14.1 vs 9/10 ball

What is the best test of skill

  • 9 Ball

    Votes: 4 4.5%

  • 10 Ball

    Votes: 15 17.0%

  • 14.1

    Votes: 69 78.4%
  • Total voters
    88
MoonshineMattK

MoonshineMattK

.
Silver Member
Curious what the general opinion of the average AZ member is.

What do you honestly think is a better test of a World Champion in a tournament setting? Not talking about these race to 100 matches that are going at the moment.
Im talking about a tournament similar to the U.S. Open 9 Ball yearly event.
I just don’t think that a race to 11 9ball gets it done.

I read way too much talk on here that 14.1 is not relevant.

I do not feel a move to 10 ball is the answer.

If you have never played 14.1 please give it a try before you vote.
Any ball in any pocket at any time is not nearly as easy as it sounds.

Any pro players who happen to see this I would love to know your thought on this subject.

I believe at any skill level of 14.1 best decides what player is better than another.

I think pro players weigh the time they have available and travel distance involved and chose events that have the best payday.
 
Last edited:
Had One Hole been included in the choices it would have received some votes, but to me straight pool will always be the truest test. ;)
 
When 14.1 was the test of Champions, 8 ball and 9 ball were being played.

Unfortunately, 14.1 is not the spectator game of choice in the 21st centruy as it was 60+years ago. 14.1 had a long history of the game of champions from the turn of the 20th centry until

Things change. So does pool. IMO 14.1 is still a good test. But the race has to be at least 250..
 
14.1 was the best test, is the best test, & will always be the better test vs. any rotation game.
 
Tom In Cincy said:
When 14.1 was the test of Champions, 8 ball and 9 ball were being played.

Unfortunately, 14.1 is not the spectator game of choice in the 21st centruy as it was 60+years ago. 14.1 had a long history of the game of champions from the turn of the 20th centry until

Things change. So does pool. IMO 14.1 is still a good test. But the race has to be at least 250..
Click to expand...

I keep reading this. There was a shift from 14.1 to 9b because 14.1 wasn't a spectator game or good for TV.

WELLLLLLLLL LADIES.....

.... since pool no longer has spectators and is never on TV, it should just move back to 14.1 so we can see who the BEST players are and who can make the highest runs. I don't care what anyone says... the biggest and longest controlled runs prove the best player.... not who gets most fortunate off the break and then runs 9 or 10 balls. Run 400 one time.
 
I think 14.1 is the best, too.

I think longer matches are needed to see who is truly the best.

Lots of pros can run high numbers when given the opportunity.

I think the race has to be to at least 200.

In the old days, I think they used to have races to 1000 that took days to complete. That would be a real test.
 
If the promoters thought it was the game of choice for the spectators.. well yes...we'd see more 14.1

It just doesn't work that way in today's promoter's market. The quick games of rotation are KING. That is just the way it is.

I respect your opinion and maybe it will become true in the near future.

I am a long time supporter of 14.1

SpiderWebComm said:
I keep reading this. There was a shift from 14.1 to 9b because 14.1 wasn't a spectator game or good for TV.

WELLLLLLLLL LADIES.....

.... since pool no longer has spectators and is never on TV, it should just move back to 14.1 so we can see who the BEST players are and who can make the highest runs. I don't care what anyone says... the biggest and longest controlled runs prove the best player.... not who gets most fortunate off the break and then runs 9 or 10 balls. Run 400 one time.
Click to expand...
 
Tom In Cincy said:
If the promoters thought it was the game of choice for the spectators.. well yes...we'd see more 14.1

It just doesn't work that way in today's promoter's market. The quick games of rotation are KING. That is just the way it is.

I respect your opinion and maybe it will become true in the near future.

I am a long time supporter of 14.1
Click to expand...

We're on the same page ;) I was merely stating that there are no spectators in general and there's no market in general (which is why pool isn't in mainstream media).

I mean, there was a 14.1 world championship in NJ and it wasn't even mentioned in the local paper from what I saw, let alone local tv news.

Pool is like chess.... we're our own spectators and that's that. The promoter's market is..... *drum roll* ... other pool players.

I'll watch a pro level 8b, 9b 1p, 14.1 or bank event. To a pool player watching a pro event - it doesn't matter. So, might as well play the game that proves the most.

That's all I was saying. Ask your neighbor if he/she knows who Efren Reyes is...or Johnny Archer....or Shane Van Boening. NOBODY knows.
Dave


p.s. I'm not being negative... I'm just stating "what is."
 
8-ball on 9-foots with 3 7/8 inch pockets like they used in the 2005 US Open.

IMO that game would get the cream rising to the top right quick and be a great mix of strategy and offense.

Oh, and no jump cues. Jumping allowed with your main player.

That said I am voting for 14.1 over 9-ball and 10-ball. The game never should have gone from it IMO for the pro ranks.
 
Last edited:
You people wanting a 14.1 race to 200 or 250 balls must keep in mind that the OP was wanting to know what we thought would make a better TOURNAMENT setting. These longer races in 14.1 could drag a tournament with 128 entries into a lo-o-o-o-ng week of matches, unless the venue had many tables. Keeping in mind that I too think 14.1 is the best test of skill (as compared to rotation games), in a tournament setting the rotation games are better for running a more organized and smoother tourney, imo. The matches are over fairly quick in rotation as where a straight pool match can linger on awhile. A 9 or 10-ball match you pretty much know how long it will take (depending on the length of the race), not so much so in straight pool.

I voted for 14.1 in the poll, but 1-pocket is equally as difficult imo!!!

Maniac
 
The DCC and SBE 14.1 Challenges are well attended, as are the World Championships that DP promotes every year. DVD sales for 14.1 are steady, as is interest in the game from players of all ages and backgrounds. Most of the people I work with seek out my assistance for 14.1 - and my 14.1 students outnumber 9 ball/8 ball players 4 to 1. So if anybody tells you that 14.1 is too slow and boring or uninteresting or DEAD, those numbers don't lie.

In speaking with a lot of players over the years, I have found that the champion caliber players all play 14.1. A large majority of the contenders, or guys stuck on plateaus... they go on and on telling you how they've avoided the game for years. I think the answer to your question is hidden in that observation somewhere... then again my opinion on this topic is extremely biased, and should be disqualified altogether.

:)
 
14.1 is the best way to measure a players speed. If you tell me that guy runs 60-80 balls pretty consistantly, I know exactly how he plays. It translates over to the rotation games as well I believe. I run 40 and 50 balls pretty much every time I go practice running balls and I believe if I play a guy who runs 80 consistantly in a race to 13 in 10 ball I am probably gonna lose..
 
I have the utmost respect for straight pool as a game, but as top pros can make runs of 200 points then it's not a good test of skill. Both players need to have fair opportunities at the table and this is what 10-ball provides. Winner-breaks 10-ball a race to, say, 10 is IMO a better test of professionals' skills than straight pool to 200 points. Making one bad shot (or not good enough break shot) and losing the whole match on it is too much of a punishment.
 
Straight Pool matches are not and never have been, a race. Short rack games, including One Pocket matches are races of short games. Straight Pool is not.
 
One Pocket is the Toughest Game

I think you should of added One pocket to your list. It is the toughest game and it requires all skills to play at the highest level. If you are weak at any part of pool your opponent will attack your weakness. One pocket is also the best stall game out there.

I play mostly 9 Ball/10 Ball since thats the game of choice by most players.
 
TWOFORPOOL said:
I think you should of added One pocket to your list. It is the toughest game and it requires all skills to play at the highest level.
Click to expand...

Yeah One Pocket, the best test of skill to see who can get balls close to their pocket...lol. I guess shotmaking doesn't count much to see who is best.
 
JDB said:
Yeah One Pocket, the best test of skill to see who can get balls close to their pocket...lol. I guess shotmaking doesn't count much to see who is best.
Click to expand...

You shake more shooting at your hole in 1 pocket than any other game so shot making is pretty big in 1 pocket at a high level.

If I had to vote I would think 1P was the true test of the better player. Look at Efrens match record over the years at DCC with only races to 3 (I think), I don't think anyone could do that in any other game.
 
They are all games of skill

Play 14.1 ,10-ball ,9-ball ,1-pocket ,banks (full or short rack) ,or 8-ball
for 10 hours. If you are losing it's because the other guy is better.

The best player wins at all these games.
 
Joe T said:
You shake more shooting at your hole in 1 pocket than any other game so shot making is pretty big in 1 pocket at a high level.
Click to expand...

Yes, but if you hang the ball it is considered a successful shot where in 9 or 10 ball it is considered a sell out.

I cannot argue with your expertise and I respect your skill and experience. Therefore, please don't take my comments the wrong way. Obviously, I am not a one pocket afficiando.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top