9-Ball Chaos

This is (IS) why pool is dying. This IS why we don't risk 'the gamble' we use to at this specific Texas Express 9B style game. ...And even at the local level, how can you handicap a game of luck...?

Tournament directors (and players) need to stop offering this crap as the "go to" game. The Mezz West Tour's 10 ball game is a good starting point if you can't figure out how to clean this TE 9 ball mess out of pool. Stop supporting BAD pool game structure like TE 9B.

10 Ball (WPA rules), American Rotation (2014 forward), no slop 8 or 9 ball would be better that what is being offered as the 'death nail' to pool....thats Todays TE 9-Ball. Ask your Tournament Directors to make the change as much and as often as possible so we collectively can increase the quality(fairness) of both the game and the player field.... NO ONE likes to lose or win by making a fluke shot.

I'm not sure why its even in a national (or regional) event any more. We are not going on ESPN anytime in to next 10 years so why keep killing the sport by running people off with this crap for a game???? BS its the most popular, just BS. Stop the insanity.... Stop doing the same thing over and over because its what has always been done. Make pool better *(while you can)

R

Good post. Thanks.
 
This is (IS) why pool is dying. This IS why we don't risk 'the gamble' we use to at this specific Texas Express 9B style game. ...And even at the local level, how can you handicap a game of luck...?

Tournament directors (and players) need to stop offering this crap as the "go to" game. The Mezz West Tour's 10 ball game is a good starting point if you can't figure out how to clean this TE 9 ball mess out of pool. Stop supporting BAD pool game structure like TE 9B.

10 Ball (WPA rules), American Rotation (2014 forward), no slop 8 or 9 ball would be better that what is being offered as the 'death nail' to pool....thats Todays TE 9-Ball. Ask your Tournament Directors to make the change as much and as often as possible so we collectively can increase the quality(fairness) of both the game and the player field.... NO ONE likes to lose or win by making a fluke shot.

I'm not sure why its even in a national (or regional) event any more. We are not going on ESPN anytime in to next 10 years so why keep killing the sport by running people off with this crap for a game???? BS its the most popular, just BS. Stop the insanity.... Stop doing the same thing over and over because its what has always been done. Make pool better *(while you can)

R

This is why pool is dying???? Lmao!
Nobody cares about watching pool, nobody cares what's going on in the pool world except a few on this forum, the only thing they care about is their league play and how to keep their handicap down.
 
8-Foot tables.

I'll just shoot 10-Ball from now one. Quite surprised at all the dedicated fans to bang-it-around-hoping-for-luck-9-Ball on the forum. The person who spoke of it being a "special group" may have been on to something. I've never seen such a field of poke-and-hopers before.

What were the races? Why didn't you win if you are so much better? As most have said, people that play the way you described might grab a lucky rack here or there. But they aren't going to win tourneys and probably aren't going to beat better players without a giant spot.

I don't think people are defending the game format as much as they are rejecting your approach to it.

KMRUNOUT
 
What were the races? Why didn't you win if you are so much better? As most have said, people that play the way you described might grab a lucky rack here or there. But they aren't going to win tourneys and probably aren't going to beat better players without a giant spot.

I don't think people are defending the game format as much as they are rejecting your approach to it.

KMRUNOUT
Check back through the topic and point out to me where exactly I said, or for that matter, implied that I was better.
The point of the post is a simple complaint about my expectations not being met. I never expected the type of game I signed up for. I assure you I'll be more watchful of the field of players next time (if there is one).
 
can lead these kind of people around like a puppy on a string

The poke and hopers are great to play with. You can make them do ninety percent of the work, make them think they are the ones that got bad rolls, and you can win easily. As soon as you understand they are going to scramble hell out of the ball pattern almost every turn at the table you can start sorting things out every time you come up to the table and should be able to win at a walk.

Poke and hopers on every shot have a ways to go to be "C" players. On the other hand no less of a player than Buddy Hall said when there is no available shot, fall back on smashing hell out of the balls and seeing what happens. Sounds a lot like poke and hope to me!

As everyone has said, Texas Express Nine Ball is meant to have an element of luck to sucker in the no hopers as much as any other reason. Any banger that plays it for years will remember the few nights the pool gods smiled on them and they got every roll and ran out like a champion for that one night, at least in their mind. That keeps them coming back and keeps them matching up way too optimistically.

Hu
 
When I first started playing pool I would only gamble in 9 ball if it was call pocket. Maybe you should be a Tournament Director so you can decide the rules to play by. I am sure that if you find a location, plan the date, advertise the tournament, run the tournament, and pay the winners, you can make whatever rules you want to play by,
 
Everyone in the room was playing in an identical fashion. There wasn’t one person taking any time at all to find an aim line and plan for the next ball, just arrive at the table, quickly find the object ball and bang away and hope for a pot and shape..

Can I get in on this tourney? Sounds like easy money right here.
 
8-Foot tables.

I'll just shoot 10-Ball from now on. Quite surprised at all the dedicated fans to bang-it-around-hoping-for-luck-9-Ball on the forum. The person who spoke of it being a "special group" may have been on to something. I've never seen such a field of poke-and-hopers before.

Skill will win more games than their "wishes" will come true. Thats kind of the point of the game, its enticing because it seems like almost anyone has a chance, but of course thats just not true. Much like a one pocket novice will sell out to the better player more often than the other way around. Games that are the most popular to gamble on lets the weaker player win one now and again, but in the end, the house still has the advantage so to speak.
Chuck
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhatten
NO ONE likes to lose or win by making a fluke shot.

I don't think this is accurate. I play some tourneys that are relatively short races. ..... Point is, those other guys want to feel like they have a shot. ............ The (heavily handicapped) 9 ball one gets about twice as many people... (as a non handicapped 10 ball tourny )

Some people DO want to win by luck. And I don't hold that against them. ....... But I think in any tourney, you almost always need a bit of luck to win.

KMRUNOUT

I agree, A 'bit of luck' is definitely needed in a game with formal structure that reward a player for a more superior play during that match.... but rewarding the lessor skilled player for framing every shot or fluking in balls to steal a set away (as the OP describes) should not be given the respect of winning anything. IMO.. I mean lets just flip coins for the win... why waist time hitting pool balls. EVER? I mean if a win via luck deserves equal credit, its really not about making balls in to the intended pockets is it? If its really mostly luck anyway and all I can do is win by pissing in balls why would anyone ever try to get better? And that is good for pool?

And there we have it.... again. Bang on Bangers! we can't survive without you folks..No need to try to get better- theres really no respect gleaned from that because you'll never get any 'action' or make any money especially if you waist getting better.
I'm embarrassed to even invite the public in to participate in our local gaft 9 ball games, but really Who cares anyway ... like Jason points out...


This is why pool is dying???? Lmao!
Nobody cares about watching pool, nobody cares what's going on in the pool world except a few on this forum, the only thing they care about is their league play and how to keep their handicap down.


Shooting ourselves in the proverbial feet imo isn't at all the best business model for a failing sport. But You've got to luv the 'support' this forum has for this most excellent business model. Amazing... keep supporting 'bad pool games/leagues' etc. Its really working well for us all.

R

Bang On, Bang On... Who cares anyway. I think Ill stay home too... Getting tired of swimming up stream around here.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhatten
NO ONE likes to lose or win by making a fluke shot.



I agree, A 'bit of luck' is definitely needed in a game with formal structure that reward a player for a more superior play during that match.... but rewarding the lessor skilled player for framing every shot or fluking in balls to steal a set away (as the OP describes) should not be given the respect of winning anything. IMO.. I mean lets just flip coins for the win... why waist time hitting pool balls. EVER? I mean if a win via luck deserves equal credit, its really not about making balls in to the intended pockets is it? If its really mostly luck anyway and all I can do is win by pissing in balls why would anyone ever try to get better? And that is good for pool?

And there we have it.... again. Bang on Bangers! we can't survive without you folks..No need to try to get better- theres really no respect gleaned from that because you'll never get any 'action' or make any money especially if you waist getting better.
I'm embarrassed to even invite the public in to participate in our local gaft 9 ball games, but really Who cares anyway ... like Jason points out...





Shooting ourselves in the proverbial feet imo isn't at all the best business model for a failing sport. But You've got to luv the 'support' this forum has for this most excellent business model. Amazing... keep supporting 'bad pool games/leagues' etc. Its really working well for us all.

R

Bang On, Bang On... Who cares anyway. I think Ill stay home too... Getting tired of swimming up stream around here.

So, you think a tournament where only the best player can win is the way to go? Great businesses model there! You'd have maybe 3 players and NO BUSINESS. Pool is not a business, pool is a game. Having handicaps, or other ways to make the game even (slop) is the ONLY way you will have a business.
Btw, if you can't overcome the "slop", and play equal, worse, or slightly better than these players you don't have much to complain about "our" game being ruined by these types of players. Just sayin
 
When I was a wee lad coming up in my fathers pool hall I was taught & trained in 14/1, banks, one pocket & traditional rotation. Pop did NOT like 9 ball. In his words it's simply a " carnival game". Much to his dismay its popularity was large, so after a few years he relented in letting me play, but started me out on 3 ball, then 6 ball & only after I could navigate 5 racks of 6 ball without a miss was I allowed to play with 9 balls. When I finally passed my 6 ball "exam" I asked him why this had all been necessary. He replied "if you're going to play "that game" then you're going to play it properly. In the end, still one of my favorite games to play & over the years whenever an opponent slopped in a ball in a match I couldn't do anything but smile and picture my pop, arms crossed, frown on his face and slowly shaking his head & saying "Carnival Game"
 
When I was a wee lad coming up in my fathers pool hall I was taught & trained in 14/1, banks, one pocket & traditional rotation. Pop did NOT like 9 ball. In his words it's simply a " carnival game". Much to his dismay its popularity was large, so after a few years he relented in letting me play, but started me out on 3 ball, then 6 ball & only after I could navigate 5 racks of 6 ball without a miss was I allowed to play with 9 balls. When I finally passed my 6 ball "exam" I asked him why this had all been necessary. He replied "if you're going to play "that game" then you're going to play it properly. In the end, still one of my favorite games to play & over the years whenever an opponent slopped in a ball in a match I couldn't do anything but smile and picture my pop, arms crossed, frown on his face and slowly shaking his head & saying "Carnival Game"

Great post. Thanks. "Carnival Game" is appropriate.
 
8-Foot tables.

I'll just shoot 10-Ball from now on. Quite surprised at all the dedicated fans to bang-it-around-hoping-for-luck-9-Ball on the forum. The person who spoke of it being a "special group" may have been on to something. I've never seen such a field of poke-and-hopers before.

You're wrong there, very few people are OK with someone getting rewarded for missing. We're just saying what you were playing by were normal 9 ball rules and it's odd you were surprised by them. If someone does not play 9 ball and just knows that they can make the 9 at any time and win, they try to do that on every shot. I've seen people have ball in hand with 3 balls left on the table and they would line up a combo on the 9.
 
You're wrong there, very few people are OK with someone getting rewarded for missing. We're just saying what you were playing by were normal 9 ball rules and it's odd you were surprised by them. If someone does not play 9 ball and just knows that they can make the 9 at any time and win, they try to do that on every shot. I've seen people have ball in hand with 3 balls left on the table and they would line up a combo on the 9.

I've played quite a bit of 9-Ball over the years (never in a tournament and never intentional slop) and I've certainly had no problem with ball-in-hand combinations on the 9-Ball. My whole point is my surprise and disgust with the bang-as-hard-as-you-can, hope-for-a-potted-ball approach to the game.

I'm not a pro (too damned old and hard to get parts for to ever become one) and I've always had the good fortune to play with older gentlemen who were concerned about good old-fashioned "shape" on the next ball and the next ball and so on. These fellows don't slam at the balls, they play with finesse with a scheme on running out. This is the type of 9-Ball I enjoy.

Thanks for you reply.
 
Regardless of what you hear, see, or experience playing pool, the bangers are needed.

And regardless of what some post on this site to the contrary.........Texas Express 9-ball was the greatest thing to happen in our sport in the last 50 years.
 
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