Help with Pool Experiment / part 5 (14.1)

David Marcus

David Marcus

"not bad,for a blind man"
Silver Member
Need your help again...part 5

I would like to test a theory with the help of my fellow AZers. My theory is based on the premise that ranking a player as an A,B or C is at the very best subjective depending on where your own playing level is and just as importantly how you "perceive" your own playing level to be.
I would also submit that depending on where in the country or in the world that you play weighs in to your "regional ranking" system. Is an A player in Chicago the same as an A player in the South or vice versa?
Thirdly the question is whether you can accurately judge a players level simply by watching a brief sample of them playing or practicing?
I'll be very curious to hear what each of you think. Please watch the video below and post on this thread the level of player/players you think you are watching. Please try to stick to straight whole letter grades for the sake of this exercise.
In this particular instance I'm also hoping for some constructive critique of position/pattern play as it applies to Straight Pool.
Thanks in advance for your assistance in this experiment. :thumbup:

http://youtu.be/ZheRls4dBjc
 
I would call them both C players. They do not seem to have very good control of the rock. I would say the guy with the hat is better and on a good day might fall in the B territory.
 
David Marcus said:
Need your help again...part 5

I would like to test a theory with the help of my fellow AZers. My theory is based on the premise that ranking a player as an A,B or C is at the very best subjective depending on where your own playing level is and just as importantly how you "perceive" your own playing level to be.
I would also submit that depending on where in the country or in the world that you play weighs in to your "regional ranking" system. Is an A player in Chicago the same as an A player in the South or vice versa?
Thirdly the question is whether you can accurately judge a players level simply by watching a brief sample of them playing or practicing?
I'll be very curious to hear what each of you think. Please watch the video below and post on this thread the level of player/players you think you are watching. Please try to stick to straight whole letter grades for the sake of this exercise.
In this particular instance I'm also hoping for some constructive critique of position/pattern play as it applies to Straight Pool.
Thanks in advance for your assistance in this experiment. :thumbup:

http://youtu.be/ZheRls4dBjc
Click to expand...

I measure the distance between where you are and where I am located x natural talent + disciplined practice = probably not. Sorry no video yet, were workin' on it.
 
They are both B players. I was convinced after watching the first rack but I did go on and watched the second rack also. With out a doubt both are B players. I always enjoy watching 14.1 matches no matter what the level. I will go back and finish the match. They might of had the score wrong after the first rack. One of them stated that the score was 9 to 5 but one of the players (the one without the hat) had two fouls during that first rack. He should of had 3.
 
I see what I believe to be a fundamental error in shot selection at 4:10. The idea in this situation is to figure out how to break apart the cluster of balls. The shooter clearly decides to play position on the 10 so he can go into the cluster from the back. He proceeds to pocket the 12 in the jaws of the pocket. This violates an important rule in 14.1, which is never to break open a cluster unless you know what your next shot is likely to be. In other words, you need to have a "safety" ball so that you have a guaranteed next shot. You also don't want to open the clusters in an uncontrolled "smash 'em up" way unless there is no alternative. This run ended badly, but not at all unexpectedly. You can't let the cue ball loose to fly around the table in 14.1.

It seems to me there are two better alternatives. In both cases the 12 in the jaws remains as the safety ball:

Option 1: Admittedly I can't be sure of the angle, but it looks clear that the 9 goes in the lower left corner. There is a perfect shallow angle into the cluster that will open them up while assuring a shot on the 12.

Option 2: A slightly more difficult shot, but not overly so - if the 9 somehow doesn't go... Shoot the 10 into the corner and come off the bottom rail. It looks like the natural angle will put the cue ball into the 13 or between the 13 and the 9. To assure a shot on the 12, shoot with a touch of inside english to go into the 13/6. No need to smash it. (If I had to shoot over the 7 I wouldn't try this shot, but I don't think it is an issue here).
 
I know this is subjective and all but I'm having trouble with the B ratings.
Thought I'd post some informal stats and people can decide whether they support a B rating.

Dave:
Opportunities with an open rack-8
Hi run-5
Next highest-4
All others-3 or less

These were open racks with good opportunities to run the rack.

Got to a decent breakshot-1 Missed breakshot

Safe opportunities-7
Effective safes-1


Mike:
Opportunities-10 or 11
Hi run-19 This was helped by a number of difficult shots but it's still a run
Next highest-about 4 runs of 10-14 balls. Got thru these racks but failed to fall on a decent breakshot despite good to excellent opportunities to do so.

Almost all of his safes were effective.

Going by these stats it's clear that Mike played a much better game. Whether he's a B player is as I said, subjective. I'd probably say B- for this particular game.
IMO the reason I can't give him a B is because he got thru these racks by making many difficult shots, not by playing good position &/or decision making, both of which a typical B player will have a better handle on.

Below are a few instances that may illustrate my point.
17:00-19:10
25:45-28:00
39:30-40:00
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top