Straight Pool
- Thread starter mapman72
- Start date
I sent you a pm - forwarded from Blackjack.
Map,
I am certainly not a great player (unless of course you are judging by enthusiasm only
); but most of my competitive pool has been 14.1, and I have played with and taken lessons from some of the best - so I'll pass along some things that have helped me immensely in competition (as competition is COMPLETELY different than running balls in practice).
The Number One Rule is MAKE THE BALL YOU ARE SHOOTING. Do not let thoughts of position or match outcome IN ANY WAY distract you from the job of pocketing the ball at hand. You will lose many more games by missing a ball than you will by missing position. Be RELENTLESS in your adherence to your pre-shot routine and mechanics on EVERY shot, no matter how easy it may appear. Every shot should be taken the same way, whether it is early or late in the match. Do this, and you are already ahead of most of your opponents.
Avoid any and all low percentage shots (play safe instead). Avoid any and all sequences that involve 2 or 3 "80 percent shots" in a row. Avoid ANY thoughts of high runs. If you think a break shot is too tough, then just play safe (or pot it and then play safe if it's too tough to get into the rack). Learn and position yourself for the side of the rack safety that gives you an 80% chance of winning the resulting safety battle. Avoid the top of the rack and bottom of the rack safeties that give you only a 50% chance of winning the resulting battle.
Do NOT get discouraged if you hit a rough patch. Almost all mortal players will lose their stroke for a few innings here and there. If you handle it with equanimity you are a step ahead of an opponent who doesn't. Don't get discouraged in any way if your opponent is cleaning up an easy rack - it's a long game and you will have your chance.
When its late in a long close game; rely completely on your mechanics with NO thoughts of outcome or penalties for missing. Choose ONLY sequences that end with you running out the game with all easy shots or end with you playing a planned safety; at this stage of the game, pressure is very high and you want only easy shots. Oh yes, and I might have mentioned before, have fun (you are playing the game of champions), stay always cheerful (this disturbs some opponents, but you don't really care) and POCKET THAT FREAKING BALL.
P.S. - if SJM disagrees with any of this, listen to him instead.
I am certainly not a great player (unless of course you are judging by enthusiasm only
); but most of my competitive pool has been 14.1, and I have played with and taken lessons from some of the best - so I'll pass along some things that have helped me immensely in competition (as competition is COMPLETELY different than running balls in practice).The Number One Rule is MAKE THE BALL YOU ARE SHOOTING. Do not let thoughts of position or match outcome IN ANY WAY distract you from the job of pocketing the ball at hand. You will lose many more games by missing a ball than you will by missing position. Be RELENTLESS in your adherence to your pre-shot routine and mechanics on EVERY shot, no matter how easy it may appear. Every shot should be taken the same way, whether it is early or late in the match. Do this, and you are already ahead of most of your opponents.
Avoid any and all low percentage shots (play safe instead). Avoid any and all sequences that involve 2 or 3 "80 percent shots" in a row. Avoid ANY thoughts of high runs. If you think a break shot is too tough, then just play safe (or pot it and then play safe if it's too tough to get into the rack). Learn and position yourself for the side of the rack safety that gives you an 80% chance of winning the resulting safety battle. Avoid the top of the rack and bottom of the rack safeties that give you only a 50% chance of winning the resulting battle.
Do NOT get discouraged if you hit a rough patch. Almost all mortal players will lose their stroke for a few innings here and there. If you handle it with equanimity you are a step ahead of an opponent who doesn't. Don't get discouraged in any way if your opponent is cleaning up an easy rack - it's a long game and you will have your chance.
When its late in a long close game; rely completely on your mechanics with NO thoughts of outcome or penalties for missing. Choose ONLY sequences that end with you running out the game with all easy shots or end with you playing a planned safety; at this stage of the game, pressure is very high and you want only easy shots. Oh yes, and I might have mentioned before, have fun (you are playing the game of champions), stay always cheerful (this disturbs some opponents, but you don't really care) and POCKET THAT FREAKING BALL.
P.S. - if SJM disagrees with any of this, listen to him instead.
I had to say how much I love straight pool also!
I finally came across a spare partner who loves the game as much (or more, if that is possible) as I do and plays at around my level.
As a result, I have gained A LOT of appreciation and enthusiasm for the game. Not a day goes by that I won't leaf through Phil Capelle's book.
9 ball just doesn't enter my stream of consciousness lately.
My greatest improvements so far had to do with rythm, playing for and not missing easy shots, and clarity as far as what function each ball has after the break shot (and again after the secondary break shot).
Sorry, but I'm not in any position to give advice properly speaking. Where is sjm when you need 'em??
I finally came across a spare partner who loves the game as much (or more, if that is possible) as I do and plays at around my level.
As a result, I have gained A LOT of appreciation and enthusiasm for the game. Not a day goes by that I won't leaf through Phil Capelle's book.
9 ball just doesn't enter my stream of consciousness lately.
My greatest improvements so far had to do with rythm, playing for and not missing easy shots, and clarity as far as what function each ball has after the break shot (and again after the secondary break shot).
Sorry, but I'm not in any position to give advice properly speaking. Where is sjm when you need 'em??
Make the ball you're aiming at. It's always better to end an inning on a safe than on a missed shot. Maintaining stroke and patience are key elements in a successful game. If you're sitting in your chair you aren't holding the dice.
Straight pool is for me the most frustrating and most rewarding game out there. Good luck with your game!
Straight pool is for me the most frustrating and most rewarding game out there. Good luck with your game!
It's practically impossible to find someone who plays straight pool here in Georgia. I did run into a man who placed (According to him. And I believe him) 7th in the 1982 world championship of straight pool. But here in Georgia it's Redneck 9ball.
He spanked me good too. I had to go to 20. He had to go to 100. He beat me 100+ to 4. But I learned a lot just from 1 game.
1pocket is catching on pretty well down here in Atlanta. Hopefully some 14.1 players will spring out from it. But the ones who play 1pocket are way above me. I would be a joke to them. If anything more of a misquito because of my lack of knowlege on planning.
He spanked me good too. I had to go to 20. He had to go to 100. He beat me 100+ to 4. But I learned a lot just from 1 game.
1pocket is catching on pretty well down here in Atlanta. Hopefully some 14.1 players will spring out from it. But the ones who play 1pocket are way above me. I would be a joke to them. If anything more of a misquito because of my lack of knowlege on planning.
strateshooter
New member
Map,
I'm lucky enough to live in an area (Central PA) where straight pool is still limping along. This is Joe Balsis ('66 world champ) country. He lived close by. I sometimes play on the table from his house. His wife sold it to one of the local pool room owners here after he died. There are a few of us left here, maybe 10% of the total player population. I'm a mid-80's runner, and play some guys who are upper hundred and two hundred plus ball runners.
Willie hit most of the important points on the head. Don't forget about taking intentional fouls. Sometimes during a game, you may be put into a no-way-out position, with no shot, no apparent safety. At this point, look into moving the cue ball, intention foul, to any spot where your opponent (and you) will be safed. Any spot where either he or you may then play a safety from, or take another foul. You'll be on the first scratch. Even better if they're on the first scratch. Remember the three foul rule. At least in doing this, you give yourself some opportunity to prevent turning over an open table to your opponent, or if he fails to see your logic in taking the foul, he may fall for a trap and not see a safety play out of it, or he may try a high percentage shot. In any case, you at least have this other option. Also, if you're capable of running some balls, be willing to take a three foul penalty and rerack and play an opening safety if there's no way out. Relentless safeties and defense can demoralize an opponent, break their rythym, and make them try high percentage shots just looking for an opportunity to shoot. (Willie - that side of the rack safety is a killer. I once said it should be illegal.)
Remember that if you don't have to give them a shot, don't. If they scratch on the first shot of the rack and the pocketed ball is placed with the remainder of the rack(full undisturbed rack), and you have ball in hand behind the head string, take a scratch by playing the cue ball off the foot rail, and lagging it back to the top rail center if possible. Make them play the safe and knock a few balls out. I know a few players around here that balk over stuff like this, but this is straight pool, and if they want to play it, they should play it right and accept all that comes with it.
Be ruthless. Although I also wholeheartedly agree that you should have fun and stay cheerful. It will make you play better and looser, and in some cases really annoys the competition.
I'm lucky enough to live in an area (Central PA) where straight pool is still limping along. This is Joe Balsis ('66 world champ) country. He lived close by. I sometimes play on the table from his house. His wife sold it to one of the local pool room owners here after he died. There are a few of us left here, maybe 10% of the total player population. I'm a mid-80's runner, and play some guys who are upper hundred and two hundred plus ball runners.
Willie hit most of the important points on the head. Don't forget about taking intentional fouls. Sometimes during a game, you may be put into a no-way-out position, with no shot, no apparent safety. At this point, look into moving the cue ball, intention foul, to any spot where your opponent (and you) will be safed. Any spot where either he or you may then play a safety from, or take another foul. You'll be on the first scratch. Even better if they're on the first scratch. Remember the three foul rule. At least in doing this, you give yourself some opportunity to prevent turning over an open table to your opponent, or if he fails to see your logic in taking the foul, he may fall for a trap and not see a safety play out of it, or he may try a high percentage shot. In any case, you at least have this other option. Also, if you're capable of running some balls, be willing to take a three foul penalty and rerack and play an opening safety if there's no way out. Relentless safeties and defense can demoralize an opponent, break their rythym, and make them try high percentage shots just looking for an opportunity to shoot. (Willie - that side of the rack safety is a killer. I once said it should be illegal.)
Remember that if you don't have to give them a shot, don't. If they scratch on the first shot of the rack and the pocketed ball is placed with the remainder of the rack(full undisturbed rack), and you have ball in hand behind the head string, take a scratch by playing the cue ball off the foot rail, and lagging it back to the top rail center if possible. Make them play the safe and knock a few balls out. I know a few players around here that balk over stuff like this, but this is straight pool, and if they want to play it, they should play it right and accept all that comes with it.
Be ruthless. Although I also wholeheartedly agree that you should have fun and stay cheerful. It will make you play better and looser, and in some cases really annoys the competition.
Some good stuff here. The only things that I can think of adding is to take a look around ever 4 or 5 balls. Check the lay of the land to see if anything as changed, if you are where you want to be. If there are 5 balls left on the table, plan out how you will run those 4 balls and get on the fifth for the break ball.
Always look for trouble balls, such as balls that block other shots, balls in difficult positions etc. Plan your outs that way.
The best piece of advice I ever got was "shoot to keep shooting". Of course you want to conserve your break ball, but sometimes you need to go for a plan B. A great break ball is no good to you if your not at the table. Forget about high runs or even just long runs, just win the game. In other words, if playing safe is the best move, do it. Don't let bravado make decisions for you. Personally I would rather win a match with a high run of 20, then lose with a high run of 100.
Always look for trouble balls, such as balls that block other shots, balls in difficult positions etc. Plan your outs that way.
The best piece of advice I ever got was "shoot to keep shooting". Of course you want to conserve your break ball, but sometimes you need to go for a plan B. A great break ball is no good to you if your not at the table. Forget about high runs or even just long runs, just win the game. In other words, if playing safe is the best move, do it. Don't let bravado make decisions for you. Personally I would rather win a match with a high run of 20, then lose with a high run of 100.
Identify your trouble balls as soon as you get to the table and everytime you break a cluster. Make a plan to deal with the trouble balls as soon as logically possible. That does not mean immediately at the risk of missing a shot. It means identify a pattern that will lead you to a solution as soon as possible. Trouble balls are balls on the rails near the side pockets, secondary clusters, balls that block the path to pockets.
Whenever possible, leave an safety ball when you go into a cluster. If that means bumping a ball nearer a pocket to set up a safety ball, it's worth it. I have seen so many runs stopped because a player gets tied up breaking clusters. So try to keep your ball free of other balls and off the rails. However, as a general rule, avoid hitting other balls unless you have a need to.
Manufacture more than one break ball and/or key ball. In a perfect world we'd never blow position or lose a critical angle. But that isn't how it works in real life. Keep your options open as long as possible.
Never, never, never think while in your shooting stance. Before you bend down, have all your thinking done and a clear idea of where you want the cueball to end up. If you are thinking of your patterns or how to achieve shape or anything else, you can miss of the simplest shots.
For a practice drill, throw 5-6 balls on the table and run them out to a break shot. Before you begin to shoot, plan your run from the break shot backward. This is the time to really think and study. Don't worry if you miss or miss shape. But if you miss a difficult shot or have to run the cueball around to get position, question why. This exercise is predicated on visualizing and thinking. Think patterns and find the simplest way out. Try to minimize cueball movement for the final few shots. Ideally you'd want to find a pattern that allows a series of stop shots to your breakshot. It's not always possible, but it's a worthy goal.
Lastly, though straight pool is a marvelously complex game, it is not nuclear physics. So keep it simple. Planning 3 balls ahead is usually plenty enough. Prioritize your problems and take care of one at a time. I like to formulate a plan for 3-4 shots, then think only of executing--shot and position; shot and position; shot and position. Then think out your next plan, and repeat--shot and position ... Before you know it, you'll be at your breakshot and all you've had to worry about is a 3 ball run.
Whenever possible, leave an safety ball when you go into a cluster. If that means bumping a ball nearer a pocket to set up a safety ball, it's worth it. I have seen so many runs stopped because a player gets tied up breaking clusters. So try to keep your ball free of other balls and off the rails. However, as a general rule, avoid hitting other balls unless you have a need to.
Manufacture more than one break ball and/or key ball. In a perfect world we'd never blow position or lose a critical angle. But that isn't how it works in real life. Keep your options open as long as possible.
Never, never, never think while in your shooting stance. Before you bend down, have all your thinking done and a clear idea of where you want the cueball to end up. If you are thinking of your patterns or how to achieve shape or anything else, you can miss of the simplest shots.
For a practice drill, throw 5-6 balls on the table and run them out to a break shot. Before you begin to shoot, plan your run from the break shot backward. This is the time to really think and study. Don't worry if you miss or miss shape. But if you miss a difficult shot or have to run the cueball around to get position, question why. This exercise is predicated on visualizing and thinking. Think patterns and find the simplest way out. Try to minimize cueball movement for the final few shots. Ideally you'd want to find a pattern that allows a series of stop shots to your breakshot. It's not always possible, but it's a worthy goal.
Lastly, though straight pool is a marvelously complex game, it is not nuclear physics. So keep it simple. Planning 3 balls ahead is usually plenty enough. Prioritize your problems and take care of one at a time. I like to formulate a plan for 3-4 shots, then think only of executing--shot and position; shot and position; shot and position. Then think out your next plan, and repeat--shot and position ... Before you know it, you'll be at your breakshot and all you've had to worry about is a 3 ball run.
I too am brand new to straight pool.All everyone plays in this town (at a competitive level) is nine ball.We also have some 8 ball leagues which are primarily filled with recreational players. Other than that this town has 3 or 4 reguliar one pocket players and that's it.
Just yesterday I had my friend a game of straight pool and ran out the last 6 balls to win by a very close score of 100-98.The pressure i felt on running out the 6 needed balls was felt on every shot. I twas so exctitng for us that we bothed high fived after the match and said how much fun we had.My high run was only 18 and he answered it immediatly a small 14.Although the runs were small, our experience is next to nil so I'm quite confident those number will improve.
I think knowledge of knowing what(juice) to put on the cue ball for pack breakouts is very important.Depending where the cue ball lies (before the breakout shot)will determine what english is needed to reposistion the cue ball(and not scratch) and where to attack the weakest part of the re-rack.
My friend and I tend to blast into the pack hard, while I've noticed that the pros will often break the pack open several times in a runout with smaller breakouts.This no doubt enables them to keep the cue ball under control.
Playing some straight has given me renewed intrest in pool because I was starting to get bored of nine ball.
RJ
Just yesterday I had my friend a game of straight pool and ran out the last 6 balls to win by a very close score of 100-98.The pressure i felt on running out the 6 needed balls was felt on every shot. I twas so exctitng for us that we bothed high fived after the match and said how much fun we had.My high run was only 18 and he answered it immediatly a small 14.Although the runs were small, our experience is next to nil so I'm quite confident those number will improve.
I think knowledge of knowing what(juice) to put on the cue ball for pack breakouts is very important.Depending where the cue ball lies (before the breakout shot)will determine what english is needed to reposistion the cue ball(and not scratch) and where to attack the weakest part of the re-rack.
My friend and I tend to blast into the pack hard, while I've noticed that the pros will often break the pack open several times in a runout with smaller breakouts.This no doubt enables them to keep the cue ball under control.
Playing some straight has given me renewed intrest in pool because I was starting to get bored of nine ball.
RJ
rackmsuckr said:
Linda,
If you want, you can post that message in its entirety in this thread. I believe I have already posted most of that information on this forum. Here is a snippet from a post I made recently on another forum. I believe it would fit in nicely in this thread also.
My take on straight pool:
Each run is shot 1 shot at a time. In straight pool, poor decisions made earlier in the rack can come back to haunt you at the end of the rack. I follow a very simple method, which is to maintain good table management, and to especially pay attention to my patterns. Many runs end due to these reasons:
1) missing a shot
2) Poor table management
3) Not dealing with clusters and problem balls effectively
4) Trying to do too much on the break shot - or poor result after the break shot
There is no special formula to get into triple digits, the best advice I ever got was from Jimmy Rempe, who said, "Don't miss."
Just take it one shot at a time, one rack at a time, and remember to re-read the rack after each and every shot. Maintain control of the table by remaining in your comfort zone. I always set up break shots that are high percentage. Many players try to do too much, or leave themselves shots they are unfamiliar with. Practice your break shots, and also practice setting up primary and secondary break shots, breaking up clusters, and pocketing balls cleanly.
In closing, remember that 14.1 is NOT 9 ball. I see a lot of younger players trying to zing the cue ball all over the table and playing straight pool like it IS 9 ball. My cue ball doesn't travel very much at all during the rack, and I usually stay in the same area of the table, as shown in the below diagram.
mapman72 said:
Mapman,
I have 2 pieces of advice for you:
1. DON'T DRAW ME IN THE TOURNAMENT TOMORROW!
2. Williebetmore said it, others said it, blackjack said it, Jim Rempe said it...
Don't miss the ball you are shooting at!
For the level of tourney we will have tomorrow, you will probably have about 10 reasonable offensive opportunites. I will predict that 8 of those opportunities will slip away due to a missed fairly easy shot. The amount of mental concentration to make lots of balls without thinking about cue ball outcomes is phenomenal. Master that and you'll win some matches. 9 ball is almost all execution once you see patterns well. Straight pool is a constant brain switch between analyzing and execution. Soooo many patterns.
And by the way... what do you mean no one plays straight pool? We have a weekly Wednesday night league at Bill & Billies with about 40 players. The sessions are about 4 months long with about 15 matches. You'll learn a lot in just your first 3 or 4 matches. I'm in my 4th session now.
Andy
Williebetmore said:Map,
I am certainly not a great player (unless of course you are judging by enthusiasm only
The Number One Rule is MAKE THE BALL YOU ARE SHOOTING. Do not let thoughts of position or match outcome IN ANY WAY distract you from the job of pocketing the ball at hand. You will lose many more games by missing a ball than you will by missing position. Be RELENTLESS in your adherence to your pre-shot routine and mechanics on EVERY shot, no matter how easy it may appear. Every shot should be taken the same way, whether it is early or late in the match. Do this, and you are already ahead of most of your opponents.
Avoid any and all low percentage shots (play safe instead). Avoid any and all sequences that involve 2 or 3 "80 percent shots" in a row. Avoid ANY thoughts of high runs. If you think a break shot is too tough, then just play safe (or pot it and then play safe if it's too tough to get into the rack). Learn and position yourself for the side of the rack safety that gives you an 80% chance of winning the resulting safety battle. Avoid the top of the rack and bottom of the rack safeties that give you only a 50% chance of winning the resulting battle.
Do NOT get discouraged if you hit a rough patch. Almost all mortal players will lose their stroke for a few innings here and there. If you handle it with equanimity you are a step ahead of an opponent who doesn't. Don't get discouraged in any way if your opponent is cleaning up an easy rack - it's a long game and you will have your chance.
When its late in a long close game; rely completely on your mechanics with NO thoughts of outcome or penalties for missing. Choose ONLY sequences that end with you running out the game with all easy shots or end with you playing a planned safety; at this stage of the game, pressure is very high and you want only easy shots. Oh yes, and I might have mentioned before, have fun (you are playing the game of champions), stay always cheerful (this disturbs some opponents, but you don't really care) and POCKET THAT FREAKING BALL.
P.S. - if SJM disagrees with any of this, listen to him instead.
Solid advice. Willie. Next time I see you, I'll teach you some bottom of the rack safeties that give you much better than a 50% chance to prevail in the resulting safety battle.