Learn 1-pocket alone?

D

DallasHopps

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know I should learn to play 1 pocket... it would benefit my other games and its easier to match up locally. I would have a hard time getting anyone to teach me without trying to rob me... I play at a high-average level in rotation games and get in enough action when I'm out that I have a target on my back as soon as I'm in a room.

Is it worthwhile to try learning 1 pocket alone at home?
 
Learning alone is possible IMO, but if I were you I would find a pro player you relate with style wise, and watch a bunch of their one pocket matches. For me it was Ronnie Allen, Scott Frost and Efren.....so you can guess the style I play right? :)

BUT, don't get stuck playing one type of 1P....ie: total offense....good players wil pick up on it and turn the game on you. Learn to change it up, change shooting pace, shot selection etc.

you can do it!

G.
 
DallasHopps said:
I know I should learn to play 1 pocket... it would benefit my other games and its easier to match up locally. I would have a hard time getting anyone to teach me without trying to rob me... I play at a high-average level in rotation games and get in enough action when I'm out that I have a target on my back as soon as I'm in a room.

Is it worthwhile to try learning 1 pocket alone at home?
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I think there are a number of banks and position routes that are fairly common in 1-hole that you can definitely work on without an opponent. 1-hole isn't my usual game either but after gambling with a local guy once and beating him for a few bucks, he said, "I thought you said you never played 1-pocket before." I replied, "Yeah, I didn't say I never played POOL before." Still, this is a game that is more about strategy than skill. It's almost like playing chess alone. There's just so much defense and you really need someone scaring you into playing safe to properly learn the game.
 
Come towards Atlanta and I will practice with you. I had to learn the hard way and no one would help for free ;). Cost me plenty. I play pretty decent one hole. It is hard to practice one hole by yourself because everyone doesn't play the same way you do.
 
I play 1P alone and it's pretty boring when you know the other guy's strategy because you ARE the other guy. I've even sometimes forgotten which pocket I'm shooting at. :frown:

But I do get to practice shots that don't happen in other games.
 
bdorman said:
I play 1P alone and it's pretty boring when you know the other guy's strategy because you ARE the other guy. I've even sometimes forgotten which pocket I'm shooting at. :frown:

But I do get to practice shots that don't happen in other games.
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I used to be a raging chess fanatic when I was young. Nobody in my school could beat me, so I tried my best to play against myself. It was pretty boring, but not as useless as it may sound. I'd learn a new opening and play it out on both sides in textbook fashion, then come mid-game and all of the pieces were developed, I'd spin the board around and take each side in turn. A lot better than playing some turkey who brings his queen out early, never castles, and marches his pawns across the table in hopes of gaining another queen after I took the first one away.

I found the same thing with one-hole. Even if I can talk someone into playing it, they just bust the balls up and try to run out. Nothing to be learned there.

I'm going to get a couple books and videos on the game and try to teach myself the best I can. With my mediocre shotmaking abilities, it seems that a game where strategy is paramount would be more my speed than rotation games.

Any suggestions on learning material?
 
Watch the better One Pocket players play. Observe the shots and strategies that can get you into trouble, and out of trouble, as well. Move balls toward your hole, and keep things simple. :smile:
 
Read shots, moves, and Strategies and Winning One pocket. That will teach you a ton. The books are expensive but you can easily sell them right back and get close to your money back.
 
After about 3 weeks you will be ready for the next step.

DallasHopps said:
I know I should learn to play 1 pocket... it would benefit my other games and its easier to match up locally. I would have a hard time getting anyone to teach me without trying to rob me... I play at a high-average level in rotation games and get in enough action when I'm out that I have a target on my back as soon as I'm in a room.

Is it worthwhile to try learning 1 pocket alone at home?
Click to expand...

You're better off learning to play straight pool, then when you can run over 60 balls start breaking and shooting all the balls in one pocket. You make the break by splitting the 3rd and 4th ball on the rack and drawing it to the rail with inside english, letting it go two rails into the stack.

After about 3 weeks you will be ready for the next step.
 
I don't think you can learn much that is 1-pocket specific alone. Sure you can practice the 1 pocket banks, and running balls, but the biggest part of 1 pocket is shot selection based on your ability level. Until you get punished for shooting a bad shot you will never know...

Gambling even for low stakes will teach you what are good and bad shots. Watch as many accustats matches as you can for a supplement.

Ian
 
When I started to learn to play 1P the man that taught me said your going to play for 5 a game, I will give 10-5 and the breaks, but I had to switch sides of the table every break. The better I got the spot would change until I was playing him even and winning. Point of this was to teach me not to shoot crazy shot because I had a little riding on the game. I started off losing about $40 to $50 to him each time we played, but it was cheap lessons. He would show me what I should have shot and how with just a simple little shot I could have been more effective than what I did.
I know of guys that want me to show them how to play for nothing, I tell them you can't learn 1P playing for nothing. Like someone else said there is no risk if you miss or play stupid. Find someone your speed that plays one hole and play cheap you will learn and watch all the tapes and live streams you can to see how the top notch players get out of jams.---Smitty
 
I appreciate the replies and will work on getting some material together. I can get a baseline level of knowledge together and see where to go from there.

With regards to CJ's reply, the break described sounds like a more firm/hard stroke than I've seen as well as a different hit than what I've perceived when watching 1 pocket games. Any chance there's a video clip showing what you shared?

Thanks again everyone,
Dallas
 
The break is something you can really practice alone. The stroke is more of a pop into the cueball with . I use high inside english. I try to cut the head ball to the side diamond even with the spot. You almost want to masse the shot into the rack. I don't know if I am describing it right , but I want the balls to break to my hole and leave the CB on the rail at the middle spot between your opponents pocket and the side pocket on his side. Good Luck.--Smitty
 
DallasHopps said:
I know I should learn to play 1 pocket... it would benefit my other games and its easier to match up locally. I would have a hard time getting anyone to teach me without trying to rob me... I play at a high-average level in rotation games and get in enough action when I'm out that I have a target on my back as soon as I'm in a room.

Is it worthwhile to try learning 1 pocket alone at home?
Click to expand...


This is a little like asking if you can learn to box at home.

Certainly you can work on stuff, but there is no substitute for getting into the ring. Everyone has to pay their dues and at at first you'll lose to everyone. That was my experience. One guy who I could torture at 9ball or 14.1 could give me 10-7 when I started to learn. It took a few years but eventually I got to the point of offering the same guy 11-7 (and he wouldn't play).

Find someone not too far out of your weight class, get like maybe 9-7 or 10-7, and play for $10 a game. Eventually the spot will evaporate and you can move up the ladder.

Lou Figueroa
 
I am no one pocket master but I believe moving the balls is key. You don't need a partner to do that. Then think guerilla warfare. Only shoot the balls you can make. I practice like this and employ the shot choice strategy and it doesn't seem to fail me.
 
Videos. Videos videos videos. So many free ones on YouTube, do many good accustats ones with good commentary. Don't learn just "decent" moves by donating to the local champ when you can see the moves of top level pros for virtually nothing.


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I just went back over some of my old notes when I was learning 1P. Some of the best quotes are these...(not mine!)


>With each shot, try to move balls onto your side of the table......sounds silly easy, but when things get tough, and everything looks hard....go back to this.....I think Billy Incardona said this?

>When ALL options are tough....do something VERY easy!....this I heard from Grady, among others.

>If you can get a ball on the long rail above your pocket, and one on the short rail below your pocket, and your opponent hidden from both.....you are playing onw pocket!!! I think this came from Ronnie Allen!

>All things equal....an offensive player will beat a defensive player over the long haul....I have heard this from many old timers....

good luck man!

G.
 
DallasHopps said:
I know I should learn to play 1 pocket... it would benefit my other games and its easier to match up locally. I would have a hard time getting anyone to teach me without trying to rob me... I play at a high-average level in rotation games and get in enough action when I'm out that I have a target on my back as soon as I'm in a room.

Is it worthwhile to try learning 1 pocket alone at home?
Click to expand...

I would encourage you to purchase all of Grady Mathews DVD's and Scott Frost's "Power One Pocket"

Practice all of the shots as shown on the DVD's.

Next practice 14.1, run as many balls as you can. In 1P when its your turn you do not want to miss, you want to go 8 and out.

To keep your stroke going play the 9 ball ghost a couple of times a day. Sometimes you have to play the big shot and a good stroke is needed.

I would practice the material 5 days a week then on Saturday or Sunday I would go to the pool hall and play some 1P. This will help to reenforce your learning.

Look at maybe 6 months to a year before you start to get good. Maybe sooner, it all depends on you.

Man, have fun. 1P is a great game. :smile:

John
 
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