15-ball rotation...with a twist

[jingle]

I think I have finally found a handicap that keeps my 11-year old interested in playing pool with me. It's tough to compete with that damn PS3, which has already claimed my 15-year old. Anyway, I have tried several different handicaps/games to give my son a good chance to win, while at the same time making me have to play good to win. The problem is most of them didn't require him to make many balls to win and eventually he got bored.

What we play now is 15-ball rotation, except he can shoot at any ball and slop counts. He also gets the break. All scratches are CB in kitchen. If I don't legally contact my lowest ball, he gets the CB in the kitchen. For now, this seems to be a close handicap as we split the games fairly evenly. There have been a couple of times he has run out from the break, but he has had to make 5 or 6 balls in a row to do it. And I almost always have to come from behind with a several ball run to win, so it helps me by having to bare down too. I think he likes this game because he knows he can win, but because he has to make a few balls he feels like he accomplished something.

Now, if I can get my wife to try it, maybe she'll play once in a while too.

Anyway, just thought I'd share in case there are others looking for a different handicap to use.

 

[Roy Steffensen]

Thanks

I'll try it out on my nephew. He is really in to pool now, and will probably like it!

Last week I played a fairly new player a race in 9-ball. I had to bank or kick at my balls, and he could play normal. We ended up hill-hill, and he won in the end. It was actually good practice for me, to go for bankshots and play position for a specific ball each time.

 

[Pushout]

I think that game is in the BCA rule book, called Mr. and Mrs. Pocket Billiards. Seems to be in some dim part of my memory

 

[bsmutz]

I've been playing this with my wife and grandkids for a few years. Definitely keeps me on my toes when playing them. Glad you figured it out!

 

[jingle]

I've been playing this with my wife and grandkids for a few years. Definitely keeps me on my toes when playing them. Glad you figured it out!

That's for sure, if you aren't on your game it's a tough spot to fade.

 

[Pushout]

I think that game is in the BCA rule book, called Mr. and Mrs. Pocket Billiards. Seems to be in some dim part of my memory

This game is, indeed, in my 1980 copy of the BCA rule book. I didn't look in the older {much older} copy.

 

[jingle]

This game is, indeed, in my 1980 copy of the BCA rule book. I didn't look in the older {much older} copy.

Really? What do they call it? Is it Mr. & Mrs. Pocket Billiards as you thought? Dang, I thought I was being creative...come to find out it's old school. :shrug:

 

[Pushout]

Really? What do they call it? Is it Mr. & Mrs. Pocket Billiards as you thought? Dang, I thought I was being creative...come to find out it's old school. :shrug:

Yes, that's it, exactly:embarrassed2: The rules may be a bit different than what you are doing but the better player shoots in rotation and the weaker player shoots any ball, in any order. Scratches give ball in hand in the kitchen.