The very worst unforced errors...

[NH Steve]

For a change, instead of a great shot I thought it would be interesting to see some examples of really bad mistakes that sneak into your game -- often at the worst possible moment, and to devastating effect. All players great and small make mistakes now and then, and in fact this one that I am kicking off is one I have seen even the very best players make.

START(
%Ap7W1%Br3X3%Cn5Y9%Er2V4%Pp7F1%QC1I6%RA6A9%Um9X5%Vp1G4%YE8D6
%Zl3Z8%[D9I6%\O4D1%]P4D6%^l5Z5%eC1`9%f3%g7%_q1Z3%`o8[3%an8Z6
)END

Of course, I meant to hit the long rail below the side pocket and drop the cue ball onto the foot rail. Naturally, this happend when I only needed one ball and had done a nice job of getting the four remaining balls out of play, only to see this mistake let my opponent back into the game!

Let's see some more examples of unforced errors -- so we can learn from someone else's mistakes :)

[One Pocket Ghost]

For a change, instead of a great shot I thought it would be interesting to see some examples of really bad mistakes that sneak into your game -- often at the worst possible moment, and to devastating effect. All players great and small make mistakes now and then, and in fact this one that I am kicking off is one I have seen even the very best players make.

START(
%Ap7W1%Br3X3%Cn5Y9%Er2V4%Pp7F1%QC1I6%RA6A9%Um9X5%Vp1G4%YE8D6
%Zl3Z8%[D9I6%\O4D1%]P4D6%^l5Z5%eC1`9%f3%g7%_q1Z3%`o8[3%an8Z6
)END

Of course, I meant to hit the long rail below the side pocket and drop the cue ball onto the foot rail. Naturally, this happend when I only needed one ball and had done a nice job of getting the four remaining balls out of play, only to see this mistake let my opponent back into the game!

Let's see some more examples of unforced errors -- so we can learn from someone else's mistakes :)


Hey Steve, I'm going to give you some unsolicited advice on this scratch of yours - and this will be a good lesson for our younger one pocket.org members......This shot that you 'weied' on us comes up all the time and were all in danger of cutting the object ball too thin or too full, as the case may be, and scratching as you did......What I advise, ( and teach, if I'm giving a one pocket lesson ) and what I do myself in this spot is: Shoot the shot just as you did but softer, meaning to leave the cueball on the long rail rather than dropping on down to the foot rail - Our natural inclination is to want to leave the cueball on the foot rail, but leaving the cueball frozen on the side rail in this spot is actually better, because your opponent will have a worse angle from there to thin a ball and put you down on the foot rail - The second and most important reason that I shoot this shot at side rail speed is so that if I cut the ball incorrectly ( and I have a million times ) as you did, and send the cueball on a straight tangent to the opposite pocket, it will stop three or four or six inches short of the pocket and not scratch.

.....And Steve, keep practicing, our annual One Pocket game is coming up in just 3-1/2 months ^_^

[t-dog]

bad shots? I could post whole games. As I learn this game I still have at least an inning or two where I have no idea what to do.
Ahhh the joy of 1hole.

[100andout]

Hey Steve,
When playing that safe, does'nt it leave a big opportunity for a combo to line up into your opponents pocket? I've left that many times. Very dissapointing!:)

[piggybank04]

i was going to say exactly what ghost just said.....i am unable to get the wei table on my computer and thats a shame as i would love to add my comments.....as far as someone taking a stab at some combination of those balls---go ahead!! thats a sellout most of the time....so what if you lose a game or two on that!! :)

[petie]

I hate to admit this on my very first post but here goes. This happened to me more when I was new to the game but occasionally happens even now. I get so zoned in to the moves that I don't see an obvious offensive shot. I have seen fairly good players do this too. I'm sure this never happens to VERY good players or at least I hope not.