**why some champions will not play one pocket for the cash?**

3andstop said:
If you don't know that story btw ... the son says, "dad, lets run down there and have us a cow." The father says, "son, lets walk down there and have us all of them." :wink:
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Small point of clarification -- It's two bulls. An old bull and a young bull. You get the idea.

Sorry -- I'm an Agriculture guy.:grin:

On topic - I see many people improve by playing all games and most in my area would match up in anything. 8, 9, one-pocket, quarters, you name it.

FWIW.
 
philw said:
Some people never understand why the grass grows, either
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some do and would still rather have a dead rat in their mouth then play one hole! it isn't about understanding, or being able to compete, some of us just think it is a really boring game!

jeremy
 
3andstop said:
I think there is some great merit in this thought!

I've been watching some of the streaming US Open play and as a non 9 ball player ( my love is 14.1) I couldn't help but notice these kids are all running out. I attribute that to the game's "FINITE" characteristics of creativity and challenge.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that stringing racks together in 9 ball doesn't take a high level of skill, I'm just saying that no matter how you cut it, it boils down to a "paint by number" product, unlike 1pocket or even 14.1 where the individual's specific ability to come up with abstract and creative thinking will make the difference in situations when shot making ability between players is pretty much on an even keel as it so often is with high level 9 ball.

I've been around this game for quite a while and it seems to me that while age certainly attracts folks to games like 1 hole or 14.1, it has as much to do with the ability to put to use many accumulated yrs of knowledge and creativity with confidence, as it does the old story of the father / son bulls looking down over the pasture. The younger generation has yet to acquire this tool box full of creative knowledge IMO.

If you don't know that story btw ... the son says, "dad, lets run down there and have us a cow." The father says, "son, lets walk down there and have us all of them." :wink:
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Btw, your screen name is the only way i'd even remotely consider playing any of these guys we've mentioned, and even then i don't have to like it because when they do stop i'll be in Alcatraz!:shakehead:
 
instroke75 said:
some do and would still rather have a dead rat in their mouth then play one hole! it isn't about understanding, or being able to compete, some of us just think it is a really boring game!

jeremy
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It's sorta like golf, kinda boring to watch unless it's a birdie putt from woods for the cash.

In 1hole, When all the balls get down table and it becomes a bunt fest for about an hour and a half it can be pretty tough to fade until player A finally sells out and leaves player B a dead two railer ..... Then it gets pretty exciting to watch player B work underneath the balls and pick them off one by one ....
 
instroke75 said:
some do and would still rather have a dead rat in their mouth then play one hole! it isn't about understanding, or being able to compete, some of us just think it is a really boring game!

jeremy
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Jeremy,

There you go with the "dead rat" thing again. I suggest you never go to DCC (or any other major get together) because if you want to watch the big, high, action in the back room, you'll have to eat a few dead rats or else go home early. If you don't like the game, that's fine. But you aren't blind to the fact that its the game all the big boys eventually want to learn, are you ? I'll admit, it does require a good deal of smarts. :rolleyes:

Dick
 
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People talk about the slow pace of one pocket but I think that they are completely wrong. Watch any one pocket match, it's punch, counterpunch, punch, and so on until someone forces an opening or forces the opponent to make a mistake and then bam it's time for a knockout.

I will bet anyone on here that there are more shots taken by BOTH players in a one hour one pocket match than in a one hour nine ball match.

I will further bet that in a one hour one pocket match the players are playing more and sitting less.

Now if you are the kind of person that considers pocketing balls to be what pool is about then one pocket will bore you. If you are the kind of person who appreciates what it takes to control many balls and be able to rearrange them at will then one pocket will fascinate you.

One pocket is the best game because you definitely need ALL skills to play it at the highest level. You need to be able to pocket balls like Earl, you need to be able to move like Efren, you need to know how to bank in all kinds of weird ways, you need to know how to kick, you need to know caroms and kisses and tickies, you need to understand straight pool patterns and you need to have pinpoint control of your cueball.

I beleive that a lot of people aren't up to the mental challenge that one pocket offers. 9 Ball and 8 Ball and Straight Pool are much easier concepts to grasp. Sure higher level play in these games shows off a better thought process but it's still not close to what goes on in high level one pocket.
 
JB Cases said:
People talk about the slow pace of one pocket but I think that they are completely wrong. Watch any one pocket match, it's punch, counterpunch, punch, and so on until someone forces an opening or forces the opponent to make a mistake and then bam it's time for a knockout.

I will bet anyone on here that there are more shots taken by BOTH players in a one hour one pocket match than in a one hour nine ball match.

I will further bet that in a one hour one pocket match the players are playing more and sitting less.

Now if you are the kind of person that considers pocketing balls to be what pool is about then one pocket will bore you. If you are the kind of person who appreciates what it takes to control many balls and be able to rearrange them at will then one pocket will fascinate you.

One pocket is the best game because you definitely need ALL skills to play it at the highest level. You need to be able to pocket balls like Earl, you need to be able to move like Efren, you need to know how to bank in all kinds of weird ways, you need to know how to kick, you need to know caroms and kisses and tickies, you need to understand straight pool patterns and you need to have pinpoint control of your cueball.

I beleive that a lot of people aren't up to the mental challenge that one pocket offers. 9 Ball and 8 Ball and Straight Pool are much easier concepts to grasp. Sure higher level play in these games shows off a better thought process but it's still not close to what goes on in high level one pocket.
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Truer words were never spoken ! ;)
 
JB Cases said:
People talk about the slow pace of one pocket but I think that they are completely wrong. Watch any one pocket match, it's punch, counterpunch, punch, and so on until someone forces an opening or forces the opponent to make a mistake and then bam it's time for a knockout.

I will bet anyone on here that there are more shots taken by BOTH players in a one hour one pocket match than in a one hour nine ball match.

I will further bet that in a one hour one pocket match the players are playing more and sitting less.

Now if you are the kind of person that considers pocketing balls to be what pool is about then one pocket will bore you. If you are the kind of person who appreciates what it takes to control many balls and be able to rearrange them at will then one pocket will fascinate you.

One pocket is the best game because you definitely need ALL skills to play it at the highest level. You need to be able to pocket balls like Earl, you need to be able to move like Efren, you need to know how to bank in all kinds of weird ways, you need to know how to kick, you need to know caroms and kisses and tickies, you need to understand straight pool patterns and you need to have pinpoint control of your cueball.

I beleive that a lot of people aren't up to the mental challenge that one pocket offers. 9 Ball and 8 Ball and Straight Pool are much easier concepts to grasp. Sure higher level play in these games shows off a better thought process but it's still not close to what goes on in high level one pocket.
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I'm cannonball and i approve of this message.
 
Mental aspect

I'm sure most of you good players have heard of the mental aspect of pool. The top pros are so intune with that when they are at the table in 9 ball they are planing to run out and are very successful at that. In one pocket unless they are on a run, they must give back the table after their turn. This is something they are not used to doing and possibly throws off their element of control. The pros dont want to give back the table, they want to runout and keep running out. One pocket doesn't offer that as often as 9 ball does. When they are at the table in a runout situation...9 ball, 7 ball, 10 ball they are in a grove. There are infrequent groves in one pocket. This is just a thought but I for one would only play one pocket because I like the challenge of creating a strategy like chess. Not that I am any good at either but find the very interesting. Purly a personal choice as many have mentioned above. But I feel the mental aspect is key here.
 
poolpimp13 said:
one pocket is a stroke killer.thats why the king of 9ball johnny archer dont play it.
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or a stroke enhancer, after bunting around for a while you must know what your stroke feels like, so you can come with a shot when you have an opportunity. the "i was cold" excuse means you don't know how to turn your stroke loose. playing nine ball,your opponent runs some racks, now your cold?
 
androd said:
or a stroke enhancer, after bunting around for a while you must know what your stroke feels like, so you can come with a shot when you have an opportunity. the "i was cold" excuse means you don't know how to turn your stroke loose. playing nine ball,your opponent runs some racks, now your cold?
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LMAO!!!!!!!!!
 
Nine Ball is bunk....

The skill level needed for one pocket is beyond the average nine ball banger. When i see a player dump nine balls on a table i just assume they can't play anything else. Real gamblers play six ball. I like the "paint by numbers" comparison. It's a joke to call
nine ball a championship game. As if. 14.1, one pocket, rotation and eight ball are easily better games for developing skill on the table. nine ball is the dumb little brother.

mike
 
Different games

I think Ironman summed it up pretty good. The mindset is sooooo different between games that it's hard to flip a switch and be good at both.
You mentioned Scott Frost as one of the young guns that plays 1 pocket "also"? I cant recall the last Pro tournament Scott has won in 9 ball. Now I may take some real heat for this, especially since I live in his home state, But I would not rank him up there in the top 10 of 9 ball players. Don't get me wrong, he is a great pool player. But, is he in the top of the heap for 9 ball? In my opinion, I don't think so.
There may be a reason he is such a great 1 pocket player. If ya can't beat them in one game, beat them in another. I think he is a very smart player in this regard. It could be why he concentrates so much on being the best 1 pocket player. It is more about moving the cueball than running rack after rack.
There are so many young guns that can break and run with there eyes closed. 9 ball tournies are rarely won by the same person twice. So, if ya can't cash consistently, switch to another game.
Just for the record: Scott just won the Arizona State 1 Pocket Title for 2008 last weekend.:thumbup:
 
SJDinPHX said:
Jeremy,

There you go with the "dead rat" thing again. I suggest you never go to DCC (or any other major get together) because if you want to watch the big, high, action in the back room, you'll have to eat a few dead rats or else go home early. If you don't like the game, that's fine. But you aren't blind to the fact that its the game all the big boys eventually want to learn, are you ? I'll admit, it does require a good deal of smarts. :rolleyes:

Dick
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Hey SJD, all I was saying was that alot of people(including me), simply don't like the game! It doesn't mean they are not as smart as some people or not up to the mental challenge, they might simply just think it is boring! I recently have taken up golf(the real outdoor kind) and I think it is a great game full of challenges, but if someone doesn't like it, I don't belittle them or think less of them!
I play most games equally well, I just don't enjoy playing onepocket! I will play onehole if the game, and the money are right, but I'd rather not! It is the only game I've ever played where I had some stuck $1800 and if you walked in the room and looked at me you had thought my dog had died, or I was the one stuck!

Jeremy
 
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