GideonF said:

My own preferences are the opposite of yours here.

The biggest events with the most prize money should have the longest races. World 9b used to be race to 17. Wu and Alex (just to pick two that spring to mind) both would have lost if you’d stopped the match earlier - ignoring whether the opponent might have tightened up earlier. As the players get better and we see more packages, I like giving longer for the players to fade a few ups and downs.

So for me, I like stepping up the races as we get to the last stages of the major events. 9 for preliminary rounds, 10 for knockout rounds, 11 for 1/4 finals, 13 for semis and 15 for finals would be great from my perspective, but I can live with race to 13 for a major final.

I don’t like sets, with a shootout, especially for a world championship. But if you’re going to do them, 2 out of 3 is way too short for a world championship, IMO. 3 out of 5 is long (especially with breaks between each set) but I don’t have a better option if you’re going to do sets. Actually, I guess you could keep it 2 of 3 sets but make each set longer - like going to 6 each set, but I suspect that would be more confusing to spectators than just extending the number of sets.

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Not for me to tell you what you should enjoy. I, of course, respect your opinion here.

Still, here on the forum, we often compare pool to the two major individual sports of tennis and golf. Neither of those sports has the same philosophy as pool.

In tennis, at the majors, they don't lengthen the sets when they get to the late rounds and they don't add sets either. At Wimbledon, the first round is best of five sets and so is the final. In golf, they don't add a round or more holes at the majors, either, even though they could. In golf, they play 72 holes at both the Texas Open and the Masters.

Only pool sees the need to lengthen the matches in the late stages of the majors. It's not for me, but to each his own.

For the record, I didn't enjoy the old race to 17 finals at the WPC.

Bob Jewett said:

Nice. Sometimes it's more satisfying to be stiffed.

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Got hosed 2x's in the 60's for $20each. I was making/netting $42.50 a week. That cured me...never played for cash again.

I for one think it would be amazing for some AI software to be developed in conjunction with AI glasses that gave you a hud display showing you where to aim, speed calculations, and target spots/positions for your next shot. It would be an amazing training tool, but like anything, players would still have to ultimately put in the time and work to train their eyes and muscle memory.

lfigueroa said:

Lou Figueroa
Line Up, anyone?

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In the ‘80’s we had a guy in his 80’s who would talk about it. Bronco Bob was a tough old coot who looked something like beef jerky. Would talk about the postwar army. Post WWI that is. He liked baseball and spoke of army base baseball in his day. He’d tell the same stories pretty much as I think he was slipping some. Conversations usually started one of two ways. One was his favorite pitcher, Burleigh Grimes. The other was , “ What’s the most balls you’ve seen a man run at lineup straight pool?” Well Bob, I’ve never seen any man play lineup straight pool, so….

“1937 in Tulsa…”. I can’t remember the name or the number other than it was north of 100. I wish I could remember what he said, and I imagine it was one of the last things he forgot. That and “ Any man trusts his life to an automatic pistol is a damn fool, you need a revolver…”

rexus31 said:

One thing to be aware of when powder coating old cast parts: outgassing. There's gas trapped in the casing which gets released through heating it up during the powder coating process. Some of my pieces had to be done multiple times. My coater didn't charge me extra but yours might. Just an FYI.

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Thank you for the heads up.

Fore Rail said:

You don't ever want to be 25-30 yards off the green. You want to be just around the green chipping, not pitching from an awkward distance. That is why the best players in the world lay up to a full club yardage.

Imagine playing pool being on the wrong side of every shot.

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Sometimes on a par 5 you don’t reach the green on your 2nd shot and why settle for a birdie if you can putt for an eagle. My son just took up the game a year ago. There isn’t any par 5 he will play he can’t get to in 2. He hits a 3 wood 285-310 yds. His drives have reached 365 yds but 325-330 is common. When you already hit a golf ball farther than the average PGA pro on tour, there is no way on earth you are going to layup on any par 5 when it is easily reachable and sometimes you come up short when you go for it or else in a green side bunker.

There is one small caveat……it isn’t always straight and a fade can become a awful slice and a draw into a ugly hook.
That why he starts a series of 7 lessons next month so next year he’ll get a NCGA index. He is a big hit on the driving
range in San Diego launching 240 yards 5 irons. His game will be built on his driver, wood/ hybrid & his Volkey wedges.

You are right about being around the collar instead of the fairway but the difference is what you lie. He is a gorilla that
is learning to play golf. His driver swing speed is 118-121 mph. You don’t meet many golfers that exhibit that speed. So
he is going to learn to play a different game of golf than most mortals when you hit a golf ball as far as he does. He just needs to master his swing but boy oh boy, what a absolutely exciting student he’ll for his instructor when his lessons start next month. Just the sound of his swing is exciting but you can’t help but cheer when he hits a drive 350 yds.