Straight pool confession

Onepocket73

Onepocket73

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So you guys are all like the priest and I am the no good sinner sitting there confessing.........."Forgive me Father,I have sinned.My high run in straight pool over the last 17 years of playing is 43!"
What is it with that game?I would consider myself to be a very rounded player.I play most of the games well,9-ball,one pocket,etc....I even play 3 cushion fairly well.But when it comes to that 14.1,which I am not worthy to even say the name,I just can't play!! I am so frustrated with it.I watched "The One" run 121 on here and he made it look easy.
So what is it with that game????
 
Onepocket73 said:
So you guys are all like the priest and I am the no good sinner sitting there confessing.........."Forgive me Father,I have sinned.My high run in straight pool over the last 17 years of playing is 43!"
What is it with that game?I would consider myself to be a very rounded player.I play most of the games well,9-ball,one pocket,etc....I even play 3 cushion fairly well.But when it comes to that 14.1,which I am not worthy to even say the name,I just can't play!! I am so frustrated with it.I watched "The One" run 121 on here and he made it look easy.
So what is it with that game????
Click to expand...

I have the same problem. I've consistently been getting better though. When I first started playing I thought the game was easy. I mean seriously, all you have to do is make balls. Of course, making balls, is much easier said than done. I've narrowed my low ball counts to two reasons: finding simple patterns and shooting break-outs properly. When I play 8-ball or 9-ball, the table rarely changes with each shot. But straight pool is totally different. The whole object of the game is to collide with other balls. Therefore, the table looks different with every shot you take. So it's virtually impossible to plan a full table run-out like I do with 8 or 9. I also tend to become claustrophobic. I'm used to a wide open table where every ball goes in at least 2 pockets. With straight pool, most balls will just barely pass into a single pocket. I find myself flying into the stack a lot more often than necessary trying to spread the balls all over the table. With every shot I try to force myself back into the rack. At the same time, I'm shooting breakout shots at full speed. With the crazy force and spin I'm using, I miss all kinds of easy shots. Lately, I've been just trying to take it all one ball at a time. Instead of shooting for shape on a single ball, I'm trying to get to certain areas on the table. It seems to be helping but I still don't like it. I'm scared of not having a next shot.

On a side note, I've come to hate this game. I'm not sure how I do it, but I'm constantly finding myself in the strangest positions. For example, I'll shoot a side pocket break shot and somehow end up frozen to the headrail. It makes me want break my stick in half. Or I'll shoot a break shot and end up in the exact center of the stack jacked up over a ball shooting a ridiculous carom (I have short fingers so I have to float my bridge on these). I also scratch on 40% of my break shots. I don't think that's normal.

I feel your pain!!!
 
same for me, that game "Makes" me miss shots I would never ever miss in any other game, I think its this head trip about whats next and when will the run end and I just miss and answer the question right then, the run ends at 5 or 8 on a good day.
 
For me, I think it boils down to the multiple patterns there are on the table, and trying to decipher it all.

What I am trying to say is all others disciplines pretty much dictate the pattern to the shooter. 9-Ball you know what you have to shoot next. 8-ball, although similar to straight pool in patterns, has the stripes and solids dictating how you need to play the pattern. One Pocket kinda obvious shoot for your hole or play safe.

I grew up playing primarily 9-ball, so I didnt have to think much about patterns I just had to figure out how to solve the numerical pattern.

In straight pool, the player determines the best pattern. I get very intimidated by the stack and it locks me up. Where as the top players just peck away at the stack like it is nothin until the cluster is gone and their key ball and break ball are waiting plain as day.

There is no longer any doubt in my mind that straight pool is the true game of champions.
 
good points, I think what happens to most people is they havn't been exposed to great players, and have no idea how to get around the balls. When your not sure what to do doubt creeps in and right down your arm. We all went through this learning 14.1 but some people are lucky enough to have people to teach them the right ways early on.

just like one pocket, 14.1 has moves you need to learn to play well...the moves are called patterns. Keep playing the game its worth it!

Gerry
 
Rep for you sir, I didn't realize there was a 14.1 Section!!! Very exciting! I've neglected this game for too long also. I just for the first time this friday ran 27 balls (missed the keyball on my least favorite shot) and then sunday morning ran 42! No shape on the key ball, but I made it and just missed getting on the break ball by about an inch. It was possibly makeable, but not very. Great weekend.:)
 
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