Top 25 BEST POOL SHOTS of All Time

dr_dave

dr_dave

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FYI, I just posted a new video that presents the 25 best pool shots of all time from 9-ball, 10-ball, and 8-ball pro matches. Check it out:


Contents (with timestamp links):
0:00 - Intro
0:11 - Shots 25-21
2:24 - Shots 20-16
5:45 - Shots 15-11
8:35 - Shots 10-6
11:52 - Shots 5-2
15:55 - Shot 1
17:08 - Wrap Up
17:42 ---- shot collage

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!
 
alphadog said:
Not even close , we probably have 25 greater shots every 5&9 ring game😉
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I included only pro shots from actual pro 9-ball, 10-ball, and 8-ball pro matches.

If you or others have shots in mind that you think I failed to include, please post timestamp video links.

Thanks.
 
Thanks for an entertaining video.

For me, Melling's eight ball runout is the gold standard and would have been my #1. Give Efren 20 tries at the z-kick and he's sure to make it at least once. Give a top pro a thousand chances to run out from the position Melling did and they might just go zero for a thousand. It's pretty hard to imagine anyone even finding the shot Chris opened the runout with. The final four rail bank shot, in which he had a lot of traffic to negotiate and would only have a chance at exactly the right speed is as remarkable a shot as you'll ever see.

I know I'm a bit of a broken record on this point, but I find that in your videos, you are inclined to credit players with shot results that were clearly unplanned. For example, do you think Jimmy White was playing the nine on the shot you have shown? Absolutely zero chance!

Just as a matter of historical perspective, you should probably take note of the fact that, even in the nine ball era, many of the greatest shots of all time came before the video era in our game. For instance, we don't want anyone thinking that Jose Parica didn't have a few shots that were at least on a par with nearly all of these.

Nice job, Dave, as usual!
 
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Efren is sincere when he says that !

He may mean I got lucky to see/have/know the shot.

He may mean I got lucky to actually do what I did.

He grabs at the back of his head / neck to get the monkey of his back when ....he doesn't get lucky😉
 
Poolmanis said:
Very well put up!
And so far best selection of shots in this kind collection.
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Thank you!


Poolmanis said:
Love Efren comment also!
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Me too ... every time. And I never get tired of watching that Efren celebration dance.

The better you are, the luckier you get. (I should have added that to the video too).


Poolmanis said:
Video made me smile many times.
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I'm glad to hear it. I had fun putting it together (even though it did take forever).


Poolmanis said:
Thanks again Dave!
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You're welcome. I aim to swerve. 🤓
 
When Efren says "I got lucky," always doing so with a smile that lights up the room, it is half humility and half joy, which for me are two of the characteristics that pool fans admire the most about him. Efren loves pool more than anyone we've seen in the last fifty years, and you can sense it every time you watch him play.
 
sjm said:
Thanks for an entertaining video.
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You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it.


sjm said:
For me, Melling's eight ball runout is the gold standard and would have been my #1. Give Efren 20 tries at the z-kick and he's sure to make it at least once. Give a top pro a thousand chances to run out from the position Melling did and they might just go zero for a thousand. It's pretty hard to imagine anyone even finding the shot Chris opened the runout with. The final four rail bank shot, in which he had a lot of traffic to negotiate and would only have a chance at exactly the right speed is as remarkable shot as you'll ever see.
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You make some excellent points. I did have a hard time deciding on the order of the Top 5 (and Top 10). However, taking everything into consideration (player, opponent, tournament, match situation, the moment, the outcome, etc.), I still like Efren's Z-shot at #1.


sjm said:
I know I'm a bit of a broken record on this point, but I find that in your videos, you are inclined to credit players with shot results that were clearly unplanned. For example, do you think Jimmy White was playing the nine on the shot you have shown? Absolutely zero chance!
Click to expand...

Having seen numerous miraculous shots from Jimmy White, I wouldn't be surprised if he considered and hoped for that outcome. Having said that, I agree that it was ridiculously "low-percentage."

I often see comments from people on Facebook and YouTube claiming that Efren really did "Get Lucky" on many of his highlight reel shots, but he almost always seems to plan and execute these shots perfectly. I guess the better you are, the luckier you get, and he's the GOAT.


sjm said:
Just as a matter of historical perspective, you should probably take note of the fact that, even in the nine ball era, many of the greatest shots of all time came before the video era in our game. For instance, we don't want anyone thinking that Jose Parica didn't have a few shots that were at least on a par with nearly all of these.
Click to expand...

Again, excellent point. Obviously, I could include only shots available online in video. There are also many other great shots in video out there, but they aren't all publically available on YouTube.


sjm said:
Nice job, Dave, as usual!
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Thanks!
 
sjm said:
Just as a matter of historical perspective, you should probably take note of the fact that, even in the nine ball era, many of the greatest shots of all time came before the video era in our game. For instance, we don't want anyone thinking that Jose Parica didn't have a few shots that were at least on a par with nearly all of these.
Click to expand...

BTW, if you or others have other shots in mind that are not on the list and not already linked on my great pool shots resource page, please post timestamp video links, especially if you or others think the shots are worthy of a Top 25 list.

Thanks!
 
alphadog said:
Efren is sincere when he says that !

He may mean I got lucky to see/have/know the shot.

He may mean I got lucky to actually do what I did.

He grabs at the back of his head / neck to get the monkey of his back when ....he doesn't get lucky😉
Click to expand...

Sometimes he means it, sometimes he doesn't, IMO. The better you are, the luckier you get, and he's the best ever.
 
sjm said:
When Efren says "I got lucky," always doing so with a smile that lights up the room, it is half humility and half joy, which for me are two of the characteristics that pool fans admire the most about him. Efren loves pool more than anyone we've seen in the last fifty years, and you can sense it every time you watch him play.
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Well stated. I agree 100%
 
dr_dave said:
Having seen numerous miraculous shots from Jimmy White, I wouldn't be surprised if he considered and hoped for that outcome. Having said that, I agree that it was ridiculously "low-percentage."
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I've watched Jimmy White for over thirty years. If memory serves, I saw him play snooker as early as 1987.

Sorry, but I'm not buying this. With the five ball isolated and no blockers uptable, proper form on Jimmy's kick was to hit it hard to have any chance at some separation of object ball and cue ball. Similarly, a kick like this in which the cue ball goes to the rail immediately must be hit firm to keep it from lengthening and there is a slight cue ball curve on this kick on the way to the five. and I guarantee you that these were the reasons for the very firm hit. One cannot rule out that it crossed Jimmy's mind that there was a remote chance that the nine might go in on his kick, but it was most definitely not the design of the shot and to view it as if he played it qualifies you as an easy grader.
 
sjm said:
I've watched Jimmy White for over thirty years. If memory serves, I saw him play snooker as early as 1987.

Sorry, but I'm not buying this. With the five ball isolated and no blockers uptable, proper form on Jimmy's kick was to hit it hard to have any chance at some separation of object ball and cue ball. Similarly, a kick like this in which the cue ball goes to the rail immediately must be hit firm to keep it from lengthening and there is a slight cue ball curve on this kick on the way to the five. and I guarantee you that these were the reasons for the very firm hit. One cannot rule out that it crossed Jimmy's mind that there was a remote chance that the nine might go in on his kick, but it was most definitely not the design of the shot and to view it as if he played it qualifies you as an easy grader.
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The quoted bolded phrase is all I meant to imply. I agree with your analysis. It was definitely a ridiculously-low-percentage fluke shot (even if he really was trying to do it, which seems highly unlikely).
 
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MitchAlsup said:
What we need is a different vocal intonation of "I got lucky" for each of Efren's shots--I mean he has to have said it more than once on record.
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That's a good idea. If you or others send me time-stamp links to him saying it in other videos, I would be happy to add them to my video library for future use. I could have also used some software audio effects to change the sound each time. Maybe next time.
 
dr_dave said:
The quoted bolded phrase is all I meant to imply. I agree with your analysis. It was definitely a ridiculously-low-percentage fluke shot (even if he really was trying to do it, which seems highly unlikely).
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OK, Dave, we're good.
 
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