Mr. Martinez's Magical Method

[JesseAllred]

I had the opportunity to play Rafael Martinez some one-pocket Friday. We gambled for five hours and it was amazing to watch how focused he was. There was a crowd watching us and taking pictures of him. He never took his eyes off the table and only said several words the whole day. I've never played someone who stayed as quietly focused on the game as him and I learned a lot from the match.
It was fantastic to watch Mr. Martinez's amazing stroke and inventive shotmaking and moves. I only wish I had taken my camera to record it. To see his process of getting used to the table and figuring out the perfect spot to break from and rack for, the way he balanced being recklessly aggressive and tactically patient during the proper moments in each game and his runout patterns was an awesome lesson.

The shot that he made 100% of the time on me with us each needing one ball is in the layout below. I left him that shot in four or five games and he made it center pocket every time.

CueTable Help

 

[cuetechasaurus]

I had the opportunity to play Rafael Martinez some one-pocket Friday. We gambled for five hours and it was amazing to watch how focused he was. There was a crowd watching us and taking pictures of him. He never took his eyes off the table and only said several words the whole day. I've never played someone who stayed as quietly focused on the game as him and I learned a lot from the match.
It was fantastic to watch Mr. Martinez's amazing stroke and inventive shotmaking and moves. I only wish I had taken my camera to record it. To see his process of getting used to the table and figuring out the perfect spot to break from and rack for, the way he balanced being recklessly aggressive and tactically patient during the proper moments in each game and his runout patterns was an awesome lesson.

The shot that he made 100% of the time on me with us each needing one ball is in the layout below. I left him that shot in four or five games and he made it center pocket every time.

CueTable Help

Wow that is insane, I've never seen that shot done before. I'm gonna try it myself!

Rafael pulled off the most amazing shot I've ever seen in the finals of a Pechauer tournament against Lorry DeLeon. It was a kick-safety shot that I thought was impossible and I've never been able to duplicate it. Where can I learn to use the Wei table? I'll diagram it once I figure out how to do so.

 

["CaliRed".]

Wow that is insane, I've never seen that shot done before. I'm gonna try it myself!

Rafael pulled off the most amazing shot I've ever seen in the finals of a Pechauer tournament against Lorry DeLeon. It was a kick-safety shot that I thought was impossible and I've never been able to duplicate it. Where can I learn to use the Wei table? I'll diagram it once I figure out how to do so.

I put these instructions up a couple of years ago.. should still be pertinent. They were instructions for onepocket.org members... so when it comes to posting here.. just click the wei table icon in your new post, instead of the icon that looks like a cueball over there. (i think you might need to turn the sound up on these.. don't remember.. I got a better mic since then)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x7TcT_xoLc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpho3i8yavA

 

[Delusional]

hey Jesse did you play him one handed at all. I would bet on you in that set

 

[alphadog]

I am guessing that table was very fast?
That shot sells out a easy cross rail bank on most tables!
Rafeal is a great creative player.3 cushion experiance is a
great tool for the 1p player to have.
Thanks for the post,Jack

 

[pt109]

I am guessing that table was very fast?
That shot sells out a easy cross rail bank on most tables!
Rafeal is a great creative player.3 cushion experiance is a
great tool for the 1p player to have.
Thanks for the post,Jack

If you jack with low right english, the cue ball should make it back to
the end rail (hitting 3 rails)
This makes the shot an acceptable risk

Love Jesse's alliterative title...wonder if he types with one hand?:smile:

 

[JesseAllred]

I am guessing that table was very fast?
That shot sells out a easy cross rail bank on most tables!
Rafeal is a great creative player.3 cushion experiance is a
great tool for the 1p player to have.
Thanks for the post,Jack

the pool hall owner asked him about his 3 cushion experience being a factor in that four rail shot and Rafael said "I'm not really a billiards player ...well...except for my three national championship titles and beating some of the best billiards players in the world." (inaccurate paraphrasing)

The cueball ended up close to the middle of the top rail every time and the OB had just enough speed to drop into his pocket. I also remember him making nearly every 5 and 4 rail bank that was near my pocket with the cueball up table, it was sick.

 

[JesseAllred]

hey Jesse did you play him one handed at all. I would bet on you in that set

I didn't know if he played one-handed so I didn't ask, but I did ask for 10-6 for a large amount and he wouldn't give it to me so we ended up playing even for $25 a game. I ran 8 and out the first two games and hung with him for a few hours until he got used to the table. I was shocked to be able to compete with him even and ended up only down 4 games after about 26 games. The games were very quick against him, he kept backwards cutting the corner ball and running out with his first shot on my break. I had trouble outmoving him and only stayed even with him because of my suicidal runouts. I was truly shocked that I could play one of my heroes even, what a confidence booster!

It also showed that a straight shooter can compete with someone who outmoves him for a while, which goes against my one-pocket beliefs.

 

[sfleinen]

I didn't know if he played one-handed so I didn't ask, but I did ask for 10-6 for a large amount and he wouldn't give it to me so we ended up playing even for $25 a game. I ran 8 and out the first two games and hung with him for a few hours until he got used to the table. I was shocked to be able to compete with him even and ended up only down 4 games after about 26 games. The games were very quick against him, he kept backwards cutting the corner ball and running out with his first shot on my break. I had trouble outmoving him and only stayed even with him because of my suicidal runouts. I was truly shocked that I could play one of my heroes even, what a confidence booster!

It also showed that a straight shooter can compete with someone who outmoves him for a while, which goes against my one-pocket beliefs.

Jesse:

As well you should be! (Be very proud, that is.) Rafael's one of my heroes too. I like to call him "Cut-shot Martinez" because of the razor-thin cut-shots he hits center pocket just about every time -- from a distance, no less. The fact that you hung shoulder-to-shoulder with him throughout the match is very telling.

But-but-but, Jesse -- let's not forget the recent thread that extolled the virtues of "always playing for money, otherwise what's the point?" Did you learn anything?

-Sean

 

[RackemBilliards]

Martinez

If you jack with low right english, the cue ball should make it back to
the end rail (hitting 3 rails)
This makes the shot an acceptable risk

Love Jesse's alliterative title...wonder if he types with one hand?:smile:

That's correct. After the game Mr. Martinez said, "I made 4 railers on my last ball 3 games in a row, but once I didn't get the cue ball back to the end rail, and was lucky I made the ball." For what it's worth, he also said, "everyone thinks I can make those because I play billiards and know the diamond system. I don't know the diamond system and don't want to know it. I know english, and I know rails." Watching his focus and his ability to make virtually every bank on an unfamiliar table was remarkable. Jesse ran out from everywhere, and was charging hard at the end. It was fun to watch, and a pleasure to have Mr. Martinez here. Here's a few pics (I hope:smile

 

[mbvl]

"I don't know the diamond system and don't want to know it. I know english, and I know rails." (Rafael Martinez)

A great quote from a great player.

Mark

 

[gumby]

Which pool hall did you play him at?

I had the opportunity to learn some carambola from him recently. It was tons of fun. Hopefully I can meet up with him for some more soon.