Another awesome video by Niels. An absolute must watch for 14.1 players. Of course he makes it look so easy!Good stuff. His YT channel is really good.
Yes, I should clarify. I'm referring to straight pool in Europe. These were the biggest winners at the European Straight Pool Championships. Souquet, Engert, and Vandenberg are also in the conversation. On the world stage, Thorsten, the best straight pooler of this generation, must be rated above all of them.Thorsten H
Thorsten Hohmann not in consideration?
Stu, no problem. I was a bit confused when you failed to mention Thorsten. As far as Niels, his 14.1 instructional videos and his enthusiasm and willingness to share his knowledge with all of us is as awesome as his stroke!Yes, I should clarify. I'm referring to straight pool in Europe. These were the biggest winners at the European Straight Pool Championships. Souquet, Engert, and Vandenberg are also in the conversation. On the world stage, Thorsten, the best straight pooler of this generation, must be rated above all of them.
FYI, Throsten Hohmann, Mika Immonen and Darren Appleton rarely played in the European Straight Pool championships, as all three lived in America during the prime of their respective careers.
Thanks for the correction.
I'm glad he showed the key ball on the long rail up table same side as the break ball. I got into a friendly disagreement on this forum about that once when I posted a video.
That's a great key ball and you can get on it from almost anywhere on the table.
This fella here used the up table long rail key ball in his second rack. I think he knew a little about 14.1.It's my favorite for using as the key ball in 8-ball.
Jeff Livingston
I had the same reaction but my thought is that he is presenting shots that don't look like good key balls but actually are doable rather than low percentage trick shots.Hmm...I like Niels Feijen, and have always considered him one of the premier pattern players of the modern straight pool game. I have nothing but respect for him and his accomplishments. I am, however, a little bit confused about the video. A couple of these keyballs are good, but several are shots that can and will go wrong, unless you posess his cueball control. In principle, you can get anywhere on the table from any angled shot, so any shot is a potential keyball and he does show us some creative ways to get on the breakshot here. If that was the purpose, then well done.
That shot in the side at 3.45 is not good at all. It's a terrible keyball by any standard. If you go around the breakball, you risk hitting it, if you draw straight back, I'd recommend going all the way to the rail and back out. At least then you can guarantee a shot. Try that perfect draw shot in a game, I guarantee you, you'll get straight or wrong angled. Niels studied under Bert, he should know never to draw into a spot in open space like that. He may be so good that he forgot that this is difficult. Draw to the rail, you're good for several feet of travel. At least the 3 railer or one railer into the kitchen will give you a shot. A shot into the side pocket should only be chosen if it's close to the pocket. Exceptions could be made if you have a perfect (near stop shot) keyball to the keyball like he had on his shot at 3.18. That's my opinion. I realise I don't have a leg to stand on here, but that is at least my honest opinion. If you have a ball hanging out in the middle of the table like that and not a perfect key-to-the-key, I often prefer to shoot it in the corner. At least then I have some idea of what my break angle/distance is going to be.
And kitchen keyballs? Come on, now. The point of straight pool is to choose your own keyball. Granted, you get put into a game, this is what you have, then go for it.
A keyball is a ball that gives you control over what kind of shot you get on your breakball, both as far as angle and distance to the breakball is concerned. If you are drawing 3 diamonds back it's a total crapshoot unless you have godlike cueball control. If you have a center of the rack mosconi type breakball, then any angle will suffice, but even still, you want a specific angle for optimal results. If your cueball is high or low, now you want much better control of your angle, because even slight deviations may cause you to have no shot at all. I realize that I'm rambling here, but here is the point to all of this: If your keyball require perfect execution and a dreamlike stroke, it's not a good keyball.
He is so good with his cue ball control, that he made them all look so easy. He likely didn't even need to edit his video much, but obviously most of us mortals would't have made it look so effortless.I had the same reaction but my thought is that he is presenting shots that don't look like good key balls but actually are doable rather than low percentage trick shots.
Agreed, I think the standard key balls are well covered in pool literature. But this is to show you the range of options you have. It's like those alternate break shots that are run savers. They aren't ideal, but they are good to know if you can't develop a classic break shot.I had the same reaction but my thought is that he is presenting shots that don't look like good key balls but actually are doable rather than low percentage trick shots.
I would change the above to "should or ideally" give you control. His video title doesn't say Top 10 key balls that are foolproof and execution is guaranteed.A keyball is a ball that gives you control over what kind of shot you get on your breakball, both as far as angle and distance to the breakball is concerned. If you are drawing 3 diamonds back it's a total crapshoot unless you have godlike cueball control. If you have a center of the rack mosconi type breakball, then any angle will suffice, but even still, you want a specific angle for optimal results. If your cueball is high or low, now you want much better control of your angle, because even slight deviations may cause you to have no shot at all. I realize that I'm rambling here, but here is the point to all of this: If your keyball require perfect execution and a dreamlike stroke, it's not a good keyball.