Pro Players taller than 6 ft

B

birdy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Let's make a top of tall players.
Tall players are not so many in the circuit. If I'll ever became a pro player I'll be the tallest because I have 6'8. Do you think that the height is an advantage or not? When I look at the players I think not , maybe the pool table is too short for us!
 
Last edited:
birdy said:
Let's make a top of tall players.
Tall players are not so many in the circuit. If I'll ever became a pro player I'll be the tallest because I have 6'8. Do you think that the height is an advantage or not? When I look at the players I think not , maybe the pool table is too short for us!
Click to expand...
Just a few that come to mind to me are... John Horsfall, Eric Horjlifison, Denis Hatch is quite tall even though he dosen't look it because he is built pretty big. Actually other than that I really can't think of anyone right off the bat. Maybe the shorter.... the better, look at Alex P, he is about 5' tall.
 
Pool is those of those rare sports where being shorter is probably an advantage. If you look at the greatest players to ever play the game most of them are 5'10 and under.

I'm not sure why though, though my going theory is that shorter people are able to get into a proper, comfortable pool stance more easily. Plus they are very balanced.

The taller somebody is the more awkward they look playing pool. Of course this doesn't apply to everybody as there are plenty of great tall players.
 
birdy said:
Let's make a top of tall players.
Tall players are not so many in the circuit. If I'll ever became a pro player I'll be the tallest because I have 6'8. Do you think that the height is an advantage or not? When I look at the players I think not , maybe the pool table is too short for us!
Click to expand...

Billiard Player Dirk Snip of the Netherlands. He moves the score beans easily with his fingers when we normally use our cuesticks to do so.

Check out the article and photo from NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/18/nyregion/18pool.html?ex=1156132800&en=857718f1b27778b1&ei=5087

A giant with a childlike, cheerful soul :)

His solution to May Ray's La Fortune:
http://cuetable.com/C/?@1AOWR4BHXB3CNIU4VHXB1VOfE5VSvT1VbPJ1VOKj3VblE3VOWI1uAxU@
 
birdy said:
Let's make a top of tall players.
Tall players are not so many in the circuit. If I'll ever became a pro player I'll be the tallest because I have 6'8. Do you think that the height is an advantage or not? When I look at the players I think not , maybe the pool table is too short for us!
Click to expand...

Height is a big advantage in 9-ball because you can play shape in closer on shots down table plus mimimizing using the crutch. Also the longer armed individuals technically have more going on in their swing therefore then can do more but the other side of the coin, they are more prone to error and their fundamentals need more attention. When a taller persons weight is wrong on a shot as compared to a much shorter person the taller shooter's error will be more noticeable.
 
How did I forget Debbie Schjodt?

1-2Place.JPG
 
Advice one friend of mine gave another, "There is no shot on the table a short person can make that a tall person cannot. However, the opposite cannot be said." (or something along those lines)

I think, part of pool's beauty is that there is no defined body-preference. Tall, short, fat and thin all seem to play pretty sporty.
 
birdy said:
Let's make a top of tall players.
Tall players are not so many in the circuit. If I'll ever became a pro player I'll be the tallest because I have 6'8. Do you think that the height is an advantage or not? When I look at the players I think not , maybe the pool table is too short for us!
Click to expand...

Well, let's see..... hmmm.... EVERY PLAYER I PLAY! Out of the last few matches (IPT or Qualifier Challenge) I've played Mike Massey, Goran Mladovsic(??), Corey Harper, Michael Schmidt, Mark Maryo, Richard Broumpton and Michael Harris. I don't think any of these players are less than 6'4" or so. Playing IPT rules on the big tables, that is a huge advantage over a small player like me:mad: Being able to lean over the table and reach balls without touching anything is huge. Many times, smaller players are forced to use the bridge or other in order to keep from disturbing or touching balls. Each of these guys cleared at least half of the table easily.

Having said that...... my worst thrashing came from little Alex :D ...who can't be but 5' or so tall. Little sh*t. He's just too "flexible". I mean there isn't anything he can't reach by twisting or turning, or shooting behind his back. I mean, for goodness sake, he's a contortionist! Well, whatever.... it works for him.

For me....Forget about practicing 8-Ball for the next event..... I'm going to be playing "TWISTER"!!!;)

Tammie Jones
 
birdy said:
Let's make a top of tall players.
Tall players are not so many in the circuit. If I'll ever became a pro player I'll be the tallest because I have 6'8. Do you think that the height is an advantage or not? When I look at the players I think not , maybe the pool table is too short for us!
Click to expand...

Dave Bollman is probably the tallest pro I've seen. I think Dave stands somewhere around 6' 5".

I do think being too tall is a disadvantage, as is being too short. Probably the "optimum" height is centered around 5' 9". Of course, champions are found at all heights.

Fred
 
Icon of Sin said:
Neils Feijen???

Not sure, he looks pretty tall though.
Click to expand...

He's around 6' or an inch or two under.

Cornerman brought up a thought; maybe the best height is somewhere between 5'8 abd 6 ft. Afterall, the slate is just over 29" from the floor and the taller you are, the more you have to bend over. If I had to play on a table that was say, 8" lower, I think it might strain my back more.


Eric
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top