PRO PEER The cream of the crop pick the top players in 12 categories, and then share their tips for REVIEW reaching superstar speed. —By Mason King

FREN REYES. He’s the best. Hand’s and international commentator Jim the technically flawless (), Edown. Nobody else comes close. Wych. We culled results from 32 respon- the silky stinger () and the Anyone surprised? dents in all. distorted but beautifully effective (Efren We had to get that one out of the way For fun, we also threw in a few cat- Reyes). With 17 players named over- before moving on to meatier discoveries egories related to social skills: Most all, one thing was apparent: Just about in BD’s first skills survey in 20 years, in Generous, Best Dressed, and Best everyone at this level has a potent stroke. which we asked a critical mass of pool Chirper, i.e. most entertaining chatter- So, the majority of respondents went pros to name the top players in a dozen box at the table. (Strangely, the Worst with the most impressive power stroke categories. You can settle up those bar Dressed category stumped everybody, with wicked action. And that belonged to bets now — although there was no Best apparently due to so many qualified Wisconsin strongman Nevel. Player category, Reyes received the most candidates.) “I’ve seen him do some crazy stuff on a votes overall by a wide margin (see Admittedly, the results aren’t quite up pool table,” said , describ- opposite page). He’s not the four-time to the standards of “Scientific American.” ing one of Nevel’s signature stunts. “I’ve winner of the Derby City Classic Master Although a healthy chunk of the respon- seen him do a one-handed jacked-up of the Table Award for nothing. dents hailed from the and shot where the cue ball is frozen on the There are more intriguing questions to Europe, the survey sample and results end rail and the object ball is all the way ponder. Who is the toughest guy to beat are still slanted a bit toward the U.S. — on the other rail, and he jacks up with in a final? Who would you pick to spear Reyes excepted. It was also evident that one hand and pounds the cue ball. He that eight-foot cut shot for the cash? Who a few players received votes based more makes the ball straight in the corner up will break your heart with a jump shot on reputation than current performance. table, and the cue ball draws all the way after you play a great safe? Who can But the results and subsequent inter- back to the other end of the table. It’s keep it together with a world champion- views with many of the winners provide unbelievable.” ship on the line? And who’s going to pick a fascinating look into why certain play- Gabe Owen thinks that Nevel has a up the check after dinner? ers excel at different areas of the game. future on the trick-shot circuit. Nobody knows better than the pros And as a bonus for readers, we asked “It’s just the way he draws the ball and themselves. We asked more than two- several of the winners to share pointers effortlessly moves the ball around the dozen current players to answer the sur- on their particular talents, so you can table,” Owen said. “The only stroke I’ve vey, which included a mix of physical bring your skill set up to their speed. So, seen that you can compare to his stroke skills and some more intangible quali- that’ll help with the perennial question: is . And Larry Nevel might ties (see opposite page). Respondents “How can I become as good as Efren?” be as good or better.” could choose up to three candidates Nevel isn’t exactly sure how he devel- for each category. For good measure, -MASTER STROKE- oped such a powerful weapon. “I’ve just we also asked a handful of seen-it-all Larry Nevel always had it,” he said. “I used to prac- industry veterans to weigh in, including The pros interpreted the Best Stroke tice it all the time — crazy draw strokes U.S. Open promoter Barry Behrman, category in a variety of ways, rewarding and stuff like that. I guess maybe the dif- + TIPS+ The Best Break: See Johnny Joust

OT ONLY does have the most • Use of English: “I aim a little above center, Ncontrolled break, according to the pros, he but my stroke always comes down and adjusts has the best break overall. Here are his keys to to that. It’s not that I try to do it. I just know my an effective opening salvo: break. So if the cue ball is going forward a little • Cue-ball delivery: “The key is hitting the 1 ball on the break, I’ll aim a little bit lower. To be hon- as solid as possible. Whatever side you break on, est with you, if the cue ball is going forward [after and whatever angle you’re going at, it needs to hit impact], a lot of times I’ll aim even a little the fattest part of the 1 ball. There is no favorite higher, because that makes me come down more. side, no right side, no nothing. If you do that, hit it I kind of trick myself. solid, there’s only two ways it can go — forward or • Follow-through: If I’m not breaking well, most backwards, it can’t glance off.” of the time I’m not following through very well. I’m Don’t forget to • Power vs. control: “What I try to do is hit not really that strong, so I have to get power from follow through. them as hard as possible where I still can control a big follow-through and weight transfer. I have to the cue ball. And it might be different speeds get everything going at once, so my timing has every day. It may be 60 percent of my total power, to be pretty good. But follow-through to me is a it may be 70 percent, it could be 80 percent. big key, and it gives you just that little bit of extra Each day is different. ‘oomph’ on it. And it helps you shoot straighter.”

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BBDsurvey_skills.inddDsurvey_skills.indd 3636 33/12/07/12/07 1:45:431:45:43 PMPM • 32 respondents • Each could name up to three BD SKILLS SURVEY RESULTS players per category. • Players with 2+ votes listed

LARRY NEVEL (7) “As far as stroking SHAWN PUTNAM (11) “With phenolic tips (6); the ball and drawing (5); today, anybody can Rodney Morris (4); it around four rails, Yang Ching-Shun (4); jump balls. It’s with Ralf Souquet, Larry has that. He’s Johnny Archer (3); the leather tip that Alex Pagulayan (3); on a different level.” Choa Fong-Pang, you need technique

STROKE , ,

— Gabe Owen JUMPING and skill.” Mike Massey (2) (2) — Putnam

FRANCISCO “No one has timing (5) “I grew up watch- BUSTAMANTE (11) action on the cue Alex Pagulayan, ing Nick [on video] Larry Nevel (8); ball like he does. You Efren Reyes, and just the way he Charlie Bryant (5); have to coordinate Johnny Archer, grinded and tried Wu Chia-Ching, like 10 different body Ralf Souquet, hard, no matter HEART BREAK (POWER) Jeff DeLuna (2). movements.” (3); what the score was.” — Charlie Williams , — Gabe Owen (2). JOHNNY “For as hard as he’s RALF SOUQUET (13) “He’s one of those ARCHER (20) hitting them, his cue- Efren Reyes (8); players who can be Francisco ball control is fantas- Johnny Archer (6); focused every time. Bustamante (4), tic. That’s hard to do Nick Varner (2). He only thinks posi- Ralf Souquet, at the same time.” tively about what he BREAK

(CONTROL) Cory Deuel, Wu — John Schmidt has to do.” Chia-Ching (2). — MENTAL GAME MENTAL

EFREN REYES (17) “He’s the king when it JOHNNY ARCHER (15) “When I play in the Buddy Hall (6); comes to working out Efren Reyes (8); finals, I know there’s Nick Varner (3); angles and getting Ralf Souquet, just one match left FINAL Johnny Archer, through very small Earl Strickland (3); to win now, and I Alex Pagulayan, openings.” IN Thorsten Hohmann, guess that loosens Thorsten — Jim Wych Francisco me up a bit.” POSITION Hohmann (2). Bustamante (2). — Archer BEST

EFREN “When I first came to Top Vote-getters In All 12 Skill Categories REYES (29) the U.S., everybody Jose Parica (2). just chance-kicked. 1. EFREN REYES (89) 5. Earl Strickland (18) I knew how to kick 2. Johnny Archer (54) 6. Larry Nevel (16) properly, and they 3. Ralf Souquet (28) 7. (tie) Nick Varner (14) 4. Francisco Mika Immonen (14) KICKING were shocked.” Bustamante (23) Alex Pagulayan (14) — Reyes 10. Shawn Putnam (11)

JASON MILLER (8) “Most of it is feel, Most Generous Efren Reyes (6); because conditions Shannon Daulton(5); change. Some play- RODNEY MORRIS (8) “It’s from from grow- Brian Gregg, ers use systems, but I Efren Reyes (5); ing up in Hawaii. Mika Immonen (4); don’t think they hold Thorsten Hohmann, Everybody over there Nick Varner, Alex Pagulayan (3); will do anything to

BANKING up too well.” John Brumback, — Miller Mike Massey, help someone out.” Tony Fargo (2). Ralf Souquet (2). — Morris EFREN REYES (22) “Three-cushion bil- Best Dresser Francisco Bustamante, liards and THORSTEN HOHMANN (8) “I have reinvested Jose Parica, — he mastered those Rodney Morris (5); some of the money Nick Varner, games, and that Mika Immonen, in some nice, cus- Johnny Archer, gives him an edge in Alex Pagulayan (4); tom-made shirts.” , safeties.” Stevie Moore (3); — Hohmann, after Alex Pagulayan (2). — John Schmidt , SAFETY PLAY $350,000 IPT win SOCIAL SKILLS Mike Sigel (2). EARL STRICKLAND (7) “In his prime, there Best Chirping/Table Banter Mika Immonen (4); was no hard shot. KEITH “He’s so much fun to John Schmidt (3); ... He always hits watch. You just don’t Alex Pagulayan, the ball firm, he hits MCCREADY (16) Earl Strickland (12); know what he’s going Jose Parica, it true and follows Efren Reyes, Mike Sigel (3); to do or say next.” through.” Alex Pagulayan (2). — Corey Harper Cory Deuel, — Rodney Morris SHOTMAKING Rodney Morris (2). PHOTOS: LAWRENCE LUSTIG, DIANA HOPPE, JERRY FORSYTH, AND MASON KING

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ference was, when I played growing up, on the 1 ball like Francisco Bustamante. didn’t really become a great breaker I always used extreme English on every His break is less a power stroke than a until he added a measure of control to shot. Anytime I use right-hand English, I full-body salute — a hip-thrusting surge his stroke. He always aims one tip below never use a cue-tip of right-hand English, that ends with a balletic back kick. center, with no side English, to squat the I use extreme English. … Of course, it’s “He’s a small guy, but his timing is so cue ball. having the accuracy to do it, as well as strong, he gets the maximum force out of “I spot low,” Bustamante told BD. the power. Most people are not used to his movement on the break,” said Charlie “Most of the time, the cue ball hits the shooting with that much English.” Williams. “That’s why he can outbreak rack, jumps up from the table but stays guys three times his size. It’s kind of like in the middle. And you have to hit it right -BOMBS AWAY- Tiger Woods when he drives.” in the middle of the 1 ball, because if Francisco Bustamante The thing is, if the cue ball doesn’t hit you hit it on one side, you might scratch, Nevel has a ballistic break to go with the 1 ball squarely, it’s likely to take an or you might jump the cue ball off the that big stroke, but no one brings the pain ill-fated trip around the rails. Bustamante table.”

-CONTROL FREAK - Johnny Archer You’ll get no argument from Johnny Archer, who dominated the category of Most Controlled Break. For that matter, the six-time Player of the Year is likely the Most Controlled Player. Longtime sweators know that “The Scorpion” can become a tad, um, deliberate when he’s really focused. “I might be on there for Slowest Player,” Archer joked before taking the survey. But why mess with success? Not only did Archer get the nod for best control, but several players singled him out for best overall break as well. “His cue ball control, for as hard as he’s hitting them, is fantastic,” said John Schmidt. “It’s pretty easy to just squat your ball, and it’s pretty easy to just hit them real hard — I can do both — but it’s hard for me to do both at the same time. It’s hard for anybody to do both at the same time, and I think he has mastered it — and that’s from the box or the rail.” Archer knows the importance of the opening salvo. “A lot of guys take it for granted,” he said. “They just get up and hit as hard as they can. I concentrate so much on the break, to try to hit that 1 ball as solid as possible, that I probably take more time and more strokes on the break than on any other shot.” [See Archer's sidebar on page 36 for further detail.]

-TABLETOP VIRTUOSO- Efren Reyes Reyes owned the middle section of the survey — the classifications dealing with cue-ball control, position play and manipulating object balls. He ran away with three nuts-and-bolts categories — Position, Kicking, and Safety Play. The pros pointed to Reyes’ extensive background in other games, painting the beloved “Bata” as a sort of Olympic-level cross-trainer in . Specifically, Reyes’ prowess in carom-billiard games such as three-cushion and balkline has given him an edge in pocket games

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BBDsurvey_skills.inddDsurvey_skills.indd 3838 33/12/07/12/07 1:49:281:49:28 PMPM when it comes to controlling traffic on + DRILLS+ the table. “He’s at a world-class level in [bil- liards], and that is all kicking,” said Nick Picks Skill Shots Morris. “It’s all using rails and going In addition to having the most heart among pros, BD columnist around the table. He sees the stuff that Nick Varner has hundreds drills to help you hone your skills. Try three-cushion players see, but that us 9- these exercises to improve your banking, kicking and safety play. ball players don’t. And he knows what speed to hit balls and at what angle to hit them to see the best results.” When Reyes first arrived in the U.S. in the mid-1980s, his forethought and touch on kick shots caused jaws to drop on the men’s circuit. At that point, most guys weren’t interested in more than making contact. Reyes excelled at — and still excels at — finding the creative kick and then accounting for Plan B. “When I kick, my main thought is safety play; where can I put the cue ball, and where exactly is the object ball going,” Reyes said. “If I miss, I make sure to miss on the side of the ball that allows me the best safety play. Making a ball on a kick shot is luck, so you have to anticipate where the balls will go if you miss.” With a crafty stroke that applies surpris- ing amounts of action, Reyes can go just about anywhere on the table he wants. “Reyes is the king when it comes to working out angles and getting to areas of the table, and especially when there are very small openings to get there,” Jim Wych said. “Nobody in the world that I’ve ever seen has been in his class.” Reyes is creative enough that he can take unusual chances on his runouts. When a move fails, he’ll beat you by ducking. “All of us on tour know where we want to put the cue ball to hide the guy, but most of us are a few inches off,” Schmidt said. “Efren gets it right more times than not and locks you up. And then, if you lock him up, he is so good at kicking and hitting the ball, he gets out of it. So it’s double tough.” Want to be like “Bata”? Try the position and safety drills Nick Varner has sug- gested at right.

-MONEY IN THE BANK- Jason Miller Not surprisingly, Reyes nearly snapped off Best Banker as well. But a slim major- ity rewarded Miller, who stole Reyes’ thunder in 2006 by winning the Derby City Master of the Table distinction on the strength of his 9-ball banks title. Miller, a sports-bar owner in Dayton, Ohio, is one of several talented bankers who matriculated in the Midwest. Guys like Shannon Daulton and John Brumback

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IKA IMMONEN is one of the game’s fore- and then sure enough it’s not. You have to get Mmost shotmakers. Here’s why: up and adjust.” •Cross-training: “As part of my background, •English: “The key really is to play as much I played and pyramid. The difference center ball as possible, because that is always between the ball and the pocket is so narrow, the most accurate shot. The key is getting the you really have to bear down and follow straight right angle on the shot so you can hit center ball through. I think that helped my technique, or close to center ball. If you're a beginner, start because in those kinds of shots, with those kind with center ball. Gradually, when you get confi- of tables and balls, you start seeing the exact dence, start playing English.” point. You start feeling it, and you know it's DRILL 1: “I’m always checking my alignment. I going.” shoot the cue ball up and down the table and try •Confidence: "When I’m on and playing confi- to make it land on my tip. Sometimes your head dent and instinctively, I can make any ball. The is not right, and you are doing something sub- only way to miss it is to have doubts or second- consciously wrong. If the cue ball doesn’t come guess yourself. I’m a first-sight player. When I go back, then you make adjustments. This also is a down on the shot, I know this is it. Every once good way to make sure you have a nice smooth in a while, you’re like, ‘Hmm, this may not be it,’ follow-through. You cannot poke the ball.”

Drill 1

have bigger reps. In fact, Miller rarely cess at the . “Earl is like, jumping from table to table, trying to plays in tournaments beyond the annual ‘Me and you are the best shotmakers.’ make balls.” Louisville pool-a-palooza, but his two No one is going beat us on tight equip- Years of such practice have given Derby City banks titles (the first in 2004) ment.’” Putnam a sixth-sense for key elements have made him the man to beat at the Morris also has practiced alongside such as trajectory, velocity and landing biggest meet of the year. Strickland at their home base in Spring points. You can develop your own skills Miller attributed his bank prowess in Hill, Fla., and he’s seen Strickland’s with Putnam’s tips on page 41. part to growing up in Dayton with cush- extensive training regimen. ion wizard Gary Spaeth. They helmed the “He’s basically the best because he -NO QUIT- champion men’s open team at the 1990 practices all those tough shots,” Morris Nick Varner VNEA International Championships and said. “In 9-ball, a lot of times that one The irony is almost cruel. The guy with went on to win two more VNEA team hard shot is going to win you the match, the most heart had a heart episode at the titles. and over the years he has proven he can 2004 Derby City Classic, while trying to “I’m sure I picked up more from make them. … He tries to let his stroke grind out a match. [Spaeth] than anybody else,” Miller said. out. He tries not to hit the ball soft. He “All of a sudden I could hardly walk. “That, and just mixing it up with better tries not to baby the ball or let the table It was a big surprise and it was really players.” beat him. He always hits the ball firm, he painful,” he said. “I was glad the match Like a lot of master bankers, Miller has hits it true and follows through.” was over so I could get to the emergency played enough to simply rely on feel. He Mika Immonen follows the same prin- room. The match didn’t take too long, certainly doesn’t use systems. ciples. Check out his tips (above) for because I could hardly get to the table.” “No, just because the conditions precision shooting. Think about it. Varner suffered intense change,” he said. “Different cloth. symptoms from a condition that required Humidity changes the shortness or length -AIR APPARENT- bypass surgery, and he stayed to finish of the bank, and how new or old the cloth Shawn Putnam the match. Now that’s heart. is. ... I see a lot of shots. I know some Putnam loves to jump. He takes great “[Growing up watching Varner] it of the players use the systems, but they pride in it. He had an encyclopedic always seemed like he had more heart don’t hold up too well, I don’t think.” knowledge of the art practically before than everybody else,” said Gabe Owen. he could sink a ball via the more direct “Buddy Hall had more natural talent, and -SHOTMAKER SUPREME- route. Mike Sigel was more naturally talented. Earl Strickland “I was always infatuated with jump But he won just as many tournaments Of course, if you’re managing the table shots, because I saw Earl Strickland as those guys did. I believe he had more correctly, you don’t have much need for shooting jump shots on TV, and he was heart than all those guys.” banks. But some shots are harder than just amazing,” he said. “So, we used “I don’t think anybody has ever been others, especially when the pressure’s on. to go to the bowling alley and practice real happy when they see my name oppo- Who could nail that table-length shot, for jumping the cue ball off the wall and site theirs on the board,” Varner said. all the marbles? It’s Earl Strickland. back on the pool table. And we would see “They know at the very least they’re “Earl will be the first one to tell you how high we’d get it off the ceiling and going to have a tough match on their that nobody will make shots like me then back on. I was 17 or 18. I was real hands, because I’m going to be ready to and Earl,” said Rodney Morris, who has young. I didn’t even know how to make a play, and I’m going to play as hard as I teamed with Strickland with great suc- bridge. Then we started messing around, possibly can.”

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BBDsurvey_skills.inddDsurvey_skills.indd 4040 33/12/07/12/07 1:54:201:54:20 PMPM V + TIPS+ Putnam: The Joy of Jumping •Diagram 1: One key to jumping is knowing the tra- should be to land the cue ball so that it hits the table jectory of your cue ball. Putnam likes to visualize the and object ball simultaneously. Among other things, cue ball directly over the impeding ball, with a nice that gives you the best shot at playing position after cushion for error. The line from that ghost ball to the contact (assuming you applied English to the cue cue ball creates an angle, and your cue should be ball). If you fly short or long, bouncing on the table or elevated at that angle or greater. “Normally, you give off the object ball likely will sabotage your shot. yourself a little extra,” says Putnam. •Diagram 4: If the object ball is a significant •Diagram 2: Once you know the angle of your cue, distance from the impeding ball, land the cue ball you’ll know where to contact the cue ball. If, as in quickly after jumping the obstacle. The cue ball then the example, your cue is at a 40-degree angle, imag- can roll naturally to the target. PHOTOS (BOTH PAGES): LAWRENCE ine the ball's equator shifting to the same angle. If RULE NO. 1: “You can’t be scared of hitting the you hit along the equator, you're effectively hitting cue ball. You have to accelerate into the cue ball at center-ball. To draw the cue ball once it hits the instead of decelerate. Everybody tightens up right table, or to get more pop in your jump, hit a bit before they pull the trigger, and they decelerate. After below the equator. the practice stroke, you should pop it at a harder •Diagram 3: Your goal, especially on short jumps, speed than the practice stroke.”

Diagram 1 Diagram 2

Diagram 3 Diagram 4

-HEAD MASTER- “It’s all business with them,” Wych ton of pool knowledge. He’s just a super- Ralf Souquet said. “They are very controlled, very talented player, and he doesn’t dog it.” It’s easy to assign a Zen mindset to measured. They show no emotion wheth- “It’s his mental toughness,” said Gabe Souquet, since the even-tempered and er it’s on the upside or the downside. Owen. “He plays every shot like the last bald-headed world champion looks like They don’t expose any weaknesses that shot, which is how you’re supposed to he learned how to play pool in a monas- can be used against them. They don’t play, but it’s easier said than done. And tery. But nobody works harder at staying want to give their opposition anything on he does it. He plays every shot, whether sharp, upbeat and in the moment than which to build.” he’s winning 8-0 or he’s down 8-0, the Souquet, winner for Best Mental Game. same way.” “When Ralf’s in a match, he’s only -THE CLOSER- After winning the Turning Stone thinking positive about what he has to Johnny Archer Classic in February, Archer provided do,” said German countryman Thomas If the survey has a glamour category, a glimpse into his psyche during final Engert. “When he’s in the chair, he this would be it. Who is the toughest guy matches. picks a spot on the floor, and he’s always to beat in a final? Who comes through “When I play in the finals, a lot of time watching on the spot. … His temper is when it’s all on the line? Most pros rea- I’m loose. I mean, not every final. Some always the same. He is always level.” soned that the champion this category finals I don’t feel loose. But it just seems As he neared the final at the 2006 would be the guy who has won the most like I know there is just one match left World Pool Championship, Souquet consistently over the years. And that to win, and I guess that loosens me up. explained to the press his thought-pro- would be Archer, six-time Player of the … I know this is it. If win this one, it’s cess in later rounds of tournaments. Year. over.” “I don’t think about winning the event,” But why? It appears to be Archer’s Not surprisingly, Archer finished sec- he said. “I try only to think from match combination of superior skills, resilient ond only to Reyes in the survey, in terms to match, because when I start thinking mental game and confidence. of overall votes (89 to 54). Of course, the about what could happen in the future, “He’s got a strong belief in himself, numbers and opinions don’t mean much you may lose focus on the first step, and he’s a great player, which gives him when it’s just two guys at the table. We’re which is the most important one.” confidence, and the confidence makes tempted to dream of a high-profile chal- There’s a tactical side to that focused him a great player; it’s kind of a vicious lenge match, Reyes vs. Archer, race to countenance as well, said Wych. And the cycle for his opponent,” said Schmidt. 17, for a suitable sum. And we, the spec- German players, in particular, exploit it. “He relies on experience, and he has a tators, would be the real winners.

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