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Just learned they are testing a cheaper alternative.

My rule book is from 2018.

Rule book states: CB in the rack, 15th ball behind the head-string (but not on the head-spot): then, 15th ball in position, CB behind the head-string. But, if the 15th ball IS on the head-spot, then CB goes to the center-spot. Go figure. The latter would make for a very tough breakshot, while...

‘GENERAL RULE‘ #1.5. BTW: As impressive as Shaw’s 700+ ball record run was (especially his luck in never getting ‘smothered’ after breaking all those racks), I DID notice while thumbing through the BCA rulebook that the racking template he used is specifically BANNED in 14.1.

“Habits that stem from childhood”: Maybe that explains the subconscious gremlin that, at the last second of my perfectly straight stroke, suddenly decides to swerve the butt of the cue sideways. Happens very rarely, but must relate to some childhood impulse to correct aiming error (go figure)...

I understand Simonis cloth is in short supply currently. I wonder if there will be a problem getting enough new 860 to recover all the tournament tables (?).

I always took the opposite point of view, and never hesitated to show the ‘fish’ anything they asked, thinking, the better they got, the more confidence (and money) they would gain by beating the smaller fish, and eventually be convinced they were finally good enough to beat me, thus bringing me...

Can’t explain it, but copying that technique has seemed beneficial for me. Not so much a lowered contact point on the CB, as much as a slight ‘dipping‘ motion of the cue. Might have something to do with initially ‘sliding’, as opposed to ‘rolling’ the CB, thus making the exact contact point...

Maybe try ‘dry-lube’ straw spray?

I also noticed the balls were snooker-size. I also noticed the balls were smaller/snooker-size, though still, those rounded pockets would likely give typical U.S. ’barbox’ bangers fits.

BTW: Interesting related observation: Watching an old English TV mystery just now, actors playing pool in a pub, 7’ (or 8‘?) table with no diamond rail markers, rounded-corner/snooker-style pockets/cushions, and 15 un-numbered balls, 7 yellow, 7 red, one black. Typical UK barbox?

To me, ‘Bar Box’ (derogatory term) is any coin-op table shorter than 9’. Though typically a 7’ Valley, I have played on some 6-footers, and the 8’ examples all had the oversized CB. Anything 9’ or longer (trad. pro size) using regulation balls should merely be labeled ‘coin-op’.

True, but I’ve noticed that when circumstances dictate a closed bridge, I need to re-adjust my CB target point to obtain the same pocketing accuracy. Go figure.

I live in a rural area surrounded by corn & soybean fields (interspersed with grazing cattle & hay meadows). When I moved here 40 yrs. ago, you could hand-drive a pipe into the ground to get water. Now, since all the adjoining farms have mobile irrigation systems, my well goes nearly dry in a...

Reminiscent of a small/storefront novelty/tobacco shop I blundered into on the NW side (around 1970?) that had a nine foot table. Someone else was driving (took me car-shopping) and I was new to the neighborhood. After I bought my own car, I went hunting for that storefront again but could...

Multifaceted philosophical issues: Prehistoric humans hunted the mastodons (to extinction?) largely for meat. The ivory tusks then were a ‘byproduct’. African/asian natives that killed water buffalos likely wouldn’t have wasted the hides anyway (not realizing they made the best poolcue tips)...

More mental masturbation: While admittedly requiring a lot of re-racking effort, it might be worthwhile to work out the percentages. Does hitting the rack in a specific spot reliably send an interfering OB toward the pocket? A close-to-the-rack, very sharp cut hit hard enough to reach the...

Upon reflection, likely a rare scenario: A slug-rack that didn’t spread, your opponent (with BIH in the kitchen) maybe has no makable shot, but regardless, you are still already ‘on one’. If you are ‘stuck’ instead with that same layout, you might still get downtable without fouling, putting...

No. No limit to how many times you can force your opponent to shoot again. But, while a great ring-game rule that prevent two hustlers in cahoots from hooking interceding suckers with ‘accidental’ safties, it occurs to be one way to leave your partner an unmissable shot though (likely too...

Not to mention that a sharp cut ball very close to the pack sometimes gets beat to the pocket by an interfering OB.