First taste of one pocket today

I really enjoy 1 pocket as my 'wind down' game of the night. When my considerably better cousin comes over to play we generally start with a game or 2 of 8 ball to get warmed up, then move on to a race to 7 in 10 ball.

Maybe play some 9 ball if we feel like just banging balls. Then always end the night with a game of 1 hole. I never, ever, win any of them. But I'm practicing at least 2 hours every day. One day man, one day.
 
Gold Crown, in my opinion, you can not learn the game playing for nothing. You can learn to bank and move the CB playing alone, but if you have nothing to lose by shooting a shot that will leave the CB in a spot where you leave a shot or a trap to be set, you will not learn the game. Also, once you pay your dues, you will not be willing to give your knowledge away for free. And I don't mean table time. you must have something riding on a game to make you shoot the correct shot not just well it might turn out ok.---Smitty
 
Handicapped One Pocket League

There is a new Handicapped One Pocket League in Northern California that is running in three pool rooms now with around 60 players and will be expanding to more rooms soon. Check out the website at californiacuesports.com

The Phoenix area is on the list of potential new sites for the league. The league itself is a great learning tool for new one pocket players because the handicap system allows newbies to play competitively with advanced players. The handicaps adjust weekly as your game goes forward or backwards and most of the weekly fees ($20) comes back to the players at the end of each session.

John Henderson
 
One pocket is a great game, congrats for opening your eyes to a game most people won't try. You'll never regret it.
 
I would like to take time to thank you for your post-as i also am one of the old crowd-74yr-and counting, we might not stroke the stick as well as we use to, but we still have good momries. again thanks, as at our age to get a thank you it is like a medal to us GOD BLESS YOU!!!:thumbup::thumbup:

There's a few gentlemen I've played pool with and feel honored they are willing to give me pointers and teach me something!

And the best part is it only cost me table time :D
 
Gold Crown, in my opinion, you can not learn the game playing for nothing. You can learn to bank and move the CB playing alone, but if you have nothing to lose by shooting a shot that will leave the CB in a spot where you leave a shot or a trap to be set, you will not learn the game. Also, once you pay your dues, you will not be willing to give your knowledge away for free. And I don't mean table time. you must have something riding on a game to make you shoot the correct shot not just well it might turn out ok.---Smitty

Your opinion will discourage a beginner. You are not offering any constructive advice here. Should I go into a pool room and get my brains beat out$$ I learned I should have stayed home. I do not play for money. Not today. Not any day. There are plenty of people that play for the love of the game and play for fun. I can play 1 pocket good enough to have fun. I can hold my own with someone a few levels better. I'm improving. I'm content right now. I do not need to be riding on anything to have fun, learn or improve.
My point here is... a beginner should be encouraged to find a comfortable path to learn 1 pocket or any game. I'm learning from reading, DVD's, uTube, and playing guys in my community that are more talented than I am but will play me. I also had Scott Lee incorporate some 1 pocket "thoughts and moves" into my PSF lessons I took with him. I would pay a pro to work with me on 1 pocket. My only goal is to have fun. If I master the game I will pass it on...for coffee, a beer or a simple Thank You.
Your opinion is strictly yours.....add a positive note to it. I totally disagree with you but let's stop here. I'm only trying to give the OP my .02 that is working for me.
 
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It sounds like you enjoyed the experience. Keep at it.
One Pocket has two faces. It can be exasperating beyond measure one moment, then shower you with great reward the next.
An unwise shot can make you wonder why the hell you ever took up the game in the first place, and a precisely executed three-railer can make you wish you had started playing years ago.
The next time you're at the pool hall look up at the ceiling and give a big thank you to Grady, Jack, Luther, Fats, and all the many others who made One Pocket the greatest game on earth.

P.S. You might want to have a look around the room first. We wouldn't want people thinking One Pocket players are crazy. :)
 
Gold Crown, let me make it clear that I didn't mean for you not to get advice or be shown what you should have played, when playing someone. Find someone who is a real good 1P player and play them some cheap game for info. The man that taught me was a excellent 1P player and he showed me everything I know about the game. How to get out of jams, how to put people in tough spots, what shot I should have shot and how every shot doesn't have to be a world beater shot, it just has to be effective. He told me that it would cost me 5 buck a game. He played me 10-5 and I got the breaks , just had to swap sides of the table to break each time. As I got better the spot would go down. When I got to were I could beat him we still played that 5 buck a game, while I may not have got all my money back, I did recoup most of it. That man has passed on and I miss him even today. Hope you can find someone like him to teach you the game.---Smitty
 
Beginners have to start somewhere....and all beginners hold the process up. That goes for any Interests. For myself I will find someone to play with and pay the time. I do not want to learn anything by betting on it. But I'll pay somehow. Pay the table time or a pool related gift of some kind. I'll make the lesson or game worth while. However if I should teach anyone anything I'll do it for fun if they are sincere.

Table time is fine if you can find someone to play with for that, I personally will if I like the person and its fun to play with them. I play with a few guys here and there for table time or time and tab which is usually on $20, so for $20 they got a couple hours play and hopefully gained some experience in the process which is a cheap lesson.
 
Table time is fine if you can find someone to play with for that, I personally will if I like the person and its fun to play with them. I play with a few guys here and there for table time or time and tab which is usually on $20, so for $20 they got a couple hours play and hopefully gained some experience in the process which is a cheap lesson.

That is a great deal....and being a good sport on your end.
 
Now that I know the basics, I would be willing to play for some cash. Cheap and also knowing the betting basics. I'm assuming its a rack or a race?
 
Now that I know the basics, I would be willing to play for some cash. Cheap and also knowing the betting basics. I'm assuming its a rack or a race?

Whatever you want to do usually, some prefer by the rack and others by the race (set).
 
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