Efren Reyes has always impressed me with how well-rounded he is...
Who is the all-time, best shape player?
- Thread starter Bob Callahan
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First time I saw Efren play, this was exactly what crossed my mind..."wow, this guy looks like he has that ball on a string or something!" True story.
Also, Nick Varner. He never had to shoot difficult shots.
i actually thought about mentioning the miz after i made my earlier post about efren. he moved the rock around so effortlessly
Jose Parica...especially about 25 years ago.
The Miz and Buddy are close. I love Efren, but my choice would go to Buddy.
Mosconi and Buddy Hall, but Allison Fisher doesn't get out of shape very often either.--Smitty
Never got to see him play, and I doubt anyone else in this forum did either, but I remember reading in a Ripley's Believe it or not that Ralph Greenleaf ran 125 balls where the cue ball was never more than 6 inches from the object ball. Sounds like a winner to me.
Every pool game is different, hardest of all for shape is 9 or 10 ball every ball is a key ball to the next, not many choices if you get off line you are in trouble unless you are the Magician (shot maker and position), followed by Buddy Hall also great. Straight pool has one key ball shot, and many choices to make to get their; therefore, shape is critical but not as critical as 9 or 10 ball.
Closest cueball I have ever seen consistently is Toby Sweet. He would get 18 inches from every ball. I started playing in 1991 which was after Toby's prime, but I got to watch Toby play for 10 years and nobody I have seen play including Buddy Hall and Efren has/had a closer cueball. If you haven't seen Toby play than you don't know what you missed.
P.S. His break was horrible though. I know what I witnessed in the early 90's which I said was past his prime. Toby was the only in the late 80's in the south to beat a young C.J. Wiley when he came through with strongarm John. If Toby could have had a designated breaker none of those guys would beat him.
P.S. His break was horrible though. I know what I witnessed in the early 90's which I said was past his prime. Toby was the only in the late 80's in the south to beat a young C.J. Wiley when he came through with strongarm John. If Toby could have had a designated breaker none of those guys would beat him.
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Great position is only part of it. Quite often you come to the table and face a difficult shot. If you can't shoot your way out of trouble, you might rely on perfect position too much. Making the right decision at the right time, is what these pros do best. Low percentage trick shots may look spectacular, but they will help you stay on the losing side.
I can't argue with Buddy Hall. But I'm surprised no one has mentioned Mike Segal or Jim Rempe. Both outstanding position players.
I think that was probably an exaggeration.
A story I believe was told by Babe Cranfield about Greenleaf. It was the greatest shooting Cranfield had ever seen. In a run of 60 at straight pool, Greenleaf had to take the cue ball to the cushion only two times.