My humble high run of 30

KevHath

nh141
I never post anything but I do read most of yours. Last night I ran 30 balls for the first time, folks (22 was my high run before this). I wasn't even having a very good night (for my level) and missed the first few shots of my first rack. I decided to not re-rack the balls and shoot out the final 8. I had a pattern I was comfortable with and found a nice key ball/break ball to start the next rack. I had to take my time and work through the second rack, but again found a nice end sequence and a great break shot into my third rack. It all ended when I got out of line and missed a cut shot.

Nobody plays 14.1 at my pool hall. I have to play 8 or 9 ball with 95% of the players. Most don't even appreciate how dreadfully hard it is to get to 30. For me, this was a mountain. Its a humbling game.

Be well, 14.1ers.
 
14.1 is the Best

I really enjoyed reading your post. Very good and Congrats on your new
high run. That is a good run and it is a start to playing pool better overall.
It is disappointing when you tell other players about running balls in 14.1 and they seem not to care but that is the way many players are. Just tell yourself: they can't do it.
You keep practicing 14.1 like you did and your 9-ball & 8-ball games will
move up to another level in due time.
OK, Good Luck & keep us posted on your progress.
Welcome to the 14.1 Forum.
Mike G.
 
Congratulations on hitting 30! It's always a thrill to top your high run and it is one of the many reasons I like to play Straight Pool! In fact, I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of people I know have never run 30 balls! I've been playing fairly often recently and I still don't 30s that often! I'm sure you'll hit 40+ soon!
 
Thanks for the encouragement. I've learned a lot just reading this forum and watching the posted runs. If I ever get something worthwhile on tape, I'll be sure to share.
 
Congratulations.

Nice to jump from 22 to 30. I was forever in the 20s and then tons of 28s before I finally did it.

:thumbup:
 
Great job, 30 is a milestone. Looking forward to hearing about more runs from you.

-Bill
 
Kevhath

I have had a high of 29 for about 35 years now and I'm beginning to fear that I will never break that. Keep going and keep us informed.

Dave Nelson
 
Congratulations on your 30! I bet 40 comes sooner than you think. I'm a noob here also and hope to post some [very small] runs after getting my table up this weekend. I've found the posts and videos here to be most informative and encouraging.

Cheers,
RG
 
Congratulations, I do well to run 30 these days! Last time was about two months ago if I remember right. I'm just beginning to put my Straight Pool game back together.
 
Congrats on your run !!!:thumbup:

Funny thing is that you tell those 8 & 9 Ball players about the 30 and they think....No Big Deal, just tell them to do it.....I Wonder How Long it will take them to get there !!!

Nice Work !
Steve

I would love to see some footage of you, Break out the camera and Press Record !!
 
Congratulations!

30 is a really nice achievement. Keep working and you'll see that number start to climb. This could be the breakthrough that takes you upward and onward.

Good luck!
 
Thanks again, everyone.

I've gone back to play twice since my high run to see if the magic was there but I've only been able to get to the mid teens 5-6 times with nothing higher than 17. However, it feels like I've made a small jump in my 14.1 game... watching all of the videos posted here and reading Capelle's Straight Pool book might actually be helping.

I really liked a post I recently read that quoted Pat F. (I think), stating: "the difference between a 50 ball runner and a 100 ball runner is concentration". This is probably true for people at my level too (getting to 20 vs. 30)... the majority of my runs end on something embarrassing. I tend to miss a very simple shot or get out of line because I take it for granted. I need to treat every single shot with respect. I'll keep grinding...

Be well and play well.
 
I tend to miss a very simple shot or get out of line because I take it for granted. I need to treat every single shot with respect. I'll keep grinding...

That´s exactly right, you have to concentrate on every shot and every position all the time. Practice hard, watch a lot of videos and you will break 30 soon.
 
30 is nothing to sneeze at, Congrats on your accomplishment.. I have a high run of 47 and have been stuck there for a while.. You should be very proud of your run..

I have been on AZ for a long time but just started to play 14.1 again, and now remember how much I love the game.. I'm back at it practicing hard and watching lot's of videos now, hoping to break through 50 very soon, time will tell.

Nice job!
 
what pat flemming said is absolutly correct, at least it is for me.
when I told a friend about my last decent run I told him there is a whole other level of concentration above what I usually have that allowed me to get there.
sad thing for me is that this focus and concentration thing comes and goes as it pleases. sometimes I can force it, but just for a while.
the run was an 84, very good for me and took about 34 minutes, a long time to keep it together.

good job on the 30
steven
 
Stick to your guns

I never post anything but I do read most of yours. Last night I ran 30 balls for the first time, folks (22 was my high run before this). I wasn't even having a very good night (for my level) and missed the first few shots of my first rack. I decided to not re-rack the balls and shoot out the final 8. I had a pattern I was comfortable with and found a nice key ball/break ball to start the next rack. I had to take my time and work through the second rack, but again found a nice end sequence and a great break shot into my third rack. It all ended when I got out of line and missed a cut shot.

Nobody plays 14.1 at my pool hall. I have to play 8 or 9 ball with 95% of the players. Most don't even appreciate how dreadfully hard it is to get to 30. For me, this was a mountain. Its a humbling game.

Be well, 14.1ers.
KevHath, congratulations on the improvement. You will get higher and higher runs as time goes on. Continue to practice 14.1 as often as possible, even if it means sacrificing play at 8&9 ball. When I travel to a pool room, I'll always start my practice by playing straight pool. Someone is always observing you, it's human nature for pool players. Their curiosity will get the best of them and they'll come ask,"What you doin'?".

I always rack the 15 balls, then pull the head ball to the side, line up the cue at mid table, and shoot the shot and break open the pack. Then I say, this is called straight pool, and now I get to shoot ANY ball, until I miss. Believe me,they are interested. The concept of shooting any ball is attractive to them, yet the challenge of them running out the rack is what hooks them. I have introduced hundreds of players to straight pool over the years in this way. Later on, after shooting around, comes the time for the explanation of the tactics and strategy of the game.

So, stick to your guns. Don't give in to the 8 ball and 9 ball players. Encourage them to play, keep a piece of paper and pencil handy to score points(this let's them see improvement as the game goes on), keep it casual not competitive. Plenty of time for that down the road. Good Luck and Good Shooting.:thumbup:
 
Congratulations!!!!!
If you're anything like me you'll find out that while you may not break 30 for a little bit, you will break into that 3rd rack very often and then all the sudden you will crash through 30 and breaking through that 4th rack is happening often.

14.1 is very humbling for myself also. Any game I play where my next shot isn't already decided (ex. 9, 10 etc ball) I have a very difficult time with it. With rotational games I rarely pass a thought on what I am going to do next. With 14.1 the wheels are turning nonstop because it just isn't second nature to me on what ball I am making next.

Again congratulations and while you may say your 30 isn't worth posting I know darn well you wish you had it on tape because it's your 100 right now.

That is the one thing I love about 14.1. The feeling you get is the same when you run your first rack to your first rack + one etc etc etc. Any time you beat your best you get that same feeling. I don't remember the first time I broke and ran in 9 ball, or a two pack, or a three pack etc, but I remember exactly how I felt when I ran my first 14 in 14.1
 
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