14.1... Why is it not so popular?

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Scottster

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Personally I think the main reason the game isn't a top game of choice nationwide is because when people see it played at a top level, high ball runs looks so easy, then when they try, and struggle to get through a rack, their ego comes into play and says, "Dont let anyone see you can't play that easy game, everyone is gonna laugh at you because you cant even run a rack."

Guess what? Those of you afraid of looking foolish. Here's your epiphany.. it not an easy game. It's a game of champions, it takes a champion to make the game look easy, and straight pool is one of the reasons straight pool players play other disciplines very well (especially 8-Ball).

Personally, the game drives me nuts. I haven't come close to my high run in close to a year. I'll admit it, it was a fluke (52). My knowledge of the game has increased but my performance has not in straight pool. The mid game is putting up a challenge for me and my runs have been ending in the mid 20's (in practice).

Although I am at a plateau in straight pool, I know for a fact that practicing the game has payed off dividends in other aspects of my game.
I did the "Q-skill" Drill, AKA the "Drivermaker Tournament", and was very surprised at how well I did. I am not gonna brag but I will say the results were definately a confidence booster.

I guess all I am saying is dont be afraid to play this game because you cant run a 100 balls. Play this game because you want to improve your pool game.

I know for a Fact of one world class player that if he sees 2 people practicing, and one is practicing 14.1 and struggling, and the other 9-ball whom is running out, who he is gonna be more willing to help with their game because he knows who the real student of the game is. The one playing Straight Pool.
 
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I agree that it can help your game in many ways. I have only played a handful times and each time get pretty bored while PLAYING the game much less watching. I don't think it has anything to do with people's ego, just the nature of the game itself, its slow and in large part just flat out uneventful. Every game is difficult to learn from scratch, if the player doesn't see any reason to learn it then they won't. How can you expect anyone to want to watch a high run that ISn't a student of the game?
 
hemicudas said:
The game is too slow.
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In the 1940?s and 50?s 14/1 was played on Television and was very boring to watch. Back than people watched anything on TV as TV was NEW. As the posted said above it is slow, compared to the FAST GAME of 9 Ball that is now on TV.
headagainstwall.gif
 
hemicudas said:
The game is too slow.
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Which equals more table time. that coupled with that it can't be played on a bar table (8 ball) and isn't televised (9 ball). that really makes the game hard to get introduced to.
 
The origional poster hit the nail on the head! I have been playing 14.1 for about 15 years on and off. I come from an 8 table room with about 5 or 100 ball runners. It took me 3 years to run 100.....I played only 9 ball up to that point which was a VERY difficult transition for me.

The best way to learn is to have a great teacher, or it can take forever. Playing guys your speed it can also take forever to learn. You MUST learn the 4 or 5 basic rules of what to do along with correct patterns to run balls. Luckily now, theres SO much info on here the learning curve is much shorter.

IMO...

> Everyone plays 8ball cause it's easy to understand...
> Everyone plays 9ball cause the game tells you what to do next...less thinking.
> Fewer people play 14.1 cause it takes time to learn and you must think.
> Huh? BANKS? whats that? :D I'm from the north east man!;)
> Even fewer people play 1pocket cause you should learn to play EVERY other game well to progress to 1pocket and play it at a high level.

Gerry
 
Too slow?

lol

Watch this match from 1993 (The Miz VS Oliver Ortmann) that dmgwalsh posted in the straight pool forum - the game is anything but slow - it is exciting - and it is VERY entertaining.

Ortmann Vs Mizerak

The game is also the best foundation to have for your complete game.

It is the game's best teacher.

Many people think that its easy, because they have never played the game before. It is the most frustrating, yet useful tool used to build your game. The past few months, (other than full rack banks) it's basically all I have been playing.
 
people want things at a faster pace today cars,roller coasters 9 ball ect ect..i will always stay with my 14.1..Happy New Year :)
 
one of the reasons is the game is slow. therefore isnt great for tv or pool room owners. the other main reason is the better player almost always wins
 
I know I keep harping on this subject but I really think people are more fascinated with statistics than they are with actual game-play and unfortunately, very few statistics are offered in any pool game, including straight pool.

I mean, could you imagine all the statistics that could be compiled if baseball staticians got a hold of straight pool? Here's just a few that come to mind:

Most consecutive shots without an error
Most consecutive successful breakshots to continue inning
Most consecutive successful opening break safeties
Most consecutive combinations
Most consecutive caroms


If you can figure out a way to take the ordinary and redefine it as extraordinary, you can get people to watch. Try going to any college baseball game and you'll quickly see what I mean. If you don't know anything about the players, you'll wish it were naptime.
 
Which books or videos would you recommend for someone interested in learning straight pool?
 
storke said:
the other main reason is the better player almost always wins
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I think this is a huge part, combined with the fact that it's just a hard game to play past a rack.

But yeah, playing 8 ball, I might lose a race against a better player every time, but at least I'll occasionally win a game and that feels good. But straight pool, even a race to 30 or 40, the better player is going to win virtually every match.
 
Mark Avlon said:
Which books or videos would you recommend for someone interested in learning straight pool?
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Phil Capelle (SP?) book on 14.1 is very good, I purchased this book a few years ago, and have read it numerous times...


SPINDOKTOR
 
Gambling is the biggest reason people don't play 14.1. Matches take too long for people to get their "action". Railbirds want to bet on individual racks of 9ball etc...
 
SPINDOKTOR said:
Phil Capelle (SP?) book on 14.1 is very good, I purchased this book a few years ago, and have read it numerous times...


SPINDOKTOR
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Yeah, Phil Capelle's book is great (Play your best Straight pool was the title I think) and also the straight pool bible by babe cranfield.
 
metallicane said:
Gambling is the biggest reason people don't play 14.1. Matches take too long for people to get their "action". Railbirds want to bet on individual racks of 9ball etc...
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I know more ways to gamble at straight pool than I do at 9 ball.

You could play for a dollar a ball.

You could play $200 a game, $100 goes back to the guy with the highest run.

You could spot your opponent 50 balls.

Also, you can't rely on luck like you can in other games.

Thr problem is that it takes work to learn the game of straight pool. Plain and simple. Some players aren't willing to put in the time. I'm glad I did.
 
14.1

The game is still played regularly in europe, at least weekly in Germany. that is what I miss about living there the average player strength is higher over there I think. there are more well rounded players over there than here because their league syste combines 8,9 and 14.1
 
I love straight pool but like others have said, its the slow aspect of winning a game that kills it on t.v. Most people wont pick up a game they havent seen on t.v.
 
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