I agree. But I'm biased -- look at the comment underneath my avatar.
Sean what game has requires more cb feel and control.
Also i feel that 14.1 shape is played some what more loose then 1 whole.
r
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One pocket poll.
- Thread starter 8pack
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Sean what game has requires more cb feel and control.
Also i feel that 14.1 shape is played some what more loose then 1 whole.
r
Duck To Your Ability And Then Some!
Every now and then I get the "pleasure" of playing One Pocket with an older gentleman, well older than myself by a few years, here in the PNW. In his prime during the '70s, '80s, and into the '90s he was one of best players on the west coast. He has walked me through games shot by shot explaining the options and stratagies for each shot.
He, for example, wll not take a shot that is the slightest bit chancy. His move is to get balls to his pocket and lock his opponent up at the same time. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, that if you feel that you have any doubt about your shot it may be smarter to a good defensive shot so that you can live and still be in or control the game. In fact there are times that he would have a good high percentage shot but not take it because it wouldn't get him anywhere, especially if would make the shot but spread balls to his opponents pocket.
Gerry S
Every now and then I get the "pleasure" of playing One Pocket with an older gentleman, well older than myself by a few years, here in the PNW. In his prime during the '70s, '80s, and into the '90s he was one of best players on the west coast. He has walked me through games shot by shot explaining the options and stratagies for each shot.
He, for example, wll not take a shot that is the slightest bit chancy. His move is to get balls to his pocket and lock his opponent up at the same time. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, that if you feel that you have any doubt about your shot it may be smarter to a good defensive shot so that you can live and still be in or control the game. In fact there are times that he would have a good high percentage shot but not take it because it wouldn't get him anywhere, especially if would make the shot but spread balls to his opponents pocket.
Gerry S
Throughout the entire rack, ball-by-ball? One-hole, for sure.
14.1 has a pyramid-shaped system in that regard; if the rack is open, shooting is easy at first, and gets progressively more stringent as you remove the balls off the table. While it may appear that at the outset of an open rack "things are fast and loose," it's a different story as the player gets down to the last couple of balls. There is concept in 14.1 called "the last five" -- that is, the last five balls being the most important balls on the table, because you need to take four of those last five balls off the table in the precise order that leaves you with an optimum break shot.
Consistency is the key to 14.1. If you miss, it's not usually a question of leaving the cue ball in a position where your opponent has a difficult shot at "his/her" pocket. In 14.1, there are 6 pockets on the table, and the incoming player shoots at any ball. Miss in this game, and the cost is likely deadly.
Summary: if one has been primarily a rotation player and wants to bone-up on his/her cue ball control, one pocket is probably a slightly better choice than 14.1. The penalties you pay for poor cue ball control will stay with you longer in one pocket. However, if you're looking for pocketing consistency (i.e. minimizing brain farts), 14.1 is probably the better choice.
-Sean
I voted no only because it's a matter of individual preference.
I happen to enjoy straight pool and 1pkt. I actually dislike 9 and 10 ball.
While 14.1 gets a slight nod to 1 pkt in my book, 14.1 is its own worse enemy, in that it has one player not really playing much.
Recently I realize how good a game ( believe it or not) 8 ball can be.
IMO, clearly given a choice of 8 - 9 - or 10 ball, I'd pick 8 ball for sure.
I happen to enjoy straight pool and 1pkt. I actually dislike 9 and 10 ball.
While 14.1 gets a slight nod to 1 pkt in my book, 14.1 is its own worse enemy, in that it has one player not really playing much.
Recently I realize how good a game ( believe it or not) 8 ball can be.
IMO, clearly given a choice of 8 - 9 - or 10 ball, I'd pick 8 ball for sure.
One Pocket is a great game and I love to play, but to build a foundation for a serious player I would say that Straight Pool is the natural starting point. Most of the top players of my generation started out as Straight Pool players, and then learned the other games.
my critique in this thread against straight pool vs 1p is
in straight pool you rarely bank a ball
you rarely kick to play safe
you rarely combo or carom bank
the options of what to do next are less in 14.1 vs 1p imho
strategy is more complicated in1p
so i think every serious player should learn to play 1p
more 2 cents worth
the rotation player "specialists" may be better shot makers and able to move the cue ball with control over long distances
and do those things better than 1p players
but the better overall skill player will ususally win in 1p if the difference in skillsets are close in ,shotmaking,cueball control since his superiority in the other skills will make up for the deficiencies in shotmaking
jmho
icbw
Ok straight pool players what learned skills does it have over 1 whole.
Banking 1 whole.
Kicking 1 whole.
cb control 1 whole.
Feel 1 whole.
Safety play 1 whole.
Ball pocketing i dont know but seems like all shots are easy to a certian point in straight pool.
The things learned from 1 pocket can be used for every game in billiards.
And you really dont learn this type of playing until you play the game well.
Straight pool i dont think so.
Are you guys suggesting that running balls for long periods at a time and playing shape really for your break out shot requires as much skill as 1 whole.Say it isnt so.
Banking 1 whole.
Kicking 1 whole.
cb control 1 whole.
Feel 1 whole.
Safety play 1 whole.
Ball pocketing i dont know but seems like all shots are easy to a certian point in straight pool.
The things learned from 1 pocket can be used for every game in billiards.
And you really dont learn this type of playing until you play the game well.
Straight pool i dont think so.
Are you guys suggesting that running balls for long periods at a time and playing shape really for your break out shot requires as much skill as 1 whole.Say it isnt so.
Ok straight pool players what learned skills does it have over 1 whole.
Banking 1 whole.
Kicking 1 whole.
cb control 1 whole.
Feel 1 whole.
Safety play 1 whole.
Ball pocketing i dont know but seems like all shots are easy to a certian point in straight pool.
The things learned from 1 pocket can be used for every game in billiards.
And you really dont learn this type of playing until you play the game well.
Straight pool i dont think so.
Are you guys suggesting that running balls for long periods at a time and playing shape really for your break out shot requires as much skill as 1 whole.Say it isnt so.
This will probably piss off alot of people but IMO, 1P is more about knowledge than skill.
Ok straight pool players what learned skills does it have over 1 whole.
Banking 1 whole.
Kicking 1 whole.
cb control 1 whole.
Feel 1 whole.
Safety play 1 whole.
Ball pocketing i dont know but seems like all shots are easy to a certian point in straight pool.
The things learned from 1 pocket can be used for every game in billiards.
And you really dont learn this type of playing until you play the game well.
Straight pool i dont think so.
Are you guys suggesting that running balls for long periods at a time and playing shape really for your break out shot requires as much skill as 1 whole.Say it isnt so.
All true except in 14.1 you must REALLY learn how to control the cue ball, including bumping balls to move them into position or out of the way. When you play 14.1 really well, you are shooting a lot of easy shots thanks to your good cue ball. You will occasionally have to make a bank to continue a run and you better not miss it. In One Pocket a missed bank that hangs up can be a very good shot. Maybe the biggest thing you learn in 14.1 is how the balls interact with each other i.e. kisses, combinations, billiards etc. You mist learn to master the rack with all its nuances. In closing, an excellent 14.1 player can learn to be a good One Pocket player without too much trouble. The converse is not necessarily true.
P.S. Good safety play is essential to being a good 14.1 player!
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I hope not , just having a little fun.:smile:
And i disagree ,it has both in it to play good.I realize there are probably a lot of guys that play this game well who probably arnt the best ball runners.
But you still have to pocket balls to win.
The game still has so much to offer.
One Pocket is about all I play and more. Finally getting good at it, not GREAT, just good.
Im in the same boat Coco.I have played it off and on for a while now but like other games i could not figure out the moves ,it just never came to me.
I mean i knew a little but i look back i was constantly playing it to much like a 9ball player.
What really has help me out is playing a better player and really paying attention to what he was doing to me.
I actually pocket balls way better then this guy but couldnt get out of the traps.
Now im seeing the moves ,my game has really progress in the last 2 years .
I have a ways to go but im sticking with it.
What a great game!
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Both One-Pocket & Straight Pool
Jay,
Definitely not a top player but I started out playing mostly Straight Pool. We would throw in heavy doses of our version of Cowboy Billiards also. That was it for the longest time. Nine Ball filtered its way in now and then. But we sure had our fill of 14.1 and CBs. Even when I got help from an old pro it was either 14.1 or Line-Up pool.
It wasn't till later on that I was introduced to One-Pocket. I enjoy it now that I can appreciate all that it involves.
Heck, I never played that much 8-Ball until I moved from SoCal to the PNW. Prior to that when I played 8-Ball it was pretty much an offensive game. For the first time, and I've been playing since '65, I joined a league up here (BCA) and its an 8-Ball league. Also almost all of the small local weekly tournaments are 8-Ball. If you play a pure offensive game you will not be on the winning end all that often. You need to put it 'all together' to be in the black. And to me that involves elements from BOTH One-Pocket and Straight Pool.
Gerry S
Jay,
Definitely not a top player but I started out playing mostly Straight Pool. We would throw in heavy doses of our version of Cowboy Billiards also. That was it for the longest time. Nine Ball filtered its way in now and then. But we sure had our fill of 14.1 and CBs. Even when I got help from an old pro it was either 14.1 or Line-Up pool.
It wasn't till later on that I was introduced to One-Pocket. I enjoy it now that I can appreciate all that it involves.
Heck, I never played that much 8-Ball until I moved from SoCal to the PNW. Prior to that when I played 8-Ball it was pretty much an offensive game. For the first time, and I've been playing since '65, I joined a league up here (BCA) and its an 8-Ball league. Also almost all of the small local weekly tournaments are 8-Ball. If you play a pure offensive game you will not be on the winning end all that often. You need to put it 'all together' to be in the black. And to me that involves elements from BOTH One-Pocket and Straight Pool.
Gerry S
See. I told you.
So knowledge first then skills.See im still learning things .:grin:
Me neither. That said, this recreational banger would rather watch paint dry than watch one pocket on live stream. (Sorry Lenny :frown
The game calls for too much standing & thinking to be enjoyable to watch.
Me neither. That said, this recreational banger would rather watch paint dry than watch one pocket on live stream. (Sorry Lenny :frown
I agree sometimes it gets boring but still a great game to learn.
The things you learn from it can really help you in all games.
The style of banking alone besides playing banks is not really learned in any other game.
Im glad i finally decided to really learn the game.:smile: