2008 AZ Straight Pool Challenge!

New high run

Hi,

I'm happy for my new achievement of 25 but I'm really frustrated because my lack of skill in maintaing focus during a run.

My 26th ball was the key ball (the cue ball positioning for the break ball was easy and good) and was a pretty easy shot.. I missed it by something less than an inch (tight pockets) and with it the opportunity to start another rack and probably to go over 30..
 
mfoolb said:
Hi,

I'm happy for my new achievement of 25 but I'm really frustrated because my lack of skill in maintaing focus during a run.

My 26th ball was the key ball (the cue ball positioning for the break ball was easy and good) and was a pretty easy shot.. I missed it by something less than an inch (tight pockets) and with it the opportunity to start another rack and probably to go over 30..
Click to expand...

That's why straight pool is a very good practising tool to learn to focus on each ball separately. The runs usually end in a missed easy ball after losing focus rather than a difficult ball. Straight pool is a good example of a game that is "a good player is a not a player making all the difficult shots, instead a good player doesn't miss the easy ones" in a nutshell. I'd say many beginners with a good stroke cannot still make runs over 50 just because they don't have the ability to focus for a longer period of time. You have to learn that separately. Good luck in finding your focus.
 
mjantti said:
That's why straight pool is a very good practising tool to learn to focus on each ball separately. The runs usually end in a missed easy ball after losing focus rather than a difficult ball. Straight pool is a good example of a game that is "a good player is a not a player making all the difficult shots, instead a good player doesn't miss the easy ones" in a nutshell. I'd say many beginners with a good stroke cannot still make runs over 50 just because they don't have the ability to focus for a longer period of time. You have to learn that separately. Good luck in finding your focus.
Click to expand...

Great point, Mikko. During a long run, I find myself tanking out mentally somewhere between 84 and 100... for John Schmidt and Danny Harriman, I have seen both of them still going strong at nearly 200 - Danny is a long distance runner - and I believe that helps immensely with his mental endurance.

Thorsten is another example of a player that has great focus and concentration. It is not so much that he can turn that into big runs in 14.1 - what is amazing is that Thorsten is able to apply that focus - and when necessary (after sitting for a long run) he is able to REAPPLY that focus.

A great example is in this match Toastie had with Allen Hopkins at last year's World Championships - both of these guys came out of the chair - cold - after sitting through some pretty good runs - but they just turned it on again.

Allen Hopkins -VS- Thorsten Hohmann 2007 WC

It's a great match to watch both players applying their focus and concentration as they both edge towards the finish line.

Gave you rep for the 26 - keep working hard and you'll get there eventually!
 
Focus

Thanks for the wishes and the rep (didn't know what it was until right now).

I've read an interesting article I tend to agree with about multitasking and focusing in modern days:

- http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200711/multitasking

It seems we are becoming able to focus on many different things at the same time but at the same moment starting to lose the skill to remain focused on one thing for longer periods of time.

Something like our brain developing a new skill and losing one.. and I think that is not so good..

I've been working for 10+ years in the ICT area and I have surely developed the skill to work in multitask but at the same time I remember clearly how I could focus for longer period of time while doing just one thing (age is a key variables too but I'm still 33).. and I can live something like that in pool too..

I surely could have write this much better in Italian ;-)
 
well i have just spent 3 weeks up in rochester ny, my old home town and played a lot os 14.1 with all the guys. the tables were just reclothed for the joss tourny, i took 5-6 which is good for me!but i played some great strait pool also. i had runs of 115 and 125 against my buddy cardiac kid. then i ran 145 on bryan doty the table man! but the best was 171 on dave giner the realtor! the tables were playing easy but i was playing the balls good. i cant wait to get back to fla. though! it was cold as hell here! i could only trout fish 2 days! it has been in the 20s- 30s every day!
 
New High Run *56*

Just finished playing straight pool and ran 56. It's my new high run after running 53 twice earlier this year. I bobbled an easy nearly straight in 57 trying to get into the stack. I tried cheating the pocket and forcing the cue ball up into the pack and the pocket spit it out. Already breaking my high run 2 times this year is going to make me want to shoot more.

By the way... I set the shot up again after, and got to 71 and scratched on the break ball. Not like it would have counted anyway, but I wanted to try to get to 100 with only 1 miss. Maybe some day.
 
high run of 41

I had my best run last night, I shot a 41. Please add me to your list. :)

I really enjoy this thread, keep it up!! :D
 
poolshark52 said:
well i have just spent 3 weeks up in rochester ny, my old home town and played a lot os 14.1 with all the guys. the tables were just reclothed for the joss tourny, i took 5-6 which is good for me!but i played some great strait pool also. i had runs of 115 and 125 against my buddy cardiac kid. then i ran 145 on bryan doty the table man! but the best was 171 on dave giner the realtor! the tables were playing easy but i was playing the balls good. i cant wait to get back to fla. though! it was cold as hell here! i could only trout fish 2 days! it has been in the 20s- 30s every day!
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LOL!!!

I was looking for you in Largo on Easter weekend - and you're having a friggin' party up in Rochester? lol

Don't worry, Pat - when you get back here you'll have to deal with the wet rails and sticky cloth - back to skids cussing yourself - and being happy about running 60's and 70's lol

Seriously - great shooting!!! A 171 is a fantastic run - and even though it knocks me down another notch on the list, I think I speak for everybody here when I say that it is great to see you getting healthy and to see you hitting the balls so well!

Hope to see you again soon!

David
 
After a horrible start to the year I finally managed to post a 40+ break. The run stopped at 42 when I missed the pack off a break ball. Hope to break 50 again soon.
 
I ran 280 on cloth that was over ywo years old, I'm not sure of the month but I think it was in January of 08.
Sincerely, Danny Harriman (14.1 enthusiast)
 
hi buddy

Blackjack said:
163 on 01/05/08

followed up by a 147 on 01/26/08.
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i saw a post that said you were over in this area easter week end? i cant find the post now! sorry i missed you! i got back from rochester 4\3 . i had a great time and played lots of pool! i ran more 100s than i have in the last 5 yrs! i did hade a 171 against my friend dave giner, we were playing for a water! but for$20 i had 146-145 and 135 -115 playing the cardiack kid and table man bryn doty. new clothed brunswicks and the did play nice! also took 5-6 in the joss tour stop there also.
so hope i dont miss you the next time. hope to see you soon!
 
i am feeling good!

i did have to cut back on the chemo, it was kickin my butt!. 3 weeks on and 3 off. now i cant handle it so im 2 on 3 off. my dr. says ill have to make up my mind soon when to just stop it all together. i was just off for 7 weeks and i felt super the whole time! had one treatment monday and was in bed for 2 days! ill figure it out! thanks for thinking of me and i except all prayers!
 
Updated all PMs, sorry for dealy again!

I played for pretty much first time since July the other day and almost had a 30!!!

:rolleyes:
 
new high run

i was in rochester ny for 3 weeks and had a bunch of good runs! my best was 171 against dave giner the realoter! 146 with bryan doty the table man and 135 with the cardiack kid. this was the last week in march. thanks
 
I guess I'll toss my hat into the ring here and post my high run of 54. Hope to have that closer to 80 by the end of the year.
MULLY
 
No proof required? In that case, I ran 350 the other day :D

Not really, my high run isn't even worth putting on the list. 20 something I believe.
 
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