only thing i can think of as to why they did this: one room here in the sacramento area (not hard times) took away the 3 foul rule just before the last Sands. three fouls, five fouls, didn't matter- it was bih for the opponent, not game. and they found that tourneys went much, much quicker. Much quicker.
the rule was great for this room, which is very small and with a very close- knit clientele. this group tends to play with the same habits in that most shots are met with a single decision- either fly the nine or hide the object ball. (i admit to some exageration there, but not much.) So with the loss of the three foul rule, i can see where the matches would all go much more quickly.
but all tourneys at all locations? And then a rerack of all balls? wth.
i tend to meet most changes with resistance and irritation anyway, but this change just sounds really dumb.
i've been suspecting that the usppa leans very heavily in favor of the weaker players already, but this just seems like too much for the weaker guy. what if you're a 120 playing a 25 or 30 in a race to 8. You have to give away 5 games right off the bat. And now you can't three- foul your opponent, who couldn't kick a barn door. But you do have to win 8 games before your opponent either: makes his expected average 2.5-3 balls per inning during the last three balls, or he flies/ slops/ breaks his 3 nines. i think it's too tough on the better player.
