And no, I did not win the match…

Liz discovered her love for pool while attending Reed College in Portland, OR, where she studied cognitive science.  Her inspiration came from watching a player at her college pool room named Mike Yamouchi.  “I think I was taken in by the sharp learning curve that you have when you first start playing,” says Liz. “I had so much passion for playing that I was always seeking out ways to get better… I am still doing that today.”

After becoming the Northwest Regional Tour Champion in 2000, Liz moved on to New York to pursue a career as a professional player.  In the next few years, Liz was named the Northeast’s #1 Amateur Player, and in 2005, gained the status of WPBA touring pro.  Liz now plays out of Skyline Billiards in Brooklyn, which is also one of her sponsors, along with Gary C. Borge Dentistry, Chips to Fix, Pool on the Net, PoolDawg, and RT9 Designs.  As for Liz’s equipment, she plays with a Predator P2 with a second-generation 314 shaft, breaks with a Predator BK break cue, and uses the Bunjee jump cue.

In addition to Liz Ford playing on the WPBA Tour for four years now, like many female pros, Liz also plays on men’s tours, such as the Blaze Pro/Am 9-ball Tour and the Predator 9-ball Tour.  Liz also played in the recent Turning Stone Classic XIII, and I watched as she played a very impressive match against one of the toughest men’s pros in the Northeast, Matt Krah.  Matt ended up winning that match, but not before Liz forged a comeback to go double-hill.

Liz prepares to break at the Predator Tour's Empire State Championship

I’ve watched Liz compete against a number of the area’s top men’s players, and have been very impressed with her demeanor and composure at the table.  Although I may be biased in this regard because it’s probably the biggest flaw in my own game, Liz was also awarded the Tournament Director’s Award for Professional Conduct in 2007, which comes as no surprise.

One of things I find most enjoyable, yet most frustrating, about pool is the virtually endless challenges.  It seems that the more you learn, the more there is to know.  So I asked Liz what areas of her game she is focusing on developing right now.  “I want to improve my position play, first and foremost,” says Liz,  “What I’ve thought of as “mental game” issues for a long time I think are just gaps in my knowledge.  I am committing the next five months to playing three-cushion billiards.”  What are the strongest points in her game?  “My fundamentals are solid and so is my work ethic,” Liz told me.

Along with competing in both Women’s and Open pro events, Liz also specializes in teaching private lessons and giving pool exhibitions for special events.  In 2008, Liz was featured in the Discovery show, “Time Warp” which breaks down, through “time-warped” video, how physical phenomena are explained through science.  In this episode, Liz explained and instructed the viewers on the mechanism of spin as it operates in pool.  Check it out in the video clip below:

Liz also recently released an awesome reel which highlights her media appearances, and her career as a pool player & trick shot artist.  Check out link below to watch the video: http://www.lizford.net/videos/EmailHighlights.wmv

Ever wonder what life as a professional pool player might be like?  Well, you can step into Liz Ford’s shoes by visiting her blog, www.sticksandballsandholes.blogspot.com.  Although from the outside, it may seem like a glamorous career, I’m sure Liz would tell you there are plenty of road bumps along the way.  So, if you want an inside look, I would highly recommend checking out Liz’s blog, which is both entertaining and well-written.  Kudos to Liz and all pool players who find time to keep blogs!

Although the WPBA tour events (semi-finals and finals) are aired on ESPN on a semi-regular basis, Liz, like nearly all other pro pool players, go virtually unknown to the public.  The sport of pool, despite its “underground” popularity, has still not reached mainstream status, and therefore major corporate sponsorship still eludes this industry.

Often times, players blame this problem on “the industry” or the promotors, but the players themselves need to hold themselves accountable.  “I think a lot of professional players haven’t invested enough time developing themselves as a business,” says Liz.  “No one is going to come in and carry pool out of the 1950’s, we are going to have to be forthright and present ourselves again and again until we become part of the public consciousness.”

Liz Ford

Not only are the professionals in pool largely unknown, but actual knowledge of the game is lacking as well.  When asked what is the most important thing for people outside of pool to understand, Liz said, “The concept of position play and the fact that good players have a plan for the whole table.  Also, that the game is fun and addictive, and they should go start playing right now.”  And if you are just starting out in the game, Liz recommends that you “find a good instructor, some cheap table time, and have fun working hard.”

So, back to this business about the World 9-ball Championship… How could anyone turn down a chance like that, you ask?  Well unfortunately, an invitation to the tournament does not mean a paid trip, and of course most of us can’t just fly to China at the drop of a hat.  However, with contributions from private donors, Liz has nearly reached her target goal for financing her trip.  If you are interested in contributing to Liz Ford’s travel fund, click here to visit her blog.

Despite the serious competition, Liz’s main goal for the World Championships is to enjoy herself.  Many times, players get too wrapped up in the need to win, that the game is no longer pleasurable.  “I think my favorite achievement is that I still have passion for playing, and the desire (hunger, really) to get better,” says Liz.

Outside of playing pool, Liz Ford enjoys a lot of other games. “I love to play all kinds of games: Card games, board games, word games, computer games,” says Liz.  “I also enjoy reading off-beat novels and books on cognitive psychology, exercising, and any kind of craft project.”

The life of a pool player, with all its ups and downs, long hours, and crazy travel schedule, can definitely be a grind.  Liz has experienced this firsthand, and mentioned the burnout that comes from being an over-worked pool player.  The lesson?  Take a  more balanced approach to the billiard life, and don’t overload your schedule with tournaments… you’ll be more sane for it!

NYC Grind wishes Liz Ford much luck and success at the WPA World 9-ball Championships in November!

To learn more about Liz, visit her website, www.lizford.net and her blog, www.sticksandballsandholes.blogspot.com

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