Willie Hoppe

[Williebetmore]

Keith,
I just played in a local tournament against a player with the same shooting style as you (right hand further away from the body than the right elbow). Of course he only missed 1 ball in 7 games. I've only seen you, Willie Hoppe, and this local player shoot like this. Did you pattern yourself after Willie Hoppe, or did you just develop this stroke on your own?

 

[Keith McCready]

Keith, I just played in a local tournament against a player with the same shooting style as you (right hand further away from the body than the right elbow). Of course he only missed 1 ball in 7 games. I've only seen you, Willie Hoppe, and this local player shoot like this. Did you pattern yourself after Willie Hoppe, or did you just develop this stroke on your own?

Willie, I was always a real small guy growing up. That was my style ever since I learned how to play. All of my peers in the pool room told me it was unorthodox, but they were not as small as I was. It's always been comfortable for me, and it allows me to do things that I wouldn't be able to accomplish using a different stroke.

I saw Willie Hoppe play when I was about 9 years old, and I remember shaking his hand at a place called Erwins Billiards in Anaheim. He was a pretty humble guy, nice though, and amazing to watch.

 

[thebigdog]

I've seen others play like that

King Kong down in Los Angeles also shoots like this. There also is another guy I remember from Southern California they called him "Chicken Wing". It seems some players who learned to play pool at a very young age play this way.