Efren playing 14.1

[DynoDan]

The requirement of the opening break, if you're not going to make a ball, is to make two object balls touch cushions and also have the cue ball touch a cushion after the object ball contact. The opening break against Efren left him no shot, just as hoped.

If you are going to play a ball out of the full rack, you have to call it. Very few players do that in tournaments. Usually it's a way to say to your opponent, "You can't play a lick, so I'm just going to break them open."

And, at the skill level of those guys, a too-hard break might easily be last shot you got! Of course, if you think you’re good at calling a ball out of a full rack, and not at prolonged safety contests, you might gamble that your opponent never gets to leave his chair!

 

[bpeacock]

Reading this thread was like watching a train wreck in slow motion

 

[Wayne Crimi]

I saw Efren play some 14.1 in one of the major tourmamemts in NY years ago. He won the match I saw and played well, but he missed a couple of easy shots. He took the balls off well.

 

[DynoDan]

He played 14.1 aggressively in his prime. He casually sank shots few others would have attempted.

 

[Bob Jewett]

He played 14.1 aggressively in his prime. He casually sank shots few others would have attempted.

I recall a break shot that was a cross-side bank with the cue ball at about the head spot.

 

[pnwdirtbikes]

I dont think that guy knows what straight pool even is or that you have to call a specific ball and pocket on the break. He probably has the wrong forum section.

 

[cue4me]

I recall a break shot that was a cross-side bank with the cue ball at about the head spot.

That took place in Efren's first straight pool tournament, The Maine Event. He actually won the tournament.

 

[Straightpool_99]

Did anyone else think Effren's opponent was a little B>>>>> for that first break? I'd have had words.

 

[Bob Jewett]

That took place in Efren's first straight pool tournament, The Maine Event. He actually won the tournament.

I was looking on Accu-Stats hoping to find the video. Do you remember who his opponent was?

 

[Bob Jewett]

And here is Efren playing Earl in the Maine Event. Notice how Efren does a powerful, manly, opening break shot. Actually, it's one of the best opening breaks I've seen at 14.1 -- at 1:35.

 

[Straightpool_99]

And here is Efren playing Earl in the Maine Event. Notice how Efren does a powerful, manly, opening break shot. Actually, it's one of the best opening breaks I've seen at 14.1 -- at 1:35.

He mishit it a little bit and almost scratched, but the outcome was very good. I've seen lots of breaks that come a lot closer to what would be considered "ideal"( putting the rack back together almost like it was before). Those breaks seem to almost always leave a dead one or a decent return safety, so I'm not sure one should really go all out on striving for it.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... He mishit it a little bit and almost scratched, but the outcome was very good....

A major point is that the ball he hit did not come off the end rail far enough to leave a shot. A thicker hit leaves a shot on that ball -- a tough shot, but a shot.

 

[CajunPopeye]

And here is Efren playing Earl in the Maine Event. Notice how Efren does a powerful, manly, opening break shot. Actually, it's one of the best opening breaks I've seen at 14.1 -- at 1:35.

amen

 

[DynoDan]

And here is Efren playing Earl in the Maine Event. Notice how Efren does a powerful, manly, opening break shot. Actually, it's one of the best opening breaks I've seen at 14.1 -- at 1:35.

Can you find which match when he stepped up and popped in a near table length combo with the object balls maximally equidistant from the pocket & each other, as casually as if he was pocketing a hanger? I was sitting only a few feet away, and my jaw dropped!