Hey guys,

I've always been fascinated by the game of one pocket. I only ever see old guys that have been playing pool for like 40 years playing it. Someone told me that if you can get good at one pocket, playing games like 9 and 8 ball become much easier. Would you say that's accurate? What steps should I take to improve my one pocket game?

redacted. thinking of a different game. sorry.

So it's just that you have to make the 8 ball in the pocket where you made your last ball? Not literally one pocket where you make ALL in the same one? Lol, dumb question I know..

deleted my post. i was thinking of last pocket. i am tired and not thinking straight. sorry. carry on.


one pocket looks like straight pool in that it takes a lot of position thinking throughout the game to get the cue where you want it. mentally tough game, but can be a lot of fun.

Each player gets one pocket in a bottom corner in which they can pocket balls. The 8 ball is the same as every other ball and you get one point for each ball that goes in your pocket. It is a race to points. Typically first to 8 points wins.

Str8 pool is the purest game. Str8 pool is the goat pool game follewd by 9/ten ball then ball in hand 8 ball then one pocket or 5 or 3 ball.

Why? How hard is it when you can play for shape on any ball on the table?

It's a multi rack game it's holding runs and busting into the pack that makes it fun.

[QUOTE=darthwager;43129786]Str8 pool is the purest game./QUOTE]
+1
Before my grandpa passed, he would tell me stories of how straight pool was the game of choice for betting in the 40's-50's in the Appalachian region. It wasnt until the early 60's when the coal mining industry went bad, & the money dried up in the Appalachian region forcing guys/hustlers to move north to find new jobs & hustlers to find new marks that had $$. Thats when 9ball started getting played more often & growing in popularity as the betting mans game in the midwest. Any1 that can run 100+ balls in straight pool, ive got an immense amount of respect for there skill.

Playing one pocket improves many aspects of your game other than just ball making. It forces you to really think and control the cue ball, banking becomes very important, and pocket speed becomes very important. The best way to get better is find someone who plays and grind.

One pocket is good for people that can't pocket many balls in a row (like 9 ball players), but have good banks, understanding of the table and understanding of one-pocket. It's a great game to even stroke edge against better players if you know one pocket well.

One pocket is more balanced than Str8 pool, as it rewards risk and requires moving multiple balls in one shot rather than trying to avoid balls and rails in a straight pool run. Safeties are equally hard but more creative in one pocket.

All in all one pocket is one of the best pool games around as it requires every type of shot making, patience, run outs, and banks.

The best way to get good at one pocket is watch Efren Reyes and other play one-pocket free on youtube so you understand shot selection. It's also a good game to play against your self, so long as you don't get frustrated if you miss.

Wat? In no universe does any rotation game rank higher than 1pocket, and 8-ball doesn't even belong in the discussion.

The correct answer is

1) 14.1/one-pocket/snooker (tie)
2) 10 ball
3) who cares?

I agree. Leaving out snooker, as it is played with different equipment.....

1) One-pocket
2) 14.1
but only because I have only ever played 14.1 and am a long way off understanding the subtleties of one-pocket
3) 10 ball
4) 8 ball (call shot of course)
5) 9 ball

Of the "official" championship games that would make it 14.1, 10, 8, 9 in that order.

Call shot 9 ball (which is the only way to practice 9 ball in my book) would sit between 10 ball and 8 ball on the list.

Although of course 14.1 is the purest and is, essentially, "the game of pool".

To leave out Str8 pool is upsurd.

isn't 14.1 = str8 pool?

Probly is or at least a variation. But I've never heard it called that then again it's an older game only 29 so the game was dead for the general public before I was born probably lol

yes afaik.

The game known as 14.1 is actually called '14.1 continuous' and is also more commonly known as 'straight pool'. It was also called 'straights' and sometimes 'call shot' at varying times.

Straight pool's getting a revival. There are quite a few videos on youtube of 14.1 tournaments featuring big name pros. It's also Thorsten Hohmann's favourite game.

It is not a n00b friendly game though, probably why it's not really played at the recreational level. I personally use it as a practice tool to improve my very mediocre (at best) positional play and cueball control.

Its played at the world championships which are going on now or just finished I believe.

Probably not the best place for this but this thread got me thinking, has there ever been a book published ranking the handicaps/spots? I think that would be very interesting. Talking about the different skills for different variants is what got me thinking of it. If somebody could put that all in one place and do a good job with it I'd certainly buy it. Even if the format was just something like; Chapter 1 - 10 small handicaps (and then each are explained), Chapter 2 - 10 mid sized handicaps, Chapter 3 - 10 large handicaps, Chapter 4 - biggest sucker bets. I'd eat something like that up even as somebody who probably wouldn't put any of it to practice.

One pocket is the ultimate gambling game. It is easy to handicap and easy to sandbag. If you are halfway decent at hustling, a lesser player never knows they are getting took. You dont have to miss on purpose, just put yourself in traps and make it look like you got a bad roll.

Yes as far as the game goes, it will improve your position play and bank shots. Also, you will be able to make the big shots in the heat of the moment. As for the poster who claims it isnt a game for those who cant run balls, I disagree. I know many run out players who play the game well. I also know many run out player who get their ass handed to them because they dont understand the strategy. The run outs are actually very much harder than nine ball or straight pool since you are shooting at one hole.

i will? cool..

Haha, that did sound dumb. What I meant is in one pocket, one shot can change the game entirely, giving advantage to your opponent, so it makes you concentrate on high pressure situations.