One Pocket Bug, bit me hard

BPG24

BPG24

Banned
So i went into the local Pool room today to hit some balls and no one was there but the guy working the counter and me. We start talking and playing a little 9 ball and he asks me if I play 1 pocket.

I tell him not much but the game does interest me alot. He talks me into playing some 1 hole and by the 3rd game I was hooked. Now, I have played 1 hole maybe 20 times before but never really tried to learn anything while playing. I have read a few books and watched many accu stat tapes of great players.

Since the strengths of my 8/9/10 ball games is cue ball control, safeties, and pin pointing my opponents strengths/weaknesses, I have been told many times that I should take up 1 pocket. Many have said that if i did, that i might never play 9 ball again. After playing for about 2 hours today, I must admit that these guys may be right. 1 hole is a much better game, i thoroughly enjoyed thinking about all the possibilities on each shot and predicting them before I made a decision.

Even watching the pros play never got me to realize how important each and every decision is and that each decision makes such a huge impact on the next. I guess what I am saying is that this is exactly what I needed to get me back into playing pool again. There is nothing like the feeling of a new challenge if you know what I mean.


Goodbye to the boring repetition of 9 ball and hello to the new adventure that is 1 hole :eek:
 
nice!......another convert!

I swore I would never be a 1P player.......then I watched Ronnie Allen, and Scott Frost play......I was hooked!

welcome!
 
I love to play it too, but unfortunatley nobody at my pool hall likes to play it. I introduce players to it all the time, but they say it's too boring.:(
 
Wazuela said:
I love to play it too, but unfortunatley nobody at my pool hall likes to play it. I introduce players to it all the time, but they say it's too boring.:(
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Thats what they say when their chances of winning aren't good! :D
 
Wazuela said:
I love to play it too, but unfortunatley nobody at my pool hall likes to play it. I introduce players to it all the time, but they say it's too boring.:(
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Stop by Clicks South or Jimmy's and you'll find some people that will play some one hole. Also up in your neck of the woods you have Adam Wheeler who is an excellent player - he's also extremely knowledgeable at one pocket.
 
Gerry said:
nice!......another convert!

I swore I would never be a 1P player.......then I watched Ronnie Allen, and Scott Frost play......I was hooked!

welcome!
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I am kind of surprised at how much fun I was having. Especially when the shots i was trying actually worked. :)

I tried to eliminate mistakes before each shot, but I learned quickly that even if I make the right decision, I still have to execute close to perfect or the good decision that I made didn't even matter. :eek:
 
Chess

One pocket is like a chess match on a pool table. Every move you make, if taken lightly can lose the game for you in a hurry. Usually people who think the game is boring don't understand how complex the game is. It will definitely show any weakness your game might have, much like 14.1.

Mark
 
BPG. Im right there with you. I started playing about 2 months ago and before then, I couldnt stand the game. Now, you cant get me off the game. I love some 20$ 1 hole. BPG are you going to the expo?
 
BPG24 said:
So i went into the local Pool room today to hit some balls and no one was there but the guy working the counter and me. We start talking and playing a little 9 ball and he asks me if I play 1 pocket.

I tell him not much but the game does interest me alot. He talks me into playing some 1 hole and by the 3rd game I was hooked. Now, I have played 1 hole maybe 20 times before but never really tried to learn anything while playing. I have read a few books and watched many accu stat tapes of great players.

Since the strengths of my 8/9/10 ball games is cue ball control, safeties, and pin pointing my opponents strengths/weaknesses, I have been told many times that I should take up 1 pocket. Many have said that if i did, that i might never play 9 ball again. After playing for about 2 hours today, I must admit that these guys may be right. 1 hole is a much better game, i thoroughly enjoyed thinking about all the possibilities on each shot and predicting them before I made a decision.

Even watching the pros play never got me to realize how important each and every decision is and that each decision makes such a huge impact on the next. I guess what I am saying is that this is exactly what I needed to get me back into playing pool again. There is nothing like the feeling of a new challenge if you know what I mean.


Goodbye to the boring repetition of 9 ball and hello to the new adventure that is 1 hole :eek:
Click to expand...

Are you willing to see how deep the rabbit hole goes? Just when you think you might have a handle on the game, it will throw you a few turns. It is probably the main pool game that one can become very good at based on study....of course it helps to shoot well too.
 
traa89 said:
BPG. Im right there with you. I started playing about 2 months ago and before then, I couldnt stand the game. Now, you cant get me off the game. I love some 20$ 1 hole. BPG are you going to the expo?
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Unfortunately I will not be able to make the expo. Working 50+ hours a week currently so no fun for now, maybe next year.
 
BPG what a shame. I was hoping we could get together and play some but I guess not. You get to make the guaranteed cash. Thats always a good thing.
 
Bluesteel said:
One pocket is like a chess match on a pool table. Every move you make, if taken lightly can lose the game for you in a hurry. Usually people who think the game is boring don't understand how complex the game is. It will definitely show any weakness your game might have, much like 14.1.

Mark
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It's funny that you mention weaknesses.

I had a very hard time running 3-4 balls when they were available because I had ducked the 5 or 6 shots before that. I worked hard to create an opportunity to have an open shot and then it was tough to take advantage. Does everyone experience that same thing?


This is something I see needs immediate work. I have to find a way to stay in rhythm.
 
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chess?

Bluesteel said:
One pocket is like a chess match on a pool table. Every move you make, if taken lightly can lose the game for you in a hurry. Usually people who think the game is boring don't understand how complex the game is. It will definitely show any weakness your game might have, much like 14.1.

Mark
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Fels has a more accurate description-he says it's like war you dig-in,do some sniping,and then all hell breaks lose,followed by mop up sniping! I think it is a great game-frustrating&exciting.Those learning to play do usually think it's boring when they are being outmoved or losing because nothing good has to happen when a shot is poorly executed.1-hole in it's purest form is very simple but in can reach levels that even well experienced players strive to attain.:)
 
I have the same problem sometimes. I think it gets better after you have played more 1 pkt. I tell myself its "go time" to get my subconcious to swith back to a 9 ball stroke. It seems to help.
 
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BPG24 said:
So i went into the local Pool room today to hit some balls and no one was there but the guy working the counter and me. We start talking and playing a little 9 ball and he asks me if I play 1 pocket.

I tell him not much but the game does interest me alot. He talks me into playing some 1 hole and by the 3rd game I was hooked. Now, I have played 1 hole maybe 20 times before but never really tried to learn anything while playing. I have read a few books and watched many accu stat tapes of great players.

Since the strengths of my 8/9/10 ball games is cue ball control, safeties, and pin pointing my opponents strengths/weaknesses, I have been told many times that I should take up 1 pocket. Many have said that if i did, that i might never play 9 ball again. After playing for about 2 hours today, I must admit that these guys may be right. 1 hole is a much better game, i thoroughly enjoyed thinking about all the possibilities on each shot and predicting them before I made a decision.

Even watching the pros play never got me to realize how important each and every decision is and that each decision makes such a huge impact on the next. I guess what I am saying is that this is exactly what I needed to get me back into playing pool again. There is nothing like the feeling of a new challenge if you know what I mean.


Goodbye to the boring repetition of 9 ball and hello to the new adventure that is 1 hole :eek:
Click to expand...
i quit playing 9-ball years ago myself...yes i still play every so often when i cant find a one pocket game but its like a last resort for me..problem is ive been playing nothing but one hole i think it has affected my 9 ball game..cant run out anymore...thats another subject..anyways, i LOVE one pocket! (that is gambling while playing it)
 
Yep,one hole is a lot like golf.You'll never stop learning.
The only run-out type game that has kept my interest over the years is Barbox 8-Ball.There is another game that you can't stop learning in.
 
Bluesteel said:
One pocket is like a chess match on a pool table. Every move you make, if taken lightly can lose the game for you in a hurry. Usually people who think the game is boring don't understand how complex the game is. It will definitely show any weakness your game might have, much like 14.1.

Mark
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Hmmm,good point.
14.1 is the only game that you actually feel "pressure" while practicing.Especially when you are getting close to your high run.
 
deadwhak said:
i quit playing 9-ball years ago myself...yes i still play every so often when i cant find a one pocket game but its like a last resort for me..problem is ive been playing nothing but one hole i think it has affected my 9 ball game..cant run out anymore...thats another subject..anyways, i LOVE one pocket! (that is gambling while playing it)
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I can see how one game might affect the other.

Any suggestions on how to switch my mind back into offense after I have played safe 12 times in a row?
 
The bug hit me a few years ago and now the only game I really enjoy is one hole, possibly the toughest mental challenge in pool. Welcome to the addiction with no 12 step program as a cure, may your family and friends forgive you.
 
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