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- Thread starter peppersauce
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Wish we had more threads like this!
I posted this vid a couple of months ago in the 14.1 forum in the high run thread and asked if anyone had any constructive criticism...crickets! So I submit it for all to see and dissect as you see fit.
I'm not a 14.1 player, but I was goofing around one night and thought I'd try to catch a high run on camera. While this isn't my high run, it's all I've got on video. Not that it makes any difference though...this is a run of 38 and my high run is only mid 40s from years ago.
So anyway! Where do you all think I can improve to increase my runs? Help me, pretty please!
https://youtu.be/uFUMO6jq2yQ
I watched a few minutes and your not picking specific spots for the cue ball to go when pocketing balls, other than that your game looks good enough too....once in awhile feel easy, but you know better. :thumbup:
Walking around
Great run and nice game. I think you would make more balls and play better if you walked around more. You just get right down and shoot without looking at other options.
Once you fell straight on the 4 ball to the side pocket that would have led to a stop and roll pattern, but you never even looked at it.
Also when the 7 ball was up table by the long rail and the 10 ball was in good break ball position, you can use that up table ball as a key ball. Taking off the other balls would lead to the 7 and then a break shot. You went up table, got funny and passed on the shot. You got yourself into trouble when you actually had a decent end pattern.
To summarize, walk around more and do less with your cue ball. Good luck and tell us when you hit 50!
Great run and nice game. I think you would make more balls and play better if you walked around more. You just get right down and shoot without looking at other options.
Once you fell straight on the 4 ball to the side pocket that would have led to a stop and roll pattern, but you never even looked at it.
Also when the 7 ball was up table by the long rail and the 10 ball was in good break ball position, you can use that up table ball as a key ball. Taking off the other balls would lead to the 7 and then a break shot. You went up table, got funny and passed on the shot. You got yourself into trouble when you actually had a decent end pattern.
To summarize, walk around more and do less with your cue ball. Good luck and tell us when you hit 50!
Blackjack hit every nail on the head.... I never seen this post on the 14.1 Forum...Your cue ball is traveling too much. Just in the first rack. Shooting the 8 ball in the corner and going into that grouping was way to hard. It sent the cue ball up table (1:11), Then at (2:15) the 2 ball into the side pocket, once again sent the cue ball up table. That shot caused you to be off on the next few shots leading up to a pretty flat break shot which got you stuck in the rack after pocketing the break ball. It was some good luck that you ended up with that combo. Keep up the good work. Watch your emotions like Blackjack stated.
Haha! That made me laugh out loud
easy-e is the best there is!
I couldn't agree more. This thread has turned out a lot better than I imagined it would. Great responses from everyone and they keep coming. Thanks for all the great feedback everyone!!
Hi Steve! I'm working in New Hampshire for the summer and then I have no idea where I'm going. Rarely get out to play much pool, but when I do it's 14.1! How are you?
Thought I'd give this a bump.
I started this about six months ago asking for advice about how improve my straight pool game.
Admittedly, I have barely played any 14.1 since I started this thread but I've been lurking in the 14.1 forum since then and reading a lot.
I feel like I'm starting to get a grasp on how to approach the rack after the break now. My first priority after the break is getting under the stack and clearing the bottom rail as soon as possible. While I'm working that out, I'm looking for balls I can make that will clear paths for other balls and I try, if possible, to leave a ball close to a corner pocket and use a secondary break ball to push the stack open and away from that insurance ball. Next on my list is any remaining problem clusters or tough shots that need to be taken care of. And of course, somewhere in that process I try to pick out a break ball, key ball, and end pattern. That's a far cry from where my mind was at in regards to 14.1 six months ago, lol.
I finally got my home table set up and have been playing straight pool almost exclusively since then...about two weeks now. So here is a 41 on my home table last night for your perusal. It's a GC III with Diamond cushions and 4.25" pockets. It plays TOUGH....but I like it.
https://youtu.be/x_lx5EC1HQg
I posted a new thread in the 14.1 forum and after 12hrs and 70 some odd views...not one comment. I'm just impatient, I guess. I know there's not much traffic over there. That's why I decided to bump this thread again, which is probably what I should've done in the first place anyway. I had to mute the video.
So what do you guys think of my overall approach compared to before? I think I've improved in my decision making and patterns, even though this run probably doesn't reflect it. I did get a couple of good rolls too...and sorry about my slow pace. I'm still having a hard time seeing a decent pattern and making up my mind.
Thanks for any additional insight you can offer. I'll put it to good use!!
I started this about six months ago asking for advice about how improve my straight pool game.
Admittedly, I have barely played any 14.1 since I started this thread but I've been lurking in the 14.1 forum since then and reading a lot.
I feel like I'm starting to get a grasp on how to approach the rack after the break now. My first priority after the break is getting under the stack and clearing the bottom rail as soon as possible. While I'm working that out, I'm looking for balls I can make that will clear paths for other balls and I try, if possible, to leave a ball close to a corner pocket and use a secondary break ball to push the stack open and away from that insurance ball. Next on my list is any remaining problem clusters or tough shots that need to be taken care of. And of course, somewhere in that process I try to pick out a break ball, key ball, and end pattern. That's a far cry from where my mind was at in regards to 14.1 six months ago, lol.
I finally got my home table set up and have been playing straight pool almost exclusively since then...about two weeks now. So here is a 41 on my home table last night for your perusal. It's a GC III with Diamond cushions and 4.25" pockets. It plays TOUGH....but I like it.
https://youtu.be/x_lx5EC1HQg
I posted a new thread in the 14.1 forum and after 12hrs and 70 some odd views...not one comment. I'm just impatient, I guess. I know there's not much traffic over there. That's why I decided to bump this thread again, which is probably what I should've done in the first place anyway. I had to mute the video.
So what do you guys think of my overall approach compared to before? I think I've improved in my decision making and patterns, even though this run probably doesn't reflect it. I did get a couple of good rolls too...and sorry about my slow pace. I'm still having a hard time seeing a decent pattern and making up my mind.
Thanks for any additional insight you can offer. I'll put it to good use!!
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Threads like this are what initially drew me to AZB. When I recover from
my medical issues (hopefully by June) I will make a concerted effort to
bring my 14.1 game up a few notches. Would be great to best my previous
High Run of 236 (in Tournament Competition 1965).
If redundant I apologize. Couple of thoughts...
Rack 1 - save the ball in front of the right side pocket for a key ball. Ball 11, try to shoot it easier and play one of the last 2 balls up table as you lucked out running into ball 12.
Rack 2, ball 3. Great reward for studying the rack. A lot of harder and more difficult shots in the last third of the rack. Probably could have addressed the ball in the kitchen earlier.
Rack 3, ball 10 - play to the 6 and shoot it up table instead of playing to the key ball in front of the side. Harder shot, but might have saved you from the circus break out on the last 2 balls.
Very nice ball pocketing and keeping control of CB.
P.S.- R3B8 ? excellent low stun shot essential to keeping run going. Just unlucky that 3 were still tight in the middle.
Rack 1 - save the ball in front of the right side pocket for a key ball. Ball 11, try to shoot it easier and play one of the last 2 balls up table as you lucked out running into ball 12.
Rack 2, ball 3. Great reward for studying the rack. A lot of harder and more difficult shots in the last third of the rack. Probably could have addressed the ball in the kitchen earlier.
Rack 3, ball 10 - play to the 6 and shoot it up table instead of playing to the key ball in front of the side. Harder shot, but might have saved you from the circus break out on the last 2 balls.
Very nice ball pocketing and keeping control of CB.
P.S.- R3B8 ? excellent low stun shot essential to keeping run going. Just unlucky that 3 were still tight in the middle.
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What did you do, run 150 and out and keep going? Geeze. I'm still chasing 50. :embarrassed2:
Thank you! It's those kinds of things that I'm just not seeing yet. Hopefully the right patterns will get easier to see with some more practice...Shooting the six up table in the last rack to avoid the crazy, last ditch break out never even crossed my mind. Hindsight, I think that was the shot. I might have got into the 4th rack if I had played it that way.
I was at the top of my game in the 1960's, practiced every day, with a goal
of running at least a hundred straight. It was the 1965 U. S. Navy Straight
Pool Championship and, in the semi-finals, my opponent broke nervously
leaving me a decent shot and breakout opportunity. From there I was able
to run 150 and out. I was given the option to continue and, miraculously,
worked my way up to all-time best run at 236. I was now on the Hill and
took a much needed break while waiting for the Final. I somehow found
the endurance and focus to win the Big Silver Cup for the 5th time.
My initial goal this time will be 50, but just being able to play again will be great.
Thought I'd give this a bump.
I started this about six months ago asking for advice about how improve my straight pool game.
Admittedly, I have barely played any 14.1 since I started this thread but I've been lurking in the 14.1 forum since then and reading a lot.
I feel like I'm starting to get a grasp on how to approach the rack after the break now. My first priority after the break is getting under the stack and clearing the bottom rail as soon as possible. While I'm working that out, I'm looking for balls I can make that will clear paths for other balls and I try, if possible, to leave a ball close to a corner pocket and use a secondary break ball to push the stack open and away from that insurance ball. Next on my list is any remaining problem clusters or tough shots that need to be taken care of. And of course, somewhere in that process I try to pick out a break ball, key ball, and end pattern. That's a far cry from where my mind was at in regards to 14.1 six months ago, lol.
I finally got my home table set up and have been playing straight pool almost exclusively since then...about two weeks now. So here is a 41 on my home table last night for your perusal. It's a GC III with Diamond cushions and 4.25" pockets. It plays TOUGH....but I like it.
https://youtu.be/x_lx5EC1HQg
I posted a new thread in the 14.1 forum and after 12hrs and 70 some odd views...not one comment. I'm just impatient, I guess. I know there's not much traffic over there. That's why I decided to bump this thread again, which is probably what I should've done in the first place anyway. I had to mute the video.
So what do you guys think of my overall approach compared to before? I think I've improved in my decision making and patterns, even though this run probably doesn't reflect it. I did get a couple of good rolls too...and sorry about my slow pace. I'm still having a hard time seeing a decent pattern and making up my mind.
Thanks for any additional insight you can offer. I'll put it to good use!!
A few comments on the first rack: I think you should have shot the six first, shooting the stripe could have got you in trouble plus you could use it as a safety ball if you chose to carom off the two to bump the seven into a break ball position. Also eliminates the awkward six - stripe play near the rail.
I think I would have shot the seven first instead of the 13 but that's just me (things can go awry on those little pinch shots).
Later, would have definitely shot the eight first before the stripe.
Think I would have tried to leave the six for a key ball, perhaps by drawing into it for a shot at the eight. For any run -- but especially on tough equipment -- a good key ball and end rack pattern is critical to running balls. You have to go out of your way to leave yourself a good pattern on the last three balls or you will soon be a dead duck.
Lastly, I would have played behind the two balls on the side rail rather than try and go into/around them.
Nice shooting, Jess.
Lou Figueroa
The first thing to do is take care of your problem balls first, in the video you took a back break shot away and then you went after the trouble balls.I posted this vid a couple of months ago in the 14.1 forum in the high run thread and asked if anyone had any constructive criticism...crickets! So I submit it for all to see and dissect as you see fit.
I'm not a 14.1 player, but I was goofing around one night and thought I'd try to catch a high run on camera. While this isn't my high run, it's all I've got on video. Not that it makes any difference though...this is a run of 38 and my high run is only mid 40s from years ago.
So anyway! Whereyou all think I can improve to increase my runs? Help me, pretty please!
https://youtu.be/uFUMO6jq2yQ
Edit: 41 ball run from yesterday for comparison.
https://youtu.be/x_lx5EC1HQg
Thanks for all the input everyone! I think the difference in my patterns and planning the rack is noticeably better. I still have a long way to go though.
Ray Martin
Remember that mistakes are vitally important teachers for you. You need to cherish your mistakes, hug them close to yourself, and get all the value they have for you. Not just 'I screwed up.' but 'what exactly was the mistake?', and 'why did I make that mistake?', and 'how can I avoid that mistake in the future?'. Once you have squeezed all that from your errors, let them go, so they can help others, and get back to work.
Thank you kindly.
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