How did you learn to play this game?

[Official_Donator]

I'm assuming that most of the veterans that post here learned this game way before the internet was around. Was it mostly just going and watching big games and trying to emulate what you saw? Did someone give you lessons on how to play? Was it finding low enough stakes games where you could just learn by getting beat by better players and learning from your mistakes?

[thepavlos]

I learned in Brighton Billiards by watching the more experienced players. Then I bought books and videos.
Paul

[NH Steve]

It sure helps to have access to a room that has a culture of One Pocket. Many great players have developed by coming up around a previous generation of good players. These 'One Pocket' rooms also should have a variety of sparring partners available, at different skill levels and wagering levels.

I didn't have a room like that, but once I got interested in the game, I sought out more knowledgeable players and stalked them where they were available :)

You can't go wrong by spending time in Pat Fleming's Accu-stats classroom; since the early 90's when he started filming One Pocket, that certainly expanded my horizons, and still does. Between sweating the matches, and the commentary, you can't help but learn.

Then get out and find a game; learn and apply, learn and apply...

[Cal]

from veteran Players , MH, and the Fireman, spending lots of time praciting,playing cheap games when available with experienced players and most of all watching Lots of tapes from accu stats, the process of learning is never ending . "most important, you must attend "DCC" :) a special thanks to "GM"

[SinCityTee]

well .... i think i can speak from current experince since thats the position im in now. ive got a few older players one of whom learned from freddie, artie, and bugs, who are teaching me the finer points of the game. then ive got the guys in the pool room who know im learning abd will play on occassion with them but this last week especially they dont care about helping me out any and are just directing people to me to try and get my money. dont get me wrong. i enjoy playing for small stakes right now being that im learning but definitely dont appriciate the people who act like friends but look to knock you off. i love this game and plan to play it at a higher level, but its hard to learn sometimes with these situations around. luckily my mentor lets me know whether or not playing certain individuals will be benificial to my one pocket education. i get my lessons at a cheap rate and im lucky to have a couple a good people looking out for me and helping me along the way. i guess so far the best methods of my learning ahve been the lessons, spending time perfevting the shots and theories ive learned, observation through matches at the poolroom or accu-stats and other various one pocket instructionals, eddie robins books.... basically find someone who can take you under thier wing and teach you and study the game on your own..!!!! good shooting


and for Freddie.... the guy thats teaching me said he used to work and Besingers and played you and Artie... i know hes looking forward to running into you guys again..!!!

one more thing for the older players who have been around. id like tio have some of your thoughts on the sitaution i explained above. Thanks!!!

-Tony

[Voodoo Daddy]

I'm assuming that most of the veterans that post here learned this game way before the internet was around. Was it mostly just going and watching big games and trying to emulate what you saw? Did someone give you lessons on how to play? Was it finding low enough stakes games where you could just learn by getting beat by better players and learning from your mistakes?

I watched some one pocket coming up and was drawn in by its chess-like situations. Grady came to Miami to do an exhibition and I was basically hooked. I got to see some one pocket action during the Florida Tour events of the mid-eighties...NY Blackie, Cookie Monster, Pete Ohman, Charlie Justice and a few others influenced me too. THEN I saw a tape of Hopkins/Cook, the infamous "game" that lasted 100 minutes plus and I watched it until the tape broke. The men that made the biggest impact were Nick Varner & Johnny Ervolino...they planted the biggest seeds. I was and still am hooked on the game, fugg a bunch of 9-Ball I say, roll the balls up table and lets go to WAR!!!:D

[philwelch]

I was fortunate to learn and improve at one pocket by seeing and playing some good players (with a hefty spot of course). I donated to the likes of Freddy, Paul Jones, Dasher, and a slew of others. My first taste of one pocket came from watching Freddy the Beard play Steve Jones. You talk about Chicago style one pocket? Every game every ball ended up as a cluster at one of the pockets behind the headstring. Then it was grind, grind, grind.
And the banter was priceless as Freddy was never at a loss for words and Steve was no slouch in this department either. You couldn't find better entertainment anywhere. Ah those were the days.

Phil Welch

[desert1pocket]

I learned by watching the players in my home poolroom, asking questions, and donating to the guys that would play me cheap. I guess I am lucky that the majority of the action in my neighborhood pool room is one pocket. One of the best ways to learn is by playing grandpa. For those who are not familiar, grandpa is played with three people, rotating partners each game. The player on their own (grandpa) gets the break. This is a great way to learn as two out of every three games you have a partner coaching you on which shots to shoot and why. Just be sure to get a good handicap, or else play cheap. The biggest jump in my game came after spending a couple weeks playing a regular grandpa game with two much better players, and I always learn at least one new shot or nuance to a shot every time I play grandpa with better players.

[champagne]

I Began Hanging Around Freddy S And Phil S Joint.playing Short Cards. You Could Play Anything From Cards,pool,ping Pong,for Plenty Of Cash.not Being Able To Play Much Ip.i Bet Alot On The Rail And Did Alot Of Sweating Big Games. So When I Started Playing, One Of My Spots Was That I Could Have A Coach.my Coach Of Choice Was Artie,he Would Never Let Me Do Anything That He Knew I Couldn T Do.he Mainly Just Had Me Get My Speed Down.[park My Rock On The Back Rail]it Was Huge. Since I Wasn T Playing Champions I Was Shooting From The Middle Of The Table. Its Real Strong To Have To Have A Good Player Whisper In Your Ear.naturaly He Has A % Of The Bet. Try It --take A Coach.

[Bob Reynolds]

I had the pleasure of working for Bucktooth in the early 70's as one of his housemen in the SF Bay Area. I traded labor for some one-on-one lessons every once in a while.
Bucktooth was dead on when it came to playing one pocket and a croud would always gather when he got into a big game with the road players who came into town.
My one pocket skills are way down on the list, but I enjoy a good game from time to time. I even play against myself when practicing, I just leave myself enough room on a safety to get a shot off towards the other pocket.