Greatest one pocket player? Straight pool? Etc.

J

jordan23042000

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I'm enjoying the greatest 9 ball player thread. What about all the other games? Greatest one pocket? Straight pool? 8 ball? Banks? Golf? Snooker? Rotation?


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If you span different eras, and I truly think that is the only fair way, youll come up with multiple names for each. Here are some of my favorites

One pocket, I would say the 3 best in no particular order would be Ronnie Allen, Efren Reyes, and Scott Frost.

Straight pool, Willie Mosconi has to be number one on most peoples list. Other names that stood up to tough competition were Irving Crane, Mike Sigel, Steve Mizerak etc.

Banks, Bugs Rucker, Freddy Bentivegna, Gary Spaeth, John Brumback

8 ball, Jimmy Reid, Mike Sigel, Efren Reyes

Rotation, Efren Reyes

Golf, Dont know who was best, but Ive heard Kim Davenport played some strong golf at Hard Times there for a while. Ive heard he ran all 6 holes more than once on the beast Ernesto set up.

Snooker, Ronnie O'Sullivan
 
Banks Eddie Taylor by far the best ever in my opinion

One pocket ever
Efren Reyes,Ronnie Allen.Jersey Red,Eddie Taylor,Wil Prout
Currently Efren,Alex,? next some other Filipino
14.1
Willie Mosconi,Harold Worst,Greenleaf

Best Commentator
Billy Incardona
 
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I figured banks would be the one category that was almost unanimous (bugs). How does bugs stack up against the great one pocket players


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Eddie vs Ronnie Allen in one pocket?

I post a lot on boxing forums, I'm hung up on fantasy matchups

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ibuycues said:
Eddie Taylor, best bank pool player ever.......by a wide margin.....

Will Prout
Click to expand...

i agree but wouldnt say "by a large margin"
bugs was close imho
would like to hear from those who were alive to see both play
(granted taylor was older so not in his prime when bugs was in his prime)
 
in one pocket i think it has to be efren vs ronnie
i know the chicago guys would say artie bodendorfer
who is not well known
but for sure could be the greatest player to make defense =offense and by reputation make the least "unforced errors"
or as he calls his style "mistake free"
i never saw him play
just going on conversations with those that did
edit
those that knew him during his plaing days also say he was a GREAT 8 ball player
 
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One Pocket - Efren
Straight Pool - Willie Mosconi, and as a big of a fan I am of Irving Crane, I would have to say Mizerak/Sigel would be after Mosconi.

People can say many things about the older players like Mosconi, not as many players back then etc........ but Mosconi ran 150-200s on a daily basis (witnessed by many) in exhibitions and tournaments and ruled Straight Pool championships until his stroke, and even some afterwards.

One Pocket is an Efren style game and fits him well imo.
 
bbb said:
i agree but wouldnt say "by a large margin"
bugs was close imho
would like to hear from those who were alive to see both play
(granted taylor was older so not in his prime when bugs was in his prime)
Click to expand...

I saw both play, several times......:smile:
IMHO,

Will Prout
 
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I want more fantasy matchups!! Lol how about Harold worst vs svb race to 100 bar box 8 ball


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I always enjoy these too.
There are in my mind always 2 answers to each of these questions.
1 answer is the player who won the most titles/tournaments and such
so he who not only played great but was also a fierce competitor over
a long period of time. The 2nd answer is the person who had the highest
top speed at the game. When he was on his A-game nobody else came
close.

For snooker those two players are Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan.
I know Joe Davis won way more world titles then Hendry but this was before
the game was anywhere near as big as it has been for the last 40 years.

Stephen Hendry changed the game, dominated it for over a decade in a
time when there were many other great competitors (Davis, White, Higgins just
to name a few) around. Ronnie is simply a freak of nature. I have had the
pleasure of seeing him in top speed for quite a few matches and it is just so
awesome to watch. As a player though it makes you want to just quit the game,
cause what the hell are you going to do against someone like that.

You don't need a fantasy matchup to compare the two, Hendry and Ronnie
played 56 times and Ronnie won 30 of those matchups with 5 ending a draw.
In the decade (90's) where Hendry was at his peak the record was 14-12
in Hendrys favor.

gr. Dave
 
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was ronnie in his prime in the 90s
serious question

all i have seen is the matches on video,particularly the 147s

he looks to be unbeatable to me

would anyone have a good chance to beat him regularly
 
jordan23042000 said:
I'm enjoying the greatest 9 ball player thread. What about all the other games? Greatest one pocket? Straight pool? 8 ball? Banks? Golf? Snooker? Rotation?


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Click to expand...

Just like in baseball, where the dead ball era has to be considered separately from the modern era, the equipment and the era should be part of the discussion.

Jersey Red was the best one pocket player on a 5x10 table. He had to give up weight to get a one-pocket game on the 10 footers.

Ronnie Allen was generally considered the best one pocket player on the slow 9 foot tables. On the East Coast, Allen Hopkins in his prime was the best one-pocket money player on a 9 foot Brunswick. I don't know if Ronnie and Hopkins ever matched up for the cash.

In the fast cloth era, Efren, Scott Frost and Alex are the best one pocket players on the Simonis 9 footers.

Alex Pagulayan is currently probably the best one pocket player on a 5x10 table.

SVB has proved that he is the best rotation player on the Bigfoot. I've never witnessed anyone who can match him in 9 ball or 10 ball on the 10 foot table.

On the 9 foot table, Lassiter has to be considered as the best 9-Ball player because no one had a winning record against him. I'm not sure if Harold Worst ever defeated Lassiter in 9-Ball for the cash or in a tournament.

In banks, Eddie Taylor reigned supreme. Period. I've never heard of anyone who had a winning record against him playing even bank pool. Today, Brumback and Justin Hall usually rise to the top in banks.

Straight pool should be divided into "old nappy cloth" and "Simonis", in my opinion because of the difference in the way that the racks and clusters are broken. Today, the racks are smashed and the balls scatter. In the old days, the racks were taken apart in clusters. I've seen Mosconi, Mizerak, Sigel, Varner, and Crane. I never saw Hoppe or Greenleaf play, so I can't comment on them.

All-around, I think the best player I've ever seen is Efren. In his prime there was no other player who could match his overall skill set. Outside of straight pool, which he never really played, Efren was, and will always be, the Magician.
If straight pool is added to that mix, then Harold Worst is generally regarded as the best all-around player of his era, the 1960's-1970's.
 
Good Post.....

kkdanamatt said:
Just like in baseball, where the dead ball era has to be considered separately from the modern era, the equipment and the era should be part of the discussion.

Jersey Red was the best one pocket player on a 5x10 table. He had to give up weight to get a one-pocket game on the 10 footers.

Ronnie Allen was generally considered the best one pocket player on the slow 9 foot tables. On the East Coast, Allen Hopkins in his prime was the best one-pocket money player on a 9 foot Brunswick. I don't know if Ronnie and Hopkins ever matched up for the cash.

In the fast cloth era, Efren, Scott Frost and Alex are the best one pocket players on the Simonis 9 footers.

Alex Pagulayan is currently probably the best one pocket player on a 5x10 table.

SVB has proved that he is the best rotation player on the Bigfoot. I've never witnessed anyone who can match him in 9 ball or 10 ball on the 10 foot table.

On the 9 foot table, Lassiter has to be considered as the best 9-Ball player because no one had a winning record against him. I'm not sure if Harold Worst ever defeated Lassiter in 9-Ball for the cash or in a tournament.

In banks, Eddie Taylor reigned supreme. Period. I've never heard of anyone who had a winning record against him playing even bank pool. Today, Brumback and Justin Hall usually rise to the top in banks.

Straight pool should be divided into "old nappy cloth" and "Simonis", in my opinion because of the difference in the way that the racks and clusters are broken. Today, the racks are smashed and the balls scatter. In the old days, the racks were taken apart in clusters. I've seen Mosconi, Mizerak, Sigel, Varner, and Crane. I never saw Hoppe or Greenleaf play, so I can't comment on them.

All-around, I think the best player I've ever seen is Efren. In his prime there was no other player who could match his overall skill set. Outside of straight pool, which he never really played, Efren was, and will always be, the Magician.
If straight pool is added to that mix, then Harold Worst is generally regarded as the best all-around player of his era, the 1960's-1970's.
Click to expand...

Very thoughtful post. On all fronts and across the years. I agree, generally, with your entire analysis.

Will Prout
 
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My 1 pocket pick is subject to debate......Grady Matthews.......but only a fool would quarrel over Mr. Moscini......his tournament records in straight pool.......his consecutive world titles.....and all accomplished on 10 ft. pool tables......Nuf Ced!

Matt B.
 
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