Learning one-pocket without playing?

[Andrew Manning]

So I'd like to learn to be a decent one-pocket player. I play 8-ball most often, so I'm used to thinking strategically while shooting, and my pocketing and positioning skills are pretty solid and getting better all the time, but put me in a one-pocket game and I'm sort of a fish out of water.

I'd like to improve both my offensive and defensive one-pocket ability, but the catch is I don't have anyone to practice the game with. When I play competitively, it's at an 8-ball league, so everybody's playing that. On what has become the rare occasion when I can get out to practice other than league night, there's usually nobody there who wants to play, so I'm usually practicing alone.

So are there any recommendations on things that can be done alone that will improve my one-pocket play? Any specific drills? Would you recommend just playing games with me playing both sides? Spreading the balls out and seeing how many I can run in one pocket? I know ideally I should be playing better one-pocket players and learning from them, but that doesn't really fit my schedule. Thanks in advance for suggestions.

-Andrew

 

[mapman72]

Hi Andrew,
I was at the tournament Sunday but we didn't get a chance to meet. I would recommend AccuStats videos http://www.accu-stats.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi

While you can practice one pocket by yourself, you're not going to really know what to do unless you see what the good players do. Buy some VHS or DVDs of Billy Palmer, Grady Mathews, and some of the old school one pocket players. I have a couple with Scott Frost and Cliff Joyner, but they didn't help me that much because those guys are just so aggressive that it wasn't as much a "moving" game as it was "someone made a small mistake and the other guy ran 8 balls". Also check out www.onepocket.org . Just some things that have helped me get started. I hope to meet you next time at Cue Bar.
Joey

 

[Purdman]

So I'd like to learn to be a decent one-pocket player. I play 8-ball most often, so I'm used to thinking strategically while shooting, and my pocketing and positioning skills are pretty solid and getting better all the time, but put me in a one-pocket game and I'm sort of a fish out of water.

I'd like to improve both my offensive and defensive one-pocket ability, but the catch is I don't have anyone to practice the game with. When I play competitively, it's at an 8-ball league, so everybody's playing that. On what has become the rare occasion when I can get out to practice other than league night, there's usually nobody there who wants to play, so I'm usually practicing alone.

So are there any recommendations on things that can be done alone that will improve my one-pocket play? Any specific drills? Would you recommend just playing games with me playing both sides? Spreading the balls out and seeing how many I can run in one pocket? I know ideally I should be playing better one-pocket players and learning from them, but that doesn't really fit my schedule. Thanks in advance for suggestions.

-Andrew

Andy, If you don't mind comming to Leesburg, I have a table.
Don P.

 

[Cory in DC]

...snip...

I'd like to improve both my offensive and defensive one-pocket ability, but the catch is I don't have anyone to practice the game with. When I play competitively, it's at an 8-ball league, so everybody's playing that. On what has become the rare occasion when I can get out to practice other than league night, there's usually nobody there who wants to play, so I'm usually practicing alone.

So are there any recommendations on things that can be done alone that will improve my one-pocket play?

...snip...

-Andrew

Watching Accustats tapes is a great way to get a feel for the game, but they're pricey. I do think there are some shots that you can practice on that will help, mostly because they come up a lot in 1P, but not that often in 8 and 9 ball (disclaimer: I'm not very good at 1P, but here goes, FWIW):

* Pocket speed short rail bank shots. These will widen up on you relative to the speed at which you would hit a bank in 8 or 9.

* Back-cutting a bank from your opponent's side to your pocket. Put several balls on your opponent's side and the CB on your side. The key on this is to bank one ball towards your pocket AND make the CB hit one of the other balls on the opponent's side, stopping the CB (either straight into it, or into the rail and then into the second ball). Can you bank the 1, knock the 3 away from your opponent's side, and not sell out the 4?

CueTable Help

* http://www.onepocket.org/great_shots.htm

* Long rail banks. Don't spend time on the ones that come up in 8 and 9. Work on ones that you'd normally shoot straight in, because these are banks you won't have shot often? Can you hit it with pocket speed? Can you hold the CB up table? Work on using left and right to fatten up or shorten the banks. You'd be surprised at how far you can back-cut a long rail bank shot with some nice spin on the cue. Practice with the CB downtable and the OB uptable. Practice with both downtable. Practice with both uptable.

* Crossover banks, from spots where there's a ball on your opponent's side and the CB is uptable. Learn when these will kiss on you.

* Practice the break. Practice escaping from the break.

That should keep you busy for a while.

Cory

 

[ceebee]

There 2 books available, that may give you a jumpstart. They are "Winning One-Pocket" & "Shots , Moves & Strategies". They are by Eddie Robin. There a few other books too. There are several good vidoes too.

One Pocket is said to be a culmination all games (8-Ball, 9-Ball & Straight Pool). Cue Ball control, good shotmaking & great leave play are requirements for success in "One-Pocket".

 

[Egg McDogit]

you can definitely get an idea by watching matches, but one of the most important parts of 1 pocket, as with any other game is understanding what you can afford to execute.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

There 2 books available, that may give you a jumpstart. They are "Winning One-Pocket" & "Shots , Moves & Strategies". They are by Eddie Robin. There a few other books too. There are several good vidoes too.

One Pocket is said to be a culmination all games (8-Ball, 9-Ball & Straight Pool). Cue Ball control, good shotmaking & great leave play are requirements for success in "One-Pocket".

Where would these be available at a reasonable price?

 

[Schwinn]

So I'd like to learn to be a decent one-pocket player. I play 8-ball most often, so I'm used to thinking strategically while shooting, and my pocketing and positioning skills are pretty solid and getting better all the time, but put me in a one-pocket game and I'm sort of a fish out of water.

I'd like to improve both my offensive and defensive one-pocket ability, but the catch is I don't have anyone to practice the game with. When I play competitively, it's at an 8-ball league, so everybody's playing that. On what has become the rare occasion when I can get out to practice other than league night, there's usually nobody there who wants to play, so I'm usually practicing alone.

So are there any recommendations on things that can be done alone that will improve my one-pocket play? Any specific drills? Would you recommend just playing games with me playing both sides? Spreading the balls out and seeing how many I can run in one pocket? I know ideally I should be playing better one-pocket players and learning from them, but that doesn't really fit my schedule. Thanks in advance for suggestions.

-Andrew

Hey, I feel like I'm in the same boat. I just recently acquired an interest in learning the game but its really not so well suited for solitary play. I plan to go that monthly tournament in DC that Cory is organizing to learn some things. But hey, if you wouldn't mind shooting with an APA 4, I'd be open to meeting up one day for practice.

Ed

 

[BazookaJoe]

Where would these be available at a reasonable price?

I don't believe they can be found at a "reasonable" price.

I believe the best way to become good at one-pocket is to play the game. I actually believe it is the only way. I understand Mr Purdy is quite good at the game. If the drive isn't too much, I would take him up on his offer if I were you.

 

[Cory in DC]

I don't believe they can be found at a "reasonable" price.

I believe the best way to become good at one-pocket is to play the game. I actually believe it is the only way. I understand Mr Purdy is quite good at the game. If the drive isn't too much, I would take him up on his offer if I were you.

They're over $300 every time I've seen them. But you can get Banking With The Beard for about $30. The bank information is generally useful for 1P, and some parts of the book discuss one pocket.