Large runs and recovering from errors

center pocket

center pocket

It's just a hobby, but a fun one.
Silver Member
I swear, I get frustrated sometimes watching some of the runs you guys post. I guess I am just jealous. Marop and a few others make it seem so easy. Even when you guys make errors you guys still find a way to get out with a descent break ball. I dont know if its my lack of knowledge or what but if I make one single error it seems like the run is over. My best recent run was a couple of weeks ago and it was a 38. The reason it ended I chose a cut shot on a ball that was an inch in front of the tit on the side pocket over a longer straighter shot because it gave much better positional opportunities, also it was a trouble ball that needed to go. I bobbled it and it was the only error i made. Maybe my table is a little to tough, i dont know. If i make a mistake in 10 ball or 9 ball I can usually recover, straight pool on the other hand, I am screwed.
 
I'm sure that Marop would tell you that for every 80 ball run, I'm sure there were plenty of 8 balls runs. I've learned one truth to this game and that is "you can't will high runs".

It very well could be the table that you play on which is making it difficult. However, the bottom line is to play the game correctly. Take time to map out a strategy and try and stick to it. Work on leaving insurance balls and study, study, study the art of leaving a good key and break ball. The rest will happen, but don't get obsessed with numbers.

Doug



center pocket said:
I swear, I get frustrated sometimes watching some of the runs you guys post. I guess I am just jealous. Marop and a few others make it seem so easy. Even when you guys make errors you guys still find a way to get out with a descent break ball. I dont know if its my lack of knowledge or what but if I make one single error it seems like the run is over. My best recent run was a couple of weeks ago and it was a 38. The reason it ended I chose a cut shot on a ball that was an inch in front of the tit on the side pocket over a longer straighter shot because it gave much better positional opportunities, also it was a trouble ball that needed to go. I bobbled it and it was the only error i made. Maybe my table is a little to tough, i dont know. If i make a mistake in 10 ball or 9 ball I can usually recover, straight pool on the other hand, I am screwed.
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If I were to sit down and average all of my runs for the week, I would get a number lower than 38.

Some days you're going to play this game and you're not going to run a lot of balls. That's just life. The game is not about the numbers, it is about finding your way through the balls and getting from one rack to another.

Some days that will be easier than others.

Sometimes the balls spread well, sometimes they don't.

Some shots will go, other times the balls will skid or wobble.

That's pool.

I can get into the big numbers occasionally. Most of my cleanest runs are in the 42-70 ball range. For every big run, there are about 9 or 10 runs that are so low that I don't even log them down. If I am recording those screw-up runs, I will sit down and watch the video, recognize what I did wrong, apply a remedy, and when I have learned the lesson (and ONLY after I have learned the lesson), I will then send that video to the recycle bin. I try to do the same thing with memories of the bad roll or the bad shot.

I hope that helps.
 
Salamander said:
I'm sure that Marop would tell you that for every 80 ball run, I'm sure there were plenty of 8 balls runs. I've learned one truth to this game and that is "you can't will high runs".


Doug
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Your right, you can't will a high run. My goal every time I take an inning is to get to the breakshot and get into the next rack. Some nights I might have 10 or more runs that stop in the 20 range and I never make it to the third rack but, I'm playing good but the balls just don't cooperate to net a real big run. Other nights I will run 70 while not playing great but I get a lot of rolls. The real big runs come when you your playing good and getting a few good rolls.

Bill
 
Hey centerpocket, I understand your frustration completely. I also get abit jealous however I'm not watching there runs for that reason. I watch the high runs to improve my game and take little things and apply it to my game. Player review tapes are worth there weight in gold, when great players explain why they are doing certain things. Opening lanes to uncover pockets, being aware of there key balls etc....I have been practicing my runs on tight 41/4 inch tuff gold crowns and had a high run of 41. I found a table in Fontana Calif. with 41/2 inch pockets and ran 45 my 4th try, so I did realized right away this was a better table for straight pool, being able to cheat the pocket slighty to move the cueball better in tuff situations. I got stopped short on my practice by people barking at me to play 9 ball and I had 2 winning sessions and I am playing the best 9 ball of my life. I am attributing this to my relentless straight pool practice. Shoot Straight and Good Luck Buddy............
 
PS Centerpocket, try and find a table with 5 inch pockets. I noticed alot of the runs posted here that are quite large are on very forgiving pockets. On 41/4 inch pockets there are certain break shots you cant even play for behind the rack!
 
Thanks for the input, I will keep plugging away.

I am shooting on my diamond pro am. pretty tough table to play straight pool on. My current high run on it is 41, and 45 on a 5 inch gold crown.
 
center pocket said:
I swear, I get frustrated sometimes watching some of the runs you guys post. I guess I am just jealous. Marop and a few others make it seem so easy. Even when you guys make errors you guys still find a way to get out with a descent break ball. I dont know if its my lack of knowledge or what but if I make one single error it seems like the run is over. My best recent run was a couple of weeks ago and it was a 38. The reason it ended I chose a cut shot on a ball that was an inch in front of the tit on the side pocket over a longer straighter shot because it gave much better positional opportunities, also it was a trouble ball that needed to go. I bobbled it and it was the only error i made. Maybe my table is a little to tough, i dont know. If i make a mistake in 10 ball or 9 ball I can usually recover, straight pool on the other hand, I am screwed.
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This game will drain you of your every weakness, and dance all over you as soon as your guard is down...

how many times is it, and i have noticed it in everyones runs that as soon as you solve a problem on the table either a new one is created. or we let our guard down and break focus with this a new problem is born.

that is the true beauty of the game, when it is played right by all the greats it is pool in all its beauty. a true specticle to be witnessed. it is that, that keeps us all coming back for more.

everyone wants to meet and beat a high number, but i think we all strive for that one perfect run. lets say for instance you run 25 balls, but within that run there was a bank and a carom, etc. it just wasnt a feel good run. your goal should be to match or beat that run, but doing it cleanly without an issue.
IMHO it is when you can run those high numbers cleanly you have found "IT" and once you have "IT" you will never lose "IT". This has been my new found passion in the game lately. i feel that if i can do "IT" on the smaller numbers, the higher numbers will fall into place soon enough !!!!!!

-Steve
 
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I totally agree with Marop here.

I will add that the best way to recover from a mistake is to have other options. The more options you can leave yourself towards the end the better. If I have 2 break balls on the table, let's say one on each side of the rack, I will be playing for a specific one from the beginning but I'm not going to shoot the other one off until the last few balls if I can help it. I like the option of going the other way if I need it.

Some days this is the most frustrating game on earth. Some days it's poetry in motion.
 
i agree with you on this chris...i like to leave 2 break balls as well, and at the time i decide to shoot one of them away i choose which one has the best posibilities on a keyball. for instance, both breakshots are at the same location on each side of the rack. i would choose based on which of them if either has the side pocket keyball.

there is no right or wrong way to run balls, there are just some rules of thumb which make it happen a little easier. the main thing is to know some of these rules, and most of all to know your own stroke and capabilities and limitations. and thats what sets us all apart in this game... it all boils down to whats your style !!!


Speaking of style, that will bring you to my next post....Stay Tuned !

-Steve
 
Marop said:
..... The real big runs come when you your playing good and getting a few good rolls.

Bill
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bill: yes, and the ability to get out of trouble is what sets good players apart from the 14.1 rabble. IMHO, that, perhaps more than any other single factor, is the key to high runs. in this regard you and straightman excel.
 
Salamander said:
I'm sure that Marop would tell you that for every 80 ball run, I'm sure there were plenty of 8 balls runs. I've learned one truth to this game and that is "you can't will high runs".
Doug
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doug: good post.... i've seen very very good players get beaten by lesser players because of this 14.1 idiosyncrasy. in this respect, there is no other pool game like it.
 
It's partially a mental thing too. There's a big difference when you look at difficult situations as challenges or puzzles to be solved rather than a screw up.
 
center pocket said:
I swear, I get frustrated sometimes watching some of the runs you guys post. I guess I am just jealous. Marop and a few others make it seem so easy. Even when you guys make errors you guys still find a way to get out with a descent break ball. I dont know if its my lack of knowledge or what but if I make one single error it seems like the run is over. My best recent run was a couple of weeks ago and it was a 38. The reason it ended I chose a cut shot on a ball that was an inch in front of the tit on the side pocket over a longer straighter shot because it gave much better positional opportunities, also it was a trouble ball that needed to go. I bobbled it and it was the only error i made. Maybe my table is a little to tough, i dont know. If i make a mistake in 10 ball or 9 ball I can usually recover, straight pool on the other hand, I am screwed.
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Evan,

I would'nt be too discouraged.

Each time I practise 14.1 at home, I play whereby I run a total of just 5 innings (with ball in hand for each inning).

I've tracked my average run per inning for over a year and it's only 11 (yes, I was shocked too at how low this initially appears to be). My high run on this this home table is 59 (Bruns GC111, 4 1/4" pockets) and yet I've run centuries on several other tables.

There is no doubt that we all gauge our 14.1 "measure" on what our individual high run is, but really it is such a "non standard" that I feel it is not the best gauge of improvement.

I would consider taking the time to track your average. I believe that witnessing your average increase would be a better indicator of your performance improvement. (Obviously the average on your diamond will no doubt be lower than say a 5" table.) This also takes the "pressure" off you from constantly striving for that high run.

FWIW, I've heard Bob Jewett state that if you could average 20 on each visit to the table (with ball in hand for each inning), then you would be able to compete at a world class level.......food for thought, eh?

Thanks.

Bernie Pettipiece.
 
Thanks Bernie for the input. Yesterday I got some good news at work, getting promoted and will make an extra 450$ a month! Well after work I was feeling really good and thought I would play some straight pool. I played for 45 minutes and ran a 20 and a 28, and a couple of 14's. They were super clean runs with no errors except two scratches off of the break shots, one missed break shot and a missed shot in a run. I think if it weren't for those errors on the break shots I would have easily broken 50 yesterday.
 
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