Able to play one game well, but not others?
- Thread starter D-Sub
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Shoebat
it's learning to see
I'm more comfortable playing 9ball than anything else. I can see patterns, shape, and definitely safeties better- even though I've been playing more 8ball than anything in the last few months.
I think of 8ball as more of a war game- you've got two sets of balls (like armies) and then the shared 8 to manage. 9ball is more of a race game- you and your opponent are working on the same mission with the same balls, trying to finish the "race" first, and preventing the other in his attempt when you run into a block.
This is a big deal- your whole basis of safeties in one game is hiding a shot on shared balls while in the other, you're hiding shots on balls that aren't even yours.
Also, I get distracted more easily in 8ball. Making a choice of solids and stripes is irritating for me- i often like or dislike both options and two balls in have still not fully committed to the decision. And then missing perfect shape on the next ball and deciding to either go for it anyway OR change the entire plan with a new "next" ball really bothers me. I would actually rather not have the options that 8ball offers. 8ball messes up my whole "follow the road map and duck when things aren't working out" mentality.
As for other games, I am still learning to see in 3cushion. I've been playing a little 3c every week and am amazed how quickly i can get into a blind coma. I literally can't see what to do and end up doing a long list of all of the possiblilities until i've narrowed it to my top 2 choices. And even then i often didn't see a possible "ticky."
I swear its which way of thinking and seeing that's most comfortable for you. Yes, stroke is important to everything, and so is the break, but I think for this question, the answer is your comfort zone of ways of seeing and thinking.
I'm more comfortable playing 9ball than anything else. I can see patterns, shape, and definitely safeties better- even though I've been playing more 8ball than anything in the last few months.
I think of 8ball as more of a war game- you've got two sets of balls (like armies) and then the shared 8 to manage. 9ball is more of a race game- you and your opponent are working on the same mission with the same balls, trying to finish the "race" first, and preventing the other in his attempt when you run into a block.
This is a big deal- your whole basis of safeties in one game is hiding a shot on shared balls while in the other, you're hiding shots on balls that aren't even yours.
Also, I get distracted more easily in 8ball. Making a choice of solids and stripes is irritating for me- i often like or dislike both options and two balls in have still not fully committed to the decision. And then missing perfect shape on the next ball and deciding to either go for it anyway OR change the entire plan with a new "next" ball really bothers me. I would actually rather not have the options that 8ball offers. 8ball messes up my whole "follow the road map and duck when things aren't working out" mentality.
As for other games, I am still learning to see in 3cushion. I've been playing a little 3c every week and am amazed how quickly i can get into a blind coma. I literally can't see what to do and end up doing a long list of all of the possiblilities until i've narrowed it to my top 2 choices. And even then i often didn't see a possible "ticky."
I swear its which way of thinking and seeing that's most comfortable for you. Yes, stroke is important to everything, and so is the break, but I think for this question, the answer is your comfort zone of ways of seeing and thinking.
D-Sub, I'm in the same boat. I strongly believe it all comes down to how much you enjoy the particular game you are playing.
I've been playing over 45yrs, owned a pool room, love the hell out of the game, the whole deal, ya know. I play decent 14.1 (although I'm beginning to think age is getting to my brain) I've run 60s and 70s when I was younger, now I'm stuck with my better runs in the 40s.
I also love to play one pocket but because I refuse to go to pool rooms with crazy music, I usually play at home with old friends and thats usually 14.1
Anyway, while I love full rack 4 handed partner rotation games like 1+3 or 1+5 Chicago games, (I'll play 5 bucks a "way" all day and night) I'd rather gnaw off my own thumbs than play 9 ball. Subsequently, when I do get duked into a set, I play it like I never played pool before.
I've been playing over 45yrs, owned a pool room, love the hell out of the game, the whole deal, ya know. I play decent 14.1 (although I'm beginning to think age is getting to my brain) I've run 60s and 70s when I was younger, now I'm stuck with my better runs in the 40s.
I also love to play one pocket but because I refuse to go to pool rooms with crazy music, I usually play at home with old friends and thats usually 14.1
Anyway, while I love full rack 4 handed partner rotation games like 1+3 or 1+5 Chicago games, (I'll play 5 bucks a "way" all day and night) I'd rather gnaw off my own thumbs than play 9 ball. Subsequently, when I do get duked into a set, I play it like I never played pool before.
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Klopek said:I'm referring to what makes one game more trying than another, not the mechanics of it.
Yes, a good stroke is key to ANY & ALL games, that goes without saying.... which is why I think you can eliminate that from why one game "seems" easier or harder than another game.
Okay, now stroke out of the equation, that leaves pattern play as the likely culprit.
I watch nineball players with beautiful strokes struggle playing eightball all the time. I also watch nineball players play horrible straight pool, even though 14.1 is a shoot and stick type game similar to eightball.
So what can you take from this observation?. That if stroke was the single most important thing, a person with a great stroke would be excellent in all cue sports. Since this is proven time and time again to be unrealistic we can attribute concentration, creativity, pattern play, and heart all in the mix.
There are players with ugly strokes that play jam up. Don't make me name names.
I see, sorry I misunderstood.
You may not like what I say
but just considering what you have said, I offer this:
1) You take 9 ball for granted, and shots within it.
2) Many 1 pocket players use a 'controlled' shorter version of their stroke, and when you play 9 ball, you need all of your stroke free flowing so to speak. When you 'let out' your stroke for 9 ball, you have flaws in it, which causes the missed shape, and missing of easy shots, along with your lack of focusing.
3) You did not mention whether you play 1 pocket for money? I never played it that well, pretty good, but not real good, and I used to play for $50 a game. Do you play 9 ball for money?
You seemed to have set goals for yourself in 1 Pocket, but not in 9 ball. If you run 8 and out in 1 pocket, you should be able to run a 9 ball table.
Anything gets 'old' when you are just doing it for the fun of it all the time.
At some point and competition level, you have to set goals to achieve for it. Gambling, such as it is, does, in fact, create a goal, to win the other person's money, a reward that you can see and feel and enjoy.
but just considering what you have said, I offer this:
1) You take 9 ball for granted, and shots within it.
2) Many 1 pocket players use a 'controlled' shorter version of their stroke, and when you play 9 ball, you need all of your stroke free flowing so to speak. When you 'let out' your stroke for 9 ball, you have flaws in it, which causes the missed shape, and missing of easy shots, along with your lack of focusing.
3) You did not mention whether you play 1 pocket for money? I never played it that well, pretty good, but not real good, and I used to play for $50 a game. Do you play 9 ball for money?
You seemed to have set goals for yourself in 1 Pocket, but not in 9 ball. If you run 8 and out in 1 pocket, you should be able to run a 9 ball table.
Anything gets 'old' when you are just doing it for the fun of it all the time.
At some point and competition level, you have to set goals to achieve for it. Gambling, such as it is, does, in fact, create a goal, to win the other person's money, a reward that you can see and feel and enjoy.
all excellent responses.
one factor that hasn't been talked about is:
confidence / doubt
I, unfortunately, have something physically wrong with me, and some days I just don't feel good so when I don't...I lose confidence, and I question everything I do. On those days I suck at all games not just rotation games or any specific...just all.
some darn fine answers in here. Thanks to all for their contributions.
one factor that hasn't been talked about is:
confidence / doubt
I, unfortunately, have something physically wrong with me, and some days I just don't feel good so when I don't...I lose confidence, and I question everything I do. On those days I suck at all games not just rotation games or any specific...just all.
some darn fine answers in here. Thanks to all for their contributions.