New 14.1 personal best! (bittersweet)

easy-e

easy-e

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've been playing a bit of straight pool lately trying to join the century club (100 ball run if you didn't know). My past high run was 84 balls. I got too steep on the break ball for rack 7 and rattled it.

Yesterday I started rolling along and found myself at 56 with a pretty nice break ball. I cleared the next rack and got long and tough on the break ball but a nice angle so all I had to do was make the ball. I drilled it and got a nice spread! Finished that rack to tie my record at 84 and had a near perfect break ball. The nerves were there but I was ready! I probably hit the shot too hard, made the ball and the cue ball went way up table and ended about an inch off the top rail. I surveyed the rack desperate to find a dead ball. I saw one I liked, but the pocket it was heading towards was a bit blocked. I had maybe 3/4 of the pocket to work with. I opted for a different shot. Makeable, but long and near straight. It offered guaranteed position on a few balls if I made it. Of course, I hung it in the pocket and my run was over. I put the cue ball back where it was and fired at the dead ball. Straight in the pocket and exploded the rest of the balls. :cautious: I still like the choice I made.

Getting so close to 100 again was both awesome and frustrating. The game is so much harder than it appears on the surface. I'm playing on a Diamond with standard pockets and a wood rack. I'd love to try it on the table Jayson set his record on with generous pockets and template racking. Back to the grind!
 
easy-e said:
I've been playing a bit of straight pool lately trying to join the century club (100 ball run if you didn't know). My past high run was 84 balls. I got too steep on the break ball for rack 7 and rattled it.

Yesterday I started rolling along and found myself at 56 with a pretty nice break ball. I cleared the next rack and got long and tough on the break ball but a nice angle so all I had to do was make the ball. I drilled it and got a nice spread! Finished that rack to tie my record at 84 and had a near perfect break ball. The nerves were there but I was ready! I probably hit the shot too hard, made the ball and the cue ball went way up table and ended about an inch off the top rail. I surveyed the rack desperate to find a dead ball. I saw one I liked, but the pocket it was heading towards was a bit blocked. I had maybe 3/4 of the pocket to work with. I opted for a different shot. Makeable, but long and near straight. It offered guaranteed position on a few balls if I made it. Of course, I hung it in the pocket and my run was over. I put the cue ball back where it was and fired at the dead ball. Straight in the pocket and exploded the rest of the balls. :cautious: I still like the choice I made.

Getting so close to 100 again was both awesome and frustrating. The game is so much harder than it appears on the surface. I'm playing on a Diamond with standard pockets and a wood rack. I'd love to try it on the table Jayson set his record on with generous pockets and template racking. Back to the grind!
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That is a phenomenal run! I'm sure you'll hit that 100 point mark soon.
 
bbb said:
wish i could be upset at ONLY running 85!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :giggle: :giggle:
nice shooting....(y)
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For what it’s worth, that run was on probably my tenth attempt for the day. I’d be surprised if my average run on all the previous tries was over 15🤪. I hate how hard the game is!
 
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easy-e said:
For what it’s worth, that run was on probably my tenth attempt for the day. I’d be surprised if my average run on all the previous tries was over 15🤪. I hate how hard the game is!
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Aw come on, we all know averaging a solid 15 is already very strong! 😎

Success on your century hunt! 💪
 
I have recently been playing straight pool and maybe since I’m getting older I’m really enjoying it.. looking forward to the league starting in September. The game is so difficult. It really tests your concentration. You’ll miss shots you’ll just about never miss playing 8 ball or 9 ball just because you did the hard work opening things up and your mind takes a break and BOOM you rattle a silly ball or dog simple position. That’s the most impressive thing about Shaws long runs. The concentration he has is super human
 
easy-e said:
I've been playing a bit of straight pool lately trying to join the century club (100 ball run if you didn't know). My past high run was 84 balls. I got too steep on the break ball for rack 7 and rattled it.

Yesterday I started rolling along and found myself at 56 with a pretty nice break ball. I cleared the next rack and got long and tough on the break ball but a nice angle so all I had to do was make the ball. I drilled it and got a nice spread! Finished that rack to tie my record at 84 and had a near perfect break ball. The nerves were there but I was ready! I probably hit the shot too hard, made the ball and the cue ball went way up table and ended about an inch off the top rail. I surveyed the rack desperate to find a dead ball. I saw one I liked, but the pocket it was heading towards was a bit blocked. I had maybe 3/4 of the pocket to work with. I opted for a different shot. Makeable, but long and near straight. It offered guaranteed position on a few balls if I made it. Of course, I hung it in the pocket and my run was over. I put the cue ball back where it was and fired at the dead ball. Straight in the pocket and exploded the rest of the balls. :cautious: I still like the choice I made.

Getting so close to 100 again was both awesome and frustrating. The game is so much harder than it appears on the surface. I'm playing on a Diamond with standard pockets and a wood rack. I'd love to try it on the table Jayson set his record on with generous pockets and template racking. Back to the grind!
Click to expand...
I have run a lot of balls. In the 50s and 60s, all I usually practiced was straight pool. Although, if I got in trouble I would never do anything I would not do in a real game. That is just kidding myself.

Even watching Jason trying to set records. He many times does things he would never do in a real match. It doesn't diminish his accomplishments but it does not really represent real play.
There is a difference between practice and real play.
.
 
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I usually shoot 10 racks of straight pool after dinner. I’m not real big on keeping count.
My high was 26, then 30.
The other night I know I topped 30 cuz I ran 2 racks from the break shot.
But for the life of me I can’t remember how many I got in the rack before! 8? 10? 12? 3? lol

My runs usually end with me missing a duck cuz I’m too cute with the cue ball or blowing the break shot.
 
ill never know what mine might have been. really its just a number from a certain day.

as gambling i only played to 8 or 25. 50 or more was too long and gave away too much info.

if you ever ran 50 in a pool room be prepared to be one of the sweaters forever..
 
Congrats! Running more than 50 on 4 1/2 pockets with not new cloth is a challenge and an accomplishment that most amateurs cannot reach.
 
I used to could speed pool a 50. (once time and yes, 14.1) More normal was 2 meticulous racks if the conditions were new. I'd then pause to savor the accomplishment and not care anymore. End run.
At that level the the competence is never commensurate with the high number.
 
My high run was 39 balls on a 5x10 table but it was a sweet run. I made a 3 rail kick shot to a corner pocket object ball for #26 and that left with me great shape. I remember shot #40 because it was a side pocket easy hangar but I cut it too thin and the damn object ball hit a side pocket point and bounced away. You’d think I’d fare better on a 9’ table but I never did. My high run there was 38 balls…….Go figure. I could run racks but never was able to finish rack #3.
 
easy-e said:
I've been playing a bit of straight pool lately trying to join the century club (100 ball run if you didn't know). My past high run was 84 balls. I got too steep on the break ball for rack 7 and rattled it.

Yesterday I started rolling along and found myself at 56 with a pretty nice break ball. I cleared the next rack and got long and tough on the break ball but a nice angle so all I had to do was make the ball. I drilled it and got a nice spread! Finished that rack to tie my record at 84 and had a near perfect break ball. The nerves were there but I was ready! I probably hit the shot too hard, made the ball and the cue ball went way up table and ended about an inch off the top rail. I surveyed the rack desperate to find a dead ball. I saw one I liked, but the pocket it was heading towards was a bit blocked. I had maybe 3/4 of the pocket to work with. I opted for a different shot. Makeable, but long and near straight. It offered guaranteed position on a few balls if I made it. Of course, I hung it in the pocket and my run was over. I put the cue ball back where it was and fired at the dead ball. Straight in the pocket and exploded the rest of the balls. :cautious: I still like the choice I made.

Getting so close to 100 again was both awesome and frustrating. The game is so much harder than it appears on the surface. I'm playing on a Diamond with standard pockets and a wood rack. I'd love to try it on the table Jayson set his record on with generous pockets and template racking. Back to the grind!
Click to expand...
Easy, my lifetime high run is 72 so I'm a bit jealous. No one gambled at 14.1 back in my day (except the Northeast guys) and I was a money player, pretty much all 9-Ball and One Pocket.

I did practice 14.1 when I could. I knew it would help my cue ball game. I'd often practice for a few hours and I got to where I could make regular runs in the 40's. 50 was a good one for me and for years my high run was 63. The 72 came later in a money game and I shocked myself.

So good for you dude!
 
Nice job Easy E, you will hit a 100 with your tenacity and drive. I only play 1 pocket and only on the weekends gambling. Someone asked me to play straight pool one night when I couldn’t find a 1 pocket game. I ran 56 out of the gate on a standard gold crown. I thought this is a lot easier than I thought it would be. From that point we played another three hours and I never got past 10. LOL, not so easy after all.

Good luck buddy and thanks for sharing.

-don
 
Always trust your instincts. As far as your goal of 100 goes, try a different perspective and just “play naked”, cut it loose every time with joy in your heart of the love of the game. You can’t look at milestones like some dragon you have to slay. Good luck 🍀
 
jay helfert said:
Easy, my lifetime high run is 72 so I'm a bit jealous. No one gambled at 14.1 back in my day (except the Northeast guys) and I was a money player, pretty much all 9-Ball and One Pocket.

I did practice 14.1 when I could. I knew it would help my cue ball game. I'd often practice for a few hours and I got to where I could make regular runs in the 40's. 50 was a good one for me and for years my high run was 63. The 72 came later in a money game and I shocked myself.

So good for you dude!
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Thanks Jay! I love practicing 14.1 because it forces me to focus! I don't get that as much playing 9 ball or 10 ball.
 
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