Alex pagulayan snooker
- Thread starter Slh
- Start date
Jim Wyche once remarked that Alex knocked Kirk Stevens out of a Canadian Snooker Championship once. Granted the matches are best of 7's.
I played snooker with him while waiting for a golf game. I think we played two games and split. His snooker is game is far below pro. Oh he can play but would never be a threat to a top rung player. I don't think he ran more than a 40. Note this table was pretty loose and his style was not classic snooker.
Having said that it was only two games. Not even Ronnie O runs centuries every game.
Having said that it was only two games. Not even Ronnie O runs centuries every game.
I think he finished 3rd at a Canadian Snooker Championship that had a few retired pros playing (Cliff, Alain, Kirk etc). He is good for North America, bad for UK. If he was 1 1/2 ft taller, he would be UK good.
If he decided to play snooker he would be a huge threat to win anything. He is playing a harder game than snooker right now, and winning at it all the time.
Alex likes to play run out games. I think snooker is the hardest game to play.
Most people see it that way. I did at one time..I think that a master of pool will have much more to learn than master in snooker.
I think that in snooker you have to learn less. More intense on the basics very rarely do you see a crazy bank or kick shot...I have watched about 100 matches of snooker still have not seen a kick shot that someone was making a ball. I'm sure it happens. The point: I think there is more to have to learn in pool.
In no way am I trying to say the game of snooker is easy. All cue sports are tough...
I guess what I am really saying here is...My hypothesis is that pocket billiards is the hardest of all games in cue sports.
I think that in snooker you have to learn less. More intense on the basics very rarely do you see a crazy bank or kick shot...I have watched about 100 matches of snooker still have not seen a kick shot that someone was making a ball. I'm sure it happens. The point: I think there is more to have to learn in pool.
In no way am I trying to say the game of snooker is easy. All cue sports are tough...
I guess what I am really saying here is...My hypothesis is that pocket billiards is the hardest of all games in cue sports.
Last edited:
Do you realize that in snooker if you don't kick and hit a ball, its called a miss! You lose points and the CB is replaced and you try until its hit. Pro snooker players are expected to hit every ball they get hooked on! Here is on example for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_YzILpI9jw the shot took him a couple attempts.
watch the first couple shots of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Liw-lEgaOic&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sk9_hWUDZM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZUoIB623Pk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRG3fkEWODY
I know these aren't incredible trick shots that you could setup and get a monkey from a local zoo to make 9 out of 10 times, but still pretty good. It takes great skill to tap 6 balls on a table so you can make them all at the same time.
Not a hope in hell, and your assessment of his game being harder needs some justification. Your only point was that there are no "crazy bank or kick shots". This might have something to do with the smaller pockets.
No pool player his age or older has any chance on the pro snooker tour. Tony Drago played professionally all his life and he isn't a threat to win anything at all. The idea that Pagulayan could make the switch and be challenging for titles alongside O'Sullivan is actually laughable.
I could entertain the notion that 14.1 or One Pocket are as challenging as Snooker, but certainly not 9 ball or 10 ball.
Snooker has so many nuances, it's not just about potting the balls, I've learned this the hard way. It doesn't matter if you are capable of running 50's 60's or 70's, good players aren't going to give you those opportunities very often (ie. maybe once or twice per game if that). Tactical play is huge, to the point that you could be a great break builder but if your safety game is not up to par, a good match player will tie you up in knots. And when you finally do get a shot, your arm is so cold every ball seems impossible.
Safety play is not just about bunting the reds and trying to get back to baulk. You have try to do something on each shot. Perhaps put your opponent in increasingly awkward situations, open the reds a bit reduce the margin for error for your opponents next shot, maybe leave the cue ball on the top rail and send a red down to baulk to keep your opponent from putting you there etc. If you just play safe with out a plan, you'll find yourself in trouble.
In short, if someone walks into tournament and expects to beat the best players because he's run a few centuries in practice, he's going to be sadly mistaken if he doesn't have a well rounded game. I would be surprised if he gets off a 20 or 30 against top local players, maybe less against a top player.
like I said not one incredible shot .lol The four railer was close to a tough shot...the masse shot was kiddie play and no rail after hit...lol the combo was a hanger if he didnt make it I would of stopped watching him play...
If you think that my masse shots are about setting them up then how come nobody has got a monkey to take the 50 large I had posted for 5 years...lol I even offered to play that machine that they say makes the shots every time.
Last edited:
Like I said before I am not in any way putting down snooker. I think that 3 cushion is easier than snooker...And I think 3 cush is a hard game to learn too.
Both games take a lifetime to master and you will probably need more than one to master the basics in either games...
I'm not so sure it is all about the size of the pocket that stops them from learning the "crazy shots" so much as there is no nead to shoot them. In pool sometimes it is still your best option.
In one pocket you learn the "crazy shots" or you get beat. I find it rather funny that no snooker players take those tourney's...One pocket is all about snooker right? lol
I think that there is just a bigger game here (pool) one that demands the same accuracy, but also demands more stroke,spin,speed, and power. I guess we will have to disagree. Just know that I love snooker I respect snooker and I know I am not going to be shooting it in the UK anytime soon.
Both games take a lifetime to master and you will probably need more than one to master the basics in either games...
I'm not so sure it is all about the size of the pocket that stops them from learning the "crazy shots" so much as there is no nead to shoot them. In pool sometimes it is still your best option.
In one pocket you learn the "crazy shots" or you get beat. I find it rather funny that no snooker players take those tourney's...One pocket is all about snooker right? lol
I think that there is just a bigger game here (pool) one that demands the same accuracy, but also demands more stroke,spin,speed, and power. I guess we will have to disagree. Just know that I love snooker I respect snooker and I know I am not going to be shooting it in the UK anytime soon.
Jason why did you bring me up in this anyway. I have read this thread a few times and can't figure out at all why you would come after me....Sorry I offended your offender...lol
If you had ever been to one of my shows you would know about the crowd gets to pick the shot section (like I am saying anyshot there is kid they are all a hanger)...I used to let someone invent a shot and then make it. Still never been stumped. Most of the time the crowd can't think of anything that is harder than what they just saw.
Trick shots are not pool, and in no way did I even bring them up. That is all you bro.
If you had ever been to one of my shows you would know about the crowd gets to pick the shot section (like I am saying anyshot there is kid they are all a hanger)...I used to let someone invent a shot and then make it. Still never been stumped. Most of the time the crowd can't think of anything that is harder than what they just saw.
Trick shots are not pool, and in no way did I even bring them up. That is all you bro.
I'd have to say Alex can run centuries no problem just by seeing his cue action. I played snooker on a 6'x12' table from Canada for about 3 years. I was able to run 3 centuries, and at that time I was not a great player. Just ask AZB member Ray.....
by luck, Ray and his friend both from the UK, or Ireland stopped in the pool room to hit some on the snooker table. They asked me to play, and I got the first shot, and ran 78.....then I thanked them and had to run to work.....they didnt know it was my high break
timing is a beeeyotch!
i recount this story now because I'm hoping to see Ray at the EXPO next month!
G.
by luck, Ray and his friend both from the UK, or Ireland stopped in the pool room to hit some on the snooker table. They asked me to play, and I got the first shot, and ran 78.....then I thanked them and had to run to work.....they didnt know it was my high break timing is a beeeyotch!
i recount this story now because I'm hoping to see Ray at the EXPO next month!
G.
I try to stay positive as often as possible....but this thread is just pathetic.
How are we supposed to unite the game when players are always bickering about how they think their favorite game takes more skill? Give me a break.
Each game is unique and presents a different set of challenges. They all require incredible skill when played at the top level.
PS. Excellent links Jason. :thumbup:
How are we supposed to unite the game when players are always bickering about how they think their favorite game takes more skill? Give me a break.
Each game is unique and presents a different set of challenges. They all require incredible skill when played at the top level.
PS. Excellent links Jason. :thumbup:
Canada snooker has gone down hill
Alex is top 10 here, and could probably beat any American
20 years ago, Alex at his current level could not crack the top 50 here
nobody in our top 50 today can crack the UK top 1000
of course nobody in Canadian nor UK history can touch Alex in pocket billiards
Alex is top 10 here, and could probably beat any American
20 years ago, Alex at his current level could not crack the top 50 here
nobody in our top 50 today can crack the UK top 1000
of course nobody in Canadian nor UK history can touch Alex in pocket billiards
I agree that thre is probably more to learn in pool than in snooker - I have long thought that snooker is a bit one dimensional in comparason (although I am a great fan of the game).
But it does not follow that pool is harder, or that it is more difficult to learn. Which is easier, learning/mastering a lot of difficult skills or learning/mastering a few very difficult skills?
When it comes down to it, there is only one measure of how difficult a game is IMHO. That is who good your opponent is.