The Best Stroke

[Voodoo Daddy]

But nobody...and I mean NOBODY...stroked it like The Miz could stroke it.

Nobody!

TAP, TAP, TAP...Larry Nevel has the power end nutted up but the control part can be debated. For the control end Corey has to get the nod from me.

 

[Ktown D]

Larry can do things with a ball that I don't believe any other top level player can do. He has the most powerful stroke I think I have ever seen.
He is effortless in his delivery and the cueball just dances. I think Corey is probably the closest to him and when I watch either of them I realize just how bad I actually stroke the ball.

 

[Sensation]

What impresses me is at what point Corey can put big time juice on the ball without looking like he's able to break them REAL hard. weird

I like Alex Pagulayan, Earl, Ralf..

 

[thoffen]

cubc,

When you have a little time, watch this video of Souquet running 120 and out on Efren Reyes. Tons of natural talent, and one of the purest strokes you will ever see!

Ralf Souquet Vs Efren Reyes - 120 & out

I most definitely agree with Ralf. His stroke is not stiff and robotic, just his approach. His stroke is beautiful, simple, capable and consistent.

David, are you back in FL or is your profile not up to date?

 

[instroke75]

huh?

Allen Hopkins, without a doubt.

he's a great player. no doubt about that but his stroke leaves alot to be desired!poke,poke,poke
jeremy

 

[jay helfert]

Today, I'll go with Ralf Souquet.....but nobody has ever had a stroke like Mizerak, and I think it unlikely we'll see a better one any time soon.

I have to go along with my man Stu here. Steve had the best stroke (and most powerful) of anyone I ever saw.

Present day, it would have been Earl, up until a few years ago. He could do more with that Cue ball and control it better than anyone else.

Among the women, I like Jasmin's stroke, positively MANLY.

 

[worriedbeef]

the miz had a great great stroke, but i don't think he had that smoothness that buddy did/does. i havent seen a hell of a lot of miz footage though, so maybe i missed something.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

"Stroke" is such an odd word to define. IMO, it covers pocketing and ability to impart a large amount of spin (not necessarily combined). With that said, the name that quickly comes to mind is Mika Immonen. I'll admit that my opinion is somewhat biased. I've played him several times and seen him kick into high gear. When he's on, he makes pool look like Nintendo.

 

[mikev_wvufan]

Pelinga gets my vote

 

[the_saint_siwa]

Powerful: Larry Nevel!!! Enough said.

 

[Pete]

Buddy
Earl
Cory
Larry

 

[Snapshot9]

Strokes

Earl has a pretty stroke, Django has a nice stroke, Gabe has a nice stroke.

But, the one that sticks in my mind was Greg 'Big Train' Stevens. It was similiar to Earl's, but even more finesse, even his power shots were poetry in motion.

 

[Blackjack]

I most definitely agree with Ralf. His stroke is not stiff and robotic, just his approach. His stroke is beautiful, simple, capable and consistent.

David, are you back in FL or is your profile not up to date?

Todd,
I have been back in Florida since late April. I've been trying to make it out there more often, but since I've been back I have only been out that way once. I might go out there in a few weeks - I'll send you a PM and see if we can shoot some.

Back on topic...

MIKE MASSEY

 

[poolchic]

IMO Corey Deuel currently. Followed closely by a still developing Wu Chia Ching.

In years gone by I'd tip my hat to Strickland. When he gets in the zone his stroke is a thing of beauty. Lately he never seems to get in the zone.

Ditto. Earl has the most natural and fluent stroke out there.

 

[henho]

Corey, Mika, Ginky.


Gabe? I can't stand the way he cocks his wrist in!

 

[IRUNRAKS]

Mike Massey
Larry Nevel
Buddy Hall
Mike Thompson
Corey Deuel

 

[thebighurt]

The best and purest strokes ever belong to Buddy And The Miz. Buddy does this shot where he puts an object ball frozen to the middle diamond on the side rail and than he freezes the cueball to the other middle diamond on the same side of the table past the side pocket. Both balls frozen. he fires the ball in and draws straight back and scratches hugging the rail the whole time. Myself and john Ditoro set this up on a Fridat night at melbourne Billiards before a Florida Tour. Buddy took a house cue off the wall and made it 3 times in a row. Everybody else tried it and failed miserably. John and I had seen Buddy make this before so that is why we set it up. I was the one freezing the balls to the rails. try this shot about 100 times... and than when your tired of looking like an idiot you will realize how pure Buddy hits the balls. Corey tried this for hours and left frustrated and 0 for. I have set this up for alot of pros and they cannot do it.

 

[Klopek]

0000000000

 

[whitey2]

I'm not sure exactly how one would define the "best" stroke. But as far as great strokes, I
second Mike Massey, and must mention Kim Davenport. I recently watched some older
ESPN matches, and at times I could not believe how steady Kim kept his upper arm when
he was warmup stroking. I mean, I could see absolutely no movement at all.

And Mike Massey's power draws always impressed me.

 

[PKM]

I have to put Allison Fisher in there, you can really see her SPF in action. She might not have the power of some of these others, but I think it was a match against Karen Corr that was recently televised, she made a beautiful long draw shot and made it look effortless.