IMO, it's easy to dispute somebody's choice of patterns - but there is always more than one way to get the job done - and the player that is behind the cue ball has a better vantage point than any commentator.
No situation is exactly alike - and we all have different playing styles. Combine that with the fact that we all have our own preferences when it comes to shot selection and strategy - and we all have different strengths and weaknesses. For that reason, one might go left while another insists that he should have went right. In my experience, nobody is right - and nobody is wrong - it just comes down to preferences based upon what we are comfortable doing at that particular time.
As far as players that use the best patterns - these are the players I love to watch -
Steve Lipsky - Stevie Patterns ... he earned that nickname! Watching and learning from what he does at the table is a pure joy! Check out youtube - There is an 85 ball run out there by Steve that is technically excellent - as well as a few videos of he and Danny Barouty playing the game - these are two guys that I love to watch. There is just so much to learn by watching either of them operate.
John Schmidt - This guy has runs of 400 & 403 - so when he's shooting - I shut up - I watch - and I listen. I also ask John a lot of questions ... he has a wealth of knowledge not only for 14.1 - but for all games. He has a World Tournament of 14.1 title, a US Open 9 Ball title - and a Derby City Classic One Pocket title ... those are Hall of Fame credentials - Great player!
Danny Harriman - Danny is great "thinker" at the table. Watch him ... he makes decisions in every rack that just make sense - and his mechanics are flawless. Very rarely will you see Danny make a poor choice in any sequence of shots - mainly because he knows what works for him and he knows what doesn't work for him - and/or what might get him into trouble. He takes advantage of his strengths - avoids taking risks - and when he has to take a risk - you can guarantee that he won't pull the trigger unless he is certain that the risk will work out in his in his favor. Developing something like that takes time - and to use that as effectively as Danny does, you really have to know yourself as a player.
Niels Feijen - Niels makes it look easy - and that is because he very rarely gets himself into trouble. He keeps his Break Ball close to rack - and more times than not, he positions his cue ball in the center of the table to get on it. On his way there - he uses a lot of stop shot patterns - and he always stays above the rack. I've done commentary on quite a few of his runs - and what I have learned from them is to keep it simple.
Thorsten Hohmann - Thorsten likes to get the balls open early. If you watch any of his runs, the balls are hardly ever clustered together because of the way he attacks each break shot. After he gets the balls open, he doesn't complicate it. He generally just finds a key ball to get on his break ball - and when it's time, he gets on it. He preserves a lot of mental energy by NOT having a lot of clusters - that way he can just concentrate on pocketing balls. When he gets into a shooting rhythm - he can go and go and go.
Alex Lely - If you look up control in the dictionary - I am sure his picture is there .. I love watching Alex play any game because I love his pre-shot routine - and I love watching him weigh his options and make decisions. There is so much to learn from watching what he does and how he does it. Great teacher - great player - great guy to learn from!
Max Eberle - When I start having issues with my game - this is the guy I call. He's that damn good - and then some. He is quite possibly the most gifted player/instructor/communicator that is out there today. His patterns are also of the "it just makes sense" variety. He is a great player and a good guy that loves to share his knowledge with other players. Take advantage of that!
I could probably name about 10 - 20 more players that are just as talented and just as awesome to learn from- but these are the guys that I personally love to watch - and when I do - I take notes.
