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I’ve watched Alex play a lot and his stroke is always short. I don’t have another example handy (searching only found me that one example), but I’m pretty confident Alex’s delivery would not be “completely different” if he’d needed more draw. Would it have been a bit longer? Probably. But he’s...

I think this is an overstatement. Take a look at this clip of Alex using his little punchy stroke to get some excellent draw. Now we aren’t all Alex and when trying for good draw a longer stroke is better for most of us, but I think it’s fair to say a short quick stroke can produce excellent...

It is, probably the hardest of any top professional. Williams also floats in more balls than any top player. Most players prefer to hit them with at least medium speed - Williams plays everything pocket speed if at all possible.

IMO Archer plays 8b like a 9b player and also commentates on it like a 9b player. He doesn’t instinctively see the patterns that good 8b players do. He’s not alone in this. Rodney is in the same boat IMO. Elite 9b players can still run out most of the time on these tables, but occasionally the...

Yes, that’s what I said in the last sentence of the first paragraph. But if you read Bob’s post (#13) you will see why I’m saying that it can be better to think of it as hitting fast.

This hilarious (unintentionally I assume). The vast majority of average pool fans (let alone average occasional pool players) would rather watch 8b or 9b rather than one pocket. Nobody but “die hard players” (or maybe die hard pool fans) wants to watch one pocket.

I’m still working my way through this. But by the way, the “archer” story on the 2 finger salute is probably untrue. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803120300620

This is one of those times that both things can be true. Zerkies is right in that thinking of hitting the CB hard can actually be counterproductive (for the reasons Bob J says) so it’s better to think of it as hitting the CB fast. But PJ and others are also right that in fact you are hitting the...

Interesting situation in the final rack of the WPA women’s eight ball championships. Kelly Fisher is kicking at the six ball. If I’ve done it right, the video goes to the correct time. If not, fast-forward to one hour and 23 minutes. Clearly, Kelly hits the rail first and then the six ball...

I believe it’s just the International rules. I was trying to describe how you have to play away from the frozen ball (ie you can’t “thin” the ball at all as they deem that a push). You are right that the OB can move if its a result of the OB ball settling once the CB is removed.

On the first point (make up your own rules) I’ve seen money matches fall apart mid match because the players didn’t specify some rule and they can’t now agree. I’ve seen it most when the players are spotting balls in 9b/10b. On the frozen ball rule, your perspective makes sense to you, me and...

I thought that was the finals. Glad you corrected me because I’m watching the finals now! It wasn’t clear on the broadcast if an intentional foul was allowed in their 10b (clearly not allowed in 8b).

That rule is sort of a natural offshoot of their touching ball rule. It’s the snooker based rule - touching a solid you must shoot away from it but you are deemed to have hit the ball you are touching. Their touching ball rule is weird to me, and especially weird in rotation. If you’re frozen...

To prove this point, Bergman just failed to nominate stripes or solids (while frozen to a solid after the break) in the finals against Hatch. He’s played a lot of these events and still didn’t know that rule. It could have cost him the match.

Bob Henning Bob Francher Robert Byrne (Bob to his friends)

Buddy Hall did pretty well for a fat guy. Among many victories, beat a fit young Gold Gloves boxer to win the US Open in 1998. John Higgins and Shaun Murphy among the portly top snooker players. Not saying fitness doesn’t matter. And Buddy and Miz had their careers shortened by the bulge.

Well, Shane’s backer is willing to bet to the contrary.

The commentators seemed to think the referee knew it was a loss of rack and the scorekeeper got it wrong. If so, then it would clearly be right to correct the scorekeeper, IMO.

Yes, although Shane will be used to that from WPA and WNT events.

The rules are quite different - enough to cost you if you don’t learn them. For example: On a CB frozen to your own OB, you must shoot away from the OB (and you are deemed to have hit that ball). If the OB you are frozen to moves it’s a foul. You can’t play a “dirty combo” on a open table...