top pro that keeps is basic

[Lock N Load]

Agree with all the modern pros thus far listed, except that I haven't watched Allison Fisher enough to tell.

As to Earl Strickland, he doesn't play fancy stuff unnecessarily: he does it so well, and knows the risks of allowing his opponents to the table, he won't let go of it if he can help it, that's all. I'm a no-nonsense player myself, and am very aware of the fact that even the best safety is no guarantee that my opponent, whether thanks to expertise or luck, is going to give me ball in hand, or anything better than what I was last looking at before I handed the table over to him.

Also, back in Buddy Hall's era, there would be several more with a no-nonsense approach, as well as today. Basically, you're looking for players who excel at cue ball control - those who rarely get out of line make it look as if their game was "simple". It's not. It's worth admiring. The devil's in the details. There's nothing more difficult than to make it look easy.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti

Good post David,
You hit the nail on the head with Buddy Hall.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.

 

[michael4]

Totally Agree Allison does not do anything she she doesnt have to. Most players from a snooker background fall into this mindset but Allison is an extreme.

+1 for Allison !

I must also mention Shannelle, she makes the game looks easy, almost like I could beat her

 

[RunoutJJ]

SVB for sure. Nothing more than necessary on almost every shot I see him shoot.

Somebody mention Daz earlier. JMO but when I watched Daz at the Turning Stone his pattern play was very long and erratic. He didnt miss many shots and played jam-up safes but it seemed like it was taking a lot of effort to get out.

He was down 6-2 against Dave Fernandez (I think) and maybe a tremendous comeback to will 9-8!!! but like I said.. He played 8 ball like 9 ball :lol:

 

[PoolBum]

The game doesn't get any more simple than the way that I play it.

Miss, sit down. Miss, sit down. Miss, sit down.

 

[Chi2dxa]

Lee Van Cortez keeps it so simple I seldom see him even chalk.

 

[sjm]

You and I think very much alike. The first guy that came to my mind was Orcullo. He makes the game look so simple that it makes me feel like it shouldn't be hard to run out. Subsequently, this makes me feel like I suck for not getting out on some of these "easy" patterns like he is, lol.

Souqet works very hard to always have the best percentage shot. I appreciate his work ethic and pattern play, but it is hard to watch sometimes.

This is well said. Ralf works hard to evaluate the shots, but plays the right shots and angles with a similar consistency to Dennis.... but it comes so naturally to Orcullo that, as you suggest, it can really be humbling.

 

[incognito]

That's a great question.

IMO, Buddy Hall is a great example of keeping things as simple as possible and not getting any fancier than he needs to be.

Also, Johnny Archer comes to mind. I've watched a lot of his 9-ball matches, and he doesn't strike me as being real fancy either. He runs out in 9-ball and makes it look so easy that I've gotten really bored watching him, and I mean that as a complement just because he played such perfect patterns in the simplest ways possible that he had nothing but easy shots. He played nothing but easy shot after easy shot rack after rack. He doesn't appear to be doing anything flashy or fancy when he runs out.

what top pro would you say has the simplest game and does not make it look to fancy or complex. Opposite of earl i guess with his spinning the balls and going three rails for shape, etc?

 

[Mike Davis]

I'm surprised to only see Parica mentioned once so far. I agree with players mentioned more often like Buddy and Ralph but I think Jose was great at it as well. He said that was what made him more consistent than Efren, avoiding fancy shots.