I've been fascinated by Efren Reyes the player and the man. The biggest takeaway I attribute to his success especially early when coming to America, was how he practiced. Besides literally sleeping in pool halls from a really young age, he played a whole lot of carom billiards. By mastering this game, he had an unmatched ability to see and execute shots others couldnt or wouldn't attempt. Because carom billiards has no pockets, the primary skill to excel at carom billiards is pinpoint precision of where the cue ball goes before, during, and after the shot. Compare that to how the Americans practiced. They focused primarily on pocketing the object ball and getting into an area to pocket the next and so on. So what happened in a long match was that the American players would stumble when faced with extremely tough shots where a general area for the cue ball was not good enough. Efren on the other hand, would hit a kick shot, billiard shot, or safety shot that gave him a huge advantage. Obviously he was also a great shot maker too, but that needed skill translated more easily from his game than vice versa. I would say Efren literally changed the game of pool at the world class level in this way. It quickly became known these amazingly precise shots that were previously thought to be too risky or lucky, were not only deliberate, but less risky than other available shots most players would take. New generation's of players would need to learn these skills from early on. It kind of reminds me of how the jiu-jitsu perfected by the Brazilians changed mixed martial arts forever.

I played some bank 9 with him in Tunica, Ms. He and Bustamante was playing one pocket against a couple of other guys and he was staying warmed up hitting them around with me. He was super nice and humble. It was an honor to have played with him.

I lived in the Philippines in the seventies. I learned how to play pool there. The loose grip players have was required back then because of the bad tables and high humidity. Unless you had a very loose grip, you were not moving the cue ball all over the table. And the funny wind up was common for most players to draw people into gambling. And the sidearm grip usually means a player started really young and never corrected it. Now that they have decent tables in the Philippines you’ll notice most of the young players have the more traditional stance, grip and stroking motion. As far as aiming systems, a lot of players aim and pocket balls at great consistency. I believe what separates Efren was his imagination and analytical skills.

Efren is such a great sport ,not only the greatest player , probably one of the best attitudes ever in the game of billiards

Such an important message for many players. Very well done video!

FUN FACT for everyone who never noticed this: Efren never double checks the contact point of object ball unlike most pro players even the top current ones. He only double checks the path of cueball for position or both CB and OB for safety. I'd like to thank you Tor for immortalizing Efren in this video. Also, I'd like to add that Efren is using a pivoting aiming system together with BHE much like what is now popularly called CTE. Filipino players who came from Efren's era (60s-80s) all uses this aiming system. If you've watched Efren personally and closely, you'll realized he is always doing a pivot whether up or down and left and right. It is very subtle so it will not show up in videos. Also the reason he puts the tip down touching the cloth is that it tells him he is aiming centered on the cueball. That extra stroke you pointed out is just to make sure his last stroke will go to point he intended. If you all happen to visit the Philippines, you will find a lot of good players in their 50s and above with that kind of stroke and aiming system. This also the reason why Efren never used a low deflection shaft and just a regular one and it should have a little flex.

All I can say, is thank you sir. I play professionally, top 10 in my country, and sometimes I miss the most stupid of shots, also following my pre shot routine, everything perfect, except the execution. I spoke to my snooker couch about this problem and both of us struggled to grasp this problem. I will be showing him this video, and I will be buying your book. Really thank you and God bless you sir.

Efren Reyes, the biggest name in the game.. All his opponents learned from him, and it's not even a hearsay.. Simply the GOAT

i've always admired Efren Reyes' stroke, its very versatile, effortless, cleanly executed everytime.

As an avid tennis player, I have to admit reading "The Inner game of tennis" by Tim Gallwey was a real eye opener! So much things we try to control and we always get stuck up on the outcome, that we forget that most of the time, the body already knows what has to be done in order to complete a stroke. But a lot of things of the conscious mind also dwells on the negatives, like "don't miss", "don't scratch", and so on, that it literally paralyzes us sometimes. "Being in the zone" is one of those feelings that cannot be put into words, you just have to feel it for yourself.

I must have watched over 100 hours of efren playing but never noticed this aspect of his game. The way Tor starts the video by talking about high level athletes "getting out of their own way" and letting the training and subconscious take over was a great way to segway into what he really wants to highlight which is efrens pre shot routine and stroke. Bravo Mr. Lowry!

This Man Efrem Reyes is Legend and becoming a Myth. His story is so amazing that it will be talked about for generations.

If one wishes to receive love, there is perhaps no worse path of obtaining it than playing pool. Fortunately, the love of the game is enough to keep people playing. People appear to love the top players, yet have many motivations to watch them. Perhaps they love watching more so than the player they watch. Efren Reyes is, was, and forever shall be the gentlest player capable of world-dominating beast mode. The humblest champion who never once attributed his accolades to himself. And who remained a student while annihilating world champions. The Grace of his tip striking the cue ball is only matched by the Grace of his character and sportsmanship. His presence in the game was perhaps the greatest blessing the sport has received in this millennium-not to omit the fact that he was a dominating force in the prior one. Thank-you, we love you, and may your golden years fill you with the joy you brought to us all. It was us, not you, who truly “got lucky”. Love you, brother.

I recently came back to pool after 40 years. I had played snooker on a 6 x 12' as a kid and 8 ball in the bar on when I was in the Navy. Now retired I threw myself back into pool by consuming countless videos and playing a ton. I have to say that this is probably the best video that I've seen in order to advance quickly. I can't wait to get back to the pool hall today! Thank you!

Once you know the mechanics of your shot coupled with your style, it eventually becomes instinctive. That is the way all sports are. Once you start over thinking your shots, you are ignoring your sub conscious instincts honed over many hours of play which are the most powerful innate skills you have. I hadn't thought about the way Efren does his shots with the last cue movement to stay relaxed so you don't tense up and blow your own shot by letting stress change your style... Great Video, Thanks!

Efren is also the epitome of what we refer to as a natural. He didn't purposfuly develop these skills techniques. Its all muscle memory.

THE greatest pool player to ever play professional pool...Efren "The Magician" Reyes The 🐐

Thanks so much for covering Efren's extra stroke. I've wondered why no other players I've seen, from top pros or amateurs, do it, considering the best player on the planet uses it. I've tried it, and found it helps with my generally poor cue ball control. As you said, it takes some practice, but when I play a lot and can practice it, it really is helpful. And I assumed it was because it kept me a little looser, but I hadn't compared it to a golf waggle. That makes sense.

This just summarized exactly what i've been trying to put together for awhile now. Another great video! thank you for all your hard work.

This is probably the best video I've seen regarding stroke technique. I've paid hundreds of dollars for lessons and my instructor said something about my stroke... like I need a rhythm to it or something... because I would pause and then back stroke and pause then come forward. But just because someone points something out, it doesn't tell me what I need to change or how to fix it. Just this past week, I watched this video and tried to replicate the extra stroke motion that Tor explains while demonstrating it with Efren's shots. At first, it felt unnatural and I was missing shots I normally wouldn't miss. But after just a few days of practicing this stroke while playing with some friends, I'm making shots that I normally wouldn't make. Let's just say, they didn't have much fun or have nearly as much playing time today as I did. Thank you Tor for this insight into Efren's game and his ability. I'm not ready to take on the pros quite yet, but I feel like I have a path to get there now. I'm hoping I can take my APA level up from a 6 to a 7 when I start playing league again.

What a fantastic video, Tor. I think one of the things that has really held me back during my pool training is transitioning things to my subconscious mind. During our training I had about a dozen things going through my mind on every single shot and it was overwhelming and exhausting to the point where I would be missing shots that I was previously comfortable with and I totally lost my rhythm. It actually had a huge part in me putting down my stick entirely for at least a year. i just couldn't do it anymore. Interestingly enough, the first time I picked it back up, I ran out several half table patterns with correct position without even really thinking about it, and it makes sense that may be why. In my journey of playing guitar, it's very similar. You have to focus intently on details to be able to perform in the first place, but you can't do that when you're performing. I'll also have sessions where I practice and practice and don't get any better, but the next time I pick it up I can do things I couldn't the last session. I feel like this is something I knew all along, but I didn't realize it until just now. This is going to completely change how I approach my pool training. Thank you!

The waggle, love it, that tensing up has wrecked many a shots for me, I developed my own process to address this once I realized that was happening to me; funny enough I think the problem of getting tense was from being too rigid in trying to have "perfect" fundamentals, actually very detrimental for me.

Another great video Tor. I found it enlightening at the 18 minute mark where you discuss that if you fail to visualize the path and only focus on where the cue ball should end up, you have a good chance of missing the shot but having the cue ball end up at the correct position. I don't know how many times after missing a shot, I or others have said, "Well I got the position I wanted but missed the shot."

I fall into a subconscious trance every now and again with pool but when it comes to drifting I fall into it every time. It's a wonderful feeling

You're making me rethink my game. Been watching you for years, keep up the great work.

I watch alot of your videos and I can pick up something from all of them. This along with your Mental System book has helped my game the most by far. Thank you!

I've been in a Lanny Bassham course. Used to shoot on a University Rifle Team with his son.

This is exactly my way of play. I was always wondering why I’m playing different than my friends. When pressure started I tried to get super focused and in the end I was performing bad in major events. Thank you Tor, now I know I should go this path and my style is something normal 💪💪💪

I needed this Video, great timing. Thank you for making it!

Very interesting concept. The pool "waggle" before your backstroke to release tension and stay loose.

It's great to hear you're experience on the conscious / subconscious division necessary for great pool. I use to be all subconscious pool player when I was in my 20's, now I'm really going after my fundamentals and my game has fallen apart, but after I get good muscle memory I will start these position drills. thanks 🙏 for the great lessons to work on.

I must say that is the most important and helpful video about pool i found out there. Since i´ve started to use the same stroke as Efren uses my game improve a LOT. Thank you very much for uploading this content

Great video! The first 15 minutes are worth to be a seperate video that all poolplayers, young or old, beginner or experienced, needs to watch!! 👍👌💪

Thank you for making this vdo. One of my eye opening lesson. I learned a lot looking forward to apply in my game.

Excellent video Especially the ideas for deliberate training. Well done. Steve

Brilliant. I deeply appreciate the decades of work and mastery that it took to create a video like this. You've made me want to give pool another chance. I now understand why I stalled out and gave up on myself.

Really enjoy your videos, learning how to, then practice... thank you 💙

Iv experienced this trance state playing snooker and have managed a 52 and 54 break plus many others in the 30's and 40's. This may not be very impressive but I consider myself an 8 ball pool player and am much better at pool. I'm getting an English 7x4 foot pool table in my house this week after not playing for 15 years. Iv been binging pool videos but this one has shown me that I don't need to focus on basics that are 2nd nature but rather just practice a lot in an attempt to get that magical "feel" back. Thank you for this video Tor, it's been priceless for me as I begin my new journey! 🙌

Excellent video. Your knowledge and insight is amazing

Love your stuff tor I'm learning a ton bro thank you for your page.

Excellent video Mr Lowry , Thank You !

I just started playing pool at age 41 and I really want to learn about the history and the best players. This video is a great place to start.

As always Tor very well produced. Thanks for the reminders. I'll try to get out of my way and let the shot happen. All is well here and I hope the last couple of years have been kind to you and yours. :)

Excellent video, Tor. I watch tons of training videos and a lot of yours, but this is particularly helpful because I can take this advice and use it on the table. I have a league game tonight so I'm going to focus on the mental game as well as cue ball control. Thank you!

This ia such an important video and little known by many mid range players searching for that way to improve. I was capable of this skill and didn't know it. My game picked up from incorporating this, and i miss far fewer balls now a days. Thx Tor! HEY PLAYERS: Dont move a muscle once you go down on whitey!! Its Amazing!!

Great video, this is probably one of very few videos that I actually sat and watched the whole thing. Very in-depth with explaining everything. I’m at work, and I gotta tell you I as I was watching this I immediately wanted to pick my cues up and put in a practice session.

Most excellent video, Tor!

This might be the greatest video fir anyone struggling to get over a certain hump. I always thought my memory was horrible when I would play other people and they would be able to remember every shot of the rack and I couldn’t even remember a shot from 2 shots ago. I just end up in a state of auto-pilot. I do not go out and do drills or practice. I just play. My friends who spend countless hours practicing are at an even level with me. I always wondered why. Now I see that they struggle with not being in an auto pilot mode and that’s what holds them back. While I don’t practice at all I can play at the same level as I am in an autopilot mode.

AWESOME VIDEO! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATION! I've been playing on pure talent but now I'm trying to be more technically sound!

I learned a ton, great vid!

Very powerful message on video indeed. I believe it's also important to note that to be a strong player, one should under go Pool stages. First being fundamentals (stance, grip, strokes, etc), then once those are mastered, move on since those are instilled into you. At some point, it will be as if u don't even think of them when executing. When u now on stage of focusing on cue ball control, the mind adjust important things required (baseline, aiming point, speed, etc) but still using what has learnt through fundamentals. Of course certain things from fundamentals tend to change as you progress to advance stages which I believe it's normal.

I’ve been in a slump and now I know why. A million thanks. Makes so much sense.

One of the best instruction videos I’ve ever seen! Thank you 👍🏻

Great presentation. Very true if you played enough pool or any sports… this is really true! Great job thinking about this.

Awesome video!

as always you have a very keen eye love your take on this video ❤❤

been shooting for a year now and noticed the cue ball will normally go where i need it without using english, this came from watching a lot of people try to force the ball somewhere they want. now i know why! thanks for the awesome video

Awesome Stuff Mr. Lowry :) Thank you so much ! Greetings from Berlin

This can help me very well since I just started playing pool and It gave me a very interesting feeling of pressure and pleasure. Pool may look simple but playing it makes it actually hard when you are just starting up. Anyway, this is a good lesson for me to improve my game. KUDOS TO YOU GUYS!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

great video man! really appreciated

Great video. Timothy Gallwey's bestselling book The Inner Game of Tennis was all about trusting your subconscious to make the shot. Must be Tiger woods approach. This is the closest I've found to The inner game of pool. I am looking forward to experimenting with the waggle. Thanks for the video.

Great video Tor! Best wishes to you from the UK 😊Ian

This is exactly what I needed right now! My game is at the point where I just need to learn how to channel being "in the zone"

Awesome analysis and explanation. Just what I needed to know. You're so right! Positioning will tell us how to execute the shot correctly(well,based on the level we are at the game.) I knew that subconsciously. 🤭

I liked this Tor..great reminder about the "subconscious" yet use "conscious awareness". Got to.. "Let it happen" Thank you for sharing.

This highly important for us pool players to know and learn from it cause it consists of most important as subconscious mindset & conscious mindset always not being differentiated by player. Thanks again for this information and successful helping us to be able execution of the mindset of subconscious mindset, automatic cueing. 💖 Adore this a lot my Master Tow Lowry. 🙏🏼

Excellent video

As a more vivid version of the ghost-ball method, I came up with what I call the intersecting tubes technique. I imagine two intersecting hollow tubes. Both are the exact diameter of the balls. The first tube envelops the object ball and extends outward from the object ball - both toward the pocket AND away from the pocket (kinda like a double-ended light saber with the object ball at the center). The second tube envelops the cue ball and extends toward the object ball (along the desired path). When the back side (the side away from the pocket) of the object tube intersects with the cue ball tube, it creates a 3D intersection of the tubes in your mind. The position and direction of the back side of the object tube is rigidly determined in your mind because you can't "unsee" the whole rigid tube (which extends to the pocket). The amazing thing about this technique is that your mind seems to somehow get "locked" into correct aiming because when the two tubes intersect in your mind in vivid 3D (with the ghost cue ball now "locked" into its tube while touching the object ball - while simultaneously being locked into the back end of the object ball tube), it's intuitively obvious when you're aiming "thick" or "thin". I don't know why it works, but when your aim is correct, it just seems to "lock in". I recommend this to new and intermediate players, and it reportedly has helped many. Advanced players don't need it, but it's always there as a cross check if you're unsure about your shot.

you are 'the man'! I seem to pull up one of your coaching videos that usually deals with one of the issues I'm having at the time. you're the best! thank you!

Tor, I really appreciate your videos! Do you still do the 14 day programs?

A little off topic here but this video also reminded me why Rempe is one of my favorite players.

Great video like always... He just has the great ability to never flinch...Nothen rattles that mind of his... He just wins!

Thank you for this video, Tor. Have recently picked up my cue after a 5 year break (work & health related) and tried to get the basics back. I remember that I played better before, and try to "list down" things I need to do consciously. Only after watching this video I realized that that maybe the problem, because I then remembered how my play used to be - not thinking that much and just visualize where the cue ball should go next. Will definitely try to put this mindset on my next pool session, and subscribed for more good advice. Again, thank you very much! p.s.: also didn't notice about Efren's stroke until you pointed it out - and he's my favorite player to watch! Will slowly try to incorporate that as well. 👍

I have a little short pump I do before striking the ball after my warmup strokes. If i don't do that on harder shots, I'm more likely to miss. I love that I already do everything you talked about in the video, though!

I'll always say it Efren and Earl are the best rivals to ever meet and shoot pool. Good friends and better enemies

This is an excellent video your mind control is more important then anything else. In all sports actually. There are different ways to hit each shot and like you said don't clog your brain. That is my problem you have to just visualize the shot block out the rest a very good tip is to do your practice stroke as your looking at the shot start eliminating things you cant do everything as your down on the shot. I am comparing this to tennis when running up to a shot I could do a high top spin a flat shot a drop shot and when I get up to it my brain is confused because I had so many ways to hit it that I hit it into the middle of the net It drives me crazy. In my case I stop trying to have a million ways to hit it and stick to a couple. One more thing I do is I am swinging the racket and my brain like changes it in the middle of my shot Excellent video Tor.

Great video how to get in the zone while eliminating distractions.

Very good video.

Excellent analysis of Efren's stroke and how it could be incorporated to improve your aiming and subconscious pool repertoire. New Sub.

This is great thank you

I like the subconscious take on this. Reminds me of the book The Monk...Good video

He’s great. I’ve only just discovered his amazing play.

Excellent video. I remember the first time I experienced being in the zone, about 25 years ago playing pool with some friends one Friday night. I ran three racks of 8-ball one after another, and after I finally missed it was like emerging from a trance, and I couldn´t recall one shot. Unfortunately those times don´t usually last more than one game these days. Mental visualisation is all important but what you say about practice is also true. Without practice the subconscious doesn´t have the stored memories to use for auto-pilot. It´s funny you talking about the Waggle, I´ve always thought Efren´s cue action is unique because he almost has a little wiggle of the cue before the final strike, unlike any other pro I´ve watched.

It's like he's talking.. DIRECTLY TO ME. My goodness, Tor, you're amazing..

Very nice!

Great work tor. What about s.v.b aiming l tryed by center ball that's great aiming but i can't understand for sidspin can you give us some ideas. Thank you

Superb Video 👍✔️😁

Fantastic!

I had the pleasure of watching Efren for many years when he would hang out playing pool and chess at Hard Times (now closed) in Bellflower, CA. I even gambled against him once, he gave me the 5 out lol, and I won the race to 7 for $100. Efren is the greatest ever in cueball control and kicking skill, but his one big weakness was his break. If he had a better break he would've won many more 9-ball tournaments.

Efren Reyes is the #GOAT

Well just like everything else I was already doing that an someone who I looked up to told me not to that it was wrong so I stopped and then I started missing a lot of shots and then I started hanging up balls more an more because I was overwhelmed by over thinking everything so people started telling me man you fail off but I thought they were crazy because I my mind I was playing better than ever before but it was only showing up when I was just playing for fun or playing the ghost now I understand what has happened to my game thank you so much for this video

Wow.. the legend forever

Great book

I'm gonna try it.

It's kinda funny that I'm seeing this today. Just last night I was out practicing, and at some point I just stopped thinking or trying to aim, and I immediately started running balls just by looking at the object ball, deciding where it needed to go, and then stroking at it. A lot of the time I wouldn't even glance at the cueball while sliding up or shooting. I've been struggling to really get a handle back on the game, and I had to chuckle when I realized how hard I've been making it on myself 😂

Good stuff

Fantastic video! I absolutely love all your videos. You have mad me a 10x better player.

Awesome… thanks ✌🏽

"Pleasures of small motions" talks about conscious and subconscious. I'm curious to see what you have to say differently in your book Mr. Tor. I love your videos.

@15:53 .... the site picture is going to over-cut the ball unless they have a very stiff shaft which deflects it more than most (or they hit it hard which'd exacerbate the deflection and provide no time for the swerve-back to the stroke line).