What is your one-pocket thought process when in a game of one-pocket? Freddy, Grady, Artie, Billy....I'd love to hear your responses.
When I play one pocket I'm trying to analyze several things before making a shot selection on each inning.
*Do I have an offensive shot. If I do have an offensive shot what is my percentage of making that shot. If it is a low-percentage will I sell out if I miss, or possibly will the missed ball roll into a strong position for my opponent. If I'm one hundred percent confident in my ability to pocket the ball, then I plan the run...what shot(s) am I going to take next.
*If I'm in a position where I don't have a reasonable "straight-in" offensive shot, or high percentage bank I try to think tight-aggressive. Can I possibly one-rail, two-rail, or three-rail a ball near my hole while controlling the cue ball, and not selling out any offensive opportunity. If I'm only going to sell out a medium percentage bank for my opponent, but I'm confident in my ability to get a ball "near" my hole, it might be worth it since I know (if they're smart) they won't even look at the medium percentage bank due to the sell-out factor. Of course, I have to look at if they can take that medium percentage bank but put the rock in a safe place preventing me from getting to the offensive threat I've just created. There are just so many factors and things to think about.
* In "my" game, I look at a long rail bank as low percentage unless I am 100% confident in my ability to control the speed of the object ball, leaving it near my hole if I miss, and controlling the cue ball. I always think about the sell-out factor and I try to think what shots or potential opportunities I will leave my opponent with if all things are executed as planned.
*Kicking: If I'm in a position where I need to kick a ball out of my opponents pocket, I always try to analyze if there is anything I can sell out, and am I confident in my ability to control the rock depending upon the angle of the kick/placement of the cue-ball and object ball. Sometimes, I like kicking a ball "near" my hole if I'm confident that I can stick the cueball safe, and through that kick place the object ball near my hole to pose a threat.
I guess I'm going too in-depth, but to sum it up, regardless of the position I'm in I think:
*Sell-out factor: Will the placements of the balls after my inning offer any high percentage offensive opportunities to my opponent.
*Can I put something near my hole to pose a potential threat to my hole while placing the cue ball in a position that doesn't pose any offensive opportunities to my opponent, and if there are opportunities they are risky at best.
Due to the infrequency of my play, I try to keep a very tight-aggressive mentality to my one-pocket game. If I'm pocketing balls well, this style works out even better, and I "might" be a bit more aggressive with my shot selection due to how I'm feeling. I think that probably applies to everyone. If I'm not pocketing well, but perhaps my speed is good, then my perception of what a good "percentage" shot is will obviously change and due to this caution I won't make as many mistakes.
Last but most important, over anything else, I remind myself to be patient. A lack of patience and proper analysis has cost me many a one pocket game. I remind myself each time at bat to be patient and be 100% in my decision before even getting down on the shot. This of course takes a lot of discipline, but is most important (and that applies to any billiard game I think).
Ok...so there is a brief synopsis of how I try to think when I'm playing one-pocket.
Anyone else?
When I play one pocket I'm trying to analyze several things before making a shot selection on each inning.
*Do I have an offensive shot. If I do have an offensive shot what is my percentage of making that shot. If it is a low-percentage will I sell out if I miss, or possibly will the missed ball roll into a strong position for my opponent. If I'm one hundred percent confident in my ability to pocket the ball, then I plan the run...what shot(s) am I going to take next.
*If I'm in a position where I don't have a reasonable "straight-in" offensive shot, or high percentage bank I try to think tight-aggressive. Can I possibly one-rail, two-rail, or three-rail a ball near my hole while controlling the cue ball, and not selling out any offensive opportunity. If I'm only going to sell out a medium percentage bank for my opponent, but I'm confident in my ability to get a ball "near" my hole, it might be worth it since I know (if they're smart) they won't even look at the medium percentage bank due to the sell-out factor. Of course, I have to look at if they can take that medium percentage bank but put the rock in a safe place preventing me from getting to the offensive threat I've just created. There are just so many factors and things to think about.
* In "my" game, I look at a long rail bank as low percentage unless I am 100% confident in my ability to control the speed of the object ball, leaving it near my hole if I miss, and controlling the cue ball. I always think about the sell-out factor and I try to think what shots or potential opportunities I will leave my opponent with if all things are executed as planned.
*Kicking: If I'm in a position where I need to kick a ball out of my opponents pocket, I always try to analyze if there is anything I can sell out, and am I confident in my ability to control the rock depending upon the angle of the kick/placement of the cue-ball and object ball. Sometimes, I like kicking a ball "near" my hole if I'm confident that I can stick the cueball safe, and through that kick place the object ball near my hole to pose a threat.
I guess I'm going too in-depth, but to sum it up, regardless of the position I'm in I think:
*Sell-out factor: Will the placements of the balls after my inning offer any high percentage offensive opportunities to my opponent.
*Can I put something near my hole to pose a potential threat to my hole while placing the cue ball in a position that doesn't pose any offensive opportunities to my opponent, and if there are opportunities they are risky at best.
Due to the infrequency of my play, I try to keep a very tight-aggressive mentality to my one-pocket game. If I'm pocketing balls well, this style works out even better, and I "might" be a bit more aggressive with my shot selection due to how I'm feeling. I think that probably applies to everyone. If I'm not pocketing well, but perhaps my speed is good, then my perception of what a good "percentage" shot is will obviously change and due to this caution I won't make as many mistakes.
Last but most important, over anything else, I remind myself to be patient. A lack of patience and proper analysis has cost me many a one pocket game. I remind myself each time at bat to be patient and be 100% in my decision before even getting down on the shot. This of course takes a lot of discipline, but is most important (and that applies to any billiard game I think).
Ok...so there is a brief synopsis of how I try to think when I'm playing one-pocket.
Anyone else?