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Bar chart of straight pool 14.1 world record high runs: Mosconi 526 in 1954, Schmidt 626 in 2019, Shaw 669 in 2022 and Shaw 832 in 2025

What the 14.1 World Record Runs Teach Pool Students

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Quick answer: The 14.1 world record is 832 balls in a row, set by Jayson Shaw in 2025. The players who set the big records, Willie Mosconi, John Schmidt and Shaw, show us how to plan, stay calm and practice with a goal.

Bar chart of straight pool 14.1 world record high runs: Mosconi 526 in 1954, Schmidt 626 in 2019, Shaw 669 in 2022 and Shaw 832 in 2025
The straight pool record went from 526 to 626 to 669 to 832. Jayson Shaw holds it now with 832 balls. Graphic: Ted Mauro

Watch the video

Watch the straight pool record video on YouTube

What You Will Learn

  • The record numbers in one minute
  • Why planning ahead matters
  • How the pros handled pressure
  • Why practice with a goal works

The Numbers

Mosconi ran 526 in 1954. Schmidt ran 626 in 2019. Shaw’s 714 in 2022 was certified as 669, and then he ran 832 in 2025. You can read the full high run record article for all the details.

Lesson 1: Plan Ahead

In straight pool, when one ball is left, the other 14 are racked again. Every rack, the best players save a ball for the next break shot. That is just like planning your run out in 8 ball. Think three or four balls ahead.

Signed vintage photo of straight pool legend Willie Mosconi shooting at the pool table, 1958
Willie Mosconi signed this photo in 1958. His 526 ball run stood as the record for 65 years. Photographer unknown. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Lesson 2: Handle the Pressure

At ball 527, the ball that would break Mosconi’s record, Schmidt stopped. He put down his cue and went to the men’s room to calm down. Then he came back and made it. When you feel the pressure, step back and breathe.

Close view of Jayson Shaw cueing a pool shot with the cue ball near the rail, 2022
Jayson Shaw gets ready to shoot in 2022. Long runs take one good shot after another. Photo: Puddin Tain via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized.

Lesson 3: Practice With a Goal

Shaw made 122 tries over five days before his 714 run. Even before his 832, one try ended at 278. Big runs take many tries. Pick a goal, like your best run, and chase it each time you practice.

Want more help? Start with these billiard lessons for new players.

The Bottom Line

You and I will never run 832 balls. That is fine. But we can play the easy shot, plan ahead, stay calm, and practice with a goal. Those are the same habits that built the biggest runs in pool history. Use them in your next practice and see how your own high run grows.

FAQ

What is the 14.1 world record?
832 balls, by Jayson Shaw, on January 6, 2025.

Did Mosconi miss to end his 526?
He said no. In a 1980 video, he said he quit because he got tired.

Is anyone close to 1,000?
Not yet as of October 2026. Shaw says it is his goal.

Do I need to play straight pool to use these lessons?
No. The same habits help in 8 ball and 9 ball too.

Get My Free 7 Part Fundamental Billiards Course

Sources

About the Author

I am Ted Mauro. I have played pool for over 50 years and played organized league and tournament pool for over 38 years.

Pool Drills for Beginners: 6 Easy Drills to Get Better Fast

TLDR: Drills are shots you repeat on purpose. They build skill faster than just playing. Here are six easy drills for stroke, aim, speed, and cue ball control. Keep score so you can see yourself improve.

Pool drills for beginners: object balls placed on the table for a practice drill
“Billiards table 2.JPG” (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons

What you will learn:

  • Six simple drills and how to set them up
  • What each drill teaches
  • How to score yourself

I have played pool for more than 50 years and in leagues and tournaments for more than 38 years. Drills are a big part of how I still practice. They are not exciting. But they work.

Drill 1: Up and Back

Teaches: A straight stroke.

Put the cue ball on the head spot. Shoot it straight to the far rail so it comes back to your tip. If it comes back to you, your stroke is straight. If it drifts to one side, something moved. Do ten. Count how many come back straight.

Drill 2: Straight-In Shots

Teaches: Aim and stroke.

Put an object ball about a foot from a corner pocket. Put the cue ball straight behind it, about a foot back. Shoot ten. Count makes. When you make eight of ten, move the cue ball farther back.

Drill 3: The Stop Shot

Teaches: Cue ball control.

Set up a straight-in shot. Hit the cue ball a little below center with a firm stroke. The goal is for the cue ball to stop right where it hit the object ball. Score a point for each stop.

Drill 4: Speed Ladder

Teaches: Touch and speed control.

With no object balls, shoot the cue ball to the far rail. Try to have it stop near the near rail on the way back. Then try to stop it in the middle of the table. Then near the far rail. This trains your feel for speed.

Drill 5: Cut Shot Circle

Teaches: Aiming at angles.

Put an object ball near a corner pocket. Place the cue ball in five spots around it, from straight to a wide angle. Shoot each spot twice. Count makes. Do both sides of the table.

Drill 6: Three Ball Run

Teaches: Thinking ahead.

Toss three balls on the table. Take ball in hand. Try to make all three in a row. Plan where the cue ball needs to go after each shot. When it gets easy, use four balls, then five.

How to Keep Score

Bring a notebook. Write the date, the drill, and your score. Do the same drills each week. You will see your numbers go up. That keeps you going.

A Simple Practice Session

  1. Up and Back: 5 minutes
  2. Straight-In Shots: 10 minutes
  3. Stop Shot: 5 minutes
  4. Cut Shot Circle: 10 minutes
  5. Three Ball Run: 10 minutes

That is about 40 minutes. Shorter is fine, too. Doing it often is what counts.

Tips for Better Drills

  • Chalk before each shot.
  • Take your time. A drill is not a race.
  • Stay down after every shot.
  • If you get frustrated, take a short break.

More Help

I have more drills and lessons in my Pool School. You can watch me shoot them on my YouTube channel.

FAQ

How often should I do pool drills?
A few times a week is a good start. Short sessions work well.

What is the best drill for beginners?
Straight-in shots. They build aim and stroke together.

Should I drill or play games?
Do both. Drills build skill. Games teach you to use it under pressure.

How long before I see results?
Many players see better scores within a few weeks of steady drills.

Summary

These pool drills for beginners build a straight stroke, good aim, and cue ball control. Keep score, practice often, and move on to harder versions as you improve.

About the Author

I am Ted Mauro. I have played pool for more than 50 years and in leagues and tournaments for more than 38 years.