Bob Jewett said:

It's interesting that Hopkins didn't get elected to the HOF until he was 56, according to the article.

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The probably kept him out until then because nobody could bring themselves to vote for someone with a poke stroke like that! Every time I see him on video I’m shocked that it works so well.

what's wrong with breaking from rail?
just like any break, it works if you doing it right....

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iusedtoberich said:

Why aren’t they breaking like Shane taught the world then, and making 2-4 balls on the break like he was, even with the wood rack in TAR 1?

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Prob'ly the same reason I don't - cause I can't.

Bob Jewett said:

It's interesting that Hopkins didn't get elected to the HOF until he was 56, according to the article.

Hopkins used to offer this proposition: he would break the balls at one pocket and without taking ball in hand would run out all 15 balls in four or five tries. Of course, they didn't have 4-inch pockets back then, but still.

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Allen Hopkins in my opinion was the best all around player, say 1980 - 1985. One of his proposition bets was to throw out all 15 balls

on the pool table and run all 15 without the cue ball hitting a rail. I personally witnessed this in either 1979 or 1980. It was the year that

he won $112,000 at The Rack in Detroit playing 1-pkt. He told me that he left thousands in $20 bills with the houseman as sort of security that he

could walk out with the rest of the cash.

Matt_24 said:

I knew a gent who hung out at Varner's pool room in that 80s era. And yes, it was said that Allen reigned supreme at one pocket. It was told to me that Nick's dad addressed who was the "best", to those who asked, sharing that "Allen knows he has an open invitation to come play Nicky some one pocket for whatever he can bet, and if he can win he can bust Owensboro...but we haven't seen him yet."

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I had one Accustats one pocket of Hopkins versus Varner. I literally fell asleep watching the first game and woke up an hour later and it was still on the first game. Hopkins ended up beating Varner 3 to 2 I think. In the Billiards Digest Hopkins Hall of Fame Link, page 2 of the article has Buddy Hal talking about when Hopkins gave Efren a ball in one pocket and beating him.

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I see Irving in Skinny Bob's quite a bit and was unaware he had a YouTube channel.

Here is the full match:

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And the jump:

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Cord said:

I ain't reading seven pages of this argument, but I agree with your initial premise. I kinda go by the principles of rifle marksmanship I was taught in the Corps ... eye focus is on the front sight post, not the target.

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arent you looking THROUGH the front site post at the target?
when looking at cue ball last you are not looking at the target
i dont shoot rifles
asking sincerely

With all the talk of tolerances and weight, plus the somewhat related thread here:


It does seem (comparing visually) that the red circle Aramith cue ball is slightly smaller and plays differently than my Dynaspheres Rhodium 6 triangle cue ball. Both spin great, but the red circle seems to carry a little more pace around the table. Comparing the specs, they are extremely close...

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Yes, the red circle Aramith cue balls are the standard here in western Washington state also. Too bad they only work in tables that are not bar boxes or only when the bar boxes return trays are open, which usually means free / league / tournament pool.

I ain't reading seven pages of this argument, but I agree with your initial premise. I kinda go by the principles of rifle marksmanship I was taught in the Corps ... eye focus is on the front sight post, not the target.