I create this thread knowing full well that die hard straight pool players will think I'm trying to dilute their beautiful game. I live in the UK and am a UK 9 & 10 ball player currently on a self-imposed hiatus, mainly because I can't afford to replace my warped cues (this should change in the fall).

In the UK straight pool is basically a "drill", a way to kill an hour of a practice session or a way to get in stroke. With no tournaments to speak of the only measure of progress is one's highest run. It looks to have a stronger following in mainland Europe.

14.1 is my favourite disclipline, despite only playing a handfull of sets in my 46 years, and I believe it is too good just to serve as a practice tool. I wonder if an Ultimate Pool-style revamp could boost its popularity. Snooker continues to boom worldwide yet quicker tv-friendly formats such as The Shootout and The 900 have proved popular and hold their own (The Shootout now carries tour ranking points).

While straight pool is often considered to be the purest form of pool it is hardly the most spectator friendly. It must be played on 9 footers, and with bigger pockets used than those in the Appleton v Deuel Predator exhibition. A double-elimination style format could be played under the following conditions:
Best-of-three 30 minute sets.
Set winner determined by reaching target score OR whoever has the lead as time expires (whatever comes first).
20 second shot clock for first 20 minutes of each set, 10 second shot clock thereafter.
Three extensions per player per set.

Will something like this please the pursists? Probably not. But flag football is now an Olympic sport, 3x3 basketball has a world tour while cricket introduced T20 AND The Hundred. They are all shortened or simplified versions of very popular sports. My idea might not elevate straight pool to these levels, but it might get a few more people playing.