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.
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!
