10-ball Drop Early Rule

[Bavafongoul]

It's like playing a 10 ball cash ring game........the game is over after the 10 gets pocketed as the last
remaining ball on the table. But you can still get paid on pocketing the 10 ball any time during the game
using a legal combo, however, the 10 ball is re-spotted immediately and the shooter remains in control
of the table and is entitled to make more 10 ball combos and win money every time....the very same
applies to the 5 ball in a cash ring game..... the game only ends when the last ball on the table....10 ball
gets legally pocketed. There's no short cuts to winning in a 10 ball cash ring game, only applies to $$$.

 

[Bob Jewett]

There is also what you might call a broken wording when a "safe" call is discussed at 10 ball. It is never to the player's advantage to call a safe -- it has some drawbacks and no benefits. It should be re-termed a "no-call" which is a courtesy to the referee and opponent who wonder what in the world are you playing from that mess.

 

[Straightpool_99]

There were no changes to the rules themselves from 2008 until the revision this year.

My Billiards Digest column for October covers all of the changes I could find to both the Rules and the Regulations.

In addition, for the 2016 season, there are some trial rules for nine ball in force:

9-ball professional rule

In 2016 the following racking rule will be used. This rule change will be valid for all 2016 WPA Ranked events and will be then evaluated by the WPA General Assembly in order to make the final decision with regards to the change.

Additionally, three point rule will be used for all WPA events (See Regulations 18.Three Point rule) .

2.2 Nine Ball Rack

The object balls are racked as tightly as possible in a diamond shape, with the one ball moved two ball diameters up the table so that the nine ball is placed at the apex of the diamond and on the foot spot and in the middle of the diamond. The other balls will be placed in the diamond without purposeful or intentional pattern.
​

As for the wording of the "ten last" rule, it's a little tricky to get it right especially if you consider that the meaning has to be clear for those who are not native American Pool English speakers and for those who are new to the game. I think the current wording is unambiguous but it might have been better to fully reorganize the whole flow-of-play discussion. There is an error in the following rule (9.9) where the case of spotting a called early 10 is omitted.

Good Lord...Not another rule-change!? How many times are they going to mess with the rules of 9 ball? The freaking break rules are being changed every 2 minutes here in Europe and now by the WPA. Are they going to start with this nonsense as well? As far as I'm concerned it's becoming a big joke as far as European pool is concerned. One minute it's from the box, then 9 on the spot, then one on the spot, 3 point rule etc. etc. The very minute you get the break down, they change it. Why is this done? IMO it's because of whines and not actual facts and statistics. If you actually look at the way the games are being played, I think the old rules are just fine.

Thank goodness for snooker. If anyone has any doubts as to why pool is dying and snooker thrives, look no further than the guys running the show. All the people playing will probably adapt fine, and the same people will probably win, but it's completely unnecessary and detracts from the sport to be constantly changing the rules back and forth. WPA did well to keep the rules for this long, and would be better off to have kept them even longer. I hope they are not going to fall into the Eurotour trap of constantly changing the rules every time a high profile player loses and complains.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... One minute it's from the box, then 9 on the spot, then one on the spot, 3 point rule etc. etc. The very minute you get the break down, they change it. Why is this done? ....

It's been apparent since about 2000 that the break at nine ball is a problem. The changes are responses to that problem. They have had various degrees of success in fixing the problem.

I think the solution is to not play nine ball.

 

[Straightpool_99]

It's been apparent since about 2000 that the break at nine ball is a problem. The changes are responses to that problem. They have had various degrees of success in fixing the problem.

I think the solution is to not play nine ball.

I think the nail in the coffin of 9-ball may have been the 2001 US-Open event, where a number of factors contributed. Mikas humiliating defeat in the final. Corey Deuels constantly leaving dead combinations after the break, throughout the tournament. Most importantly, the 4 balls must hit rails rule not in effect, leading to boring games on only half the table. Corey deserved to win, but he actually hurt the credibility of 9 ball pretty badly, which is a weird thing to say, for such a smart and likable fellow. He was just too clever for the game.

But anyway, I think the time is overdue for 10 ball to be the championship game. I like 9ball better as a social and occational gambling game, but to determine a champion 10 ball is definitely better. I don't think straight pool is even on the radar, anymore.

If we're still going to be playing 9 ball, then I actually think the traditional rule set is better, maybe with the 3 ball rule (and obviously the 4 ball rail rule). Make it a fun, runout game. May the better ball runner win.

 

[Hidy Ho]

Agreed.

And I hate the rule changes, but I get what they're doing.

Freddie <~~~ too OCD for change

Do you think 10 ball needed change or fixing? Not sure how frequent "early 10 balls to win" situation comes up? Did rack mechanics figure out 10 ball racking to set themselves with easy combos?

When are we changing the rule to move 10 balls to spot racking? :grin:

 

[Bank it]

It's been apparent since about 2000 that the break at nine ball is a problem. The changes are responses to that problem. They have had various degrees of success in fixing the problem.



I think the solution is to not play nine ball.

Why after sooooo many years did some people come to the determination that there's a problem with the break around 2000?

I agree that's right about the times some people (I.E. European players), started kvetching about it it and tinkering with it endlessly leaving the game the mess it is today but I still don't understand why all the sudden something that had been fine forever was suddenly a "problem". Basically because those who's breaks were weak or ineffectual couldn't remain competitive leading to 45 different formats/alternating breaks etc which changed the game, removing certain dynamics from the game that should never have been lost. IMO that is what led to the game being broken. It was fine before that for a very long time.

 

[HawaiianEye]

It's been apparent since about 2000 that the break at nine ball is a problem. The changes are responses to that problem. They have had various degrees of success in fixing the problem.

I think the solution is to not play nine ball.

The solution is to play winner breaks and don't lose a game.

 

[Mirza]

There is also what you might call a broken wording when a "safe" call is discussed at 10 ball. It is never to the player's advantage to call a safe -- it has some drawbacks and no benefits. It should be re-termed a "no-call" which is a courtesy to the referee and opponent who wonder what in the world are you playing from that mess.

This has also baffled me, why didn't they make it a rule that if I don't call a safety and accidently make one that the incoming player can return the shot to me?

Then calling a safety would make sense and 10 ball would indeed be a complitly luck free game combined with the new "early 10 no win" rule.

 

[Eurotroll]

It looks like they have eliminated the called combo on the ten for an early win.

This is the rule as of today:

9.8 Continuing Play
If the shooter legally pockets a called/nominated ball on a shot (except a push out, see 9.4 Second Shot of the Rack – Push Out), any additional balls pocketed remain pocketed (except the ten ball; see 9.9 Spotting Balls), and he continues at the table for the next shot. If a player nominates and legally pockets the ten ball prior to the ten ball being the last remaining ball, the ten ball is re-spotted and the shooter continues. If the shooter fails to pocket the called ball or fouls, play passes to the other player, and if no foul was committed, the incoming player must play the cue ball from the position left by the other player.

This is what I downloaded and printed about two years ago:

9.8 Continuing Play
If the shooter legally pockets a called/nominated ball on a shot (except a push out, see 9.4 Second Shot of the Rack – Push Out), any additional balls pocketed remain pocketed (except the ten ball; see 9.9 Spotting Balls), and he continues at the table for the next shot. If a player legally pockets the called ten ball on any shot (except a push out) he wins the rack. If the shooter fails to pocket the called ball or fouls, play passes to the other player, and if no foul was committed, the incoming player must play the cue ball from the position left by the other player.

Interestingly the "effective from" date on both versions is Jan 1 2009.

It's an error, this rule was approved on March.

 

[Eurotroll]

This has also baffled me, why didn't they make it a rule that if I don't call a safety and accidently make one that the incoming player can return the shot to me?

Then calling a safety would make sense and 10 ball would indeed be a complitly luck free game combined with the new "early 10 no win" rule.

it's called "call safe" and it's used in some tournaments. A disadvantage is that 2 way shots are eliminated of the game.

 

[Bob Jewett]

This has also baffled me, why didn't they make it a rule that if I don't call a safety and accidently make one that the incoming player can return the shot to me?

Then calling a safety would make sense and 10 ball would indeed be a complitly luck free game combined with the new "early 10 no win" rule.

I think the idea is to avoid situations like: The 8 ball and 9 ball are frozen to the middles of the opposite end cushions. The 10 is on the spot. You get straight in on the 8 with no way to get to the other end of the table. You call "safe" and shoot the 8 in leaving your opponent frozen on the cushion and totally hooked on the 9. My take: why not allow the play? I think it hurts nothing. There are lots of easy safety plays that give perfect hooks if you see the play.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Why after sooooo many years did some people come to the determination that there's a problem with the break around 2000?

...

That was about the time the Sardo rack gave us the first really tight racks at nine ball. With a consistent rack it was possible to get a consistent result. The templates and tapping/training the table have given simple, inexpensive ways to get the same tight rack.

As Paul Schofield has pointed out, that turned the break into a trick shot.

 

[Bank it]

That was about the time the Sardo rack gave us the first really tight racks at nine ball. With a consistent rack it was possible to get a consistent result. The templates and tapping/training the table have given simple, inexpensive ways to get the same tight rack.

As Paul Schofield has pointed out, that turned the break into a trick shot.

Bob I respect all that you've done in and for the sport but realistically the wing ball has been wired forever, you just had to know where to break from.

It occurs to me that around that time more Europeans entered the game here & weren't keeping up in a winner break format & started complaining leading us to where we are now. I'll quote another member here, pool is a game where it's your turn until you foul, miss or play a safety. One of the most important dynamics in pool is controlling the table while you're at the table & controlling your head while you're in the chair. If somebody slaps you with a package then it tests your mettle when you get a chance as to whether you came turn it around & bring the heat or whether sitting in the electric chair freezes you up & puts you on tilt. That dynamic has been lost in the alternating break formats that came about from all the *****ing & kvetching by a small group of players.

There was nothing wrong with the break in 9 ball before. It's the heart of today's players that I find a problem with. YMMV.

 

[StraightPoolIU]

I find the rule tinkering fascinating but a little pointless. The cream always rises to the top regardless, and at least in the United States these changes will practically be ignored wholesale as it was with the previous rules. Each tournament will continue to set their own rules and it will continue to be frustrating that there isn't 1 rule set everyone respects and uses.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[zeeder]

I've seen plenty of call the nine ball tournaments where a player will play at two-way shot and call the nine ball "just in case".

 

[realkingcobra]

I'm trying to makes heads or tails of the wording of the Continuous Rule Play:


9.8 Continuous Play

... If a player nominates and legally pockets the ten ball prior to the ten ball being the last remaining ball, the ten ball is re-spotted and the shooter continues.


I'm making an assumption that they mean:

If a player legally pockets his nominated ball, but on the same stroke the 10-ball is pocketed, the 10-ball is immediately spotted and the shooter continues.

Is that correct?


Freddie <~~~ needs a rewrite

What it means is say the only shot you have is a 4-10 combo where the 10 is going to get pocketed. Go ahead and shoot the shot, make the 10, you get credit for making a ball, but because it's the 10 ball, it don't count unless it's the last ball on the table....so it's like some neutral ball that way.

 

[jay helfert]

I've always wondered who are the mysterious gremlins who write these rules. They completely forgot about KISS!

 

[easy-e]

Ah... that makes sense if they've taken early 10s away.

I can't stand that they keep changing the rules, but I can't stand it more if the wording is for crap.

"An early 10-ball does not win" explicitly said would be nice, considering this is a new rule change.


So this is saying we can call an early ten ball, make it, spot it back up, and then continue shooting????

Freddie

I just played a match by these rules. You got it right.

 

[garczar]

Racking(9b) question

Sorry if this sounds stupid BUT: how do you accurately position the balls when racking w/9b on spot? Kinda hard to see with the other balls blocking view. Would be pretty easy with a Magic but with a triangle it looks like getting 9 dead-on the spot could cause long(er) racking delays.