Was old school straight pool different ….interesting video

trob

trob

AzB Silver Member
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I’m not sure if I found his thoughts interesting or just enjoyed watching crane play straight pool. I know this conversation has come up often . I think it has. I think it’s become much more aggressive now. It’s the slower chip balls out game played then. Guys want to blow the rack open. Anyway… enjoy


 
Definitely has changed...I've been playing for 6 decades, and the modern approach is power, and blow the rack apart...the old days was more finesse, chip away at the pack...more calculated, like a chess game...
 
14oneman said:
Definitely has changed...I've been playing for 6 decades, and the modern approach is power, and blow the rack apart...the old days was more finesse, chip away at the pack...more calculated, like a chess game...
Click to expand...
Yeah I believe I read Johnny archer was the first people saw blowing into the rack in the 90s in the pro game? Could be wrong. I know that’s what always struck me watching mosconi play. Just chipping away at racks
 
I think one of the things the old masters knew and capitalized on was the simple fact that the more balls you keep around the rack area the higher your chances of having a break ball naturally occur or being in a position that you can bump it into place for a break shot.

Somewhat obviously, when you blast 30% or more of the rack to the far end of the table, or even just to the rails, that's 30% fewer balls you have to work with to get into the next rack. Plus your CB is traveling a lot less. Perhaps with the growing popularity of 9ball players got more comfortable going to the far end of the table.

Mark Wilson told me he saw Crane do an exhibition where he racked the balls and let someone in the audience pick out which ball they wanted him to use for his next break ball.

Lou Figueroa
 
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its the equipment of today that allows aggressive play more than anything
fast equipment spreads balls apart much easier
slow dirty balls and cloth like to stick together more
 
lfigueroa said:
I think one of the things the old masters knew and capitalized on was the simple fact that the more balls you keep around the rack area the higher your chances of having a break ball naturally occur or being in a position that you can bump it into place for a break shot.

Somewhat obviously, when you blast 30% or more of the rack to the far end of the table, or even just to the rails, that's 30% fewer balls you have to work with to get into the next rack. Plus your CB is traveling a lot less. Perhaps with the growing popularity of 9ball players got more comfortable going to the far end of the table.

Mark Wilson told me he saw Crane do an exhibition where he racked the balls and let someone in the audience pick out which ball they wanted him to use for his next break ball.

Lou Figueroa
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I had this notion that the tighter you played the rack, the less there was to sell out. Players these days could give a fork.
On ball control, I think it was in B Digest that Sigel and Lisciotti as well were doing an exhibition letting audience members pick the break ball.
 
One-pocket was the same way. Old timers played real tight and defensive where modern game is waaaaaaay more offensive. 8-n-out has become old news where back in the day it happened but not near as often. I think Ronnie Allen was probably the originator of all-out one hole.
 
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lfigueroa said:
I think one of the things the old masters knew and capitalized on was the simple fact that the more balls you keep around the rack area the higher your chances of having a break ball naturally occur or being in a position that you can bump it into place for a break shot.

Somewhat obviously, when you blast 30% or more of the rack to the far end of the table, or even just to the rails, that's 30% fewer balls you have to work with to get into the next rack. Plus your CB is traveling a lot less. Perhaps with the growing popularity of 9ball players got more comfortable going to the far end of the table.

Mark Wilson told me he saw Crane do an exhibition where he racked the balls and let someone in the audience pick out which ball they wanted him to use for his next break ball.

Lou Figueroa
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Neat. That would be like playing 1 cushion conservatively compared to like a 3c player.
 
Another pattern guru. He should be a pool commentator.
He doesn’t think like Irving, Irving doesn’t think like him, and I don’t think like either one of them.

Clear the lanes, pool 101,
If possible knock a few balls up table, mid table, spread em out as best the table allows.
1/4” off line could mean a pattern change to plan-B.
Recovering is a constant in pool.
Insurance is your cousin, embrace thy family.

Why do so many feel the need to over complicate everything about this game.
A straight stroke with cue ball knowledge and go solve the puzzles.
Wtf is the problem you’ve been doing puzzles since you were two years old.


Today’s players are pocketing machines they fire them in from the parking lot, have a great cue ball, and recover darn well.
They run 100 in 20-30 minutes wham bam thank you ma’am.
Bust em open but not carelessly.
It’s not 1960. I think Jayson opened a few eyes. Of course yesteryears approach still exists in all games.

Go find your game and put the microscope in the closet.
Just get on the table and play until your fingers bleed.
 
SmoothStroke said:
Another pattern guru. He should be a pool commentator.
He doesn’t think like Irving, Irving doesn’t think like him, and I don’t think like either one of them.

Clear the lanes, pool 101,
If possible knock a few balls up table, mid table, spread em out as best the table allows.
1/4” off line could mean a pattern change to plan-B.
Recovering is a constant in pool.
Insurance is your cousin, embrace thy family.

Why do so many feel the need to over complicate everything about this game.
A straight stroke with cue ball knowledge and go solve the puzzles.
Wtf is the problem you’ve been doing puzzles since you were two years old.


Today’s players are pocketing machines they fire them in from the parking lot, have a great cue ball, and recover darn well.
They run 100 in 20-30 minutes wham bam thank you ma’am.
Bust em open but not carelessly.
It’s not 1960. I think Jayson opened a few eyes. Of course yesteryears approach still exists in all games.

Go find your game and put the microscope in the closet.
Just get on the table and play until your fingers bleed.
Click to expand...

All well and good for the pros out in the parking lot... but for the guys who are trying to run, 30, 40, 50 balls (and are the players actually hanging around here) the advice is still sound.

Not everyone has the time nor inclination to play until their digits bleed. And to them I say: want to run more balls -- play smarter and don't blast them open.

Lou Figueroa
 
14oneman said:
Definitely has changed...I've been playing for 6 decades, and the modern approach is power, and blow the rack apart...the old days was more finesse, chip away at the pack...more calculated, like a chess game...
Click to expand...
Back in the 60’s they used to line the balls up from the spot, players would go side to side pocketing balls I don’t remember what it was called
 
lfigueroa said:
All well and good for the pros out in the parking lot... but for the guys who are trying to run, 30, 40, 50 balls (and are the players actually hanging around here) the advice is still sound.

Not everyone has the time nor inclination to play until their digits bleed. And to them I say: want to run more balls -- play smarter and don't blast them open.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...
As I said yesteryears approach still applies today. There’s nothing wrong with learning the intricacies of a rack.
Many players today heads explode picking a rack apart like a surgeon.
It’s easy to get stuck bunting them around.
Pop em open and apply if necessary.

I learned from a gentleman that ran 356 on a 5x10. He would be pick balls out of a rack one, two, three at a time.
He taught me how to dissect a rack from the North, East, South, and West.
He also told me when I have the right shot to smash them with as best cue ball control you can to center table and up.

The cloth was like mud. Sometimes you had to drive through the rack with force follow.
The cue ball is pushing the balls out of the way, spinning in place and forcing through.

Those days are mostly over.
Half a smash and they open nicely.
Runout and get on the break ball.
 
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