Contestant for "how the hell can he make a ball" contest

[hang-the-9]

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/44150603

This is from Lithuania (Thanks Al for the link) where I was born so had to take a look at some of the videos. This one has a guy who's stoke consists of "get down, turn wrist in, turn wrist out, hit the ball". I have no idea how McCready can play with his stoke, and this guy is totally unfathomable. Puts them in the hole as good as most though, but he must have learned to play with no-one around to teach him.

Shot at 21:40 is pretty crazy. His tip goes up and down, you can't even see where he actually hits the cueball, but he makes a pretty tough shot. With enough practice you can train your brain to shoot under any conditions.

 

[TATE]

The thing he does very well is take the cue back slowly and controlled, same way each time. That control makes up for a lot of unusual one stroking and wrist movement.

Are these guys pros over there?

(looks like U.S. music is popular over there too)

 

[JAM]

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/44150603

This is from Lithuania (Thanks Al for the link) where I was born so had to take a look at some of the videos. This one has a guy who's stoke consists of "get down, turn wrist in, turn wrist out, hit the ball". I have no idea how McCready can play with his stoke, and this guy is totally unfathomable. Puts them in the hole as good as most though, but he must have learned to play with no-one around to teach him.

Shot at 21:40 is pretty crazy. His tip goes up and down, you can't even see where he actually hits the cueball, but he makes a pretty tough shot. With enough practice you can train your brain to shoot under any conditions.

McCready actually was tought how to play pool by his father on a bumper pool table when he could barely stand up. He had two older brothers. His father would give them their allowance and then play them for it on the bumper pool table. The three boys learned how to play well quickly. Keith was not tall enough to reach the table, which is how he developed the side-armed stroke. When Keith emigrated to a "real" pool room, he most certainly was surrounded by the every single champion of this era in the '60s, and he learned how to play pool from the best.

You can have the prettiest fundamentals in the world, but that doesn't make a person shoot champion-level pool. In fact, after one does develop the mechanics in pool, regardless of how they hold the cue, the rest is their mental strength, self-confidence, and ability to block out any nerves.

Just my thoughts, though I realize everyone may not agree. :grin-square:

 

[Jaden]

I'm surprised you could even look at his stroke...

I'm surprised anyone could even look at that stroke with that crazy baby on a stool cue rack in the back ground....

What the Hell IS that?????

Jaden

 

[TATE]

I'm surprised anyone could even look at that stroke with that crazy baby on a stool cue rack in the back ground....

What the Hell IS that?????

Jaden

I didn't even notice it until you mentioned it, maybe it's a Bob's Big Boy cue rack.

 

[hang-the-9]

McCready actually was tought how to play pool by his father on a bumper pool table when he could barely stand up. He had two older brothers. His father would give them their allowance and then play them for it on the bumper pool table. The three boys learned how to play well quickly. Keith was not tall enough to reach the table, which is how he developed the side-armed stroke. When Keith emigrated to a "real" pool room, he most certainly was surrounded by the every single champion of this era in the '60s, and he learned how to play pool from the best.

You can have the prettiest fundamentals in the world, but that doesn't make a person shoot champion-level pool. In fact, after one does develop the mechanics in pool, regardless of how they hold the cue, the rest is their mental strength, self-confidence, and ability to block out any nerves.

Just my thoughts, though I realize everyone may not agree. :grin-square:

That learning to play comment was about the guy in the video, not Keith. I was just using Keith's stroke as an example of a non-orthodox technique that works for the player since his is probably the most famous one. Tommy Kennedy is also another player that in theory should be a C player based on his mechanics.

 

[JC]

You can have the prettiest fundamentals in the world, but that doesn't make a person shoot champion-level pool. In fact, after one does develop the mechanics in pool, regardless of how they hold the cue, the rest is their mental strength, self-confidence, and ability to block out any nerves.

Just my thoughts, though I realize everyone may not agree. :grin-square:

It's possible that Keith may have been the best player who ever lived with better fundamentals. Or maybe not. We'll never know.

JC

 

[pt109]

I like the way Salkauskas plays...a little international exposure could
make him an excellent pro...his bridge hand is reminiscent of Busty.

Mineikis is like watching Melling when he's had too much to drink.

 

[His Boy Elroy]

McCready actually was tought how to play pool by his father on a bumper pool table when he could barely stand up. He had two older brothers. His father would give them their allowance and then play them for it on the bumper pool table. The three boys learned how to play well quickly. Keith was not tall enough to reach the table, which is how he developed the side-armed stroke. When Keith emigrated to a "real" pool room, he most certainly was surrounded by the every single champion of this era in the '60s, and he learned how to play pool from the best.

You can have the prettiest fundamentals in the world, but that doesn't make a person shoot champion-level pool. In fact, after one does develop the mechanics in pool, regardless of how they hold the cue, the rest is their mental strength, self-confidence, and ability to block out any nerves.

Just my thoughts, though I realize everyone may not agree. :grin-square:

All kids use side arm strokes if they start to play before the reach a certain height. There's no other way to do it. As they grow taller they adapt and straighten the arm. McCready never adapted. When I start shooting better than he shoots I'll call that a criticism. In the meantime, I'm just commenting.

 

[CreeDo]

The thing he does very well is take the cue back slowly and controlled, same way each time. That control makes up for a lot of unusual one stroking and wrist movement.

Great observation. I didn't really get the important of this until recently.
It not only looks more calm and controlled, it actually makes you hit the ball that way.

I dunno what's doing on with this kid though. Someone clearly drilled
the importance of preshot routine into his head.

His routine seems to be
- Chalk
- Walk over to check the angle of the shot, then walk back
- Walk over to check the angle of the shot, then walk back
- Walk over to check the angle of the shot, then walk back
- Suddenly drop down with slight inverted chicken wing. Couple of practice strokes.
- Dip entire upper body down, then back up again
- Draw back slow, extended pause
- Fire.

 

[hang-the-9]

Great observation. I didn't really get the important of this until recently.
It not only looks more calm and controlled, it actually makes you hit the ball that way.

I dunno what's doing on with this kid though. Someone clearly drilled
the importance of preshot routine into his head.

His routine seems to be
- Chalk
- Walk over to check the angle of the shot, then walk back
- Walk over to check the angle of the shot, then walk back
- Walk over to check the angle of the shot, then walk back
- Suddenly drop down with slight inverted chicken wing. Couple of practice strokes.
- Dip entire upper body down, then back up again
- Draw back slow, extended pause
- Fire.

I have not seen any practice strokes, or at least on the shots I watched. To me it was, look at the shot, get in stance, turn wrist one way, huge arm motion, turn wrist other way, shoot. This was the exact opposite of my thread about good mechanics and missing all the time. This person has D level mechanics and a much higher pocketing skill.

 

[JAM]

It's possible that Keith may have been the best player who ever lived with better fundamentals. Or maybe not. We'll never know.

JC

Hoppe and Schaefer seemed to do pretty well with the side-arm stroke. :smile:

Hoppe ---> HERE

 

[poolplayer2093]

I can't see the video.

 

[backplaying]

McCready actually was tought how to play pool by his father on a bumper pool table when he could barely stand up. He had two older brothers. His father would give them their allowance and then play them for it on the bumper pool table. The three boys learned how to play well quickly. Keith was not tall enough to reach the table, which is how he developed the side-armed stroke. When Keith emigrated to a "real" pool room, he most certainly was surrounded by the every single champion of this era in the '60s, and he learned how to play pool from the best.

You can have the prettiest fundamentals in the world, but that doesn't make a person shoot champion-level pool. In fact, after one does develop the mechanics in pool, regardless of how they hold the cue, the rest is their mental strength, self-confidence, and ability to block out any nerves.

Just my thoughts, though I realize everyone may not agree. :grin-square:

I agree completely. Look at some of the pro's golf swings. Once someone learns to play at a certain level, it becomes mostly a mental battle.

 

[JB Cases]

I have not seen any practice strokes, or at least on the shots I watched. To me it was, look at the shot, get in stance, turn wrist one way, huge arm motion, turn wrist other way, shoot. This was the exact opposite of my thread about good mechanics and missing all the time. This person has D level mechanics and a much higher pocketing skill.

I would not call that D-level mechanics at all. He aims, has it set in his mind what he wants to do and strokes with a good follow through staying down all the way. The wind up is a bit funny but he seems to have his speed control down. Looks like he does all his aiming standing up and when he gets down he only needs one pump.