*See all submitted scores and videos in the video description above.* *Topics Covered:* Intro [0:00] Opening Break [1:17] Break Ball [2:37] Pattern Play [3:41] Solving Problems [6:04] Break Shots [9:28] Example Run [10:46] Wrap-Up [13:31] *Supporting Resources:* - Pool Etiquette T-shirt: drdavebilliardtshirts.com/product-category/general/pool-etiquette/ - Efren GOAT T-shirt: drdavebilliardtshirts.com/product-category/humor/goat-hero/ - straight pool rules: wpapool.com/rules-of-play/#Continuous-Pool - getting a tight rack: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/break/racking/ - 30 degree rule peace sign technique: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/30-90-rules/30-degree-rule/ - System for Aiming With Sidespin (SAWS): drdavebilliards.com/videos/saws/ - mental game of pool: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/mental/
Straight ball is the funnest, most interesting form of practice for me. Leaving a break ball is always tricky and can lead to a lot of extra innings. I have downloaded the “Practice 14.1” app and that tracks workout runouts to 125 balls and keeps score for me, because I’m at a level where I’d be happy to just keep my innings below my age, let alone running out balls to may age.
Straight pool makes a person use every club in your bag compared to 8 0r 9 ball. It has been said that to reach higher levels at anything you need to put in 5,000 hours or more. There is some truth to that. Practice is so important but is not enough,you also need a scrapbook of knowledge that needs to grow with it. Much of my passion for pool is the quest to get in the so called zone and stay there as long as possible. When you are in it the room gets a glow and usually the one who can stay their the longest will win. Thanks for keeping this wonderful game alive.
Superior, Colo., August, 15, 2019 - The Billiard Congress of America would like to formally congratulate John Schmidt on his 14.1 exhibition high run of 626 balls, breaking Willie Mosconi’s 65-year-old record of 526 balls. On March 19, 1954 William J. Mosconi, playing in the East High Billiard Club in Springfield, Ohio, ran 526 balls in an exhibition match against Earl “Jake” Bruney. Mosconi’s run lasted approximately 4.5 hours and was played on an oversized 4′ x 8′ Brunswick Exposition Table. On May 27, 2019 John Schmidt, playing in the Easy Street Billiards Pool Hall in Monterey, California, ran 626 balls. Schmidt’s run, recorded on video, lasted just over 4 hours and was played on a 4.5′ x 9′ Rebco Pocket Billiard Table on Simonis 760 cloth with 5″ corner pocket openings, and 5.5″ side pocket openings. Schmidt used Super Aramith Pro Belgian billiard balls, a Sardo rack, a Predator P3 Red Butt along with a Predator Revo 12.4 mm carbon composite shaft that weighed 19.5 oz and had a length of 58″. Mosconi’s record took place during a 14.1 exhibition match. Having defeated his opponent, Mosconi kept shooting until he reached 526. Schmidt’s record took place during an intentional attempt to break Mosconi’s record. After viewing the unedited video, the Billiard Congress of America is proud to acknowledge John Schmidt’s 626 run as the new 14.1 exhibition high run record.
I love Straight Pool. My highest run so far is 94, roughly 3 times my age. Some things I'd like to add. - Always break clusters with control and insurance. If you don't have a shot after breaking up a cluster, it is 99% your own fault. - With break balls to the side of the rack, the larger the angle the safer it is to play with top spin, because it will pull the cueball away from the corner pocket. - Spinning balls in with inside spin is a shot that comes up all the time in Straight Pool. - I don't like leaving isolated balls to the side pocket as a keyball to the break ball, like at 12:51 for example. You make a good shot on the 13 to get straight on the 4 and say this is easy. But this was not guaranteed position at all, especially since you were hampered by the 4. This could have easily gone wrong. Go too far - even by one ball width - and you are screwed. Come up short, and you may end up with a long shot on the break ball or have to go up and down the table. Side pocket key balls are great when you have a connect-the-dots-stop-shot-pattern leading up to it. - In general, take extra with the last few balls leading to the break ball. Ideally, these should all be stop shots, but that's not always possible. Any slight positional error or wrong angle can turn a deceivingly easy pattern into a run-ending nightmare. This video could be one hour long and still couldn't cover everything. If you want to dig deeper into strategy and pattern play I recommend Phil Capelle's "Play Your Best Straight Pool" book. It helped me a lot.
@@DrDaveBilliards I'm afraid I can't participate because I don't want to post videos of myself online. :( But I am going to practice anyway and make a few attempts.
Thanks DD.... I'll try my best, but so far 15 is my best. I either trip before the first track, or I can't get a shot after a break, ever it seems..... No wired combos, nothing. I've run 15 at least ten times, but that's my highest as of right now
I had a goal at 14 years old to be able to run 50 balls. I was able to do it at 46 years old. It took 5 more years and lots of practice before I did it again. Its very hard but worth the effort. Since then I was able to break 50 47 times in 1 year and finally had a high run of 105. Sure would like to do it again even though I am now 69.
Being over 50, you've earned the right to enter the "100 Minus Your Age" category. See the videos listed already in this category in the video description. I look forward to seeing videos from more "wise" people like yourself. :)
@@DrDaveBilliards well, day 1 of the challenge did not go well - managed 23. I need to get a tripod too - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lOAGDSBC1zE.html
@@IndianHeathen1982 Thank you for participating. I've added your info to the video description. I look forward to seeing how much higher you can go, and if you can reach your age.
26 is far from your age 59, but it is closer to "100 minus your age" (100 - 59 = 41), so you should be able to more easily achieve that goal (now or maybe in future years), per the others listed in the video description. Please post a video link if you do so I can add you to the list. Good luck!
Thanks for this video and the challenge. I am 74 and here is my entry of 58 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZZkWDdtDIrA.html with commentary. Shy of running my age, but it's a start. Thanks for all that you do in promoting the understanding of this great game!
Good shooting. Thank you for being our oldest participant so far. I look forward to seeing a 74 or 75 from you in the near future. FYI, I've added your info to the video description above.
Great challenge Dave! I'll definitely be participating. Everyone always talks about drills to practice, but I find it very boring and doesn't hold my interest. I play 1 player straight pool instead. This seems to get my complete focus, similar to if I'm playing tournaments or cash. Best practice there is in my opinion.
Dave, your content is superb. Thank you for putting so much effort into furthering the sport and teaching everyone so much. I finally got my own pool table lined up to bring home and I could not be more excited! I will be sure to use your drills to keep improving.
Straight pool is the games best teacher, You have to master safety play, pattern recognition, excellent cue ball control just to name some of the game. Counting your run is not a good idea. At the end of a rack mark your run a. I kept all fifty plus runs and focus only on the task at hand when going through the rack. While getting a run in the twenties may take you some time but a good straight pool player is tough to beat. My high is 71 and I am 68. Once i could run 20 I always wanted to push it up. here are a few suggestions that should help you. After you open a rack look the balls over and identify the problems you have to solve. The open balls are your bullets. I do not like a side pocket break as the cue ball is turned loose and can easily end your run. Get rid of the balls at the end of the table cleared and then go to center table. The balls behind the head string should be removed and what is left is center table. When you have a good break ball and a key ball, which is pocketed to get good shape for the break do not use these balls unless you have to. When breaking up a cluster do not hit it hard as you may well create another problem. The balls behind the rack are the ones to get rid of asap. In other words do not go from one end of the table to the other if you do not have to. This is the biggest difference between the American players and the European players, which often have the last four to five balls scattered around the table. When breaking try to hit a ball in the rack directly and not two balls at once. you do not have to kill the breal shot and make sure you try to get the cue ball in center table after your break shot. Simple combinations are ok but banking balls in 14.1 is not the way to play the game. My biggest problem was , had a one foot straight in shot and missed. ran another 37 and missed the identical shot looking past another tap in. i would have been at 86 with a wide open table. I had the century break by the throat and let it up. My first legit miss was the 113 ball. .Its a cruel game and all high runs start with a shot at a time. its frustrating but after you play straight pool for a year or two your game will be at a much higher level, I do not play eight ball and some nine for the long shot shape control. Its a 80/ split with 14.1 being the 80 percent. I suggest you watch Earl Strickland run a 1 balls and explain what he is doing. At the get go i emailed four pros and ask what game will teach me what i needed to improve and sharpen my game. All four suggested straight pool. Just take it a shot at a time , pick out the break ball and key ball early. played correctly you will pot 80 to 90 percent of you balls in the top two corner pockets. Its going to be frustrating but you never get stronger lifting the same weight. make sue you look at the mistakes as these are very good teacher.
I have a question. Some video's that I watch about straight pool, or 14.1, start the game with a full rack and cue ball in the kitchen. Others start with what appears to be a 14 ball rack, object ball in hand and cue ball in hand. Are these just two different games or a different rule set such as APA 8 ball and Valley 8 Ball? Your "Age challenge" will be a long hall for me, I think the best I shot was 9 and I am over 50... :)
A traditional straight pool game or match starts with a 15-ball rack, but an exhibition high-run attempt usually starts with CB and OB in hand with a break-out shot.
A little off-topic but anyone know how do I refinish my cue shaft? Someone used linseed oil on my one cue after sanding w 2000 grit seems to be slick just gotta clean every day lol, I want to fix my other after cleaning so much over time it took off some the shiny finish makes it not slick. Just curious if there's better, Thanks
@@DrDaveBilliards lol yeah then no need to refinish. :p A little out of my budget now. I work in a wood shop I spray laquer and water base on furniture, I heard those finishes don't last I dunno I might think of trying to see what happens I won't try on my main cue, both are Dufferin made of maple. I do plan on saving for a predator shaft next year hehe
Get a pool table. Work on your fundamentals. Lot's of help can be found here: billiards.colostate.edu/tutorial/fundamentals/ And for draw shot advice, see the videos and info here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/draw/advice-and-drills/ Good luck with your game!
Uh never played straight pool, but I'm gonna try the challenge. Also I have a question for you, in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sbobEBBWofE.html at min 32.30 I think SVB performs a 3 rail bank to the middle pocket, then answers a question about getting robbed and after it, he performs the same bank two times more. And I've tried to find that kicking system or something similar and I couldn't find nothing. Do you have any idea on how is pulled off? And of u know would you make a video about it? Thanks a lot for your videos!
Enjoy the Challenge. Concerning Shane's shot, I think that is just a shot he has practiced before so he has it dialed in. I don't know of any reliable systems for shots like that. If you want to be able to hit shots like that, you should practice those types of shots (like Shane did).
The current record exhibition straight pool run to date is 669 (under all-ball fouls, 714 under CB fouls only) set by Jayson Shaw in January, 2022. The previous record was 626, set by John Schmidt in 2019. It broke the long-standing record of 526 by Willie Mosconi set in 1954.
I can't run my age, sadly. Despite playing at the poolhall with my grandfather for many years, I'm still a pretty bad player since we only play very casually for fun, minimal to no true practice. My highest score is 9 in a row, I just turned 22
@@DrDaveBilliards I've been wanting to get serious with improvement lately, maybe now's finally a good time to put in the work. I suppose I'll see what happens
Thought so I’m about to join a pool league today and only thing they play is 8 ball from what I seen sadly but I like to practice other games by myself
I'm back with my second entry. This is a 70 ball run with commentary which is still shy of my age, now 75. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wmNt5AoJbr8.html
Awesome shooting. You're an inspiration. FYI, I've updated your entry in the video description here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BgBiT4yVeJw.html BTW, excellent work with the "instructional embellishments" in your video.
@@DrDaveBilliards Thanks, Dr. Dave. I am flattered by your comments. They mean a lot coming from you given that you’ve inspired me and taught me so much with your hundreds of videos. If I only had your videos to learn from in 1960 when I started. My only help was that little red book 'Winning Pocket Billiards' by Willie Mosconi.
Luckily for me, I tried 14.1 Pool earlier when I was 20(that is this year). But unfortunately, as usual, I wasn’t able to play pool during COVID-19 in Sabah(the highest infected Malaysian state cases in Malaysia).
I have been doing this for decades. It's tougher now. Huge difference between 25 and 67. All kinds of things seem to creep into your game. I am optimistic. 9 months left.
@@DrDaveBilliards thank you, is there anyway I can private message you just to talk. I just don’t really get many chances to talk to pool players I live in a small town in Canada and there are 2 semi pros here but no pros aside from haydar cappo I don’t know if you know him but he is the junior u17 national 9 ball champion here last year he lives about an hour away from me and he’s a really good player. But don’t got much chances to talk to high-class players
I just spent two hours practicing with Earl Strickland Sunday. He handed me my ass the whole time told my my hand looked like a wet towel on the table because I had an open bridge and my hand on the table. He insisted I would never get better if I can’t do a closed bridge which I can’t do because of pain or have a jacked up off the table bridge which doesn’t feel natural. I see you shooting like a champ and have a similar bridge to me. It takes all the fun away if I’m in pain or labor to make a bridge. Should I just ignore and keep going with what feels comfortable?
Old school players mostly used closed bridges but there is nothing wrong with a solid open bridge. In fact, it offers many advantages per the info here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/bridge/open/
@@DrDaveBilliards his problem mainly was I could never get the power or maneuverability on the cue that I can without a closed bridge. He was very intimidating so I wasted my time doing what he was saying to do in spite of my pain and hate for his bridge he was showing me. After all I am a beginner and he is Earl Strickland, so how could I possibly argue with what he is telling me? Even though I wished I did and had him show me something else other than my bridge hand. It’s what tripped me up our entire practice session
Watch snooker players. They all use an open bridge for every single shot including power draw shots. The balls are lighter but there is no reason you cannot do the same playing pool. Just make sure your stance is solid and good technique to stroke straight. Have fun!
@@ShortstopOnPool Again, there are many advantages to an open bridge: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/bridge/open/ and to a low stance: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/stance/low/ That's why practically all snooker players do these things, given the accuracy required in snooker.
1:17 with the opening break shot, you CAN NOT place a object ball anywhere you want. All 15 balls are to be racked in the triangle with 1 and 5 on the corners.
Did you not happen to pay attention to what he said right at the beginning of the video? You start with the cue ball and object ball in hand when playing ON YOUR OWN. You would be correct that, for the opening break in a match, all fifteen balls are to be racked, but the WPA World Standardised Rules for 14.1 Continuous Pool doesn't specify that the 1 and 5 balls have to be in the corners.
@@alexparxy fair enough. I just would think he would talk about the whole game. Including strategies for breaking. It's pretty important and different from 8 ball.
Incredibly correct. I’d argue that a good safety break is the most critical shot in straight pool. Some people would argue to go on the offensive and ‘trust in your break’, using an eight ball strategy to pocket either of the second row balls, or even borrow a strategy from nine ball, and cut the apex ball in the side. The opening break is probably the only shot where, to borrow a line from The Hustler, you’d look to play the percentages. An offensive break is too risky, as any ball you think you’ll make can end up missing, leaving the balls spread out, and giving your opponent the chance to run a long way away, with regards to the score. I’m quite a fan of professional snooker, where the objective of the break-off shot is very much the same as it is in straight pool. Some may argue snooker players have it easier, given that the ‘baulk colours’ (yellow, green and brown) can serve as a target to roll the cue ball behind. I personally wouldn’t, arguing that distance between the cue ball and the ‘ball on’ (ideal object ball to hit) is a bigger factor; if you leave the cue ball on the bottom cushion, only slightly leaving a red outside the pack off the side of the fourth or fifth row, there’s roughly eleven feet between the two balls, a distance most cue sports don’t even think about. The table layout promotes a safety break, in effect, as the breaking area ‘the D’ prevents from a player having a good angle on either second row ball, and the apex ball is entirely blocked, as the pink ball is placed near directly in front of the reds at the beginning of a frame.
@@alexparxy Correct me if I'm wrong but don't you have to call every shot in straight pool? So you wouldn't want to just lay into the rack on the break (like you would in 8 ball) because unless you know which is getting pocketed where, it won't help you. Slop doesn't count in straight pool, even on the break. That's correct...right?
You’re correct, straight pool is a call shot game. As I said, when breaking to start the match, you wouldn’t want to hit the rack hard and blindly call a ball, praying it goes in, so most players, including myself, will always play a safety off of the opening break, hitting the edge of the rack in such a way that the struck corner ball comes off the foot cushion back into the rack, the far corner ball comes off the long cushion back into the rack and the cue ball goes around the table, back behind the head string, with the rack largely left untouched.
A very nice example of the bust'em wide open attitude that the modern players (Billy Thorp), like to use. I may never run my age as I'm now 71, and each day gets me closer to the next number. I'd like to throw a plug out there for another fine book that explains 14.1 (Straight Pool when I was younger), is the one by George Fels, "Advanced Pool" , Techniques and Strategies for Mastering the Game. copyright 1996. George used to be the Editor for Billiards Digest. He also played an excellent game. George and many from the Boomer era that enjoyed seeing Straight pool played on Wide World of Sports while growing up got to see it played by the Masters, Mosconi, Crane, Lassiter, Balsus ... It's a close game. Mostly played on the rack end of the table. The shots are normally short, shape precise.
I'm absolutely, positively, 100% not saying this because I want a free VEEB DVD - but you're FIFTY-SIX? You've done it right, man. I'm 45 and falling apart at the seams.
Thanks. I've always been active. That helps. You keep talking like that, and a free DVD might be in your future, especially if you post a good score and video. :)
@@DrDaveBilliards yeah heard in USA its hard to get access to snooker tables and such while in the UK its everywhere and american pool tables are harder to find instead as we have UK pool which to me is a micky mouse game with the balls being a lot smaller than both american balls and snooker balls.
Hey Thomas if u think English Blackball is mickey mouse pool u never shot on an English pool table.. the table is the same size as American 8ball yet the pockets are half the size.. n then u have to deal with the rounded jaws vs the point jaws on American tables.. so again clearly you have never taken a single shot on a snooker or English pool table.. FACTS
@@LennyTepsich actually I do play snooker. Been playing snooker since I was 6 years Old. And also played english pool as well. Having played all cue sports english 8 ball is probably the worst set of rules and the balls are so small and light you can barely have as much control with the white vs what you can do on an american pool table. English pool is a dead game FACT
@@LennyTepsich and yeah ive played a lot of english pool i still think it is 100% a shit version of pool and its played on a 6ft table balls are like ping pong balls the game is shit and has 3 rule sets that are all shite. 2 shot rule is a joke even in BB with the 2 shots don't carry. Will play american and chinese pool over english pool any day!
Nice video back at it after 30 years away. Played very competitive back in the day still have it a bit. Been at straight pool with the neighbor for a while now. I hit 47. Will work on age now will be 52 in January.
Good video. I love straight pool. I have all the books and I watch all the videos. I want to keep getting better at this game. I am 51 and my high run is 98, but so many times it is just hard to get out of the 20s. Such a frustrating game. I thought I would ask for a little advice on things. I saw in a straight pool match, that the commentator said he overcuts thing draw shots to compensate for the slide, when he hits it hard. For me, I jaw balls in the side, when I hit it harder, so I am thinking something about my fundamentals may cause this, since they aren't great, and I need to hit those shots with less pace. Also, thoughts on not getting stuck in the rack? Other day, I have 42, hight break ball, that I hit with force follow and made the ball and another ball, but no shot other than some messed up cross corner bank which I actually made, but scratched in the side, off the pack. That had me wondering, maybe hit with high, but not so hard, so it glances. My best friend says I should set up a video camera, but not a technology person and haven't got around to it yet. I have several witnesses for 50 ball runs. Oh, and A Shortstop On Pool is the best straight pool book. Only book for people not new to the game. You should check it out if you haven't.
Aiming to over-cut shots if more important with slower shots, especially with stun, due to throw. See the videos and info here: billiards.colostate.edu/tutorial/throw/
Great video! Just treated the family to a 9’ table a month ago. Used to play lots of snooker & pool 25 years ago, it’s nice to be potting again. This straight pool challenge sounds like fun. A nice way to enjoy some solo pool time. Hope to share my 51 point run :| (I need reading glasses now (+2.00) any tips on where to buy a pair for pool? Still making “long” shots with blurry balls but it might be nice see crisp again while shooting.)
Challenge accepted, Dr Dave. Coincidentally I started playing in a local amateur straight pool league recently, I'm ranked towards the bottom and my high run so far is 11. Even more so than 8 ball or rotation, straight pool looks so easy but can be infuriatingly tricky when you actually get down to playing.
I have no problem running the rack, I just have trouble getting on the key ball, and when I do I totally choke on making the ball. lol I will practice this week.
Dr Dave, it's great to see you putting some time and instruction into straight pool. I know in todays game, big break shots and deep angles into those shots are very much the norm but can be harder to control and harder to predict the results. Depending on table and ball conditions you sometimes have to be more patient. Have you read Mastering Pool by the late George Fels? George was a tournament player in Chicago and contributor to Billiards Digest. His book gives some insight into a more controlled approach to straight pool which can be very helpful when the balls aren't reacting like they do on a freshly covered tournament table or when weather conditions change your playing environment. George is all about controlling the cue, EVEN ON BREAK SHOTS and secondary break shots. Some great insight, a classic read.
I have seen George's book. Solo high-run straight pool on modern pool cloth is definitely a different game, especially using a racking template or table training.
What a coincidence. Just today I started playing some 14.1... Damn its really tricky. It makes breaking and running rotation games look easy. I can only manage one rack as of now but will work on it and maybe record myself. If I get my 23 balls I will send you a vid doc. Thank you for the useful tips and guidance.
Challenge accepted!.. Now what dr dave t shirt to wear haha Great video. Will give it a try tomorrow! Never played straight pool. However The Hustler was a great movie!
I look forward to seeing how well you can do (and what shirt you decide to wear). I’m also new to playing straight pool. I think that’s why I am excited about participating in the Challenge.
@@DrDaveBilliards ha. I really dislike straight pool lol. Continously get to 16 and become unlucky with clusters or becoming hooked. U will continue another attempt tomorrow as today is Halloween and my kids are excited to get out! Thanks for checking in 😀
@@ericpoolguysimpson2954 Have fun with the kids. BTW, if you want to learn a little more about straight pool strategy, check out this Alex Lely video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xt1sX0YBIE0.html
@@DrDaveBilliards thank you for the link sir. I enjoy his commentating on the Billiard Network. I will watch some more of this. I wont give up lol i will submit a video with a shirt too. Thanks for checking in! Ps. Just got Simonis 860HR cloth. What a difference. Speak soon!
Honestly, I have played straight pool only a few times. My high run is 37, but I hope to do much better if I work at it for few weeks, which I plan to do. I at least hope to run my current age (56).
Hey Dr. before COVID I would always go to the YMCA and play pool. I watched you videos to give me tips and would destroy other people in a game. I just want to thank you for teaching me. I loved it and it will always be my favorite sport!
I don't play alot of straight pool but I do like to practice it on my own from time to time and one of the first times playing it I ran 36. Mind you that was on a bar box and I'm used to playing snooker on a 12 x 6. My goal if I ever truly commit to it is to break 75 for now and maybe one day run 150.
That's awesome. Do you have a video? If so, please post it so I can add you to the list in the video description; otherwise, maybe try again while recording.
@@DrDaveBilliards Didn't record it. Now I am learning straight pool with my coach for almost a month. Yesterday I got the "How to play your best straight pool" book and reading it
... you better get to work then. The “Run Your Age” Challenge definitely gets a lot tougher into your 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond. I really hope some 80 year olds out there will post some videos (or have a teenager help them with the video posting).
@@DrDaveBilliards Ha ha! Tape... I still remember that stuff... Actually, I play a version of this, without the breaks. I roll the balls out onto the table, randomly. I then pick solids or stripes, try to run them, then the 8 ball, then the rest. When I pocket the last ball, I try to leave the cueball as close to the center of the table as possible, and start over again. It admittedly doesn't help improve my breaking skills, but it does seem to add longevity to my cue tips and table cloth.
Found out my coach and other advanced players enjoy straight pool. I was surprised there isn’t as many tournaments around straight pool, and more importantly instructional videos... then BAM! Dr Dave dropping another banger and this time about straight pool
