What counts as a "high run"?

md5key

md5key

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
When trying to break your high run does it have to be off of a break shot?

For instance, if my high run was currently 10 and I broke, ran 5, then ran 30 after that, would the 30 count since it wasn't directly off a break shot?

I'm not good enough at stringing racks together to really worry about it, but in anticipation of getting to that point I'd like to know what counts and what doesn't :wink:
 
Hi md5key. When the term "run" is used in straight pool, it does refer to a continuous pocketing of balls without a miss. That includes the process of stringing racks. So, in order for the first five balls to be a part of your next thirty in a single run, the fifth ball would have had to open the subsequent rack, and once again, in fact to reach that thirty number. :)

But on a side note, if you ran 5 ball, broke and ran 15, broke and ran another 15, even without connecting the racks, thats nothing to sneeze at either! :)
 
Ok, so it doesn't matter at which point in the rack the run started. That's what I wanted to know.

My high run is only 15, so like I said I have a while until this question really applies to me :)

Thanks!
 
Also, I would say it should be in an actual game. My high is 29 set in a game with my son about 35 years ago. That was on my home table, an 8 ft. Brunswick VIP. The best I have done since was a 25 in a practice session on that same table. My best on a 9 ft. is 21.

I sure would like to hit 30 before my last rack but I turned 82 yesterday and its not getting easier. But I'm not giving up.

Dave Nelson
 
most folks on here will count from a break shot if playing alone (practice), and from the start of turn in competition.

me, i'll take 'em any way i can get 'em, so it's 'start of turn' every time for me :D

-s
 
When I was practicing alone, I used to count a run as consecutive balls made so it could start from any point in the rack. It is also good to have a distinction between high run in practice (mine is 59) and high run in a match (mine is 50). But the best gauge of improvement at running balls is not the actual high but trying to consistently score when you are in the balls. i.e your AVERAGE run/rack. In the 14.1 qualifier, I made a 41 and a few 30s which would satisfy me more that making a 'fluke' 65.
 
hobokenapa said:
When I was practicing alone, I used to count a run as consecutive balls made so it could start from any point in the rack. It is also good to have a distinction between high run in practice (mine is 59) and high run in a match (mine is 50). But the best gauge of improvement at running balls is not the actual high but trying to consistently score when you are in the balls. i.e your AVERAGE run/rack. In the 14.1 qualifier, I made a 41 and a few 30s which would satisfy me more that making a 'fluke' 65.
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Good points, and good post. (also some good numbers in there, especially in a tournament setting)

I'll start counting from anywhere, as long as the start of the run was legit. In other words, I won't let myself just throw the first 15 balls out on the table, or even just take a few whacks at breaking up the pack without regard to making the balls and playing position. I have to get to my starting point through legitimate 14.1 play. After that, any run is fair game in my book.
 
md5key said:
Ok, so it doesn't matter at which point in the rack the run started. That's what I wanted to know.

My high run is only 15, so like I said I have a while until this question really applies to me :)

Thanks!
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Oh, and if you can run 15, then you've already connected 2 racks and you're probably closer to 30 than you think.
 
spoons said:
Oh, and if you can run 15, then you've already connected 2 racks and you're probably closer to 30 than you think.
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That run started at the break.. The first 14 went in pretty easily, then on the break ball I was setup better than I had ever done before. Pocketed the break ball in the corner, spread out the rack, and the damn cue ball snuggled right into the middle of a cluster. Ended up having no shot other than a cross-side bank shooting over a couple of balls.

Played today and couldn't run more than 10 :rolleyes:
 
Been there...more times than I'd like to remember. The reason I say you're closer than you might think is personal experience. I just started getting into straight pool this summer, and I ran a 30 for the first time a couple weeks ago. I usually struggle to run 15-20 (I keep hitting those darned break balls too hard). If you've gotten that second rack open before, then you'll do it again. Just keep at it.

And keep hanging around this forum. I've learned a TON just by reading and asking questions.
 
Dave Nelson said:
Also, I would say it should be in an actual game. My high is 29 set in a game with my son about 35 years ago. That was on my home table, an 8 ft. Brunswick VIP. The best I have done since was a 25 in a practice session on that same table. My best on a 9 ft. is 21.

I sure would like to hit 30 before my last rack but I turned 82 yesterday and its not getting easier. But I'm not giving up.

Dave Nelson
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Dave, nah .... I think counting it when you are practicing is a run never the less.

But ... I don't think it should count unless it's on a 9' table. :eek:

No no, I'm just joking with you. Running balls on smaller tables can actually present problems that would never exist on bigger tables. It's all good! :)

ps God bless you at age 82 still knocken em in! I'm only 56 and my brain starts turning to mush should I approach a 50 ball run ... LOL.

My high is 78 but my most fun run of all was in a game I had to spot 60 balls to 100 in and was losing 97 to 36 which was actually losing even :) and when my opponent jawed his 98th ball I ran 64 and out on him. It was a big 10 dollar match, and we laughed and laughed about it for the longest time whenever we ran across each other. It's all good fun! :)
 
Dave Nelson said:
I turned 82 yesterday and its not getting easier. But I'm not giving up.

Dave Nelson
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Very cool. You're even older than Sailor!! :thumbup:

I'm bettin on you to make 30 and I don't care if it's in practice or a game. I'll count it if you do it. :thumbup2: :groucho: :yes:
 
Deciding when and if to count runs on anything other than pocketing consecutive balls is very arbitrary.

Not counting practice runs has two big problems, doesn't it? The first is that, for many people, it is much more difficult to focus during practice than a match, so to them it is much harder anyway. Why wouldn?t you count it if it?s harder? To those who would respond ?Well, maybe it?s harder to you, but not to everyone?, I would counter with ?So what? Maybe I am less nervous than you in a match condition, why should I have an advantage then in counting my high run??

The second problem is much more a logistical one ? for better players, their high runs are over 150, so their high runs are going to have to be done in practice.

Finally, I?ve said this before, but I think it makes sense. Put two top players in one room, playing a race to 1,000 against each other. Put a third player in another room by himself, playing until he pockets 1,000 balls. If anyone thinks that the higher runs will come from the practicer, I think you are going to be in the minority on that one.

- Steve
 
Steve Lipsky said:
Deciding when and if to count runs on anything other than pocketing consecutive balls is very arbitrary.

Not counting practice runs has two big problems, doesn't it? The first is that, for many people, it is much more difficult to focus during practice than a match, so to them it is much harder anyway. Why wouldn?t you count it if it?s harder? To those who would respond ?Well, maybe it?s harder to you, but not to everyone?, I would counter with ?So what? Maybe I am less nervous than you in a match condition, why should I have an advantage then in counting my high run??

The second problem is much more a logistical one ? for better players, their high runs are over 150, so their high runs are going to have to be done in practice.

Finally, I?ve said this before, but I think it makes sense. Put two top players in one room, playing a race to 1,000 against each other. Put a third player in another room by himself, playing until he pockets 1,000 balls. If anyone thinks that the higher runs will come from the practicer, I think you are going to be in the minority on that one.

- Steve
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Steve, I couldn't agree with you more. I can't put my mind to running balls while practicing for all the tea in China. I get through a few racks (if I'm lucky) and I start stabbing at easy shots with one hand, applying ridiculous amounts of english to a shot just to see if I can get away with it.

I have a table in my basement and we use it more for folding clothes than playing pool on.

There is no doubt that when someone is shooting back at you, your focus on playing is much easier to maintain.
 
spoons said:
Oh, and if you can run 15, then you've already connected 2 racks and you're probably closer to 30 than you think.
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that's just what i was thinking. making the break shot and continuing with the run is the hardest part (for me at least)
 
Dave Nelson said:
Also, I would say it should be in an actual game. My high is 29 set in a game with my son about 35 years ago. That was on my home table, an 8 ft. Brunswick VIP. The best I have done since was a 25 in a practice session on that same table. My best on a 9 ft. is 21.

I sure would like to hit 30 before my last rack but I turned 82 yesterday and its not getting easier. But I'm not giving up.

Dave Nelson
Click to expand...

You go man. I know you got it in you so keep on stroking.
 
Your run starts whenever you start hitting balls so it doesn't matter if you start on the first ball of a rack or the last.

On a side note, and I hope people see this. Here in Japan when we gamble on straight pool my friends and I usually play a bet of 5 bucks a game and 50 bucks for a high run. Now, that high run isn't whoever gets the highest run, it's running a total number of balls that equal more than half of your goal. So, if you're playing to 100 points you would need to run at least 51 to get the cheese for the high run. To this day we have never had to pay for the high run. hehe!!
MULLY
 
I usually practice 8 ball at lunch. (I'll play both stripes and solids) Today I finished a rack of 8 ball (barbox) and there was one ball on the table I left it where it lay and racked the other 14. Pocketed the ball and ran 23! It was most satisfying to leave a good break ball for the second rack, pocket it and open the pack up. I couldn't do better than 10 the rest of the lunch break (about 2 hrs of play) but it wasa thrilling to pocket 23 in a row. I think I have a new lunchtime game.

:grin-square:
 
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