What do you feel is the toughest pool game to master, and why
- Thread starter CocoboloCowboy
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Bank pool then 1 pocket. In 1 pocket your brain has to keep going nonstop thinking, Careful not to sell out a shot to your opponent, do you play that teaser shot shape for your opponent hoping he/she sells out. Alot of strategy in one pocket, followed closely by straight pool.
Here's how I see it. Certain games are harder not because of the knowledge needed, but because of the cue ball control needed.....wait Ghost and all you other 1holers! 
....keep reading.
9ball (the game I learned first) is easiest IMO because you can have a loose cue ball and still get "area" position and run out. Safeties can also not be perfect, but work none the less.
14.1 (I learned 2nd) is next hardest IMO because the cue ball needs to be on a short leash. Yes the shots are mostly short, but you better be able to stop the cue ball on the correct side of the shot! MOST good players can learn 14.1 in a relatively short period of time from A GREAT 14.1 PLAYER. An excellent teacher will get you up to speed if you can already pocket balls well.
1 Pocket (I learned last) is the hardest for most because there are times when you need to set the cue ball EXACTLY on a spot or you sell out. Also the more creative/abstract your mind the easier the game is. This game also requires you to go from "safety" mode to "fire away" mode from 1 shot to the next which can be tough. Kind of like getting hit with a big number at 14.1 then having to get up and run balls! There are all aspects of every other game in 1hole....banks, patterns, billiards, shot making, safeties, kicks......no wonder Efren rules that world huh!
....keep reading. 9ball (the game I learned first) is easiest IMO because you can have a loose cue ball and still get "area" position and run out. Safeties can also not be perfect, but work none the less.
14.1 (I learned 2nd) is next hardest IMO because the cue ball needs to be on a short leash. Yes the shots are mostly short, but you better be able to stop the cue ball on the correct side of the shot! MOST good players can learn 14.1 in a relatively short period of time from A GREAT 14.1 PLAYER. An excellent teacher will get you up to speed if you can already pocket balls well.
1 Pocket (I learned last) is the hardest for most because there are times when you need to set the cue ball EXACTLY on a spot or you sell out. Also the more creative/abstract your mind the easier the game is. This game also requires you to go from "safety" mode to "fire away" mode from 1 shot to the next which can be tough. Kind of like getting hit with a big number at 14.1 then having to get up and run balls! There are all aspects of every other game in 1hole....banks, patterns, billiards, shot making, safeties, kicks......no wonder Efren rules that world huh!
perfectpocketz
Banned
I think in my mind any game that does not show you what ball to shoot next is
extremely hard playing to some what perfection.
That's why we call them champions!!!!!!!!!!
Don't let me miss lead you. All games are tough under pressure.
I just think a lot of shots players shoot are according to their abilities under pressure.
Great friend of mine Tony Ellin would always say it's how you handle
the pressure!!!!!!!
One pocket, you can duck or you can play the hard shot that will cause
perfect cue ball control. (WHAT SHOT DO YOU SHOOT??????)
That's what makes chosen your own shots in any game that's not a
rotation game are the hardest to play. Mark Gregory
extremely hard playing to some what perfection.
That's why we call them champions!!!!!!!!!!
Don't let me miss lead you. All games are tough under pressure.
I just think a lot of shots players shoot are according to their abilities under pressure.
Great friend of mine Tony Ellin would always say it's how you handle
the pressure!!!!!!!
One pocket, you can duck or you can play the hard shot that will cause
perfect cue ball control. (WHAT SHOT DO YOU SHOOT??????)
That's what makes chosen your own shots in any game that's not a
rotation game are the hardest to play. Mark Gregory
Aside from 9 ball and 10 ball which are the same game. These two games require good ball pocketing ability and cue ball movement.
All the other games are different animals. I would say that all the other games have their own difficulties.
I probably would pick one pocket and banks as the hardest. One pocket because it requires the proficiency of all the other games and banks because it changes so much from table to table and room conditions change the playability of the tables from day to day.
All the other games are different animals. I would say that all the other games have their own difficulties.
I probably would pick one pocket and banks as the hardest. One pocket because it requires the proficiency of all the other games and banks because it changes so much from table to table and room conditions change the playability of the tables from day to day.
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Gerry said:Here's how I see it. Certain games are harder not because of the knowledge needed, but because of the cue ball control needed.....wait Ghost and all you other 1holers!
9ball (the game I learned first) is easiest IMO because you can have a loose cue ball and still get "area" position and run out. Safeties can also not be perfect, but work none the less.
14.1 (I learned 2nd) is next hardest IMO because the cue ball needs to be on a short leash. Yes the shots are mostly short, but you better be able to stop the cue ball on the correct side of the shot! MOST good players can learn 14.1 in a relatively short period of time from A GREAT 14.1 PLAYER. An excellent teacher will get you up to speed if you can already pocket balls well.
1 Pocket (I learned last) is the hardest for most because there are times when you need to set the cue ball EXACTLY on a spot or you sell out. Also the more creative/abstract your mind the easier the game is. This game also requires you to go from "safety" mode to "fire away" mode from 1 shot to the next which can be tough. Kind of like getting hit with a big number at 14.1 then having to get up and run balls! There are all aspects of every other game in 1hole....banks, patterns, billiards, shot making, safeties, kicks......no wonder Efren rules that world huh!
Gerry, I see that you and most others feel that one pocket is the hardest game to play well. It has not been that way for me and I think it is different for each person.
I grew up playing 8 ball on bar tables and a little 6 ball and a little kelly pool all on bar tables. When I moved back to New Orleans after several years in Jackson, MS, I started playing on 9 foot tables and immediately started playing one pocket. It was an easy game for me. No frustration, no disgust. I took the lessons in stride and excelled at the game from day one. At first most of the people who played one pocket had to give me weight to match up with me but it didn't take long for them to learn not to give up too much weight. At first, my game went up about a ball a month, then it slowed to a ball better every 3 months, then one ball every 6 months and finally my game seems to have leveled out and I see some improvement but only in my ball running ability.
In 9 Ball, I struggle to play it consistently well and often wondered why. I think some people simply play some games better than others because they have an aptitude for that particular game and they like it. When I look at a one pocket layout, it just seems so natural as to what shot is the best shot or only shot that should be taken and others who play 9 ball & banks far better than I do, look puzzled and frazzled but it is not because it is the hardest but because they either don't like it or don't play it often.
9 Ball seems to be more of an athletic game and one pocket seems to be more of a cerebral game. Maybe some people are just better suited aptitude wise for playing certain styled games.
JoeyA
I think it depends what you consider mastering is.
I like 1P and all, but learning to move well is not as tough as putting a run of 150 or more up on the board. With 1P, you can two-rail a ball close to your pocket and it's considered a good shot (assuming a good leave). In 14.1, you have to put the big runs up.
This is a good debate - we all have our opinions. I think 1P and 14.1 and the obvious answers. It's all in who you ask. For me, I've run countless racks of 1P...and I've never run more than a 100 in 14.1 and it's all I play.
Would be interesting to see what others say.
I like 1P and all, but learning to move well is not as tough as putting a run of 150 or more up on the board. With 1P, you can two-rail a ball close to your pocket and it's considered a good shot (assuming a good leave). In 14.1, you have to put the big runs up.
This is a good debate - we all have our opinions. I think 1P and 14.1 and the obvious answers. It's all in who you ask. For me, I've run countless racks of 1P...and I've never run more than a 100 in 14.1 and it's all I play.
Would be interesting to see what others say.
