Lou Figueroa's straight pool lesson with Ray Martin

Wow! His wife bought him a lesson with both West and Martin! Sounds like Lou married the right woman.

There really is no substitute for picking the brains of the old masters. Not only do you learn the right way to approach the game, but you learn their individual preferences.

For example, few would have agreed with Ray Martin that under-the-pack break shots were particularly desirable, but, of course, few ever hit those break shots as well as Ray Martin.

Dallas West was quite a bit more methodical and more of a textbook player than Ray, but Ray Martin was the more creative of the two and, quite probably, the better problem solver. I recall watching Martin carom a ball in late in the rack to improve the position of the breakshot. It was noteworthy because the ball could have been made without caroming it in but Martin noticed something that few would have noticed. Crane, who was sitting next to me, called the shot "brilliant."

Mizerak always insisted that until every ball had a clear path to a pocket, no ball was untouchable. He would often use up potential break balls to open the last cluster on the table, feeeling confident that he could manufacture another break shot subsequently. I suspect that neither West nor Martin would have subscribed to Mizerak's view here, but it sure worked for Steve!

And yet, for all their differences, the old masters all played quite similarly and knew how to open clusters in a relatively risk-free manner and knew how to play the end-rack to ensure good shape onto the break shots.

Some of the old masters are no longer among us. Yes, it's too late to take a lesson from Willie Mosconi, Jimmy Caras, Irving Crane, Steve Mizerak, Joe Balsis, John Ervolino, Gene Nagy, Luther Lassiter, or Art "Babe" Cranfield.

It's not, however, too late to catch up with BCA Hall of Famers Mike Sigel, Ray Martin, Allen Hopkins, Dallas West, Jim Rempe, Nick Varner, Lou Butera, and Jean Balukas. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from these and other living legends of straight pool should it arise. It sure seems to have inspired our own Lou Figueroa!
 
sjm said:
It's not, however, too late to catch up with BCA Hall of Famers Mike Sigel, Ray Martin, Allen Hopkins, Dallas West, Jim Rempe, Nick Varner, Lou Butera, and Jean Balukas. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from these and other living legends of straight pool should it arise. It sure seems to have inspired our own Lou Figueroa!
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SJM, great post, thank you.
Just wondering, what level should a player be at before he seeks out coaching from top names like those you mentioned?
 
sjm said:
Wow! His wife bought him a lesson with both West and Martin! Sounds like Lou married the right woman.

There really is no substitute for picking the brains of the old masters. Not only do you learn the right way to approach the game, but you learn their individual preferences.

For example, few would have agreed with Ray Martin that under-the-pack break shots were particularly desirable, but, of course, few ever hit those break shots as well as Ray Martin.

Dallas West was quite a bit more methodical and more of a textbook player than Ray, but Ray Martin was the more creative of the two and, quite probably, the better problem solver. I recall watching Martin carom a ball in late in the rack to improve the position of the breakshot. It was noteworthy because the ball could have been made without caroming it in but Martin noticed something that few would have noticed. Crane, who was sitting next to me, called the shot "brilliant."

Mizerak always insisted that until every ball had a clear path to a pocket, no ball was untouchable. He would often use up potential break balls to open the last cluster on the table, feeeling confident that he could manufacture another break shot subsequently. I suspect that neither West nor Martin would have subscribed to Mizerak's view here, but it sure worked for Steve!

And yet, for all their differences, the old masters all played quite similarly and knew how to open clusters in a relatively risk-free manner and knew how to play the end-rack to ensure good shape onto the break shots.

Some of the old masters are no longer among us. Yes, it's too late to take a lesson from Willie Mosconi, Jimmy Caras, Irving Crane, Steve Mizerak, Joe Balsis, John Ervolino, Gene Nagy, Luther Lassiter, or Art "Babe" Cranfield.

It's not, however, too late to catch up with BCA Hall of Famers Mike Sigel, Ray Martin, Allen Hopkins, Dallas West, Jim Rempe, Nick Varner, Lou Butera, and Jean Balukas. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from these and other living legends of straight pool should it arise. It sure seems to have inspired our own Lou Figueroa!
Click to expand...

Yes, Stu, I lucked out with Gail.

And you're also right about Dallas being a bit more methodical in his approach to running the balls. Ray did say that he held Dallas' game in high regard. Interestingly, Ray talked about doing very much what you describe Mizerak doing: using up what I would considered untouchable potential break balls to open up clusters.

It was kind of funny. At one point we were talking about other great players and I asked him who he would recommend for a lesson and he sort of hesitated and then gave me a pretty candid assessment of who he would and wouldn't go to. I promised him that I wouldn't "get him in trouble" but let me just say that there is one player that you mention that he did not recommend, and it's probably not who you think.

One last thing: you make a great point about all of us making our best effort to learn from the masters while we have the chance. Just imagine having the opportunity to learn from Babe, or Crane, or Mizerak, or Margo. And it's not just about technique, it's also just hearing legendary players talk about the game, other players, tournaments, philosophy, and just sharing some funny stories. And these guys appreciate hearing what you have to say too.

Don't blow it, guys.

Lou Figueroa
 
Dennis, I really appreciate when you, and others, take the time to post (and re-post) these great links. :thumbup:
These are things I would probably never find on my own.
 
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Ray martin

Dennis .....thank you ,this is great stuff here...richard
 
sjm said:
It's not, however, too late to catch up with BCA Hall of Famers Mike Sigel, Ray Martin, Allen Hopkins, Dallas West, Jim Rempe, Nick Varner, Lou Butera, and Jean Balukas. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from these and other living legends of straight pool should it arise. It sure seems to have inspired our own Lou Figueroa!
Click to expand...

Wow, I'm embarrased to have left out a living Hall of Famer who is a straight pool legend. That would, of course, be the great Dan DiLiberto, whose instruction helped Stefan Cohen win the 2009 World 14.1 event.

Forgive the oversight.
 
michael4 said:
SJM, great post, thank you.
Just wondering, what level should a player be at before he seeks out coaching from top names like those you mentioned?
Click to expand...

You may not get full value here if you can't run two consecutive racks, meaning twenty eight balls.
 
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