You don't know what you're missing

[3andstop]

I had to post my feelings about the recent Turning Stone (or any other, for that matter) 9 ball tournament.

People who don't play pool don't know what they are missing. Agreed?

Well, people who don't play straight pool but do play pool ..... well, they don't know what they are missing either.

Being a lover of this game, I started to watch the tournament. I was bored out of my mind trying to watch. I couldn't.

I'd like to suggest that aside from 1pocket, which is a very specialized and wonderful game itself, that 8 ball is the little brother to straight pool.

Those of you who enjoy 8 ball, should make a very serious effort to play good straight pool. Not only will your enjoyment of pool increase, but your 8 ball game will really benefit. And maybe in the long run, this wonderful game of straight pool can once again be the chosen game of champions rather than these short rack carnival games. JMHO :smile:

 

[jalapus logan]

I had to post my feelings about the recent Turning Stone (or any other, for that matter) 9 ball tournament.

People who don't play pool don't know what they are missing. Agreed?

Well, people who don't play straight pool but do play pool ..... well, they don't know what they are missing either.

Being a lover of this game, I started to watch the tournament. I was bored out of my mind trying to watch. I couldn't.

I'd like to suggest that aside from 1pocket, which is a very specialized and wonderful game itself, that 8 ball is the little brother to straight pool.

Those of you who enjoy 8 ball, should make a very serious effort to play good straight pool. Not only will your enjoyment of pool increase, but your 8 ball game will really benefit. And maybe in the long run, this wonderful game of straight pool can once again be the chosen game of champions rather than these short rack carnival games. JMHO :smile:

There is much truth to this. My 8 ball game has stepped up significantly and I attribute much of this to practicing 14.1. In the just finished BCA 8 ball session, I got the award for the most perfect scores in the season (out of 100+ players). By and large, I played some of my best bar box 8 ball this year. 14.1 was a HUGE help in that.

PS, also agree that straight pool may just be the best game of champions.

 

[Tramp Steamer]

It's one of those "to each his own" things.
I can watch One Pocket being played all day long, but can't take five minutes of nine ball, or two minutes of eight ball. :smile:

 

[gdc25]

Those of you who enjoy 8 ball, should make a very serious effort to play good straight pool. Not only will your enjoyment of pool increase, but your 8 ball game will really benefit.

serious question as I've often wondered about the above statement...

How would you suggest that one begin in his or her quest to play "Good straight pool"?

Without having a local expert or even straight pool player available, how would a person even begin practicing the game?

 

[leehayes]

It's one of those "to each his own" things.
I can watch One Pocket being played all day long, but can't take five minutes of nine ball, or two minutes of eight ball. :smile:

You are so right....it is to each his own...because I can't watch 2 minutes of one pocket!

 

[3andstop]

serious question as I've often wondered about the above statement...

How would you suggest that one begin in his or her quest to play "Good straight pool"?

Without having a local expert or even straight pool player available, how would a person even begin practicing the game?

I'm going to offer you a very serious answer. There is good news and bad news so to speak. The good news is, today there are hundreds of ways to improve your 14.1 game, and .... it's one of the best games to practice alone also.

The bad news, it is going to take a monumental effort on anyone's part who truly wants to devote and dedicate themselves to getting better.

This is a very humbling game. One I feel a lot of the better players shy away from partially because it is humbling. A player who can string 2 or 3 racks of 9 ball together, will often find it a frustrating fact that they can't get through a rack or two of straight pool.

Make no mistake, this is the game that will make an average pool player a very much above average player. It involves precision position and speed control, it involves mapping out the table layout and executing the patterns you have laid out. It involves training your self to focus for extended periods of time. And so much more.

Some of the best ways I would suggest are, watch professional games on youtube, contact Pat Fleming at Accu-Stats and ask him what his personal suggestions are for straight pool videos. Buy or watch multiple videos on this subject. Between Youtube and spending perhaps 100 bucks on books and video you will have all you need to learn the game. ( besides a burning desire that is.)

Observe the shot choices on the videos, and listen carefully to the commentators. Danny D. Grady M. are among the most knowledgeable folks commentating the game.

Definitely purchase a copy of Play your best Straight Pool <- Link to the book.


In order to relate all that you watch and read, practice the game. I suggest racking a full rack of balls, roll the top ball off and place it next to the rack, set the CB up for a shot on that ball and a break shot.

Make the shot, keep shooting until you miss. Log down your run. When you miss, re-rack the balls and start over again.

It doesn't matter if you miss after 2 balls or 20 balls. Re-rack and try to improve on your best run while keeping in mind CB control and patterns.

Make specific plans based on what you learn from the books and video and carry them out. One thing not to do is shoot balls off the table helter skelter and paint your self into a corner with the last 5 or so balls.

As you improve you will enjoy the game more and more. Anybody can smash open a rack of 9 ball and if the balls fall right, get through a rack. But you'll see this isn't so with 14.1. Even with being able to shoot at any ball, no one is going to set up a break shot, and clear the table while getting on the next break shot without a healthy amount of knowledge and execution.

 

[jhanso18]

I have just recently started playing some straight pool. I enjoy it very much. it is a breath of fresh air. My high run so far is 33, hoping to stretch that a little the more I play it. Only played hard at it a couple times now, but I enjoy it. Still like 1p better.

best,

Justin