One pocket poll.
- Thread starter 8pack
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no doubt about it, best game ever,,,,,,well unless you have an urge to run more than 8 balls in a row on occasion,,,,,,
Can't vote. There's no best game. It's a point of view question. I like 10-ball better than 9-ball but 1-pocket isn't "better" than 10-ball. It's just a different game.
14.1 is equal in stature to 1pkt. That said, I'll vote yes.
A "serious player" should be proficient at a variety of games. No single game fully covers all the unique facets available in all of billiards/pool.
I voted no, although I do think it's a great game. I would just rather watch the big boys play 10 ball.
How about this though - If you have aspirations of being a great player I don't think you should spend much time if any playing one-pocket until you are at least a 50 ball runner in 14.1.
I've seen way too many guys spend a lot of time playing one-pocket that really weren't ready for the game in my estimation. I know guys right now that have spent several years playing the game almost religously that I know I could beat if I spent just a few months focusing on the game.
Bottom line, I think one-pocket can stunt your growth when it comes to becoming the best player you can become. So instead of playing it at the beginning of your pool journey, I think the game should be played at the end of it. Or at least not until you have really worked out your fundatmentals and have become respectable at the other games first.
Take it from me -- this game stunted my development as a player.
How about this though - If you have aspirations of being a great player I don't think you should spend much time if any playing one-pocket until you are at least a 50 ball runner in 14.1.
I've seen way too many guys spend a lot of time playing one-pocket that really weren't ready for the game in my estimation. I know guys right now that have spent several years playing the game almost religously that I know I could beat if I spent just a few months focusing on the game.
Bottom line, I think one-pocket can stunt your growth when it comes to becoming the best player you can become. So instead of playing it at the beginning of your pool journey, I think the game should be played at the end of it. Or at least not until you have really worked out your fundatmentals and have become respectable at the other games first.
Take it from me -- this game stunted my development as a player.
Chris:
Actually, let's not point the finger exclusively at one pocket -- *any* game can stunt your growth if you play too much of it. Heck, play too much 9-ball, and we all know there will be aspects of that game that will stunt your growth as a well-rounded player (e.g. oblivious of patterns outside of the ones the markings on the balls dictate to you). One could say 9-ball is a "mental auto-pilot" game -- you just have to shoot at the lowest-numbered ball, and perhaps engage a brain cell or two to consider a safety option. See? The argument can be made against any game.
I think the question that Anthony (OP) had in mind, is which game exercises the most brain cells / skills / aspects of the game of pocket billiards. No doubt in my mind, 14.1 and one pocket are in a dead-heat in that regard.
Now can one put a fence around themselves and limit their growth as a player by playing "only" one pocket? Sure. Like anything, taking something to excess is detrimental.
-Sean
I'm not even sure why this is a question.
What else do we have to do? :grin:
14.1 has my vote.
I second this.
There r alot more players gambling at 1pocket today then any other game,i think it is the most all around game,skill wise,there are lots of pool players that can match up playing 1pocket ,where playing 9or10 ball they cant,there are alot of players that dont pocket balls as good as other players playing rotation,but these same players know how to move the qball very well,so they go on to playing 1pocket ,where they can protect theirselfs,by moving the qball,instead of pocketing balls,but sooner or later u must pocket balls to win!we all know the best move in 1pocket is 8 and out,but most of us cant do it,so we will make what we can then put qball in a good place!
You're right and I'm wrong but...
With one-pocket you run into the one-pocket snobs. These are the guys that look down on all the other games because they are toooooo eeeaaasyyy, even though a lot of them can't play the rotation games that well. So if you start playing pool in that environment you may quickly find yourself only playing one-pocket.
Guys that are C players and below that prefer to play one-pocket over the other games drive me crazy. These guys realize they can't pocket anything, so every time they are faced with a semi difficult shot they just avoid shooting it and they duck. This should be illegal. It's always fun to watch two of these guys donate to a one-pocket tournament only to draw each other. Then you get to enjoy watching them roll all the balls up table. 5 hours later when they are done playing the winner feels like he really accomplished something. IT'S MADNESS I TELL YOU!
The only thing that even comes close to driving me this crazy is when C players insist on having to play on a tight pocketed table when they are playing nine ball. What??? I think they see all the great players wanting to play on tight equipment so they think they need to as well. If you are one of these types let me tell you something - you're not that good. You can play on loose pockets and nobody is going to laugh at you. Nobody is afraid you are going to run out the set if you play on loose tables and so what if the occasional balls bumps the rail on the way in. If Mosconi could do it so can you.
Now back to our feature presentation...
I guess this all goes back to the pocketing vs. cue ball control debate that I'm always in the minority on. I just think that pocketing skills are more important. In my view pocketing difficult shots cleans up your fundamentals more than working on intricate cue ball control shots. I know that horse has been beaten to death and I'm fairly certain I was the horse in those discussions.
If someone can get to the point where they are a phenomenal potter I don't think it takes nearly as much work to become a master at 1 pocket (or the other games for that matter) as others do. How much one-pocket has SVB played compared to Scott Frost or Cliff Joyner? Somehow, Shane has won back to back one-pocket titles at DCC (or was it a 1st and a 2nd?). I have even been surprised to realize this same sort of concept can be applied to bank pool. I really don't think that SVB or Morra have even close to the number of hours banking balls that the banking specialists have. Yet they finished on top at the DCC.
I don't know...I do recognize that one-pocket is a great game that incorporates all of the important elements of pool and it's a great test of overall skill. I'm personally just not that interested in playing it at this point in my life.
***Note***
There's a chance I'm getting a few different concepts mixed up here but I'm not going back and rewriting this.
What I have figured out is that one of the least effective ways to get better at playing pool is to play a game of pool. That can be any game - 14.1, 9 ball, or one-pocket.
14.1 has my vote.
The great thing that 14.1 has, that one pocket doesn't, is exercising your playing consistency. Not, "play one/two/three/...eight balls, and you're out, until the next rack, when you reset and start again." That's definitely a skill that only 14.1 can exercise -- your pocketing consistency over the long (and I mean l-o-n-g) haul. Miss in one pocket? As long as you're good with whitey, you may be ok. Miss in 14.1? DEADLY!
-Sean
I agree that the serious player should be well rounded with the ability or at least the drive to play all billiards games. I once played a bang-up 1pocket player who refused to play anything else. He was great at 1 pocket, he tought me a great deal about the game but i could smoke him at any other game. He killed his other abilities sticking with just one game. I think sticking with just game no matter which one is a bad idea. And 14-1, 1pocket and snooker are the best to keep you shooting well. There three, incorporate the right disciplines. IMO
Serious Survey
Why not have a poll that encompasses several different disciplines? For example, Which of the following games do you feel is the best game for a serious player:
One-Pocket
14.1 Continuous
Nine Ball
10 Ball
Eight Ball
ALL
Gerry S
Why not have a poll that encompasses several different disciplines? For example, Which of the following games do you feel is the best game for a serious player:
One-Pocket
14.1 Continuous
Nine Ball
10 Ball
Eight Ball
ALL
Gerry S
I wouldn't think of it that way, especially in a topic like this -- where we're debating which game is "better" overall. Everyone has their own idea / concepts / notions, and most likely, NONE OF US are "right".
I agree 100% with your stance on this -- this is BALONEY! In fact, whenever I draw or play one of these type players, I like to REALLY TURN IT UP -- engage my "after burners" shooting skills -- on these guys to get them out of the way. I don't like to play them, and I don't like to watch them either.
I agree with this as well. Some of these snobs are over the top with their assessment of "pool" in general. I don't pay attention to these types -- I speak for what I feel is the overall good of the activity I love. Like I said, whenever I draw or play these types, I like to dial it up -- engage my shot-making after-burners -- to avoid them even thinking I want to "move with them." If the player is a good mover and good shooter -- great! Let's get it on! But a C player one pocket snob that only knows how to move? Nope, not interested.
You'll get no argument from me here. When you are a stratospheric shooter like an SVB, why not leverage those skills and win the game outright? That's like that old Minnesota Fats observance of Willie Mosconi -- "he doesn't even know how to play the game right -- he keeps running eight-and-out!" Doh! <smacks head>
No problem at all on the "not wanting to play this particular game at this point in my life" thing. I appreciate your thoughts on this, because, remember, this is just a poll for a discussion topic. I'm enjoying the discussion!
Good stuff!
-Sean