Player With Perfect Fundamentals
- Thread starter cuetechasaurus
- Start date
George said:
What makes you say Nick Varner? He strokes like that intentionally for certain shots. Otherwise he has perfect fundamentals. He's in my top 5 of favorite players to watch.
Jimmy M. said:
I'm surprised I forgot to mention Davenport also, he is renowned for his rock solid fundamentals (and game).
King Cueball
Registered
In My opnion Efren reyes had one of the best fundementals! its follow-thru is the best ive ever seen! if you ever get a chance to see him play in the later stages of the first color of money games with earl,you will see perferct form as the highest level!
King Cueball said:
No doubt about his performance ... but "fundamentals"?
Then again, what we consider "good mechanics" here in the U.S. aren't globally recognized as "good mechanics". Maybe if this question were asked in a Filipino message board, "Efren" would be the standard answer. I don't know. He's definitely my favorite player to watch, but not because of his mechanics.
King Cueball
Registered
Yes Fundamentals! what constitutes great ones? For me its the follow-thru, keeping your head down and staying with the shot, and efren does that just about better than anyone
I would have to go with Buddy Hall as my favorite for fundamentals - solid, meticulous, plays everything the right way. Although not as well known, one that always impressed me (his form/stance looked like it came right out of a billiard instructional book/tape) was Toby Sweet.
tedkaufman said:
Tony Robles started at his father's poolhall in Brooklyn, and spent 12hrs a day for 6 days a week after high school there. Its no wonder is stance is ice cold. I think he has one of the best fundamentals and technique. I've just started to take lessons from him, so I can work on what I need to for the expo tournament. I think Allison Fisher, and Karen Corr have the best stance for women. If you look at Jennifer Barretta she's pretty solid also. Jean Balukas has one of the most text book stance I've ever seen but she doesn't compete anymore.
King Cueball
Registered
I would also have to cast a vote for mika! When he is doing his warmup strokes you could place a book on his head and it would stay there! Fransico also does the same thing!
Gage said:
I never said that practice is unessary. (Perhaps it came accross that way) so I will elaborate.
Practice IS necessary to get the proper Stance / Grip / Alignment / Pattern Play / Shot Selection Skills / Creativeness / Experience.
The key point is that none of these are "moving" parts. The actual motion back and through must be "natural"..meaning no thought or forced motion whatsoever....Example
ulling the cue back a certain distance, follow through a certain distance, cupping your wrist in or out "during the stroke".....as soon as you "force" any of those movements during practice, it is now a "unatural' stroke....You may be able to repeat this 1000 times during practice....but when the money is on the line and your "under pressure" you will revert to what comes "natural"...You may be able to "normally" overcome the tendancy of your "natural" movement, but it will cost you at those "key" moements in matches. So...how do you fix bad strokes....by changing the non-moving parts or "set up".....Happens to be the same way you fix a golf swing...(which by the way is the most unatural movement for a human body)... The pool stroke is very natural if you stop to think about it...Really it is not much more than a underhand throwing motion...
For some the proper set up still produces a "ugly" but very effective and accurate stroke....for the lucky ones it produces a socially accepted "good looking" stroke that is also "effective"
That is why you won't see Nick Varner attempt to remove his "hitch" in the stroke.........or Scott Frost attempt to remove the roller coster movements....why would they need to...thier natual movements produce very very solid contact.
Last edited:
King Cueball
Registered
I hear alot of people saying you should have this or that stroke! not true at all, you go to any poolhall or watch the pros you wont see any two with the same stroke! from what ive seen and what i know any stroke can be made to work, giving you put in the time and practice! I dont care what any teacher or guru says there is no true right or wrong stroke!
All the above guys mentioned are all great players in their own rights therefore they all have a very strong set of fundemental skills. What makes the difference between these guys is a combination of Character, how they handle pressure and shot making.
Thats the likes of Efren, Earl, Alex etc will always rise to the top...the fundementals are just that and there are hundreds of players around the world who have them. However there are only a few who have that extra special something to bring them to the top time after time.
The snooker players are great, focused, smooth potting machines and will never miss an easy opportunity. Hendry/Davis or Osullivan would be threat in any pool event they entered...however in a tatical battle they would probably struggle alittle, without putting the time in to learn the game.
Thats the likes of Efren, Earl, Alex etc will always rise to the top...the fundementals are just that and there are hundreds of players around the world who have them. However there are only a few who have that extra special something to bring them to the top time after time.
The snooker players are great, focused, smooth potting machines and will never miss an easy opportunity. Hendry/Davis or Osullivan would be threat in any pool event they entered...however in a tatical battle they would probably struggle alittle, without putting the time in to learn the game.
