Reading 14.1 Racks

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GStrong

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Hello,

I have been playing a lot of straight lately against a guy that I am even with playing 8 or 9, but I am getting slaughtered playing 75(him)-50(me) straight pool. He has this uncanny ability to pick a ball out of the rack after a few have been plucked away, and bust the whole thing wide open. Both of us are fairly weak when it comes to break shots, so we end up with a big cluster and sure enough he always comes with an amazing combo/on shot/dead ball, whatever, then busts them open and finishes the rack.

My question is: I have a pretty basic knowledge of on shots, throw, dead balls, etc... But how can one learn to recognize these shots in a rack? Does it just take time and experience? Is there a particular book or video you would recommend? Or just keep plugging away??? I did win one game yesterday, but he tortured me the next 3.

Thanks! BTW, I love straight pool, just started about 2 months ago. Awesome game!
 
GStrong said:
is: I have a pretty basic knowledge of on shots, throw, dead balls, etc... But how can one learn to recognize these shots in a rack? Does it just take time and experience? !
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Strong-man,
The only 2 ways I know are #1 = get a lesson from a master, #2 = ALWAYS shoot these when practicing or not playing for blood.

Danny DiLiberto has studied the game forever, and feels that what separated him from the pack in both one-pocket and 14.1 were his ability to find the dead balls in the pack (by carom/billiard/combo and all permutations thereof). I mentioned that I could find a lot of dead balls, he replied that he wanted to show me how to find all the dead balls, NOT the ones everybody else see's, but the ones only the masters see. Everytime one would come up in our games, he would make me shoot it. You would never believe the kind of crazy, improbably permutations that he found, but they almost all went in (even with me shooting), and he was able to identify them ahead of time as "mortal locks", "90 percenters", or "50 percenters." It was freaking unbelieveable - I've never seen anything like this in any book (and I have almost all of them), though you'll get the general idea by looking at the end of Ray Martin's "99 Critical Shots in Pool" where he shows some of the permutations. I am not talking about throwing frozen balls a little

You also must shoot them EVERY time you see them. The rule for ALL friendly 14.1 games in Betmore's Basement is that you MUST shoot EVERY SINGLE pack shot that you see as being possible (even if you have other open shots) and both players study the layout before the shot is attempted. If you fail to do this in "the Basement"; you're a wanker. How else can you learn what is or is not possible unless you shoot them every time you see them in practice (including resetting the balls and trying different speeds if you happen to unexpectedly miss one).

Good luck.
 
GStrong said:
Hello,

I have been playing a lot of straight lately against a guy that I am even with playing 8 or 9, but I am getting slaughtered playing 75(him)-50(me) straight pool. He has this uncanny ability to pick a ball out of the rack after a few have been plucked away, and bust the whole thing wide open. Both of us are fairly weak when it comes to break shots, so we end up with a big cluster and sure enough he always comes with an amazing combo/on shot/dead ball, whatever, then busts them open and finishes the rack.

My question is: I have a pretty basic knowledge of on shots, throw, dead balls, etc... But how can one learn to recognize these shots in a rack? Does it just take time and experience? Is there a particular book or video you would recommend? Or just keep plugging away??? I did win one game yesterday, but he tortured me the next 3.

Thanks! BTW, I love straight pool, just started about 2 months ago. Awesome game!
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Ah to know the secrets of the force... well speaking from experience, a good way to learn straight pool is to play someone stronger than you. When you are playing that person, just don't watch what they play. What I mean by that is just don't watch him pocket balls, watch and try to predict what ball he is positioning for and pocketing next. This is what is called pattern play. There are patterns in straight pool that make the game easier, depending on the layout since the pattern is not given, you must create and think what sequence to shoot at the balls. The first thing you must look at is not which ball is easiest to make as soon as you get to the table, but rather what ball do I need to shoot to make the run out as easy as possible. You have to look at the whole table and plan a decent amount ahead, I personally try to plan at least 6 or more balls ahead. If you want to buy any books on straight pool, there are a few that will help you. There is a book "Straightpool for Dummies" which I hear is very good, and then there are books written by George Fels which I personally like. George Fels wrote a few books on straight pool and all of which are very informative. After I read his books my high run in straight jumped from 36 to 72 within a few months. I'm just waiting for that elusive 100 ball run. I hope this helps.
 
This is a great post. Most of the shots found in the pack are multiple combinations of the shots in Ray Martin's book. There is a section in the back that shows a bunch of balls and asks the reader to find the hidden shots. This is the same type of exercise to utilize when looking at clusters. Most dead or makeable shots are combinations of combination kiss, carom and throw shots.
 
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your friend is hitting a streak. btw, every time a ball is moved in the rack you should inspect it.
 
DJKeys said:
This is a great post. Most of the shots found in the pack are multiple combinations of the shots in Ray Martin's book. There is a section in the back that shows a bunch of balls and asks the reader to find the hidden shots. This is the same type of exercise to utilize when looking at clusters. Most dead or makeable shots are combinations of combination kiss, carom and throw shots.
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I agree 100%. Knowledge of throw, combo, and carom theroy sets you up for success in reading the pack in straight pool, and Ray's book is indispensable for this. I still remember how excited Ray was about his new book in the mid-70s. This book has stood the test of time for good reason, and anyone who doesn't own it already should pick up a copy of "The 99 Crticial Shots in Pool."
 
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That Old Willie Mosconi Book

As a young(er) man - back when straight pool was THE game (that's back when a scratch in 9 ball was not ball in hand) - an old player in our room (Steve the Barber) was a master ball runner. Instead of being in class - I was at the old Silver Cue in Phoenix watching Steve (who should have been in his shop cutting hair) run balls. His highest run that I personally witnessed was right at 170.

In addition to his time and his encouragement he gave me an old Brunswick 2 pc Master Stroke cue and a Willie Mosconi instruction book. I forget the name of the book but I still see it around. That book has a whole chapter devoted to combinations, dead balls in the rack and "throwing" balls that are touching...get that book, read it ....it will be worth the time and $$$.
 
Lots of great replies. I would add that you will learn a lot by watching great Straight Pool players play the game. I highly recommend the Mike Sigel match againg Mike Zuglan and Irving Crane's 1966 US Open match with Joe Balsis. Both are very impressive runs, and they are very different in style. Crane shoots some INCREDIBLE combos and caroms. Sigel has much easier conditions, IMHO and runs a nearly flawless 150 and out.
 
Thanks for all the replies!!! I do have a copy of "The 99 Critical Shots in Pool" and I have really come to appreciate it in the last month. I think I am gonna get some tabs and bring the book with me to the pool room, as well as practicing anything that looks remotely dead. I am just very apprehensive to shoot anything while playing with my friend because undoubtedly I will spread it open for him to enjoy. It's only 10 a game, but 3 or 4 losses a day adds up!!! Time to go to work!!! Thanks again.

He did tell me yesterday that he began playing pool 15 years ago and for the first 2 years he played nothing but straight. I have been playing less than 2 years, and just started straight a month ago... So, it may take some time, but it gives me something to shoot for!
 
Willie Mosconi's book "Winning Pocket Billiards" offers some excellent examples of kiss shots, caroms and exactly how "Throw" works on what seems to be NOT a dead ball, but actually IS...

Practice is the most important aspect of course, but understanding throw is critical as well.
 
bruin70 said:
your friend is hitting a streak. btw, every time a ball is moved in the rack you should inspect it.
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how could his friend be hitting a streak? Gstrong is getting spotted so I think it would be safe to say that his knows something he doesn't.
 
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