Top 5 pool players ever

[straightline]

No one suggested Efren wasn't good. He was great. But he definitely never "dominated 9 ball". That's revisionist history. Earl dominated 9 ball while Efren was on the circuit.

Efren could do the pool and more of it. mmMMaaaybe couldn't drive the ball. Deliberate or otherwise, seemed to matter not a whole lot. Bet he could master the new breaks though. Right up his alley.

 

[jay helfert]

I'm not saying you or Jay are lying, but you weren't there for all the action with all the players. And pool players themselves have a tendency to exaggerate quite a bit. My dad used to play Bobby Hunter and many other players and my uncle was one of Marky Beilfis' sparring partners in 14.1. I don't know as much as you, but I was raised around pool. Actually the poster Curlys Cues taught me much about the game (my dad used to say he wouldn't teach me until I learned how to make shots).
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Appreciate you old heads and your knowledge, I'm sure you have great stories.

I ran around with Bobby when he came to Cali. I also backed him in a few spots (he won). We remain close friends to this day. In the golden era of pool here in America (1960's and 70's) there was action everywhere! There were good players all over the Midwest, the South and the Northeast. It was more spotty heading west, but still good action in Denver, Phoenix, Vegas and all over the West Coast. I mostly hit the best spots and only occasionally stopped in the smaller, less well known rooms. But you could find a game (maybe only $5 9-Ball or $20 One Pocket) almost anywhere. You just had to stop when you saw a Billiards sign and ask! I never wasted time with the hustle, I wanted to play and move on.

 

[jay helfert]

No one suggested Efren wasn't good. He was great. But he definitely never "dominated 9 ball". That's revisionist history. Earl dominated 9 ball while Efren was on the circuit.

Efren did more with the cue ball using his soft stroke then anyone I ever saw. Probably the most knowlegeable pool player of them all.

 

[9ballglue]

I ran around with Bobby when he came to Cali. I also backed him in a few spots (he won). We remain close friends to this day. In the golden era of pool here in America (1960's and 70's) there was action everywhere! There were good players all over the Midwest, the South and the Northeast. It was more spotty heading west, but still good action in Denver, Phoenix, Vegas and all over the West Coast. I mostly hit the best spots and only occasionally stopped in the smaller, less well known rooms. But you could find a game (maybe only $5 9-Ball or $20 One Pocket) almost anywhere. You just had to stop when you saw a Billiards sign and ask! I never wasted time with the hustle, I wanted to play and move on.

Bobby would remember the OBrien boys if you asked him- Mike and Rich. One local told me he watched my dad and Hunter play all night until the morning and break even shortly before Hunter left town. In West Michigan I still run into an occasional Bobby Hunter cue. I am trying to talk Marky Beilfis' son into playing in a team tournament next month (assuming you remember the short lived career of Marky). We still have a decent pool scene over here you can find a game without much effort.

 

[9ballglue]

Efren did more with the cue ball using his soft stroke then anyone I ever saw. Probably the most knowlegeable pool player of them all.

I wouldn't doubt that. He could kill the cue in ways that don't even make sense to me. Obviously he was the first one to intentionally kick everything.

 

[ribdoner]

I’m doing pretty good thx. My back still hurts, but no pills for the last 14-15 years. It hurts but it’s tolerable. The good news is the other discs above the surgeries I had are all very healthy. It was 50/50 it would stay ok or more degenerative disc disease. Lucky is it’s not there and my discs are good.

Lots of other stuff going on. I’ll make a post about that very soon. Which is why I popped up here. Said I’d be back. I’ll never disappear-not my style.

My very best
Fatboy

Looking forward to your update, stay safe in your travels

 

[jay helfert]

Bobby would remember the OBrien boys if you asked him- Mike and Rich. One local told me he watched my dad and Hunter play all night until the morning and break even shortly before Hunter left town. In West Michigan I still run into an occasional Bobby Hunter cue. I am trying to talk Marky Beilfis' son into playing in a team tournament next month (assuming you remember the short lived career of Marky). We still have a decent pool scene over here you can find a game without much effort.

I'm sure of all that. Bob is nearby in Chicago so it not's too hard to get a custom cue from him if you're willing to wait a year or so. He continues to make great playing cues at reasonable prices. Bobby is not the kind to blow his own horn, but I will! If they were to make a list of the top ten cuemakers today, he would be on my list.

Of course I knew about Mark Beilfuss, on his way to fame and fortune at a young age and then he just dropped off the map.