Which ones in some level of preference, would be best value to accelerate my one pocket skills?
Thanks ...
john_oleson@comcast.net
If you are after some instructional DVDs, the best value for me were Willie Jopling's Ultimate One Pocket DVD (especially volume 2 which was a real eye-opener) and Grady Mathews' 4DVD set (The Finer Points of One Pocket, Only Kicks, The Finishing Touch, and Killer One Pocket). Scott Frost's Power One Pocket DVDs (vol1 and 2) and Tom Wirth's DVDs are also very good. There is clear water between these four and the rest out there, imho.
Accu-stats player review videos (with one or both of the players' commentary dubbed in after the match) are also very good. There aren't many but they are really good value as you hear a lead commentator's analysis and the player's shot selection process at the same time. My preferred way to watch them is to pause the video in a difficult spot, come up with a shot myself and then play to see the actual shot chosen and the commentators analysis of possible alternative shots. I'm aware of four such videos only:
- Jimmy Fusco vs. Nick Varner | 1991 Legends Of One Pocket - Philadelphia Style*| P1P-06
- Steve Dobrowolski vs. Buddy Hall | 1995 Roanoke One Pocket | R1P2-06D
- Scott Frost vs. Efren Reyes | 2010 Derby City One Pocket | D12-1P10D
- Allen Hopkins vs Nick Varner - 100 Minute Rack | 1991 Legends Of One Pocket (South Carolina) | C1P-05
I think Fusco-Varner and Hopkins-Varner are out of print.
In addition, you may also watch a few good matches and take note of the shots you weren't aware of. Efren Reyes and Steve Cook played very creatively in terms of moving more than one ball out of the opponent's pocket.
Accu-Stats vimeo channel has a handful of good 1P matches. You can subscribe for $12.99/month only and watch as many of the matches as you want. Reyes-Pagulayan from 2017 One Pocket Invitational was a very good match. Try to watch those with Jeremy Jones in the booth - he's a really great commentator.
Cheers,
Terry