That's only because you're not very good at it.
Anybody hate One Pocket?
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That's only because you're not very good at it.
If anyone were to watch the best players in the world play, the overwhelming majority of them would want the game to be One Pocket. The highest level players we have show their talents the best when playing One Pocket. If you've never seen Efren play Scott, then you haven't seen the best pool has to offer, and that is only two out of the many. :smile:
I'll put it this way....I have yet to develope the appreciation for one pocket. I'm still a relative beginner to pool in general, only tried one pocket a couple times. Didn't love it. Tried watching it a few times and got bored. I fully admit it's likely due to my lack of full understanding and skill at the game. Hopefully as I progress I'll learn to appreciate it. It certainly seems to have an extremely loyal following.
I used to be totally into 9 ball/10 ball, now it's straight pool. Maybe one pocket will be next (though I don't know....I'm really loving straight pool and feel like that will be my preferred game going forward).
I used to be totally into 9 ball/10 ball, now it's straight pool. Maybe one pocket will be next (though I don't know....I'm really loving straight pool and feel like that will be my preferred game going forward).
I like 1P in occasional doses.
I really appreciated it more after I did a little education. I watched Bert Kinister's videos and was amazed by the practice shots he sets up (e.g. Kick off the end rail into a cluster of two balls sending both towards your pocket, one of which has to bank to get there). These are not impossible shots but I never would have thought of them or much like it.
Any game is more enjoyable if you have a little knowledge of the strategy and tactics.
I really appreciated it more after I did a little education. I watched Bert Kinister's videos and was amazed by the practice shots he sets up (e.g. Kick off the end rail into a cluster of two balls sending both towards your pocket, one of which has to bank to get there). These are not impossible shots but I never would have thought of them or much like it.
Any game is more enjoyable if you have a little knowledge of the strategy and tactics.
Without question, One pocket is the most interesting game on the table. It is hard to understand anyone who knows anything about pool, not liking the game. It challenges all aspects, especially the mental side of the game. Additionally, is is most suited to cash games because of the ability to match up.
It's very simple
if you're a "checkers" lover, 1 hole won't do it for ya. If you're a chess "lover", you will love it
It's been said that "pool" is the most difficult game/sport to master! I believe this to be very true, and the example I would give is 1-pocket! You can't find a more demanding game where strategy AND ability are BOTH needed!
To the op, if you're and apa 6 or under,,,, this why you will stay at that level. Broaden your horizons! I been playing for 10-11 yrs now and I remember yrs back I would play this kid 9-ball and give him 2 games to 7 and rob him. Then, in 1 hole, he would drill me! I had everything in my arsenal way above his! Stroke, shotmaking, and position play! What he did better than me is use his brain
I didn't, because it was a "stupid game"!
Then, efren came into my life
I wish I could find out if that kid is still playing,, "hang the 9" knows who I am talking about! Would love to match up with him now! See where I stand
1 pocket in my opinion is the game of all games! I personally think it trumps all other games! On a side note, I wish I could of seen the likes of SJD, Grady, and such play in there prime! I really missed out on the greats! Not to say that the players of today are not great, I just think yesterday's players outmove today's players!
if you're a "checkers" lover, 1 hole won't do it for ya. If you're a chess "lover", you will love itIt's been said that "pool" is the most difficult game/sport to master! I believe this to be very true, and the example I would give is 1-pocket! You can't find a more demanding game where strategy AND ability are BOTH needed!
To the op, if you're and apa 6 or under,,,, this why you will stay at that level. Broaden your horizons! I been playing for 10-11 yrs now and I remember yrs back I would play this kid 9-ball and give him 2 games to 7 and rob him. Then, in 1 hole, he would drill me! I had everything in my arsenal way above his! Stroke, shotmaking, and position play! What he did better than me is use his brain
I didn't, because it was a "stupid game"!Then, efren came into my life
I wish I could find out if that kid is still playing,, "hang the 9" knows who I am talking about! Would love to match up with him now! See where I stand
1 pocket in my opinion is the game of all games! I personally think it trumps all other games! On a side note, I wish I could of seen the likes of SJD, Grady, and such play in there prime! I really missed out on the greats! Not to say that the players of today are not great, I just think yesterday's players outmove today's players!
One pocket is impossible to master and there will always be different moves to make. Rotation games are very boring to me. After the break, it is very easy to spot the out. You know what ball will go into which pocket. Also, one pocket is a game that, if playing heads up, the better player will almost always win. Whereas anybody can win in rotation matches. it takes more focus, control, imagination and more emotional control to play good one pocket. Learning one pocket will improve your ability to play all other games.
Like 1P a lot more now than when I first saw it. I don't get to play it much in IL mostly 7' players here so rotation is the game. Now that we have a room with 9' tables maybe it might get more popular. When I'm in AZ I do play more often and remember the two times I ran 8 and out felt like it was more of an accomplishment than my equally rare run outs in 8 or 9 ball.
One Pocket is way better than sex, and I'll tell you why.
Every time I go eight and out the guys will applaud and someone will say. "Well done, Tramp!"
Whenever my last wife and I would have sex the only thing she ever said was. "Are you through yet?" :smile:
Every time I go eight and out the guys will applaud and someone will say. "Well done, Tramp!"
Whenever my last wife and I would have sex the only thing she ever said was. "Are you through yet?" :smile:
lol..
This is the main reason people hate one pocket.. Its brutal to say, but yes, you hate it because you don't play it well and just don't comprehend the intricacies of the game..
It is such a beautiful game when you understand what's going on.. I don't mean watching some APA 3's trying to play it, which I will have to agree, sucks... but actually watching two guys who know what to do and how to execute..
I used to hate the game too when I was a champ straight pool and rotation player.. Its because guys I could give the last 4 to and 50 to 100 in 14.1 could beat me.. I thought I played so much better than them, but not in One Pocket..it bothered me to the point I focused on one hole..
Fast forward.... its the best game if you really understand pool and can read your opponents and situations well.. If you think you will never be able to enjoy it, then fine.. Not everyone enjoys the finer things in life..
I must of been a good 3 or 4 weeks getting used to this game, and that was several hours each day at the pool room. I would agree to play some of the seasoned players when there wasn't anyone else around for them to beat and true to form, they would beat the daylights outta me!
But thank goodness I stuck with it. I've learned so much more about defense and about kicking, banking (2 and - 3 rail banks) and ball speed. Like one of the fellows said "There's two strategies in pool: offense and defense and don't be afraid of defense".
The only other game that rivals 1P is "Russian Pool" for fun.
But thank goodness I stuck with it. I've learned so much more about defense and about kicking, banking (2 and - 3 rail banks) and ball speed. Like one of the fellows said "There's two strategies in pool: offense and defense and don't be afraid of defense".
The only other game that rivals 1P is "Russian Pool" for fun.
The only place I've ever seen Russian Pool was at a hole-in-the wall pool room in Northeast Los Angeles (Highland Park Billiards?). The balls looked bigger than the pockets!The only other game that rivals 1P is "Russian Pool" for fun.
pj
chgo
Yes, but if you hit the balls hard they go in. It's not that hard at all.
1 pocket "isn't" pool. A pool table has six pockets. The pool that almost everybody in the world who plays pool plays is still 8 ball ( although almost everybody who plays doesn't know the rules :wink: )
Having said that it is indeed the best "pool" game. And I like it. But what would save pool would be strong leadership from the WPA or whatever replaces it.
I'm sure someone has already said this, but I think you really have to be at a reasonably decent level of skill before you're going to be able to have fun playing OR watching one pocket. Roughly, IMO, at the level where you're not surprised or excited to break and run a rack of 8 ball on a 9' Diamond with 4.5" pockets. Or about the speed many people consider a good C to a weak B for starters.
If your're a pool beginner, even watching 1P won't be much fun, because you probably won't see what it is that a player is afraid of when he plays safe, or why a seemingly open shot was passed over in favor of a tougher shot, etc. It will just look strange.
Playing won't be much fun for a beginner, either, because you really have to be able to bank well, spin well, have good speed control, see and avoid sellouts--and that's just the beginning. Without a good foundation in those areas, you might be trying to get 8 balls into one hole, but you're not playing one pocket.
Punchline: trying 1P too early in your pool career is probably a bad idea. It may give you a bad impression that you wouldn't have if you had waited until you understood the game more.
Cory
You make a lot of sense Cory, except for one thing..Learning to play one pocket, as early as you possibly can, will give you a leg up on ALL the other far less demanding games !
PS..Its hard to believe, that the 'liker's' are only ahead of the 'hater's' by about 7 to 1 ?...I would have thought it would be more like 50 to 1 !
..But then we do have a whole lot of 'newbies' (ie; non-gambling player's) voting. 
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One pocket pisses the poss out of me, though I might agree that it is the best pool game out there.
I like to make balls go bye-bye though and I can stick up for myself a bit better in rotation games, so I will usually try to play them...but to win a 1p battle is a good feeling.
I like to make balls go bye-bye though and I can stick up for myself a bit better in rotation games, so I will usually try to play them...but to win a 1p battle is a good feeling.
1 pocket IS the best game. I completely agree. It's my favorite.
