pete lafond said:
Pete,
Unless his equipment is ridiculously easy, I think this is doubtful (see the thread about the kid that thinks he makes 3-4 balls on the break each time, but actually averages 0.3). It is easy to overestimate our own talent level (myself definitely included).
I think you can appreciate the difficulty of high runs on tough equipment. I have probably played close to 100 hours of straight pool against top professional players (including 4 who have been #1 in the world at some time in their careers). In all of those hours the high run I've seen was 56 (by Johnny Archer, on only medium tough equipment). Unless the pro's are playing straight pool long and often, I doubt most of them will be "raining hundreds" like Jimmy Rempe. I know that Steve L., SJM, & Grady have played a LOT more than I, so I would defer to their opinions. A player like Grady or Mosconi that can just run 100 in almost every exhibition on foreign tables is VERY SPECIAL.
I think you would also appreciate a match I had with a former road player who had never played straight pool. On brutally tough equipment (triple shimmed equivalent table) he picked a house cue at random off the wall, then off the opening break ran 45 opposite handed, in his next inning ran 43 one-handed jacked up. This remains one of the most impressive displays I have ever seen from someone who does not play classical straight pool patterns.