Standard rules of 9 ball 50 years ago?

[Island Drive]

Everyone talks about all the rule changes in the game. I'm just curious as to what the generally accepted rules of 9 ball were 50 years ago. I can't seem to find them anywhere. Does anyone have a copy of any printed rules by chance?

It evolved till the McDermott tour, then BIH became the new way. There were soooooooooooooooooo many variations of rules and ball spotting etc. that when you matched up.....you and your opponent created them first to not get into a confrontation, but if you were playing a lamb you always let them make the rules for obvious reasons.

 

[maha]

here is why it is bad. weak players that gamble are the lifeblood of pool players. weak players hook themselves and then sell out and give ball in hand. this demoralizes them and rightly so.

the good player doesnt hook himself very often. the bad player playing shoot out can roll out and get another chance.

when the good player does hook himself he jumps the ball or kicks and hits it almost every time. the bad player is again demoralized.

ball in hand pool doesnt give the weaker player a better chance as he doesnt get out with ball in hand where the better player almost always does. so the good players hooks are almost a sure win for him and the weaker players hooks dont do much.
its no fun so soon the gambling stops.

 

[CJ Wiley]

No wonder the game has been diluted down to a shadow of it's former self.

Yeah, I miss having to make a spot shot...even if the 9 was made on a
scratch, you still had to fire in a spot shot.

Something I don't miss....you could drive an object ball off the table and
it re-spotted....no foul. :angry: That was Neanderthal.

What I don't like about the new rules....jump cues...

Yes, the "spot shot" is one of the greatest parts of pocket billiards and was eliminated.

Ball in hand anywhere on the table is wayyyy to easy and of little entertainment value. The "ball in hand" should at least be behind the line as "The Colonel" indicated.

"Jump Cues" took the "2 way shot" out of the game (which is also one of the most essential shots), when coupled with the "one foul rules". The "magic rack" made the break into a complete joke, where there's now a dead ball in the corner most of the time. And the racking shenanigans......we all know what that's done to the game.

Basically, most of the best qualities of pool have been removed over the years. No wonder the game has been diluted down to a shadow of it's former self. The good news is this can all be changed, if someone is willing to do the work to make it possible.

'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[SilverCue]

Here are the complete rules for Near Ball.

 

[macguy]

8 Ball rules from 1961

That looks like a page from the old "Chalk Up" mag.

 

[SilverCue]

That looks like a page from the old "Chalk Up" mag.

Yup, RU from the St Louis area?

 

[SilverCue]

8 ball rules per the 1958 BCA rule book:

Break determined by lagging or lot

If opening player makes one or more balls on the break he has choice of group

Striker is entitled to all balls pocketed unless he pockets opponents ball, then opponent is credited with that ball

Player may combination off opponent's ball

Player with the high number group must pocket the 15 ball in the left side pocket as he looks down the table from the head

Player with the low number group must pocket the 1 ball in the right side pocket as he looks down the table from the head

If the 1 and 15 balls are not pocketed in the proper pockets they are respotted until they are shot into the proper pockets

When shooting at the 8 ball for the win the 8 ball must be called

When shooting at the 8 ball for the win the 8 ball must be struck first

If the 8 ball is called on a rail-first bank and not struck it is a loss of game

8 ball in a pocket not designated is a loss

Scratching on the 8 ball when shooting for the win is loss of game

All scratches and fouls give ball in hand within the head string

When having ball in hand within the head string and all object balls are within the string, the ball nearest the string is spotted including the 8 ball

General rules of pocket billiards apply

That's about it. Apologies to the op for getting off topic, this happens a lot when push out versus one foul 9 ball is mentioned.

Very similar to the 8 ball Alabama rules I posted above

 

[SouthernDraw]

How many perfect matches would there have over the years, if the players were expected to make an honest attempt at pocketing every ball? Earl went for 10 his first tourney with a heavy incentive to shoot that way. That would make a terrific tv format and you would see some awesome shots and runouts. I would bet the Keither be back shooting with all of the top shooters on that one!

I know that in NC, even in the 90's, that was the expectation of every player shooting 8 ball in a bar. If you played safe, it was seen as cheating. Sure, it happened all of the time. But the player had to be very creative to camouflage it. And if he did it too much, he'd be called out. And it would end up in a fight. It was seen as one of the top "man rules."

 

[1pocket]

According to my research on the Johnston City tournaments, the Jansco Brothers introduced ball-in-hand anywhere on the table following a foul in 1967 -- that's well before "Texas Express".

 

[Donny Lutz]

dictionary

Er, no.

There are 3 basic levels of the game:: Tactics, Theater, Strategy.

Tactics are how to make a shot and get position. {shortest time scale, risk and reward}
Theater is how to win the game of the moment. {intermediate}
Strategy is how to win the match. {longest time scale, risk and reward.}

In my three Dictionaries, strategy and tactics are considered synonymous.

 

[1pocket]

In my three Dictionaries, strategy and tactics are considered synonymous.

They are close, but the nuance difference is that tactics is more immediate like how you play a safe or how you play a shot. Strategy is more over-arching, e.g. why you might play a certain style more than another style -- such as aggressive vs defensive. That's how I understand it. A lot of times you don't need the nuance to use either word interchangeably, just like you are saying, but in a more complex game of pool and in a military situation where things are more complex, those nuances do come into play.

 

[CJ Wiley]

EVERYONE that gambled played '2 Shot Shoot Out'

According to my research on the Johnston City tournaments, the Jansco Brothers introduced ball-in-hand anywhere on the table following a foul in 1967 -- that's well before "Texas Express".

This is correct from my information as well. However, in those days EVERYONE that gambled played '2 Shot Shoot Out' (roll out/push out/2 foul). I gambled at pool as much as anyone in the 80s and we played "2 Foul" 100% of the time....one foul was for "sissies".

One foul takes out most of the best components of the game, and replaces it with faster matches and a more even "playing field" so there's more entrees in the tournaments.

 

[Pushout]

They are close, but the nuance difference is that tactics is more immediate like how you play a safe or how you play a shot. Strategy is more over-arching, e.g. why you might play a certain style more than another style -- such as aggressive vs defensive. That's how I understand it. A lot of times you don't need the nuance to use either word interchangeably, just like you are saying, but in a more complex game of pool and in a military situation where things are more complex, those nuances do come into play.

Strategy and tactics have been discussed as separate issues for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. As someone who loves games I heard them both regarding almost any game you can play. Even in investment discussions. I've never heard them discussed as being synonymous until recently and then only on AZ

 

[SJDinPHX]

Strategy and tactics have been discussed as separate issues for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. As someone who loves games I heard them both regarding almost any game you can play. Even in investment discussions. I've never heard them discussed as being synonymous until recently and then only on AZ

100% correct !..They are two separate issues !..Offensive and defensive strategy, are two completely different things !..Those who think they are 'synonymous', are simply not in tune with the way pool is really supposed to be played !