Which top players have a better than other top players stroke?

nfuids

nfuids

eh?
Silver Member
Hi guys,

I've been watching a lot of top players matches lately, trying to improve my pattern play you know.. and I discovered John Morra, from Canada and I found he had a really great, smooth stroke, stays down longer than most..

I was wondering which top players do you consider that have the best stroke? I mean I'm sure they all have a good descent stroke, but some players must stand out a little? Who would they be?

Regards,
Mart
 
nfuids said:
Hi guys,

I've been watching a lot of top players matches lately, trying to improve my pattern play you know.. and I discovered John Morra, from Canada and I found he had a really great, smooth stroke, stays down longer than most..

I was wondering which top players do you consider that have the best stroke? I mean I'm sure they all have a good descent stroke, but some players must stand out a little? Who would they be?

Regards,
Mart
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Do you maybe mean "mechanics", or stroke? Bustamante has a good stroke but not good mechanics for example. Efren tends to hop up on his shots a lot more now also, but for "stroke", his is tough to beat.

The top players that I suggest new players watch to emulate would probably be Buddy Hall, Nick Varner and probably Shane. They all have very good fundamentals, and you can see the clear pause that Shane has before his final stoke which is very easy to point out to someone.

As far as just having a powerful hit, Larry Nevel is up there, I am not sure who else is in his class, but his name is always brought up for a strong stroke example.
 
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nfuids said:
Hi guys,

I've been watching a lot of top players matches lately, trying to improve my pattern play you know.. and I discovered John Morra, from Canada and I found he had a really great, smooth stroke, stays down longer than most..

I was wondering which top players do you consider that have the best stroke? I mean I'm sure they all have a good descent stroke, but some players must stand out a little? Who would they be?

Regards,
Mart
Click to expand...

I dont think his style would work for most people. Similar to golf, you don't want to stand over the ball for too long. I know i wouldn't be able to address the ball for as long as he does without starting to second guess.

Check out Evgeny Stalev.

edit. here's another of Stalev
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pq8v1ZDpDA&feature=youtu.be
 
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Shane, Earl, Efren, Busty, Immonen, Appleton. These are the players I try to emulate when I play, with the exception of Busty of course. I'll throw in Scott Frost and Shaw in there cause they're lefties like me.
 
Ya got me

I have spent many hours watching world class players. If I could have any stroke out there I would like to be able to stroke a ball like the great Efren Reyes or Earl Strickland. Efren in his prime could put the cue ball on a dime. Earl's stroke is so powerful, he can really move the cue ball and makes it look easy. SVB seems to have a stroke that works for any game. Those 3 players appear to have a different style of stroke.

The top players all have their own unique stroke and style and it works for them. Like many things, the elite of a sport turn their technique into a work of art.

How do you judge a stroke, is it the cue ball appearing to effortlessly move around the table resulting in great position? I'm still sorting it out.
 
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Chris Melling's stroke is always adhered to when on TV by the commentators.
Would have to agree - it's like a ROLLS ROYCE :thumbup:
 
Ak Guy said:
I have spent many hours watching world class players. If I could have any stroke out there I would like to be able to stroke a ball like the great Efren Reyes or Earl Strickland. Efren in his prime could put the cue ball on a dime. Earl's stroke is so powerful, he can really move the cue ball and makes it look easy. SVB seems to have a stroke that works for any game. Those 3 players appear to have a different style of stroke.

The top players all have their own unique stroke and style and it works for them. Like many things, the elite of a sport turn their technique into a work of art.

How do you judge a stroke, is it the cue ball appearing to effortlessly move around the table resulting in great position? I'm still sorting it out.
Click to expand...

That is the whole argument and why the game and equipment changes. Nobody has the same stroke, patterns, or game plans...unless it is a no-brainer layout. "YOUR" shot dictates the stroke required for the pattern that YOU chose on the equipment you are playing with on the table you are playing on.

The key to their games is that they were able to master shots from finesse to power shots and maintain consistency while adjusting their stroke to accommodate their shots. Earl and Efren are not one-trick ponies and neither is Shane, but I think some of today's top players would struggle "stroke-wise" if they had to play under "old school" conditions like Earl and Efren learned to play on.

A lot of the really "GREAT" strokes remain to be seen, because safety play and short races keep the player "fearful" of losing the cue ball.

Aloha.
 
Mizerak probably had the best combination of beautiful stroke/powerful stroke I ever saw.
 
Mizerak probably had the best combination of beautiful stroke/powerful stroke I ever saw.<br/>

I have to agree with PoolBum on this one. I heard Nick Varner say once in an interview that if he could steal someone's stroke it would be Steve Mizerak.
 
PoolBum said:
Mizerak probably had the best combination of beautiful stroke/powerful stroke I ever saw.
Click to expand...

I told Buddy once that I even tell snooker players to watch his stroke.....
...I felt it was the best and good for any billiard game.
Buddy said, "Don't forget the Miz...it's my favorite."

I think Alex has the best stroke of the modern players...
...most players do more than what is needed.
 
Steve Mizerak had one of the best I've ever seen

KeithS66 said:
Mizerak probably had the best combination of beautiful stroke/powerful stroke I ever saw.<br/>

I have to agree with PoolBum on this one. I heard Nick Varner say once in an interview that if he could steal someone's stroke it would be Steve Mizerak.
Click to expand...

Yes, Steve Mizerak had one of the best I've ever seen. Here's a link to one of our matches that was discussed a couple of years ago... http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=310099 ...does anyone have this match on DVD? I'd be interested in it if so, or maybe it can be posted on YouTube....it's an "oldie," but a goodie.
 
Of modern pool players, this man for pure, consistent, and deadly efficiency. This one is actually him jumping up on the shot. Lol.
 

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