In the world of billiards where tactics, technique and character make all the difference, there is a legendary Filipino who has made history – Efren “Bata” Reyes.
He is not only known as “The Magician” for his ability to execute incredible shots, but also for a unique technique that is admired by many but understood by few – “Super-Directional Marble Kicking”, a move that leaves opponents completely paralyzed, helpless as he dominates the table.
This technique is more than just a regular marble kick – it is a sophisticated combination of mathematics, physics, intuition, and perfect marble feel. When faced with seemingly insurmountable situations, where the cue ball is cornered and has no straight path to attack, ordinary players will accept to defend, or find a way to break the ball.
But Reyes did not do that. He uses the cue kick technique, a light but strategic tap on the side of the table, to send the cue ball back along a complex trajectory, and precisely down to the millimeter to reach the object ball.
“Super-Directional” means that Reyes’s kick is perfectly directed, not only hitting the object ball but also creating the ideal position for the next shot. That’s what makes his opponents stunned, because Reyes not only solves the difficult situation but also turns it into a super scoring opportunity.
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One of the secret elements that makes this technique so effective in “paralyzing” opponents is the psychological impact. Imagine, you have just put Reyes in a position where he cannot hit the ball – and you think to yourself: “He will eventually have to accept the loss of his turn.”
But just a few seconds later, he calmly walks back to the table, draws a few seemingly meaningless lines with his cue, then throws a light kick – and bam! – the target ball falls neatly into the pocket, while the cue ball spins gently to the correct position to score the point.
The sophistication and coolness in each of Reyes' actions is like an invisible slash to the opponent's confidence. Many people have said, "playing with Reyes, you are not only competing with skills – you are competing with magic and your own mind."
What makes Reyes stand out is not only the effectiveness of his technique, but also the beauty in each shot. His kicking technique is not only correct but also soft and smooth, like an artistic performance. Each of his kicks is like a mesmerizing dance, where the ball glides along unimaginable curves, overcoming a series of blocking balls to reach the desired position.
The audience often gasps in amazement, while the opponent can only laugh helplessly. Some players have exclaimed after witnessing this technique:
"I thought he would lose the turn, but no – he just turned a difficult situation into a masterpiece."
Legendary matches associated with the directional kicking technique
During his playing career, Reyes applied this technique in countless key matches, including some incredible comebacks. In particular, the match between Reyes and Earl Strickland at the World Pool Championship in 1999 is a typical example. In a situation where Strickland seemed to have "trapped" Reyes by pushing the cue ball close to the wall and the remaining balls were covered, Reyes just smiled, then performed a magical kick - the cue ball went around three walls, approached the target ball, scored a point and completely changed the match.
Since then, Reyes' super directional kicking technique is no longer a "random" move but has been recognized as an art, a weapon that makes every opponent wary.
Many young players around the world have tried to learn this technique. Instructional videos, slow-motion, trajectory analysis are all over the internet. But as many admit: “You can understand the principles, but to feel the necessary force, the angle, the spin, and the reaction of the table like Reyes, you have to be a genius… or Reyes himself.”
Reyes himself once shared in an interview:
“I don’t calculate by numbers. I look at the table, feel it – and then my body knows how to hit it.”
It is a technique that cannot be written on paper, cannot be measured by formulas – but can only be trained through innate intuition, thousands of hours of practice, and a deep love for this sport.
“Super-Directional Marble Kicking” is not just a marble kick – it is a symbol of the ultimate tactical thinking, of unlimited creativity in billiards. And when accompanied by Reyes’ name, this technique becomes part of the legend, where each marble kick not only wins points but also instills fear and amazement in the hearts of opponents.
Efren Reyes has proven that sometimes, it doesn’t take power or speed to dominate the playing field. Just a soft kick, but at the right time, in the right direction, with the right mindset – you can make the world go silent in amazement.
