lol i learned that the hard way.
Why cant i play straight pool.
- Thread starter jlrowe
- Start date
lol i learned that the hard way.
The Straight Pool Bible is a good start. Goes over basic concepts and is an easy read. Then ask on the boards to find out which Accustat tapes have the best COMMENTARY. You will not only enjoy watching them you will learn a ton. It is really amazing when some of the old timers in the booth read racks. I remember one where someone called 12 or 13 balls in advance and then the player ran that exact pattern! Id have to go back through several tapes to see who that was, but Im thinking it was Beanie.
14.1 is about patterns, especially towards the end of the racks. Its about learning how to come off the pack after break shots to have a chance at another shot. Its about using insurance balls when breaking up clusters. Its about cueball control in its purist form. Moving the cueball as little as possible since getting an inch on the wrong side of a ball can stop your run. Its about feeling more pressure with every ball you make, wanting to keep your run going.
It sounds simple, any ball in any pocket. But it is the hardest and most rewarding game to play.
Woody
14.1 is about patterns, especially towards the end of the racks. Its about learning how to come off the pack after break shots to have a chance at another shot. Its about using insurance balls when breaking up clusters. Its about cueball control in its purist form. Moving the cueball as little as possible since getting an inch on the wrong side of a ball can stop your run. Its about feeling more pressure with every ball you make, wanting to keep your run going.
It sounds simple, any ball in any pocket. But it is the hardest and most rewarding game to play.
Woody
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lots of good stuff in your post... but you lost me with this one...
that is not a good thing.. it IS however a sure fire way to kill a run
every shots the same.. same focus, same stroke.. just another routine shot... that 3/4 ball cut with natural position is all that shot is.. doesn't matter if its shot 1 or shot 750..
getting tied up in run numbers and keeping score is going to kill you..
just keep making balls with your same routine same focus.... it's just another shot..
as soon as THIS shot gains more meaning than the rest... or less meaning than the rest ... that's when the DOG bites
Well I think you just said what I meant LOL.
The pressure I was referring too is just one more thing in straight pool that players have to learn to deal with. An experienced player will approach every shot just the way you have described. But I think you would agree that when most players begin playing 14.1 there is a natural tendency to watch the score. Especially when approach a personal high run.
But as you have pointed out, the better players take it one rack and one shot at a time.
Woody
I dont understand. I cant play straight pool worth a damnIt makes me angry every time i try to play. Ive been shooting 20 years and Im more capable of running 2 racks of 9 ball than running 18 balls in straight pool. youve got players that runs 100 balls. I think i should with my level of 9 ball play I should at least run 45 balls consistantly. I dont understand. Please help!
You must learn how to run the balls the proper way,with the correct angles,and for that info you need to go to a person that knows how to play the game the correct way.
RAY MARTIN
Hey Ray, I wish our distance wasnt so far. I would be honored to pay 50 an hour for a world class player's knowledge. Do you go to the DCC?
14.1 instruction
I have been playing 14.1 and nothing else for the past 10 months. Watching commentated professional matches and reading a fair amount has helped my game so much. To me, there's no other game like it - and I'm hooked.
Ray Martin suggested working with a person who knows how to do this right - can you recommend a person like that in central North Carolina?
I have been playing 14.1 and nothing else for the past 10 months. Watching commentated professional matches and reading a fair amount has helped my game so much. To me, there's no other game like it - and I'm hooked.
Ray Martin suggested working with a person who knows how to do this right - can you recommend a person like that in central North Carolina?
Hi JL, how are ya? 
The 2 major skills needed to play good straight pool is concentration and patience, and that's before the question of running balls, in order to learn to focus on running balls and shooting them in the right patterns, etc, it takes a good level of concentration and focus to put in the decent runs and even then, you also need to focus on each shot like it's the winning ball of a match
One of the things that made Willie Mosconi and other legends so great was their level of concentration and focus whilst they were at the table, particularly Mosconi who regularly had the "Kill" look in his eyes when he was shooting
Minimizing CB movement is another major factor, but there are practice drills that can help with mastering this
FWIW, I enjoy playing 9ball, but the problem is, it doesn't truly show a players real level of skill because there isn't as much concentration and focus required on position play for the next ball and when playing safety, there are generally more blockers to rely on, whereas in straight pool, playing safe is literally like walking in an unmarked mine field because all balls are shootable
I think practicing your break shots is definitely a good start, but try practising various break shots, like to the left, right and behind the stack and also try practising various side pocket break shots, because the more breack shots that you learn to shoot effectively, the more options you'll have for a break ball and key ball to keep a run going
Overall, I agree with Ray Martin's advice to to try and find a solid and knowledgeable straight pool shooter in your area and arrange to start shooting with them if possible
I hope this is of some help or another, good luck :thumbup:
Willie
The 2 major skills needed to play good straight pool is concentration and patience, and that's before the question of running balls, in order to learn to focus on running balls and shooting them in the right patterns, etc, it takes a good level of concentration and focus to put in the decent runs and even then, you also need to focus on each shot like it's the winning ball of a match
One of the things that made Willie Mosconi and other legends so great was their level of concentration and focus whilst they were at the table, particularly Mosconi who regularly had the "Kill" look in his eyes when he was shooting
Minimizing CB movement is another major factor, but there are practice drills that can help with mastering this
FWIW, I enjoy playing 9ball, but the problem is, it doesn't truly show a players real level of skill because there isn't as much concentration and focus required on position play for the next ball and when playing safety, there are generally more blockers to rely on, whereas in straight pool, playing safe is literally like walking in an unmarked mine field because all balls are shootable
I think practicing your break shots is definitely a good start, but try practising various break shots, like to the left, right and behind the stack and also try practising various side pocket break shots, because the more breack shots that you learn to shoot effectively, the more options you'll have for a break ball and key ball to keep a run going
Overall, I agree with Ray Martin's advice to to try and find a solid and knowledgeable straight pool shooter in your area and arrange to start shooting with them if possible
I hope this is of some help or another, good luck :thumbup:
Willie
Just wanted to say thanks for showing me how to break one pocket up at Gradys event in Gulfport...I was watching you pratice and was really intrigued by the game and you said "what you don't know how to play one hole...well come here I'll show ya" lol been hooked ever since.
Thanks,
Keeb-
The idea of focus and concentration can't be emphasized enough. During my straight pool league players have fun at my expense because I start the match off with "Good luck, lets have some fun." and then they say I get these stoney cold eyes until the match is over. I never realized I concentrated so much when I played straight pool. Playing 9 or 8-ball I talk and joke through the whole game.
When I try to talk and joke during 14.1 my runs get no more than 3 or 4 balls.
Another thing is try and find a straight pool league. Like minded shooters can really help your game.
Andy
When I try to talk and joke during 14.1 my runs get no more than 3 or 4 balls.
Another thing is try and find a straight pool league. Like minded shooters can really help your game.
Andy
@jlrowe
practising on breakshots in straight-pool is the best thing you could do(beside pocketing the balls, lol). if you know what happens after the break, you ll never be afraid again before analyzing a break-shot. i recommend this so often..but again: read *Mastering Pool*, written by George Fels. Here u ll find perfect instructions how you can keep control after breakshots! After practising the break-shots he s showing up in his book you ll loose your fear, i bet His book and after that i recommend Phil Capelle s Straight Pool book. It ll give u a large boost in your game and an amazing knowledgement.
lg
ingo
practising on breakshots in straight-pool is the best thing you could do(beside pocketing the balls, lol). if you know what happens after the break, you ll never be afraid again before analyzing a break-shot. i recommend this so often..but again: read *Mastering Pool*, written by George Fels. Here u ll find perfect instructions how you can keep control after breakshots! After practising the break-shots he s showing up in his book you ll loose your fear, i bet
His book and after that i recommend Phil Capelle s Straight Pool book. It ll give u a large boost in your game and an amazing knowledgement. lg
ingo