Was the Z-SHOT Efren’s Best Option?

dr_dave

dr_dave

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FYI, I just posted a new video that demonstrates alternative options for the famous two-rail-kick Z shot executed by Efren "Bata" "The Magician" Reyes in one of the greatest matches of all time against Earl "The Pearl" Strickland. Check it out:


Contents (with timestamp links):
0:00 - Intro
1:37 - Bending Kick
3:34 - Massé Kick
6:27 - Kick Off End Rail
7:14 - Two-Rail Kick
8:33 - Jump Shot
9:48 - Intentional Foul
11:09 - Wrap Up

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

Enjoy!

PS: Here are my previous videos featuring the Z-shot:


 
dr_dave said:
FYI, I just posted a new video that demonstrates alternative options for the famous two-rail-kick Z shot executed by Efren "Bata" "The Magician" Reyes in one of the greatest matches of all time against Earl "The Pearl" Strickland. Check it out:


Contents (with timestamp links):
0:00 - Intro
1:37 - Bending Kick
3:34 - Massé Kick
6:27 - Kick Off End Rail
7:14 - Two-Rail Kick
8:33 - Jump Shot
9:48 - Intentional Foul
11:09 - Wrap Up
Click to expand...

After watching the video (and ideally, after actually trying out all the shots), which option do you think would be the best choice for you?

Also, which option do you think would have been be the best choice for Efren (assuming less luck were involved)? Obviously, he made the right choice at that moment because he made the shot and won the game and match; but as he admitted himself, he didn't expect to pocket that ball and was just hoping to get a hit. I think he really meant "I Got Lucky" this time. (I know, the better you are, the luckier you get.)

I look forward to seeing what you guys think.
 
Thanks DrDave for celebrating Effren Reyes.

instead of hoping for a hit after your video, I can analyze for shots, then pick best option.

its a good thought process, much better than saying i can only see one shot.

what is great about the video is players
can start pre visualizing more shot varieties.

Suggestion
add an intro graphic with arrows showing the shots in the beginning this way it can preview the material.
 
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justnum said:
Thanks DrDave for celebrating Effren Reyes.

instead of hoping for a hit after your video, I can analyze for shots, then pick best option.

its a good thought process, much better than saying i can only see one shot.

what is great about the video is players
can start pre visualizing more shot varieties.
Click to expand...
One needs to be relatively proficient to undertake a useful consideration, when it comes to matters such as this.

A hack will consider options that aren't available, a negative-value-added activity.
 
I probably would have tried the one-railer bending kick - the first alternative in the video - with the hope of hitting the 5 thin and sending the CB back up table. Making the ball probably wouldn't even be a thought if I was presented with this.

I remember Rempe not liking Efren's approach before he pulled the trigger on history. Of course, we all know how it turned out and Jimmy sang his praises afterward, but I can't remember what Rempe recommended though. I'll have to rewatch the shot to see if Jim recommended something different. Rempe is one of my favorite players, in large part because he always seemed to play the right shot.
 
justnum said:
Thanks DrDave for celebrating Effren Reyes.

instead of hoping for a hit after your video, I can analyze for shots, then pick best option.

its a good thought process, much better than saying i can only see one shot.

what is great about the video is players
can start pre visualizing more shot varieties.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you liked it and found it of value.


justnum said:
Suggestion
add an intro graphic with arrows showing the shots in the beginning this way it can preview the material.
Click to expand...

I do have the ball layout for the shot on my title screen, and I do show the shot at the 0:15 second point.

But are you suggesting I show a fast montage of all the important shots in the video at the beginning? I usually do this at the end of my videos, but a condensed version at the beginning might be good also.

Thanks.
 
Black-Balled said:
Hard to argue results and I believe the approach path of option Z results in the highest probability of making the ball, being the closest to parallel to the end rail...
Click to expand...

I agree the Z-shot brings the CB into the end rail at an advantageous angle, but the angle doesn't help much if you totally miss the ball (which is what would happen to most players on a long unnatural Z-shot like this that requires sidespin on the 1st rail to get the angle right).
 
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JusticeNJ said:
I probably would have tried the one-railer bending kick - the first alternative in the video
Click to expand...

I agree. That's what I say at the end of the video, based on my experience with all the shots.

JusticeNJ said:
with the hope of hitting the 5 thin and sending the CB back up table.
Click to expand...

Would you prefer to thin it on the left (near side) or the right (far) side?
 
dr_dave said:
I agree. That's what I say at the end of the video, based on my experience with all the shots.



Would you prefer to thin it on the left (near side) or the right (far) side?
Click to expand...
If I had my druthers, the far side. Seems like its less likely to push the 5 in front of that corner pocket. But I think that's a tougher hit, so I'd probably play the near side - bigger ball to hit.

I quickly rewatched the shot thanks to Pat Fleming, who has graciously uploaded the full match to YouTube, and it seems like Rempe agreed with the one railer on the short side, hitting it thin, and trying to get the CB back up table. He recommended that after first saying the 7 blocked the kick. Incardona seemed to think kicking off the top rail was the only shot available (that would be my dead last option).

Edit: For clarity, if stepped to the table with this, I would expect to lose.
 
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JusticeNJ said:
I quickly rewatched the shot thanks to Pat Fleming, who has graciously uploaded the full match to YouTube, and it seems like Rempe agreed with the one railer on the short side, hitting it thin, and trying to get the CB back up table. He recommended that after first saying the 7 blocked the kick. Incardona seemed to think kicking off the top rail was the only shot available (that would be my dead last option).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the report.

JusticeNJ said:
Edit: For clarity, if stepped to the table with this, I would expect to lose.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I think this would be the case even for the greatest players in the world (assuming they didn't get lucky like Efren did ... I know, the better you are, the luckier you get).
 
dr_dave said:
After watching the video (and ideally, after actually trying out all the shots), which option do you think would be the best choice for you?

Also, which option do you think would have been be the best choice for Efren (assuming less luck were involved)? Obviously, he made the right choice at that moment because he made the shot and won the game and match; but as he admitted himself, he didn't expect to pocket that ball and was just hoping to get a hit. I think he really meant "I Got Lucky" this time. (I know, the better you are, the luckier you get.)

I look forward to seeing what you guys think.
Click to expand...

So great video DR. Dave.

I think Efrens played his best option, he went for the win. Crushing the cushion to kick was better once you knew it would work (Efren probably could not have known that). Masse shots do not give you a chance to pocket the object ball. As for jumping once again that would not have much offensive up side.

Great video!
 
Welder84 said:
I think Efrens played his best option, he went for the win.
Click to expand...

According to interviews with Efren (FYI, I have excerpts in my previous video: GREATEST POOL MATCH of All Time – Reyes vs. Strickland – with the Famous Z-Shot), he was just trying to get a hit on the ball and thought he got lucky. Although, I agree that the Z-shot obviously has the low-percentage up-side of pocketing the ball.


Welder84 said:
Masse shots do not give you a chance to pocket the object ball. As for jumping once again that would not have much offensive up side.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Only the first option I showed (the bending kick) offers decent control for most players, IMO.


Welder84 said:
Great video!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.
 
dr_dave said:
I'm glad you liked it and found it of value.




I do have the ball layout for the shot on my title screen, and I do show the shot at the 0:15 second point.

But are you suggesting I show a fast montage of all the important shots in the video at the beginning? I usually do this at the end of my videos, but a condensed version at the beginning might be good also.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Here DrDave I just drew the rough guidelines.

The analysis in one image can be helpful.

Technically its a reverse Z shot

ShotOptions.png
 
I think it comes down to the Z-kick or the bending kick. Each offers a chance to pocket the ball. The bending kick offers just a little more separation on a miss as the five is approached at a slightly higher speed, but both shots offer a defensive possibility. Still, as the bending kick involves a tricky swerve to judge on the way to the object ball, I think it's the harder of the two to judge with respect to making the ball, even ignoring that the cue ball approaches the five at a steeper angle, which is another reason it's less likely to go in.

Of course, if the Z-kick is a cue ball path you have some command of, quite possibly because you have a three cushion background, I'd rate these choice as about equal. Still, if Efren's supposed statement that he had only hoped for a good hit is taken at face value, I'd say he didn't maximize his chance of a good hit with the Z-kick. On this occasion, I sense his statement shouldn't be taken at face value.

For most players, I think the bending kick is more likely to produce a good result. For Efren, I'd say these two choices were equals.
 
I agree about 100% of your choices there Dave. I personally would tried that draw shot bend. I have shoot those shots in countless times in on several matches. They are easy to learn and fun to practice too. They are especially good when OB is almost in rail. Big target and 2 different target areas to make a ball and if you get them close, you can get counter safe easily.
 
I like the one rail kick with draw.
aesthetically, I lIke Efren’s way.....he knows his way on a carom table.

thanx for what you do, Doc
 
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