How straight pool has helped me overall...

mnorwood

mnorwood

Moon
Silver Member
Mastering the concept of being on the correct side of the object ball in order to gain shape on the next is what took me from being a ball banger to a b player.

I have been playing straight pool since June and I beleive I my overall game will grow faster by concentrating on it.

I beleive this for one reason: to play straight pool well just being on the correct side of the ball is not good enough, you must consistantly gain shallow angles. Since playing straight pool my cue control has improved dramatically. Beleive it or not straight pool was the best thing to ever happen to my 9 ball game.

Of course everyone is different and everyone has different ideas about improving. This is just food for thought.
 
yeah im a new straigt pool player i just signed up for league play in my area of cincinnati. i joined because i want to play with people who can teach me the
real rules of the game and i too believe that straight pool will make me a better all round player. my game is 8 ball i play in the apa and those characteristics
in straight pool 1.run out game 2. break out small clusters 3. defense
these are the very skills much needed in 8 ball.
 
The biggest thing I take from straight pool, that helps me with other games, is to emphasize the importance of each shot. Rushing just one ball can mean the difference for me between a run of 5 balls and a run of 35 balls.
 
mnorwood said:
Mastering the concept of being on the correct side of the object ball in order to gain shape on the next is what took me from being a ball banger to a b player.

I have been playing straight pool since June and I beleive I my overall game will grow faster by concentrating on it.

I beleive this for one reason: to play straight pool well just being on the correct side of the ball is not good enough, you must consistantly gain shallow angles. Since playing straight pool my cue control has improved dramatically. Beleive it or not straight pool was the best thing to ever happen to my 9 ball game.

Of course everyone is different and everyone has different ideas about improving. This is just food for thought.
Click to expand...


In all liklihood, you're finding straight pool to be helpful to your overall game because there are many common shots and concepts in straight pool that are specialty situations in 9-ball. Working in tight areas, getting on the correct side, breaking out clusters and safing with the whole table in mind are just some of the situations you'll encounter. However, don't forget that there are shots unique to 9-ball as well. If your goal is to become a better 9-ball player, you'll still need to focus a good chunk of your time on 9-ball. Kicking, banking and long position shots are unavoidable in 9-ball yet are incredibly frowned upon in straight pool.

I'm really glad you've found straight pool and honestly, I wish there were more like you but don't forget that no game covers all of pool. Remember, there is always something incredibly intimidating about a 9-ball player with straight-pool-knowledge and a straight pool player with nine-ball-prowess.
 
Clearly the next benefit 14.1 has is PATTERN play. This in itself will help you in 8 ball. Soon picking and sticking with selected patterns will bring your game play up again.
 
It's true that many skills developed through straight pool translate well to other games over the green felt.

Still, I believe that straight pool is a game of continuous problem solving, and that because of this, it forces you to a higher level of concentration than you might require in some of the other games.

Hence, straight pool helps develop one's playing intensity, which strengthens one's playing pedigree.
 
Although I agree that straight pool is one of the greatest pool games and practicing it helps the overall game, you should remember that long distance shots are not common in straight. You will need to compliment your practice sessions with long shot practice or your nine ball game may suffer.
 
Njhustler1 said:
The biggest thing I take from straight pool, that helps me with other games, is to emphasize the importance of each shot. Rushing just one ball can mean the difference for me between a run of 5 balls and a run of 35 balls.
Click to expand...

Yep, even among top pros, the missed shots are usually easy shots or easy position plays.

I've realized in straight pool, that even the most simple stop shot should have the same preshot routine and good relaxed cue delivery like any other shot. Back to basics is a good phrase to describe good 14.1 practice session. When you step into the natural rhythm in 14.1, you can run hundreds. In 9-ball I've always had the problem that I might rush those easy shots and think too long those difficult ones. That breaks my rhythm. To me, being in "dead stroke" usually means being in perfect rhythm.

Just my 2 cents.
 
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