A checklist for players (new and old)

NH Steve

Administrator
Joined
Apr 25, 2004
Messages
12,283
From
New Hampshire
I just watched a match between 2 excellent players
One is a shotmaker, 1 a mover.
The shotmaker was on and everything he shot at went in.
Even the double kiss ones and the get 1 or sell out shots.
The shooter was waaay ahead in games when he shot a straight in ball with a ton of junk to get shape on the next ball.
The bad thing was, he didn't know the ball count and actually would have been out if he just shot the straight in.
He lost that game after being up 7 to 0
Lost the next game on opponents good break.
Next game didn't check the stack and left a dead ball and lost.
Shell shock sets in, and a whole day of playing awesome 1 pocket goes out the window because of a couple of lax moments.
I've watched this happen so many times with shortstop and above players you wonder what the underlieing meaning of it is.
I don't have the luxury of being able to run out every other game so I do the things I can do as perfectly as possible.
Always know which pocket is mine
Always know the ball count
Always get my balls out of the return when my inning is over.
Always know if I owe a scratch.
Always look for dead balls (to both pockets)
Always think whether it is better to be short or long on the shot.

These are things players of any level can and should do every shot.
In all my years of playing, in my opinion ,winning a match was not determined by superman shots but by performing to your level and not giving anything away.
It always seemed like no matter how many hours I played someone, if the game was near fair, the outcome was determined by 10 or less shots or moves,and usually they were not "monster" shots, just the meat and potato shots you should make a high percentage of the time, but for some reason, you could not make them on that day. Or you did not do one of the list above and lost games because of it.
To me, you gave your money away, and that feels worse than anything.
If you make a nice score maybe you could send something to Saint Judes Childrens Hospital.
Or don't ,whatever you think is right.

Wow, there is definitely a lot right here to get you through a lot of winning One Pocket!!!
 

DWS

Verified Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2004
Messages
226
From
Chicago
The Ghost's One pocket Manifesto

The Ghost's One pocket Manifesto

Looks like it's time to revive the Ghost's Manifesto again.
Here it is compliments of the Ghost:

The Ghost's One Pocket Manifesto

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To start with I would like to say that I feel gratified to be part of the pool-playing brotherhood (past, present and future), who feel as passionately as I do, as to the absolute magnificence of the game of One Pocket. I think that One Pocket is one of the very greatest games/sports in the world, and all pool players who come to understand, appreciate, and seriously play One Pocket are blessed - and it’s a shame that outside of our small One Pocket subculture, no one in the outside world even knows that there is a game called One Pocket, and how significant of a challenging/complex/fascinating sporting endeavor it is.

Starting out in the 1960's, I first watched and studied many of the great One Pocket players of that time: Ronnie Allen, Jersey Red, Bugs, Boston Shorty, Harold Worst, etc...then, just after that, when I was 19-25 yrs.old, living and growing up in (the pool halls of) Chicago, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to watch, up close and personal, Artie Bodendorfer (one of the best One Pocket players of all time, and a master of defensive One Pocket play) and top-speed One Pocket player Leonard 'Bugs' Rucker play many, many times - and this was at the time when Artie was playing his very best....and Chicago was also a bank pool mecca back in the 60's-70's, enabling me to play with, and learn from, great bank pool players like Bugs, Youngblood, Tough Tony, Freddie the Beard, etc. etc....then, in the ensuing 40-45 years since that time, I’ve both watched and played One Pocket against: Grady, Jack Cooney, Cliff Joiner (many times), Bugs (many times), Steve Cook, Alan Hopkins, Cornbread Red, Miami, Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Efren, Jose Parica, Alex Pagulayan, Rodolfo Luat, Santos, Shannon D. Jeremy Jones, Rafael Martinez, Billy Palmer, and many more top players both past and present.

So, with the knowledge gained from 47 years of intently studying the game of One Pocket and it's top players, along with having countless gambling sessions/tournament matches against shortstop to top speed players myself (and having won my share of them), combined with my own strategy analysis, shot formulating, and overall visualizing of the game, I feel very strongly that I have ascertained the optimum methodology for playing the game of One Pocket at it's highest level....and I have, and currently do, teach/give One Pocket lessons according to my concept of the game, including having taught two of the top 25 One Pocket players in the world today....also, for the record, my One Pocket teaching, knowledge and visualizing of the game were highly spoken of by acclaimed Billiards Digest editor/columnist George Fels in one of his Billiards Digest 'tips and shafts' columns several years ago.

Ok, I need to say that I’ve been annoyed for years by all of this clueless debating about which is right, or better, the supposed Chicago/Philly/East coast, strong defense/low risk/trapping/squeeze style of One Pocket - or the so-called modern/left coast/aggressive/ball running style of One Pocket...Well, the two reasons this foolish debate, and incorrect positing annoys me are these...#1. This constantly parroted claim of there being a rigid geographic distinction re. the two styles of play, is untrue...and #2. Because this ongoing debate speaks as if these are the only two philosophies/styles of One Pocket play to subscribe to...when in fact, playing just one of either of these two styles, is not playing optimum One Pocket – why in the world would anyone want to limit themselves to just one of those styles, rather than employing the full spectrum of productive One Pocket play...meaning ----->

When playing/thinking at the very highest level of one pocket, the only correct way to play One Pocket is within a matrix whereby you are at all times during the game, ready and able to draw upon either of the two aforementioned styles: Relentless, aggressive, fear-inducing offense or lockdown, trapping, table-controlling, suffocating, precision-defense...deciding which of these style's to employ will be correctly analyzed and determined in every different inning/shot of yours when at the table...and many times, like a master alchemist, you will be able to successfully forge both styles together on the same shot - thus creating - One Pocket gold.


Also, take note that to play top speed one pocket, you need to: #1. Have a very high level of creativity/imagination/vision to be applied to all phases of the game...#2. You must be an excellent banker, proficient at all one rail and multi-rail banks - along with having a locked-in muscle memory for hitting banks at precisely 'pocket-speed'...#3. You need to have extensive knowledge of kick shots, combination shots, carom shots, carom angles, deflection angles, and multi-rail billiard angles...and #4. You must have the strategic capabilities and mind set of a military General or a Chess Grandmaster, and #5. You must be a Wizard of Odds.

Your shot choice should always be predicated on the correct analysis of several factors - the primary ones being: Table layout, ball score, match score, pocket size, table conditions - and also the One Pocket playing style, knowledge, skill set, heart, and ego tendencies of your opponent....and of course, all shot choices must factor in your own skill set/ability.

In other words, every time that you step to the table (unless you have an obvious ball to make, or you're in a trap) you should be determinedly, unrelentingly, looking to attack...but if you can’t find a viable offensive shot of any type, then you don’t force the issue – that’s where the smart part comes in…..Instead, you play a suffocating safety/put your opponent in a trap - this most often meaning: leaving your opponent frozen against a ball or balls so that he has nothing but negative or low percentage shot options available to him...and if that’s not possible, then you at least will re-position the ball layout in some way that helps your cause - i.e. move balls as close as possible to your pocket, or move balls from near his pocket or on his side of the table over to your pocket's side of the table, or tie up balls on his side, or open up balls and banking/shooting lanes on your side of the table - and/or leave him facing balls from a snookered position, jacked up, or with an awkward angle...and while doing any of this, if possible always endeavor to leave the cueball frozen on the rail - don‘t under-value this - it severely limits your opponents options and execution when he can only address the top of the cueball...

Ok, more moving, but on a smaller scale - often referred to as "simple shots"...but when given proper consideration, and then executed precisely - they're really not simple shots at all ----->

One Pocket is very often not about having the opportunity to pocket a ball, run balls, bank a ball in, or shoot appealing, gratifying power shots...you must also give total-focus attention to the countless 'small shots' of One Pocket - and have the limitless patience, desire and work ethic required to do this...meaning that, there will be many many games, where you have nothing else available to you for 5, 10, or 15 straight innings other then to bunt balls, or to glance the cueball off of balls to have it only travel a few inches -but to a very specific place...and when you are in those types of situations -> you should patiently and intently shoot these 'seemingly' simple little shots as perfectly as you possibly can every time, striving to gain a strategic edge on your opponent in these intense miniature battles...

And let me also stress this...before playing any important safety, it's crucial to analyze precisely, the very best place to leave the cueball in order to leave your opponent in the toughest possible return shot position...that said..before you shoot, whenever this can't be accurately determined from your shooting position..walking over to where you are thinking of leaving the cueball, and correctly envisioning your opponent's responding options is something that you should always do.

Now I’m a big NFL fan, and as such, I’ve always drawn some parallels in my mind between One Pocket and pro football/One Pocket players and pro football quarterbacks.....football teams have to score (with a variety of plays, like One Pocket's variety of shots) and they have to defend...and they also play the score = playing safe (running the ball) when being a fair amount ahead, and conversely going for lower% but high yield plays when behind - just like One Pocket...and quarterbacks have to read the field like we read the table and then make a decision to act…and a quaterbacks ‘opponent’ is the cornerbacks, safeties, and linebackers - so, as a good One Pocket players should analyze his opponents skill set, mind set, and tendencies, a quarterback needs to know the tendencies/abilities of the different defensive backs and the defensive schemes being used against him…..And maturity is key - i.e. a young quarterback who throws 25-30 picks in a season from forcing passes into double coverage, or not correctly reading the defense, is just like the overly aggressive young One Pocket player, who much too often goes for risky, low percentage shots, misses them too often and sells out…..To keep my football analogy going, if you want to play One Pocket at the highest level and as it should be played - just play it the way Joe Montana played quarterback back in the day - or like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers play nowadays - very, very smart.

Back to shot choices…Your first desired shot choice of course, is to make a ball in your pocket.…but if you have the opportunity to pocket a ball, and the shot is not a ‘hanger’ - then whether you should choose to shoot this shot in a given situation will depend partially on all of the factors that I mentioned a few paragraphs earlier - but it will primarily be based on two factors: the ‘makeability’ percentage of the shot combined with the risk/reward equation - of which there are countless variations…obviously there’s no time here to go into this at great length, covering all of the countless percentages and risk/reward probabilities..but to cover this a little, here are a few interesting risk/reward comparisons interconnected with the makeability factor - and we'll use mathematical/strategic One Pocket-thought-processing in considering the following three situations...

Let's say that hypothetically, you are one of two (evenly matched) players, playing in a One Pocket tournament....you are playing even - both going to 8balls, tied up 2-2 in games and playing in the all important final game of your tournament race to three. In this first situation the ball score is 0-0 and you have a shot that you are 85% likely to make in your pocket – and after making it, there are two more available balls for you to run (easy to run) - but only two - and, you will leave three sure balls for your opponent to pocket if you miss - but no more than three…...In the second scenario, the ball score is once again 0-0, and you have a shot that you are 50% likely to make in your pocket, but you will be able to easily run four more balls if you make it, and leave just one ball for your opponent to for sure pocket if you miss…In each of these two situations I would say going for the shot is a good risk/reward choice...and also, I think the two very different ball-count situations are fairly equal choices when compared to each other, viability-wise.......For our third and final situation, the ball score is 3-3....the shot that you are considering shooting has an 80% makeability rating for you, but there are no other balls for you to make afterwards - you can only get one - and you will leave your opponent a sure two balls if you miss...should you shoot the shot in this situation?....it's a tougher choice to make this time - maybe about a 50-50 choice.

Anyway, this is an overview of some of my concepts of playing One Pocket correctly. To go further, we would need many, many hours of discussion, and we would also obviously, need to be on a table, to, among other things, analyze dozens of very specific game situations, re. early, middle, and endgame. Anyone who would like to contact me re. this manifesto, or to inquire about lessons - you can e-mail me at ghosttown@email.com.

- One Pocket Ghost
 
Last edited:

tylerdurden

Verified Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2011
Messages
1,959
I know this is almost cliche, but I was thinking about how true this is the other day, and I think many people here agree, or will agree with me. Or maybe I am just restating and already established opinion?

Almost all the good players I know hate to lose so much. They hate is so much, that when they lose many times, all sense flies out the window, and they just go all out and lose everything to a guy. That is really what you need, or have to try and develop, to become a great player. People that go off are the good players though. Think about it in percentages, how many players do you know who wont go off? And if you do know some, are they good pressure players? Probably not. Just look at the guys who play real good, you don't see them doing drills. But, I am not saying drills have no place, just making a point. To segue a little, I believe if you could make a legit living in pool, drills and structured practice and training would be essential. Many people on here don't agree with that, but that is what I believe.

I know a few guys that play REAL sporty, and wont go off at all. A guy like Larry Bohn in LA comes to mind. But, for the most part, the guys who will really take a swing, and keep on swinging at the guy when down, those are the players that are learning, whether they know it or not. So, it basically comes down to the old hustler's advice: "you gotta get in the pit to get better", but with an added, "you gotta stay in the pit to really get better".
 

Mkbtank

Verified Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2013
Messages
5,901
From
Philly Pa
A checklist for players (new and old)

"winning a match is not determined by superman shots but by performing to your level and not giving anything away"

Tons of great stuff here but this is the quote that I am going to try to ingrain today. Hell, I may even print it and stick it on the inside of my case. Thanks Billy Jackets.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Alexonepockettrickshots

Verified Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2013
Messages
177
Looks like it's time to revive the Ghost's Manifesto again.
Here it is compliments of the Ghost:

The Ghost's One Pocket Manifesto

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To start with I would like to say that I feel gratified to be part of the pool-playing brotherhood (past, present and future), who feel as passionately as I do, as to the absolute magnificence of the game of One Pocket. I think that One Pocket is one of the very greatest games/sports in the world, and all pool players who come to understand, appreciate, and seriously play One Pocket are blessed - and it’s a shame that outside of our small One Pocket subculture, no one in the outside world even knows that there is a game called One Pocket, and how significant of a challenging/complex/fascinating sporting endeavor it is.

Starting out in the 1960's, I first watched and studied many of the great One Pocket players of that time: Ronnie Allen, Jersey Red, Bugs, Boston Shorty, Harold Worst, etc...then, just after that, when I was 19-25 yrs.old, living and growing up in (the pool halls of) Chicago, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to watch, up close and personal, Artie Bodendorfer (one of the best One Pocket players of all time, and a master of defensive One Pocket play) and top-speed One Pocket player Leonard 'Bugs' Rucker play many, many times - and this was at the time when Artie was playing his very best....and Chicago was also a bank pool mecca back in the 60's-70's, enabling me to play with, and learn from, great bank pool players like Bugs, Youngblood, Tough Tony, Freddie the Beard, etc. etc....then, in the ensuing 40-45 years since that time, I’ve both watched and played One Pocket against: Grady, Jack Cooney, Cliff Joiner (many times), Bugs (many times), Steve Cook, Alan Hopkins, Cornbread Red, Miami, Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Efren, Jose Parica, Alex Pagulayan, Rodolfo Luat, Santos, Shannon D. Jeremy Jones, Rafael Martinez, Billy Palmer, and many more top players both past and present.

So, with the knowledge gained from 47 years of intently studying the game of One Pocket and it's top players, along with having countless gambling sessions/tournament matches against shortstop to top speed players myself (and having won my share of them), combined with my own strategy analysis, shot formulating, and overall visualizing of the game, I feel very strongly that I have ascertained the optimum methodology for playing the game of One Pocket at it's highest level....and I have, and currently do, teach/give One Pocket lessons according to my concept of the game, including having taught two of the top 25 One Pocket players in the world today....also, for the record, my One Pocket teaching, knowledge and visualizing of the game were highly spoken of by acclaimed Billiards Digest editor/columnist George Fels in one of his Billiards Digest 'tips and shafts' columns several years ago.

Ok, I need to say that I’ve been annoyed for years by all of this clueless debating about which is right, or better, the supposed Chicago/Philly/East coast, strong defense/low risk/trapping/squeeze style of One Pocket - or the so-called modern/left coast/aggressive/ball running style of One Pocket...Well, the two reasons this foolish debate, and incorrect positing annoys me are these...#1. This constantly parroted claim of there being a rigid geographic distinction re. the two styles of play, is untrue...and #2. Because this ongoing debate speaks as if these are the only two philosophies/styles of One Pocket play to subscribe to...when in fact, playing just one of either of these two styles, is not playing optimum One Pocket – why in the world would anyone want to limit themselves to just one of those styles, rather than employing the full spectrum of productive One Pocket play...meaning ----->

When playing/thinking at the very highest level of one pocket, the only correct way to play One Pocket is within a matrix whereby you are at all times during the game, ready and able to draw upon either of the two aforementioned styles: Relentless, aggressive, fear-inducing offense or lockdown, trapping, table-controlling, suffocating, precision-defense...deciding which of these style's to employ will be correctly analyzed and determined in every different inning/shot of yours when at the table...and many times, like a master alchemist, you will be able to successfully forge both styles together on the same shot - thus creating - One Pocket gold.


Also, take note that to play top speed one pocket, you need to: #1. Have a very high level of creativity/imagination/vision to be applied to all phases of the game...#2. You must be an excellent banker, proficient at all one rail and multi-rail banks - along with having a locked-in muscle memory for hitting banks at precisely 'pocket-speed'...#3. You need to have extensive knowledge of kick shots, combination shots, carom shots, carom angles, deflection angles, and multi-rail billiard angles...and #4. You must have the strategic capabilities and mind set of a military General or a Chess Grandmaster, and #5. You must be a Wizard of Odds.

Your shot choice should always be predicated on the correct analysis of several factors - the primary ones being: Table layout, ball score, match score, pocket size, table conditions - and also the One Pocket playing style, knowledge, skill set, heart, and ego tendencies of your opponent....and of course, all shot choices must factor in your own skill set/ability.

In other words, every time that you step to the table (unless you have an obvious ball to make, or you're in a trap) you should be determinedly, unrelentingly, looking to attack...but if you can’t find a viable offensive shot of any type, then you don’t force the issue – that’s where the smart part comes in…..Instead, you play a suffocating safety/put your opponent in a trap - this most often meaning: leaving your opponent frozen against a ball or balls so that he has nothing but negative or low percentage shot options available to him...and if that’s not possible, then you at least will re-position the ball layout in some way that helps your cause - i.e. move balls as close as possible to your pocket, or move balls from near his pocket or on his side of the table over to your pocket's side of the table, or tie up balls on his side, or open up balls and banking/shooting lanes on your side of the table - and/or leave him facing balls from a snookered position, jacked up, or with an awkward angle...and while doing any of this, if possible always endeavor to leave the cueball frozen on the rail - don‘t under-value this - it severely limits your opponents options and execution when he can only address the top of the cueball...

Ok, more moving, but on a smaller scale - often referred to as "simple shots"...but when given proper consideration, and then executed precisely - they're really not simple shots at all ----->

One Pocket is very often not about having the opportunity to pocket a ball, run balls, bank a ball in, or shoot appealing, gratifying power shots...you must also give total-focus attention to the countless 'small shots' of One Pocket - and have the limitless patience, desire and work ethic required to do this...meaning that, there will be many many games, where you have nothing else available to you for 5, 10, or 15 straight innings other then to bunt balls, or to glance the cueball off of balls to have it only travel a few inches -but to a very specific place...and when you are in those types of situations -> you should patiently and intently shoot these 'seemingly' simple little shots as perfectly as you possibly can every time, striving to gain a strategic edge on your opponent in these intense miniature battles...

And let me also stress this...before playing any important safety, it's crucial to analyze precisely, the very best place to leave the cueball in order to leave your opponent in the toughest possible return shot position...that said..before you shoot, whenever this can't be accurately determined from your shooting position..walking over to where you are thinking of leaving the cueball, and correctly envisioning your opponent's responding options is something that you should always do.

Now I’m a big NFL fan, and as such, I’ve always drawn some parallels in my mind between One Pocket and pro football/One Pocket players and pro football quarterbacks.....football teams have to score (with a variety of plays, like One Pocket's variety of shots) and they have to defend...and they also play the score = playing safe (running the ball) when being a fair amount ahead, and conversely going for lower% but high yield plays when behind - just like One Pocket...and quarterbacks have to read the field like we read the table and then make a decision to act…and a quaterbacks ‘opponent’ is the cornerbacks, safeties, and linebackers - so, as a good One Pocket players should analyze his opponents skill set, mind set, and tendencies, a quarterback needs to know the tendencies/abilities of the different defensive backs and the defensive schemes being used against him…..And maturity is key - i.e. a young quarterback who throws 25-30 picks in a season from forcing passes into double coverage, or not correctly reading the defense, is just like the overly aggressive young One Pocket player, who much too often goes for risky, low percentage shots, misses them too often and sells out…..To keep my football analogy going, if you want to play One Pocket at the highest level and as it should be played - just play it the way Joe Montana played quarterback back in the day - or like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers play nowadays - very, very smart.

Back to shot choices…Your first desired shot choice of course, is to make a ball in your pocket.…but if you have the opportunity to pocket a ball, and the shot is not a ‘hanger’ - then whether you should choose to shoot this shot in a given situation will depend partially on all of the factors that I mentioned a few paragraphs earlier - but it will primarily be based on two factors: the ‘makeability’ percentage of the shot combined with the risk/reward equation - of which there are countless variations…obviously there’s no time here to go into this at great length, covering all of the countless percentages and risk/reward probabilities..but to cover this a little, here are a few interesting risk/reward comparisons interconnected with the makeability factor - and we'll use mathematical/strategic One Pocket-thought-processing in considering the following three situations...

Let's say that hypothetically, you are one of two (evenly matched) players, playing in a One Pocket tournament....you are playing even - both going to 8balls, tied up 2-2 in games and playing in the all important final game of your tournament race to three. In this first situation the ball score is 0-0 and you have a shot that you are 85% likely to make in your pocket – and after making it, there are two more available balls for you to run (easy to run) - but only two - and, you will leave three sure balls for your opponent to pocket if you miss - but no more than three…...In the second scenario, the ball score is once again 0-0, and you have a shot that you are 50% likely to make in your pocket, but you will be able to easily run four more balls if you make it, and leave just one ball for your opponent to for sure pocket if you miss…In each of these two situations I would say going for the shot is a good risk/reward choice...and also, I think the two very different ball-count situations are fairly equal choices when compared to each other, viability-wise.......For our third and final situation, the ball score is 3-3....the shot that you are considering shooting has an 80% makeability rating for you, but there are no other balls for you to make afterwards - you can only get one - and you will leave your opponent a sure two balls if you miss...should you shoot the shot in this situation?....it's a tougher choice to make this time - maybe about a 50-50 choice.

Anyway, this is an overview of some of my concepts of playing One Pocket correctly. To go further, we would need many, many hours of discussion, and we would also obviously, need to be on a table, to, among other things, analyze dozens of very specific game situations, re. early, middle, and endgame. Anyone who would like to contact me re. this manifesto, or to inquire about lessons - you can e-mail me at ghosttown@email.com.

- One Pocket Ghost


Wow just wow. I knew one pocket was the correct discipline to try to go after but now I really know.
THIS IS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER READ!!!!
 
Last edited:

One Pocket Ghost

Verified Member
Joined
May 25, 2004
Messages
9,715
From
Ghosttown
Wow just wow. I knew one pocket was the correct discipline to try to go after but now I really know.
THIS IS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER READ!!!!

I'm glad to have inspired you more Alex - One Pocket is the greatest game in the world...make sure and take to heart all the things that I wrote...a few different guys here on the site that have taken lessons from me all have a copy of that manifesto.

- Ghost
 

crazysnake

Verified Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2009
Messages
21
Re: A checklist for players (new and old)

Looks like it's time to revive the Ghost's Manifesto again.
Here it is compliments of the Ghost:

The Ghost's One Pocket Manifesto

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To start with I would like to say that I feel gratified to be part of the pool-playing brotherhood (past, present and future), who feel as passionately as I do, as to the absolute magnificence of the game of One Pocket. I think that One Pocket is one of the very greatest games/sports in the world, and all pool players who come to understand, appreciate, and seriously play One Pocket are blessed - and it’s a shame that outside of our small One Pocket subculture, no one in the outside world even knows that there is a game called One Pocket, and how significant of a challenging/complex/fascinating sporting endeavor it is.

Starting out in the 1960's, I first watched and studied many of the great One Pocket players of that time: Ronnie Allen, Jersey Red, Bugs, Boston Shorty, Harold Worst, etc...then, just after that, when I was 19-25 yrs.old, living and growing up in (the pool halls of) Chicago, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to watch, up close and personal, Artie Bodendorfer (one of the best One Pocket players of all time, and a master of defensive One Pocket play) and top-speed One Pocket player Leonard 'Bugs' Rucker play many, many times - and this was at the time when Artie was playing his very best....and Chicago was also a bank pool mecca back in the 60's-70's, enabling me to play with, and learn from, great bank pool players like Bugs, Youngblood, Tough Tony, Freddie the Beard, etc. etc....then, in the ensuing 40-45 years since that time, I’ve both watched and played One Pocket against: Grady, Jack Cooney, Cliff Joiner (many times), Bugs (many times), Steve Cook, Alan Hopkins, Cornbread Red, Miami, Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Efren, Jose Parica, Alex Pagulayan, Rodolfo Luat, Santos, Shannon D. Jeremy Jones, Rafael Martinez, Billy Palmer, and many more top players both past and present.

So, with the knowledge gained from 47 years of intently studying the game of One Pocket and it's top players, along with having countless gambling sessions/tournament matches against shortstop to top speed players myself (and having won my share of them), combined with my own strategy analysis, shot formulating, and overall visualizing of the game, I feel very strongly that I have ascertained the optimum methodology for playing the game of One Pocket at it's highest level....and I have, and currently do, teach/give One Pocket lessons according to my concept of the game, including having taught two of the top 25 One Pocket players in the world today....also, for the record, my One Pocket teaching, knowledge and visualizing of the game were highly spoken of by acclaimed Billiards Digest editor/columnist George Fels in one of his Billiards Digest 'tips and shafts' columns several years ago.

Ok, I need to say that I’ve been annoyed for years by all of this clueless debating about which is right, or better, the supposed Chicago/Philly/East coast, strong defense/low risk/trapping/squeeze style of One Pocket - or the so-called modern/left coast/aggressive/ball running style of One Pocket...Well, the two reasons this foolish debate, and incorrect positing annoys me are these...#1. This constantly parroted claim of there being a rigid geographic distinction re. the two styles of play, is untrue...and #2. Because this ongoing debate speaks as if these are the only two philosophies/styles of One Pocket play to subscribe to...when in fact, playing just one of either of these two styles, is not playing optimum One Pocket – why in the world would anyone want to limit themselves to just one of those styles, rather than employing the full spectrum of productive One Pocket play...meaning ----->

When playing/thinking at the very highest level of one pocket, the only correct way to play One Pocket is within a matrix whereby you are at all times during the game, ready and able to draw upon either of the two aforementioned styles: Relentless, aggressive, fear-inducing offense or lockdown, trapping, table-controlling, suffocating, precision-defense...deciding which of these style's to employ will be correctly analyzed and determined in every different inning/shot of yours when at the table...and many times, like a master alchemist, you will be able to successfully forge both styles together on the same shot - thus creating - One Pocket gold.


Also, take note that to play top speed one pocket, you need to: #1. Have a very high level of creativity/imagination/vision to be applied to all phases of the game...#2. You must be an excellent banker, proficient at all one rail and multi-rail banks - along with having a locked-in muscle memory for hitting banks at precisely 'pocket-speed'...#3. You need to have extensive knowledge of kick shots, combination shots, carom shots, carom angles, deflection angles, and multi-rail billiard angles...and #4. You must have the strategic capabilities and mind set of a military General or a Chess Grandmaster, and #5. You must be a Wizard of Odds.

Your shot choice should always be predicated on the correct analysis of several factors - the primary ones being: Table layout, ball score, match score, pocket size, table conditions - and also the One Pocket playing style, knowledge, skill set, heart, and ego tendencies of your opponent....and of course, all shot choices must factor in your own skill set/ability.

In other words, every time that you step to the table (unless you have an obvious ball to make, or you're in a trap) you should be determinedly, unrelentingly, looking to attack...but if you can’t find a viable offensive shot of any type, then you don’t force the issue – that’s where the smart part comes in…..Instead, you play a suffocating safety/put your opponent in a trap - this most often meaning: leaving your opponent frozen against a ball or balls so that he has nothing but negative or low percentage shot options available to him...and if that’s not possible, then you at least will re-position the ball layout in some way that helps your cause - i.e. move balls as close as possible to your pocket, or move balls from near his pocket or on his side of the table over to your pocket's side of the table, or tie up balls on his side, or open up balls and banking/shooting lanes on your side of the table - and/or leave him facing balls from a snookered position, jacked up, or with an awkward angle...and while doing any of this, if possible always endeavor to leave the cueball frozen on the rail - don‘t under-value this - it severely limits your opponents options and execution when he can only address the top of the cueball...

Ok, more moving, but on a smaller scale - often referred to as "simple shots"...but when given proper consideration, and then executed precisely - they're really not simple shots at all ----->

One Pocket is very often not about having the opportunity to pocket a ball, run balls, bank a ball in, or shoot appealing, gratifying power shots...you must also give total-focus attention to the countless 'small shots' of One Pocket - and have the limitless patience, desire and work ethic required to do this...meaning that, there will be many many games, where you have nothing else available to you for 5, 10, or 15 straight innings other then to bunt balls, or to glance the cueball off of balls to have it only travel a few inches -but to a very specific place...and when you are in those types of situations -> you should patiently and intently shoot these 'seemingly' simple little shots as perfectly as you possibly can every time, striving to gain a strategic edge on your opponent in these intense miniature battles...

And let me also stress this...before playing any important safety, it's crucial to analyze precisely, the very best place to leave the cueball in order to leave your opponent in the toughest possible return shot position...that said..before you shoot, whenever this can't be accurately determined from your shooting position..walking over to where you are thinking of leaving the cueball, and correctly envisioning your opponent's responding options is something that you should always do.

Now I’m a big NFL fan, and as such, I’ve always drawn some parallels in my mind between One Pocket and pro football/One Pocket players and pro football quarterbacks.....football teams have to score (with a variety of plays, like One Pocket's variety of shots) and they have to defend...and they also play the score = playing safe (running the ball) when being a fair amount ahead, and conversely going for lower% but high yield plays when behind - just like One Pocket...and quarterbacks have to read the field like we read the table and then make a decision to act…and a quaterbacks ‘opponent’ is the cornerbacks, safeties, and linebackers - so, as a good One Pocket players should analyze his opponents skill set, mind set, and tendencies, a quarterback needs to know the tendencies/abilities of the different defensive backs and the defensive schemes being used against him…..And maturity is key - i.e. a young quarterback who throws 25-30 picks in a season from forcing passes into double coverage, or not correctly reading the defense, is just like the overly aggressive young One Pocket player, who much too often goes for risky, low percentage shots, misses them too often and sells out…..To keep my football analogy going, if you want to play One Pocket at the highest level and as it should be played - just play it the way Joe Montana played quarterback back in the day - or like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers play nowadays - very, very smart.

Back to shot choices…Your first desired shot choice of course, is to make a ball in your pocket.…but if you have the opportunity to pocket a ball, and the shot is not a ‘hanger’ - then whether you should choose to shoot this shot in a given situation will depend partially on all of the factors that I mentioned a few paragraphs earlier - but it will primarily be based on two factors: the ‘makeability’ percentage of the shot combined with the risk/reward equation - of which there are countless variations…obviously there’s no time here to go into this at great length, covering all of the countless percentages and risk/reward probabilities..but to cover this a little, here are a few interesting risk/reward comparisons interconnected with the makeability factor - and we'll use mathematical/strategic One Pocket-thought-processing in considering the following three situations...

Let's say that hypothetically, you are one of two (evenly matched) players, playing in a One Pocket tournament....you are playing even - both going to 8balls, tied up 2-2 in games and playing in the all important final game of your tournament race to three. In this first situation the ball score is 0-0 and you have a shot that you are 85% likely to make in your pocket – and after making it, there are two more available balls for you to run (easy to run) - but only two - and, you will leave three sure balls for your opponent to pocket if you miss - but no more than three…...In the second scenario, the ball score is once again 0-0, and you have a shot that you are 50% likely to make in your pocket, but you will be able to easily run four more balls if you make it, and leave just one ball for your opponent to for sure pocket if you miss…In each of these two situations I would say going for the shot is a good risk/reward choice...and also, I think the two very different ball-count situations are fairly equal choices when compared to each other, viability-wise.......For our third and final situation, the ball score is 3-3....the shot that you are considering shooting has an 80% makeability rating for you, but there are no other balls for you to make afterwards - you can only get one - and you will leave your opponent a sure two balls if you miss...should you shoot the shot in this situation?....it's a tougher choice to make this time - maybe about a 50-50 choice.

Anyway, this is an overview of some of my concepts of playing One Pocket correctly. To go further, we would need many, many hours of discussion, and we would also obviously, need to be on a table, to, among other things, analyze dozens of very specific game situations, re. early, middle, and endgame. Anyone who would like to contact me re. this manifesto, or to inquire about lessons - you can e-mail me at ghosttown@email.com.

- One Pocket Ghost
Wow!

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stedyfred

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Take another look at Dr. Bill's Common Sense Approach to 1 pkt; he does look at things sequentially. Would you expect anything less from the Dr.?
 

Scrzbill

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I try one thing on every shot. Know where Whitey is going to go. All the other stuff falls into line if that is working for me.:cool:
 

SJDinPHX

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In looking over this old thread, I find that the over simplification of Stroud's advice, clashes with the complex set of 'things to remember' that the Ghost promotes in his manifesto !...Both are accomplished players, but I think a happy medium of sorts, may be more beneficial to someone new to the game.

I don't think it would be a 'plus' to go to the table, with a million thoughts in your head, about what to do, or what to look for...That is not to say all the things proposed by the better player's on here, are not important. I am just saying, it seems like 'overkill' to try and cover every conceivable option, on every given shot..Even the best players don't clog their minds up with such minutea..They will overlook optimal shots, or strategies, otherwise a game might never end..Their experience just keeps those oversights to a bare minimum..There is NO DVD, book, or even 'one on one' lesson, that can remotely replace being in tough action ! ...Like Tyler sez, "It basically comes down to the old hustler's advice; You gotta get in the pit to get better, but with an added, "you gotta stay in the pit to get REALLY better".

Also, advice for those just learning the game, should be vastly different from those who have been playing the game for years..While the basics of the game, should always be adhered to...The simplest thing to remember, is to try and leave your opponent in the WORST possible spot on the table you can find ! ..If you have been playing one pocket for years, and have not figured out where that spot is yet...chances are pretty good, you never will ! :sorry

SJD

PS..If you are going to lose a game, at least lose it TRYING to reach that ideal spot..Thats how I've lost most of mine ! ;) (however, in hindsight, I don't remember it making me feel any better) :cool:

LATE NOTE; to Scrzbill...Great advice Bill, but knowing where your cue ball is going, only works out well if you know how
to get it there ! :p :p :p
 
Last edited:

Scrzbill

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SJD

PS..If you are going to lose a game, at least lose it TRYING to reach that ideal spot..Thats how I've lost most of mine ! ;) (however, in hindsight, I don't remember it making me feel any better) :cool:

LATE NOTE; to Scrzbill...Great advice Bill, but knowing where your cue ball is going, only works out well if you know how
to get it there ! :p :p :p [/QUOTE]




its a work in progress SJD. I still like to take flyers, eee haa:eek::eek:
 

Artie Bodendorfer

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Nov 18, 2005
Messages
4,271
SJD

PS..If you are going to lose a game, at least lose it TRYING to reach that ideal spot..Thats how I've lost most of mine ! ;) (however, in hindsight, I don't remember it making me feel any better) :cool:

LATE NOTE; to Scrzbill...Great advice Bill, but knowing where your cue ball is going, only works out well if you know how
to get it there ! :p :p :p




its a work in progress SJD. I still like to take flyers, eee haa:eek::eek:[/QUOTE] Knowing where to put the cue ball is a very good start.
 
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