Dallas West Hundo

[VarmintKong]

Stumbled on this today and can’t recall seeing it posted before. Only name familiarity and Lou’s lesson story. Surprised to see that the rack outline isn’t marked in the man’s own room.

Guess I should be watching Derby highlights, but this just seems so… I dunno, Wholesome.

 

[Wayne Crimi]

Nice run

 

[alphadog]

It is a easy to watch run.

 

[sjm]

In the straight pool era, West was a beautiful player to watch. In the 1970s-1980s, he was not quite on a level with a Mizerak, Sigel, Martin, Hopkins or Varner, but he was certainly mentionable with the likes of Rempe, Margo, DiLiberto, and Butera.

 

[VarmintKong]

In the straight pool era, West was a beautiful player to watch. In the 1970s-1980s, he was not quite on a level with a Mizerak, Sigel, Martin, Hopkins or Varner, but he was certainly mentionable with the likes of Rempe, Margo, DiLiberto, and Butera.

I remember my Grandpa Jim would use an expression, “it’s flowers on the water,” referring to something that was a nice gesture but lacked substance.

I will always have great respect regarding your evaluations. One thing I always look to specifically is your evaluation of pattern play.

I wouldn’t ask you to numb our wits with countless examples. HOWEVER, perhaps an A+++ example followed by a mere professional level example could be elucidating. What separates West at his best from the Miz or Sigel?

 

[sjm]

I remember my Grandpa Jim would use an expression, “it’s flowers on the water,” referring to something that was a nice gesture but lacked substance.

I will always have great respect regarding your evaluations. One thing I always look to specifically is your evaluation of pattern play.

I wouldn’t ask you to numb our wits with countless examples. HOWEVER, perhaps an A+++ example followed by a mere professional level example could be elucidating. What separates West at his best from the Miz or Sigel?

West was a fine pattern player, nearly as good as Sigel, Varner and Rempe. He stayed within the most traditional boundaries of table management, a) clearing the rails sooner rather than later, b) unblocking blocked pockets early, and he knew when and when not to move balls around. He was not quite the problem solver that Ray Martin was and he did not have a stroke as smooth as that of Mizerak (whose blend of power and finesse was the envy of all). Sigel, Varner, and Hopkins were all better safety players than West, too. Let's face it, when comparing all these hall of fame players to each other, there is not too much difference.

One of West's greatest efforts came in the semis of the 1992 US Open 14.1. The night before, with SJM in attendance and Mosconi and Caras ringside, Sigel ran his famous 150 and out vs Zuglan, after which Zuglan ran 148 vs Martin. Also playing beautifully in that session was West, but it was hard to get noticed that night. The last three standing were Sigel, West and Zuglan. Many hoped for and expected a rematch of Sigel vs Zuglan in the final, but West did not get the memo and beat Zuglan in two innings in the semis with absolutely sensational play.

 

[VarmintKong]

Thanks for the elaboration.

That US Open must be a great memory for you. What a treat that AccuStats has posted many of those to YouTube. The Sigel 150 and out as well as the aforementioned final, although I didn’t see West v. Martin.

I’ll be looking for some examples of safety play from these legends.

 

[sjm]

Thanks for the elaboration.

That US Open must be a great memory for you. What a treat that AccuStats has posted many of those to YouTube. The Sigel 150 and out as well as the aforementioned final, although I didn’t see West v. Martin.

I’ll be looking for some examples of safety play from these legends.

Actually, it was a pretty forgettable final in which neither found their top gear.

 

[VarmintKong]

Actually, it was a pretty forgettable final in which neither found their top gear.

Well, shit.

I was just simmering down for the evening and was going to put this on.

There’s quite a few other matches waiting in perpetuity… No, I don’t need to see hundred ball runs. I would like a better understanding of how a player plays safe or takes a foul when they don’t see a clear cut path to the end of the rack. Is that the delineation in the caliber of player between the tippy top?