I hustled my friend into liking straight pool

F

Fastolfe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
and I'm both really proud of myself and a bit ashamed. My friend Kevin is the proverbial 9-ball player: he likes fast games, he loves the luck factor in the game, swears 8-ball is too slow for him, and 14.1 "bores him enough to commit suicide".

This afternoon, the pool hall was empty, save for him and me. After the n-th 9-ball game with him, I said "look, I've been nice to you, we've played 9-ball and you know I'd rather not. Why don't you be nice and play straight pool with me, up to 40, no higher?" "Yeah okay, this once" he said. Wow, Kev playing straight pool, that alone is a miracle.

And then it occured to me: the fish was baited, I just had to pull the line a bit to hook him. The guy loves to win, he plays to win. So I played juuuuust right: I trailed just below him at the scoreboard, I missed pocketing the break ball by a hair but conveniently split the entire rack apart, after which he ran 12 balls and seemed darn proud of it. At the second re-racking, I somehow managed to position the break ball near a side pocket and scratched while looking like I was trying to pocket in a foot corner, leaving him the cueball in the kitchen, ball in hand for a perfect break, and he won 40-37. Damn was I unlucky today or what... Then we went for a coffee and he said to me matter-of-factly: "You know, 14.1 isn't bad after all. I had fun. I reckon I'll play again.". Yesssss! :)
 
You know that is a good story!
I have tried many times to get various people to play 14.1 and usually got the same kind of response you were getting from your friend.

My son plays darn good 9 ball and 8 ball but he too thought 14.1 was boring and everytime I convinced him to play he would moan about having to sit and watch me shoot ( believe me I don't run that many either).

Finally I gave up on getting him to play with me and I started having a friend over who is very good at 14.1 and that friend and I will play sets of 4 to 5 hours. (Two matches to 100 or even to 150). My son sat and watched for about 3 different sessions. He would wander in and out of the garage where the table is and finally last week he comes out and says "Can I play?"
YESSSS!

He is hooked too now. .... he still won't admit that he is hooked but we have played 3 times this past week and he is starting to understand the game and you know where that leads.
He will be beating me before long and as they say "The rest is history!":cool:
 
Those that do not play the game don't seem to realize that it is the only game where you can run balls. Once you get one of these types involved and they get a run in the 20's, or even a run of less but that connects two racks, they are usually hooked. From that point on you've got them chasing the dragon, so to speak. :wink:

That's been my experience. :thumbup2:
 
A good way to get someone interested in Straight Pool is to get them to try some Six Pocket.

http://6pocketleague.com/01_buzz.asp

I got a friend to play a short game of Straight Pool today after a couple of times playing Six Pocket. He likes the game!!
He and his son and myself played some more Six Pocket after the Straight Pool this afternoon.
 
My son finally jumped in with both feet and we play 14.1 the other day.

He is hooked now even if he does not want to admit it. He is a shooter and loves to take chances which is great in 9 ball, not so good in 8 ball and usually down right foolish in 14.1 but look at this video and you will see why he is getting hooked on 14.1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr3nl_3260I
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top