Do we brown-nose the Filipinos about some thing??

Maniac

Maniac

2manyQ's
Silver Member
Reason why I ask is because on at least four different live streams/Youtube videos of pool matches, this is what I've heard...and I'm paraphrasing to make all four sound approximately the same: An American player goes to shoot a ball from behind his back and the commentator says something like "He's going to shoot it the Filipino style" or "He's shooting it the way the Filipinos do".

WTF???

I played my first games of pool on our garage table back in 1965. I shot behind my back way back then without knowing that there even were pool players from the Philippine Islands. Heck, I only heard of the Philippine Islands because of my studies of WWII from History class and from Geography class.

That said, I'm quite sure that I wasn't the first American player to shoot behind my back. I'd be willing to bet that shooting behind the back goes back a lo-o-o-ng way, probably back to European players.

So why are we so enamored to give credit for it to the Philippine players like Efren R. and Jose P. who used it when necessary in a tournament or action match?

Sometimes it seem like we've got our noses stuck up their a$$es by giving them credit for things that have been going on for years. It doesn't bother me...just wondering what people are thinking when they give credit where credit isn't due.

And yes...I realize that the Filipinos are some of the world's greatest players and have done some things that changed pool in America. But, not everything.

Maniac

Maniac
 
I’ve never seen anyone but Filipinos do it on tv so maybe that’s why but yes I agree without doubt they are culturally appropriating the white mans way


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Funny, I have been playing for 50 years and have never shot one of these shots. I did teach myself to shoot off handed on simple shots. :o
 
It’s more common to see a bar player try it than a professional. I think most strong players realized it is not something you can execute with the same high percentage and control as a typical shot. Most top players avoided it even more than they avoided using a bridge. But when the original Filipino invasion came, they were willing to pull it out at greater prevalence, control and accuracy than seen.


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Cornbread Red was the best behind-the-back player I ever saw.

920EA972-7898-49ED-ACD6-9156B4611020.jpeg

He played some shortstops one pocket on a 5x10 snooker table...
...gave them a whole side...
...shot every shot behind his back...
...and high rolled them.
 
I've played for over 50 years and shot behind my back before I ever saw anybody from the Philippines.

There were tons of situations where I felt way more comfortable shooting behind my back, than using the bridge or playing with my opposite hand.

Filipino players didn't invent anything in pool that I'm aware of. Some of them are among the best pool players in the world, but I haven't seen them do anything that I haven't seen somebody else do before them.
 
MattPoland said:
It’s more common to see a bar player try it than a professional. I think most strong players realized it is not something you can execute with the same high percentage and control as a typical shot.
Click to expand...

While I agree with what you say, I have seen SVB do it on more than several occasions (and some other players).

The times when I thought it was the best option I had, I felt completely comfortable with the shot and had very few issues with making the shot and getting position. It's just not as hard as some think it is. (same with the bridge).

Still...it seems crazy to attribute the shot to the Filipinos as if it were never done anywhere else. But, meh...what the heck. :grin:

Maniac (already seeing some having issues with the thread :sorry:)
 
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Maniac said:
While I agree with what you say, I have seen SVB do it on more than several occasions (and some others).



The times when I thought it was the best option I had, I felt completely comfortable with the shot and had very few issues with making the shot and getting position. It's just not as hard as some think it is. (same with the bridge).



Still...it seems crazy to attribute the shot to the Filipinos as if it were never done anywhere else. But, meh...what the heck. :grin:



Maniac (already seeing some having issues with the thread :sorry:)
Click to expand...


I think the reputation was built in the pre-SVB era.


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Me too....

I did it when I was a 10 year old kid and others in my little towns 3 pool halls did it also.
I have watched Shane do it and Bustamante and a couple others.

There is an infatuation with Efren, Busty and a couple others by some. Heck, they earned it. My only complaint is the refusal by top Pinoy One Pocket players to match up on money matches because they are from Pinoy Land.

If any other players from any other country always did that this forum would be on there butts!

Come on Pinoy guys, battle it out for all of us to see!
 
Look up Leon Yonders. Yes, that was his name. Some of the stories about him are even more amazing than the ones in print.
 
MattPoland said:
It’s more common to see a bar player try it than a professional. I think most strong players realized it is not something you can execute with the same high percentage and control as a typical shot. Most top players avoided it even more than they avoided using a bridge. But when the original Filipino invasion came, they were willing to pull it out at greater prevalence, control and accuracy than seen.


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Click to expand...

Yes good observation.
Bar players will try anything. Behind the back is a show off move.
Sexy also :grin:

anastasia_lupova_6.jpg
 
Bob Jewett said:
Look up Leon Yonders. Yes, that was his name. Some of the stories about him are even more amazing than the ones in print.
Click to expand...

Wow...Leon Yonders ran 180 balls shooting behind his back

CD9BFC2A-7AF0-498B-B774-7668D8897C76.jpeg

Some people said he was equal to Greenleaf
 
WTF???

Sometimes it seem like we've got our noses stuck up their a$$es by giving them credit for things that have been going on for years. It doesn't bother me...
Maniac
Click to expand...

Glad to see it doesn't bother you...;)
 
Maniac said:
I played my first games of pool on our garage table back in 1965. I shot behind my back way back then without knowing that there even were pool players from the Philippine Islands. Heck, I only heard of the Philippine Islands because of my studies of WWII from History class and from Geography class.

That said, I'm quite sure that I wasn't the first American player to shoot behind my back. I'd be willing to bet that shooting behind the back goes back a lo-o-o-ng way, probably back to European players.

So why are we so enamored to give credit for it to the Philippine players like Efren R. and Jose P. who used it when necessary in a tournament or action match?
Click to expand...

I've heard commentators say that too.

I don't think they're saying the Filipinos invented the technique, just that they seemed to be more likely to use it than others. Most other top players shoot opposite-hand instead of behind the back.
 
BRussell said:
I've heard commentators say that too.

I don't think they're saying the Filipinos invented the technique, just that they seemed to be more likely to use it than others. Most other top players shoot opposite-hand instead of behind the back.
Click to expand...

Touching on something there...Oh, how I envy the ambidextrous. Watched an old video of Mosconi on a TV show. Right or left handed seemed to make no difference to him. He'd do whichever seemed easier.
 
Maniac said:
Snip.....

So why are we so enamored to give credit for it to the Philippine players like Efren R. and Jose P. who used it when necessary in a tournament or action match?



Maniac

Maniac
Click to expand...
I doubt that you have ever seen Efren shoot behind the back. He could switch to his left hand seamlessly.
 
BRussell said:
I don't think they're saying the Filipinos invented the technique, just that they seemed to be more likely to use it than others. Most other top players shoot opposite-hand instead of behind the back.
Click to expand...

This is spot on. The Filipinos use this shot more often than any other group of players. The main reason is likely because they're so short and can't reach as many shots.

Avg Male Height:
USA: 5'-9.5"
Philippines: 5'-4.5"
 
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