A Bank That Illustrates Efren's Genius.

[mnorwood]

Here is a bank that I saw Efren hit in a game against Thorsten Hohman. Efren saw it, and hit it in the middle of a game. I recreated it on my table. It took me 5 attempts to get it. It really teachs you the mechanics behind a double bank. When it hits the second rail the deflection is dead. Look at the small angle off of the second rail in my video. I do not know if efren and hohman's video is still on youtube or not. I was able to hit it but would never have the balls to do it with cash on the line.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG4junjpKu8

 

[jsp]

...I do not know if efren and hohman's video is still on youtube or not...

Here it is. Wait for the second rack...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIS4rcTNHaM

...I was able to hit it but would never have the balls to do it with cash on the line.

If you look at the exact table layout that Efren encountered, you'd notice that the 3 and the 5 ball were positioned close to the side pocket such that they dramatically increased the effective size of the pocket. As Jim Wych commentated, Efren probably wouldn't have taken that double bank on if those balls were not there.

The true genius of the shot was Efren immediately recognizing that shot selection, and how the 3 and 5 made choosing that option much easier. If you look at 5:53 through the video, you can see that Efren immediately knew what he was going to do once he got to the table.

Just an another example of how Efren sees shots no one else sees.

 

[Worminator]

Here is a bank that I saw Efren hit in a game against Thorsten Hohman. Efren saw it, and hit it in the middle of a game. I recreated it on my table. It took me 5 attempts to get it. It really teachs you the mechanics behind a double bank. When it hits the second rail the deflection is dead. Look at the small angle off of the second rail in my video. I do not know if efren and hohman's video is still on youtube or not. I was able to hit it but would never have the balls to do it with cash on the line.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG4junjpKu8

It's a nice shot shot, but a basic 2-rail cross side for anyone who plays much bank pool. If Efren played this in a game of 9-ball, I'm guessing his safety options must have been limited. Here is a more difficult 2-railer he plays on Scott Frost in a 1 Pocket match. Scott's comments after the shot are pretty funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXqd7G37Dds

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

It's a nice shot shot, but a basic 2-rail cross side for anyone who plays much bank pool. If Efren played this in a game of 9-ball, I'm guessing his safety options must have been limited. Here is a more difficult 2-railer he plays on Scott Frost in a 1 Pocket match. Scott's comments after the shot are pretty funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXqd7G37Dds

I think Efren missed that 8 on purpose. just look at the position of the CB and the last 2 remaining balls. no clear easy pocket for Scotty. I felt bad for Scott, Efren just toyed with him.

 

[Snapshot9]

Lol

Both those shots were just basic 2 rail shots. Funny, we just see the videos where he makes them, anyone have videos where he misses some of them? ....lol

I used to play quite a few 2 rail shots when younger, especially if it aided getting shape. I used to tell the guys that it was a western Kansas thing since I grew up in Dodge City.

This is one of the joys of being an old timer now, most of the young guys don't know their banks very well other than the 1 rail in the side or corner, and same goes for kicking, especially having to go 2 or more rails with english on the cue ball. I give you a hint: Practice your kicks not to the pocket only but to each diamond along the rail, since most kicks are not to a ball in the jaws of the pocket.

Efren's shots, to me, seem very logical.