Top 10 GREATEST SAFETIES of All Time by EFREN REYES

[dr_dave]

FYI, I just posted a new video that analyzes the top 10 best safeties by the Greatest of All Time (GOAT): Efren Bata “The Magician” Reyes. These safeties are quite advanced and really show off Efren’s kicking, carom, and CB control skills. Check it out:

List of Shots with [YouTube timestamp links]:
- Intro [0:00]
1. long two-rail kick and split against Karl Boyes [0:27]
2. creative rail-first thin-hit hide against Naoyuki Oi [2:05]
3. long, two-rail finesse safety against John Salazar [3:56]
4. after-collision massé hide with distance against Denis Grabe [5:54]
5. two-rail thin-hit hide against Johnny Archer [7:14]
6. soft two-rail kick bury against Li Hewen and Siming Chen [8:23]
7. carom off two rails for hide against Denis Grabe [9:44]
8. long two-rail thin-hit hide against Nick Varner [11:07]
9. two-rail kick thin-hit hide with distance against Steve Davis [11:52]
10. long two-rail kick and hide against Billy Thorpe [13:01]
BONUS: one-rail back-cut hide against Mika Immonen [13:55]
- Wrap Up [16:02]
---- shot collage [16:46]

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

If you want full context for any of the shots, here are links to all the source match videos:

1. long two-rail kick and split against Karl Boyes [0:27]: https://youtu.be/X_blb8UWlH0?t=1448
2. creative rail-first thin-hit hide against Naoyuki Oi [2:05]: https://youtu.be/pMdKZ-707LU?t=3170
3. long, two-rail finesse safety against John Salazar [3:56]: https://youtu.be/tqtcR1cDtxs?t=4420
4. after-collision massé hide with distance against Denis Grabe [5:54]: https://youtu.be/HLXITJgB770?t=2167
5. two-rail thin-hit hide against Johnny Archer [7:14]: https://youtu.be/gFf-5M8g88E?t=9
6. soft two-rail kick bury against Li Hewen and Siming Chen [8:23]: https://youtu.be/gvn_soHQ9Xw?t=5749
7. carom off two rails for hide against Denis Grabe [9:44]: https://youtu.be/HLXITJgB770?t=4954
8. long two-rail thin-hit hide against Nick Varner [11:07]: https://youtu.be/74r8eEpeKBY?t=1235
9. two-rail kick thin-hit hide with distance against Steve Davis [11:52]: https://youtu.be/p-M6B9OabFI?t=2209
10. long two-rail kick and hide against Billy Thorpe [13:01]: https://youtu.be/tDk9a3Bpf7o?t=851
BONUS: one-rail back-cut hide against Mika Immonen [13:55]: https://youtu.be/250Xjg2ot-U?t=546

 

[alstl]

I read somewhere Efren was so good in his youth he couldn't get anybody to play him and he switched to 3 cushion for a few years. If true that would help explain his kicking knowledge.

 

[dr_dave]

FYI, I just posted a new video that analyzes the top 10 best safeties by the Greatest of All Time (GOAT): Efren Bata “The Magician” Reyes. These safeties are quite advanced and really show off Efren’s kicking, carom, and CB control skills. Check it out:

Top 10 GREATEST SAFETIES of All Time by EFREN REYES

Here's the direct YouTube video link.​

List of Shots with [YouTube timestamp links]:
- Intro [0:00]
1. long two-rail kick and split against Karl Boyes [0:27]
2. creative rail-first thin-hit hide against Naoyuki Oi [2:05]
3. long, two-rail finesse safety against John Salazar [3:56]
4. after-collision massé hide with distance against Denis Grabe [5:54]
5. two-rail thin-hit hide against Johnny Archer [7:14]
6. soft two-rail kick bury against Li Hewen and Siming Chen [8:23]
7. carom off two rails for hide against Denis Grabe [9:44]
8. long two-rail thin-hit hide against Nick Varner [11:07]
9. two-rail kick thin-hit hide with distance against Steve Davis [11:52]
10. long two-rail kick and hide against Billy Thorpe [13:01]
BONUS: one-rail back-cut hide against Mika Immonen [13:55]
- Wrap Up [16:02]
---- shot collage [16:46]

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy,
Dave

Please give me some input and feedback on this video. I worked really long and hard on this one and I expected it to be well received, but it is not getting near as many views on YouTube as some of my other more-recent videos. Why do you guys think this might be the case? For example, my recent Top 10 MOST FAMOUS SHOTS of All Time video got views at almost three-times the initial rate of this new video. Is it because people think safety shots are boring? Are people getting tired of watching Efren videos? Do people not like that I try to recreate and analyze pro shots? What else do you think might be turning people off?

Thank you in advance for your input,
Dave

 

[Bob Jewett]

Lots of good info here. I think this video is most useful for intermediate players who are starting to build up their safety games. Most viewers probably aren't there yet. The intermediate student could probably duplicate all of the shots eventually and would learn good things in the process. None of the shots requires great power or spin.

 

[jokrswylde]

Please give me some input and feedback on this video. I worked really long and hard on this one and I expected it to be well received, but it is not getting near as many views on YouTube as some of my other more-recent videos. Why do you guys think this might be the case? For example, my recent Top 10 MOST FAMOUS SHOTS of All Time video got views at almost three-times the initial rate of this new video. Is it because people think safety shots are boring? Are people getting tired of watching Efren videos? Do people not like that I try to recreate and analyze pro shots? What else do you think might be turning people off?

Thank you in advance for your input,
Dave

I appreciate your hard work, and the explanation following the clip. Safeties are only a small part of most people's game. Ask a bar banger to play a safety and he likely to tell you that "safeties aren't aloud around here!"

It might help to give a brief synopsis of the match including who won and how the safety played into the outcome. Again, great work.

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

dr_dave,

Just wondering here. These are some pretty killer safeties. Now I know that Efren is a legend and everything, but.......do you suspect all of these ended up EXACTLY how he intended them? Or perhaps some good fortune might be in play here a little bit?

r/DCP

 

[dr_dave]

Lots of good info here.

Thanks Bob.

I think this video is most useful for intermediate players who are starting to build up their safety games. Most viewers probably aren't there yet. The intermediate student could probably duplicate all of the shots eventually and would learn good things in the process. None of the shots requires great power or spin.

Agreed. These shots are far too advanced for many intermediate players; but they are fun to watch and to try, and there is a lot to learn in the process.

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

I appreciate your hard work, and the explanation following the clip.

Thank you.

Safeties are only a small part of most people's game. Ask a bar banger to play a safety and he likely to tell you that "safeties aren't aloud around here!"

Agreed. As a result, many beginner players probably have little interest in such a video.

It might help to give a brief synopsis of the match including who won and how the safety played into the outcome. Again, great work.

I thought about giving more info about the players and the matches, but the video was already quite long already.

Also, since I provide links to the original match videos with timestamps pointing to the shots, anybody interested to see the full context or learn more can easily click on the links in the YouTube video description.

Thanks for the input,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Just wondering here. These are some pretty killer safeties. Now I know that Efren is a legend and everything, but.......do you suspect all of these ended up EXACTLY how he intended them? Or perhaps some good fortune might be in play here a little bit?

You would think so, but if you watch the original match video clips linked in the YouTube video description, you will see that Efren clearly aimed and showed where he wanted balls to go on many (if not most) of these shots. They were not flukes. He obviously intended to do what he did on many (if not most) of these shots. That makes them even more impressive.

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Please give me some input and feedback on this video. I worked really long and hard on this one and I expected it to be well received, but it is not getting near as many views on YouTube as some of my other more-recent videos. Why do you guys think this might be the case? For example, my recent Top 10 MOST FAMOUS SHOTS of All Time video got views at almost three-times the initial rate of this new video. Is it because people think safety shots are boring? Are people getting tired of watching Efren videos? Do people not like that I try to recreate and analyze pro shots? What else do you think might be turning people off?

Thank you in advance for your input,
Dave

Anybody else have any theories for why fewer people are watching this video compared to others?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[pwd72s]

Sorry I just got here. Dr. Dave, I've enjoyed every video you've posted. Hopefully I learn something with every one.
They sure let me know how little I know.

 

[dr_dave]

Sorry I just got here. Dr. Dave, I've enjoyed every video you've posted.

I'm glad to hear it.

Hopefully I learn something with every one.
They sure let me know how little I know.

Please let me know if you have any feedback on this one. Also please let me know if you have any theories as to why it isn't being watched by as many people as my recent videos.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[boogieman]

Great video. I agree, safety isn't the most exciting thing for most players to look up.

Did this release during Mosconi Cup? Perhaps the sweaters were watching that instead, or burnout from watching the cup? Did you release it on a different day or time of day? Youtube might have just messed with their algorithm also.

 

[alstl]

Please give me some input and feedback on this video. I worked really long and hard on this one and I expected it to be well received, but it is not getting near as many views on YouTube as some of my other more-recent videos. Why do you guys think this might be the case? For example, my recent Top 10 MOST FAMOUS SHOTS of All Time video got views at almost three-times the initial rate of this new video. Is it because people think safety shots are boring? Are people getting tired of watching Efren videos? Do people not like that I try to recreate and analyze pro shots? What else do you think might be turning people off?

Thank you in advance for your input,
Dave

It's a great video. I heard Earl say he used to just kick hard to hit the ball until he played Efren and he saw how Efren was kicking to hit a side of the ball at a certain speed. One reason Earl was/is such a great player is he is willing to learn an improve.

 

[dr_dave]

Great video. I agree, safety isn't the most exciting thing for most players to look up.

Did this release during Mosconi Cup? Perhaps the sweaters were watching that instead, or burnout from watching the cup? Did you release it on a different day or time of day? Youtube might have just messed with their algorithm also.

It was posted yesterday morning. Good point of possible post-Mosconi-Cup burn-out.

Thanks for the input.

 

[dr_dave]

It's a great video.

Thanks.

I heard Earl say he used to just kick hard to hit the ball until he played Efren and he saw how Efren was kicking to hit a side of the ball at a certain speed. One reason Earl was/is such a great player is he is willing to learn an improve.

We have all learned from Efren, Earl included.