Why 9 ball?

i think 9-ball is by choice because it's the fastest game to be shown on tv there for it's more popular, although snooker is pretty long. THere's alot of debate about which game is harder 9 or 8 ball. I think both of them have their own degree of "hardness" personally i think eight ball is a much easier game but nineball is alot easier to understand.

i feel pretty much the same way. i don't think 9ball is a game that tests the pros' abilities. maybe rotation, or 10ball, or 14.1. or maybe 9ball on a snooker table.

they ought to forget about making pool fast and exciting,,,appealing to television, because that issue has many problems. and while many people like it when the pros string racks together, i can't think of anything more boring than a 9ball runout.

Why 9 Ball?

Hi Alistair,

The game that has been "chosen" to represent pocket billiards to the general public is strictly for speed. Even as fast as it is in comparison to 14.1, one pocket or even 8 ball, they still edit the matches for TV time. It is the TV time that holds the future of sponsored "professional" pool.

Only with that exposure will major sponsors want to step up. Without the sponsors, there are only minor tournament dollars. Check the money lists. Earl, Busti and Batta make about what the 100th ranked PGA player does. Top snooker players can make more in one tournament than they will in a year of travel.

Many people deride pool as a haven for drunks, drifters and drug addicts. Want to argue that? I'm not any of the above. My ex however, refused to watch me play anywhere. Not once in fifteen years. Pool to her was only the dirty "D"'s. Is it that perception that holds the "game" back for sponsors? We are gamblers. But, more money is bet on any Sunday on the front and back nine than in all the poolrooms in the country all week long. Those people are percieved to be the cream of society and we are the scum? Why would a major sponsor step up?

What it comes down to is the word perception. Unfortunately, that word is reality. Which brings us back to the game of nine ball. It's fast! It's exciting! It's lucky! It's skillful!! What more can you ask?

I have been playing pool for the last 26 years. For the first 10 years the only game I played or knew was 8ball. I believe to appeal to the masses they should show 8ball on television it is the game that the general public can relate to and sees on a regular basis. Other games and sports play the way the public does. I do believe that 8ball can be just as fast and easy as 9ball. I watched Johnny Archer run either 5 or 7 in out at a pro 8ball tournament and that sure didn't take long.
For the most part no matter what game is chosen as the pro level game, the same players would still be at the top. They are the ones with the most talent, dedication and heart and would adapt to whatever game that is necessary.

9 Ball is definitely the QUICK game that's needed for TV. I myself can watch the Videos of a One Pocket Game & enjoy it for it's precision. I'd say most Good Players can too. The largest portion on the TV Audience is probably not an A or B Player or a 6-10Speed Player... so fast action is a requirement

BUT there is another game that is QUICK & full of twists & turns. It's called "SHORT RACK 8 Ball" with an Alabama 8 Ball ingredient (the 1 & 15 Balls go in opposing Side Pockets) & another SPICY ingredient namely called "Last Pocket 8 Ball". You folks try this game & see what you think. You can begin by playing the basic game of "SHORT RACK 8 Ball" first & then add in the other ingredients along the way.

Why 9 ball

Personally, I like one pocket. I think this game really separates the good players from the not-so-good. The trouble with one pocket is, it's boring for most people to watch. Even some of the better players don't like to watch it, especially when two good defensive players are playing. when that happens it can get boring for anyone. Most top players playing for money are not going to take a risky shot in this game very often. They know that one mistake could be the end of the game.

Nine ball really has become a TV game. It used to be played differently before they modified it for TV. Texas Express was introduced, I believe, for TV. Fifteen years ago or so, most people played call the nine. If I remember correctly, I don't think there was ball in hand back then. Wasn't it played like Rotation, if you missed the object ball, the other player had the option of having you shoot (like a push out)? I would like to see something different than what's currently being shown. Maybe Total Offense would be a good alternative. I do like the alternate break rule because it gives the audience a chance to watch both players. Whatever happens, I hope the game gets better for the players and the audience.

As for the post about your wife that didn't want to go to the pool hall with you, I think gambling can be one of the problems. Gambling can bring out the worst in some people. Other people can gamble with no problem. There is nothing better to me than to watch two good players playing for a lot of money and having a lot of class while doing it. Unfortunately, that isn't usually the case! One of the things I hate is to be playing and some clown comes over wanting to play, and maybe I don't have the time or I just don't want to play this character, and I have to go through this routine of countering their insults. I went in to practice during my lunch break one day and two unsavory characters wanted to play for money. I tried to be polite and told them I just wanted to practice for a few minutes. They started talking smack and I had to go over and threaten to smack them. I really don't like to have to deal with that. If I had to endure that every time I went into a pool hall, I wouldn't be going very often. To me, it's a real turn-off to the game!

ball in hand

There is no doubt that the popularity of 9 ball is based on the shot making aspect. Your typical spectator does not care to watch a defensive game. I believe it is all about the "time value of money." And the KISS system.

Did I heard somewhere that TV is where the "ball in hand" rule came from. In order to make the sets quicker. Or is it the "3 foul rule" I am thinking of?

I remember when I first started playing 8 ball. If you did not hit the 8, when you got to it, it was a loss.

Porter

porter

Its a very easy game to learn the rules. Easy for the comentators to explain.

Easy for the audience to understand

Easy for the advertisers to use commercial time.

"oh well... checkers sells more than Chess.."

Re: ball in hand

Porter said:

I remember when I first started playing 8 ball. If you did not hit the 8, when you got to it, it was a loss.

Porter

porter

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eight ball is a weird game......almost everyone has their own version of the game.....that's why i think it should be aired also so that people who watches it finally get the facts straight with the rules. It's really not a fun anymore everytime you play someone and each person has their own rule.

Cardinal is exactly right! I hate playing 8ball now because everyone I play will not play the bca rules even though I have them in my hand. And they come up with off the wall rules. I mostly play 9ball because it is very easy to understand the rules and I believe that by showing some of the people how to play that they will either start to play more or maybe they will want to learn the real rules of 8ball

The good old days about 20 years ago when there were plenty of US sponsors who benefited from having commercials that drove sales for them during very popular and frequent televised matches, featuring great US players and great visiting champions from European and Asian countries.

Arnaldo

So close to a full 20yrs old, and bumped with something really not applicable to the OPs question.

Good job

To me the downfall of pool on TV is that people think it needs to be shown live. I get it, I can watch a live feed and love it, but general mass audience needs a full edited show with graphics, and the players making comments in between their shots (Like reality tv confessionals).

General audiences would get to know the players better. It would be better exposure to the sponsors of each player, the audience would learn about pool and get into the game in my opinion.

The only reason 9-ball is "better" is that it seldom takes more than 7 minutes to play a game; and this is the perfect interval for another commercial.

9-Ball may be "better" for gambling when you pay on the 5, 7 (both $x), and 9 ($2x)

I’ve always thought the game of 9 ball is flawed in many ways but it’s what remains as the tournament game of today.
To me a person who does 80 per cent of the work in running 8 balls but misses the nine and leaves it in the jaws for an easy win should get a 80 per cent of the credit for that rack. But the opponent sinks the nine in the jaws and wins the game quite ridiculous to my way of thinking..Years ago I came up with a game that would solve that which a friend and my self still play when we get together. I know I’m in the minority on this and that most people like nineball just the way it is, and so be it. I accept that.

Bob Jewett said:

That is how the APA does "nine ball".

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And for what ever reason it has worked……

14.1 or 1P at least you get credit for what you pocket.

Take care Bob, hope your well
Eric

Shit, this thread is older than I've been a member lol

Full tackle 9 ball would be interesting though,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,