Hi everyone! This is my 1st post. Here is my question. I've heard it over and over that practicing straight pool will help your game of 8 and 9 ball. If you are practicing by yourself, do you break the 1st rack wide open? Otherwise how could you start your run? Anyways any advice would be appreciated.
Straight pool practice
- Thread starter ledrums
- Start date
Hello! Welcome to the forum! I asked that very same question and was told to set up a break shot and go from there. Good luck and make sure to post in the straight pool record thread.
Linda
Linda
I'm fairly new to straight pool myself, I've been starting out with a traditional straight pool break. My reasoning behind this is, that's what I'm going to have to face when I play someone(have to find someone in my city that plays straight pool, most people just look at me blankly when I bring it up). I also practice break shots as described by the previous posters.
Good luck
Good luck
Just wanted to add, you gotta get a copy of Phil Capelle's book on Straight Pool if you don't have it already. It's a must, and he's got drills in there as well that address straight pool skills in particular.
Consider yourself lucky. It's the greatest game out there and you might just have the bug!
Consider yourself lucky. It's the greatest game out there and you might just have the bug!
ledrums said:
IMO it is important that you keep records for four reasons:
(1) it helps to keep you motivated to practice,
(2) it helps you develop the habit of taking every shot seriously,
(3) it allows you to chart your actual progress as you improve, and
(4) it leads to situations where you feel some pressure.
There two good ways to keep records while practice straight pool. The first is to play Equal Offense, a practice game developed I think by Jerry Brieseth. The second is to play Modified Equal Offense, a modification I proposed years ago in the rec.sport.billiards newsgroup.
EQUAL OFFENSE (EO)
10 innings with a 20 point maximum for each inning - so there is a 200 point maximum score per game.
An inning begins with an open break of all fifteen balls spotting any balls that go in and with no penalty for a scratch. Start with cue ball in kitchen, and try to run balls like in straight pool. Quit if you reach 20. [Of course you can actually keep going past 20 keeping track of your runs but you score 20 for the EO game.]
MODIFIED EQUAL OFFENSE (MEO)
Similar to EO. 10 innings with 25 point maximum per inning. So 250 maximum per game.
An inning begins with a triangle rack of six balls. Open break followed by cueball in kitchen. It's best to break softly so that the fastest ball(s) make it about back to the side pockets. Run balls like in straight pool. Quit if you reach 25. Here you are working on setting up a break shot right away.
If you average less than 100 playing EO, you should probably stick to EO. If you average more than 100 in EO and/or you particularly want to practice straight pool, MEO might be good for you.
mike page
fargo
Excellent pointers Mike. I tried to give you some rep points but it said I had to spread some around before I gave you anymore.....
I don't really remember giving you any in the first place.
I don't really remember giving you any in the first place.
supergreenman said:Excellent pointers Mike. I tried to give you some rep points but it said I had to spread some around before I gave you anymore.....
I don't really remember giving you any in the first place.
That doesn't seem fair!
But before I complain too much, I'll ask this: what, pray tell, is a rep point?
mike page
fargo
mikepage said:
See those little green squares(or red if you're cuetecasaurus) under your name. you get those when enough people give you rep points. If you look under your User CP you can see the comments people left when they gave you points.
mikepage said:
I kind of agree with you here. The problem is that counting the balls or that racks can be a little distracting. I believe that this can be counter productive, since you should just concentrate on making balls. But like you said it leads to pressure situations which is good practice.
Here's another opening shot in 14.1
Since no one else posted on this, I'll mention it. It is quite possible to start a game of straight pool, by banking one of the corner balls, with the CB on the headstring, back to the head end of the table, into a corner pocket. This is not an easy shot, but certainly makeable, with the right blend of speed, english, and hit on the corner ball. It's about a 30-40% shot for me, but I know the oldtimers could make this opening shot about 3/4 of the time. I've also seen a corner ball made in the side pocket, off the break, by sending the CB two rails behind the rack. This is a much tougher shot, but also possible.
The best way to practice is still what has been mentioned already. Set up a break shot, with ball in hand, and play off of that.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Since no one else posted on this, I'll mention it. It is quite possible to start a game of straight pool, by banking one of the corner balls, with the CB on the headstring, back to the head end of the table, into a corner pocket. This is not an easy shot, but certainly makeable, with the right blend of speed, english, and hit on the corner ball. It's about a 30-40% shot for me, but I know the oldtimers could make this opening shot about 3/4 of the time. I've also seen a corner ball made in the side pocket, off the break, by sending the CB two rails behind the rack. This is a much tougher shot, but also possible.
The best way to practice is still what has been mentioned already. Set up a break shot, with ball in hand, and play off of that.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
S
Scottster
Guest
Another little tid-bit. On your opening Break shot you do not have to be in the kitchen to start (this is for "high run" practice of course). I didn't realize this until recently and for myself, it made a great difference. 100 here I come.
It's doesn't really matter...
It's your choice...and depends of how much of a 'perfectionist' you are. A purist will rerack, and start over with a new break shot. I'd say just keep shooting... The real key to improving at 14.1, is to try to make at least 5-6 balls every time you shoot...and to learn to recognize (and set yourself up on) easy break shots, to get into the next rack.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
It's your choice...and depends of how much of a 'perfectionist' you are. A purist will rerack, and start over with a new break shot. I'd say just keep shooting... The real key to improving at 14.1, is to try to make at least 5-6 balls every time you shoot...and to learn to recognize (and set yourself up on) easy break shots, to get into the next rack.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com