Which is the hardest to achieve?

[Joe T]

I like the question;
Which am I most likely to accomplish in a shorter amount of time or just accomplish for that matter?
Run 50 balls in 14.1
Run 7 consecutive racks of 9 ball with break ball in hand
Run 9 consecutive racks of 8 ball with break ball in hand
And lets throw in, say, run any 2 out of 3 racks of 15B rotation with break ball in hand.

The above may be too tough for many of us so we could also scale it to;
Run 30 in 14.1
4 consecutive 9 ball racks with break ball in hand
5 consecutive racks of 8 ball with break ball in hand
1 rack of 15 ball rotation with bbih?

 

[victorl]

Okay, you've got me. I will agree that running to 50 would be likely be easier to achieve, if one were adept at both games.

I'd also like to know, for the players who play all these games well, let's say you had to bet 10 grand on yourself playing one of these games (one attempt), which would you choose?

 

[iusedtoberich]

Okay, you've got me. I will agree that running to 50 would be likely be easier to achieve, if one were adept at both games.

I'd also like to know, for the players who play all these games well, let's say you had to bet 10 grand on yourself playing one of these games (one attempt), which would you choose?

I stink, but I've been a stakehorse before. If I had to bet 10k, on one try, I'd pick the top local player (open level), and have him do a race to 20 or so or a 9 ahead with the 9 ball ghost. I'd feel I was STEALING.

That same bet with John Schmidt (who could give the Open level player in the above scenario the 7 ball probably) given one attempt at 50 balls, I'd be shaking like a leaf

 

[iusedtoberich]

Did you guys see Neils Fein live stream his 9 ball ghost attempt a few months back? He was betting someone he could beat the ghost something like 85 games out of 100 total played. He fell short, but not by much.

 

[BeiberLvr]

Did you guys see Neils Fein live stream his 9 ball ghost attempt a few months back? He was betting someone he could beat the ghost something like 85 games out of 100 total played. He fell short, but not by much.

Wow. I think that's a tall order for just about anyone. Only because I imagine the amount of focus needed would be pretty high.

 

[BeiberLvr]

My personal reason to think the 9ball ghost game would be easier is because you can lose 9 games, and still come out the winner. Where as in 14.1, you can't miss, once.

There's an easy way to really figure it out though. Just take 10 players that are A level players or better.

1. Have all 10 of them play 10 sets against the 9ball ghost (races to 10)
2. Have all 10 of them take 10 attempts at running 50 in 14.1

 

[iusedtoberich]

My personal reason to think the 9ball ghost game would be easier is because you can lose 9 games, and still come out the winner. Where as in 14.1, you can't miss, once.

There's an easy way to really figure it out though. Just take 10 players that are A level players or better.

1. Have all 10 of them play 10 sets against the 9ball ghost (races to 10)
2. Have all 10 of them take 10 attempts at running 50 in 14.1

That's only a fair test if the players you choose are equally versed in straight pool and 9 ball. Today's players are generally not equal in both games. Although we could definetly find them. In 1970 probably most players were equally versed in both games.

 

[victorl]

I'd say even straight pool specialists like John Schmidt and Danny Harriman would have a better winning percentage with the 9-ball ghost, but that's just speculation. I wonder what they would say about this...

 

[BeiberLvr]

That's only a fair test if the players you choose are equally versed in straight pool and 9 ball. Today's players are generally not equal in both games. Although we could definetly find them. In 1970 probably most players were equally versed in both games.

Good point.

I just know that I've seen top 14.1 players get started on a run, and fail to get to 50. In a race to 10 against the 9ball ghost, you're allowed more leeway in terms of mistakes.

In 14.1, it doesn't matter if it's a solo attempt, or during a match. It just takes one critical error to end your run.

 

[BeiberLvr]

That's why the assumption of one single attempt at a 50 ball run isn't reasonable. It makes sense if the question is referring to a 50 ball run in a normal playing session of several games of straight pool.

So what would you say is the equivalent to playing a race to 10 against the 9ball ghost?

Assuming solo practice only. 5 attempts to get 50? 10 attempts?

 

[scottjen26]

I think the 50 ball run is harder. A lot of people today don't play straight pool, and without certain knowledge it will be very difficult to string the necessary 3 - 4 racks together. Also, one miss and it's over, that happens even to pros. With the ghost, one bad rack or bad miss and you get another chance

I rarely play straight pool anymore, and have only concentrated on it here and there through my playing career. I've run over 50 a bunch of times, but don't play enough to count on it by any means. Even with practice, I would much rather play the 9 ball ghost, where I know more than likely I will win, then try to run 50.

Take someone like Thorsten, a master at straight pool and awesome rotation player as well. Give him 10 attempts at each. I would venture he would beat the 8 ball ghost every time, and probably the 9 ball ghost as well. But I doubt he would run 50 each and every attempt, all it takes is one funny layout, a jawed ball, a break out that sticks to the rack, etc.

Scott

 

[9 ball]

9 dart 501