Why Isn't 1-Pocket Popular in Other Countries?

cuetechasaurus said:
No offense, but what you wrote there would make me think you don't know what you're talking about. When the game is played at a high level, and someone does just that-- take a ball away from their opponent's hole, there are quite a few factors bunched in with that-- i.e. not leaving him a return bank, placing a ball that blocks off his banking lanes from either up table or your side of the table, hiding that ball, leaving him no return shot without a sellout of a bank or shot, etc, etc, etc, etc etc. There are so many things that that one little simple shot attributes to, you have to be a good one pocket player to notice at least a couple of them. Every single shot is like chess. One pocket gives 14.1 the 7-out and 8ball the 5-out when it comes to thinking and strategy IMHO. I know 14.1 requires perfect execution and strategy, but people can run centuries in it playing the wrong way. A runout player who doesn't move well in 1pocket against an old guy who can't runout well anymore but knows all the moves, he will beat the runout player by suffocating him.
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No offense taken. I'm still relatively new to one pocket and still learning the nuances of the game. I enjoy playing it as I can apply the skills learned in 1P to the other pool games that I play.

Perhaps one reason why some people find one pocket "boring" is that they are used to playing games that have more offense and proceed at a faster tempo. Having played chess as a kid at the "expert" level I can certainly appreciate the strategizing and thinking that 1P requires. Perhaps that's why I like 8-ball better as it too requires a lot of strategy and thinking but at least the game moves at a much faster tempo.

I have a 1P DVD of Efren Reyes vs. Billy Palmer from the 2004 DCC, which I've watched many times. I've also been to 1P tournaments and watched advanced players play. I've seen enough of 1P to come to the conclusion that 1P is inherently defensive in nature...especially with the defensive tactic of moving your opponent's balls away from their pocket. As time goes by and I learn more about 1P, I'm sure I'll come to appreciate the subtleties of the game even further.
 
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Don't keep silent

john schmidt said:
now that i read what i wrote again i can see what russ is saying .it looks like im saying i can run hundreds,.. so running 8 is easy.thats not what i meant ,i meant since i run hundreds it will be funny if i dont run 8.anyway russ immediately jumped on what i said as a chance to make me seem like a jerk.again things like that remind me why i wont be writing on this forum unless totally necessary. there is a million times i would like to chime in and talk about stuff with you guys ,or help a begginer etc etc.i decline because of guys like russ jumping in and giving me a hard time.so the next time you guys ask me something and i dont answer ,feel free to ask russ chewning.he seems to think he knows everything ,so im sure he will give his much valued opinion.
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John: Come over to the straight pool subforum and chime in a little and see how it goes. People over there would kill for tips from you that might help them learn better 14.1. :)
 
dmgwalsh said:
John: Come over to the straight pool subforum and chime in a little and see how it goes. People over there would kill for tips from you that might help them learn better 14.1. :)
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I'll second that one.
 
PoolSharkAllen said:
No offense taken. I'm still relatively new to one pocket and still learning the nuances of the game. I enjoy playing it as I can apply the skills learned in 1P to the other pool games that I play.

Perhaps one reason why some people find one pocket "boring" is that they are used to playing games that have more offense and proceed at a faster tempo. Having played chess as a kid at the "expert" level I can certainly appreciate the strategizing and thinking that 1P requires. Perhaps that's why I like 8-ball better as it too requires a lot of strategy and thinking but at least the game moves at a much faster tempo.

I have a 1P DVD of Efren Reyes vs. Billy Palmer from the 2004 DCC, which I've watched many times. I've also been to 1P tournaments and watched advanced players play. I've seen enough of 1P to come to the conclusion that 1P is inherently defensive in nature...especially with the defensive tactic of moving your opponent's balls away from their pocket. As time goes by and I learn more about 1P, I'm sure I'll come to appreciate the subtleties of the game even further.
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May I also recommend that you buy the 2006 DCC 1P matches between Efren and Alex. 1 was during the round robin stage, and one was the semis match. you would see both players display an array of offense/defense shot. also the 2006 DCC 1P finals between Efren and Miller. that match shows a lot of freakin mind-boggling shots.
 
John

don't feel special, Russ gives many people a hard time ... LOL
Your thoughts and opinions are appreciated here by many people.

I don't play 1 hole or 14.1 anymore because I just don't have the patience for it anymore, and usually I am looking for a quick score and not a marathon type session. Besides, here in the Midwest, bar tables are the norm more than big tables, and my playing days, I feel, are numbered.
 
Russ is a fan, John.

john schmidt said:
now that i read what i wrote again i can see what russ is saying .it looks like im saying i can run hundreds,.. so running 8 is easy.thats not what i meant ,i meant since i run hundreds it will be funny if i dont run 8.anyway russ immediately jumped on what i said as a chance to make me seem like a jerk.again things like that remind me why i wont be writing on this forum unless totally necessary. there is a million times i would like to chime in and talk about stuff with you guys ,or help a begginer etc etc.i decline because of guys like russ jumping in and giving me a hard time.so the next time you guys ask me something and i dont answer ,feel free to ask russ chewning.he seems to think he knows everything ,so im sure he will give his much valued opinion.
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I am sure you read something into Russ' post that wasn't there, John. Russ is a fan of top players, like most of us and was just picking atcha. Russ is stuck in the toughest spot on earth, Iraq and I, like you I'm sure, can appreciate his attempts to stay connected to the more sane world of AZ Billiards.

I am also sure Russ appreciates you posting your thoughts and insight here.
 
Maybe I'm wired differently, but when I'm playing 1P I"m thinking MUCH more offensively than defensively. I also am looking for the best way to move a ball to my side and inflict as much tippytoe standing, jammed up against the rack, sellout scared, pain on the other guy as I can!:D.......but


I'm really a nice guy :o

Hey John, if you are going to Jersey to play in the 14.1 Event, I'm always up for donating a few hundred playing relatively cheap 1P.
Gerry
 
In Europe:
- people usually don't know what it is (unless they hang on pool forums)
- it isn't televised
- there isn't an official World Championships
- no tournaments, nothing to play for
- it is not tought by instructors, junior training camps don't include this game
 
Another thought about 14.1 & One Pocket...

If any game better prepares you to play One Pocket, I would say Straight Pool would be that game. Just look at the similarities:
  1. the little nip safeties (especially around the stack)
  2. 'reading the stack' for dead balls
  3. combos and carom shots
  4. running a bunch of balls into one of the bottom corner pockets (if you've played much 14.1 then you know how many balls end up in just those two pockets -- the 'patterns' in One pocket aren't much of a stretch)
  5. the delicate position play

All you need to add is a little banking & specific One Hole strategy discipline -- and maybe a little patience!

With the recent revival of Straight Pool partly driven by the Europeans, who knows, maybe we'll see a new generation of One Pocket players -- if they are interested in the available action :)

Never underestimate a good Straight Pool player at One Pocket
 
JoeyA said:
If you think Schmidt can't run 8 balls in a row playing one pocket, you either don't know one pocket and/or you don't know John Schmidt. In fact if you think it is unlikely that he will run 8 balls you should just sit on the sidelines .....for a few years and watch. Straight pool SIX POCKETS make 200 balls in one inning vs. One pocket, EIGHT balls in one pocket ONE INNING. I dare say it would be FAR easier for any player to run 8 balls in one pocket in one inning and I mean ANY PLAYER regardless of their experience in one pocket.

JoeyA
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Agreed one million percent, I could run 8 out on a one pocket rack 10 times before I came close to running 200 playing 14.1
 
Hail Mary Shot said:
May I also recommend that you buy the 2006 DCC 1P matches between Efren and Alex. 1 was during the round robin stage, and one was the semis match. you would see both players display an array of offense/defense shot. also the 2006 DCC 1P finals between Efren and Miller. that match shows a lot of freakin mind-boggling shots.
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Here's a video clip of Efren vs. Alex at the DCC:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=egWP6CWbXPA&mode=related&search=
 
I remember that... I was there! Good Memories and look how far Marcus has come now! :)
 
vagabond said:
Several years ago I saw Marcus Chamat playing with Ronnie Allen for money while Jack Cooney was coaching Marcus Chamat for each shot (In olathe,KS).
Mika Immonen started learning one pocket many years ago.
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I remember that! I was there! Good times, good memories. And look how far Marcus has come since then. He's definitely one of my favorite pool players.
 
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