Who played 9ball... before Texas Express rules was the norm?

[Taxi]

The 'Grady Rule' normally describes a quicker way of playing 1p. What you describe is known as 'call shot-call safe' and is THE worst way to play 9b/10b. It totally removes the 2-way shot which has always been part of rotation games. As for push-out 9b its how i learned to play and imo is the best form of 9b. TE was invented to do ONE thing: speed-up tournaments. As for speed of play we always played where there could only be two consecutive pushes, after that somebody had to swing at their hole because both would be on one foul. Its not much slower than TE with all the safeties-n-shit. Great game.

I only used "the Grady rule" as a shorthand way of saying "call shot-call safe", since Grady introduced that rule in many of his tournaments. I hadn't realized there was a Grady rule in one pocket.

As for the rule itself, I agree that in pro tournaments it removes the two-way shot, although I've seen modifications where, like an extension, it was allowed one time per rack. But in lesser tournaments that don't involve 650+ Fargo players, I've found that 90% of safe shots are purely accidental, and particularly in short races they way overemphasize the luck factor. I don't really see the point of being rewarded for missing a shot, when clearly making the shot was your intention, rather than leaving your opponent safe.

You jogged my memory when you mentioned the two consecutive push limit, which was also present in some of the gambling matches I either took part in or witnessed. I agree that it was a good idea, and that personally I much prefer push-out 9 ball to TE, since it mostly eliminates the luck factor.

 

[garczar]

I only used "the Grady rule" as a shorthand way of saying "call shot-call safe", since Grady introduced that rule in many of his tournaments. I hadn't realized there was a Grady rule in one pocket.

As for the rule itself, I agree that in pro tournaments it removes the two-way shot, although I've seen modifications where, like an extension, it was allowed one time per rack. But in lesser tournaments that don't involve 650+ Fargo players, I've found that 90% of safe shots are purely accidental, and particularly in short races they way overemphasize the luck factor. I don't really see the point of being rewarded for missing a shot, when clearly making the shot was your intention, rather than leaving your opponent safe.

You jogged my memory when you mentioned the two consecutive push limit, which was also present in some of the gambling matches I either took part in or witnessed. I agree that it was a good idea, and that personally I much prefer push-out 9 ball to TE, since it mostly eliminates the luck factor.

Push-out is a shotmaking game, not a 'duck fest' like TE can be. Trying to remove all luck from 9b is a mistake imo. Play 10b, 8b or 14.1 if one doesn't like luck factor.

 

[Taxi]

Push-out is a shotmaking game, not a 'duck fest' like TE can be. Trying to remove all luck from 9b is a mistake imo. Play 10b, 8b or 14.1 if one doesn't like luck factor.

Slopping balls is part of the game, and so are lucky snookers. It's purely my personal preference that only the latter kind of offends me. And I agree with you that too many times TE becomes a duck fest, which is why I much prefer playing 2 fouls BIH, where shotmaking (meaning pocketing balls) is more rewarded.

 

[maha]

besides shot making it also puts a lot of strategy into it. you need to learn your opponents weakness and shoot out to them. if you bank well and he doesnt you leave banks you can make and he cant as well. same with thin cuts. that forces him to either let you shoot it or try to play a safe off it and see what happens.

nine ball presently is really how well you break, jump, and kick determines who wins at the top levels. kicking the most crucial.

 

[MitchAlsup]

When I first played 9-ball, the 5 and 7 were $1 and the 9 was $2; potting the 9 early meant no 5 & 7 payoff.
But standard rules as we generally know them today.

 

[boogieman]

I love it when people think I got lucky. Often times there was a method to the madness, a carom into a cross bank on the 9 while hiding the CB... re-arranging the furniture while getting a "lucky" safe etc. 2 way shots and creativity are rewarded in 9B as is having an idea of percentages. If an opponent complains about me being lucky I'll say maybe they should try 10 ball because 9 ball just isn't their game.

It sure is fun watching players melt down after I don't let them see anything for a few games. Yep, sorry, I got a lucky roll.