Straight pool help

[bruin70]

I wouldn't argue with any previous advice, but IMHO the BEST source
for you based on where your game is right now, is Mastering Pool
by George Fels

dead on for what you need to progress - check your local, library
this classic is 30 years old and a collector these days

Dale Pierce

that's a good book in that it was the first i recall that actually detailed the writer's thoughts about patterns. most books until then were kinda generic.

 

[worriedbeef]

i'm only a beginner in this game relatively, (in pool generally tbh), and i was just wondering about the safety aspect of 14.1. When it's played at a lower level obviously there are less breaks of 50's and 60's and more 5's and 6's lol, therefore the need to play safe arises more often. Point is i reckon i'm pretty knowledgable about handling the balls in a run, i just need plenty of practice to do it, but one thing i'm not so sure on is the safety aspects, which crop up a lot more often at a low level of game.

Do you just have to have the cueball touch the cushion? Or does an object ball need to as well? Is ball in hand only behind the headstring? Or anywhere on the table? And what about your average safety shot in straight, is it just a case of flicking a ball, hopefully nudging a couple into play and trying to leave the white on the top cushion?

I do plan to get me a book on straight pool soon but for now i'd just like a few pointers.

Thanks.

 

[bruin70]

Do you just have to have the cueball touch the cushion? Or does an object ball need to as well? Is ball in hand only behind the headstring? Or anywhere on the table? And what about your average safety shot in straight, is it just a case of flicking a ball, hopefully nudging a couple into play and trying to leave the white on the top cushion?

Thanks.

ANY ball must hit a rail.

ball in hand is always behind the line.

how you safety depends purely on the situation, including knowing your opponent.

 

[mikepage]

i'm only a beginner in this game relatively, (in pool generally tbh), and i was just wondering about the safety aspect of 14.1. When it's played at a lower level obviously there are less breaks of 50's and 60's and more 5's and 6's lol, therefore the need to play safe arises more often. [...]
And what about your average safety shot in straight, is it just a case of flicking a ball, hopefully nudging a couple into play and trying to leave the white on the top cushion?
[...]

A lot of the good advice given previously (particulary good stuff by Ted K., imo) has had to do with running balls and opening up racks. But there's a lot of other stuff that helps you actually beat people at this game.

First, recognize that players with high runs of about 50 tend to average about four balls per inning (that is, a game to 100 will take on average 25 innings) and people with high runs of 75 tend to average about 5 balls per inning. Ten balls per inning is national class straiht pool.

My point is don't underestimate the power of fiving your opponent to death. That is, if you can run a handful of balls and then leave your opponent in a disadvantageous situation, you've done good.

A lot of newer straight pool players play safeties that lead to fairly neutral layouts or worse. By neutral, I mean that your opponent can safety you right back and put you in a similar situation. This is common, and several innings of safeties will more likely than not reveal the better straight pool player.

Better is leaving your opponent where he can't get going and also can't play a good safe back at you. Set up a 14-ball rack and roll the cueball into it squarely from the side or from the back just hard enough so thet something probably hits a rail. Notice what happens. The cue ball stays frozen or nearly so to the ball you hit. Several balls pop out of the rack. Nothing pops backwards. This is a strong safety. If your opponent thins a ball and sends the cueball up table, you probably have an easy shot.

You will see people do this when they have the ususl side-of-the-rack break ball but inadvertantly get straight in on it. They pocket the ball, and then play safe.

There was a guy I played pretty even with. We used t pretty much split games of straight pool. Anyway, I decided one day I'd play a little differently. I decided I would *never* try to open up a rack. I'd either pocket the fifteenth ball playing safe and leaving him on the top rail or I'd do as described above. I beat him all three games that day. While this no doubt says something about my ability to run balls ;-), I think there is another message as well.

Most B-level players who try an occasional game of straight pool make the same mistakes, imo.

1. They're too desperate to set up for a break shot.
2. They go for the break shot even when it's too hard.
3. They hit it too hard when they go for it.
4. They send the cueball into unknown territory (careening off of balls) to frequently.

mike page
fargo