I watch a lot of these “breakdowns” and I will say this was one of my favorites. He was so personable and instills so much knowledge without coming off pompous or chauvinistic. He did a very good job of breaking down even the tiniest details.
I got a soft spot for listening to articulate experts even if the subject discussed isnt something that is very close to me. I enjoyed this and learned a few things about this game and its variations. Much appreciated.
I appreciate the way Tony explains things. He could explain how to do anything and I would be captivated, just for his patience and respect for his audience.
Shows he is a nice guy, cause this is one of the better videos in this series, usually the experts come off as not really expert enough to make it interesting or they come off as conceited. I have absolutely know interest in pool, but this video is engrossing.....
I feel like this is the first time they gave the expert featured in the video all the time he wanted to talk about his area of expertise. And it definitely makes it much better.
As a former tournament player myself, dude is dead on. I've watched a game or two of Tony playing and he's a very good tournament player. But as good of a player as he is, he may be even better here explaining various elements of the game, especially the nuanced parts, in such a way for the laymen person to understand. This is a great episode GQ.
My grandpa is master machinist. When I asked what made a master a master he told me it's their ability to explain every step so any apprentice can understand. This guy seems like a master to me.
Can you explain something for me then? The shot at the 29:00 mark, he didn't make it, so how did the next guy lose his shot? I don't understand this at all!
@@Adam.Rushing You need to see the full scene to understand the context. In the movie, Johnny (Dark haired actor) paid $5000 to Brad (blonde actor) for Brad's shot; Brad agreed. So instead of the regular shot rotation being, Johnny, Brad, Johnny, Brad etc., the rotation is, Johnny, Johnny (because he purchased this turn at the table), Johnny, Brad. (Clip starts) Johnny takes the "purchased" shot (that was originally Brad's turn), and missed. The next shot is Johnny's original turn: it's a hustle.
This reminds me of my dad. He was so patient trying to teach me pool. All the things Tony is saying sound exactly like those dad pool lectures back when I was a kid.
This guy breaks it down so well he's almost humble in the way he speaks about the game you'd never guess he is a freaking legend in the world of professional pool. Like top 10 players in the world.
@@andrewsprague4967 you probably shoot faster than I do buddy! Hope you're practicing and enjoying the game! Thanks for watching and Happy New Year to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
This was fun to watch. My aunt was a hustler or "shark" for a while. She'd walk into a pool hall, half-play, semi-flirt with the other men and get them to play. Then she'd have full control. She'd let them win big the first match, convince them to play again for maybe $5 and then play a little better, but still intentionally lose, all the while drinking whiskey and acting drunk. Then she'd say "Let's play for $100", which of course they thought was easy money. She'd break and clean the table and take the money. Was like watching magic.
That's mad! My uncle used to play Pool for a while. He'd walk into a pool hall, play a few games, limit the flirting and win most games. His name is Tony Robles, you may have heard of him.
@@tctarheelfarmin358 I wasn't stating it as in, she did things differently. I was stating in in reference to the notion that "women can't play pool", as discussed in the video. He said women most certainly can play great, to which I agreed, and elaborated with a personal anecdote.
I grew up with a pool table in our basement just outside my dad's bar he built on the end and I actually got pretty good. I also had 2 older sisters that were pretty good but they didn't get into it anywhere near as much as I did. Looking back I probably had a few friends, that are still friends to this day, simply because they heard I had a pool table in my house. I also spent a great portion of my childhood in pool halls throughout Chicago and loved every minute of it. Even the seediest places were okay; no one ever bullied you or treated you badly. Most you'd have to deal with is second hand smoke... *A LOT* of second hand smoke. Most places you'd walk in and it was almost a cliche seeing how smoke filled the room was. But all that added to the experience to be honest. No matter my age or skill level everyone in a pool hall was always respectful. People were actually incredibly friendly and would often give me unsolicited pointers if they saw me doing something wrong. Pool players are a great bunch of people and I never once saw anyone whatsoever get bullied in any way. It was always just about playing pool and having a good time. I'm sure plenty of gambling was going on but this guy is dead on accurate when he said people don't showboat, they don't act like they're a badass, they play and treat each other well. I really miss those days. This video made me feel all sorts of nostalgic. Now it's time to lookup how much a pool table costs and hope the wife doesn't stab me for thinking about getting one. 😂👍
I have played pool less than two dozen times in my life yet was enthralled by this video. The host was so interesting and explained everything so well! What a well spoken dude who really seems to know his stuff.
I'm no pool player by any means but I'll play casually with friends if there's a table around. I don't really know about the technique. That little tip about how to line yourself up using your right foot is something I never would have considered but it makes so much sense. Thanks!
I know this man and his wife Gail (also a pro player) well. Not enough great things to say about them. Tony gave me some very early lessons when I was learning to shoot at Amsterdam Billiards. They are the absolute class act of the pool world, a treasure in New York City and everywhere else. Congrats on the feature Tony! New York will miss you and Gail now that you're in Florida!
Thanks so much for your kind words and support Marron! I really appreciate it and appreciate you! Happy Holidays to you and your family and we hope to see you soon! 👍 😊 🎱 ❤️ 👪 🙏
@@pandabytes4991 he said “The most I ever made *in a trick shot*” which, as he explained earlier, is where the player can set up the balls to their liking. He made 14 or 15 under ideal circumstances.
@@Zerphses I know that he said a trick shot, which is exactly what that movie scene was. Weather or not it was "meant" to be a trick shot in the movie is a different story. Also, he kept referring to the movie scene as her making ALL the balls, which she didn't do. She left the 8 bal.
@@tonyrobles9604 You, Willie Mosconi, and Efren Reyes are living legends to me. As well as my father. Jim Smith won the '98 speed pool tournament on April 20th of that year. He broke and ran a table in 45 seconds I believe. I have recently gotten into the sport and I really like watching videos of you and Efren playing 8-ball. My dad currently uses a Lucasi Custom mystic black cue stick. I use a Viking Valhalla Grunge cue stick. Thank you for your contribution to the sport and dedication :)
@@jimmyjon9970 Thanks for your kind words buddy! I really appreciate it! Congrats to Jim on running a table in 45 seconds! Not easy to do at all! I appreciate the support and wish you and your family a Happy Holiday Season. Please say hi to Jim for me! =)
I played my first game of pool a couple months ago and have been playing pretty consistently since. This video honestly helped a lot for knowing what I’ve been doing wrong.
Oh I feel like I would have gotten stabbed for what I did if it had been irl. I was in a UK 8-ball tournament in Hustler Kings. I screwed up pretty badly on my first at table. My opponent was on pace to sweep me. He failed to sink the black ball granting me a 2nd chance. I feel so bad for them because I swept the crap out of them. That was the finals too. I won that tournament.
@@Quadraxis magnus is a phenomenal player but a poor conversationalist and isn't very great about explaining his thought process on why he thinks a move is good or poor hes also not very into chess history, id much rather someone like hikaru talk about it like levy did
I've never been very interested in pool, played it randomly growing up and haven't touched a cue in probably 10+ years, but this was one of the most interesting videos like this that GQ has put out. I stayed and kept watching completely because of Tony and his passion and knowledge for the game that you can see as he talks. I really enjoy this whole series of videos, but this is definitely one of my favorite ones, thank you Tony!
Hi Tyler! Thanks so much for the kind words and support! I really appreciate it! And thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
Been watching Tony for the better part of 20 years now on the televised tournaments. Amazing breakdowns & you can see how good he is at teaching as well as playing. Absolute Legend.
Effren "Bata" "the Magician" Reyes used to hustle in America in his younger days when he was a unknown pool player and he was beating alot of pro players, now he is considered the "GOAT" the greatest of all time.
I don't know if he hustled or not, but I do know he came here under a different name because he was so well known that no one would play him but back then they had never seen him.
Tomas! No one is a lowly player in this game! I respect every player that has ever had the courage to pick up a cue to learn how to play! Thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
When you get better than a 3 you’re going to realize how valuable you were as a 3. In my opinion, the 3 is the most valuable skill level in APA. They’re almost like gold.
The Color of Money Cue by Joss Cues is a replica of the pool cue used in the classic Martin Scorsese movie, "The Color of Money." Referred to in the movie as a Balabushka, this cue was, in fact, a Joss Cue.
Fun fact Paul Newman’s trick shots were actually made by willie mosconi “aka the greatest pool player of all time” in the hustler. Gleason was good enough to go pro and made all his own shots
Other than the masse, Willie set up the shots and Newman made them. Which, when you look at them, aren't that difficult. The cross corner combo though, no player in the world could make that shot on one try well, maybe except Efren Reyes Jr. :)
Wow this man knows the Physics behind these shots and uses common everyday language to express it. He gets things like elastic collisions and conservation of energy. This guy is so humble and I was so impressed. He's a freaking legend in pool. This is so great to get his knowledge.
While in college I played a lot on a table that only cost a quarter a game. The felt was curled in places and it had a slight tilt. You had to read the table like you read the green when putting in golf.
The Masse shot in the Hustler was performed by Willie Mosconi. Also, he was named "Fast" Eddie Felson for a reason, which explains why he was down and ready to shoot before the ball stopped rolling.
Although most pro players have a few strokes routinebefore pulling the trigger, there are outliers like O'Sullivan who usually never do pre-strokes, and just go down and shoot.
I love Tony "the Silent Assassin" Robles. Such a cool guy, I love how he's become an ambassador of pool with his personable, serious scientific approach to pool.
I´ve accually seen the 14 ball trickshot live maybe 15 years ago. Performed by Henrik Larsson, world wheelchair champion in 9 ball and world trickshot champion(i think). This was in a club in Stockholm and it amazed me and as i recall he put them up in less than 5 minutes(quite impressing seeing him "fly" around the table in his chair). He did this know and then before an audience that had hired him for the evening, like a company or so. Saw him do it a couple of times and he always missed the same ball bottom left pocket but raked it in by hand with a smile and got great laughs and applause.
My parents have had a pool table for years. After watching this video I have learned the cause of so many of my mistakes. Thank you Tony Robles! Honestly thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Poolhall junkies is good , but how they come up with those crazy shots hurts the movie for pool players that actually know the game. I would like to see a movie where they let it all be real and not create crazy shots. Pool is plenty awesome without the fake crap.
I’m a new pool player, only started playing 4 months ago, and gradually I’ve been learning more and more and getting better and better Videos with Tony have been helping me I beat one of the most talented pool players in my family on Friday, and nearly beat the best!
I worked in a pool hall for over a year, met all kinds of people. Pro's, wannabes, mostly it was people just looking for a good time but I found that it was almost always a 50/50 between men and women who came in. This dude know exactly what he's talking about and says it in such a concise way
I've been playing pool (not very well) my whole life and I learned more about good technique in this video than in decades of actually playing. Excellent narrator, great video.
I'm so glad you covered Pool Hall Junkies. For actual shooting it is one of the best depictions on film. 100% agree about the roll after the jump 8 ball bank. I remember the first time I saw it that there was NO WAY those balls would lay up as shown at the end. Still, it was needed for the story and that is what the movie is, a story first. Given the other phenomenal footage of real shots in the film I can happily let the setup for the final one slip bye.
He mentions someone who shot pool with his gripping arm to the side, instead of straight down. The famous player, Willie Moscone, who was the technical consultant for The Hustler shot that way. Very unorthodox. Willie Moscone is also the one who shot that massé.
As a woman who loves to play pool, I will admit to having the men not take me seriously when playing. And I've been told to "Let the guys play, and hang out with the women." It's terrible. Lol
I've played pool for 30 years... I've lived in Bangkok for 20 years... I ran a pool bar here and watched many, many guys get destroyed by girls who would chat with their friends, drink constantly and play with their phones while never missing a shot.
I was able to do the 1 and 9 shot when i was 15 years old and i freaked out my dad so hard we stopped playing for a minute to trying to understand how i got it in. To this day i still can't re-create that shot. I shot it so hard the 1 went in and the 9 curve in the pocket came out and rolled into the adjacent pocket. Which won me the game. It was even seen in the highlight tape at the pool hall.
I knew a girl that did EVERYTHING wrong fundamentally. She laid her hand on the table, palm and all, with all 5 fingers together, and laid her cue in the crease between her thumb and index. She also used the shortest cue in the bar, and cupped the butt of the cue, and that was how she shot. She was just such a cracked shot that she rarely missed. Looking at her, you would think she's never shot a game in her life, but she was lights out!
@@LAGxZombified I blame the movies for showing that 'tunnel finger' rest. I also blame my physics teacher for explaining that pool was all about Newton's Laws of conservation.. Plus a bit of geometry. He was a great teacher for putting physics into context and making it fun. Also improved my pool game, and ran an after school poker club. Probably the kind of teacher that would be expelled these days :)
I used to hang out at a local pool hall for hours almost every day (my wife then girlfriend worked there as a bartender) and a lot of the old bar Flys taught me some pretty neat tricks. Even day drunk and 3 times my age I never stood a chance with a few of those fellas haha
Had a similar experience. A friend and I thought we were getting pretty good at pool one summer. We would always play at this one pub and win frequently. One night we decided to go to this older, seedier place where old people play and got absolutely DESTROYED. It was extremely demoralizing lmao.
The classics like The Hustler and The Color of Money are great, but Poolhall Junkies is my favorite pool movie. Showcases some great pool as well as an epic speech by Christopher Walken.
I was disappointed they only covered the 2 shots. It should have gotten more love. And it is the greatest motivational speech ever given in a sports movie.
@@jpryan90 I've never seen Poolhall Junkies, and I wonder if anyone can explain to me why Tony says that the nine ball shot that the shooter just misses is "brilliant," and why the guy who steps up to shoot doesn't get to shoot?
@@timaloha the black haired guy hustles the blonde by egging him on and then pays $5000 to shoot the shot instead, then black haired guy goes yeah i just took your shot now i get to shoot mine and wins
I learned a lot, and enjoyed listening to him explain it. Obviously super knowledgeable and great clear speaking/presentation. Was not interested in the subject but I watched the whole thing and greatly enjoyed it!
Street Guru, thanks for watching! I'll definitely ask them about the Twilight Zone episode (one of my favorites) if they ever decide to do another one! Thanks for your feedback and Happy New Year! =)
I just watched 'The Color of Money' and it reminded me that I was pretty good at pool once upon a time. It's a great game, love playing 9 ball especially...🎱
He explained hustling in a simple movie minded way. In reality you don’t let the guy get ahead. You stall and let him catch up. But not ahead . The goal is to get the person to “go off” they only do that when they’re chasing their money
Shout out to Martin Scorsese for making his own sequel to the movie he loved when he was growing up!!!! I bet he wondered what happened to Fast Eddie Felson after The Hustler so he decided to write The Color of Money!!!!
Here's a fun fact, The Color of Money is based off the book by the same name written by Walter Tevis, the same guy who wrote the book The Queen's Gambit.
@@fudeuchi a lot of directors in the horror genre make sequels to movies they watched when they were younger, horror movies have a lot of sequels and remakes even after like 40 years
I'll always thank my dad for bringing me to poolhalls when I was younger.. Made me the player I am today.. And the guy everyone doesn't wanna play against lol.. (Not to sound like a pro player) sorry if it comes off that way lol.
I was playing a buddy and he did a kick shot with off the corner of a side pocket and sank the 2 in a corner pocket. Most incredible shot I’ve seen in person. And yeah, he won that round.
Opening line: Show boating is a no-no, it can actually get you killed if you go some places. Me, a highly paranoid person: A lot of things can get you killed in a lot of places... but did you live?
He seems a very nice and knowledgeable guy, just as I remember it watching him play here on TH-cam. He also explains the game physics and fundamentals very well. Thanks for the upload!
Great vid. I remember when I was in my 20s, we used to go to a pub and there was a female cook who used to come out and play pool with guys after her shift ended at 12 midnight. She was the only one who could consistently clear the table time after time. We used to hang around to watch her play.
I watch a lot of these “breakdowns” and I will say this was one of my favorites. He was so personable and instills so much knowledge without coming off pompous or chauvinistic. He did a very good job of breaking down even the tiniest details.
Randall, thanks so much for your kind words and support! Happy Holidays to you and your family! =)
@@tonyrobles9070 Didn’t even expect a reply! That really speaks to your character. Thanks, Tony! Happy Holidays to you and yours as well!
You watch a lot of videos with chauvinism problems?
@@tokivikerness8863 Maybe the bar environment of many pool tables taints it's image
They really find the best for these. I have heard Tony's name a few times in the past while talking about or playing pool.
I got a soft spot for listening to articulate experts even if the subject discussed isnt something that is very close to me. I enjoyed this and learned a few things about this game and its variations. Much appreciated.
Thanks Ganiscol! I really appreciate it! Thanks for watching and Happy Holidays! 👍 😊 🎱
Agreed. Well said!
@@Mchammerjam Thanks for watching and Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
That’s why I listen to Rogan. I have no idea about most of the subjects they discuss, but it’s so interesting.
literally my #1 turn on lol
For those of you who don’t know, this guy is a living legend among pool players!!
Thanks so much for your kind words buddy! I really appreciate it and wish you and your family a Joyous Holiday Season! 🎄 ❄ ⛄ 🎅
@@tonyrobles9604 merry Christmas.
Would have been better if they put some UK 8 pool/blackball as well. Maybe next time with Gareth Potts
@@hamzafairs3262 Thanks Hanza! Merry Christmas to you and your family as well! 👍 😊
But every PRO players favorite pro player is Efren Reyes.
During these 30 minutes, I have learned much more about pool than in my whole life. Thanks to this exceptional yet humble guy.
Tony Robles, I’ve met him on a cruise and he showed me some tips, super great guy.
Great player, great commentator, absolute lover of the game.
I appreciate the way Tony explains things. He could explain how to do anything and I would be captivated, just for his patience and respect for his audience.
I've met Tony twice and he was the nicest, most humble guy you could meet in the pool world..Nice video Tony!
Shows he is a nice guy, cause this is one of the better videos in this series, usually the experts come off as not really expert enough to make it interesting or they come off as conceited.
I have absolutely know interest in pool, but this video is engrossing.....
Nobody believes you Mark
Agreed. I played in his NAPL league at Steinway Billiards for a few years. Good guy all around.
Wholesome
I met the magician himself, Efren Bata Reyes.
I feel like this is the first time they gave the expert featured in the video all the time he wanted to talk about his area of expertise. And it definitely makes it much better.
As a former tournament player myself, dude is dead on. I've watched a game or two of Tony playing and he's a very good tournament player. But as good of a player as he is, he may be even better here explaining various elements of the game, especially the nuanced parts, in such a way for the laymen person to understand. This is a great episode GQ.
My grandpa is master machinist. When I asked what made a master a master he told me it's their ability to explain every step so any apprentice can understand. This guy seems like a master to me.
Now imagine Earl Strickland hosting. He’s go off on his life stories about how he got himself safety’d and beat because of that.
He’s used to doing the commentating during pool tournaments so I’m sure this was second nature. Good for him
Can you explain something for me then? The shot at the 29:00 mark, he didn't make it, so how did the next guy lose his shot? I don't understand this at all!
@@Adam.Rushing You need to see the full scene to understand the context. In the movie, Johnny (Dark haired actor) paid $5000 to Brad (blonde actor) for Brad's shot; Brad agreed. So instead of the regular shot rotation being, Johnny, Brad, Johnny, Brad etc., the rotation is, Johnny, Johnny (because he purchased this turn at the table), Johnny, Brad. (Clip starts) Johnny takes the "purchased" shot (that was originally Brad's turn), and missed. The next shot is Johnny's original turn: it's a hustle.
This reminds me of my dad. He was so patient trying to teach me pool. All the things Tony is saying sound exactly like those dad pool lectures back when I was a kid.
Hi CJ! I'm really glad to hear this brought back memories of you and your Dad! Thanks so much for watching and have a fantastic day! 👍 😊 🎱
This guy breaks it down so well he's almost humble in the way he speaks about the game you'd never guess he is a freaking legend in the world of professional pool. Like top 10 players in the world.
He passes his knowledge so well that It makes me feel I could master the game. Props to this legend
Thanks Alejandro! I really appreciate your kind words and support buddy! Thanks for watching and Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
Swear
I would like to play pool with him just to see how quick he can win lol
@@andrewsprague4967 you probably shoot faster than I do buddy! Hope you're practicing and enjoying the game! Thanks for watching and Happy New Year to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
This was fun to watch. My aunt was a hustler or "shark" for a while. She'd walk into a pool hall, half-play, semi-flirt with the other men and get them to play. Then she'd have full control. She'd let them win big the first match, convince them to play again for maybe $5 and then play a little better, but still intentionally lose, all the while drinking whiskey and acting drunk. Then she'd say "Let's play for $100", which of course they thought was easy money. She'd break and clean the table and take the money. Was like watching magic.
Buddy I don't mean to hate here but that's literally what every pool hustler does lol
That's mad! My uncle used to play Pool for a while. He'd walk into a pool hall, play a few games, limit the flirting and win most games. His name is Tony Robles, you may have heard of him.
@@tctarheelfarmin358 I wasn't stating it as in, she did things differently. I was stating in in reference to the notion that "women can't play pool", as discussed in the video. He said women most certainly can play great, to which I agreed, and elaborated with a personal anecdote.
Sink the Pink
@@tctarheelfarmin358 and dude he's just also telling a story. Way better than your comment BUDDY.
just learned more about pool in 30 minutes than I have in 30 years
Hi Warlord, thanks for watching and Happy New Year to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
Then that was your choice
Pool is an incredible game and more people should play!
I grew up with a pool table in our basement just outside my dad's bar he built on the end and I actually got pretty good. I also had 2 older sisters that were pretty good but they didn't get into it anywhere near as much as I did. Looking back I probably had a few friends, that are still friends to this day, simply because they heard I had a pool table in my house.
I also spent a great portion of my childhood in pool halls throughout Chicago and loved every minute of it. Even the seediest places were okay; no one ever bullied you or treated you badly. Most you'd have to deal with is second hand smoke... *A LOT* of second hand smoke. Most places you'd walk in and it was almost a cliche seeing how smoke filled the room was. But all that added to the experience to be honest.
No matter my age or skill level everyone in a pool hall was always respectful. People were actually incredibly friendly and would often give me unsolicited pointers if they saw me doing something wrong. Pool players are a great bunch of people and I never once saw anyone whatsoever get bullied in any way. It was always just about playing pool and having a good time. I'm sure plenty of gambling was going on but this guy is dead on accurate when he said people don't showboat, they don't act like they're a badass, they play and treat each other well.
I really miss those days. This video made me feel all sorts of nostalgic. Now it's time to lookup how much a pool table costs and hope the wife doesn't stab me for thinking about getting one. 😂👍
Something about this speaker I like, I think its that he comes off as being very humble yet skilled in his craft
I have played pool less than two dozen times in my life yet was enthralled by this video. The host was so interesting and explained everything so well! What a well spoken dude who really seems to know his stuff.
Jaye, thanks for watching and thanks for the kind words! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
I'm no pool player by any means but I'll play casually with friends if there's a table around. I don't really know about the technique. That little tip about how to line yourself up using your right foot is something I never would have considered but it makes so much sense. Thanks!
Hi CanehdianSteve, I'm glad you enjoyed the video and got something out of it. Thanks for watching and Happy New Year to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
what timestamp is that?
I know this man and his wife Gail (also a pro player) well. Not enough great things to say about them. Tony gave me some very early lessons when I was learning to shoot at Amsterdam Billiards. They are the absolute class act of the pool world, a treasure in New York City and everywhere else. Congrats on the feature Tony! New York will miss you and Gail now that you're in Florida!
Thanks so much for your kind words and support Marron! I really appreciate it and appreciate you! Happy Holidays to you and your family and we hope to see you soon!
👍 😊 🎱 ❤️ 👪 🙏
@@tonyrobles9604 sry I have to question you but are you really who you say you are?
@@Jackdaniels19894 I certainly hope so buddy! I would be in trouble otherwise! Thanks for watching and Happy New Year! =)
It’s always really interesting to listen to a real expert in their field get into the finer details
This guy is fantastic. Great listen beginning to end.
The experts never tell
GQ, this is one of my favorite series! You find the greatest, informative entertaining professionals in these videos! I love them all!
"You have a better shot of hitting the sun with a snowball" 😂😂😂
Chizoba..... 😂 😁 😀
🤣🤣🤣
I'll take that bet! (And I wonder why I'm broke)
I started dying as soon as he said that 🤣🤣🤣
I mean she is meant to be the devil... So supernatural pool powers are implied.
"The most I ever made in one shot was 13 or 14 balls." He delivered that line in such a humble way! Legend.
Hi Grant! Thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
and in that scene, the person only made 14 of the 15, and he called it impossible...
@@pandabytes4991 he said “The most I ever made *in a trick shot*” which, as he explained earlier, is where the player can set up the balls to their liking. He made 14 or 15 under ideal circumstances.
@@Zerphses I know that he said a trick shot, which is exactly what that movie scene was. Weather or not it was "meant" to be a trick shot in the movie is a different story. Also, he kept referring to the movie scene as her making ALL the balls, which she didn't do. She left the 8 bal.
Ronnie clears the table like it's a walk in a park.
Nice that pool is getting some big exposure here with GQ! And you couldn’t have picked a better representative of the game than Tony Robles.
JBird! Thanks so much for your kind words and support! I really appreciate it buddy! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
@@tonyrobles9604 You, Willie Mosconi, and Efren Reyes are living legends to me. As well as my father. Jim Smith won the '98 speed pool tournament on April 20th of that year. He broke and ran a table in 45 seconds I believe. I have recently gotten into the sport and I really like watching videos of you and Efren playing 8-ball. My dad currently uses a Lucasi Custom mystic black cue stick. I use a Viking Valhalla Grunge cue stick. Thank you for your contribution to the sport and dedication :)
@@jimmyjon9970 Thanks for your kind words buddy! I really appreciate it! Congrats to Jim on running a table in 45 seconds! Not easy to do at all! I appreciate the support and wish you and your family a Happy Holiday Season. Please say hi to Jim for me! =)
I don't know if its just my locations but good pool halls are closing down left and right and that was even before covid.
They should of gotten efren reyes but he can barely speak English lol
I played my first game of pool a couple months ago and have been playing pretty consistently since. This video honestly helped a lot for knowing what I’ve been doing wrong.
"showboating can get you killed"
as someone who had their neck broken on a pool table at 19 i agree
I’ve seen a guy pull a knife over pool.
Oh I feel like I would have gotten stabbed for what I did if it had been irl. I was in a UK 8-ball tournament in Hustler Kings. I screwed up pretty badly on my first at table. My opponent was on pace to sweep me. He failed to sink the black ball granting me a 2nd chance. I feel so bad for them because I swept the crap out of them. That was the finals too. I won that tournament.
Oh no. Did you die?
@@MartKencuda Only a little.
You can do that if you don't hustle but if you do is dangerous
I could listen to him talk about pool for hours, very informative breakdown
Thanks for watching AJ! I really appreciate your kind words and support buddy! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
Pro chess player breaks down the queen's gambit
And Searching for Bobby Fisher and Queen of Katwe
up
Let's get Magnus Carlsen on it!
@@Quadraxis magnus is a phenomenal player but a poor conversationalist and isn't very great about explaining his thought process on why he thinks a move is good or poor hes also not very into chess history, id much rather someone like hikaru talk about it like levy did
Fun connection: water tevis, who wrote the book queen's gambit, also wrote "the hustler" and "the color of money." so maybe?
People have no idea how insane this dude actually is at pool
Remee, thanks buddy! I really appreciate it! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊
@@tonyrobles9604 you too buddy, merry christmas!
Just goes to show you that any special Ed kid can master the game. He doesn’t know what tf he’s talking about.
@Badger1 how about you post a video of your game and we can rip you apart!
You don't get a nickname like the Silent Assassin by being a banger
That might be the best Breakdown video I’ve seen. His explanations are very concise and very simple to understand. Excellent video
to call this man a "pro" is a bit of an understatement
I've never been very interested in pool, played it randomly growing up and haven't touched a cue in probably 10+ years, but this was one of the most interesting videos like this that GQ has put out. I stayed and kept watching completely because of Tony and his passion and knowledge for the game that you can see as he talks. I really enjoy this whole series of videos, but this is definitely one of my favorite ones, thank you Tony!
Hi Tyler! Thanks so much for the kind words and support! I really appreciate it! And thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
@@tonyrobles9070 hello your video was really engrossing. Thank you.🤠
@9:45 "Breaking is when you strike the cueball as hard as possible"...
...Corey Duel has left the chat 😁
Been watching Tony for the better part of 20 years now on the televised tournaments. Amazing breakdowns & you can see how good he is at teaching as well as playing. Absolute Legend.
Thanks for your kind words and support Zoidberg! I really appreciate it! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
This guy seemed so genuinely nice and whilst being informative, wasn’t condescending whatsoever. What a guy!
Effren "Bata" "the Magician" Reyes used to hustle in America in his younger days when he was a unknown pool player and he was beating alot of pro players, now he is considered the "GOAT" the greatest of all time.
I don't know if he hustled or not, but I do know he came here under a different name because he was so well known that no one would play him but back then they had never seen him.
He's not the GOAT, Cesar Morales is the GOAT
The Silent Assassin himself!!! Much love Tony!! Thank you for the years of entertainment and great pool
Ethan! Thanks buddy and thanks for watching! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
I don’t give a f*ck about pool but I watched the entire because of the host
Very interesting
John, thanks so much for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
@@tonyrobles9604😊
@@mrsjmillion Thanks Jackie! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
Same
@@iChefTheImpossible thanks for watching and Happy Holidays! 👍 😊 🎱
As someone who is a lowly 3 on my league team, Tony’s videos have been a godsend for me to (very slowly) get better.
This guy is a legend.
Tomas! No one is a lowly player in this game! I respect every player that has ever had the courage to pick up a cue to learn how to play! Thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
When you get better than a 3 you’re going to realize how valuable you were as a 3. In my opinion, the 3 is the most valuable skill level in APA. They’re almost like gold.
@@sierraleicody2787 Eh, I just feel awful when my games last over an hour and I'm holding up my team =/
The Color of Money Cue by Joss Cues is a replica of the pool cue used in the classic Martin Scorsese movie, "The Color of Money." Referred to in the movie as a Balabushka, this cue was, in fact, a Joss Cue.
Joss still sells that cue model. Sensibly, no one trusted Tom Cruise with a real Balabushka cue.
We needed the Fresh Prince of Bel Air scene where Uncle Phil Hustled the Hustler and won 9 fat Benjamin’s lol 😝
R.I.P James Avery 🙏
Geoffrey, break Out Lucille... ;)
I'm so glad you covered "Poolhall Junkies!" One of the most underrated movies, in my opinion.
Love that flick
Definitely. Christopher Walken was so awesome in it and the pool playing was top notch.
You got yo shoes on your feet!
And then he doesn't cover the coolest shot in the film. Bummer.
The hard cut 8 ball bank side pocket. I practised that shot for weeks. Came close a couple times. Finally gave up.
Legend
Thanks Dupree! Love your videos buddy! Happy Holidays to you and your family! =)
Fun fact Paul Newman’s trick shots were actually made by willie mosconi “aka the greatest pool player of all time” in the hustler. Gleason was good enough to go pro and made all his own shots
Other than the masse, Willie set up the shots and Newman made them. Which, when you look at them, aren't that difficult. The cross corner combo though, no player in the world could make that shot on one try well, maybe except Efren Reyes Jr. :)
@@jamesmorris9384 Efren reyes Jr. def could. They don't call him The Magician for nothing
I was looking to see if someone would make your comment. I thought that it would be mentioned in the video.
Even more fun fact: Willie Mosconi is in the film. He’s the guy being handed the bets to hold when Eddie is playing Jackie Gleason.
@@oldgoat50 Yes it’s well known. I added it since it wasn’t yet mentioned in this comment thread.
His explanations are so clear, very enjoyable to watch and learn!
Wow this man knows the Physics behind these shots and uses common everyday language to express it. He gets things like elastic collisions and conservation of energy. This guy is so humble and I was so impressed. He's a freaking legend in pool. This is so great to get his knowledge.
Thanks so much for your kind words Dave. I really appreciate it and am glad to hear you enjoyed the video.
While in college I played a lot on a table that only cost a quarter a game. The felt was curled in places and it had a slight tilt. You had to read the table like you read the green when putting in golf.
The Masse shot in the Hustler was performed by Willie Mosconi. Also, he was named "Fast" Eddie Felson for a reason, which explains why he was down and ready to shoot before the ball stopped rolling.
Thanks for the info and thanks for watching! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
Y ES! I was looking for this comment. Fun fact, Moscone shows up at the end of the movie when Fats says "Give him the stake Willie."
Although most pro players have a few strokes routinebefore pulling the trigger, there are outliers like O'Sullivan who usually never do pre-strokes, and just go down and shoot.
This is one the best of these videos. You can tell he knows so much, but he is explaining everything in a way someone like me would understand.
Thanks for your kind words and support Jon! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video! Tanks for watching and Happy Holidays! 👍 😊 🎱
I love Tony "the Silent Assassin" Robles. Such a cool guy, I love how he's become an ambassador of pool with his personable, serious scientific approach to pool.
I´ve accually seen the 14 ball trickshot live maybe 15 years ago. Performed by Henrik Larsson, world wheelchair champion in 9 ball and world trickshot champion(i think). This was in a club in Stockholm and it amazed me and as i recall he put them up in less than 5 minutes(quite impressing seeing him "fly" around the table in his chair). He did this know and then before an audience that had hired him for the evening, like a company or so. Saw him do it a couple of times and he always missed the same ball bottom left pocket but raked it in by hand with a smile and got great laughs and applause.
My parents have had a pool table for years. After watching this video I have learned the cause of so many of my mistakes. Thank you Tony Robles! Honestly thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Mark, thanks for your kind words and support! I really appreciate it buddy! Happy Holidays to you and your family as well! 👍 😊 🎱
Good breakdowns. My cue hasn't come out of the case in 2 decades, this brought back some memories of pool halls long gone.
Thanks for watching Matt! Hopefully you'll get a chance to play again soon. Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
Pool hall junkies is an epic underrated movie.
Yeah, I was hoping he would get more into pool. This was just surface stuff.
Yo, Tony, look up the carnivore diet. You're porking up a little.
The Lion story was epic!!!
Poolhall junkies is good , but how they come up with those crazy shots hurts the movie for pool players that actually know the game. I would like to see a movie where they let it all be real and not create crazy shots. Pool is plenty awesome without the fake crap.
@@brentmatthew2155 agreed. Color of money is good butt too many flashy fast moving shots.
I’m a new pool player, only started playing 4 months ago, and gradually I’ve been learning more and more and getting better and better
Videos with Tony have been helping me
I beat one of the most talented pool players in my family on Friday, and nearly beat the best!
You guys don't even know how many times my dad would turn on the TV just to see this guy Play pool his skills were legendary
I worked in a pool hall for over a year, met all kinds of people. Pro's, wannabes, mostly it was people just looking for a good time but I found that it was almost always a 50/50 between men and women who came in. This dude know exactly what he's talking about and says it in such a concise way
Hi Captain! Thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
@@tonyrobles9070 you too, buddy:)
I've watched televised tournaments. Very egalitarian.
I've been playing pool (not very well) my whole life and I learned more about good technique in this video than in decades of actually playing. Excellent narrator, great video.
Hi TheOneTrueJack! Thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
I’m glad he discussed pool hall junkies...I love that movie
SAME
Hands down my favorite pool movie.
Same!!!!
@@sierraleicody2787 awesome movie
Same! Even though he has bad form, it's one of my favorite pool movies lol
I could listen to this guy talk about pool all day - legend
Tony got game for sure. He was a solid pro. Never great great but he had his moments.
I don't think they could've chosen a better pro for this breakdown! Great vid!
Thanks so much for your kind words and support M2! I really appreciate it! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
If you wanted it to be more fun the Earl Strickland would be better.
I'm so glad you covered Pool Hall Junkies. For actual shooting it is one of the best depictions on film. 100% agree about the roll after the jump 8 ball bank. I remember the first time I saw it that there was NO WAY those balls would lay up as shown at the end. Still, it was needed for the story and that is what the movie is, a story first. Given the other phenomenal footage of real shots in the film I can happily let the setup for the final one slip bye.
Hi Kenneth! Thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
Always had the same opinion about Poolhall Junkies. Also it’s great to see you Tony. Hope all is well. It’s been a while since the Amsterdam days.
He mentions someone who shot pool with his gripping arm to the side, instead of straight down. The famous player, Willie Moscone, who was the technical consultant for The Hustler shot that way. Very unorthodox. Willie Moscone is also the one who shot that massé.
As a woman who loves to play pool, I will admit to having the men not take me seriously when playing. And I've been told to "Let the guys play, and hang out with the women." It's terrible. Lol
Not terrible at all. That's a great start to a good hustle...
I've played pool for 30 years...
I've lived in Bangkok for 20 years...
I ran a pool bar here and watched many, many guys get destroyed by girls who would chat with their friends, drink constantly and play with their phones while never missing a shot.
I don’t believe you. Do you live in a Disney movie?
Pool hall junkies is just one of the best movies ever.
I was able to do the 1 and 9 shot when i was 15 years old and i freaked out my dad so hard we stopped playing for a minute to trying to understand how i got it in. To this day i still can't re-create that shot. I shot it so hard the 1 went in and the 9 curve in the pocket came out and rolled into the adjacent pocket. Which won me the game. It was even seen in the highlight tape at the pool hall.
I knew a girl that did EVERYTHING wrong fundamentally. She laid her hand on the table, palm and all, with all 5 fingers together, and laid her cue in the crease between her thumb and index. She also used the shortest cue in the bar, and cupped the butt of the cue, and that was how she shot. She was just such a cracked shot that she rarely missed. Looking at her, you would think she's never shot a game in her life, but she was lights out!
I don’t think you play pool a lot because that’s how you play when you can hold a cue properly
@@LAGxZombified I blame the movies for showing that 'tunnel finger' rest. I also blame my physics teacher for explaining that pool was all about Newton's Laws of conservation.. Plus a bit of geometry. He was a great teacher for putting physics into context and making it fun. Also improved my pool game, and ran an after school poker club. Probably the kind of teacher that would be expelled these days :)
@@brolohalflemming7042 I just find it a bit funny that the guy is criticising a girls positioning when he doesn’t know how to hold a que 😂
Dude that’s everything right... and the size of cue, weight etc is all preference
I’m honestly curious what you think everything “right” was
@@matts5247 probably squeezes the que round with his index finger 😂
I used to hang out at a local pool hall for hours almost every day (my wife then girlfriend worked there as a bartender) and a lot of the old bar Flys taught me some pretty neat tricks. Even day drunk and 3 times my age I never stood a chance with a few of those fellas haha
Had a similar experience. A friend and I thought we were getting pretty good at pool one summer. We would always play at this one pub and win frequently. One night we decided to go to this older, seedier place where old people play and got absolutely DESTROYED. It was extremely demoralizing lmao.
Anyone else feel like they just took a masterclass on the subject of pool? I did, great info all around!
You must’ve been talking about the hurricane with the crooked stroke
Bruh how you not gonna include Drake and Josh and Uncle Phil’s skills in Fresh Prince
Fun fact: Drake Bell's mom is Robin Dodson, a female pool player back in the 1980s and early 1990s.
@@SlickRick4EVER that's correct! I know Robin well! She's a former world champion too! 👍 😊 🎱
huh
An excuse for having him back on, great host, loved his video.
I was also waiting for... Lucille, lol
The classics like The Hustler and The Color of Money are great, but Poolhall Junkies is my favorite pool movie. Showcases some great pool as well as an epic speech by Christopher Walken.
I was disappointed they only covered the 2 shots. It should have gotten more love. And it is the greatest motivational speech ever given in a sports movie.
agreed!, a very underrated movie with some great actors and performances
@@jpryan90 I've never seen Poolhall Junkies, and I wonder if anyone can explain to me why Tony says that the nine ball shot that the shooter just misses is "brilliant," and why the guy who steps up to shoot doesn't get to shoot?
@@timaloha the black haired guy hustles the blonde by egging him on and then pays $5000 to shoot the shot instead, then black haired guy goes yeah i just took your shot now i get to shoot mine and wins
"I'm a millionaire, I lose 80 grand? I go get another 80 grand. I think it's you that's scared!!"
Practically an instructional video, and I mean that in the best possible way. Well done. Seeing all the classic pool scenes was essentially a bonus.
Hi Harold! Thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
@@tonyrobles9070 Happy New Year to you as well!
I love this guy, I know nothing about pool, but I love the way he's presented and presenting the subject
Tony is the real deal !! And a great guy … he is a perfect representative of the game and it’s different situations!!
I learned a lot, and enjoyed listening to him explain it. Obviously super knowledgeable and great clear speaking/presentation. Was not interested in the subject but I watched the whole thing and greatly enjoyed it!
iChef, I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
NEED A PART 2
ALSO INCLUDE THAT ONE TWILIGHT ZONE EPISODE
Street Guru, thanks for watching! I'll definitely ask them about the Twilight Zone episode (one of my favorites) if they ever decide to do another one! Thanks for your feedback and Happy New Year! =)
I just watched 'The Color of Money' and it reminded me that I was pretty good at pool once upon a time. It's a great game, love playing 9 ball especially...🎱
ChucksterOLove, thanks for watching and Happy New Year! =)
He explained hustling in a simple movie minded way. In reality you don’t let the guy get ahead. You stall and let him catch up. But not ahead .
The goal is to get the person to “go off” they only do that when they’re chasing their money
it seems to me robles has actually spent time in bars and real pool halls, not just the fancy places they call pool halls that most hang out in now
I'm glad our sport is getting this exposure
Hi Christian, thanks for watching and Happy New Year to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
He said Billiards is played with no pockets , is that right?
Shout out to Martin Scorsese for making his own sequel to the movie he loved when he was growing up!!!! I bet he wondered what happened to Fast Eddie Felson after The Hustler so he decided to write The Color of Money!!!!
Here's a fun fact, The Color of Money is based off the book by the same name written by Walter Tevis, the same guy who wrote the book The Queen's Gambit.
A lot of directors do that especially for horror movies
@@ethancooper1560 do what?
@@fudeuchi a lot of directors in the horror genre make sequels to movies they watched when they were younger, horror movies have a lot of sequels and remakes even after like 40 years
Shame that the current Blu-ray for Color Of Money is atrocious, so dark and scrubbed of grain and color!
Love listening to a pro expound on the thing he's recognized as being top of his field in
He's so passionate and knowledgeble about the art and science of pool!
This is a great series...but this is the best video out of the series
TONY ROBLES IS THE MAN!!!!!!!
So glad I came across these videos. Always great to listen to someone wisdom and experience explain things.
Hi Justin! Thanks so much for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video! 👍 😊 🎱
One of the best movie breakdowns. Enjoyed it a lot.
This guy's nickname is the "silent assassin"
So cool. Great vid
Ryan, thanks for watching and Happy New Year! =)
I'll always thank my dad for bringing me to poolhalls when I was younger.. Made me the player I am today.. And the guy everyone doesn't wanna play against lol.. (Not to sound like a pro player) sorry if it comes off that way lol.
I was playing a buddy and he did a kick shot with off the corner of a side pocket and sank the 2 in a corner pocket. Most incredible shot I’ve seen in person. And yeah, he won that round.
Opening line:
Show boating is a no-no, it can actually get you killed if you go some places.
Me, a highly paranoid person:
A lot of things can get you killed in a lot of places... but did you live?
🤣🤣🤣
GQ, you guys need to get Daniel Negreanu to critique poker movies and scenes! I’d watch that a million times!
When he called the guy that had pocket aces *mind blown*
Daniel Negrano could also critique pool movies as well.
He actually does this on his own youtube channel.
I haven’t followed Tony before but I will now. He seems like a great guy.
Alvin, thanks for your kind words and support and thanks for watching! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 👍 😊 🎱
@@tonyrobles9604 We some content on your page my friend. Do some instructional stuff as well as mixing in your matches. I would personally love that.
@@alvinfigueroa3144 Hope to do something like that in the future! Thanks for the feedback buddy! I really appreciate it! =)
I loved watching Tony play.
Maybe some day I’ll stumble across Robles at griffs here in Vegas. It’s fun watching the pros play and also making money on the side.
He seems a very nice and knowledgeable guy, just as I remember it watching him play here on TH-cam. He also explains the game physics and fundamentals very well. Thanks for the upload!
Benny, thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
The hustler is one of my favorite movies of all time.
I could have easily watched another hour of this. Super interesting, thanks.
Christopher, thanks for watching! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year! =)
Man I'm disappointed y'all didn't include Uncle Phil hustling the hustlers. But great video. Tony is an absolute pro
Great vid. I remember when I was in my 20s, we used to go to a pub and there was a female cook who used to come out and play pool with guys after her shift ended at 12 midnight. She was the only one who could consistently clear the table time after time. We used to hang around to watch her play.