Straight pool league is launched

LW POOL CLUB

The LW Pool Club held its first ever straight pool tournament on July 14 in Clubhouse 2. The game is sometimes called “call shot” because the player shooting has to call the ball and the pocket it is made in to score a point and keep shooting. Straight pool is played with all 15 balls. When there’s only one ball on the table, the other 14 balls are racked, leaving a space for the head ball. That way a player can make the last ball and possibly break out the other balls in the rack and keep shooting.

There were 12 two-person teams, with teammates alternating shots. The winning team was the first to make 15 balls. Players who fouled lost a point. Since this was the first time the club played straight pool as partners, it wasn’t known how long it would take for each team to play seven games, especially since this was the first time some players had ever played this game. It was taking so long for the last team to finish, it was decided to play five rounds instead of seven. In a very close match, Connie Terry and John Barth came in first.

Straight pool is a good game and helps improve a player’s skill level in other pool games. The club has started a straight pool league that takes place Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. in Clubhouse 1. The league is individuals, not teams, and plays matches to 30 points. Some adjustments may be made as tournaments evolve.

The longest run of balls ever recorded in straight pool happened recently. On Jan. 6, Jason Shaw, of Scotland, ran 832 consecutive balls without missing. That is truly amazing.

—Dave Silva

Inaugural straight pool tournament first place finishers Connie Terry (l) and John Barth.