If someone decent is willing to play you cheap for $5-$10 a game then go for it if you can afford it, just make sure you enjoy playing them and they torture the crap out of you for awhile. Nothing good comes free.
Learn 1-pocket alone?
- Thread starter DallasHopps
- Start date
I want to be clear that I have no problem "paying dues" and playing cheap to learn, but I want it to include some knowledge transfer. Maybe I'm not going to get talked through each shot, and why one shot is better than another, etc... I just want the occasional tip or bit of knowledge that adds to my game.
It sounds like I have lots of options for learning a little about the game in general before I get out there and throw myself to the wolves. That's all I can really hope for.
Thanks again!
It sounds like I have lots of options for learning a little about the game in general before I get out there and throw myself to the wolves. That's all I can really hope for.
Thanks again!
Practice pocketing 2...3....4 balls into a corner pocket. Practice banks, breaking, speed control. Practice safes(stop shots). I'm also trying to learn 1pocket alone. I practice drills. I'm reading UPSCALE ONE POCKET.
Definitely learn what you can on your own. You'll find a game and love it. I'm far from good at it but I'm learning and enjoying. It's a fascinating game. It's a challenge. Stick with it. Maybe you can find a game without playing for $$. Sorry we're not neighbors. I'd hook up with you.
Definitely learn what you can on your own. You'll find a game and love it. I'm far from good at it but I'm learning and enjoying. It's a fascinating game. It's a challenge. Stick with it. Maybe you can find a game without playing for $$. Sorry we're not neighbors. I'd hook up with you.
Attachments
Last edited:
1P challenge break
I think my question fits into practicing one pocket alone. If you were to try running balls like for one pocket challenge (run as many as you can on, say, 10 breaks) which break is the best to use?
I also have trouble understanding the way of breaking CJ Wiley suggested. Would anyone picture it for us?
I think my question fits into practicing one pocket alone. If you were to try running balls like for one pocket challenge (run as many as you can on, say, 10 breaks) which break is the best to use?
I also have trouble understanding the way of breaking CJ Wiley suggested. Would anyone picture it for us?
i think you can practice the break/running balls into your pocket/banking/kicking/etc on your own
what you cant teach yourself is proper decision making or what should i do now
another poster gave their notes and the advice was good
but you have to find someone who will go thru games with you discussing situations as they come up
a more experienced player will see shots you dont
a more expeienced player will show you moves that come up often that you might not figure out by yourself
even if you have winning one pocket(great resource especially for a foundation on the princbles of the game and more)
or shots moves and strategies
those books (considered THE one pocket books) are tough to sit down and read thru and remember the shots (at least for me)
as an aside upscale one pocket mentioned above is a great book easily available and affordable recommended highly
watching experienced payers play is helpfull but you may not understand why they chose the shot they did
the acc-ustat tapes are great learning tool because you have someone explaing the situations as they come up that you can do on your own
what you cant teach yourself is proper decision making or what should i do now
another poster gave their notes and the advice was good
but you have to find someone who will go thru games with you discussing situations as they come up
a more experienced player will see shots you dont
a more expeienced player will show you moves that come up often that you might not figure out by yourself
even if you have winning one pocket(great resource especially for a foundation on the princbles of the game and more)
or shots moves and strategies
those books (considered THE one pocket books) are tough to sit down and read thru and remember the shots (at least for me)
as an aside upscale one pocket mentioned above is a great book easily available and affordable recommended highly
watching experienced payers play is helpfull but you may not understand why they chose the shot they did
the acc-ustat tapes are great learning tool because you have someone explaing the situations as they come up that you can do on your own
Last edited:
Of course you can learn One Pocket, alone. You may get help from someone else, a tip here, a lesson there, but in the main you'll learn to play the game all by your lonesome. Just like the rest of us has.
Play it enough and one day you'll walk into the pool room and someone will say, "Here comes a One Pocket player, ask him."
Whether you benefit from One Pocket regarding other games is a non sequitur because playing, and winning, the game is it's own reward.
Like Grady always said. "You'll thank me later."
Play it enough and one day you'll walk into the pool room and someone will say, "Here comes a One Pocket player, ask him."
Whether you benefit from One Pocket regarding other games is a non sequitur because playing, and winning, the game is it's own reward.
Like Grady always said. "You'll thank me later."
Absolutely, I mean, dollar for dollar, this is a no brainer. I wish I had these options when I started playing.
Personally, I'd look for matches commentated by Danny D and Billy I. These guys both play smart 1pkt, and offer looks at both the aggressive side and conservative side for the same shots you are watching.
Best of all, you can stop action, play back, and study the positions.
I break like this by starting with the CB about 6 inches off the side rail, then hitting in between the 3rd and 4th row of balls with about 6 oclock CB and draw to the long rail and down to the bottom rail.
This will cause a good spread to your side and the CB will collide with other balls on the bottom rail stopping them from going to the wrong hole. Sometimes the CB will go side rail, bottom rail, then to your long rail...thats fine too.
Later today I will try to get it on video for you.
ok, here it is>>> https://vimeo.com/gerryinpa/videos this is how I break for the one pocket challenge. This is basically Corey Deuels break he put on Shanon Daulton at the DCC years ago. IT works great for me...
G
.
Last edited:
I think you can learn a bit by working on it by yourself, but if you want to get to the point of being a solid player, you're going to have to put yourself out there and play solid or better players, which may cost you some $$. I guess how much you can tolerate losing depends on how deep your pockets are and how committed you are, but if you are committed, maybe try some different rooms to see if you can find some more friendly one-hole players (if that's an option).
I'm only just getting into one-pocket. I learned about as much as I could on my own, but fortunately we had a one-pocket league start up which I joined. I did play with a buddy who was quite a bit better than me, but while fine I wasn't learning so much because he wasn't that far ahead of me.
I will say this, learning how to play the game, and playing the game successfully are two different things. It has a far steeper learning curve than 8,9, or straightpool (at least for me). Hence, it's really important to constantly challenge yourself to focus, play with thoughfulness, and play to win. When you play by yourself, there is nothing on the line or no pressure to maintain and win.
You can definitely learn a lot by watching people play, and watching pros play (the recent Scott Frost vs Alex match (pt 3 only on YouTube) is educationg to watch, as is the old Efren vs. Gentile match also on YouTube). However, it's only once you get a bunch of games under your belt that you learn your own limits and bounderies of offensive play, how to improve your offensieve/defensive play, how to deal with players who grind, how to deal with players can make and run balls, etc...
I know what you mean though about not wanting to get robbed. Almost every player out here could empty my wallet pretty easily, I'm just not consistent enough at this point. But I have a couple buddies who are in the top tier of players around here who would help me out of the goodness of their heart, or for cheap racks if we wanted to put up some cash.
I'm pretty sure CJ was suggesting a good way to break for "one pocket challenge" in which you have a free (smash them if you like) break and then run as many as you can.
I think it's really hard to learn the moves alone. A safe may look like the best way to do something on a video but the positions of three or four other balls may be what make that shot the best. The main thing you have to learn for the defense part is very, very accurate cue ball speed, in all directions and with all spins. If you have a carom table available, try straight rail.
I am a newcomer to 1P too.
I find myself practicing some specialty shots that seem to come up more often in 1P than in other games.
Example-freezing the cb to the bottom rail from a variety of cb locations.
Hitting the cb with speed, but creeping slowly forward after contact, to freeze to the bottom rail, or go under opponent ball near his pocket.
Thinning balls to go back into the rack.
Thinning balls to weld cb to rail up table.
Thinning balls to go 3 rails to pocket opponents hanger, or contact his ball and drop below it.
Drop in shots, banking balls to your side, and cb following down toward corner below opponents balls.
...and so on...and so on...
I think many shots can be practiced by yourself, particularly the break shot, and the initial opponent shot to try to clear balls, turn break around.
I think we can practice many shots-but knowing the right shot, and shooting it successfully in the game is another story...for me.
I think it's a game that will take years to learn, and a lifetime to try to get it right.
I find myself practicing some specialty shots that seem to come up more often in 1P than in other games.
Example-freezing the cb to the bottom rail from a variety of cb locations.
Hitting the cb with speed, but creeping slowly forward after contact, to freeze to the bottom rail, or go under opponent ball near his pocket.
Thinning balls to go back into the rack.
Thinning balls to weld cb to rail up table.
Thinning balls to go 3 rails to pocket opponents hanger, or contact his ball and drop below it.
Drop in shots, banking balls to your side, and cb following down toward corner below opponents balls.
...and so on...and so on...
I think many shots can be practiced by yourself, particularly the break shot, and the initial opponent shot to try to clear balls, turn break around.
I think we can practice many shots-but knowing the right shot, and shooting it successfully in the game is another story...for me.
I think it's a game that will take years to learn, and a lifetime to try to get it right.
thanks a bunch! Seeing once is worth hearing a hundred times :thumbup:
Now I got the concept and will try that one.