Suppose you were responsible for teaching somebody how to play 14.1. What words of advice would you give them?
-CF
-CF
New 14.1 player advice?
- Thread starter Crispy Fish
- Start date
Isn't that true of ANY game? 
Crispy Fish said:
First I'd give them the exact same advice that Mosconi gave Cisero Murphy, advice that Murphy claimed helped him a lot: "learn to hit the balls easy (meaning soft)." I'd explain that straight pool is a game of short position with few power strokes. Finally, I'd recommend they focus on pocketing the break shots, rather than on breaking the pack, until they become proficent at making the break shots.
I just started playing about a week, or two, ago. I am no expert at the game but here are the first corrections I made to get decent runs. I may be wrong, some what, but these were clear problems with my runs...My high run is 61,btw.
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Getting stuck in the pack trying to break it up. I deceided I needed to blast em (which hurts pocket speed) if I was headed straight in the pack.
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Makes sure an insurance ball was present incase I get stuck in it.
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Clip the balls instead of going right in them.
Many runs were ended early due to going into the pack lightly. As soon as I made a point to correct that problem, my runs went way up.
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Find some key balls and a break ball as soon as you can.
I had no problem getting 10 to 14 balls when I first started but getting past that proved hard. I quickly realized that a break ball needs to be address before ball 10. I think you should have a solid plan before ball 7.
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If you see a shot that is hard (in the pack that goes into a pocket down table) that will develope the pack better than your easy shots, take it.
My averages jusmped way up when I got brave and fired away.
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Getting stuck in the pack trying to break it up. I deceided I needed to blast em (which hurts pocket speed) if I was headed straight in the pack.
or
Makes sure an insurance ball was present incase I get stuck in it.
or
Clip the balls instead of going right in them.
Many runs were ended early due to going into the pack lightly. As soon as I made a point to correct that problem, my runs went way up.
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Find some key balls and a break ball as soon as you can.
I had no problem getting 10 to 14 balls when I first started but getting past that proved hard. I quickly realized that a break ball needs to be address before ball 10. I think you should have a solid plan before ball 7.
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If you see a shot that is hard (in the pack that goes into a pocket down table) that will develope the pack better than your easy shots, take it.
My averages jusmped way up when I got brave and fired away.
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First buy "Play Your Best Straight Pool" its a great book.
Tell this person at the outset of the rack look at each ball and decide what use it may have. Find a secondary break ball if neccessary to break into the stack again, problem balls, such as balls on the rail close to the side pocket, balls at opposite end of the table, balls that block other shots etc. Find the break ball for the next rack, two if possible so that if you get out of position you can still shoot a break ball with and have one left. But if it comes down to it you shoot away your breakballs if you can't make anything else or there is a major risk of missing. Break balls are no good to you if your not at the table. Shoot to keep shooting. Always have a plan B. I would rather have no break ball on the stack than miss with my opponent shooting a juicy break shot. Sometimes its best to play for the safety battle, at least you have a chance. Then again Grady Matthews also said that if you have a tough shot and a tough safety always shoot the tough shot because at least you gave yourself the oppurtunity to win.
Develop a shorter stroke for most shots longer 9 ball like strokes are fine for 9 ball and 8 ball, but playing a game where opponents can run out the match in one inning, you want to make sure that your stroke is fundamentally sound. Longer ones arent reliable enough. Snooker players generally only draw their cue back about 6 inches. Cliff Thorburn had a very short stroke, so does Tony Drago.
Thats all I can think of for now, but Ill add more when it comes to me.
Oh yeah develop a consistent pace, not neccessarily fast, but its hard to get in rythem if your too slow. And most players who run 2-300+ balls all have consistent rythem to their game.
Tell this person at the outset of the rack look at each ball and decide what use it may have. Find a secondary break ball if neccessary to break into the stack again, problem balls, such as balls on the rail close to the side pocket, balls at opposite end of the table, balls that block other shots etc. Find the break ball for the next rack, two if possible so that if you get out of position you can still shoot a break ball with and have one left. But if it comes down to it you shoot away your breakballs if you can't make anything else or there is a major risk of missing. Break balls are no good to you if your not at the table. Shoot to keep shooting. Always have a plan B. I would rather have no break ball on the stack than miss with my opponent shooting a juicy break shot. Sometimes its best to play for the safety battle, at least you have a chance. Then again Grady Matthews also said that if you have a tough shot and a tough safety always shoot the tough shot because at least you gave yourself the oppurtunity to win.
Develop a shorter stroke for most shots longer 9 ball like strokes are fine for 9 ball and 8 ball, but playing a game where opponents can run out the match in one inning, you want to make sure that your stroke is fundamentally sound. Longer ones arent reliable enough. Snooker players generally only draw their cue back about 6 inches. Cliff Thorburn had a very short stroke, so does Tony Drago.
Thats all I can think of for now, but Ill add more when it comes to me.
Oh yeah develop a consistent pace, not neccessarily fast, but its hard to get in rythem if your too slow. And most players who run 2-300+ balls all have consistent rythem to their game.
Oh yeah, find a key ball to get on your break ball, and key ball for your key ball. When you get to the last 5 balls plan the entire out.
Cameron Smith said:
"Learn to keep it simple." I got that advice from Cisero Murphy many many years ago.
The thing I love about straight pool is that it challenges me unlike any other game. Instead of reading books (like the ones I have written - lol) I would suggest watching some of the better players playing the game such as John Schmidt, Danny Harriman, Mike Zuglan, Jack Colavita, Nick Varner, Thorsten Hohmann & Ralf Souquet (you haven't practiced until you practiced drills with Thorsten and Ralf) - but you can find matches of these guys on Accu-stats. Watch their patterns and the way they set up their shots (and break shots) and watch their sequences. Study the way that these players play the game. If you run into them on the tournament trail, pick their brains. All of the men I mentioned are more than willing to pass along their knowledge. Ask a lot of questions. Above all else never stop in your search to attain the knowledge to improve your skills. Straight pool is the game's best teacher, and there is always something new to learn.
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Advanced Pool by the GREAT George Fels. I recommend this book when you are first learning 14.1 for one reason. It teaches you how to read the table and how to figure out a course of action in such a simple way. Once you get the hang of the "WP's" and the Ball Types (A, B, C, D) you can now read a layout simply and have a plan of attack that can be flexible. It makes it simple and that is the goal to good runs keep it simple and easy.
After you feel like you can read the table well, then go get Play Your Best Straight Pool book by Phil Capelle.
The best way to learn 14.1 is play with people who are better than you and if you can, have them explain what they are doing and why. That will teach you faster than anything.
After you feel like you can read the table well, then go get Play Your Best Straight Pool book by Phil Capelle.
The best way to learn 14.1 is play with people who are better than you and if you can, have them explain what they are doing and why. That will teach you faster than anything.
Blackjack said:
Certainly I agree. But when I was saying a key ball for a key ball, I was just remembering how many new 14.1 players will have their break ball and their key ball, but not have any kind of position on that ball to get to the break shot.
I learned alot using this advise from Dallas West. Throw 4 or 5 balls out on the table at random, then shot them in and get on one as a break ball. This keeps it simple for the novice by not confusing the issue with too many balls on the table, and too many descisions....it also helps later on by teaching you end rack patters...
Gerry
Gerry
What great advice in such few posts. I really liked Cameron's remarks on pace and rhythm. You see, hear and read so much about mechanics, equipment, aiming, etc., and not a lot on maintaining a good, steady rhythm which IMO is a key stage in bumping your game to the next level. In watching John Schmidt run the 100 balls at DCC this year, I was struck by how totally focused he was, and how he kept a brisk pace without ever rushing. His intensity and energy just radiated and was a captivating thing to watch. This is not exclusive to 14.1, but the times I worked with newer players I got on my soapbox about "playing the game you enjoy". Whatever the game, don't play it just because the money's there, or it's the "in" flavor of the year, or "everybody else is playing it" - pool should be fun, especially at first when you're learning. Fall in love with the game you like to play and you've got a friend for life.
D
Danny Harriman
Guest
Hello Crispy Fisherman
MY advice would be to practice the breakshot's, it is also a good idea to place five or six ball's near the rack area cause this is the stage in the game where if your cue ball moves to much then you know that you are doing something wrong. I might add that by keeping the playing condition's clean will help a great deal which includes having a quality ball cleaner, low humidity will help keep the cloth dry which allow's the ball's to disperse more easily.
Thank's for the question,
Danny Harriman
MY advice would be to practice the breakshot's, it is also a good idea to place five or six ball's near the rack area cause this is the stage in the game where if your cue ball moves to much then you know that you are doing something wrong. I might add that by keeping the playing condition's clean will help a great deal which includes having a quality ball cleaner, low humidity will help keep the cloth dry which allow's the ball's to disperse more easily.
Thank's for the question,
Danny Harriman