Comments and inputs wanted - Video of my 40-run

[metallicane]

Roy -

Thanks for posting. The knowledgeable posters have already broken down your run and I can't add to it except you shoot great and should try to slow down a bit. I can see you running 100+ in no time. Stick with it, it is a great game.

 

[Roy Steffensen]

Once again, thanks for all your comments!

Today I had the chance to play some pool again, and I called Line Kjorsvik, and we decided to tape a 14-1 match between us.

To make the story short, I didn't play well the few chances I had, and when she ran 17, 20, 27 and 53 she beat me easily 125-20. My highest run was 15, which I made after she missed on the score 119-5. We will try to upload both the whole match and Line's run of 53.

After our match we didn't have much time left, so we decided to just try to get some runs, playing pool classic. (Rack the 14 balls, use nr 15 as break ball and use ball in hand. Shoot till you miss. Same rules as DCC Straight Pool Challenge).

On 3 tries I had 11, 14 and 35. Would have uploaded the 35, but Line forgot to press tape on the first rack, so only 21 balls on tape...

Anyway, the comments I have got in this thread have made my 14-1 game jump to another level. I played much, much better, didn't let the cueball move around the table all the time, and I spent time deciding my patterns, key-ball etc. We played for only 2,5 hours today, including the match, so I am satisfied with running a 35 on the few shots I actually had.

Conclusion: I have improved my 14-1 game thanks to all of you who contributed in this thread! THANKS

(Can't wait for the DVD of Danny Harriman to arrive)

 

[Roy Steffensen]

Roy - Thanks for posting this run. I'd like to do the same sometime.

I decided to watch this video assuming that the player (you) was a professional. I wanted to see what would stand out as "unprofessional" as well as what you did well. The first thing that struck me (don't laugh) is that your ferrule is filthy dirty! I've never seen a pro play 14.1 with a ferrule like that. Get some Mr. Clean Magic Eraser if it is available where you are, and it will come clean like new. I play better (at least I think I do) when my ferrule is nice and white, and the shaft is slippery.

It also seemed that you cue ball control was sometimes good, and sometimes not so good. Either that, or you weren't planning where you wanted the cue ball to go sometimes. Pro players do not look like that often.

I won't repeat what others have said, which I agree with. I can only add a comment about the combination in the last rack. I think it was the 8-10 combination in the left corner pocket. You let loose with the cue ball caroming off the ball next to the 8. Just be careful in any cluster break when the cue ball is heading in that direction. It is going to be a scratch more often than you'd like.

On the other hand, you have a nice, smooth stroke and you are generally motionless during your shot.

Thanks for posting your video!

About uploading your run for the people here to see, check my above post! DO IT!!!

Regarding the ferrule being dirty. I am playing with OB-1, and on OB-1 shafts the ferrule isn't white like on other shafts. The ferrule is made of wood. I think this, and bad light, is the reason why it looks dirty

I totally agree with your other comments - it's a fact that I loose my cueball way to often, both in combinations and regular position play. Working on improving it!

Thanks for taking your time to watch the tape, and for your comments!

 

[Roy Steffensen]

Great attitude Roy and a nice run. I agree with what's been said so far. I'd also like to add that one thing that has been difficult for me in the past is when there are too many options. Once the balls were open, I'd get overwhelmed with choices. You should see me trying to order food when the menu has more than 10 selections. I've actually been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder which doesn't help with focus as you can imagine.

So having a step by step plan for running balls is helpful for me even if it's not a perfect plan. Have a short list of certain priorities in mind. This helps to keep me from being overwhelmed by choices. I'm always experimenting, but lately, I've been concerning myself with congestion. I don't like balls too close to one another unless they're near the side rail and one can easily be fallen on and used as the key ball with the other as the break ball. That happens to be a nice situation to save for last.

But other than that situation, I want to spread the balls apart, either by bumping (carefully with insurance balls) or by removing balls that create congestion. My goal and my challenge is to have the balls spaced apart nicely and to have as many balls still left on the table as possible once that's accomplished. Solartje showed this in his post, and also showed how you chose to leave the congestion too long. Fortunately you're a good shotmaker and could get out of sticky situations nicely. That's one thing I'm not, so I need to do a bit more planning to run balls like you did.

Once this spreading has been accomplished I would reassess and choose my final pattern by working backwards from the break ball.

So for me, I go through the following process:

1-Upon reaching the table, I ask myself what shots are available, placing priority on the easy ones.
2-I want to immediately figure out the simplest way of taking care of clusters without creating new ones in the process.
3-If I happen to accidentally fall nicely on a ball that will take care of another issue without interfering with my current plan to remove clusters I take advantage of that opportunity, such as manufacturing a break ball or pocketing a stray ball that would be difficult to fall on later.
4-Once clusters have been taken care of I focus on the congestion issue.
5-Once the congestion has been taken care of I reassess the layout and choose my ending pattern by working backwards from the break ball.

It's a plan. I don't know if it's the best plan, but it's a good one. I also happen to hate line-ups of balls. I'd much rather have balls spread out in 2 dimensions than along a line. I think position play is easier that way, so leaving even a single ball on the bottom rail and/or a single ball above a line-up makes things easier.

Another tip would be to alternate pockets from one ball to the next. It seems to help with position play as well, because you aren't crossing angles as much.

Lots to learn in this game. I think we're just beginning. I think with enough dedication and practice(and studying of cuetable layouts) we'll help one another to get to a point where we'll be calling entire open racks of balls. Sounds crazy but I think it's within our capabilities.

Overwhelmed with choices... :embarrassed2: :embarrassed2: I used to hate this game, and because of all the choices ("so easy game, any ball in any pocket") I normally got "brain-damage" after my first shot. I have played the game more and more the last year, and it's not as bad as it used too. But still I have to improve a lot...

Thanks for your advice's, I will have them in mind when playing! I am going to run a 100, and I will keep studying the cuetable-layouts. They are a great tool for learning this fantastic game.

 

[Dave Nelson]

Roy

As a sub-banger I have no advice to give or comments worth expressing. But, I would like to be first in line to buy the first dvd of your first 100+ ball run. I offer $100.00 in advance. Where shall I send the check? My hand writing is awful but my checks never bounce.

Dave Nelson