Do you think that playing 14.1 / Straight Pool can help a players game out at all? At least with Consistency?

V

vintagecollectibles831

Well-known member
Do you think that playing 14.1 / Straight Pool can help a players game out at all? At least with Consistency?

For example, if the player has not played in a long time, and wants to get back into playing, and hopefully get their old A game back?

I always hated doing drills. Never had a Pre Shot routine, that I know of. Other then what came natural, after playing for hours, every single day, for many years.

Do you think that just practicing 14.1 would be helpful, or would drills be better? Doing any kind of drills were always so boring to me though, but I understand that is probably why I never improved past a certain level.

Thinking back, I feel that I was never anything but just a Banger. Always really loved the game though. I guess not nearly enough though.

I have not really played any in around a year, and really wanting to get back into playing again. I really miss the game.

I know that I am going to be really rusty though.

Thanks for any thoughts.
 
You will be amazed at the improvement in many areas. If you miss a ball, pick it up and put it in the pocket then continue. If you really want to learn high runs...throw 4balls out on the foot end of the table and try to set up a break shot. Willie Mosconi said that was when he made his major break through in 14.1.
 
Playing and training at straight pool will help a lot with maintaining your intensity and concentration level. It's difficult to stay concentrated when you are simply shooting easy shots and that's why you miss those shots that are so easy you should make them with your eyes closed. You somply let your mind wander and don't aim. I really like drills for consistency but you can rack and open break and then run as many as you can including playing for a break shot on more racks and keep yourself honest call your shots. Do this 5 times and keep a record and you can gauge your improvement. After 5 then go on to your drills.
 
spktur said:
Playing and training at straight pool will help a lot with maintaining your intensity and concentration level. It's difficult to stay concentrated when you are simply shooting easy shots and that's why you miss those shots that are so easy you should make them with your eyes closed. You somply let your mind wander and don't aim. I really like drills for consistency but you can rack and open break and then run as many as you can including playing for a break shot on more racks and keep yourself honest call your shots. Do this 5 times and keep a record and you can gauge your improvement. After 5 then go on to your drills.
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THANKS A LOT.
 
Yes, 14.1 helps a lot. It does not have the more nuanced strategy of one pocket and does not involve the same degree of execution as 9 ball does IMO - e.g., shots that require you to move the cue ball around the full table effeciently every rack. But it forces you to "impose order on chaos" and learn some real pattern play and table management that the other two games don't require as much as 14.1. 9 ball dicatates the pattern - in 14.1 it's up to you.

The thing with 14.1 is that the racks get harder as you run out if you want to run a lot of balls and the opposite is true in 9 ball generally - the layout get easier as you progress through a rack. So you really learn how to pick the balls off the table correctly and simplify the game. I love it, it's my favorite game.
 
I also believe in the power of playing 14.1 for practice , as it teaches you how to see combination shots and how to break out problem balls as well as working on cue ball speed and control .
I feel its got way more positives than negatives to help improve your game .
 
My local room has a 14.1 league for us weekend warriors. It's a little humbling if I haven't played in a while, as it takes me about an hour to feel like I'm actually thinking the game correctly. Your brain has to be working. 9 ball takes me a couple racks to get the patterns back, but executing them is another matter!
 
vintagecollectibles831 said:
Do you think that playing 14.1 / Straight Pool can help a players game out at all? At least with Consistency?

For example, if the player has not played in a long time, and wants to get back into playing, and hopefully get their old A game back?

I always hated doing drills. Never had a Pre Shot routine, that I know of. Other then what came natural, after playing for hours, every single day, for many years.

Do you think that just practicing 14.1 would be helpful, or would drills be better? Doing any kind of drills were always so boring to me though, but I understand that is probably why I never improved past a certain level.

Thinking back, I feel that I was never anything but just a Banger. Always really loved the game though. I guess not nearly enough though.

I have not really played any in around a year, and really wanting to get back into playing again. I really miss the game.

I know that I am going to be really rusty though.

Thanks for any thoughts.
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Without a doubt.
 
Playing 14.1 by yourself is the best pool game you can use for overall practicing.

It tells you whether you are playing better, plateaued or struggling. The more racks
you play lets you use a variety of shots and even playing the ghost by practicing
defensive shots to try hooking yourself. Straight pool has always been the best
measure of your pool abilities. If you’ve never run a couple of racks in straight pool,
you have no idea how frustrating it is to miss a shot or to have to surrender the table
using defense hoping your opponent misses. Jawing the 8, 9, or 10 ball to lose the
game is horrible and aggravating. I know that feeling and it is absolutely awful.

But after running 25 to 35 balls and missing, which for me typically would occur on a
relatively easier shot then the others,the feeling of deflation is like an elevator drop.

A physical feeling comes up from your crotch and lower abdomen and starts to feel
like a a wicked hook punch that causes you to wince and you tighten your abs and
start squeezing your stomach muscles exhaling while bending over to only recover
and resume standing with yout shoulders slumped like you missed the last train home.

I can’t explain it other than the mental effort and concentration it takes to totally control
table for 20 mins to then miss a shot is so more deflating than running what’s a rack in 8,
9 or 10 ball and missing the last ball. Now I realize that can be mean losing a match which
amplifies your frustration enormously which is something very different than what I’m referring
to. I’m just saying 14.1, when it is played well and you can run more than just a solitary rack,
the mental focus becimes more intense. It is an excellent way to practice. Here’s an easy way.

Scatter 15 balls on the table, take cue ball in hand and see how many you can run. If you miss,
you keep playing BIH until the last few balls. Pick a number, say 3-4. If you miss, play those balls
BIH frim the kitchen. Your intention is to pick a break shot for the start of practicing 14.1. You got
to test your stroke, play position and get ready for a break shot which is the most exciting shot I
can think of in any pool game. If you don’t have a break shot because of the shape you failed to get,
then play defense with yourself until you or the ghost get a chance to bust the rack open.

Remember that 14.1 has always been the best measure of a player’s skills in pocket billiards, although
IMO, snooker played on a 12’ table is insanely difficult. I’m only 5’8” and have to use an extension or a
bridge on so many shots it wasn’t fun. On a 10’ table, it’s harder than straight pool because of the pockets
but 14.1 on a 10’ with 4.25” CP can be pretty daunting. Straight pool is not a game suited for ball bangers.
 
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iusedtoberich said:
I don't quite understand the question. Is straight pool your main game or 9 ball? If you are asking "will I get in stroke faster playing straight pool, or 9 ball, or drills?" I don't think it makes any difference. Just need to be at the table swinging the arm in a serious manner. IMO.
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Well, I never played much of any other game, other then 9 ball. I never liked 8 ball. Straight pool seems easier in a way, but getting the break outs seems like the really difficult part. Missing a break out could mean that you are screwed, and not getting a really good leave for that 15th ball, for the break out, also means that you are screwed for the next game. I played it by myself for about an hour today, on a 9 foot Brunswick. It was really not easy, having to deal with the clusters, and trying to get break outs. Nine Ball is just so much different. Rarely any clusters, and you are just always playing shape for 1 ball, and not having to deal with having to get around many other balls.
 
middleofnowhere said:
Any kind of practice is probably good for your game. Pool is not really that complicated. It's basically just doing simple things consistently.
Besides playing 1.41 is a lot of fun.
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I learned of a new game recently, but it looks very difficult. I think they call it K Ball. It is 15 Ball Rotation Pool, where every ball is 1 point, and you race to a certain amount of points. Playing defense is pointless, because if you miss, your opponent gets ball in hand. So, in a way, it is like playing the ghost. Offensive shots only. I think it is too advanced for me though.
 
I love it. You learn so much. Only game you can play by yourself and you have a way to show you are improving; the higher the run, or even better your average run, the better you are getting. You can establish goals, like run 25 and then run 50 and maybe eventually 100, etc. Those goals kept me very motivated, until I ran 100. I still want to run my 3rd 100 ball run, but not the same as the first. There are so many people who do not know throw shots or carom shots. They just don't come up that much, but they do all the time in straight pool.
 
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