Making 9-ball more interesting

F

Fastolfe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A straight pool buddy and I played a few games of 9-ball yesterday, experimenting several variations on the rules to spice up the game. Here are the changes we tried:

- "No luck 9-ball": regular TE rules, but (1) 9-ball on the break isn't a win, (2) 9-ball legally pocketed after ball in hand isn't a win (so, you can't line up the cueball and the OB to pocket the 9) and (3) shots are called. If the 9-ball is pocketed in those conditions, the 9 is spotted, it is not a foul, but the player's inning ends. If any other ball drops in an uncalled pocket, it stays down but the player's inning ends too. This really made 9-ball palatable to us, and allowed some strategic shots.

- "2 cushion 9-ball": regular TE rules, but the cueball must contact 2 or more rails during the shot (before or after hitting the OB). If not, the pocketed ball is spotted and the player's inning ends. If playing a safety shot without pocketing, not hitting at least 2 rails results in a foul. It's not all that hard, and allows interesting situation, such as pocketing 2 or more balls directly to create a problem cluster on the foot spot and annoy your opponent if he didn't see it coming. This was the variant I prefered.

- "3 cushion 9-ball": same as above, but with 3 rails. We found it dicey too often when most of the balls are on the table. Many times, there just isn't enough space to squeeze the cueball through and play position at the same time. So it's a bit frustrating. It might be better with a rack of 7-ball but we didn't try.

- "1 cushion 9-ball": regular TE rules, but the cueball must contact a rail before hitting the OB. Interesting, but leads to long strings of safety shots as soon as one of the players fails to get proper position, thus can become tedious.

What do you think? Has anyone tried other variants of 9B?
 
Fastolfe said:
A straight pool buddy and I played a few games of 9-ball yesterday, experimenting several variations on the rules to spice up the game. Here are the changes we tried:

- "No luck 9-ball": regular TE rules, but (1) 9-ball on the break isn't a win, (2) 9-ball legally pocketed after ball in hand isn't a win (so, you can't line up the cueball and the OB to pocket the 9) and (3) shots are called. If the 9-ball is pocketed in those conditions, the 9 is spotted, it is not a foul, but the player's inning ends. If any other ball drops in an uncalled pocket, it stays down but the player's inning ends too. This really made 9-ball palatable to us, and allowed some strategic shots.

- "2 cushion 9-ball": regular TE rules, but the cueball must contact 2 or more rails during the shot (before or after hitting the OB). If not, the pocketed ball is spotted and the player's inning ends. If playing a safety shot without pocketing, not hitting at least 2 rails results in a foul. It's not all that hard, and allows interesting situation, such as pocketing 2 or more balls directly to create a problem cluster on the foot spot and annoy your opponent if he didn't see it coming. This was the variant I prefered.

- "3 cushion 9-ball": same as above, but with 3 rails. We found it dicey too often when most of the balls are on the table. Many times, there just isn't enough space to squeeze the cueball through and play position at the same time. So it's a bit frustrating. It might be better with a rack of 7-ball but we didn't try.

- "1 cushion 9-ball": regular TE rules, but the cueball must contact a rail before hitting the OB. Interesting, but leads to long strings of safety shots as soon as one of the players fails to get proper position, thus can become tedious.

What do you think? Has anyone tried other variants of 9B?
Click to expand...

What do you think?
..............................................

I think, in no particular order:

you should watch some skilled players, or play yourself, a few games of
One Pocket and/or Snooker - perhaps then you may apprecieate a
complex and highly demanding game in which no one would dream
of calling shots.

Leave Nine Ball alone - it doesn't need to be spiced up.

That pretty much takes care of number 1.

As for the 3, 2, and 1 cushion ideas,
anyone wanting to play any or all of these belongs in an institution
for the billiardly derainged.

Dale<who thinks he recalls some idea about if it ain't broke...>
 
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There's a guy I know who plays about even with me when we play for money. After going back and forth with him for a while one afternoon, with him never running all the way out (all his wins were "early"), I proposed we play "no early 9" the next set. Normal 9-ball rules, no called shots or anything, but the 9-ball is not a win unless it's the last ball on the table. So if you make the 2-9 combo, the 9 spots and you keep shooting. The game isn't over until the 1-8 balls are pocketed and THEN the 9-ball is pocketed. We played this way for a couple sets, and he unscrewed and admitted he couldn't beat me by those rules. He couldn't win without riding the 9 on every shot.

-Andrew
 
pdcue said:
What do you think?
..............................................

I think, in no particular order:

you should watch some skilled players, or play yourself, a few games of
One Pocket and/or Snooker - perhaps then you may apprecieate a
complex and highly demanding game in which no one would dream
of calling shots.

Leave Nine Ball alone - it doesn't need to be spiced up.

That pretty much takes care of number 1.

As for the 3, 2, and 1 cushion ideas,
anyone wanting to play any or all of these belongs in an institution
for the billiardly derainged.

Dale<who thinks he recalls some idea about if it ain't broke...>
Click to expand...


So you insult someone for being creative... go back to the middle ages my man...
 
veddy interesting!

Want to make 9-ball more interesting? Raise the fukcing bet! :bash::grin:
 
Add one more ball to the rack

The best tip to make 9-ball more interesting? Add another ball -- the 10-ball -- to the rack to make the rack triangular, and play 10-ball. :p
 
Been done.. Grady's Nine Ball Rules

It’s call shot but it is not necessary to call obvious shots.

Only one ball may be called on one shot.

If the called ball is pocketed legally, everything else that might go is good.

If a player misses a called shot, his opponent has the option of taking the shot or having his opponent shoot again.

Nothing spots up except the 9 ball.

If a player calls “safe” and inadvertently pockets a ball(s), his opponent has the option of taking the shot or having the player shoot again.

A player may not call safe and pocket a ball.

While this is not a foul, remember that the opponent will have “option”.

Players rack their own balls.

They may also have a friend rack the balls for them.

An opponent may not rack the balls.

The 9 ball must be pocketed last to win the game.

Where not mentioned herein, the general rules of pocket billiards shall apply.
 
Ponytail said:
Been done.. Grady's Nine Ball Rules
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. It is an interesting ruleset. I especially like the option of giving the baby back to the opponent if he misses a called shot or drops a ball on a safety, but not after a successful safety (if I understand correctly).

I'll see if I can get someone to try Grady's 9B tomorrow.
 
paksat said:
So you insult someone for being creative... go back to the middle ages my man...
Click to expand...

I have never in my life insulted anyone for being creative,
nor do I ever expect to.

Now, go back to the line to buy tickets for "Avatar"

Dale
 
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The real question is how can we make a game where it is more interesting for the casual viewer? Here's a hint: Can the casual viewer relate to safety play?
 
Quit

trying to make 9 ball 14.1, that's not what it was designed to be. It is a fast exciting gambling game. I agree, raise the bet, it gets pretty exciting pretty fast.
 
try playing einstein nine. variation of nine ball mixed with one pocket. lots of rules to learn but a great game.
 
Fastolfe said:
A straight pool buddy and I played a few games of 9-ball yesterday, experimenting several variations on the rules to spice up the game. Here are the changes we tried:

- "No luck 9-ball": regular TE rules, but (1) 9-ball on the break isn't a win, (2) 9-ball legally pocketed after ball in hand isn't a win (so, you can't line up the cueball and the OB to pocket the 9) and (3) shots are called. If the 9-ball is pocketed in those conditions, the 9 is spotted, it is not a foul, but the player's inning ends. If any other ball drops in an uncalled pocket, it stays down but the player's inning ends too. This really made 9-ball palatable to us, and allowed some strategic shots.

- "2 cushion 9-ball": regular TE rules, but the cueball must contact 2 or more rails during the shot (before or after hitting the OB). If not, the pocketed ball is spotted and the player's inning ends. If playing a safety shot without pocketing, not hitting at least 2 rails results in a foul. It's not all that hard, and allows interesting situation, such as pocketing 2 or more balls directly to create a problem cluster on the foot spot and annoy your opponent if he didn't see it coming. This was the variant I prefered.

- "3 cushion 9-ball": same as above, but with 3 rails. We found it dicey too often when most of the balls are on the table. Many times, there just isn't enough space to squeeze the cueball through and play position at the same time. So it's a bit frustrating. It might be better with a rack of 7-ball but we didn't try.

- "1 cushion 9-ball": regular TE rules, but the cueball must contact a rail before hitting the OB. Interesting, but leads to long strings of safety shots as soon as one of the players fails to get proper position, thus can become tedious.

What do you think? Has anyone tried other variants of 9B?
Click to expand...

make it more interesting for who?

i dont get it. if as a player you dont find 9 ball interesting (b/c of the luck factor) then play a different game, maybe 8 ball or 14.1 which cut down the luck factor

if youre talking about making more interesting to spectate then the different variations you suggest will not work. if fact they will do just the opposite.

arent there already enough pool games? the sport needs more standardization of rules, not throwing more variations into the mix.

while i dont think your suggestions will make the game more interesting i do applaud your efforts to move the game forward

brian
 
I'd say we have to go the other way - make 9-Ball what it used to be. I didn't like this years Mosconi Cup breaking and last years was even worse. I don't see the point of having 3 balls going past the headstring but on the other hand if nothing goes down and the break is illegal, but you're hooked on the 1 the breaker has still an advantage as most likely gets back to the table.

Why not just play old fashioned 9-Ball??? No tight rack, no tapping, just have the referee rack the balls. Though on new equipment a fair rack is pretty equal to a tapped rack... But still, I love 9-Ball, for any who don't like there is 10-Ball

I don't like alternate break as well. I'd say they should go with the old Eurotour format of having each player breaking 3 games in a row

And a little side note: In last years German Premier League (with players like Ortmann, Feijen, Jentsch etc.) there were more racks of 8-Ball run than 9-Ball.
Souquet once ran 27 racks of 8-Ball in a row and had the chance to ran the 28th game but hooked himself then. Never the less he made the same ball on the break all 28 racks
 
The bottom line is that most 14.1 players don't like 9-ball because with the luck factor, it is not a true test of skill as games such as 14.1 and one pocket are. A moderately skilled player has a much better chance of banging balls around the table and getting lucky than they do playing patterns and potting called shots. And for that same reason, most 9-ball players do not like 14.1. They'd rather bang balls around and get lucky. I've seen a few 9-ball players who consider themselves "good" humbled by 14.1, but then again, these are players who strictly play 9-ball. And I can see why.
 
pocketspeed said:
make it more interesting for who? i dont get it. if as a player you dont find 9 ball interesting (b/c of the luck factor) then play a different game, maybe 8 ball or 14.1 which cut down the luck factor
Click to expand...

We weren't trying to make it interesting to watch, or to get the rules standardized or anything. We were just goofing around, and trying to make it interesting to us really.

The problem we have is to find people to play with. Around here it's 9-ball, sometimes 8-ball, but straight pool? nosiree, too boring. I guess we were investigating ways of making a game that would appeal to us and 9-ball buffs as well.
 
Luxury said:
The real question is how can we make a game where it is more interesting for the casual viewer? Here's a hint: Can the casual viewer relate to safety play?
Click to expand...

The real answer is we can't - at least, not by any means that is even remotely likely to ever happen.

The cold hard truth is: pool is not a sport people like to watch on TV,
or even in person. Even pool players do not attend events or purchase
videos at any significant level.

The only possible way I can imagine would be to pay out
astronomical amounts of money and I question if even that would work.

Though it seems American TV viewers will watch ANYTHING that has
mega bucks tied to it - general audiences just don't seem to relate
to pool as anything other than an occasional novelty presentation.

Dale
 
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pdcue said:
I have never in my life insulted anyone for being creative,
nor do I ever expect to.

Now, go back to the line to buy tickets for "Avatar"

Dale
Click to expand...

"As for the 3, 2, and 1 cushion ideas,
anyone wanting to play any or all of these belongs in an institution
for the billiardly derainged."

That's not insulting huh? Don't even bother replying, based on what you just said, your level of dipsh*t is far beyond me.
 
pdcue said:
The cold hard truth is: pool is not a sport people like to watch on TV
Click to expand...

To be honest, there aren't many sports that are interesting to watch on TV if you're not into it. I was watching a golfer friend of mine watch some golf tournament on ESPN once: he was litterally transfixed. To me, the TV program was boring to tears. After a while he noticed me staring at him, and he said "you have to play to see the beauty of it. You look stupid too when you watch a billiards program" :)
 
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