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32 | OHCC LIVING | FEBRUARY 2022 | Straight Pool Written by Club VP Training, Gary Pelcher Straight Pool, which is also called 14.1 continuous, is played with 15 numbered balls and the cue ball. Each ball pocketed on a legal called shot counts one point, and the first player to reach the required score wins the match. A game winning total is agreed at the start, usually 50 points at OHCC. 14.1 is continuous in that after 14 balls are pocketed, the last ball stays on the table. The 14 pocketed balls are re-racked (omitting the apex ball), and the shooter continues. Fouls are penalized by subtracting points from the offending player's score. Because many shots are defensive (safeties), it may take up to an hour for a player to reach 50 total points. Unlike many other pool games, any ball may be shot at any time. As long as the object ball is pocketed in the called pocket, any additional balls that go in are also credited to the shooter. The shooter may call "safety" rather than an object ball for defensive purposes. Play passes to the opponent at the end of the shot and any object ball pocketed on the safety is spotted. The shooter remains at the table as long as he continues to legally pocket called balls or wins the game by scoring the required number of points. Straight Pool is one of the greatest disciplines of pocket billiards. Playing this game will teach you many things: pattern play, cluster management, soft spin shots, tight position play and smart defensive and strategic options. All of these qualities will help you perform at a higher level in both 8-ball and 9-ball. Pattern play and cluster management will improve your 8-ball game. Soft spins and subtle cue ball control will improve your 9-ball game by teaching you finesse. Because the game is "continuous," it is possible to run more than 15 balls. Some experts can run 50 or 100 or 200 balls. Willie Mosconi held the record of 526 balls (!) for many years. It was recently broken by John Schmidt, who worked at it every day for many months, finally running 626 balls! That's over 44 racks without a miss. We do well to run one rack here at OHCC. Billiards

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