Advances in Pool Strategy Over Time

StraightPoolIU

StraightPoolIU

Brent
Silver Member
I was watching an old Accu-Stats over the weekend from 1990, and along with a post I saw by hangthe9 in another thread, it got me thinking. We know there have been some technological advances in pool (jump cues, phenolic tips, layered tips, ld shafts) over time but they probably aren't as drastic as in some other sports like golf. However, it seems to me that pool is unique in that some strategies and techniques went years with almost no advancement and then recently things have changed quite a bit. 2 come to mind immediately. When I took up the game in the mid 90s jump cues were prevalent, but it was considered a good shot just to make a hit. Now it seems that when the jump cue comes out the expectation is for a make. The other is the 9 ball break. For so long guys were just slamming the break (often from near the headspot) trying to luck a ball. Now it's practically a science that has, in some people's opinions, ruined 9 ball as a pro game. What do you think the reasons are for this? Are there any other examples you can think of?
 
Pool strategy does take time to acquire, that's for certain.
I was playing a guy, last Saturday, and in about five minutes I was certain he was going to hand me my ass on a plate. :smile:
 
I blame the internet!
Instructional material is very easy to come accross today compared to 10 or 20 years ago. The break for example; if there were no internet you would have to hear stories by some drunk in a bar about the best breaker in town, and how he did it. Today you can see exactly how someone breaks and go to a table and emulate it. Add it in with technological advances with racks that give a perfect rack everytime.

As far as strategy goes; I see real difference in English pool between how the young generation play compared to the older generation. The younger generation play extremely aggressive, and even when playing safe its usually an aggressive safety. The older generation keep it simple and take no unnecessary risks as far as tough cuts and such. They may not break and run as many racks but they are tough to beat, especially one that's half decent at putting the ball in the hole. Its almost like they plan a rack after the break to try get 2 shots (BIH in American pool), so games last longer and more thinking is involved because you rarely get to go through the motions of clearing all 8 balls if you are 2nd to visit the table.

Pools a game that requires quite a bit of equipment. Equipment is only improved to make a game easier for the user. As equipment improves in the future the game will have to be altered once again to avoid it becoming too easy.
 
The soft 9 ball break is the one that really blows me away I guess because of how radically it changed in just a few years. I started playing pool in 1995 and everybody was hitting the break pretty much as hard as possible. I stepped away from pool around 1999 and 2000 to pick up golf. When I came back to pool full force in 2005 I couldn't believe how all the pros were breaking with the soft break and the cut break. The break strategy changed radically in a short period. Credit Corey for that I suppose.
 
StraightPoolIU said:
. However, it seems to me that pool is unique in that some strategies and techniques went years with almost no advancement and then recently things have changed quite a bit.

Are there any other examples you can think of?
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It seems pretty clear to me that the strategy of the 14.1 continuous break (not the opening break) is different today then for the pros of yesteryear. Almost like a different game!

The balls and cloth today break so much better/easier that what used to be "less than ideal" break shots are now the norm, and the "standard 14.1 break" is less seen.
 
Cornerman said:
It seems pretty clear to me that the strategy of the 14.1 continuous break (not the opening break) is different today then for the pros of yesteryear. Almost like a different game!

The balls and cloth today break so much better/easier that what used to be "less than ideal" break shots are now the norm, and the "standard 14.1 break" is less seen.
Click to expand...
That's what I find amazing about Mosconis high run. Sure the table had buckets but the table conditions far outweighed the benefit of buckets. There are plenty of tables around today with huge pockets, but no one can beat it. My high run was on 4.5" pockets with brand new balls and brand new cloth and yet its under half of what Mosconi managed. That is something that won't get easier with time. I still think 100 years from now players will still be chasing the elusive Mosconi high run.
 
I think it's a combination where changes in equipment cause a change in strategies/play.

The biggest change IMHO has been fast cloth. You can't successfully play power one-pocket on the old, slow cloth. You can try...and you can make the shots sometimes, but not often enough to style your game that way.
 
Cornerman said:
It seems pretty clear to me that the strategy of the 14.1 continuous break (not the opening break) is different today then for the pros of yesteryear. Almost like a different game!

The balls and cloth today break so much better/easier that what used to be "less than ideal" break shots are now the norm, and the "standard 14.1 break" is less seen.
Click to expand...

That's a good point, Freddie. When I was first learning the game and learning what straight pool was there really wasn't a way I could see it played by professionals. I was 12 and had never heard of Accu-Stats. Everything I learned about it was through the written word. Those works talked often about how old school straight pool was played and the traditional side-of-the-rack-steep-angle break shots preferred by Mosconi. That's why I was so surprised when I finally saw the game played live the first time, and it didn't really resemble that style of play.

Also, I do think that cloth does have a lot to do with changes to how the game is being played. Pool is a tougher game on slower cloth. That goes for every game not just 14.1. I always thought that was one of the cooler things the IPT did to make pro 8 ball a better game. It wasn't nearly the run out fest we've seen in recent 8 ball contests. It may also be the reason why (and this is purely speculative) pockets have gotten smaller to compensate for easier faster cloth. I just noticed this weekend that Grady says on one of my old Accu-Stats matches (1990 US Open) that he says the pockets are "tough 5" pockets" which are large by today's standard.
 
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