Earl Strickland - Pool my way

In a world... better yet; during a time... when Earl Strickland could keep his composure,, he was great and seemingly unbeatable. Still hard to beat 20 years later though! Glad to see he got rid of some of his antics like snapping a cue when things aren't going his way.
Love the haircut and the cheesiness of some of the scenes here :-D

[@franktanno7902]

Earl is a true champion and legend despite his flaws....We all have them...!

[@rickharrison3522]

He is an asshole lmao.

[@mr.s1961]

@Frank Tanno then no need to talk about what is very normal and common. Instead, you should have just commented "Earl is a TRUE champion and LEGEND." Stop being so negative nancy

[@krølle-1]

@@mr.s1961 lol you are negative to him.

[@TheeMcDonger]

Earl has made some amazing comebacks, and some of the greatest shots I have ever seen.

[@letsgonow5641]

Me and a friend meet him once about 6 years ago. He was cool to us.

[@CR0Wnembourg]

so lucky guys.

[@britishcarfan9601]

@@CR0Wnembourg I met Earl Strickland on 12/27/2021 and he was really nice to me with was great. But his attitude sometimes can make a great comedy show lol 😂

[@rodneylinville8445]

He is certainly one of the All time Greats, like all sports very hard to have the GOAT debate. But he absolutely is a Champion and the best shot maker to ever play IMHOP

[@cnphoto]

Love the cheesy smile lol

[@mr.s1961]

Earl is a true champion and legend and has no flaws.. he is made perfect as he is.

[@ammoalamo6485]

Legend: Back when Sigel was the top American 9-ball player (there was no one else playing high stakes 9-ball except Americans), a friend of his set up a 9-ball game with some young hotshot. Sigel was a true champion, at the top of his game, not worried about matching up with anyone, much less some hick from the sticks. He and his guy drove forever on the S Carolina backroads, finally pulling up to a barn in a field. They went inside and found one old pool table sitting on a dirt floor. The challenger was some unknown by the name of Earl Strickland, who astounded them by playing barefoot, and holding his own against the mighty Mike Sigel all day and into the night. Sigel eventually pulled up, he had a long drive back to his base, he realized he wasn't going to beat this Strickland character easily, and he needed to polish his wingtips. Neither party won, which was in itself a great victory for young Strickland - to be able to play head to head with the world's best and stay even was quite a feat. Barefoot and in a dirt-floored barn was just icing on the cake. Back then they played push-out 9-ball, which was a much better game of 9-ball than one-foul ball in hand they developed to speed the game up for TV and video. It made 9-ball a game for the thinking shotmaker. which fit Earl to a t. No doubt they played on a fat pocket sixties-era table, maybe even with mud balls. There weren't any break cues, or cue extensions, and the cloth was slow and nappy, not the fast smooth Simonis used today.

[@Crazeyfor67]

His power stroke is a thing of beauty.

[@mickmcknight162]

Fair play to Earl, I never knew how much talent he had. After, he was getting "crabbed" a lot in Europe, but, in fairness he's a magnificent pocket billiard player.

[@dcmtrader]

"The Pearl" Most entertaining player in the game, and a crazy genius.

[@mexico864]

First time I have ever seen earl smile.

[@britishcarfan9601]

Lol 😂

[@clydehinman7810]

The thing I like about Earl is he never gets mad, he never loses his cool, he never takes advantage of bad calls, he gets loud on purpose to anger his opponent, he is sober 24/7, he never cheats a friend and he has a life outside of pool. Good wholesome person who has beaten everyone in the world. Thank you Earl Strickland for always being you. Only you can be you and you do it well. Yours truly Johnathon Doe --from Nit Billiards

[@lars4315]

You sound like an annoying little bitch.

[@randybuja]

About half of that is wrong but whatever God bless

[@clydehinman7810]

@@randybuja I was being sarcastic. Earl is complete asshole and won't commit to a big cash match with his own cash. In other words he won't put his money where his mouth is.

[@britishcarfan9601]

Who ever is reading this comment, I went to see Earl Strickland on 12/27/2021 in Washington D.C. I recorded some amazing trick shots that he made. I like how he can just sit there and tell 100 stories and still run out a table in a couple of seconds.

[@robdetuinman2]

Where was that?

[@britishcarfan9601]

@@robdetuinman2 Washington D.C aka in Maryland

[@robdetuinman2]

I understand, but which club?

[@britishcarfan9601]

@@robdetuinman2 the place is called Street light Billiards Academy located in Alexandria, Virginia.

[@robdetuinman2]

Oh that's a great place! I've seen Efren there a few months ago and Roland Garcia and Jeanette Lee. Great memorabilia! That place is a little far away for me but its a cool hidden gem with 9ft Diamond tables that are actually being kept well! The guys there said it's $150 a month for unlimited play, dag and night. Man, I wish it was closer, I'd play there every day lol

[@dannysmith785]

38 minutes of Earl being nice??? I feel wierd now

[@Misled57]

Most good pool players are never in a good mood because they are never happy with how they are playing ! It's what makes them good !

[@julyzerg1]

+Dan Holt Feel so good now LOL

[@ziegfredabustan9168]

Danny Smith p

[@dudonggumball4368]

THis was when earl was still sane.

[@bunkman64]

Really, I feel like I need a shower.

[@millionairejh]

i want earl to make a new video right now with all the knowledge he has now with advanced tips

[@OP-oj9od]

Yes I would like it to include tips on accessories and audience control.

[@HC7-MA]

Oskari Päiviö - Yes, I need to learn to use duct tape on my fingers properly.

[@blueak3339]

Lol

[@danholt3608]

FROM A POOR FARM BOY TO THE TOP 9-BALL PLAYER IN THE WORLD...WHAT A TRIP!

[@capacola262743]

WOW!!!!!!!!! douche bag.

[@TNskinny]

@@capacola262743 Got to love all the haters. Bet you couldn't run to the fridge much less a rack.

[@genefogarty5395]

The GOAT without question, and also nutty as a squirrel. Then again we all are, but only he can lay claim to the first one.

[@louienineball4184]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE GAME.

[@hripalau]

A fantastic tutorial, thanks for posting. Now practice, practice, practice.....

[@davidsund9643]

practise, practise, practise...

[@charlotte240]

This the United States of America, we don't speak the queen's English 'round here.

[@chrisgroves255]

you know it I know it and Earl knows it , Earls the best ever.

[@tomburns890]

Good video great stories.

[@superstringcheese]

What a player. No matter his personality, he made his mark on the game, that's for sure. Sure is creepy when he smiles after those shots though.

[@humanentity2214]

superstringcheese lol yeah, he looks like a serial killer

[@RyanJacksonElectrical]

I love how he smiles after every make, like he just won a bet against you. :D

[@MJH211]

Earls haircuts are brutal. His skills are sick tho

[@pedropicapiedra3598]

I feel like Earl was told to smile after finishing a shot.

[@andrewmaning9522]

pool was great in these days we need a return

[@mariogranda4000]

My sincerest congratulations dear Earl a great world pool player, a great player greetings from Ecuador. Mario a big hug ...

[@allgood6760]

Insane stuff.. I love it.. Thanks 👍🇳🇿

[@edgar95035]

This Guy is a Pool Genius

[@clintonehrhardtsr122]

do u have any video of Earl from the 80s?hes so much fun to watch,that smile is awesome,lol

[@claytetraindavis2103]

We all need to go to the table and practise what we’ve learned

[@cosmicraysshotsintothelight]

OMG! only THREE stances! Hahahahaha! In Khaki slacks before wrinkle free era! So funny. I hear a lot about open bridges. Willie Mosconi said that whenever possible the only bridge one should use is a closed bridge. His "loop bridge" I think came from his loopy brain. I have never needed to shoot with an open or "V" or vee bridge... ever. Because I read Mosconi back in 1970.

[@polynikes5631]

Thank you for making this corny yet informative tutorial video, Earl.

[@sgtjeff56]

I met Earl at Steinway Billiards last November and on the spur of the moment asked him for a lesson. He was expensive but Steinway has an ATM. I changed my bridge by positioning my fingers differently and changed my stance, made me bend my knees each time. At the time I thought I was wasting my money but I remembered the knees and the new bridge when I shoot and within a month my Skill levels in both APA and NAPL went up. Unfortunately it's hard for me to regularly go to Steinway but I know Tony Robles and plan on asking him for lessons. BTW, Earl was a perfect gentleman.

[@capacola262743]

jew.

[@27461Andy]

Could you get me in touch with him?

[@capacola262743]

why, do you want to blow him??? sissy-boy!! hahaha.

[@timbunm9388]

Andy Arsene yea he shoots out of a place in Pennsylvania now

[@BilliardsLover]

Yes, Earl's stance is a trait that I noticed very early on, mainly because I naturally share the trait, while most pools players seem to be more stiff-legged. Even some great players, e.g., Steve Mizerak & Mike Sigel, shoot stiff-legged, but I honestly do not understand how they are able to maintain good balance. As I'm sure you now realize, when you sort of squat, you feel much more stable. Incidentally, this is some of the first advice you'll hear from a good golf instructor. I've heard that Earl is also a very proficient golfer, but he probably wouldn't be if he had begun as a stiff-legged pool player. In the early-to-mid 80s, I met Earl, twice: once in a tourney and another to watch him play at a tour stop in Richmond, KY. (This was way before Derby City Classic in Louisville). We chatted a bit, both times, and he was very cordial. The tourney I mentioned was The Miller Lite Tournament of Tavern Pool. I understand that Earl was living in Richmond, at the time, just over an hour away. Out of around 70 entrants from across eastern U.S., I'm proud to say that I finished 5th. Yes, Earl won. This was the 8-ball division; however, he did not fare so well in the 9-ball game. Both divisions were "best 3 of 5" games, which is a very difficult format from which to win. Earl admitted to me that he is a slow starter, and you can see this happen throughout his career. He has a large number of remarkable comebacks to his credit.

[@Alban77777]

Best pool player

[@Thomasringpetersen]

Nice smile😂

[@polynikes5631]

You're right, Earl. It's damn hard to play pool.

[@roynewman3430]

WHY YOU DO THAT EARL???? DA G.O.A.T

[@dennisking5347]

awesome!!

[@kriskringle6173]

I just never cared much for trick shots. My buddy and I use to go on the road. When it got slow hed have people eating out of his hand telling storys and shooting trick shots. I just never cared. I'd be at bar talkin to a girl. When somebodys ready to bet something come get me

[@unclequack5445]

Im not a hater,Im a fan of Earl and Mr.Reyes.

[@mr.s1961]

But this video is only about Earl and his teachings. No need to bring up no other player. Unless you're talking about how Earl beat the brakes off Efren at 9ball, which you can see at the end of the video.

[@Shastavalleyoutdoorsman]

​@@mr.s1961 👏👏👏

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

You got to love Earl, even though he's nuttier than Chinese chicken salad

[@lesliethompson4039]

What do you mean he's butts... I think I understand... But your opinion 😉😊 pls. He is awesome though

[@med3899]

Waw I love old one like mine waw unbelievable 👑🐝🗝

[@pieceofshitcainx8409]

Earl smiles like Wallace from Wallace and Gromit

[@CloudStrife8894]

The trick shot at 33:37 is the miller lite trick shot made famous by Steve "The Miz" Mizerak.

[@auntbanks1576]

Cloud Strife 🤤

[@buelroberts3759]

Mizerak makes the cb go all the way around the table and come around to go under his beer to make the 9 in the corner also

[@julianroper6035]

Steve Davis does the trick shot 33:34 on a Snooker table.

[@AngrierGorilla]

it's incredible how he seems so likeable, compared to the nowadays Earl...

[@dreamabyss5423]

Hey Earl, Hitler called and wants his mustache back. Seriously though, Earl is one of the top 5 players that has ever lived.

[@juanball5480]

Earl is one the world greatest pool player of all tine. US needs another Earl kind of player to be able to beat the Eurooe in Mosconi. Also avoid doing tournament in small seven footer table.

[@SchizophenicMongoloid]

SVB just won it for us.

[@AstroTrain100]

How many pool cues did Earl break during this recording?

[@youresowitty8973]

😄

[@george9822]

Lol

[@michaelmcknight3639]

Now I'm going to have nightmares after seeing that forced grin

[@aciooburoni3574]

Earl is bad man with pull stick.

[@phongnguyen007]

Earl in many way, The greatest of all times, i mean in many way.

[@raycity1234]

In his day this kid could play.

[@bradreeder7635]

Where is the arm immobilizer, and taped up fingers?

[@samiam7342]

he should change his middle name to "perfect"............he's the best...

[@shaneporter3019]

unreal lol. How at that distance he can adjust for the push on the ball 18:00 area. I know when I try to put a lot of left or low right/left on the ball the cue ball gets pushed left or right and throws off where you make contact with the object ball and you miss. amazing how he can use so much english on a shot at that distance and compensate for the push lol

[@topneorej]

Now sit back and enjoy the trickshots. 30 seconds;)

[@judsonkr]

I already know all of this stuff. So why am I not as good?

[@fiercewowmail]

i didn't watch the whole video only the first 20 min and from what i saw i can tell you that the things that earl showed are simple and every amature or lower level player should know them.The thing that should be improved are specific for every player .I can recommend to watch Tor Lowry's channel.There you will find a video named all secrets revealed and i am sure you will learn alot

[@danholt3608]

judsonkr MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!

[@joshuahaynes7128]

Ivan Kirchev you can't teach earl Stricklands shot making and stroke .. earl is annoying but he had the highest hear of anyone I've seen .

[@brockt9762]

judsonkr if Tom Brady showed you how to properly throw a football, do you expect to be as good a QB? Wow what an idiotic question you presented.

[@cosmicraysshotsintothelight]

13 and an 8th mm shaft. Yeah, right. Earl is a strange animal.

[@jasong9502]

9:40 there are 3 different terms eh? ...I call it the ladies aide!

[@CR0Wnembourg]

i can't play with a closed bridges, i don't feel as confortable as the open ones even to break and i usally put 1 to 3 balls in pocket this way. (maybe it's because i'm playing on uk pool, balls are lighter)

[@user-ls8iy5do7y]

Same for me and I am in the US. I can't see any disadvantage to the open bridge.

[@casewhite5048]

i see the disadvantage but closed is to much friction for me

[@polynikes5631]

philippe.J I have really small hands so I have to use an open bridge to break. But I'm still practising using the closed because of if I can find a way to do it well consistently, the advantage of power and control is nice to have.

[@CR0Wnembourg]

Poly Nikes there is a way to break with a "false" closed bridge: the cuestick on the edge of the table, the index finger closing and the other "grabbing the coussin it works great

[@polynikes5631]

philippe.J I do that sometimes in bars. Bothers me a little because the false closed makes me place the CB closer to the cushion rather the 2nd diamond. But you're right, does work pretty well. Thanks for the tip!

[@danholt3608]

EARL STRICKLAND SUFFERS FROM BIPOLAR DISORDER. NOT SURE IF THERE WAS MEDICATION BACK THEN, BUT IF THERE WAS NOT BIPOLAR MEDICATION, AND THERE IS NOE, JUST WONDER HOW HE WOULD HAVE PERFORMED WITH THE PROPER MEDICATION???

[@jakeroops80]

What if the Rx made him "normal" ...but it took away his passion for Cue Sports?

[@marksaus]

+Dan Holt We shouldn't diagnose people with serious psychiatric conditions so frugally. Bipolar disorder is a much more tragic and complicated issue than someone who has a bad temper and isn't in control of their emotions. Earl has a massive ego and is an inmature spoilt brat. That's it. People who are bipolar have episodes, highs and lows. Someone who misses a ball and snaps his cue is just an asshole. Don't get me wrong, I say that affectionately. I like the guy and enjoy watching him play, but he has no disorder other than lack of maturity and manners. The antithesis of a calm, collected, ice-cold snooker player, for example.

[@paulprice6330]

let the stick guide it with your fingers. let the shaft rest tighter until the ball drops into place

[@DBZ-Mousa]

In the video, it says: 5x World Champion 3x US Open Isnt the other way around???

[@Rixxx1]

actually it's 6 time World Champ, and 5 U.S. Open titles.

[@manuelromero7618]

the one and only to run 11 racks in a tournament, this fact really describes this MASTER PLAYER

[@jdbankshot]

the description of the video is offensive. earl is still great, & always will be. what the uploader calls 'obvious flaws' are nothing more than a passionate person displaying self-expression. earl is bi-polar. you try living with that, let's see how far you get in life. earl wouldn't 'lose his composure' if there weren't so many idiots in the world. long live the pearl, the best there is & the best there ever will be. sure, reyes is great, but as a person, he's as boring as watching paint dry.

[@Thijs-Kuiken]

I re-read it and believe you're right. I've changed it. It's exactly his aggressiveness that makes him fun to watch right? My favourite match of Earl was actually one he lost against Reyes.. color of money .. but his posture.. attacking style.. shotmaking skills.. pace.. routes to clear the table.. wow.

[@jdbankshot]

TICETOCAR wow, cool, i wasn't expecting that. thanks.

[@useranother667]

oh yea the match that efren kept coughing while earl was playing, and an obvious anti-earl crowd? I would rate Efren for everything else he has done, not for that match.

[@sjang816]

at 32:00 ...does it look like the cue ball is gonna scratch but all of a sudden swerves?

[@abdulbasit-cn9ek]

the camera may have swerved. The ball doesn't all of a sudden swerves like that.

[@bent4432]

Hahaha!! Earl is such a fucking hustler.

[@trekkorea3097]

36:36 LMAO

[@caseydahl1952]

extremely bummed he's Earl the Pearl instead of Earl the Squirrel

[@paintchip173]

So did he stop selling this video when everyone learned how to do the trick shots that only he could do?

[@AlejandroAyos]

monstruo

[@sodi4069]

Back When Earl was healthy and young and NOT CRAZY AS F***

[@nickpatrick7021]

I'm gonna teach you how to play pool - my way 😬

[@longbow60435]

37:31,,,Earl the squirrel?

[@brandonanthony3191]

I love earl the man is the embodiment of pool ! It’s hilarious seeing him all calm and smiling lol ! The man is to me the best pool player ever. I love Efren but I think Earl is a better straight pool player.

[@cornpop3912]

@ 24:41 umm.. at least get the spelling right when you're trying to sell something. 🤣

[@capoman1]

3:30 Rapy face.

[@network735]

Omg I though this was 80's but damn its 90's !! Lol so cheesy ha ha

[@tomnekuda3818]

Earl about 12 years old here........

[@BaconFrisbee]

Come see the softer side of Earl

[@mikeserrano734]

He sounds like Scott Disick

[@bellaconcepcion8851]

Nakita nyo ba yung HL batapos ang last tira ni strickland c magucian yun hahaha bitter ampalaya ang dating

[@michaeltveten8458]

The things we do for $.........

[@eastern3318]

24:42

[@robertmorris9998]

Too funny. This is proof positive one should never do their own commentary...it's like he is made of wood. haha. Earl is one of the guys I always wanted to play like, but one of the people I never wanted to be... I spent years developing a fast rhythm and smooth stroking style, but also made every effort to remain human. If Earl and Efren could be one person, we would have a true champion forever. Kind of like Joe Davis back in the snooker days... p.s. pretty disappointed I watched the entire video waiting for even one pearl of wisdom. Alas...nothing. Thanks for the little show, tho.

[@marcoenrico8535]

*_well_*

[@TheStevieb1983]

PRACTISE??? Lmfao

[@Nick-Emery]

Earl isn’t so bad

[@ficheye00]

After seeing him melt down or flip out during many matches, it's very strange to see him acting personably. He's a great pool player though. If he did the shots with subtitles it would be easier to watch.

[@lokyinphotography]

do u guys just realize he didn't teach people how to aim? LOLZ

[@Gman6755]

So when did this guy start to go crazy?

[@danholt3608]

Gman6755 Bipolar Disorder. MANY GIFTED ARTISTS SUFFER FROM BI POLAR DISORDER.

[@manuelromero7618]

right from the beginning! just kidding

[@useranother667]

what you mean crazy? and asshole? he's awesome

[@roynewman5748]

WHY YOU DO THAT EARL?????

[@JADP-dd7xb]

earl strickland sounds like scarface. SOSA! SOSA!

[@davids11131113]

'I use a 58 inch cue that weighs 19oz'......for years your cue is at least a 70 inch javelin and with the 5 inch diameter tennis racket grip wrap has to weigh 28oz.

[@LordDelaware115]

@davids11131113 this video is from at least 20 years ago, he didn't start playing with the javalin until after 2005. he is still using a cuetec cue in the video thats how you can tell

[@davids11131113]

Yea I realize that of course, just showing the difference between then and now.

[@jdbankshot]

he was playing with a 58 inch cue up til 2012. then, he got mike gulyassy to make him a custom cue with a removable extension that he rarely removes. it was dennis hatch that suggested a custom gulyassey to earl. it weighs 21 & a half oz's.

[@albertshafer1976]

I play on A 7ft table, the cue ball is lager then the rest of the balls so I don't get the English I need to play A draw shot of any distance!

[@capacola262743]

ok?

[@blvphn4429]

why earl looks normal here

[@zackarrazolo970]

Because there's no competition in the room, he's not stressed over losing, he's just having fun. He's the center of attention. He's at the peak of human happiness, doing something, succeeding, and receiving praise and admiration for it. He's in there feeling himself. He feels like he belongs. Which is fucking awesome. I just wish he didn't feel like he had to win to be loved, to feel like he was worth something. And instead play the game out of the pure love for it.

[@wileyjames8907]

13 and 1/8th mm shaft? Ain't no such animal, he must mean 13.8 mm.

[@waynelyons4496]

13.125 I think

[@billdurham7368]

Show us how to do trick shots

[@topneorej]

A lot of the trickshots he showed can't be done on the modern extremely tight professional pockets.