07/14/2026
Seth Thomas’ love for pool began at age nine, playing on his father’s table. That childhood pastime grew into a lifelong passion, accompanying him through high school, his service as a U.S. Navy boatswain’s mate, and an injury that changed everything.
After almost four years in the Navy, Thomas suffered an injury impacting his hand function and core control, leading to his medical discharge and use of a wheelchair.
Everyday tasks—like gripping objects—became more difficult. The game he loved suddenly posed new challenges, but Thomas refused to give up. Instead, he focused on adapting his playing style.
To compensate for the loss of hand function, Thomas attached a Turk’s head knot to the base of his pool cue. The thick, decorative knot stabilizes the cue in his grip, allowing him to play with control and precision.
“When I go to shoot, that knot stops against my hand, so my hand doesn’t slide up the pool cue. That’s how I’ve adapted my pool cue to work for me,” Thomas explained.
Now, nearly twelve years after his injury, Thomas continues competing in billiards at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. He has also explored other adaptive sports, including wheelchair rugby, powerlifting, and table tennis.
Through determination and ingenuity, Thomas proves that with the right mindset, obstacles can be transformed into opportunities for growth—and the passion behind each shot remains unchanged.
