Jaden said:

Bonus Ball made two LARGE errors. One, they tried a new game with no familiarity and a different set of balls, even though there was no need for a different set of balls. The 2nd big error, and THIS is the big one. They tried limiting their expenses by having a single location. No team sport has EVER done that and been successful.

A single location in VEGAS of all places, where people go to do specific things and watching obscure, well not obscure, niched sports, is not one of them.

It needs to travel. Sure if it gets big enough, sure, you can do what other sports have done and have arenas or share arenas with other sports, but doing what they do with other major pool events would be fine. Hell, having them as a secondary thing at major events on the second to last or last day could be doable. At least to start.

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Yes, well said, numerous errors were made with Bonus Ball. Still, one of its core selling points when it was first being marketed was having teams that represented American cities or states and that the local fans would rally around those teams. This was a major miscalculation and, as you suggest, single location made this result even less likely.

Maybe he doesn't need the money.

epoxypop said:

Any pin is fine i can easily change it out if it's not what i want

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Sorry. Missed this reply. Lemme take another look.

There is another chalk-gate going on there as well.
Shaw complained about the black TP chalk used by Hoang that leaves dirt on the CB

datnodude said:

Looks like Shaw has mailed it in

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No joke - looks like the day started 90-84, now 104-85.

Is this still going on - here?
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Crowd is enjoying it, they love the pool in VN. Looks like a pretty tough table, are these Matchroom WNT-size pockets? Or smaller:

Bump

dr_dave said:

Thanks, Stu.

As always, well stated with good added perspective.

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Let's add that that we've been talking about unintended doctoring of the cue ball, but as we saw with "Waxgate" at the 2025 World 9ball, it is widely alleged that some put foreign substances on it intentionally. In a match having a referee, players should not be permitted to handle the balls at all other than moving the cue ball around in the kitchen prior to the break. This is not current practice, especially between racks when players routinely help with emptying the pockets prior to the rerack.

It would be difficult to argue that minimization of skids has a lot of priority with either event producers or referees.

bbb said:

could someone explain the mini mirror (or X method ) please?
thanks in advance

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@1:00 in he explains the method. It not only works to a pocket.......it also works when kicking at a ball.....even down to a specific "side" of a ball.....which becomes very helpful on kick safes.

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What I like about this method is it is geometrically accurate (assuming no conditional changes)....it is all done right on the table....and after you have done it a while....you can visualize really easy with no or minimal cue......Typically I can visualize the track lines....X and rail contact point right away....if it is a ball to ball "off" angle...I use my cue to find the line to the OB contact point to the rail and visualize where the X is.

I can't remember if it was in the 99 critical shots in pool book or a Dr Cue BCA demonstration at the Riviera many moons ago...but I have always just referred to it as the "mini mirror" since that is kind of what it is based on.....I think it may have evolved over the years to the X system IDK.