14-1
- Thread starter sr 9ball
- Start date
Sometimes, it just depends on what i feel like. BTW check the 14.1 sub forum, there are some great folks in there that can help you out a lot.
Yes, if the intent is to start practice with a break ball and running balls.
But there's something to be said about practicing the classic match opening break -- which is a safety break on all 15 balls racked. Many (most?) folks new to 14.1 don't practice this critical shot, and will often in a match, will sell out the rack (and possibly a good portion of, or the entire match itself if they're playing a good opponent).
Practice both.
You might want to know we have a great subforum dedicated to 14.1, and there are a couple cool threads there on the topics of how to practice, what to practice, etc.
Hope this helps!
-Sean
I start with a break ball; why not practice the most important shot in 14.1 as often as possible?
...and the response shot. That'll teach you how to respond and some of the potential pitfalls of the opening break.
pj
chgo
What do you mean "normal"? As in hit it like an 8-ball rack, or hit it with a safe break like in a game, or setup a "normal" 14.1 break shot with 14 racked and the break ball to the side?
Usually when I see someone playing 14.1 on their own, they start with a 14 ball rack and setup a break ball they like, break with ball-in hand and go from there.
Words like "normal" "regular" "same as before" all need some type of reference. If you ask for a "normal" soda what would you get? A Coke? A Pepsi? Maybe Sprite if the person you asked for normally drinks Sprite, could be a generic black bubbly liquid with sugar, who knows.
I feel dumb for not asking this; I just assumed he meant a power break.
I only ask for clarification due to tons of experience in posting in a computer forum. Reading things like "I want my screen back to normal" or "Where did my toolbar go" with absolutely no other information in the post.
There are many different break positons, I would practice each one....Johnny Holliday, positon play for high runs is a great book, showing all the various obj/cue ball positons as they relate to opening up the next rack.
My first shot during practice is defenitely the break out shot. I follow John Schmidt's advice on cutting an object ball into the side pocket from the center of the table allowing for the cue ball to slam into the rack.
Whenever I Practice 14.1........
When I practuce 14.1, it's always with me playing the opening safety shot sending 2 object balls to a rail (hopefully not more) and leaving the cue ball as close to the head string (kitchen) left corner rail as possible. I favor using right english on the opening shot on the right corner ball versus playing the opening shot with left english lightly striking the left corner ball, i.e., thus bringing the cue ball as near as possible to the right head string corner rail.
If I don't get an excellent safety leave for my imaginary opponent, I play the opening shot again until I can at least get it down to where my imagnary opponent has at best a very low percentage, difficult cut shot at an object ball 7-8 feet away from the head rail. Once I get the first safety opening right, then I do play it all over again right away to see how close I can duplicate it.
I do the opening until I can get the opening safety shot down at least twice......I mean once could be just dumb luck........for it to count, it has to be repeatable otherwise you really don't know fer sure if you have it down. Then, and only then, I start normal 14.1 play against my imaginary opponent using safety play when I do not have a shot. But rest assured, if there's any combo I see in the rack, I play it first........I mean that's the pure fun of straight pool.......it's like the home run in baseball or a great TD catch.....same thing........breaking up the main cluster is just an exhilarating feeling........Pow....Bam......balls scatter and you look down at a open table of balls awaiting your mapping decision.
I try to select my main break ball and a back-up break shot after pocketing 5-6 object balls into a new rack (9-10 balls left on the table) or at least by after 1/2 of a new rack of balls has been pocketed......you need to allow for a sufficient number of balls left on the table to adequately map your cue ball position play to run out the table. When there's still 11-12 object balls on the table, it's too crowded and there's still too many variables and unintentional bumps of the cue ball that can ruin, or else really complicate, your final cue ball position outcome.
Anyway, I always play the opening shot as seriously as if I was in a match......you never get to practice the opening shot too many times........when you can make a great opening break shot leaving your opponent with no shot whatsoever,......none, zilch, zero,.....not even some wild-eyed, crazy combo attempt........when you can do that at least three (3) times in a row, then you can stop practicing the opening safety shot. Up until then, keep doing it all the time because you really aren't very good at it......and since you don't get to practice this shot when it counts for real, always take advantage of practicing the opening break shot whenever you get the opportunity.
When I practuce 14.1, it's always with me playing the opening safety shot sending 2 object balls to a rail (hopefully not more) and leaving the cue ball as close to the head string (kitchen) left corner rail as possible. I favor using right english on the opening shot on the right corner ball versus playing the opening shot with left english lightly striking the left corner ball, i.e., thus bringing the cue ball as near as possible to the right head string corner rail.
If I don't get an excellent safety leave for my imaginary opponent, I play the opening shot again until I can at least get it down to where my imagnary opponent has at best a very low percentage, difficult cut shot at an object ball 7-8 feet away from the head rail. Once I get the first safety opening right, then I do play it all over again right away to see how close I can duplicate it.
I do the opening until I can get the opening safety shot down at least twice......I mean once could be just dumb luck........for it to count, it has to be repeatable otherwise you really don't know fer sure if you have it down. Then, and only then, I start normal 14.1 play against my imaginary opponent using safety play when I do not have a shot. But rest assured, if there's any combo I see in the rack, I play it first........I mean that's the pure fun of straight pool.......it's like the home run in baseball or a great TD catch.....same thing........breaking up the main cluster is just an exhilarating feeling........Pow....Bam......balls scatter and you look down at a open table of balls awaiting your mapping decision.
I try to select my main break ball and a back-up break shot after pocketing 5-6 object balls into a new rack (9-10 balls left on the table) or at least by after 1/2 of a new rack of balls has been pocketed......you need to allow for a sufficient number of balls left on the table to adequately map your cue ball position play to run out the table. When there's still 11-12 object balls on the table, it's too crowded and there's still too many variables and unintentional bumps of the cue ball that can ruin, or else really complicate, your final cue ball position outcome.
Anyway, I always play the opening shot as seriously as if I was in a match......you never get to practice the opening shot too many times........when you can make a great opening break shot leaving your opponent with no shot whatsoever,......none, zilch, zero,.....not even some wild-eyed, crazy combo attempt........when you can do that at least three (3) times in a row, then you can stop practicing the opening safety shot. Up until then, keep doing it all the time because you really aren't very good at it......and since you don't get to practice this shot when it counts for real, always take advantage of practicing the opening break shot whenever you get the opportunity.
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Or my personal favorite, "it doesn't work" -- with no explanation of error messages, dialog boxes that pop up, color changes, etc. When people write or tell me that, I say, "you don't, either."
-Sean
So, for example, how do you start when going for a high run?
I've wondered if the balls were randomly spread, starting from a favorable breakball, after an opening break from poor position..?
I'd like to get started from the same position as the people that are posting their high-runs. Thanks!
I've wondered if the balls were randomly spread, starting from a favorable breakball, after an opening break from poor position..?
I'd like to get started from the same position as the people that are posting their high-runs. Thanks!
Traditionally, most players begin a run from a game-like situation. You should use a shot similar to what you would encounter in an actual game.
With that said, if you were to smash the first rack wide open and run 100 balls, I don't think anyone would dismiss the run.
Most of the time I set up a break shot, I do also practice the regular opening break.
I'm really starting to like the opening break that Schmidt uses.
I'm really starting to like the opening break that Schmidt uses.
Sure, he uses a side pocket break. There is a scratch possibility but if you hit one of the first two balls solidly you shouldn't have a problem. When done correctly it really opens them up. This was the break he was using in the 14.1 challenge (Tunica?), might be on youtube.
Pat:
Schmidty's favorite opening-rack break (BIH style break, for 14.1 challenges, not actual matches, of course) is the side-pocket breakshot, cue ball hitting the very top two balls in the rack:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vdX8HNm806I#t=1m24s
-Sean
Thanks for the info. So it seems that setting the balls in that position to start a run is acceptable. I guess I'll start with a break ball tonight to see how I can do. I just wanted to make sure I'm counting my runs in the same way as everyone else, thanks!