Have You Ever Noticed...

[lfigueroa]

...how players that are new to 1pocket uniformedly say they hate it?

I was playing in a small tournament here in St. Louis recently and I drew an outstanding 9ball player. He was an amazing banker and shot very, very straight. But, I was able to out move him and eventually won. Afterwards, he told me he had only been playing 1pocket for about four years and hated it. I told him that he should stick with it and eventually he'd come to love the game.

So why is it that the game is so universally reviled by new players, when it's the one game that allows you to be so creative? Personally, I think it might be that these newer 1pocket players haven't developed the precision to take full advantage of their defensive opportunities -- something every single player who takes on the task of learning 1pocket has to go through.

And, as you develop as a 1pocket player, it isn't just a matter of leaving the cue ball safe. It's: leaving it safe, frozen to a rail; safe, frozen to a ball that leaves nothing but a sellout; a safe, with a free shot at your pocket thrown in; a safe, that clears out your opponent's side; a safe, that moves one, two, or three balls to your side; a safe, that blocks your opponent's banking lane; a safe, that kicks a ball towards your hole; well, you get it. Playing a beautiful safety can win you games more easily than pocketing difficult shots. But your game must be of sufficient maturity to not only see the opportunites, you must also be able to execute. Most of the shots that will completely put you opponent "in jail" require very precise cue ball speed and placement. As your skill and experience grows, I think properly executing these shots becomes every bit as satisfying as pocketing balls.

I think you know you've arrived as a 1pocket player when you pass up a relatively easy shot, to instead freeze your opponent to the back of a ball and make a sellout a high probability. There's nothing boring about manufacturing a game-winning shot that brings your opponent to his knees :-)

So, has anyone else noticed that new 1pocket players hate the game? Why is that? What's your theory?

Lou Figueroa

[gulfportdoc]

...how players that are new to 1pocket uniformedly say they hate it?
So, has anyone else noticed that new 1pocket players hate the game? Why is that? What's your theory?

Lou Figueroa
I've certainly noticed that players who play 9 ball --and for whatever reason find themselves playing 1p-- hate one-pocket! Also I think novices who want to play 1p, but are just learning the game, go through a frustration period trying to learn moves. That also may even affect more experienced players. :(

But 9 ball players who hate 1p usually hate it because they don't get to slap balls in the holes, and constantly look for runouts. 9-ball is played almost totally in the offensive mode. That's why most younger guys can't get interested in 1p. They'd rather drive a dragster than a sedan. I think most of us who grew up playing straight pool are much more attuned to playing safeties, as well as working close in.

The irony is of course, that once a player learns about 1p, he realizes that it's an infinitely more complex and fascinating game. Look at some of the younger players today playing 1p. They've changed the nature of the game into a more fast and furious style, which is fine. If they miss that long straight-in, then they sell out. I think it puts more spirit into the game.

Doc

[loveshiscue]

I went through many years where i refused to play one pocket. I always thought the game was too slow and too boring.

Patience is not something taught easily to young players. It took me many years before i finally decided I needed to learn, and even then it was mainly because I wanted to get some easier action that what I was getting in my nineball matchups.

Now that I have started playing, I realize I should have started earlier as I enjoy the game and all the things I found to be boring are now fascinating. I get just as much satisfaction in moving a few balls towards my hole and hiding whitey as I use to get in breaking in three balls and running out the remaining six is 60 seconds.

[BackPocket9Ball]

I, too, have come across many, many pool players who claim to "hate" one pocket. I think that there are a couple reasons for this.

1) People generally don't like what they haven't or haven't been able to get good at. I'm the same way with 9-ball. I often claim that I "hate" 9-ball, but I think that if I could beat good 9-ball players at 9-ball then I might actually enjoy it more. If a player has tried playing one pocket a little with poor results, then an easy way out is claiming to hate the game. At least that's much easier than putting in the time to get good at the game

2) I've noticed that strong pool players who are inexperienced at one pocket get really, really offended if they're beaten by one pocket players who don't shoot nearly as strong as they do. Such players have the perception that the outcome pool matches should be determined by run-out ability and not by "ball bunting". "Ball bunting" is known as "Not selling out" by one pocket players.

[yobagua]

I guess its the way of the world. There are people who hate reading books, listening to classical music, or learning science or math or philosophy or law or medicine. People feel comfortable making 1 plus 1 equal 2. Its harder and more abstract to make 1 plus 1 equal 3. Efren does it all the time. Thats why he is called "The Magician". One pocket takes complex and abstract thinking. People want order in their lives. There is no order in one hole. No one single option but a hundred.

For me I look at guys like Efren, Parica, and Buddy Hall. They play both games well. I want to be like them. Im perfectly happy that the Derby is awarding all around money. I hear even Ralf Soquet and Earl are entering the banks and one hole. We live in wonderful times folks.

[OldHasBeen]

(IMHO) One Pocket is like a fine wine. In general it takes a more mature player to appreciate the intricacies and finesse moves that are involved in the game.
In my younger years of hustling pool, I was only interested in "Getting The Ca$h", A.S.A.P.
It didn't make any difference weather I had to play good, half good or even bad. As long as I "Got The Cheese".
So therefore - One Pocket seemed a waist of time. I NOW also realize that I didn't like it because I didn't understand it & unless I could win with "8 'n out", I didn't have a chance with anyone who knew what they were doing.
Then along came a great One Pocket player to St. Louis, Gordon Guy (aka, "Gracie" from D.C.). He could play all games well but really excelled in One Pocket. I could see what he was doing but didn't understand the HOW & WHY.
We ended up "On The Road" many times and naturally I played the Nine Ball and he played the One Pocket. I saw him play many great players such as Joey Speath, Cleo Vaughn, Earl Schriber, Marvin Henderson, Fez, Grady, Ronnie, Ed Kelly, Etc.
While he was a great One Pocket player, He was a terrible gambler. He went empty any & every time he lost.
Only now - That I'm really into One Pocket can I appreciate what I learned from him. One time he was playing Ronnie for 6 or 8 hours and in came Ronnie's partner. When Ronnie told him that they were still even, the guy says What’s Wrong? Ronnie says, Hell, He hasn’t shot the wrong shot so far and hardly ever misses". You Wanna Play Him?
Ronnie ended up winning but only because he raised the bet and made Gordon rack the balls at the other end. THAT MAKES A HUGH DIFFERENCE TO A "HOME-GROWN".
I have only been "Back" Playing for a little over two years and I am certain that I can't keep up with the Young, Straight Shootin Nine Ball Players of today. I can however concentrate on my One Pocket game that never existed until just recently. I am just starting to remember the moves and techniques that have been in my subconscious all these years - AND I LOVE IT!

TY & GL

[jrhendy]

...how players that are new to 1pocket uniformedly say they hate it?

I was playing in a small tournament here in St. Louis recently and I drew an outstanding 9ball player. He was an amazing banker and shot very, very straight. But, I was able to out move him and eventually won. Afterwards, he told me he had only been playing 1pocket for about four years and hated it. I told him that he should stick with it and eventually he'd come to love the game.

So why is it that the game is so universally reviled by new players, when it's the one game that allows you to be so creative? Personally, I think it might be that these newer 1pocket players haven't developed the precision to take full advantage of their defensive opportunities -- something every single player who takes on the task of learning 1pocket has to go through.

And, as you develop as a 1pocket player, it isn't just a matter of leaving the cue ball safe. It's: leaving it safe, frozen to a rail; safe, frozen to a ball that leaves nothing but a sellout; a safe, with a free shot at your pocket thrown in; a safe, that clears out your opponent's side; a safe, that moves one, two, or three balls to your side; a safe, that blocks your opponent's banking lane; a safe, that kicks a ball towards your hole; well, you get it. Playing a beautiful safety can win you games more easily than pocketing difficult shots. But your game must be of sufficient maturity to not only see the opportunites, you must also be able to execute. Most of the shots that will completely put you opponent "in jail" require very precise cue ball speed and placement. As your skill and experience grows, I think properly executing these shots becomes every bit as satisfying as pocketing balls.

I think you know you've arrived as a 1pocket player when you pass up a relatively easy shot, to instead freeze your opponent to the back of a ball and make a sellout a high probability. There's nothing boring about manufacturing a game-winning shot that brings your opponent to his knees :-)

So, has anyone else noticed that new 1pocket players hate the game? Why is that? What's your theory?

Lou Figueroa They hate it because they get beat by what they consider inferior players. Once they start losing, they get more aggressive and try and run out almost every shot and now they really don't have a chance. As a long time one pocket player (around 50 years) I have beat plenty of players even in one pocket that could give me serious weight in 9 ball. It looks like the tide may be turning though here in the Sacramento area. The young guns also play pretty sporty one pocket to go along with their 9 ball game as the popularity of one pocket grows.

[shoutout33]

I'm probably the youngest cat in this thread (at 35...) and I realized in early to mid twenties that I LOVED the game. Mabey more so than one-pocket than 9-ball. I'm a good player for my level (3-4 APA...) at 9-ball, even though I didn't play APA 9-ball (I really don't like their set up. It's too much like rotation and 9-ball is supposed to be a race to however many games...), in the travelling tourneys they have, I've faired pretty good at 9-ball.

But one-pocket? Man, you have to be patient when you play one-pocket...you have to. I think that's the only thing that made me stick with the game to where I love it now, I had some patience to learn the game. Yeah, I slapped balls around when I first started because of 9-ball, but I slowly realized that I couldn't play the game that way...it wouldn't work.

Plus, the kicker to this is that one-pocket helps me out tons when I play 9-ball. If I can't or don't feel comfortable making a shot in 9-ball, or 8-ball for that matter, I'm going to find the best way I can to snooker you like hell! :p :cool: That's what I like about one-pocket, it makes you think, look for the BEST shot, and the majority of the time, that will be defense.

[FoxyCoxy]

Where to start ? A long long time ago, in a pool room of yesteryear, I totally trottled a guy at 9 ball. When he left he invited me to his home room to continue the next Saturday. When I arrived he would not play 9 ball but insisted on 1P. My response was "whats that", tell me the rules and lets get on with it. Needless to say I failed to pocket even one ball during the course of the entire match. That was the end of my 1P for many years. I reviled even the mention of the game. I continued to play 9 ball until I was 30 at which time I stopped playing pool altogether and did not resume until I was 40. Once I resumed playing I had an almost weekly opportunity to watch Jack Cooney or Cliff Joyner or Joe Salazar match up at 1P with a local car dealer. Still smarting from my earlier encounter with 1P I "almost" completely passed on this learning opportunity. Reasoning to my self that playing 1P would just get me out of stroke. As time passed I realized that 1P was less strenuous on this old body and began to try to learn by matching up with the locals and sparing with Atlanta Danny Greer from time to time. My 1P game is still not up to par with my 9 ball game but it is improving. Its my guess that others out there might have had early 1P experiences simular to mine that made them cop and attitude about this great game. I am glad that I finally realized the limitless possibilities this game holds for those willing to put out the effort.

[Voodoo Daddy]

I went through many years where i refused to play one pocket. I always thought the game was too slow and too boring.

Patience is not something taught easily to young players. It took me many years before i finally decided I needed to learn, and even then it was mainly because I wanted to get some easier action that what I was getting in my nineball matchups.

Now that I have started playing, I realize I should have started earlier as I enjoy the game and all the things I found to be boring are now fascinating. I get just as much satisfaction in moving a few balls towards my hole and hiding whitey as I use to get in breaking in three balls and running out the remaining six is 60 seconds.

If this is who I think it is...he speaks the truth about breakin' large and runnin out quick. He never would play One Pocket, ever. Nice to see him mature a 'lil...HAHAHAHA :cool: