I've been playing a lot of One Pocket this year. I have improved significantly on my banking (1 rail, 2 rail, 3 rail) and controlling the cue ball. My shot making is solid. But I would of thought my improvements would be greater by now.
I have ordered several of Grady Mathews DVD's. I learned several types of shots that other players notice me shooting (one guy asked me - where'd you learn that shot, you never shoot that shot). I got Toledo Joe's DVD set and I'm learning types of shots from him.
I'm also getting several more DVD's - Scott Frosts, another Grady Mathews and Freddy's banks that don't go but do.
On a regular basis (several times a week) I am devoting time to specific shots in 1 pocket (getting out of the break, take outs, protecting your break, putting the cue ball against the stack).
Does anyone have any pointers for improving your game even further?
Lou's idea is a very sound way to improve your One Pocket game. Offense is the #1 answer to just about every game of pool. Too many people look at One Pocket in defensive posture where in truth offense is the name of the game.
There is not a single great player of any of the popular pool games who do not excel with the pocketing and running of high numbers of balls. One Pocket is no different. Granted, getting a shot to begin a run of balls requires defensive skills as the game is certainly a cat and mouse strategy. "Get the first shot" is the game within the game. But what you do with that first shot is of utmost importance. This is what separates the men from the boys. Sorry to all those women out there for being Politically incorrect.
The player who is capable of running a higher numbers of balls from equal positions naturally also applies greater pressure on the opponent. The player who may have far greater defense skills but who has difficulty running several balls will eventually lose to the better shooter. This just has to be the case because regardless of the quality of a players defense, the game requires a specific number of balls being pocketed. Sure, the defensive player will frustrate the shooter who has no conception of the game and that player will run two or three at a time. But that same player must maneuver so much more than the shooter who finds one shot and is then in control of the outcome of the game because of his skills at running the balls. Defense gets you only so far an then you MUST shoot!
Learn patterns for running as many balls as possible. Do as Lou suggested and develop 14.1 skills of pattern play. Rack the balls and break them open. Choose a pocket and learn how best to run balls into that single pocket. Do this over and over again and do your best to remember what patterns worked and what patterns got you in trouble limiting the potential number of balls available.
Watch the patterns of the great players. You will eventually notice they
may shoot one or two difficult shots during a run out but typically these players do simple things to exact the most out of their inning.
Certainly there is much to playing solid One Pocket, more than most any other game of pool but the player with the skill to run out from more positions is the player who will dominate the game.
Tom
