There is usually one side that plays a little easier than the other, and many players also break a little better from one side than the other because they've done it more. Alternating sides might also cause some level of confusion for a player that hasn't played much onepocket or has always played into the same pocket for a whole session before.Thunderball said:
ONE pocket question
- Thread starter cueball1950
- Start date
I see no problem with asking that the breaker switch pockets, but to insist that this is the only way to play and the other guy is somehow taking advantage is rediculous. After losing four games, I would have no problem saying, "Hey, we need to adjust. How about switching pockets every game? No? Well my pocket hates me. What about playing on that table over there?" You don't need an excuse to pull up. If you don't like the game you're in, try to change it, or quit.
J M O
Sometimes giving up the break in one hole isn't giving up much, if your opponent safe breaks,Or even tries.(the B player is the one getting the breaks, right.)
I do agree, not alternating sides increases the spot.
One pocket is a serious game of focus and concentration. I have seen people walk away from the table for whatever reason and return to pocket a ball in the wrong hole. Just that fact alone would make it simpler if you constantly had the same hole.
Cudos to you and a greenie. There are no ignert questions. Its all about learning. Also if you seriously don't think one side over the other is an advantage. Next time you practice, set up several spot shots and try banking to left several times, Then right several times. If your percentage is exactly equal you are a lucky man.
Giving up a ball is a much fairer way of handicapping in this game IMHO
Thunderball said:
Sometimes giving up the break in one hole isn't giving up much, if your opponent safe breaks,Or even tries.(the B player is the one getting the breaks, right.)
I do agree, not alternating sides increases the spot.
One pocket is a serious game of focus and concentration. I have seen people walk away from the table for whatever reason and return to pocket a ball in the wrong hole. Just that fact alone would make it simpler if you constantly had the same hole.
Cudos to you and a greenie. There are no ignert questions. Its all about learning. Also if you seriously don't think one side over the other is an advantage. Next time you practice, set up several spot shots and try banking to left several times, Then right several times. If your percentage is exactly equal you are a lucky man.
Giving up a ball is a much fairer way of handicapping in this game IMHO
Thunderball said:
It's about reaching shots.
There are many shots that are easy to reach for a right handed player
shooting at the right pocket that are near immpossible to reach
the mirror shot shooting at the left pocket,
This is even more evident in the opening game when so much
of the rack is still in the middle of the table.
Alternating sides doesn't offset the spot, it just makes
sure that each player has equal turns playing for the 'easier' pocket.
Dale
longhair said:
Well thanks for pointing out that I'm rediculous.
Next time I get to talk to the better of those two players,
still alive, no longer active, who, FWIW would have spotted
at least half the guys in the One Pocket Hall of Fame,
I'll be sure to have him contact you so you can explain
the finer points to him.
Dale
Thanks all for the replies to my question (and sorry for the perhaps slight thread hijack to the op).
Next time I play a session of 1hole it will certainly be alternate pocket,just so I can "see" or feel the differences.Now I know what to look for...
Geeze,eveything about the game is subtle,even the spots.
Next time I play a session of 1hole it will certainly be alternate pocket,just so I can "see" or feel the differences.Now I know what to look for...
Geeze,eveything about the game is subtle,even the spots.
Well heres an update,curious as it is...
The one guy in my pool playing group of friends who plays one pocket (as new to it as I am) stopped by yesterday for a few games in the afternoon. Of course I bring up this thread and suggest we alternate pockets "just to see" how or why or even "if" it matters.
Fwiw this is my own 9' table and I know for a fact that neither pocket is "freindlier" then the other as far as rolls go.
As far as habits go,it was surprising how many times I had to rethink shots because I initially started looking at the wrong hole (up till now I always had the same one) even though we have only played 30 or 40 games total.
What was curious is I had my first 8 ball run ever.Leaving seven balls on the table for the win.
Two games later I shot seven in a row (after playing one earlier) for the win.
Both runs were into what would have usually been his pocket and they are two of the best 1 hole runs I have ever had bar none.
The other games (3 or 4 more I think) were more typical play with safties and the occasional one or two balls pocketed ect.
Now in the interest of complete honesty...it may have been just coincidance,hell I really don't know.The game or shots didn't "feel" different or easier to me,but those are some pretty dencent results considering the only change was the alternate pocket.
I'll have to play it this way more to see if I play better to that side or it was just an fluke,but those were some big and unusual runs for me in this game.Cool stuff I thought.