Pat Fleming - Part 2 (Accu-Stats, Innovation, and the Numbers That Changed Pool Forever)

In Part 2 of our in-depth Legends of the Cue conversation with Hall of Famer and Accu-Stats founder Pat Fleming, we dive deeper into the ideas, inventions, and relentless curiosity that forever altered how the game of pool is played, studied, and preserved.

Pat takes us behind the scenes of Accu-Stats’ evolution—from single, stationary cameras and silent VHS tapes to groundbreaking commentary, moving cameras, and a production standard that reshaped the sport. He shares the unlikely story of how legendary voices like Billy Incardona, Grady Mathews and Danny DiLiberto helped create an entirely new viewing experience, turning raw match footage into something educational, entertaining, and timeless.

This episode also showcases Pat the inventor. Long before jump cues became commonplace, Pat was experimenting with short cues, counterweights, racks, and training aids—many of which laid the foundation for equipment players now take for granted. His philosophy is simple and profound: most ideas fail, but the few that stand the test of time can change the game.

A central theme of this episode is Pat’s lifelong devotion to statistics. Fleming explains why Total Performance Average (TPA) reveals far more about a player’s true skill than the final score ever could—and why understanding numbers is one of the fastest paths to improvement. As Mark Wilson and Allison Fisher note, Accu-Stats didn’t just record history; it taught generations of players how to think differently about winning pool.

The episode closes with a remarkable behind-the-scenes story involving the U.S. Open, Barry Behrman, and Matchroom—an example of Pat’s integrity, foresight, and commitment to the long-term health of the sport.

This is a masterclass in innovation, integrity, and passion—from one of pool’s true architects.

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Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”