How would you rate a players speed?

alstl

alstl

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
In straight pool how many balls would you say a player should be able to run to be which level of player?

Pro
Shortstop
A
B
C
D
 
14-1

These runs should take place often, not once in a blue moon and under match conditions.

Pro: 100 or better

Short Stop: 60

A Player: 40

B Player: 25

C player: 14

D player: 5
 
Back in the '80 when i played my best i was considered a pretty good shortstop in New Jersey. Most of the time we played to 75 points so big runs were hard to do. If i ran 40 or 50 it was no big deal. Once in awhile i would bang out a 60 or so. I think had i played more 100 to 150 point games the average would have been slighty higher overall.I didn't run a bunch every game but i think i was a solid 40 or 50 ball threat every time i came to the table. I in no way considered myself a 100 ball runner (i did it a couple times) but a 40 or 50 ball runner. So where does that put me A player or short stop by the above numbers ? I should say where did that put me i don't play like that anymore.
 
Here is my opinion of HIGH RUNS, not expected runs every time at the table:

Pro: 200
S.S. 200
A: 100
B: 50
C: 30
D: 10

Every A player in my area has run over 100 balls. Every pro player in my area has run over 200 balls. I know several B's who have run 50. A C will not get into the 3rd rack, so I put him at 30 tops if he starts with a wide open table. A D won't get more than 10 balls, no way.
 
Most of these rankings seem reasonable. Here's mine:

Pro: 100+
SS: 70
A: 50
B: 25
C: 14
D: 5

For my rankings I would add the caveat that for any of these levels the player should not just be capable of running that many but that they are an actual threat to do so any time they come to the table with an open shot. I've run over 100 balls on several occasions but mostly when I was younger (I've been playing a long time) and believe me, I'm nowhere near a threat to do so every time I step to the table.
 
Whoa ! where are you located? Thats some pretty talented players.I think i may have hid in the corner even in my prime with sign saying i'll take 100 to 60 ! :eek:
Hey Dogs playing pool sounds like a couple geezers like you and i would be a fair match up. "How many have i run?' "Don't remember had to go to the bathroom again !"
"Hey i ran a 40 !"
"No you Didn"t"
"Yes i did ! 30 of them were while you were sleeping in the chair"
 
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rating another persons speed is very subjective.when i was a high stakes player i had a simple system that worked well for me.
it goes like this.if my opponent occasionally made a run of a few balls and i occasionally missed,i would conclude he played too good for me.

I played a long set with Jersey Red one time,he was wnning about 09 out of every 10 games,everytime I went to the rest room ,a railbird would sneak in and say something to me like "Did you ever think you might have a bad game"Finally I won 2 games in a row, Jack quit pronouncing he was in a bad game because I won 2 in a row.His explanation continued in this vein"I will stick with a guy all day,but once he wins 2 in a row,its time to quit.

I am aware that I did not actually give you the answer you wanted,but if you are a gambler it will be the best advice and perhaps give you something to laugh about
 
deanoc said:
rating another persons speed is very subjective.when i was a high stakes player i had a simple system that worked well for me.
it goes like this.if my opponent occasionally made a run of a few balls and i occasionally missed,i would conclude he played too good for me.

I played a long set with Jersey Red one time,he was wnning about 09 out of every 10 games,everytime I went to the rest room ,a railbird would sneak in and say something to me like "Did you ever think you might have a bad game"Finally I won 2 games in a row, Jack quit pronouncing he was in a bad game because I won 2 in a row.His explanation continued in this vein"I will stick with a guy all day,but once he wins 2 in a row,its time to quit.

I am aware that I did not actually give you the answer you wanted,but if you are a gambler it will be the best advice and perhaps give you something to laugh about
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So were you mad he quit winner or glad to get out of the game? Jim Buss told me he was at a tournament selling cues one time when Jersey Red wanted to try one of his cues. Jim told him to go ahead and chalk it but Jersey took the cue unchalked, set up a breakout ball, and ran 28 balls then handed the cue back to Jim and said "You don't need chalk if you hit center ball".
 
14-1StraightMan said:
These runs should take place often, not once in a blue moon and under match conditions.

Pro: 100 or better

Short Stop: 60

A Player: 40

B Player: 25

C player: 14

D player: 5
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I agree with this. Johnnyt I'm a blue moon man myself though:smile:.
 
Some very good players are not Straight Pool players. In general a professional level player should be able to run 100 balls every so often. A good shortstop should be able to run 50+ every so often as well. I always considered an A player a pro and a B player a shortstop. A C player might run a couple of racks occasionally and a D player would struggle to run one rack. Anything less than that is a novice.

I was not a Straight Pool player, and only played it for money a couple of times in ten years. My lifetime high run is 72 (in a game) and I've had a few runs in the 60's in practice and maybe a couple of dozen over 50. But like I said, I never really played the game, except to practice. And I was considered a shortstop by my peers. I could consistently run out open racks in 9-Ball, rarely stringing more than two or three. I used to be able to run six's and seven's in One Pocket, but no more. :frown:

I can still run three's and four's playing Banks though. I even ran a couple of five and outs the last time I played (DCC). One against Sam Monday, but he still beat me 3-2.
 
relieved it was over,i was spotting RED the break and he gave me 3 pockets to his one.At first I thought I had the nuts,but light was beginning to shine into the darkness as i got further and further behind.The sequel to the story was that Jersey Red and I became good friends and I have some pictures of him,Ronnie Allen,Verl Horn,Dennis Glenn,Barry Szamboti and a few other at our little ranch in Celina some 10 years ago.Red reminded me and everyone else of my bad day playing him and everyone got a good laugh

Sometimes you get beat and still make out ok


REPLY TO ALTSI ON ABOVE QUESTION
 
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For the purposes of matching up or rating yourself, I would be more interested in the average run per scoring inning than what someone runs every now and then (that is an inning where the player attempts to pocket a ball, ie. not counting safeties).

I remember SJM posting Irving Crane once remarked that 35 balls per inning would win tournaments. I kept stats on the first John Schmidt Danny Harriman straight pool match, and Schmidt won with an average of 33 balls per inning, Harriman had 28 per inning.

As for high runs, they mean very little in great scheme of things. You can gather a little bit about a players skill level, but not much.

A high run will win you one game if your lucky.
 
jay helfert said:
Some very good players are not Straight Pool players. In general a professional level player should be able to run 100 balls every so often. A good shortstop should be able to run 50+ every so often as well. I always considered an A player a pro and a B player a shortstop. A C player might run a couple of racks occasionally and a D player would struggle to run one rack. Anything less than that is a novice.

I was not a Straight Pool player, and only played it for money a couple of times in ten years. My lifetime high run is 72 (in a game) and I've had a few runs in the 60's in practice and maybe a couple of dozen over 50. But like I said, I never really played the game, except to practice. And I was considered a shortstop by my peers. I could consistently run out open racks in 9-Ball, rarely stringing more than two or three. I used to be able to run six's and seven's in One Pocket, but no more. :frown:

I can still run three's and four's playing Banks though. I even ran a couple of five and outs the last time I played (DCC). One against Sam Monday, but he still beat me 3-2.
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Question for Jay. If you walked into the average pool room and bet $500 that nobody in the room could run 100 balls within the next two hours how safe do you think your money would be? I'm talking the whole room, every table, can start setting up breakout shots and try to run 100.
 
alstl said:
Question for Jay. If you walked into the average pool room and bet $500 that nobody in the room could run 100 balls within the next two hours how safe do you think your money would be? I'm talking the whole room, every table, can start setting up breakout shots and try to run 100.
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I like your action! The only down side is what do you win if they DON'T!
 
berlowmj said:
How long should it take to reach ecah level?
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All with regular play, a few times a week.
D - one to two months
C - three months to six months
B - one year or more

This group needs to practice more.
A - one to two years of dedicated play/practice (over 24 hours a week)
SS - Three years minimum of dedicated play/practice
PRO - Maybe never!
 
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