How to practice one-pocket?

I

ineedaspot

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Beyond just, say, practicing banks or general skills. In 9-ball, there's playing the ghost, in straight pool, you can set up a break shot and start a run. Those are both useful and also fun.

Playing the "one pocket ghost" by just trying to run a lot of balls into the same pocket only covers a small part of what one-pocket is about. I guess you can play one-pocket against yourself, but that doesn't seem quite as satisfying.

Is there any "thing" that you can do with 1-pocket that's comparable to a straight pool run or playing the 9-ball ghost?
 
The break......getting out of the break. ..over and over. On the break getting a ball up and a ball down with
the cue ball ON the rail between the 2nd and 3rd diamond .....then get out of the break with cue ball ending up in the pack or on the rail, again taking away the bottom of the cue ball........no great revelation, just the two key shots to the game.......
 
Play full-rack banks. You'll learn how to bank in traffic. Also, learn how to decently kick 3-rails in order to remove and get behind balls when needed. Last but not least, SPOT shots. Gotta make your free-throws.
 
play one hole the way some play chess; just flip the board. this way you test your strategies as well as your skills.
 
ineedaspot said:
Beyond just, say, practicing banks or general skills. In 9-ball, there's playing the ghost, in straight pool, you can set up a break shot and start a run. Those are both useful and also fun.

Playing the "one pocket ghost" by just trying to run a lot of balls into the same pocket only covers a small part of what one-pocket is about. I guess you can play one-pocket against yourself, but that doesn't seem quite as satisfying.

Is there any "thing" that you can do with 1-pocket that's comparable to a straight pool run or playing the 9-ball ghost?
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Watch a lot of top tier 1 pocket and you'll learn the shots and moves. I honestly think that's the best course
 
High level 1P requires extremely accurate cue ball control at all times. This is both for running out when your opponent sells out, and making sure you don't sell out. I've played a lot of rotation, 14.1, banks, you name it, but 1P is the most demanding in terms of controlling whitey. You must also become very strong at spin banks, shots where you throw the object ball at pocket speed to your hole while keeping whitey safe.

I will say this however, modern 1P is very much about running out every time you have the chance and moving isn't what people spend time learning any more. So break a rack somewhat medium speed, take whitey in hand, and run 8 and out into 1 hole every single time. Do this 75% of the time and you'll be a top player.
 
Practice banks 1-2-3-4-5 rails
Pocket "speed" and clear out speed.
Spot shots from everywhere!
Spotshots from E V E R Y W H E R E
A spotted ball, or balls occur often.So...
Practice spotshots,multiple balls on the spot.
Practice spotshots aggresive and defensive.

One more thing practice banking....spotshots.;):wink:
 
Thomas McKane said:
High level 1P requires extremely accurate cue ball control at all times. This is both for running out when your opponent sells out, and making sure you don't sell out. I've played a lot of rotation, 14.1, banks, you name it, but 1P is the most demanding in terms of controlling whitey. You must also become very strong at spin banks, shots where you throw the object ball at pocket speed to your hole while keeping whitey safe.

I will say this however, modern 1P is very much about running out every time you have the chance and moving isn't what people spend time learning any more. So break a rack somewhat medium speed, take whitey in hand, and run 8 and out into 1 hole every single time. Do this 75% of the time and you'll be a top player.
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This is sad but unfortunately somewhat true it seems...

I love the "moving" aspect of the game and watching someone get out of a trap and then reverse it on their opponent changing the entire game with one well executed shot.

Granted the top players still do this extremely well but it seems like all of these straight shooters are able to run out much more when they get to the table so it seems the game has changed to favor the shot makers over the years.
 
Can't over emphasize shooting spot shots, and also banking spot shots, from just about everywhere.

Practicing straight pool is also an excellent way to go, because the skills from that carry over to one pocket very nicely.

Best of all is playing good players, though. Playing cheap sets against some of the better players in your area is a great way to practice your all-around skills. Then, if you can, playing more expensive sets against people your level will also hone your abilities and keep you at peak.
 
Get my video and practice the drills.. They are one pocket specific drills for your cue ball...
If you can think it, but can't execute it, its worthless...

Besides this, you need to watch a lot of good players and try to predict their moves, etc..

...and get in the box with guys a little better than you and keep moving up..


Pro Skill Drills - Volume 6

Adam
 
cincy_kid said:
This is sad but unfortunately somewhat true it seems...

I love the "moving" aspect of the game and watching someone get out of a trap and then reverse it on their opponent changing the entire game with one well executed shot.

Granted the top players still do this extremely well but it seems like all of these straight shooters are able to run out much more when they get to the table so it seems the game has changed to favor the shot makers over the years.
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If you want to see when it all started to change, check out Accu-Stats Legends of One Pocket III (1992) series of matches. They are available for online streaming and Pat Flemming does a great job. The 2 matches where it stands out the most, new vs old, are Shannon Daulton vs Bugs Rucker and Gary Spaeth vs Cecil Tugwell. Modern 1P was never the same after that. (RIP Gary, Cecil and Bugs)
 
Thomas McKane said:
If you want to see when it all started to change, check out Accu-Stats Legends of One Pocket III (1992) series of matches. They are available for online streaming and Pat Flemming does a great job. The 2 matches where it stands out the most, new vs old, are Shannon Daulton vs Bugs Rucker and Gary Spaeth vs Cecil Tugwell. Modern 1P was never the same after that. (RIP Gary, Cecil and Bugs)
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I will have to check them out!

Since Gary was an old pal of mine and I don't think I caught that match I look forward very much to seeing it.

Thanks Thomas!
 
cincy_kid said:
I will have to check them out!

Since Gary was an old pal of mine and I don't think I caught that match I look forward very much to seeing it.

Thanks Thomas!
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That's awesome that you knew Gary, watching videos of him shooting are a real treat for me. I sure wish he was still around, he would be one of the greats for sure.
 
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