Everyone's points are well taken. Nevertheless I'd like to pose this question to Frank: in your opinion is there any merit whatsoever in my original thread?
I could be dead wrong, but imho...
- Thread starter fan-tum
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The worst stroke in the world is mine - end of debate. :embarrassed2:
Hopkins stroke is not something I can emulate and I've tried just for turds and giggles. When I attempt to copy it I end up poking at the CB but he is not poking; he still delivers a smooth accelerating stroke. And there is no denying the guy's got scoreboard up the yin-yang and then some. A true champion over a long span of time and a gentleman to boot.
Hopkins stroke is not something I can emulate and I've tried just for turds and giggles. When I attempt to copy it I end up poking at the CB but he is not poking; he still delivers a smooth accelerating stroke. And there is no denying the guy's got scoreboard up the yin-yang and then some. A true champion over a long span of time and a gentleman to boot.
Sure your post has a lot of merit. I understand your point in that his delivery might have an effect in performance. We can't deny the fact that he has had plenty of success with his style but who is to know what more he would have accomplished if his delivery was more conventional.
Sometimes some people have so much god given talent that they can overcome many unusual things in their style of operation. It's pretty much assured that proper mechanics will bring out the best in all of us.
Look at the mechanics of one like Ralf Souquet who looks like a well oiled machine at the table. The stroking arm working perfect, like a piston. Watching him you never expect him to miss. Does anyone think that he would have accomplished as much as he has if his delivery was more unorthodox? Maybe so but I doubt it.
I mentioned Grady. I cringed every time I saw him deliver his stroke, but I was always amazed at the results.
NYC cue dude
Banned
Imho, you would have been better off pointing out Allen's unusual stroke, for those not familiar with it, than to be criticizing it.
I played Allen in the 07 14.1 WC, and he ran a 98 after my opening "break". He's an oddity to watch, but there's very few EVER to be so skilled in ALL games.
Btw, bustamante has an awful looking stroke. On the backswing, all over the place, left and right. He's pretty straight, though, when his tip meets cueball!!
Rg
I played Allen in the 07 14.1 WC, and he ran a 98 after my opening "break". He's an oddity to watch, but there's very few EVER to be so skilled in ALL games.
Btw, bustamante has an awful looking stroke. On the backswing, all over the place, left and right. He's pretty straight, though, when his tip meets cueball!!
Rg
Allen moves the cue ball prettty good with that poke of his. You would be suprised.
I watched Pat flemming a few years ago, he used to play in alocal sunday open tournament. He had a funny stroke @ the time, absolutely no practice strokes before shooting, but deadly accurate.
I watched Pat flemming a few years ago, he used to play in alocal sunday open tournament. He had a funny stroke @ the time, absolutely no practice strokes before shooting, but deadly accurate.
Arnold Palmer, Jim Furyk
Have a little accident buddy?
On a similar note, Efren with allot of spin would have some difficulty, in 14.1 you need to keep it simple and work the middle of the cue ball to be very consitent. On another note, Efren has the ability to overcome and change the way most all games are played and may probably be the exception, but for large runs of over 200 consistently, spinning whitey is not a recommend action and increases your percentages of a miss.
its fine and dandy by me...then again I'm chickenwinged right handed, straight left..
Its just about what works for him....Alot of players, especially the women have that pause in their stroke bf delivery so besides the warm up strokes it almost turns out like Hopkins...stopped and then forward delivery. Most on the back swing waste the whole dam thing anyway, thats where the pause came from...gives attention to the proper finish. I myself would say Hopkins has a beautiful stroke with or without the backswing. Its not like the backswing is the whole world or something...except for on a length of table power draw...and I wonder if that even makes a diff, and then again how often do you shoot/choose to shoot that shot? (NOT MUCH)
Hopkins Stroke=Fine and Dandy
Grey Ghost
Its just about what works for him....Alot of players, especially the women have that pause in their stroke bf delivery so besides the warm up strokes it almost turns out like Hopkins...stopped and then forward delivery. Most on the back swing waste the whole dam thing anyway, thats where the pause came from...gives attention to the proper finish. I myself would say Hopkins has a beautiful stroke with or without the backswing. Its not like the backswing is the whole world or something...except for on a length of table power draw...and I wonder if that even makes a diff, and then again how often do you shoot/choose to shoot that shot? (NOT MUCH)
Hopkins Stroke=Fine and Dandy
Grey Ghost
