key ball in 14.1

key ball in 14.1

Post by Mike Pa » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 07:17:24


I occasionally see some good pool players play 14.1, but I rarely see good
14.1 players play 14.1.  So I think I'm still missing some of the basics.
In particular, what are some good locations for a key ball (the 14th ball,
used to get shape on the break ball) for the standard break shot?

Here is a common situation I create for myself.  In a table like the
following, I try to keep my options open by leaving *both* the 4 and the 2
untouched.

 START(
%AK2G2%BM7S9%Cb2W9%DM3K7%EE9Y0%FD9I7%GW9H1%H]8K6%Iq9H4%PX3Q1

)END

 And then I find myself hitting one of them in to get shape on the other.

Any general thoughts on key balls?

--
mike page
fargo

 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by Bradley E. Robertso » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 09:44:58

My high run is only 37 Mike, so I claim no superior knowledge, but shouldn't
the seven or eight be the key ball?

Brad

 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by Roger Orsula » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 11:03:31

You're right Brad.  I think Mike left that as unsaid and understood.
His point is that the 2 and 4 are good break balls and he tries to not
disturb them.  This is a good layout for illustration because the 2 is a
'better' break ball for a couple of reasons, but the 4 is easier to get
position on from either choice of the key balls that you pointed out.  I
say that the 2 is the better break ball because it sits higher in the
rack, and also, if I remember correctly, Mike is a right hander and this
side of the rack is favored by right handers for break shots.

Now, for the 2 ball, the 8 is the preferred key ball, but only if you
are shooting from near the 3. With only the 3, 8, and 2 on the table and
the cue ball in its current position, shoot the 3 and roll the cue ball
just a little higher than the 3.  This allows basically a stun shot on
the 8 into the side. From this position, you get the most margin for
error on the key ball shot, because when shooting the stun shot, the cue
ball will roll in a direct line with the preferred break position.
Problem is, these aren't the only 3 balls on the table, and the 3 is
best used to get to the 9, which I see as the trouble ball in this rack.

In this case I don't think I'd leave the 4 around too long.  As a matter
of fact, I think I would shoot it first, then the 7 in the side, 1, 6,
and then use the 5 to get down table for the 9.  I'd go back to the
middle of the table from the 9 to shoot the 3 and then 8 as I described
earlier.  If I'm short on the position for the 3, I have a couple of
pockets to play the 8 to get shape on the 3, and come off the left head
cushion back to about where the cueball is now for the break....

...but I'm always willing to learn...

Roger
delete 'no' if replying by email

Quote:

> My high run is only 37 Mike, so I claim no superior knowledge, but shouldn't
> the seven or eight be the key ball?

> Brad


 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by Bob Jewet » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:21:04

Quote:

> In particular, what are some good locations for a key ball ...
> Here is a common situation I create for myself.  In a table like the
> following, I try to keep my options open by leaving *both* the 4 and the 2
> untouched.

I don't do flash, so I'm guessing that both of these balls are break
balls by the side of the rack.  I think it's best if they are on the
same side of the rack, and the preferred key ball is the one nearer the
cushion.  I think the best key ball for a side-of-the-rack break is
a stop shot into that side pocket.  For a back-of-the-rack break, a
similarly placed pair is nice, but any ball near either of the corner
pockets will do.

--

Bob Jewett

 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by Roger Orsula » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 11:16:55

Bob:  I offer the following for the Flash-challenged.  I sure hope it's
fixed width font so you don't yell at me...

Roger
   ________________________________    ______________________________

|          1                                                            |
|                               7                                     9 |
|  6
|               4                       8
|
|
|                    .  
|                                 C
|
|                 2
|                                               3
|   5
   _______________________________    _______________________________

Quote:


> > In particular, what are some good locations for a key ball ...

> > Here is a common situation I create for myself.  In a table like the
> > following, I try to keep my options open by leaving *both* the 4 and the 2
> > untouched.

> I don't do flash, so I'm guessing that both of these balls are break
> balls by the side of the rack.  I think it's best if they are on the
> same side of the rack, and the preferred key ball is the one nearer the
> cushion.  I think the best key ball for a side-of-the-rack break is
> a stop shot into that side pocket.  For a back-of-the-rack break, a
> similarly placed pair is nice, but any ball near either of the corner
> pockets will do.

> --

> Bob Jewett

 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by Patrick Johnso » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 11:32:08

14.1 strategy is a topic we don't discuss enough around here.  I renamed this
"threadlet" to ask about another aspect of it without derailing the key ball
discussion.

I've heard "pattern play" mentioned a lot, but have never heard a description
of it.  The pattern strategy I've heard about most for 14.1 is one where you
go from one group of balls to the next.  Does anybody know the details of that
one or have any other pattern play insights for 14.1?

Pat Johnson
Chicago

 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by Patrick Johnso » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 11:32:32

Quote:

> ... shouldn't the seven or eight be the key ball?

I think those or the 3 would be ideal, being closest to where you want the cue
ball to end up for the break shot (essentially straight uptable from the break
ball).  Like Mike, I try to keep an extra break ball (or even two) around until
the end of the rack for insurance, and I also like to keep more than one key
ball around for the same reason.  So all things being equal, in this layout I
might end up with the last five balls on the table being the 7,8 and 3 (3 key
balls) and the 4 and 2 (2 break balls), and start making my decisions from
there.  In this specific case, it looks like I should shoot the 9 first so I
don't have to use any of the key balls as "stepping stone" shots to get down
there for it.

Actually, this layout is so good you hardly have to make any decisions.  There
are a half dozen break balls and key balls for all of 'em.

Pat Johnson
Chicago

 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by JR » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 14:47:52

On Mon, 19 Mar 2001 20:32:08 -0600, Patrick Johnson
 yes Pat their is , the firt thing you want to advode is clusters yes
but you have to deal with them the first is to look at the lay out of
the table you have to pick out the cluster you think would be best to
stay with the plan or patten their lays your  " Key Ball" I hope this
will help. / JR.
Quote:
>14.1 strategy is a topic we don't discuss enough around here.  I renamed this
>"threadlet" to ask about another aspect of it without derailing the key ball
>discussion.

>I've heard "pattern play" mentioned a lot, but have never heard a description
>of it.  The pattern strategy I've heard about most for 14.1 is one where you
>go from one group of balls to the next.  Does anybody know the details of that
>one or have any other pattern play insights for 14.1?

>Pat Johnson
>Chicago

 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by Thomas Boerne » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 19:52:35

I usually go for this strategy: Look for the break ball and the key ball and stay
away from them! Break small clusters as soon as possible. Pot balls close to the
rail as soon as possible. Pot balls in front of a pocket as soon as possible if
they are blocking other balls. That's just very common. I divide the rack in three
parts, the***one or two balls after the break are very important to get
started, mostly I try to go up the table, if there are some balls, in order to
play those first, avoiding long distance position shots at the end of the rack.
Then I play the next 8-10 balls in any order regarding the first four rules I
stated above. The pattern in the middle of the rack is not so important, just pot
the balls and keep position. The most important pattern comes up when you play the
last 3-5 balls. You have to get a good position for the key ball! If that's not
very easy, I usually make a short break in my run to think about the pattern, but
the more you play, the easier and faster you will be able to see the pattern.
Sometimes I know how I want to play the last four balls right in the beginning of
the rack, when I look for the break and the key ball AND the key ball for the key
ball!!!

I found out for me, that I should not think about the pattern in the middle of the
rack, because I'm likely to lose my rhythm and my speed due to too much thinking
about the right pattern, only the last 3-5 balls are very important. The sooner
you know which ones those are and how to play them, the better you will perform!

An easy example for th erack mentioned by Mike Page, I'd do it like this: Key
balls are the 7 or the 8, the 7 is better IMO. Break ball most likely the 4! I'd
play the 1, 5, 6 first, then going for the 3 and the 9, playing position for the 8
then. Assuming the I have a straight in shot for the 8, I'd make it also straight
for the 2 next, then a stop shot on the 2 and some draw or maybe a little follow
with high right english for the 7 to get perfect position for the 4 as break ball.
Maybe it could be better to go for the 3 and the 9 earlier, but I think this is
the easiest way to do it, for other players there's sure another solution, which
might be better.

IMO there's no perfect pattern to play in 14.1. There only the best pattern for
each individual player, regarding his/her abilities and shape and the way of
thinking and playing positions that he/she likes most. But there is one thing
that's more important than any other: don't think too much, play with rhythm and
follow your heart, otherwise you will spend too much effort, getting tired or
annoyed by bad positions too early and you won't ever play high scores regularly!
Being exhausted after 50 balls is the worst thing that can ever happen!!

Best regards, Thomas

Patrick Johnson schrieb:

Quote:
> 14.1 strategy is a topic we don't discuss enough around here.  I renamed this
> "threadlet" to ask about another aspect of it without derailing the key ball
> discussion.

> I've heard "pattern play" mentioned a lot, but have never heard a description
> of it.  The pattern strategy I've heard about most for 14.1 is one where you
> go from one group of balls to the next.  Does anybody know the details of that
> one or have any other pattern play insights for 14.1?

> Pat Johnson
> Chicago

 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by Thomas Boerne » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 19:58:38

I forgot something that comes to my mind every time I play pool, especially when
playing straight pool:

Albert Einstein once said: "You should do everything as simple as possible, but not
simpler!"

This really helps me a lot!

All the best, Thomas

P.S. There's another very helpful advice from Willi Mosconi, maybe the most important
advice ever given: "Don't miss!" ;-)))

 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by JR » Wed, 21 Mar 2001 20:42:48

On Tue, 20 Mar 2001 11:52:35 +0100, Thomas Boerner
Yes Thomas all i here is the 3 ball than the 5 ball were is the 25
ball or the 35 ball in  your run tell me that what game are we taking
about, and yes we are shooting the ball etc../ JR.
Quote:
>I usually go for this strategy: Look for the break ball and the key ball and stay
>away from them! Break small clusters as soon as possible. Pot balls close to the
>rail as soon as possible. Pot balls in front of a pocket as soon as possible if
>they are blocking other balls. That's just very common. I divide the rack in three
>parts, the***one or two balls after the break are very important to get
>started, mostly I try to go up the table, if there are some balls, in order to
>play those first, avoiding long distance position shots at the end of the rack.
>Then I play the next 8-10 balls in any order regarding the first four rules I
>stated above. The pattern in the middle of the rack is not so important, just pot
>the balls and keep position. The most important pattern comes up when you play the
>last 3-5 balls. You have to get a good position for the key ball! If that's not
>very easy, I usually make a short break in my run to think about the pattern, but
>the more you play, the easier and faster you will be able to see the pattern.
>Sometimes I know how I want to play the last four balls right in the beginning of
>the rack, when I look for the break and the key ball AND the key ball for the key
>ball!!!

>I found out for me, that I should not think about the pattern in the middle of the
>rack, because I'm likely to lose my rhythm and my speed due to too much thinking
>about the right pattern, only the last 3-5 balls are very important. The sooner
>you know which ones those are and how to play them, the better you will perform!

>An easy example for th erack mentioned by Mike Page, I'd do it like this: Key
>balls are the 7 or the 8, the 7 is better IMO. Break ball most likely the 4! I'd
>play the 1, 5, 6 first, then going for the 3 and the 9, playing position for the 8
>then. Assuming the I have a straight in shot for the 8, I'd make it also straight
>for the 2 next, then a stop shot on the 2 and some draw or maybe a little follow
>with high right english for the 7 to get perfect position for the 4 as break ball.
>Maybe it could be better to go for the 3 and the 9 earlier, but I think this is
>the easiest way to do it, for other players there's sure another solution, which
>might be better.

>IMO there's no perfect pattern to play in 14.1. There only the best pattern for
>each individual player, regarding his/her abilities and shape and the way of
>thinking and playing positions that he/she likes most. But there is one thing
>that's more important than any other: don't think too much, play with rhythm and
>follow your heart, otherwise you will spend too much effort, getting tired or
>annoyed by bad positions too early and you won't ever play high scores regularly!
>Being exhausted after 50 balls is the worst thing that can ever happen!!

>Best regards, Thomas

>Patrick Johnson schrieb:

>> 14.1 strategy is a topic we don't discuss enough around here.  I renamed this
>> "threadlet" to ask about another aspect of it without derailing the key ball
>> discussion.

>> I've heard "pattern play" mentioned a lot, but have never heard a description
>> of it.  The pattern strategy I've heard about most for 14.1 is one where you
>> go from one group of balls to the next.  Does anybody know the details of that
>> one or have any other pattern play insights for 14.1?

>> Pat Johnson
>> Chicago

 
 
 

key ball in 14.1

Post by Thomas Boerne » Thu, 22 Mar 2001 00:21:17

Quote:

> Yes Thomas all i here is the 3 ball than the 5 ball were is the 25
> ball or the 35 ball in  your run tell me that what game are we taking
> about, and yes we are shooting the ball etc../ JR.

Sorry, I don't get the point! What do you mean with your comment?
Sure I know that my English sometimes lacks the right words or
phrases to describe things properly, but I'm working *** it ...
Could you please repeat in a clear way what you wanted to tell me
with your comment?

Regards, Thomas