Wanting to learn how to play Straight Pool Correctly

fsarfino

fsarfino

♔ ♕ ♖ ♗ ♘ ♙
I'm looking for some resources online that can teach me the basics of this game. I've tried practicing it at home by myself and I'm having a horrible time even making a small run of anything over maybe 5 balls.

I'm also thinking of asking a very well known older pro in my area if he could help me get started but I really dont want to ask until I have a general idea of what I'm doing.

Thanks

Frank
 
If you want free, this forum is a great start. I've learned a great deal since being here. Just read through old threads.
Also free is a video of Ray Martin giving a lesson in 14.1 Check out Google videos to find it. Well worth the time.

Instructional DVDs are great too. The ones I like are those of pros talking through their runs. Accustats has Jim Rempe's instructionals. John Schmidt has one he just made that's also great. I haven't seen Danny Harriman's yet, but I'm sure it will be great as well.
There's nothing like watching the best do it. Especially when they explain why their doing it their way.
Also great are Accustats recordings of pro matches. Look for commentators such as Grady Matthews, Danny DiLiberto, Bill Staton, Johnny Ervolino, and Nick Varner for commentators that really know the game.
You could read about 14.1, but I would suggest watching it played and described well.
Welcome to your new addiction.
 
fsarfino said:
I'm looking for some resources online that can teach me the basics of this game. I've tried practicing it at home by myself and I'm having a horrible time even making a small run of anything over maybe 5 balls.

I'm also thinking of asking a very well known older pro in my area if he could help me get started but I really dont want to ask until I have a general idea of what I'm doing.

Thanks

Frank
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If that older pro is Dallas West, you better get over to State and Madison and ask him. :cool:

Actually, though, bluepepper has sound advice. Look at some videos with commentary. Blackjack has done some good commentary recently that is available at his website. Rempe and Sigel both have instructional dvds on 14.1. Grady Matthews does also. All 3 of John Schmidts videos (one is on Accustats) are good. I'm sure Danny's will be good. Dallas West runs 100 on tape with Tom Kollins commentating.

Phil Capelle How to play straight pool right is a must have. The list goes on.
 
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dmgwalsh said:
Rempe and Sigel both have instructional dvds on 14.1. Grady Matthews does also. All 3 of John Schmidts videos (one is on Accustats) are good. I'm sure Danny's will be good. Dallas West runs 100 on tape with Tom Kollins commentating.
.
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Dennis, do you know where to get the Dallas West, Mike Sigel, and Grady Matthews videos? I don't see them around anymore.
 
I'm new, too, and here's what's working for me so far:

Practice practice practice. I'm not really counting balls but just attempting to get the feel for the game. If I miss what I think I should've made, I set it up again and play it again. If I miss again, I reconsider the shot selection, etc. This helps understand the whole shebang.

Read read read. I've pulled out my old books (Fels, Mosconi, Byrne,et al) and have studied the diagrams, this time with 14.1 firmly in my mind. My first trips through these books was mostly just for general pool knowledge. Focusing my thoughts on 14.1 when reading really brings out the value of these experienced writers.

Play play play. I'm playing others who know something about the game while commenting and asking questions (with their permission) during the play.

Write write write. I'm taking notes, putting comments in the books, and posting here a litte, all to cement the concepts in my mind.

Learn learn learn. I also took a lesson from a pro (Danny D.) not caring one bit about 14.1, and THAT jump-started my motivation to learn this crazy game. AND...the lessons I've taken over the last few years to improve my stroke have given me more confidence so those tricky break balls and long saver shots seem much easier to me than they did years ago when 14.1 just frustrated me.

Fun fun fun. If it ain't fun, do something else.

fwiw,

Jeff Livingston
 
bluepepper said:
Dennis, do you know where to get the Dallas West, Mike Sigel, and Grady Matthews videos? I don't see them around anymore.
Click to expand...

http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Ball-...=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=video&qid=1216997635&sr=1-4

grady: http://www.seyberts.com/products/The_Finer_Points_of_Straight_Pool_VHS-2363-239.html

The other Mike Sigel is called Run out Pool and features 8 ball, 9 ball, and 14.1.

The Dallas West 100 ball run is pretty old. Sometimes you can see them on ebay.

Since they are not being sold anymore, What do you think about converting to avi and uploading to google.
 
Hey guys :)

First of all, I would like to say welcome to the new posters in the SP section, it's always great to see more players learning the greatest pool game of all time :)

Right then, the first piece of advice I have to give is to do as much research on the game as possible from a player's point of view, by that I mean;-

- Check out sites like youtube, google video, etc, and search out for straight pool videos, especially those of high runs of 100+ to help make yourself familiar with the various correct ways to running balls that pro players use.

- As Denis said before, check out other videos like Accu-Stats matches and other various instructionals, like Blackjack's video, Jimmy Rempe's or Ray Martin's Straight Pool instructionals, these all have a great welath of info for any newcomer to straight pool.

- Try and take the time to search for old threads in this section of the AZB forum, as there may be alot of info in older threads that you may have missed out on, but could yet prove to be invauluable in becoming a better all round player, especially since there are ALOT of knowledgable players who know quite alot about the ins and outs of straight pool.

- A great book to invest in as "The Straight Pool Bible" by Art "Babe" Cranfield, there is quite a bit of insider info and it also gives a good bit more insight as to how to shoot various break shots, etc.

And finaly, if there is anything that you're not sure about, then all newcomers to straight pool are always welcome to ask about anything that they're not sure about, after all, we're all pool players and it's good to be able to help other players out, especially those who are new to straight pool.


If you're struggling with getting to grips of runing balls, try shooting games of "Equal Offence" in straight pool racks, (By starting off with a standard 14-1 break shot, instead of breaking open a full rack of 15 balls) and instead of aiming for point score of numeric value, just shoot for the ball count this will help you to become more comfortable with the concept of just running balls.

Once you get to the point of consistently running racks, then try working on shooting for longer runs by trying to work through the rack in a way that will leave you a goo SUB, KB and BB, in order to leave yourself good shape on a break shot to continue the run to the next rack.

Also, keep a record of all the runs you get, no matter how big or small and then try on competing with yourself to try and beat your previousruns, this will help you become more determined and also help you to gain better concentration and focus, whilst shooting, which is a must have to be able to shoot straight pool to a great extent :)

I hope that this is of some help and I wish you the very best in learning pool's most demanding game :)

Willie
 
dmgwalsh said:
The Dallas West 100 ball run is pretty old. Sometimes you can see them on ebay.

Since they are not being sold anymore, What do you think about converting to avi and uploading to google.
Click to expand...

I remember a commentator on an Accustats match mentioning that Dallas West only needed 1 take for his 100 ball run video. I've been wanting to see that one for a while now.
 
bluepepper said:
I remember a commentator on an Accustats match mentioning that Dallas West only needed 1 take for his 100 ball run video. I've been wanting to see that one for a while now.
Click to expand...

It's pretty good, I have the tape but I've had it so long, I can't for the life of me remember where I got it. Must have ordered it out of one of the pool magazines years ago.
 
bluepepper said:
If you want free, this forum is a great start. I've learned a great deal since being here. Just read through old threads.
Also free is a video of Ray Martin giving a lesson in 14.1 Check out Google videos to find it. Well worth the time.
Click to expand...

Could you post a link to this? All I can find is Martin vs Mathews match.
 
dmgwalsh, You hit the nail right on the head ! Its Dallas West. I went in to his place the other spoke with him for a half an hour or so about pool and some of his experices that he has had through out his many years of playing.

Had a great time overall, I told him that it was a real pleasure it was talking to him and asked him if he was avalible for lessons. While I was there I also expressed my intrest in giving 3 cushion a try. So he points out a old 5x10 brunswick in the corner that I hadnt noticed there, So i ask him if he wasnt busy the next time if he wouldnt mind showing me the basics and of course he tells me no problem.

Overall I'm happy that I went in there and met this fine gentlemen and cant wait to take my first lesson.

The biggest bonus of it all is that his place is about 5 blocks from my house !!
 
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Good on ya' Mate...

chefjeff said:
I'm new, too, and here's what's working for me so far:

Practice practice practice. I'm not really counting balls but just attempting to get the feel for the game. If I miss what I think I should've made, I set it up again and play it again. If I miss again, I reconsider the shot selection, etc. This helps understand the whole shebang.

Read read read. I've pulled out my old books (Fels, Mosconi, Byrne,et al) and have studied the diagrams, this time with 14.1 firmly in my mind. My first trips through these books was mostly just for general pool knowledge. Focusing my thoughts on 14.1 when reading really brings out the value of these experienced writers.

Play play play. I'm playing others who know something about the game while commenting and asking questions (with their permission) during the play.

Write write write. I'm taking notes, putting comments in the books, and posting here a litte, all to cement the concepts in my mind.

Learn learn learn. I also took a lesson from a pro (Danny D.) not caring one bit about 14.1, and THAT jump-started my motivation to learn this crazy game. AND...the lessons I've taken over the last few years to improve my stroke have given me more confidence so those tricky break balls and long saver shots seem much easier to me than they did years ago when 14.1 just frustrated me.

Fun fun fun. If it ain't fun, do something else.

fwiw,

Jeff Livingston
Click to expand...

This is quite possibly the best advice I have ever read on here.

Thanks, Jeff. :thumbup:
 
Str8PoolMan said:
This is quite possibly the best advice I have ever read on here.

Thanks, Jeff. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Those are very kind words....Thank you.

Jeff Livingston
 
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