ghost ball said:
The only problem with that is that there would have to be standardized playing conditions first. Same pockets, same cloth, same rails etc.
Who is the greatest straight pool player alive?
- Thread starter Earl Strickland
- Start date
The only problem with that is that there would have to be standardized playing conditions first. Same pockets, same cloth, same rails etc.
Earl Strickland said:
In straight pool the side pockets are also a big issue. Some shots cannot be made at all in a 4 1/2 inch side that are hangers in a 5" side. Sometimes with the limited avialability of shots after a break out, this makes a big difference. Also the small sides will also just bounce a ball back at you from a steep angle.
Chris
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Earl Strickland said:
I don't know who the best straight pool player is today, but I would venture to say that if it were to be played regularly today in big money tournaments, you would see a whole slew of super talented young players playing the best straight pool the world has ever seen. I would like to see the Taiwanese players take up the game. I think Fong Pang Chao would run balls for a week without missing on a table with 5" pockets.
Chris
MikeJanis said:
He has run 100+ balls on the triple shimmed table at NFB on many occasions. in late 2003 him and I were supposed to play in NY straight pool tournament (cancelled due to lack of entrences) and I witnessed him run 80+ balls 3 times and 100+ balls run twice on a triple shimmed table (pockets were 4 1/8) and it was at a nice pace.
Voodoo Daddy
One Pocket 101
DDKoop said:
Good shot calling Zuglan Koop and no mention of Varner either, Jose Garcia is a great choice too. There is this French player named Stephan Cohen that has serious 14.1 game I would add to any list.
I would have to say that there is enough difference in strategy and shot selection, that a proficiency in 9 ball or 8 ball alone wouldn't dictate who would come out on top. Just as it doesn't give us insight on who can or can't play one pocket. No matter what the game is, moving whitey is what it's all about.
While a nine-baller can re-locate the cueball well enough when he knows what ball is next, he may not have the foresight to plan out clusters and combos needed to build a competitive 14.1 game.
Note: in 9 ball you always know the order to play the rack.
Eight ball may use a bit more planning in this area, but it's still a far cry from 14.1.
Note: in 8 ball you may play a break out where you don't care where the other guy's ball ends up. In 14.1 they are all yours, and to leave a bad or difficult shot for your out ball can be a disaster when playing for position to break up the next rack.
A fine cueist in either game will still have to learn the thought process to be a threat.
Note: Efren (while he picked up on it rather quickly) had to learn one pocket even though he was already a phenom at rotation games.
While a nine-baller can re-locate the cueball well enough when he knows what ball is next, he may not have the foresight to plan out clusters and combos needed to build a competitive 14.1 game.
Note: in 9 ball you always know the order to play the rack.
Eight ball may use a bit more planning in this area, but it's still a far cry from 14.1.
Note: in 8 ball you may play a break out where you don't care where the other guy's ball ends up. In 14.1 they are all yours, and to leave a bad or difficult shot for your out ball can be a disaster when playing for position to break up the next rack.
A fine cueist in either game will still have to learn the thought process to be a threat.
Note: Efren (while he picked up on it rather quickly) had to learn one pocket even though he was already a phenom at rotation games.
reason
A real good 8 baller would have an advantage over a real good 9 baller,
because of tight manuvering of the cueball, clusters, breakout shots, etc. which are in common with straight pool.
and another reason why you have to consider Mike Sigel in with the best
14.1 players. He was a great 8 ball champion, and played very good 14.1
A real good 8 baller would have an advantage over a real good 9 baller,
because of tight manuvering of the cueball, clusters, breakout shots, etc. which are in common with straight pool.
and another reason why you have to consider Mike Sigel in with the best
14.1 players. He was a great 8 ball champion, and played very good 14.1
If i am not mistaken, the BCA list standards for a pool table as well as a cue. If the table falls within those standards then what is there to dispute? If the standards need to be tighter, then so be it.
ghost
ghost ball said:
BTW, it is an honor to be posting in a thread started by the Earl. Anyone who knows anything about pool would have to include Earl in their list of all time greats.
And, I would imagine, that if anyone could change the way the game is played, it would be Mr. Strickland. I think if he played strickly straight pool, the rest would follow and the demand for straight pool tournaments would increase. Champions are leaders.
I have a friend that practices all the time with Schmidt that says he never finishes a practice session without running a 100. It's been well documented that he's run 400. I know of other runs of 287 and 297 but I personnally witnessed him run 115 straight out of the car at Starcade in Ft Walton once.The part that was the most impressive about it was,when he started he was dead cold out of the car. and there were only about a dozen in the place as he was running he was walking around the table talking to the railbirds it was like a walk in the park. He did it so effortlessly. I saw Mizerak run 3 100's on Weenie Beenie once gambling back in the 70's ,but I've never seen anyone run a 100 that easily. It's hard for me to see anyone beating him consistantly, but I'm sure there's somone out there I just hope I'm there to see it.
Thanks
Thanks
BazookaJoe said:
As an advid 8-Baller, I must respectfully disagree. When a player breaks out a cluster in 8-Ball he had better care where the opponent's balls end up, and he had better put them in trouble. At the same time, he has to relocate his own balls to a good spot. Accomplishing these two, seperate goals simultaneously can make 8-Ball MORE difficult than straight pool. Sometimes.
As for whose the best straight pool player...stop talkin' and start chalkin'...
Jeff Livingston
Espn --abc____nbc______cbs____fox
Earl, if I were you I would try to pitch ESPN on a straight pool format.They should buy it and then there would be sponsors other then just pool related which should make for some large purses.I would not have a winner take all.This way a guy still has a chance to at least get his expensivies paid for.That should entice a good field of players.Sorry if off topic but would love to see a good 14-1 match.
Earl, if I were you I would try to pitch ESPN on a straight pool format.They should buy it and then there would be sponsors other then just pool related which should make for some large purses.I would not have a winner take all.This way a guy still has a chance to at least get his expensivies paid for.That should entice a good field of players.Sorry if off topic but would love to see a good 14-1 match.