I know who Willie Hoppe was. Never saw him play but I knew he was a three cushion billiards God. As a pool player myself watching this video and Hoppe play for the first time, the play is nothing less than stunning. You won't see this kind of of cue ball wizardry from anyone ever. Not Mosconi. Not Strickland. Not Reyes. No one. It is truly amazing.
You should watch Juanjo Trilles - it will give you a whole, new perspective on what can be done with a cueball. None of the old masters had any idea these kinds of shots were possible. I'm not too shabby of a 3-cushion player, but what I've seen Trilles do makes me tingle. My favorite video of his is the "Juanjo Trilles Cup 2011, Volume V - The 50 Figures Correctly Performed." Trust me, you'll never be the same; especially if this old, blurry video excited you!
If you have ever played at the NYAC, where this film was made, you would have noticed the name "Edward LEE" being very prominent on all of the ancient tournament boards. I was most pleased to see what Edward Lee looked like, as he appears on this film.
So far as I am aware, the purpose of the red dots on the cue ball is not to aid the player. It is a relatively new concept that was only brought in for televised matches, so that the audience can see how the ball is spinning, particularly on slow-motion replays. "Ahead of its time" is also debatable with respect to billiards. For instance, no one since has ever been able to duplicate what the Australian Walter Lindrum was capable of in the 1920 and 30s, regarding nursery cannons in English billiards. Yesteryear's billiard players were arguably far superior to today's pool and snooker players in terms of spin. They also played with heavier balls.
If one has not attempted 3- cushion billiards, it's worth a long trip to find a good table and try it. And to really home your skills, play on a 5 x 10 table of good quality. It's fun and it gives just a small glimpse of how good these players really were.
In his autobiography, Hoppe said he got so good because he would play on all sorts of tables in all sorts of conditions. This was when he was touring as a child wunderkind. He would play his Mom straight rail, 100 no count. So his Mom counted all her billiards but Hoppe needed to get to a hundred before he got to count. And he still won almost all his matches.
Thank you for posting this gem. It is unusual to hear the commentator stating that the swing should be coming "from the shoulder NOT the elbow" at 2:53. Contemporary stroke mechanics teaches most people the opposite, that is the stroke is chiefly generated by the elbow and NOT the shoulder. Interesting how the game has evolved in stroke mechanics over the decades.
Most pool players today have never heard of Willie Hoppe. That is because three-cushion billiards is no longer played by more than a handful of people.
I looked at a 3 cushion teaching manual on the different shots that you would come across in every situation. It was over a hundred pages. How the hell can you master this game. The masse tickie shots alone can't give you accurate diagrams. The tables can be different lengths and widths. How the hell can he pass through those bowling pins bank and make the billiard? Amazing.
yes. all the modern coaches are wrong. believe it or not. The elbow should move up and down when swinging and shouldn't be stationary. Otherwise you will have to open/close grip hand to keep the cue parallel. All modern coaching is pure bullshit.
All the greats swing their shoulders.. Efren and the Filipino’s, Earl, Nick, Johnny.. They swing their elbows too, but the incorporate the shoulder for added cue power..
I think you are wrong my friend u can watch semih sayginer these people played average 0.7 max 0.8 now u can see 3.something a normal game now in any world up has 1.6 aver
He was a master. The USA needs to rediscover this great game.
Hell yeah he makes Efren look like a pre schooler. But hoppe was way better than Efren just different times.
Thanks for posting this brilliant seeing my great great uncle in action
You can say 'great' again... he was amazing!
Hoppe is fun to watch, but I enjoy seeing the Brunswick Centennial Carom table! I'm a little biased since I have a Centennial myself!
Great clip it made my day! Thanks for posting.
I know who Willie Hoppe was. Never saw him play but I knew he was a three cushion billiards God. As a pool player myself watching this video and Hoppe play for the first time, the play is nothing less than stunning. You won't see this kind of of cue ball wizardry from anyone ever. Not Mosconi. Not Strickland. Not Reyes. No one. It is truly amazing.
You should watch Juanjo Trilles - it will give you a whole, new perspective on what can be done with a cueball. None of the old masters had any idea these kinds of shots were possible. I'm not too shabby of a 3-cushion player, but what I've seen Trilles do makes me tingle. My favorite video of his is the "Juanjo Trilles Cup 2011, Volume V - The 50 Figures Correctly Performed." Trust me, you'll never be the same; especially if this old, blurry video excited you!
Excellent old footage, thanks for sharing!
Wow!! Thank you for posting, I love this game.
Legend..unique cueing...I like it...
I feel stupid that I've never heard of him. What a talent!
Way more talented than Efren mind you. That's why you don't see his fanboys here like normal lol .
he has that funky Keith Mcgready side stroke going on.
If you have ever played at the NYAC, where this film was made, you would have noticed the name "Edward LEE" being very prominent on all of the ancient tournament boards. I was most pleased to see what Edward Lee looked like, as he appears on this film.
porn
Antonis Panayi
He's got the cue ball educated in the english department indeed! Classic!
Imagine being world champion of a sport 51 times.
That English is way ahead of his time and he's not using a short stick or a measles ball that's impressive
So far as I am aware, the purpose of the red dots on the cue ball is not to aid the player. It is a relatively new concept that was only brought in for televised matches, so that the audience can see how the ball is spinning, particularly on slow-motion replays. "Ahead of its time" is also debatable with respect to billiards. For instance, no one since has ever been able to duplicate what the Australian Walter Lindrum was capable of in the 1920 and 30s, regarding nursery cannons in English billiards. Yesteryear's billiard players were arguably far superior to today's pool and snooker players in terms of spin. They also played with heavier balls.
Amazing
I had a Brunswick two piece stick, Willie Hoppe edition. Lost over the years but we all knew who he was.
mr legend
AT HIS AGE Incredable' 1 of Thee All Time GreaTs
Features of modern cues are named after him, that's how good he was!
wow
WAAAAAAAAAY AHEAD OF TIME....
🏆
If one has not attempted 3- cushion billiards, it's worth a long trip to find a good table and try it. And to really home your skills, play on a 5 x 10 table of good quality. It's fun and it gives just a small glimpse of how good these players really were.
In his autobiography, Hoppe said he got so good because he would play on all sorts of tables in all sorts of conditions. This was when he was touring as a child wunderkind. He would play his Mom straight rail, 100 no count. So his Mom counted all her billiards but Hoppe needed to get to a hundred before he got to count. And he still won almost all his matches.
Play the game back to school the more they fall he hit the ball
Amazing they say move the shoulder not the elbow ! What !
Thank you for posting this gem. It is unusual to hear the commentator stating that the swing should be coming "from the shoulder NOT the elbow" at 2:53. Contemporary stroke mechanics teaches most people the opposite, that is the stroke is chiefly generated by the elbow and NOT the shoulder. Interesting how the game has evolved in stroke mechanics over the decades.
Most pool players today have never heard of Willie Hoppe. That is because three-cushion billiards is no longer played by more than a handful of people.
not true. There's aficianados in every city
La mejor ejecución comparada con los vídeos de los billaristas actuales lstima que no hubo manejo de serie americana.
Back when billiards was a luxury sport.
Hoppe was/is Greastest of ALL time.....
He has a serious argument for greatest cue sports player ever.. He was amazing..
Walter lyndrum the greatest billiard player off all time.
I looked at a 3 cushion teaching manual on the different shots that you would come across in every situation. It was over a hundred pages. How the hell can you master this game. The masse tickie shots alone can't give you accurate diagrams. The tables can be different lengths and widths. How the hell can he pass through those bowling pins bank and make the billiard? Amazing.
2:57, narrator says, 'the swing should come from the shoulder, not the elbow'....um, what?
yes. all the modern coaches are wrong. believe it or not. The elbow should move up and down when swinging and shouldn't be stationary. Otherwise you will have to open/close grip hand to keep the cue parallel. All modern coaching is pure bullshit.
All the greats swing their shoulders.. Efren and the Filipino’s, Earl, Nick, Johnny.. They swing their elbows too, but the incorporate the shoulder for added cue power..
On a 'Centennial'
I go to a pool hall which has 2 Centenials, Antique Billiards Colorado Springs!
Efren Reyes inherited his skills
Efren Reyes(The Magician) Vs. Willie Hoppe(The Wizard)
It would be nice if I could hear it.
Pity they dont have these tables in UK
I am pretty sure that nobody is that good at anything anymore.
I think you are wrong my friend u can watch semih sayginer these people played average 0.7 max 0.8 now u can see 3.something a normal game now in any world up has 1.6 aver
It's interesting how so many vids of pool legends show the old players not wearing glasses!
Wrong ... czcams.com/video/-JCdJ08_M3Y/video.html
theBest HE REALLY IS A WIzard
How the hell did that ball keep rolling at 5:50 haha
The table doesn't have any pockets.??? (Ca$h)
It's what's known as a 'Carom' billiard table !
9 rails, monster shot. Way better than Efren
nobody plays this game anymore.
Played a lot in East Asia and on the European continent. But not so much in the UK or the USA.
Belgium I think play it.
did he ever play Walter Lindrum?