Game That Teaches The Most Skills?

Patrick Johnson · Jun 4, 2019

If you could only practice one pool game (rotation, 8-ball, straight, 1pocket, etc.) but you want to play all of them, which one would you choose to practice?

Which game demands/teaches the most important commonly needed skills?

Which commonly needed skill(s) does it lack?

Which game demands the most unique skills?

pj
chgo

Catalin · Jun 4, 2019

I think 10 ball. It's call shot, an accidental pot can get you in trouble and there are a good number of balls on the table. Around here all money games are 10-ball.

Julian

Michael Andros · Jun 4, 2019

Patrick Johnson said:
If you could only practice one pool game (rotation, 8-ball, straight, 1pocket, etc.) but you want to play all of them, which one would you choose to practice?

Which game demands/teaches the most important commonly needed skills?

Which commonly needed skill(s) does it lack?

Which game demands the most unique skills?

pj
chgo

9 ball.

The secret to this game is Whitey. 9ball teaches HAVING to play shape on the next ball no matter WHERE it is. You have no option. Imho, no other game ( discounting the other rotation games ) teaches this massively important mind-set.

Others will pounce on this. Regardless, those pounces will be their opinion. This one is mine.

iusedtoberich · Jun 4, 2019

9 ball. Why, because I love to ride the cheese and it’s one of the main reasons I play pool. Don’t take that away from me.

Not joking.

couldnthinkof01 · Jun 4, 2019

8 ball
Skills: pattern play, safety play, banks, cueball control, breakouts, caroms and combos.
Lacks: Big stroke shots( like in 9ball)
Most unique: one pocket

GoldCrown · Jun 4, 2019

14:1 ...............

realkingcobra · Jun 4, 2019

None, there is no one game that bridges all the knowledge needed in order to play other games of pool at a top competitive level.

Ralph Kramden · Jun 4, 2019

14.1 Straight Pool for the most variety of shots, soft, medium and firm.
IMO

.

realkingcobra · Jun 4, 2019

Ralph Kramden said:
14.1 Straight Pool for the most variety of shots, soft, medium and firm.
IMO

.

14.1 seriously lacks in teaching banks, not to mention if played right, the full length of the table, as most balls pocketed are in the side and foot pockets.

realkingcobra · Jun 4, 2019

couldnthinkof01 said:
8 ball
Skills: pattern play, safety play, banks, cueball control, breakouts, caroms and combos.
Lacks: Big stroke shots( like in 9ball)
Most unique: one pocket

Nope, world of difference between a 9b player and an 8b player.

Bob Jewett · Jun 4, 2019

I hope it is obvious to all that one pocket has the widest variety of shots. It requires precise placement of both the object ball(s) and cue ball. There are many shots at one pocket that really don't make any sense at other games. There are many shots that are frequent at one pocket that are played in other games but are rare. One example of a skill that is essential at one pocket as in no other game is precise kicking.

realkingcobra · Jun 4, 2019

Bob Jewett said:
I hope it is obvious to all that one pocket has the widest variety of shots. It requires precise placement of both the object ball(s) and cue ball. There are many shots at one pocket that really don't make any sense at other games. There are many shots that are frequent at one pocket that are played in other games but are rare. One example of a skill that is essential at one pocket as in no other game is precise kicking.

AND....1P teaches patients like no other game does, Damnit, I'm finally going to have to agree with you on something:thumbup: I must be getting old!

couldnthinkof01 · Jun 4, 2019

realkingcobra said:
Nope, world of difference between a 9b player and an 8b player.

You mean like Shane or Corey or Bergman or Styer or Shaw or Appleton....

Come now that makes no sense.

realkingcobra · Jun 4, 2019

couldnthinkof01 said:
You mean like Shane or Corey or Bergman or Styer or Shaw or Appleton....

Come now that makes no sense.

Pattern play is 100% different, and approached differently than single ball rotational play is.

couldnthinkof01 · Jun 4, 2019

realkingcobra said:
Pattern play is 100% different, and approached differently than single ball rotational play is.

That I can agree with.

Texas Carom Club · Jun 4, 2019

realkingcobra said:
None, there is no one game that bridges all the knowledge needed in order to play other games of pool at a top competitive level.

Dude i was gonna say the exact same thing

Ive played 3c straight rail n such extensively for yrs
14.1 amd 1pkt for just as many
8ball since my teens
10/9ball and bar box most recently

Not a damn one helps another game

The only thing that helps is playing the hell out of the game you want to get better at and getting the competition experience

JazzyJeff87 · Jun 4, 2019

Well couldnthink just said 8 ball lacks big stroke shots like are common in 9 ball, not that they’re similar.

1 pocket would be my choice, though I don’t think it’s best in the strict sense of having to play all games yet only practice 1 game. It has everything that other games have and then some but if I go weeks playing 1 pocket it takes a day or two to get back to fairly decent 9 ball

Texas Carom Club · Jun 4, 2019

Playing all the 14.1 i have over the last 2 yrs didnt help me play 8/9ball better

Playing 1 pocket dont help em either

Straight rail dont help 3c and vice versa

They are all different and all require different strategy anf shot making

SlickRick_PCS · Jun 4, 2019

Texas Carom Club said:
Playing all the 14.1 i have over the last 2 yrs didnt help me play 8/9ball better

Playing 1 pocket dont help em either

Straight rail dont help 3c and vice versa

They are all different and all require different strategy anf shot making

Ohh no you didn't say that.... :shakehead::nono:
Shall I give you the birds-and-the-bees talk, Richard? lol

realkingcobra · Jun 4, 2019

JazzyJeff87 said:
Well couldnthink just said 8 ball lacks big stroke shots like are common in 9 ball, not that they’re similar.

1 pocket would be my choice, though I don’t think it’s best in the strict sense of having to play all games yet only practice 1 game. It has everything that other games have and then some but if I go weeks playing 1 pocket it takes a day or two to get back to fairly decent 9 ball

The single biggest draw back to 1P that hurts all other games, is that 1P will hold back a players ability to get in the "zone" of a faster paced game, like ALL other games of pool....LOL

Game That Teaches The Most Skills?

Fish of the Day

AzB Silver Member

tiny balls, GIANT pockets

AzB Silver Member

AzB Silver Member

AzB Gold Member

Well-known member

BOOM!.. ZOOM!.. MOON!

Well-known member

Well-known member

AZB Osmium Member

Well-known member

AzB Silver Member

Well-known member

AzB Silver Member

9ball did to billiards what hiphop did to america

AzB Plutonium Member

9ball did to billiards what hiphop did to america

Pool, Snooker, Carom

Well-known member