14.1 helps, but makes me want to pull my hair out!

[jalapus logan]

14.1 is the reason I shave off all my hair, otherwise I'd pull it all out. I've been putting in some time on a semi-regular basis practicing straight pool. Results are that I'm running high twenties and thirties (and sometimes 40's) at each outing, but putting together a decent run remains elusive. It seems that I keep faltering during my end game patterns and tend to get funny on break balls often, thus ending many a run. Pro's are that I'm pocketing balls better than ever and I am really improving at my pattern play. Cons are that I'm learning that small things matter, specifically, cue ball control within an inch or two is critical and I am not getting good shape toward the end of the rack too frequently.

I'm also learning that straight pool requires sustained concentration, unlike short rack games, which is all I used to play. This is one of the reasons that I am starting to feel that perhaps 14.1 really is the best game for champions.

14.1 also has really paid dividends in my play in other games as well. My 9 ball game has improved dramatically, in no small part due to much tighter position play. Though I've complained about that above, it is clear that I am improving. I used to play "area pool" with the cue ball. Now, I can generally get within inches of my target destination for whitey. I'm controlling speed much, much better than before, and I think 14.1 is the reason for that. It has also really, really helped my bar box 8 ball game. I've put in 31 nights between 2 eight ball leagues and I have been able to either break and run or run out from someone's dry break every night but 2. That's the best I've ever done, and my efforts have earned me the most perfect scores in one of the leagues out of anyone - woot woot! 14.1 has obvious benefits with cluster management, etc.

Long story short, though I lament that I have no one to practice 14.1 with, as there are no players in my area, I am really learning the game and learning FROM the game as well. I have been trying to play this game about once a weekend for the last two months or so and I have really been enjoying it. I'm gonna double down on my efforts in the coming weeks and study the game a bit more formally, with Chapelle's 14.1 book as well as some other videos, etc. I feel that I can get much better tweaking a few things, but I have a couple of bad habits to get rid of. Namely, I tend to rush shots and that costs me through missed balls and missed shape. Perhaps it is because I am a bit uncomfortable playing 14.1???

Anyway, I'm enjoying the journey and hope you guys are too. If anyone is going to the DCC this year, perhaps we can play some in the practice room if you wish. I always enjoy meeting other AZB'ers.

Cheers and happy new year,

JL

 

[ballston]

Just curious. How exactly do you practice 14.1? Do you just break open a rack and proceed from there, or do you start with the standard safety break and then maneuver the balls around for a breakout shot?

 

[jalapus logan]

Just curious. How exactly do you practice 14.1? Do you just break open a rack and proceed from there, or do you start with the standard safety break and then maneuver the balls around for a breakout shot?

I practice like this most of the time. I like your idea about safety breaking though. Perhaps I will try that. The problem is that I don't actually play 14.1 in actual games against actual opponents. It's more of a practice exercise for me at this time, given the lack of interest in the game in my area.

 

[markgw]

Just curious. How exactly do you practice 14.1? Do you just break open a rack and proceed from there, or do you start with the standard safety break and then maneuver the balls around for a breakout shot?

The way to practice 14.1 is set up a break shot with ball in hand and go until you miss. This is the best way to practice imo. It's a great way to measure how you're playing. For instance I just ran 54, that's pretty good for me, if I were asked how I was playing after just banging balls around for 2 hrs I wouldn't really know how to reply except with maybe, I'm playing pretty good I guess. I would rather be able to say I just ran 100 balls practicing and I am hitting 'em really good today or I can't run 20 balls today, I am just not feelin' it....

 

[markgw]

I practice like this most of the time. I like your idea about safety breaking though. Perhaps I will try that. The problem is that I don't actually play 14.1 in actual games against actual opponents. It's more of a practice exercise for me at this time, given the lack of interest in the game in my area.

Safety breaking is only good against an opponent. Practicing your 14.1 break is a good idea though. If you lose the lag in a match and have to break it's a very important shot. You to try to freeze the cueball against the rail where your standing and not leave your opponent with a good shot. The break shot is a disadvantage in Straight Pool.

 

[krupa]

If you're new to the game and expect to play against other people, you should practice safety play as well as just running balls. When you play other people you will rarely step to the table with an ideal position staring you in the face, so practicing all aspects of the game is worthwhile.

When I practice, I will set up a good break shot and run balls (just a few at a time for me) but other times, I start with the opening break and play both sides.

 

[jalapus logan]

Safety breaking is only good against an opponent. Practicing your 14.1 break is a good idea though. If you lose the lag in a match and have to break it's a very important shot. You to try to freeze the cueball against the rail where your standing and not leave your opponent with a good shot. The break shot is a disadvantage in Straight Pool.

All good points. It is sad to say that I have played perhaps two actual games of 14.1 with an actual opponent in the last 12 months. In fact, I've played less than 12 games or so of 14.1 in my entire pool playing lifetime ---. There are less than 5 people that I know of in my area that even know the rules and of those, none want to play the game. A sorry state of affairs...

 

[markgw]

All good points. It is sad to say that I have played perhaps two actual games of 14.1 with an actual opponent in the last 12 months. In fact, I've played less than 12 games or so of 14.1 in my entire pool playing lifetime ---. There are less than 5 people that I know of in my area that even know the rules and of those, none want to play the game. A sorry state of affairs...

Understand completely. It is a game of the past and more popular on the East Coast but a really great game. All top pros from the past such as Sigel, Varner, Rempe and Hopkins will all tell you that learning how to play this game well will make all other games easier..Varner for example played world class 14.1 and became a world champion at all the disaplines. I think it is because because every type of shot comes up in 14.1. You really have to learn how to control the cueball in 14.1 which translates to every other game. In 14.1 the penalty for missing a ball can be quite large and that helps you in other games such as one pocket. Great straight pool players don't take unessasary chances on tough shots. They don't want to leave the table from missing a ball or they might not shoot again. This translates to one pocket well..Moving to rotation games from 14.1 is easier because the balls tell you how to play.....

 

[jalapus logan]

Understand completely. It is a game of the past and more popular on the East Coast but a really great game. All top pros from the past such as Sigel, Varner, Rempe and Hopkins will all tell you that learning how to play this game well will make all other games easier..Varner for example played world class 14.1 and became a world champion at all the disaplines. I think it is because because every type of shot comes up in 14.1. You really have to learn how to control the cueball in 14.1 which translates to every other game. In 14.1 the penalty for missing a ball can be quite large and that helps you in other games such as one pocket. Great straight pool players don't take unessasary chances on tough shots. They don't want to leave the table from missing a ball or they might not shoot again. This translates to one pocket well..Moving to rotation games from 14.1 is easier because the balls tell you how to play.....

What you say is spot on. On tuesday, I got finished practicing 14.1 and mixed it up racing the 9 ball ghost in a race to 10. Beat it 10 to 7. I don't think I would have beaten it a year or two ago. You are right on about the #'s dictating play in rotation games and that does make it easier. Not too much thinking going on once you get the patterns down well - you just need to be able to execute well. And 14.1 helps with execution in other games I find, because every shot in SP is so critical and requires so much focus. In rotation, I think you can relax a bit. 14.1 helps to condition you to execute when it really matters and the pressure is on. At least IMO.

 

[sjm]

Just curious. How exactly do you practice 14.1? Do you just break open a rack and proceed from there, or do you start with the standard safety break and then maneuver the balls around for a breakout shot?

I remember watching Earl Strickland warming up during the National Straight Pool Championships (an event won by the late George "Ginky" San Souci) in 1999 in NYC, and Earl not only started his practice from a full rack and played the opening safety shot but he reracked the balls and did the same after every miss.

Many prefer to set up a break shot to get started .... whatever you prefer.

 

[markgw]

I remember watching Earl Strickland warming up during the National Straight Pool Championships (an event won by the late George "Ginky" San Souci) in 1999 in NYC, and Earl not only started his practice from a full rack and played the opening safety shot but he reracked the balls and did the same after every miss.

Many prefer to set up a break shot to get started .... whatever you prefer.

I found this kind of interesting. First of all it is a known fact that Willie Mosconi ran 526 balls in an exibition where his opponent missed after 3 balls pocketed. The match was a race to 200. After Willie ran 200 he kept the run going for the crowd, which was said to be around 300 people. This crowd included a lawyer who signed an affidavid to substanciate the run, so it could be put in the record books, and become official. The thing that kind of baffled me is I have heard before in a live interview from Mosconi himself where he said he just stopped at 526 because he was tired. In other words the run didn't end from a miss. Today, I read an interview with Willie Mosconi speaking about the run and he said it ended when he missed a very tough cut shot up the rail. He said he was kind of glad he missed because he was very tired. It's 100% fact that the run happened, but I am wondering why he had a conflicting story attached to it??

 

[sparkle84]

Don't have much time right now so just a few general observations. First would be to start watching Blackjacks videos. Easy to find if you search on here.

Main things I see holding you back are shot selection (it's not good at all) and a lack of goal setting. Kinda vague I know. When I have more time I'll elaborate on that. Basically, having clear defined goals at all times will automatically lead to taking the balls off in a certain way. The goals define your shot selection.

Your problems at the end of racks are caused by things you're doing earlier in the rack. Blackjacks videos will help with this.

Another thing you'll have to work on is CB control. People unfamiliar with 14.1 have no idea just how precise position has to be to play excellent straight pool. Reverse english is used a great deal in 14.1 & I didn't see much if any in your video.

That video was from a couple years ago so perhaps your game has changed some. Post more if you can.

 

[jalapus logan]

Don't have much time right now so just a few general observations. First would be to start watching Blackjacks videos. Easy to find if you search on here.

Main things I see holding you back are shot selection (it's not good at all) and a lack of goal setting. Kinda vague I know. When I have more time I'll elaborate on that. Basically, having clear defined goals at all times will automatically lead to taking the balls off in a certain way. The goals define your shot selection.

Your problems at the end of racks are caused by things you're doing earlier in the rack. Blackjacks videos will help with this.

Another thing you'll have to work on is CB control. People unfamiliar with 14.1 have no idea just how precise position has to be to play excellent straight pool. Reverse english is used a great deal in 14.1 & I didn't see much if any in your video.

That video was from a couple years ago so perhaps your game has changed some. Post more if you can.

Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, it would be good if I can get something on film that is more recent. I'll try to snatch the missus' camera sometime in the near future when she is not looking.

Cheers,

JL