The Death Of Straight Pool

Alive and kickin'

Kamakiriad said:
Am i the only one that believes that this game died in the 70's? Nobody plays 14.1 anymore except for on the east coast . what the hell happened?

9ball came into prominence in the 70's and i guess that(emergence/popularity) made straight pool take a back seat.

for all intents and purposes ,straight pool is dead .R.I.P.14.1 especially down south .
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If you haven't seen it, it ain't there...

That is the mindset of most players. Back in May or June I "discovered" 14and1.com. After looking into what the man had to say, I went to my local room and started shooting straight pool. I was somewhat rusty and made some really good mistakes. After about two racks I look up and a group of people were watching me and asked what game is that. The light went on and now I have two leagues of 8 people each. I really enjoy watching the "kids" play. I have also been asked when does the next session start for another league. lol I don't think I will be the APA, but I'm going to grow it slow and make it strong.

I think the key is with the junior leagues, not every kid wants to be involved in the contact sports. So, pool is the natural way for the youth to do something to be proud of and know he/she did it themselves.

I would like to thank Kevin Vidal for spending his time and money to support and promote the great game of straight pool. I support him and all his efforts.

BD
 
If you please... sir

Blackjack said:
???

You have to be kidding me. It's not dead at all. Of course it'snot the choice of pool games for the average ESPN viewer, but the game is played everywhere and there is even a resurgance occurring complete with tournaments and leagues.

Anybody that lacks straight pool knowledge is missing a vital ingredient for being a great all around player. Take a visit over to the straight pool section of this forum and you will see that many people are still playing the game on a daily basis and using it to enhance their playing skills.

FWIW, I will be re-publishing one of my books in the next few weeks that that will contain a large volume of straight pool instructional material. Is the game dead? Not by my standards.
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I, too would like to know when your book is ready to go.
Thank you in advance,

BD
 
No, not dead. Just in a coma since 1957. That was the last year Mosconi won a World Championship. Since then there have been sporadic championships that had weak payouts including Johnson City and even the World Championship we had earlier this year.

In California, the game IS dead. Finding a good straight pool game is tough out here. You'd have a better chance of finding Paul Revere riding at Santa Anita racetrack!
 
Straight Pool said:
One place straight pool will always be played primarily is Dallas West's State and Madison Billiards, Rockford, IL. Monthly double elimination tourney to 100 pts. Fortunately for us Dallas doesn't play in it but his son does and often wins. Come on down.
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When are these tournaments? I am from Rockford and am going there in a few minutes to see my parents.

I live in the Chicago area and am in two straight pool leagues, Red Shoes and the Illinois Billiards Club. They use to have tourneys like you say at Cue can do up in Grayslake, but not in a while. Maybe some guys would drive in from the Chicago area to play. Let me know.
 
I want to second everyone else's sentiments. I have always been a fan of 14.1 since I started playing pool, and I have to say I don't think the game has ever been as popular in pool playing circles since I took up the game as it is now. I like to say that the difference in pool games is like the difference in drinks. 9 ball is like beer. It's something that almost everybody can agree on that they like. Straight pool on the other hand is like good scotch. It's an acquired taste, but it's classy, sophisticated and refined. It's a game for a poolplayer's poolplayer.
 
I don't think 9 ball became popular because it is fun. To be successful at 9 ball you have to have great cue ball control. 9 ball is very easy to understand. What is the lowest number ball on the table.... shoot that ball. Not very complicated. 9 ball became very well know because it was a fast paced game suitable for TV. 14.1 is much harder to understand. It is also harder to follow as a spectator. There are often several patterns to play, and you don't know what the player is going to play. Watching 14.1 on TV is very boring unless you are really into the game. A good compromise is 8 ball. I think 8 ball is the most popular game for casual players. It can also be followed on TV. I would like to see more 8 ball.
 
Where I am, I don't think Straight Pool ever died, it was never even conceived! I can't get anyone to play with me, ever. They only play 9 ball here. Once every couple of months I can get someone to play some 8 ball with me. They won't even play 10 ball!!! As for Straights, I just get told it's too boring, or flat out no.
 
The game will never die!

Straight pool will never, can never, die. Not on your life, boys!

As long as there are two pool players playing a game of 14.1, the game won't die.

As long as there are 12 yr olds reading BCA rule books, the curiousity to play the grand old game will still exist.

As long as there are people who take pool seriously, there will always be committed players who are bored with 9 ball.

This game is alive and can never die.

There can be no disagreement unless psychosis induced on this subject

The Woim
 
jay helfert said:
Straight Pool ain't dead. It's just sleeping. :)

Bob Jewett gave it a kiss and it has begun to wake up though.
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And Bob has a great article on Straight Pool in this month's issue of The Break magazine. It sould be on line at www.onthebreaknews.com. The paper version is read by most of the western US players so ---- it ain't dead.
 
JohnnyP said:
$20 entry, $500 added, double elim race to 100 points, open straight pool tourney this weekend at DannyK's.

Practice starts at 10:00 AM, games start at noon.

Contact:
Danny Kuykendall (714) 771-9706
Wayne Norcross (714) 771-9706
Roger Tafoya (714) 776-0295
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I decided to drop in and see if anyone showed up for this tourney and to say Hi to Johnny. I could not believe my eyes when I got there, all 16 tables in the main room were in action, with full racks of balls on each. What was going on here? I'm in California right. They can't spell Straight Pool out here, let alone play it.

I sat for a while in pure amazement, looking around at 14.1 matches everywhere. Who are these guys? Where did they come from? Soon I found out. From San Diego, Riverside, Orange County, Los Angeles and some from even further away. FIFTY players in all! I never in 40 years saw as many players out West for a Straight Pool event. I left a little while ago and headed on home. This is great! 14.1 is enjoying a renaissance. It's been rediscovered.

All I have to say is GOOD JOB BOB! Thanks and a tip of the hat to Danny K, Wayne Norcross, Ron Schneider the T.D. and Robert, the young guy who helped get the word out. I'm still a little stunned. If someone had asked me to bet the over/under, I would have guessed around 20 players. Oh, and nice to meet you Johnny.
 
nobody here plays 14.1. I play with one person and that was someone on here that we hooked up for some 14.1 but we haven't played in a while due to some back problems on his side, so I have no one to play straight pool anymore.

I agree that straight pool is the champion game but at the same time 9-ball requires a certain stroke for long distance shot...especially back spin straight in the whole lenght.
 
straight pool is currently enjoying a rennisance in the US. Steadily over the last two years, more people have been playing this game since the late 70's. Of course, in Europe, 14.1 is the foundation for most players, from begginers to the top pros in the world.

There are many reasons for the rise in this games popularity, despite the lack of interest networks have in ever televising it again. As long as people continue playing pool, straight pool will at the very least, maintain its popularity amongst many players.

Rg
 
str8 pool

Come on by tomorrow Jay! Good to see you and they will start the nine ball tourney at 1:00. You have 20 min after your wake up time to enter (:eek: ). I will need some moral support for my match on the winners side against Frank! My thanks to Wayne and Frank for not being discouraged teaching a thick headed student such as myself. I love the game and will play anytime you want to spot me Jay! Best of everything, Kent
 
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KD Cues said:
Come on by tomorrow Jay! Good to see you and they will start the nine ball tourney at 1:00. You have 20 min after your wake up time to enter (:eek: ). I will need some moral support for my match on the winners side against Frank! Kent
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Not only does Kent Davis make superb cues, he can play a little too. I watched part of his match with Ernie Rivas from San Diego, a good player. Kent played hard and fair, and was a good sport. Same for Ernie. Straight Pool seems to bring out the dignity in players. It's nice to see a gentlemen's contest.
 
jay helfert said:
I decided to drop in and see if anyone showed up for this tourney and to say Hi to Johnny. I could not believe my eyes when I got there, all 16 tables in the main room were in action, with full racks of balls on each. What was going on here? I'm in California right. They can't spell Straight Pool out here, let alone play it.

I sat for a while in pure amazement, looking around at 14.1 matches everywhere. Who are these guys? Where did they come from? Soon I found out. From San Diego, Riverside, Orange County, Los Angeles and some from even further away. FIFTY players in all! I never in 40 years saw as many players out West for a Straight Pool event. I left a little while ago and headed on home. This is great! 14.1 is enjoying a renaissance. It's been rediscovered.

All I have to say is GOOD JOB BOB! Thanks and a tip of the hat to Danny K, Wayne Norcross, Ron Schneider the T.D. and Robert, the young guy who helped get the word out. I'm still a little stunned. If someone had asked me to bet the over/under, I would have guessed around 20 players. Oh, and nice to meet you Johnny.
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You are absolutely right about this. I'll have to take back what I said earlier in this thread about 14.1 in CA. Everyone I talked to seemed to enjoy the event. Let's have another one!
 
Straight Pool in Sac-Town .....

Straight Pool is played on a daily basis (with varying skill levels) at The Jointed Cue in Sacramento ... Many of the regular 9-Ball Players are now playing 14-1 most every day, along with the ever-present Singles, Doubles, and Ring-Game 9-Balls Matches ... One Pocket is another Favorite at the JC ... Come on down for some stimulating Pool and stay for the Fantastic Hamburgers, Fries, & Milkshakes ... Seeya there !!!
 
jay helfert said:
I decided to drop in and see if anyone showed up for this tourney and to say Hi to Johnny. I could not believe my eyes when I got there, all 16 tables in the main room were in action, with full racks of balls on each. What was going on here? I'm in California right. They can't spell Straight Pool out here, let alone play it.

I sat for a while in pure amazement, looking around at 14.1 matches everywhere. Who are these guys? Where did they come from? Soon I found out. From San Diego, Riverside, Orange County, Los Angeles and some from even further away. FIFTY players in all! I never in 40 years saw as many players out West for a Straight Pool event. I left a little while ago and headed on home. This is great! 14.1 is enjoying a renaissance. It's been rediscovered.

All I have to say is GOOD JOB BOB! Thanks and a tip of the hat to Danny K, Wayne Norcross, Ron Schneider the T.D. and Robert, the young guy who helped get the word out. I'm still a little stunned. If someone had asked me to bet the over/under, I would have guessed around 20 players. Oh, and nice to meet you Johnny.
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To say the least, it was fun watching 9-ball players out of their element in this 14.1 tourney. Inexperience with the game showed up often - a lot of questionable pattern play, inefficient breaking of clusters, standard safeties being misplayed, etc. That was what I saw yesterday. It was likely better today. That's OK though because when we have more of these tournaments, these boys are gonna get the hang of this game and amaze us all.
 
Just joined 14and1.com

It,s not dead with me, and never will be ! I don't care if the whole world
is playing something else. The game is just Great. I just joined 14AND1.com,
and I hope more people take an interest. The sport of pool, is not always
about the money.
 
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