Do you count?
- Thread starter slach
- Start date
Never count till your finished.
I never count until I am finished at the table. I would guesstimate that the vast majority of people who play straight pool play the game in this way.
Kevin
I never count until I am finished at the table. I would guesstimate that the vast majority of people who play straight pool play the game in this way.
Kevin
I do the same thing... count at the end.
If I make a ball in the middle of the rack I count how many are left, and then keep going just remembering that number.
That way at the end of the rack I can mark my score and then keep going with the run.
if I get a DO run going, I count the racks instead of the balls... but that's a rare occasion.
If I make a ball in the middle of the rack I count how many are left, and then keep going just remembering that number.
That way at the end of the rack I can mark my score and then keep going with the run.
if I get a DO run going, I count the racks instead of the balls... but that's a rare occasion.
It's funny, I was thinking about this yesterday after I practiced. I may have beaten my high run, but wasn't counting, so I couldn't tell. I was thinking that if I had been counting I may not have run as many. For me personally, I feel that if I'm not yet capable of running 100 balls, I don't really care what the run is. Sounds snooty, I know.
But what I may start counting are the misses when I practice. I like the attitude that there's no reason to miss if you play smart, so the 5th ball or the 500th ball are approached and pocketed the exact same way. Thinking like that should take the pressure off of a target number. You're either playing smart straight pool or you're not. It all should look very routine and boring no matter where you happen to be in a run. When you look at a run like Mike Sigel's 150-and-out against Mike Zuglan, you realize that high runs can be composed of easy shots. He rarely puts himself in traps where he has to come up with a trick shot. This tells me that with enough knowledge and cueball control I can have similarly high runs.
That said, if I find myself routinely not missing for a half hour or so, I may start to keep track of my runs, because I'll then know that I've acquired the knowledge to be able to run a hundred or more. I really just want to keep learning and getting better. If I run a 100, I won't be looking to run 150. I'll be looking for new knowledge that will Allow me to run 150.
But what I may start counting are the misses when I practice. I like the attitude that there's no reason to miss if you play smart, so the 5th ball or the 500th ball are approached and pocketed the exact same way. Thinking like that should take the pressure off of a target number. You're either playing smart straight pool or you're not. It all should look very routine and boring no matter where you happen to be in a run. When you look at a run like Mike Sigel's 150-and-out against Mike Zuglan, you realize that high runs can be composed of easy shots. He rarely puts himself in traps where he has to come up with a trick shot. This tells me that with enough knowledge and cueball control I can have similarly high runs.
That said, if I find myself routinely not missing for a half hour or so, I may start to keep track of my runs, because I'll then know that I've acquired the knowledge to be able to run a hundred or more. I really just want to keep learning and getting better. If I run a 100, I won't be looking to run 150. I'll be looking for new knowledge that will Allow me to run 150.
No Count
Start Playing no count where unless you make "X" amount of balls your score doesnt count. Like my friend suggested 20 no count. i know in my head to make twenty and the better you get the more you can make that no count number higher and higher and believe me you will remember the amounts quicker.
Start Playing no count where unless you make "X" amount of balls your score doesnt count. Like my friend suggested 20 no count. i know in my head to make twenty and the better you get the more you can make that no count number higher and higher and believe me you will remember the amounts quicker.
I'm in two leagues and don't notice anyone counting when they are up. After the inning everyone looks at the table and figures what he must have run. I have guys that get up there look for a while, miss and then count the balls to see if they made any. I guess that means he was just concentrating on that shot. Which is what we are supposed to be doing.
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What I do is count racks. Once I finish a rack I mark 1 on the counter. So I never have a number in my head while shooting. I noticed John Schmidt uses a penny on the table, and every rack he moves it a diamond.
Of course I never need to count as high as John!!
I also log my practice (20 or no count). Every month I write down the highest run for that month. That way I can track my progress.
Mike
Of course I never need to count as high as John!!
I also log my practice (20 or no count). Every month I write down the highest run for that month. That way I can track my progress.
Mike
I never know where im at score wise until I miss and put my count up on the beads. Everytime i`ve had a good run my opponent is always the one that says I ran so many balls. If I try to count I miss thinking about it.
I really should look at the score before I start my turn.
highrun55
I really should look at the score before I start my turn.
highrun55
I rarely get a chance to play competitive straight pool, but when I do I count afterwards.
When I am practicing, I only count racks. If I miss in the middle of a rack I just keep playing. At the end of the rack I make a guess (on the low side, never high!) about how many I ran.
Of course, I've only ever run three racks, and rarely 2 full, so I probably should be counting balls!
When I am practicing, I only count racks. If I miss in the middle of a rack I just keep playing. At the end of the rack I make a guess (on the low side, never high!) about how many I ran.
Of course, I've only ever run three racks, and rarely 2 full, so I probably should be counting balls!
number_of_balls = (rack_number -1)*14 + 15
Each time when we miss, there will always be 15 balls or less at the table. Let's call that variable actual_balls_left;
So in the end we can calculate our run:
straight_pool_run = number_of_balls - actual_balls_left
Works nicely. I only need to track rack number I'm in.
Each time when we miss, there will always be 15 balls or less at the table. Let's call that variable actual_balls_left;
So in the end we can calculate our run:
straight_pool_run = number_of_balls - actual_balls_left
Works nicely. I only need to track rack number I'm in.
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i have a friend who practices 14.1, i dont. What he does is just moves a coin one diamond for every rack he clears, when he misses the coin goes back to the starting diamond, for example if the coin is on the 4th diamond he knows he is in the 60's and 75 when he moves it to the 5th diamond. He never has to count just move the coin when you rack. I never have to move the coin....yes I play 14.1 that bad, it is amazing how bad I play it considering my speed playing other games. But if you can run a few racks his system is great and not a distraction
you can always tell a straight pool player by how quickly, or not they tally the score. Playing on GC's with counters, we always kept the rack score on the inside counter, and the total score on the outside counter. Beads are different, you move the "rack score" out away from the other beads, then when the rack is done you move them over touching your total score.
when practicing I start with a coin on the center diamond on the head rail, then move it like others have mentioned. If you get past the side pocket your running in the 50's, get to the bottom rail and your 2 balls from a century
.......don't miss that breaker!!!!
when practicing I start with a coin on the center diamond on the head rail, then move it like others have mentioned. If you get past the side pocket your running in the 50's, get to the bottom rail and your 2 balls from a century
.......don't miss that breaker!!!!