9 Ball Question

irock

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A friend of mine is planning on having a 9 ball tournament this weekend, the thing is none of these people ever play 9 ball. The races are only going to 3, and he is planning on having everything with a good hit count with no called pockets even on the 9, so it counts on the break. Isn't this just too much luck involved, shouldn't the 9 ball at least be called. He said it would be BCA rules, but it sounds like a bang fest to me.
 
A friend of mine is planning on having a 9 ball tournament this weekend, the thing is none of these people ever play 9 ball. The races are only going to 3, and he is planning on having everything with a good hit count with no called pockets even on the 9, so it counts on the break. Isn't this just too much luck involved, shouldn't the 9 ball at least be called. He said it would be BCA rules, but it sounds like a bang fest to me.

I smell money.
 
Sounds like pretty much every other local 9ball tournament - but that's a *really* short race. But yeah, 9ball barbox tournaments are very often filled with it "hit it and hope" players.
 
I think we should at least alternate the breaks, and do the roll out after the break. We have a pretty strong 8 ball league here, so everyone is use to ball in hand, it is going be interesting to watch these same guys play nine ball. With short races to 3, I still do not like the wild nine, especially on the break.

The Bar has 2 tables, 32 people, I just don't know. :)
 
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irock, where do you play that you're under the impression that 9 Ball is a call shot game?

BTW, tell your friend if he's got 8 players and it's double elimination that he should figure on about 7 hours for one table at a home tournament.

We play a tournament very much like this but because of the very short races we play alternate break and the 9 on the snap doesn't win.
 
DogsPP, I live in Wi. Thank you for your input, I will relay the info to him. I know that all the balls are not call shot, and I have played both ways on the nine quite a bit, call shot and slop, do you think slop would be the way to go? I am going to tell him that the 9 definitely needs to be spotted after the break.
 
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A friend of mine is planning on having a 9 ball tournament this weekend, the thing is none of these people ever play 9 ball. The races are only going to 3, and he is planning on having everything with a good hit count with no called pockets even on the 9, so it counts on the break. Isn't this just too much luck involved, shouldn't the 9 ball at least be called. He said it would be BCA rules, but it sounds like a bang fest to me.


That is the beauty of 9ball. You can play with guns blazing or go for a more conservative approach. The choice is up to the player. As others have mentioned that is how 9ball is supposed to be played (at least per the standardized rules).

I will say that if the people playing haven't played much in the past I believe they will be going to the 9ball carom/combo more often than a seasoned 9baller.
 
DogsPP, I live in Wi. Thank you for your input, I will relay the info to him. I know that all the balls are not call shot, and I have played both ways on the nine quite a bit, call shot and slop, do you think slop would be the way to go? I am going to tell him that the 9 definitely needs to be spotted after the break.

If you are going to play slop, play 9 Ball. Play 10 Ball if you want to play call shot. Keep in mind though that 10 Ball will take longer.
 
:thumbup:

Nine ball on the break wins! Winner breaks and one push out after the break. No three foul rule and let 'er rip!

Win the coin flip and go at it boys!

As long as you make a good hit on the lowest number ball it is good.

Don't pussy foot around with only 2 tables. Get er done!

Now stop crying and shoot the balls in and win....

Don't be using those lame azz exceses about why you lost. LOL

Have fun!
 
You can adjust the rules for either game to suit your needs. There is no reason to think like you are thinking. You can play 9-ball called shot, or you can play 10-ball without called shot.

I don't understand what you are trying to accomplish by making up these hypothesized reasons for playing either of the two games.



I think all he meant was that since 10ball is call pocket and 9ball is slop that if you want to play call pocket you should play 10ball instead. Adjusting rules is fine as long as they are printed up for the players to see.
 
You can adjust the rules for either game to suit your needs. There is no reason to think like you are thinking. You can play 9-ball called shot, or you can play 10-ball without called shot.

I don't understand what you are trying to accomplish by making up these hypothesized reasons for playing either of the two games.

Simple, it's easier than making up "hypothesized" rules. The games are already there to accommodate whichever way you want to play, with generally accepted rules.

As for the bigger picture, there is room in pool for both games. Why should both games get bastardized and have one maybe eventually fall by wayside? Most would prefer to play 10 Ball because of the issues with the 9 Ball rack. So if slop 10 Ball takes over, pool loses both 9 Ball and pure 10 Ball to some lesser version. Count me in as one of many that don't want to see that happen.

BTW, welcome to the forum.
 
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You can adjust the rules for either game to suit your needs. There is no reason to think like you are thinking. You can play 9-ball called shot, or you can play 10-ball without called shot.

I don't understand what you are trying to accomplish by making up these hypothesized reasons for playing either of the two games.

Simple, it's easier than making up "hypothesized" rules. The games are already there to accommodate whichever way you want to play, with generally accepted rules.

As for the bigger picture, there is room in pool for both games. Why should both games get bastardized and have one maybe eventually fall by wayside? Most would prefer to play 10 Ball because of the issues with the 9 Ball rack. So if slop 10 Ball takes over, pool loses both 9 Ball and pure 10 Ball to some lesser version. Count me in as one of many that don't want to see that happen.

BTW, welcome to the forum.

hambaimer:

DogsPlayingPool is right. The issue with "hypothesizing" rules is playing games not according to the world-standard rules (i.e. WPA). If we did that, now we are sending the signal that everyone can come up with their own rules, and yet still call the game "9-ball" or "10-ball."

By your stance, the only difference between 9-ball and 10-ball is that one extra ball. Just adding a ball was not the intent of the WPA resurrecting the very old game of 10-ball -- they had other things in mind to help fully address all the complaints that the pros were having about the game of 9-ball. Read: it wasn't just about the issue of the shape of the rack all by itself (i.e. wired wing balls, vulnerability to soft-break techniques, etc.). The WPA wanted the game of 10-ball to be more in line of what a professional game was meant to be. Part of that was minimizing the effects of slop on the outcome of the game, as well as addressing the fact that the game of 9-ball, with all of its duct tape and band aids applied to its rules over the years to address those deficiencies, has outlived itself as that professional game. 10-ball is the replacement professional game.

Now sure, in defense of 9-ball's weaknesses, we can all say the "the rolls even out over time." The issue is that this shouldn't have an effect on "this" match, and "this" tournament, at "this" point in time.

Having said all that, also count me in as one who does not want to see the distinction between the two games -- games that were intended by the WPA to be different -- be blurred by this "you can play the game however you like, because the only difference is that one extra ball, afterall." It goes much deeper than that simplistic thinking.

-Sean
 
hambaimer:

DogsPlayingPool is right. The issue with "hypothesizing" rules is playing games not according to the world-standard rules (i.e. WPA). If we did that, now we are sending the signal that everyone can come up with their own rules, and yet still call the game "9-ball" or "10-ball."

By your stance, the only difference between 9-ball and 10-ball is that one extra ball. Just adding a ball was not the intent of the WPA resurrecting the very old game of 10-ball -- they had other things in mind to help fully address all the complaints that the pros were having about the game of 9-ball. Read: it wasn't just about the issue of the shape of the rack all by itself (i.e. wired wing balls, vulnerability to soft-break techniques, etc.). The WPA wanted the game of 10-ball to be more in line of what a professional game was meant to be. Part of that was minimizing the effects of slop on the outcome of the game, as well as addressing the fact that the game of 9-ball, with all of its duct tape and band aids applied to its rules over the years to address those deficiencies, has outlived itself as that professional game. 10-ball is the replacement professional game.

Now sure, in defense of 9-ball's weaknesses, we can all say the "the rolls even out over time." The issue is that this shouldn't have an effect on "this" match, and "this" tournament, at "this" point in time.

Having said all that, also count me in as one who does not want to see the distinction between the two games -- games that were intended by the WPA to be different -- be blurred by this "you can play the game however you like, because the only difference is that one extra ball, afterall." It goes much deeper than that simplistic thinking.

-Sean

So why didn't they do anything about slopped safeties?

I refuse to play 10ball until the rules address this problem.
 
So why didn't they do anything about slopped safeties?

I refuse to play 10ball until the rules address this problem.

Drew, you're missing a lot of fun pool since I'm guessing you won't play 9 Ball either then. I guess you're not much of tournament player unless you mainly play BB 8 Ball or the occasional 1 Hole or 14.1 event. :grin:


Anyway, your question gets in to the area of whether or not you want the two-way shot legislated out of the game. I personally like the two way, it results in professionals taking on more difficult shots than they otherwise might.

Obviously some pro events are played by WPA+ rules where the option is there on any miss. I've seen it played both ways and I think WPA rules are plenty good and is better for watching.
 
So why didn't they do anything about slopped safeties?

I refuse to play 10ball until the rules address this problem.


They have already addressed this. Incomming player has option to accept shot or give back to the person who slopped the ball.
 
Drew, you're missing a lot of fun pool since I'm guessing you won't play 9 Ball either then. I guess you're not much of tournament player unless you mainly play BB 8 Ball or the occasional 1 Hole or 14.1 event. :grin:


Anyway, your question gets in to the area of whether or not you want the two-way shot legislated out of the game. I personally like the two way, it results in professionals taking on more difficult shots than they otherwise might.

Obviously some pro events are played by WPA+ rules where the option is there on any miss. I've seen it played both ways and I think WPA rules are plenty good and is better for watching.

I love the 2 way...most of my shots are 2 way. That's why I love and play 9ball. 10ball was created as a political move. Either make the game called shot or don't. This halfway stuff is BS. You're telling me that my opponent can call a shot, shank it completely, and leave me hooked; but when I come with a great 2 rail kick and make the ball with shape, he gets to take over? Fvck that. I refuse to play that way.
 
I love the 2 way...most of my shots are 2 way. That's why I love and play 9ball. 10ball was created as a political move. Either make the game called shot or don't. This halfway stuff is BS. You're telling me that my opponent can call a shot, shank it completely, and leave me hooked; but when I come with a great 2 rail kick and make the ball with shape, he gets to take over? Fvck that. I refuse to play that way.

Drew:

There have been several threads in the past that talked about the rules of 10-ball, concerning call-shot / call-safety.

The net-net is this: there are the WPA rules (they are the foundation ruleset), and then you have those tours that decided to "shore up" the rules just as you are indicating. Those rules are called the "WPA+" rules (notice the "+").

Here's the difference:

WPA rules for 10-ball:
+ Call-shot, call-safety
+ If a player misses the called shot, as long as no ball was pocketed in the attempt, the opponent *has* to accept the table as-is. If a ball *was* pocketed in the attempt (e.g. wrong ball, or wrong pocket), the opponent has option.
+ If the player called a safety instead, as long as no other ball was pocketed, the opponent has to accept the table as-is. If a ball *was* pocketed in the safety attempt, the opponent has option.

WPA+ rules:
+ Call-shot, call-safety (just like WPA rules), but this one difference:
+ If a player misses their called shot -- no matter if a ball was pocketed in the process or not -- the opponent has option.

Here's a snippet from the Predator Pro-Am tour, the rules of which SBE has been following in the Open 10-ball event:

http://predatorproamtour.com/rules.asp
2011 Open/Pro Rules

7. Call Shot/Safety:

Call Shot:
Players have the option of either calling their shot or calling a safety. Aside from obvious shots, the shooter must specify which ball and which pocket is being called. If a player is shooting a bank, combination or any kind of ambiguous shot, the player must call the shot.

If a player calls a shot and misses, the incoming player will have the option to shoot or make his opponent shoot again. No matter how many times a player misses a called shot, failure to pocket that ball legally or wrongfully pocketing the ball in another pocket allows the opposing player the option to shoot or make his opponent shoot again.

Call Safety:
If a player calls a safety, the incoming player does not have the option to make his opponent shoot again. The only exception is when a player calls safe and pockets a ball. If a player calls safe, legally hits the object ball and thereafter pockets any ball in their safety attempt, the opposing player has the option to shoot or make their opponent shoot again.

I hope that helps clear it up,
-Sean
 
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