Just to add some data info about this competition: world champions.
Wikipedia have wrong information, this are all the world championship heyball (chinese 8 ball) champions:

2013 - Gareth Potts
2014 - Gareth Potts
2015 - Yang Fan
2016 - Yang Fan
2017 - Gareth Potts
2018 - Zheng Yubo
2019 - Yu Haitao
2020 - Chu Bingjie
2021 - Zhao Ruliang
2022 - Zhao Ruliang
2023 - Zheng Yubo
2024 - Chu Bingjie
2025 - Niu Zhang
2026 - Zheng Xiaohuai

Talked to a few people…. Let’s get a deal done

Frosty said:

I personally don’t understand how a stroke can be fluid with a pause introduced into it, it seems diametrically opposed IMO.

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Watch Bai Yulu's stroke:

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Smoooth as silk.

jokrswylde said:

I really like seeing the pros at the Table for their first inning, and seeing the wheels turning...the decisions on what set to take, and how to run it out.

I don't see how this can be seen as that much less tactical than 9 ball...

I have enjoyed this free tourney much more than the last few wnt tourneys I paid for ...

It will be interesting to see how the BnR numbers and/ or average number of innings compare to the last few 9ball majors, as there seems to be several knowledgeable folks on here who think 9 ball is way too easy for pros...hint, hint @AtLarge

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do you mean there are more innings in 8-ball? from what i've seen it's wet break and runout or dry break and opponent runout.. very little tactics involved

TV maybe slipping with viewers but still it and radio should also be used for other forms of getting the word out for an event no matter what it is .
As people are traveling around and may see or hear the add that them missed seeing on their usual information network so to speak .

I seen a commercial spot for this on the Billiard Channel during a European Predator tournament .

straightline said:

Anything you can hit down the rail without cinching. Pockets with no jaws can go down to 3.25 maybe; just an aperture.

The rest of pool, speed, position - can be mastered. You don't need the hole to give you an angle. Sure there will be trade offs - no more lame safeties for instance...

I post this stuff all the time - nobody buys it out loud. Developing to that degree though, is for the having.

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Not pool -- what you're describing is something else.

Lou Figueroa

Lowell said:

In regards to my butt hand being too far back, is my bridge length off or am I okay using the same bridge length while trying to keep my forearm closer to 90 degrees?

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In "Play Great Pool", Mark Wilson suggests a 10-11" bridge length for medium paced shots, shorter for softer shots, and longer for shots where you need more tip speed/cue ball speed. You use an open bridge, so I think that would be measured from the V of your thumb and forefinger to the edge of the CB. If you practice the drill that I mentioned, you can put the cue ball on a donut sticky, then use a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper to measure from the edge of the cue ball back towards you, then put another sticky at 10-11" ( put that sticky a little more than a hands width off to the right of the shot line. Then you can step into the shot and slide your bridge hand towards the cue ball until the V in your open bridge is even with the sticky.

Lowell said:

And I like the idea of only using backswing length to determine shot speed, unless it's like a very soft touch safety like you mention. I have a semi conscious tendency to grip the cue harder on faster shots (particularly draw shots) and I have to work on not doing that.

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Yeah, that's a life long thing you need to practice. A drill that I do is to put an OB 3-4' from the pocket and the CB 3-4' from the OB on the diagonal of the table so that I have a straight in shot into the corner pocket. I leave enough room near the corner pocket where I am bridging so that I can bridge with a long bridge length to the CB. Then I swing and hit the cue ball as hard as I can. I'll hit about 20 shots, and as I proceed with the drill I'll concentrate on being smooth and not jerking the cue nor gripping the cue too tight. My make % isn't good, but boy does that develop smooth power. When you only need 3/4 of your max power, it will feel much easier.

Mensabum said:

I would think that they would have a short set of quick spots perhaps a week B4 the event, yes.

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tv is as dead as radio

Well, there are those that say you need perfect mechanics to play well. Then again there’s a lot of great players that have quirks or flaws in their mechanics, solid proof that if you play 6,8,10 hours a day you can make anything work.

As mentioned in a previous post, it’s finding something that you can produce repeatedly, the same every time, and be comfortable doing it. That’s what this game is all about, repeatability.

You mention having “your chin right over the cue” being a “good habit”, according to who? I mean, there’s a shit ton of instructors that are of the belief the “SPF” method they teach as the be all, end all, “proper way”. I personally don’t understand how a stroke can be fluid with a pause introduced into it, it seems diametrically opposed IMO.

Everyone’s different, I have a very upright stance, one feather stroke and then I’m at the ball, and I’ve been told I can dab it pretty good. My point is, phrases you used in your OP, “most good players” do this or that is fallacy to a point. Most good players have a repeatable stroke, stay down, and get through the shot fully. Eddie Taylor used to say “be true and follow through”.