Which ONE GAME gives you the most versatility?
- Thread starter jsp
- Start date
to answer the original question.....
I think that a game everyone so far has overlooked is GOLF....
Think about it. You have to be able to play to a specific pocket, (1P)
Most importantly you have to know how to not sell out...
You have to learn excellent speed control and cueball control...
You have to be able to make the shot whenever the opportunity arises.
And you have to be able to play multiple rail banks accurately.
Plus, almost everytime you play there's going to be something on the game so you get the experience of playing with something on the line.
I think that a game everyone so far has overlooked is GOLF....
Think about it. You have to be able to play to a specific pocket, (1P)
Most importantly you have to know how to not sell out...
You have to learn excellent speed control and cueball control...
You have to be able to make the shot whenever the opportunity arises.
And you have to be able to play multiple rail banks accurately.
Plus, almost everytime you play there's going to be something on the game so you get the experience of playing with something on the line.
Jaden said:
Only problem is.........ALOT of people never heard of the game. I never knew what Golf was til coming on this board a couple years back, and still have never played it.
I did forget to mention Snooker....that is a great game to practice. I used to play about 5 hours a week on a 6x12, then go to a GC and think it was a joke. The pockets looked like 5 gallon buckets, and there were no long shots!
OK....here's the answer....in my next life I"m going to learn to play straight pool and rotation on a snooker table!
Gerry
Jaden said:
Golf on a snooker table with pockets that will barely fit a ball is probably one of the hardest games to learn and play. But, I completely disagree with your observation that it will make you a better player at other games. The best golf players are from Mexico, and alot of them are in SoCal. I have visited alot of poolhalls out there, and witnessed alot of golf action. I got to see one of the best golf players in the west coast (and in the world probably), and he also plays pool. He wasn't a very good pool player. In fact, most of the really good golf players are not very good pool players. Golf is a game of speed control and moves. You don't need to be a shotmaker to play it well.
Williebetmore said:Hey Woody,
I heard the same funny story from Mark. When I mentioned this to Efren, he agreed, but then said after 2 or 3 weeks, NOBODY wanted even action (well, except Efren) once Mark had figured out the tables (remember most were OUTSIDE, with leaves, dirt, twigs, humidity, etc. - real traps for the uninitiated).
P.S. - They weren't just lining up to play him, they were following him to his hotel also.
I remember him saying they were all asking him what time he would be back the next day LOL.
This makes me want to go see Mark again so I can listen to more of his great stories
Jaden said:
...and you have to stay awake while you and your opponent(s) play safe after safe after safe until you lag a ball close to your pocket when one of the other mofo's at the table will knock it away.
Then again, maybe I've just never witnessed a very skilled golf game.
I only play 3 Cushion but I would have to say One Pocket has to be the one that would challenge you in all facets. Kicking banking cueball control long and short soft and hard safety play. the game has it all. Too bad most pool tables aren't made to comply with most diamond systems. A little 3 cushion on the side would help but that would be a second game. Had to say it.
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sjm said:
I think he means that there are many more diamonds on billiards tables than on pool tables, and there are extremely accurate diamond systems used on billiards tables (like +2), that are not as accurate on pool tables since the rails and cloth on pool tables do not have a set standard and thus the many variables in conditions on pool tables makes diamond systems not nearly as accurate as on billiards tables, which are all built to play similar to one another (the high quality heated tables). Sorry for the run-on sentence, I'm tired.
You're right. This wasn't a cut on pool. I have deep respect for the game and should play more of it but I just prefer 3C and pool ruins my 3C stroke. I just think pool table manufacturers don't build their tables with much thought on accuracy. This isn't 100% true but the most popular tables play 1/2 diamond (or more) short with the simple 5 system. Most tables made by one certain manufacturer play reasonably close given the same model. Such as Gold Crowns all play close to themselves but why do they play different to Diamond or Vitali or Schmidtt or any of the othes? They all play a lot different than each other. I'm not talking about subtleties. If I miss a kick on a plus 2 or simple 5 system shot by 1/2 diamond or more, something aint right given I remember how to add and subtract. Look, isn't the game hard enough without having to learn how all the different manufacturers tables play. Try this, Shoot the classic 2 or 3 rail cross side shot where the balls line up with the side pockets. Shoot it on a Gold Crown then go to a Schmidtt and then whatever other table and notice the difference. I like to pick on Brunswick since they used to own the market and had at one time the most knowledge of how to build a table. After WWll they seemed to loose interest and after all their records burned they never recovered. I've never played on a Gold Crown 3 Cushion table that was accurate to any system other than maybe the bisecting angle system. There's several reasons for this such as rail rubber selection, table weight, rail height .... So not all 3C tables are born equal either. Most European 3C table play reasonably close although. Getting back to the original question I see more kicks and banks in One Pocket than other games and is the main reason I picked this as the allround game. Wouldn't it be nice that these shots worked to some kind of system other than experience with a given table?cuetechasaurus said:
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If I had to pick one game I would pick 9 ball. Helps with break consistency (in 9 ball only of course), Ball pocketing, position, safties... seems to help with everything.
play them all
There's too much diversity in the skills required to compete in the different games. I say if you want to be tops in any game you need to play them all as much as possible. Regardless of the game you end up playing, it's the all around skills that will eventually pay off.
There's too much diversity in the skills required to compete in the different games. I say if you want to be tops in any game you need to play them all as much as possible. Regardless of the game you end up playing, it's the all around skills that will eventually pay off.
Not having played enough rotation to form an opinion on it, I'd say straight-pool. Hardly any of the American players of this generation grew up playing straight pool, so it isn't really fair to use today's dominance by Filipino players as a basis for a "straight-pool vs. rotation" discussion. Efren has said that Sigel was his toughest opponent. I'm not suggesting that Sigel was the better player (that's a completely different debate and I'd be in Efren's corner in that one anyway), but Sigel's tournament record at the time of his retirement was better than Efren's.
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This post was about versatility and not which game teaches you how to play pool the best. With that in mind I'd have to change a game little before saying it. "A very aggressive game of One Pocket". Take away some of the safeties with a little more go for it and I think One Pocket would make you the most versatile. Main reason is banking. If people were more versatile and knew they could make a bank shot when the needed to the other games would be entirely different. Maybe, I don't know.......
14.1, without a doubt.
creativity is a strong weapon in one pocket, but you rarely shoot, slap balls around every 15 seconds, and bank alot.
straight pool is all about focus.
for very long streches of time.
ball pocketing, positon play.
9 ball, you can have a 2x2 ft. area to get to most of the time for position.
straight pool, usually, the size of a baseball or smaller.
all the games need tons of knowledge, but you need the most for 14.1.
chris G
creativity is a strong weapon in one pocket, but you rarely shoot, slap balls around every 15 seconds, and bank alot.
straight pool is all about focus.
for very long streches of time.
ball pocketing, positon play.
9 ball, you can have a 2x2 ft. area to get to most of the time for position.
straight pool, usually, the size of a baseball or smaller.
all the games need tons of knowledge, but you need the most for 14.1.
chris G
I don't disagree with the notion that straight pool helps most other games, but one thing it hasn't improved for me are kicks and banks.
In the 5 months I've been playing straight pool, I think I've taken one kick shot (outside of the occasional intentional foul onto the back of the rack), and a handful of banks.
Perhaps that's an argument for 9-ball for giving more "versatility"?
In the 5 months I've been playing straight pool, I think I've taken one kick shot (outside of the occasional intentional foul onto the back of the rack), and a handful of banks.
Perhaps that's an argument for 9-ball for giving more "versatility"?
I hardy ever play 8 ball but I think that is one game that helps in most other games.
(I think 8 ball would be a better game if you played with 45 balls on a 9 ft table with each 8 ball worth a point.)
(I think 8 ball would be a better game if you played with 45 balls on a 9 ft table with each 8 ball worth a point.)