Many people have been inquiring about when my book will be ready. I have had a few legal snags, and I am currently re-doing the diagrams for the book and re-editing some of the text.
Wei was kind enough to allow me to use the Cue Table to make these diagrams - I will be donating a portion of the book sales to CueTable, and I would ask everybody that appreciates that service to also support the website. This tool has made this much much easier for me.
but..
Re-doing all of the diagrams has been painstaking because during some test printings, the balls were not showing up clearly - which has made this even more time consuming. Let me know if you prefer the darker balls - or if you would prefer them to be clear. This book will only be printed in Black and White - so no color options.
Below is a sneak-peak sample of the new diagrams that will be in the book, which I hope to have completed in the next few weeks, deadline is now February 1.
While republishing the book, for legal reasons, I will be re-titling it. I have narrowed it down to 3 titles:
Straight Pool Knowledge
Blackjack's Straight Pool Handbook
Straight Pool Secrets They Don't Want You To Know About (
)
I kind of like the last one myself... lol
Here are some samples of the new diagrams - these diagrams will be edited again during the final draft of the book. The text has been edited considerably - there will be clearer explanations in the finished book.
BASIC END SEQUENCE
In the diagrams below, I outline a very basic 14.1 end sequence.
In this situation, we are down to the final balls in the rack.
We need to identify 3 important balls in this sequence
A) The Break Ball
B) The Key Ball
C) The Set Up Ball.
By examining the diagram, we can see that our best break ball is obviously the 2 ball. From there, we must look at which ball (key ball) will get us an ideal break shot on the 2 ball. We can choose either the 5 ball or the 4 ball - but let's stay with what is easiest, and make the 4 ball our key ball. All we have to do is get a nice straight in stop shot on the 4 in the side, and we are well on our way into the next rack.
This makes either the 5 or the 6 our set up ball. We cannot realistically or easily pocket the 5 ball from our present cue ball position, so this makes the 5 ball our "set up" ball.
In the above diagram, I have outlined the proper "End Pattern", or "End Sequence" for the remaining balls. This is a general pattern that needs to be followed to get to my break ball. The 15 ball is designated as the key ball, and its position ensures that I will have a good shot on the 2 ball for my next break shot. My main goal now becomes getting a "straight in" stop shot on the 15 into side pocket "B".
Notice that in this diagram, we are only using one end of the table. Personally, I don't like hitting my break shots very hard. I like to keep the balls at the "rack end" of the table so that I can minimize cue ball movement. Keeping the balls at this end of the table will also increase my options if I need to manufacture a break ball. It will also give me many key ball and set up ball options.
At the most, I will have maybe one ball roll past the side pockets on my primary and secondary break shots. When you learn to utilize the table in this fashion, your confidence will increase when dealing with clusters, manufacturing a break ball, and utilizing the proper patterns.
The result you get is a good, workable break shot, using the 2 ball.
By properly planning the end sequence, you have increased your odds of getting into the next rack, and perhaps another, and then another.
Just follow this rule: Plan and then execute.
Wei was kind enough to allow me to use the Cue Table to make these diagrams - I will be donating a portion of the book sales to CueTable, and I would ask everybody that appreciates that service to also support the website. This tool has made this much much easier for me.
but..
Re-doing all of the diagrams has been painstaking because during some test printings, the balls were not showing up clearly - which has made this even more time consuming. Let me know if you prefer the darker balls - or if you would prefer them to be clear. This book will only be printed in Black and White - so no color options.
Below is a sneak-peak sample of the new diagrams that will be in the book, which I hope to have completed in the next few weeks, deadline is now February 1.
While republishing the book, for legal reasons, I will be re-titling it. I have narrowed it down to 3 titles:
Straight Pool Knowledge
Blackjack's Straight Pool Handbook
Straight Pool Secrets They Don't Want You To Know About (
)I kind of like the last one myself... lol
Here are some samples of the new diagrams - these diagrams will be edited again during the final draft of the book. The text has been edited considerably - there will be clearer explanations in the finished book.
BASIC END SEQUENCE
In the diagrams below, I outline a very basic 14.1 end sequence.
In this situation, we are down to the final balls in the rack.
We need to identify 3 important balls in this sequence
A) The Break Ball
B) The Key Ball
C) The Set Up Ball.
By examining the diagram, we can see that our best break ball is obviously the 2 ball. From there, we must look at which ball (key ball) will get us an ideal break shot on the 2 ball. We can choose either the 5 ball or the 4 ball - but let's stay with what is easiest, and make the 4 ball our key ball. All we have to do is get a nice straight in stop shot on the 4 in the side, and we are well on our way into the next rack.
This makes either the 5 or the 6 our set up ball. We cannot realistically or easily pocket the 5 ball from our present cue ball position, so this makes the 5 ball our "set up" ball.
In the above diagram, I have outlined the proper "End Pattern", or "End Sequence" for the remaining balls. This is a general pattern that needs to be followed to get to my break ball. The 15 ball is designated as the key ball, and its position ensures that I will have a good shot on the 2 ball for my next break shot. My main goal now becomes getting a "straight in" stop shot on the 15 into side pocket "B".
Notice that in this diagram, we are only using one end of the table. Personally, I don't like hitting my break shots very hard. I like to keep the balls at the "rack end" of the table so that I can minimize cue ball movement. Keeping the balls at this end of the table will also increase my options if I need to manufacture a break ball. It will also give me many key ball and set up ball options.
At the most, I will have maybe one ball roll past the side pockets on my primary and secondary break shots. When you learn to utilize the table in this fashion, your confidence will increase when dealing with clusters, manufacturing a break ball, and utilizing the proper patterns.
The result you get is a good, workable break shot, using the 2 ball.
By properly planning the end sequence, you have increased your odds of getting into the next rack, and perhaps another, and then another.
Just follow this rule: Plan and then execute.
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