A 14.1 variation -- opinions wanted

[9BallPaul]

I'm attempting to teach my newphew how to play 14.1, but he's frustrated by the pace of the game as well as the safety play, or maybe especially because of the safety play.

So we experimented with a variation that I dreamed up, which may or may not be original. Break 15 balls hard, counting any that go in for the breaker, who won this advantage by winning the lag. Then call your ball and pocket. Instead of leaving the 15th ball on the table, we began shooting it in, and then moving the cueball back to the kitchen where the balls are broken hard again on the first shot, and then call shot resumes, calling the ball and the pocket only, as in 14.1. We haven't yet worked out how to handle scratches etc. but that shouldn't pose a problem. We doing this more for fun. And it has been fun. The game moves along and we can put together some cool runs.

Two questions: Is this a legitimate way to begin playing 14.1?

And does this game stand on its own as a worthy competition between two good players.

Your thoughts appreciated.

 

[3andstop]

Personally, I wouldn't want to play that way. Perhaps you should try a game we called "1 Ball" You can play a 14.1 safety opening or just smash em if you rather, but the game's point is that each player has a designated side pocket. This is the pocket the one ball must be made in to win the game.

The 1 is racked in the middle and the game is over when the 1 is pocketed in the correct players side pocket. No rotation, no stripes or solids, just called shot 14.1 type shooting till you make the 1.

 

[sjm]

I'm attempting to teach my newphew how to play 14.1, but he's frustrated by the pace of the game as well as the safety play, or maybe especially because of the safety play.

So we experimented with a variation that I dreamed up, which may or may not be original. Break 15 balls hard, counting any that go in for the breaker, who won this advantage by winning the lag. Then call your ball and pocket. Instead of leaving the 15th ball on the table, we began shooting it in, and then moving the cueball back to the kitchen where the balls are broken hard again on the first shot, and then call shot resumes, calling the ball and the pocket only, as in 14.1. We haven't yet worked out how to handle scratches etc. but that shouldn't pose a problem. We doing this more for fun. And it has been fun. The game moves along and we can put together some cool runs.

Two questions: Is this a legitimate way to begin playing 14.1?

And does this game stand on its own as a worthy competition between two good players.

Your thoughts appreciated.

I think it's a great idea to play this way if it makes it enjoyable for you and your nephew. It is still a worthy competition for all but expert level players. It's not exactly 14.1, but it will develop so many of the skills needed to become a good 14.1 player.

 

[Neil]

................

 

[Meezer Girl]

I'm assuming your nephew is young. If it keeps him interested in playing then how can that be bad.

As he develops more of an interest he will come around to appreciate the finer points of pool & the advantage of good safety play

 

[softshot]

I'm attempting to teach my newphew how to play 14.1, but he's frustrated by the pace of the game as well as the safety play, or maybe especially because of the safety play.

So we experimented with a variation that I dreamed up, which may or may not be original. Break 15 balls hard, counting any that go in for the breaker, who won this advantage by winning the lag. Then call your ball and pocket. Instead of leaving the 15th ball on the table, we began shooting it in, and then moving the cueball back to the kitchen where the balls are broken hard again on the first shot, and then call shot resumes, calling the ball and the pocket only, as in 14.1. We haven't yet worked out how to handle scratches etc. but that shouldn't pose a problem. We doing this more for fun. And it has been fun. The game moves along and we can put together some cool runs.

Two questions: Is this a legitimate way to begin playing 14.1?

And does this game stand on its own as a worthy competition between two good players.

Your thoughts appreciated.

you could just let the winner of the lag get CB and OB in hand to shoot at a 14 ball rack... and you are off to the races without the initial safety battle..

 

[Cameron Smith]

I'm attempting to teach my newphew how to play 14.1, but he's frustrated by the pace of the game as well as the safety play, or maybe especially because of the safety play.

So we experimented with a variation that I dreamed up, which may or may not be original. Break 15 balls hard, counting any that go in for the breaker, who won this advantage by winning the lag. Then call your ball and pocket. Instead of leaving the 15th ball on the table, we began shooting it in, and then moving the cueball back to the kitchen where the balls are broken hard again on the first shot, and then call shot resumes, calling the ball and the pocket only, as in 14.1. We haven't yet worked out how to handle scratches etc. but that shouldn't pose a problem. We doing this more for fun. And it has been fun. The game moves along and we can put together some cool runs.

Two questions: Is this a legitimate way to begin playing 14.1?

And does this game stand on its own as a worthy competition between two good players.

Your thoughts appreciated.

I like this. I've tried a similar variation with my cousin, the only difference is that I have stop after every 5 balls, this way he gets to shoot more. As he improves I'll raise my cap.

The precursor to 14.1 involved re-racking all balls at the end of every rack as your suggest. The only difference being that they had to call a ball on every break, in other words there was an opening safety break shot at the beginning of each rack. Can you imagine watching a 500 point game being played in this manner?

Here is an article from 1910 where Jerome Keoh suggest the use of a break ball. It's a repost from a thread I started earlier in the year but I figure some people missed.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D06E1DD1330E233A25755C2A9669D946196D6CF

 

[pdcue]

I'm attempting to teach my newphew how to play 14.1, but he's frustrated by the pace of the game as well as the safety play, or maybe especially because of the safety play.

So we experimented with a variation that I dreamed up, which may or may not be original. Break 15 balls hard, counting any that go in for the breaker, who won this advantage by winning the lag. Then call your ball and pocket. Instead of leaving the 15th ball on the table, we began shooting it in, and then moving the cueball back to the kitchen where the balls are broken hard again on the first shot, and then call shot resumes, calling the ball and the pocket only, as in 14.1. We haven't yet worked out how to handle scratches etc. but that shouldn't pose a problem. We doing this more for fun. And it has been fun. The game moves along and we can put together some cool runs.

Two questions: Is this a legitimate way to begin playing 14.1?

And does this game stand on its own as a worthy competition between two good players.

Your thoughts appreciated.

I play with a friend who isn't very skilled at 14.1. His 'spot' is he gets to place the OB and CB for a break on the next rack - just like most
people start off practice racks - this might be better for learning
14.1 than smash breaking every rack.

For your nephew, you might just do away with safety play altogether
untill he is better at running balls - and more patient.

Dale