Odd before 8-ball (new rule variation proposal)

In the talk of the upcoming TAR 8-ball we are again in a close poll on "take what you make" vs "open after the break".

There are arguments for both sides on that debate and the negatives that exist on either option are real and exist. It is a crappy decision due to this, either way you vote the game has slight flaws (too easy, too many runouts, too much emphasis on the break in OATB) vs (too much luck added on the break with TWYM).

I was thinking up ways to add some element of added difficulty to the game and figure what if the final ball shot before the 8-ball, the "out ball" as many players know it, had to be an odd numbered ball?

This slight alteration is fairly simple to track for the viewers and players, and in some racks it may not affect the rack when the natural "out ball" is in fact an odd numbered ball anyhow, but when the odd numbered balls of your set do not match up for a natural out ball the players would have to plan for that second to last shot before the 8-ball and find that odd numbered "out-ball" to play onto.

In effect the game would still be "open after the break", but if you shoot stripes then your last ball shot down before the 8-ball would have to be the 9, 11, 13, or 15, if you shoot solids the ball before the 8 would need to be the 1, 3, 5, or 7 ball.

Both stripes and solids have 4 odd numbered balls, so in that regard this makes the two "suits" equal at the start of play. You would need to use one of those 4 odd balls in your "suit" as your last ball before the 8 and play a pattern for that accordingly.

There would have to be some rules on what happens if a person runs out of odd numbered balls in their run or a tricky opponent combos the last odd numbered ball in before their opponents suit is done. I am thinking that at the completion of a players turn they get one odd numbered ball of their suit spotted if they have no odd balls on the table but have remaining even numbered balls or shot the last ball of their suit down and it was even. If you shoot the last ball of your suit down and it is an even ball you would be forced to play safe as you would not be allowed to shoot the 8-ball next.

Thoughts?

FairladyZ said:

I've been out of the pool circle for a long time......but I'm reading a lot of this kind of thing.... Doesn't anyone just play a good 'ol game of 8-ball anymore? Not trying to start an argument, but why all the rule changes and over-complicating things?

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Because people will not admit that the tables we play the game on are too easy and shift to 4 inch pockets and preferably a 10 foot table.

I am a fan of traditional 8-ball first and foremost but it simply will not work at the pro ranks on a 4.5 inch cut 9-foot.

Ultimately I want to see normal open after the break 8-ball on 10 foot diamonds with Fatboy rail cut pockets of 4 1/8th inch. When we get those playing conditions the game as it stands will challenge the pros perfectly.

sjm said:

Too confusing for the viewer.

How about moving the break back? It is now required that one break with the cue ball starting behind diamond six, which is where the head-string is located.

If players were required to break from behind diamond seven, it would make the game more difficult than it is today and the game would remain recognizable to those who play the conventional version of the game.

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That would indeed make it a lot tougher, the balls would cluster way more.

I can only imagine SVB's reaction after perfecting his break after years and years of practice. That single rule would completely obliterate his advantage in future TAR matches. I dare say he would suddenly be the underdog in a lot of them.