Efren's commentary - Varner vs. Media Accu-Stats

[nibrobus]

I just got done watching the Nick Varner vs. Danny Medina match at the Sands Regency tournament in Reno, where Jerry McWhorter and Efren Reyes are doing the commentary. Throughout the match, Efren makes a few comments about how he's "lost his stroke" and has trouble drawing the ball "this year".

If anyone ever looks at older footage of Efren compared to now, his stroke has changed a lot. It's now more compact, he doesn't bridge as long as he used to (especially off the rail), and his overall pace of stroke is quicker as well. It also seems like he had a more powerful stroke about 10 - 15 years ago too. Has anyone here heard any stories/comments from Efren about why thought he "lost his stroke", or why he's changed it over the years?

 

[Russ Chewning]

Dude! He's in his 50's! He doesn't have the muscle strength he had as a yungun'. What I want to know is.. How was his commentary? Lemme know! Lemme know!

Russ

 

[wayne]

I just got done watching the Nick Varner vs. Danny Medina match at the Sands Regency tournament in Reno, where Jerry McWhorter and Efren Reyes are doing the commentary. Throughout the match, Efren makes a few comments about how he's "lost his stroke" and has trouble drawing the ball "this year".

If anyone ever looks at older footage of Efren compared to now, his stroke has changed a lot. It's now more compact, he doesn't bridge as long as he used to (especially off the rail), and his overall pace of stroke is quicker as well. It also seems like he had a more powerful stroke about 10 - 15 years ago too. Has anyone here heard any stories/comments from Efren about why thought he "lost his stroke", or why he's changed it over the years?

Yup, he sure lost his stroke. The fact he just won the IPT Reno tournament with no stroke is quite amazing. He must have been competing against ballbangers.

I think Efren says things for fun. Like "I got lucky". Maybe he was out of stroke at different times but I guarantee you no one could be the best player in the world if he lost his stroke.

 

[nibrobus]

Dude! He's in his 50's! He doesn't have the muscle strength he had as a yungun'. What I want to know is.. How was his commentary? Lemme know! Lemme know!

Russ

Well, if you look at my avatar (courtesy of Bill Porter) Efren's arms don't look like they packed much strength even when he was a yungun' The commentary is lead by Jerry McWhorter with him asking Efren questions concerning position and what shot he would play given the situation. Efren's english is not horrible (like some people may think if they've never heard him speak much English) and he gets his thoughts across fairly well. It'd be great if Efren did more commentary on pool matches, even if it was in Tagalog!

 

[JoeyInCali]

Dude! He's in his 50's! He doesn't have the muscle strength he had as a yungun'. What I want to know is.. How was his commentary? Lemme know! Lemme know!

Russ

I don't think it has anything to do with strength.
More to do with timing.

I think the Simonis cloth eventually changed Efren and Bustamante's stroke.
They slowly lost the bicycle stroke b/c they just didn't need to do much on Simonis cloth.
I have tapes of Efren during pre-90's, early 90's and late 90's and up.
In the Tara Open finals against Strickland, Efren looked really funny darting with his cue .
In the 1994 US Open he had the rollercoaster stroke.
I think his current 3 short and 3 long almost conventional stroke now started around the Color of Money match.

Efren also retired his long 60+ inch cue around year 2000 when he finally let it go due to a rattle inside.

 

[nibrobus]

Yup, he sure lost his stroke. The fact he just won the IPT Reno tournament with no stroke is quite amazing. He must have been competing against ballbangers.

I think Efren says things for fun. Like "I got lucky". Maybe he was out of stroke at different times but I guarantee you no one could be the best player in the world if he lost his stroke.

I think Efren was referring more to his stroke power (ability to generate spin) than his actual strength of play. On the Accu-Stats Highlight Video 2 there's numerous clips of Efren executing some crazy stroke shots that I don't see him do much anymore. His overall game is still as great if not better than before, just wish he'd pull out some more of those shots once in a while

 

[mjantti]

I agree with nibrobus here. Efren considers himself "lost-stroke" because he can't do the crazy things with the cueball he used to do. That still doesn't mean he can't beat the cr*p outta all of us ! And yes, I've noticed that a couple of times Efren tried to draw the rock but got no action... but you gotta give it to him, he's over 50 already, hard to maintain a lethal and accurate stroke when you're getting older.

Edit: watching him beat Morris in IPT final, he was jumping up very severely on his followthrough etc. He does seem to lost some of his confidence, but he still makes those shots.... well, he missed almost a straight-in 8-ball in that match. I can relate to what Efren is saying on himself.

 

[Worminator]

I don't think it has anything to do with strength.
More to do with timing.

I think the Simonis cloth eventually changed Efren and Bustamante's stroke.

That's a great observation Joey.

 

[berlowmj]

I don't like reading this "over 50" commentary. I'm 64 & still pumping iron. What weight training exercises contribute to pool?

 

[9ball_in_MN]

ok for one 50 is not old I have plenty of 50+ in pool that can shoot the lights out... the crapy IPT equipment is not helping anyones game the nap cloth and balls are not as high quality as say the sets for the us open 9 ball.... age is in your mind and your body will catch up

 

[Deadon]

I don't like reading this "over 50" commentary. I'm 64 & still pumping iron. What weight training exercises contribute to pool?

Thanks berlowmj, ................. from the rest of us.

 

[Cornerman]

I don't like reading this "over 50" commentary. I'm 64 & still pumping iron. What weight training exercises contribute to pool?

I don't know if this is a serious question or not, but it should be. Nick Varner has hired a strength trainer so that he can compete at his highest level for the IPT.

He says he's targeting certain areas of his back and arms to add strength. Nick is a smart man without all the romantic hooey misconceptions about this game. He's realized the importance of muscles fitness and how it affects his game.

Fred

 

[PoolBum]

I don't know if this is a serious question or not, but it should be. Nick Varner has hired a strength trainer so that he can compete at his highest level for the IPT.

He says he's targeting certain areas of his back and arms to add strength. Nick is a smart man without all the romantic hooey misconceptions about this game. He's realized the importance of muscles fitness and how it affects his game.

Fred

There's a difference between fitness and strength. There is no question that competing at a top level in these grueling IPT tournaments requires a certain level of strength and stamina, and overall fitness. But one look at champion pool players like Reyes, Archer, Sigel and Varner tells you that the strength that results from muscle mass is not necessary to be a champion pool player, and past a certain point is probably a hindrance.

 

[Black-Balled]

I don't know if this is a serious question or not, but it should be. Nick Varner has hired a strength trainer so that he can compete at his highest level for the IPT.

He says he's targeting certain areas of his back and arms to add strength. Nick is a smart man without all the romantic hooey misconceptions about this game. He's realized the importance of muscles fitness and how it affects his game.

Fred

The key to fitness is elevating your heart rate and keeping it high. You should try crack! It sure beats working out.

Disclaimer- crack is for idiots!

 

[Cornerman]

There's a difference between fitness and strength. .

I know what your saying, but it's still strength. We're not talking about aerobics but instead strengthening the muscles by use of resistance training for the specific task of being able to perform certain strokes with the whatever strenght Nick thinks is necessary. In every other sport in the universe, that's strength training.

It's not about bulk strength or anything like that. I think if most people took it in that context, it'd be easier to have an understanding of exactly what kind of strengthening could actually help a person's pool game.

Fred

 

[berlowmj]

Ok, so high reps & lower weight? 2x per week Perhaps "Super Squats" ie. 3x20@ 405 or leg press 3x20@630
Deadlifts 3x20@350 Bench press 3x20@225 T-bar row 3x20135 seated row 3x20@135 E-z curl bar 3x20@105

45 minutes on bike or treadmill at training heart rate 4 or 5 days per week

I'm just guessing. Would Varner publish his routine when he gets it?
Smoke free pool rooms would be great. And European classical music, light jazz, blues... or silence rather than rock & rap would facilitate concentration. no alcohol or red meat.

What stretches are recommended? rotor cuff routine for shoulders, 1/2 lotus...? I have been injured trying to keep up with my wife's yoga.

On the other hand, I watched an ectomorph male who has been playing for 52 years, play shape with greater precision than I could with "ball in hand" with a cigarette dangling from his mouth in a small bar with a rock band & two speakers as large as refrigerators. Pocketed at least one ball on every break with shape on the CB & no break cue. No ear plugs. "Go figure!"

 

[Russ Chewning]

or silence rather than rock & rap would facilitate concentration.

I think a lot of pros would disagree with you. There have been championships with low music playing in the background, and there have been championships with no music at all.

A lot of the pros did not like playing with no music. Made it much easier to be distracted by spectators moving in chairs, a fly buzzing over the table, opponent's shirt color, etc.

A certain level of "white noise" may in fact be conducive to your concentration. The theory is that when the brain has to deal with an ongoing source of noise (light music), it puts a "noise filter" in place that allows you to ignore the music and anything close in decibel level. Without this constant source of low noise, you tend to notice EVERY little noise.

Russ

 

[berlowmj]

Can we agree that rock & rap are in the category of interference & auditory assault rather than "noise filter?"

 

[soljaime]

Ok, so high reps & lower weight? 2x per week Perhaps "Super Squats" ie. 3x20@ 405 or leg press 3x20@630
Deadlifts 3x20@350 Bench press 3x20@225 T-bar row 3x20135 seated row 3x20@135 E-z curl bar 3x20@105

45 minutes on bike or treadmill at training heart rate 4 or 5 days per week

Is that your routine? If so, you are a monster!

 

[berlowmj]

Obviously, the 3x20135 was a typo & should read 3x20@135