Fundamental priorities of one pocket.

TrumanHW

TrumanHW

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm just going to throw some word salad out there... but if someone would care to offer their hierarchy of priorities and fundamentals that should be evaluated in each shot and throughout the beginning portion of the game (obviously this isn't end-game strategy) I'd be thankful. Or... if there's a list elsewhere. I really had hoped there was an audiobook, as I'm about to be on a long drive.


1. Relocate score-able balls near your opponents pocket to yours and protect them
2. Remove balls score-able by your opponents pocket.
3. Move and protect balls to your pocket.
4. Untie balls on your side.
5. Tie score-able balls up on your opponents side.
6. If you need a bundle of them, leave your opponent diagonal from score-able balls near your pocket.
7. If balls are down-table and you're behind, leave your opponent up-table so he can't (as easily) move balls up-table.

Always:
Double your opponent up and leave the cue ball near the rail.
Look for dead balls in either pocket; jiggle your opponents, score yours.
Play the count. Move balls up table if you're ahead, move them down if you're behind.
Decide if you're playing principally cue ball or object ball, and generally it's cb.
Try to anticipate your opponents intent from their choices.


Anyone care to add, object, revise, or reorganize this list? This is just off the top of my head....
 
If you cannot make balls, then you should be moving balls into play (for you to make later).
If you cannot move balls into play, you should be playing safe.

Moving balls into play can be broken down into a variety of situations:
Move balls near pocket
Move balls into play where your opponent has difficulty doing the same
Move balls into position as to "set a trap".
 
-Always miss easy shots and ruin your offensive run.

-Always take risky banks and sell out the cue ball.

-Always slop shots into your opponents pocket.

That's how I play at least.
 
2 rules I try to live by is:

1) GOLDEN RULE: P-R-O-T-E-C-T Y-O-U-R C-U-E-B-A-L-L!!!!

2) KNOW WHEN TO TAKE AN INTENTIONAL SCRATCH!! DONT BE AFRAID!

I'D RATHER TAKE AWAY FROM ME THAN TO GIVE TO YOU; WITH THE EXERCISING OF PATIENCE, I CAN RECOVER :-)

RULE #2 IS BASICALLY AN EXTENSION OF RULE #1.
 
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Truman,

One pocket has two styles.

Are you a shot maker and a ball runner like Scott and Alex?

Or are you a stratigest and mover like Hopkins?

Each style has different priorities.

For the runner, moving and positioning balls is less important than how you can force your opponent to leave you a makable shot. You do this by placing him in an untenable position that will allow him to make a mistake.

Once that happens and you make the first shot your priorities should be to clear pathways to your pockets, get balls off the rails and open balls for your pocket.

For the mover, many of the items on your list are correct.

Just remember that the greatest move in one pocket is running balls. It overcomes everything.

Bill S.
 
bstroud said:
Truman,

One pocket has two styles.

Are you a shot maker and a ball runner like Scott and Alex?

Or are you a stratigest and mover like Hopkins?

Each style has different priorities.

For the runner, moving and positioning balls is less important than how you can force your opponent to leave you a makable shot. You do this by placing him in an untenable position that will allow him to make a mistake.

Once that happens and you make the first shot your priorities should be to clear pathways to your pockets, get balls off the rails and open balls for your pocket.

For the mover, many of the items on your list are correct.

Just remember that the greatest move in one pocket is running balls. It overcomes everything.

Bill S.
Click to expand...

Wutang -- good ideals also. I'm going to revise as this thread peters out and consolidate a list.

Great points.

Bill, your points are great as well, but it's always comparative I think, right? I'm a better mover than some people, and a better shot maker than others. Also the equipment I play on will dictate my ability as well... and of course, like many of us, after 20 min of bunting balls, our ability to pocket a ball and get pinpoint cb placement gets harder, as it does under the pressure of consequences (gambling or tournaments).

I feel like this could be made in to a flowchart eventually -- with the first portion being shot making ability on the table played on vs. your opponents -- and moving comparison determining which strategic priorities you employ in the game.

I'd love more points to consider. Thanks everyone, great suggestions so far.
 
bstroud said:
Truman,

One pocket has two styles.

Are you a shot maker and a ball runner like Scott and Alex?

Or are you a stratigest and mover like Hopkins?

Each style has different priorities.

For the runner, moving and positioning balls is less important than how you can force your opponent to leave you a makable shot. You do this by placing him in an untenable position that will allow him to make a mistake.

Once that happens and you make the first shot your priorities should be to clear pathways to your pockets, get balls off the rails and open balls for your pocket.

For the mover, many of the items on your list are correct.

Just remember that the greatest move in one pocket is running balls. It overcomes everything.

Bill S.
Click to expand...
Hopkins was the best of both. He could go forever and not take a shot, then run out. Most players with the ability to run balls like him, usually didn't also have the discipline to wait.
 
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Played Hopkins even one pocket 3 times.
Won once. Lost once. Broke even once.

Never considered Hopkins a run out one pocket player like some of the Modern players. They seem to shoot at anything.

Bill S.
 
bstroud said:
Played Hopkins even one pocket 3 times.
Won once. Lost once. Broke even once.

Never considered Hopkins a run out one pocket player like some of the Modern players. They seem to shoot at anything.

Bill S.
Click to expand...

Personally if I watched his stroke for 2 min I wouldn't be able to make a ball for a week. Perhaps that's part of what made his game so strong?
 
TrumanHW said:
I'm just going to throw some word salad out there... but if someone would care to offer their hierarchy of priorities and fundamentals that should be evaluated in each shot and throughout the beginning portion of the game (obviously this isn't end-game strategy) I'd be thankful. Or... if there's a list elsewhere. I really had hoped there was an audiobook, as I'm about to be on a long drive.


1. Relocate score-able balls near your opponents pocket to yours and protect them
2. Remove balls score-able by your opponents pocket.
3. Move and protect balls to your pocket.
4. Untie balls on your side.
5. Tie score-able balls up on your opponents side.
6. If you need a bundle of them, leave your opponent diagonal from score-able balls near your pocket.
7. If balls are down-table and you're behind, leave your opponent up-table so he can't (as easily) move balls up-table.

Always:
Double your opponent up and leave the cue ball near the rail.
Look for dead balls in either pocket; jiggle your opponents, score yours.
Play the count. Move balls up table if you're ahead, move them down if you're behind.
Decide if you're playing principally cue ball or object ball, and generally it's cb.
Try to anticipate your opponents intent from their choices.


Anyone care to add, object, revise, or reorganize this list? This is just off the top of my head....
Click to expand...

i could be wrong but in that position ( part bolded )doesnt it leave your opponent cross corner banks????:confused:
i like your thought process and your thread....:thumbup:
 
bbb said:
i could be wrong but in that position ( part bolded )doesnt it leave your opponent cross corner banks????:confused:
i like your thought process and your thread....:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Absolutely, but I think you have to endure that if they're a high level player... and if they aren't, you don't need critical thinking to win games anyway. :) But if they're a good player they're always going to be able to manufacture stuff at times... put you in traps, and if nothing else, lets call each ball a .5 chance you score. .5 to the 5th power is a very, very small number. So one at a time in probabilistic terms... (which I know that doesn't exactly match the results) is a steep proposition.
 
Billy Incardona

Billy Incardona has a one pocket instructional video worth about $1,256.12 to any one pocket player...fortunately it is very affordable on accu-stats!

He lists the decision tree, then provides examples of the shots, and how and when to use them.

On your inning:

1. Pocket balls in your hole
2. Put your opponent in a trap
3. Build your position.
4. Destroy your opponent's position.
5. Play safe.
6. Get out of a trap.

If you're in a trap, you have options:

1. Take a foul
2. Kick
3. Shoot a low percentage shot
4. Leave a challenge shot
5. Do something simple
6. Scramble the balls


Some of these overlap a bit.

Billy goes through his thought process in a number of situations, then demonstrates the ways to execute these, and the value that is often overlooked in some of the simple plays. Far and away the best ever.

Billy, if you read this, know that you've changed my pool life for the better, from all the hours I've heard you commentate, to this video, and so much more. I bought this video and practiced this thought tree for many hours, lo and behold I get there a lot these days :)
 
Mr. Stroud summed things up pretty well.
I might add that you should be aware of the count (how many balls you and your opponent have) and play accordingly. :)
 
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TrumanHW said:
Personally if I watched his stroke for 2 min I wouldn't be able to make a ball for a week. Perhaps that's part of what made his game so strong?
Click to expand...

Hopkins stroke was no problem.

If you had seen Doc Hazard play you would have gone insane. 50 or more strokes on every shot. Even a straight in 9 ball two feet away.

Bill S.
 
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