I think Efren's stroke and routine is the best that ever was. His stance/preshot is quite amazing. Exact same every single time.... and his feet placement are perfect. His stroke is also laser straight and perfect.
Just because someone loops their stroke does not make it incorrect or wrong. A lot of pros stroke that way and it's not because they never had a lesson --- it's because that works best for them. Anything that isn't a perfect pendulum does not equate to "poor fundamentals" as long as the stroke is straight and consistent. Poor fundamentals results in delivering the cue crookedly or on the wrong vector. Someone might "loop" to get really loose, more so than a pendulum or piston.
I always reject the notion that someone can stroke straight super consistently and have "poor fundamentals." Their fundamentals may not be for everyone, but they're perfect for them (and maybe some others).
That's why I think we should de-program ourselves on what "book fundamentals" are. I think good teachers can adapt with their students. See how they perform with different styles. For example, I've always cradled my cue with my middle and ring finger and I've been experimenting with Busty's finger configuration he demonstrated during his TAR interview. It definitely provides a different feel and a more fluid flow of cue movement. I'm going to keep experimenting and adjusting.
As Nicklaus told Sergio while walking down the fairway (when mic'd up), "If you're not adjusting, you're not improving."
I agree w/ that. Keep an open mind.
I have to agree with you on a whole lot of the above. Book Fundamentals are exactly that... They work great in a book but because we are all different in our vision and physiology they will not be the "best" answer for some players....
I do think that starting out having a solid lesson on fundamentals would be the proper path and I think that a player struggling or not progressing would do well to have a lesson.
Everything either evolves or dies including the progress in our games... I like the Niklaus quote I think I have to agree 100% with it even tho I have had to scrap some adjustments after going down the road to find out they in the end caused problems instead of improvement.....