Best Pool Game for Seniors - 1 Pocket or 14.1?

[white1]

When I’m in town(Nashville) I’ve driven to Bowling Green and Louisville for a change of pace from JOB.

Thx and interesting. Cue time would be my home room if I played much. Grew up playing there in the 80’s when Jimmy Hodges owned it. Have you found any action there? I know there are some good players within an hour but my most recent 1/2 dozen visits found only casual weekend drinkers and league players. Thx

 

[white1]

I play once a week in an 8 Ball league at JOBs. PM me and we can set something up. I am in my 80's, retired, and have plenty of time.

Thx Joe. I still like a little over a year before I retire full time.

 

[jtompilot]

Thx and interesting. Cue time would be my home room if I played much. Grew up playing there in the 80’s when Jimmy Hodges owned it. Have you found any action there? I know there are some good players within an hour but my most recent 1/2 dozen visits found only casual weekend drinkers and league players. Thx

I’ve been to Cue Time twice. Got good action once. The second time I was there I think they had removed a few of the 9’ tables.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

I’ve been to Cue Time twice. Got good action once. The second time I was there I think they had removed a few of the 9’ tables.

You should easily be able to get a One Pocket game at JOB's.

 

[white1]

I’ve been to Cue Time twice. Got good action once. The second time I was there I think they had removed a few of the 9’ tables.

Currently they have three of the original gold crown 9 footers originally installed, then 5 diamond 9 footers, then 7 diamond and Brunswick bar tables. Super nice room. Drinks with Saturday night bands is their staple, and leagues 2 to 3 days a week. I stay pretty current on the upper tier players within an hour of bg. So many of them are old or gone. Lot of decent players around. And a few shortstops nearby, but dont hear much about anything gamble wise often.

 

[white1]

You should easily be able to get a One Pocket game at JOB's.

Yes. I LOVE that room. Been there my share of times and have often said in my opinion it’s the best feeling old school room in the nation left. I don’t see well enough to drive far so it’s unavailable to me at about 40 minutes.

 

[maha]

gamble and all the games are interesting.

when we played straight pool it was to a low number depending on size of bet and skill level.
most times it was one rack to 8 first or a 25 point game.
never 100 point games thats for the pros. you dont play races to 25 or 50 in 9 ball do you.

instead of 9 ball, play 6 ball and the games go fast and all get lots of open shots.

if one pocket games get too slow play to 4 or 5 balls this way no up table games happen.

 

[doitforthegame]

Hmmm...big decision...watch grass grow, paint dry or play 1 pocket. I was better at 14.1 as well when I was younger, playing either is like deciding whether to play the whites or the seniors. Keep playing 9 ball, play lots of safeties and frustrate the youngsters. Nothing like the look on their face when you win.

 

[maha]

9 ball is much better for on lookers with less of an attention span than 14.4 and one pocket

and

better for players with higher shooting skills and less total shooting skills and creative thinking.

two different classes of pool players. to each their own. some of course are good at both.

 

[Rusty in Montana]

For whatever it's worth , with arthritis in both hands and wrists it makes forming a stable & strong bridge interesting at best and a smooth stroke much more deliberate .

Last night at our " city league " pool match I split it with 2 wins and 2 losses where I lost those games because of mechanics on my part not my opponents skills .

So any game of pool is a challenge for me since my mind is willing even if my hands aren't ha ha

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all ! Keep in mind our service men and women who are away from their families and friends .

 

[lfigueroa]

For whatever it's worth , with arthritis in both hands and wrists it makes forming a stable & strong bridge interesting at best and a smooth stroke much more deliberate .

Last night at our " city league " pool match I split it with 2 wins and 2 losses where I lost those games because of mechanics on my part not my opponents skills .

So any game of pool is a challenge for me since my mind is willing even if my hands aren't ha ha

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all ! Keep in mind our service men and women who are away from their families and friends .

There's a history of arthritis in my family and ocassionaly my bridge hand will cramp up.

A few years ago I made it to the finals of a tournament in Chicago and early in the match I turned to Gail, who had come up to sweat it, and said, "Bad news. My left hand is cramping up." And she was kind enough to massage my hand in between shots : -)

Lou Figueroa

 

[misterpoole]

if one pocket games get too slow play to 4 or 5 balls this way no up table games happen.

Speed one pocket may sound like an oxymoron but I have seen Efren and Scott play shot clock 1 pocket. Think it was 30 seconds. Anyway, sped up the game.

 

[maha]

all games speeded up is the answer to most problems in any sport that wants onlookers which increase the prize pool.

if they want a nick varner game to a pool room and try to find someone to play who knows that is how you play.

 

[maha]

Hmmm...big decision...watch grass grow, paint dry or play 1 pocket. I was better at 14.1 as well when I was younger, playing either is like deciding whether to play the whites or the seniors. Keep playing 9 ball, play lots of safeties and frustrate the youngsters. Nothing like the look on their face when you win.

the proof is in the pudding 9 ball isnt being played as much in poolrooms or hardly at all for money and one pocket is now the main game

 

[jtompilot]

You should easily be able to get a One Pocket game at JOB's.

I’ve been in action there. They have three 9’ tables, the best one is in the back room. Even though they don’t smoke there anymore, it still seems like a smoky dumpy room.

 

[Brookeland Bill]

I’m facing the realization that rotation games such as 9 ball have become just too challenging and frustrating for us senior players, including those of us who played these games quite well in our younger years. I’m wondering if other senior players agree, particularly as it relates to matching up against skilled players often less than half our age?

In choosing a game to focus and concentrate on trying to play as best I can for the next hopefully final 10-20 years of my pool playing life, the logical choice for me is between 1-Pocket and 14.1. Not that 8-ball isn’t a good game, but I just don’t think it’s as challenging a game as the other two, and at the risk of insulting those here who play it and love it, it seems to be the preferred game for recreational players and bar players.

I’ve played very little 1-Pocket, but I know it’s a great game that many players of all ages have become hooked on and it seems to be a game that senior players can remain quite competitive in, even in to their 70s. The issue for me would be the lack of 1-Pocket players in my area to learn from and to compete against. Even as our shotmaking skills naturally deteriorate in our advanced years, the knowledge and the defensive moves that are so critical in 1-Pocket are what allows senior players to still be a formidable challenge to a much younger 1-Pocket player.

By contrast, 14.1 is the game I grew up playing and loving for most of my first nearly 10 years of playing pool in the 1970s before 9-Ball took over as the preferred game for most serious players. Yes, there are still certainly shotmaking skills that younger players will always possess over us seniors. However, my premise is that if one can play 14.1 really well, with knowledge, simple positioning and limited cue ball movement, in the course of running a rack most shots should be relatively short, high percentage shots that even us seniors can handle as well as we ever have. And if we are faced with a longer or lower percentage shot, our defensive skills should be able to limit our opponent’s opportunities.

Any thoughts from others on this topic?

One Pocket…one game that I played a lot in college was 6 Ball…fewer balls than 9 Balls and eliminating 3 balls makes the game more open and faster…

 

[Brookeland Bill]

I am going to suggest a variant of 8-ball known as 1-15 (sometimes called Panama).

There are 3 special rules::
a) the 1-ball must be made in the right hand side pocket while the 15 must be made in left hand side pocket while looking at the rack from the breaking end of the table. If the 1 or 15 is made in the wrong pocket instant loss of game.
b) It is loss of inning if you {directly or indirectly} move the opponents 1 or 15.
c) I forgot (sigh)

These rules double the complexity of 8-ball.

That was the game in the 60’s.

 

[Fatboy]

One Pocket…one game that I played a lot in college was 6 Ball…fewer balls than 9 Balls and eliminating 3 balls makes the game more open and faster…

6 ball is a good game. Gets rid of the racking tricks

 

[jeagle64]

Sounds like you like 14:1 better, so play that game. One pocket is hard to learn how to play correctly without help from a better player.


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[Runnintable]

Best is like Beauty, or favorite it is a personal choice. My personal Choice is One Pocket, but I will admit playing 14/1 by my lonesome for practice, as it is a good way to learn toread racks, learn kick, and figure out how to make balls.

One of the BEST TEACHING AIDS that helps with both One Pocket, and 14/1 is Ray Martin’s 99 Critical Shot Book. Book can be found under 12 bucks.

But you must read cover to cover many times to unlock info you missed first time, then practice what Ray teaches, to see improvement.

Do not buy the book, place on shelf, never read, if you expect to get anything out of it. Or placing under your pillow at night while you sleep , hoping to absorb the info, will yield same results nothing.

JMHO

I used to bring that book with me to the pool hall.