Earl strickland stroke analysis

[alstl]

People are criticizing Earl's stoke?

Cue under his right eye - Feijen also does that and so do I although I don't get quite the same results.

Earl's stance - bends both knees to get down on the shot. Over the course of a day that can get tiring.

Earl's closed bridge. Not many people do it that way. I grew up playing snooker and use an open bridge most of the time. I've tried Earl's unique bridge and no doubt it is a key to his success but I can't get used to it.

Earl's stoke - not a single damn thing wrong with Earl's stroke.

 

[Black-Balled]

Earl is a machine. Purpose-built, for pool.

People are criticizing Earl's stoke?

Cue under his right eye - Feijen also does that and so do I although I don't get quite the same results.

Earl's stance - bends both knees to get down on the shot. Over the course of a day that can get tiring.

Earl's closed bridge. Not many people do it that way. I grew up playing snooker and use an open bridge most of the time. I've tried Earl's unique bridge and no doubt it is a key to his success but I can't get used to it.

Earl's stoke - not a single damn thing wrong with Earl's stroke.

 

[Low500]

Yes those areas are where pool is hot now, but I don't like watching them play. Like many of the musicians they produce at a young age, sure they can play the notes, but they play the music like robots because they are told to hit this note at this time, not because they want to make music, but because they want to be good at it. Billiards has a certain art to it, when you have 1,000 players in a giant gym shooting the same shot the same way, you have no art. Do you want to watch Jordan or Bird play ball or some guy that can hit 500 free throws in a row sit at the line and shoot them in?

I'll take the guy that can hit 500 free throws in a row...then I'll put him in action and watch him bust everybody.
The same applies to a guy who can make 500 spot shots in a row too.
"Art" will keep you in the poorhouse.
Keep on truckin'
:thumbup:

 

[Ak Guy]

I wish I had it.

I wish I had a stroke like Earl. He makes moving the cue ball look easy.

I also like his speed of play.

 

[demartini rocks]

" Do you want to watch Jordan or Bird play ball or some guy that can hit 500 free throws in a row sit at the line and shoot them in?"

so I'm guessing you'd rather watch or have calvin murphy or rick barry in action than bird, Jordan, kobe, etc?

 

[hang-the-9]

I'll take the guy that can hit 500 free throws in a row...then I'll put him in action and watch him bust everybody.
The same applies to a guy who can make 500 spot shots in a row too.
"Art" will keep you in the poorhouse.
Keep on truckin'
:thumbup:

If one wants to collect money instead of the pleasure of watching something interesting, sure, I'd pick the best pure player also but there is a quote I like from Citizen Cane "it's not hard to make a lot of money is all one wants to do is make a lot of money". I would trade some skill in pool to do something interesting and that I like. For example I would not touch a REVO shaft even if it made me a better player since I like the feel of my normal wood shaft made by a local cue maker. I get pleasure from the hit feel and from having a locally crafted item more than I do from making 1% more shots than I would with another shaft. I would rather watch Jayson Shaw play his crazy shot selection or SVG or Earl or Corey than watch someone play purely by % shots and with drummed in stroke mechanics by a school master.

Lots of people drive slower and less reliable cars because they enjoy it, otherwise we'd all be driving Toyota Corollas instead of BMW M3s or Ferraris or MGs.

 

[Henry W]

Earl's stroke is sweet, all those criticizing should challenge him to a money game even though he wouldn't waste his time to embarrass you.

His stroke may not please your eyes but he gets through the cue ball CLEAN as can be, Earl hits a force follow with inside better than anyone that's ever played pool.

I am with this guy as I see all these stroke experts criticize the greats and the stroke is key so whoever has the best stroke is the best player and Earl had the best stroke for a long time. Keith was a great player so he had a great stroke. I have seen these stroke experts criticize Mosconi's stroke. Here is what is important with the stroke and that is being able to win with it.

 

[westcoast]

I think it is all a matter of perspective... compared to today's top players, he is a step or 2 down. Compared to earl at his peak, a step or 3 down.

But earl at half speed still is a better player than most of us will ever be. Half

I actually think that Earl has not declined very much in terms of physical playing ability. When he keeps his head on straight he is very competitive against anybody. He just melts down too often. He struggles with his composure much more than when he was younger

 

[DaveInSC]

Enough natural talent to overcome "flaws" in a stroke. It's no different than a baseball swing or a golf swing... as long as you are in the right places at the times that matter it will work. There are great hitters and golfers with weird swings, but if you freeze frame them they are perfect in the important parts of the swing. That said, I was taught in baseball and golf to try to swing the "right" way, and for the most part I do. Far easier than compensating for a bad swing.