alterante break format

Winner breaks is the way to go, but the races must be longer.
Race to 7 winner breaks on a brand new cloth is not a good idea for the pro's. Make the race to 15 first and then things start to get interesting.
Alternate break is the best for local tournaments with short races like first to 3 or 4.
 
Cameron Smith said:
P.S. the Tennis analogy does not work, since top Tennis players do not lose on their serve very often (maybe 2-3 times per match). Pool players lose on the break at a far higher frequency.

P.P.S. How many here have actually witnessed someone run out a full set in a race to 11 or better where an opponent never gets a shot?
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I have to respectfully disagree with your first P.S. here. I think the tennis comparison is dead on. Yes, I'll submit that pool players lose on their break more often than a tennis player has their serve broken. But...shouldn't that cause people to concentrate more on keeping control of the table? I think once people become accustomed to alt. break format, you'll see less and less surprises as the better players perfect even more the break.

Yes I have seen a set to 11 run out. 3 races to 13 and the other guy gets to the table 3 times...twice in one set. Of course, there were some chemical influences at work, so it wasn't au naturale.

FWIW, I see the merits in both and don't mind either. Enjoy seeing packages put together...but you can still see perfect pool played in an alt break format. Heck, just a few weeks ago, played SVB in a tournament, race to 9 alt breaks, and he made one error...scratching on the break. I missed one ball, not a hanger, and lost 9-1. Perfect pool is still attainable with alt. breaks. don't knock it because it's different.
 
there is nothing more exciting in pool than to watch someone string about 9 or 10 racks together, but i understand the alternate break format. it gives weaker players or players with a weaker break a chance to win.
 
Major tournaments, Which ones already have alternate break? Dragon Promotions?
Derby City, US Open 9 ball and Turning Stone are winner break

Major regional tours? all of them are winner breaks, right? are there some that are alternate break?

Are there any pool hall regular monthly and weekly tournaments that have alternate break in their formats? I doubt it.

I don't like the fact that when a player has a lead, the Alternate break gives them a way to protect their lead. They get to the table every other break. That makes it more difficult for the player that is trying to comeback from behind. Which to me is more interesting of a match.
 
Dagwoodz said:
I have to respectfully disagree with your first P.S. here. I think the tennis comparison is dead on. Yes, I'll submit that pool players lose on their break more often than a tennis player has their serve broken. But...shouldn't that cause people to concentrate more on keeping control of the table? I think once people become accustomed to alt. break format, you'll see less and less surprises as the better players perfect even more the break.

Yes I have seen a set to 11 run out. 3 races to 13 and the other guy gets to the table 3 times...twice in one set. Of course, there were some chemical influences at work, so it wasn't au naturale.

FWIW, I see the merits in both and don't mind either. Enjoy seeing packages put together...but you can still see perfect pool played in an alt break format. Heck, just a few weeks ago, played SVB in a tournament, race to 9 alt breaks, and he made one error...scratching on the break. I missed one ball, not a hanger, and lost 9-1. Perfect pool is still attainable with alt. breaks. don't knock it because it's different.
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But you can't compare Tennis and pool because they are too different. In tennis you participate in every game, and top players can break lower ranked pro's serve easily. In pool on the other hand the fact that you may not get a chance in the rack makes it very difficult to make a combeback. Getting behind two games can be tough to overcome without winners break. So a bad roll can become more punishing in an alternate breaks format than winner. In order to win, you have to rely on your opponent to make a mistake, sometimes numerous ones.

It's just not that difficult to run 9 balls in rotation, so you need to have winner breaks in order to seperate the good from the great. I agree with Tony that the better players will always win, but I still consider alternating breaks to be a handicap.

From a spectators point of view the format is boooooring. Nothing interesting ever happens. Very few epic comebacks and no million rack runs and that is what makes pool fun for me.

Imagine if winner breaks were abolished decades ago. Earl would never have run 11 racks for a million bucks. Efren would never have run his 9 or so racks at the world championship. Wu would have never come back from 16-12 down and run 5 racks and out to win the World Championship. Alex and Rodney would never have had their epic semi final at the WPM.

Just make the matches races to 15, if anyone runs that out you can't argue that didn't deserve to win. I know that sets are run out, but they don't happen often enough to be concerned about.
 
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Scaramouche said:
You don't like alternating breaks so you quit pool to concentrate on snooker - which has alternating breaks???....

I think I'll go back to watching the China Open. I don't understand what they are saying either:D:D:D
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True, but snooker isn't a run out game, and the advantage of the break isn't nearly as large as it is in 9 ball or 8 ball. I didn't quit pool, I just don't have any interest in pool tournaments as they are all 9 ball or bar box around here. And I won't gamble at 9 ball unless it is with a shortstop or better, as I am at least getting some good experience playing with someone at that level regardless of the game. So in short, 9 ball is the primary reason why I play more snooker these days.

*sigh* if only 14.1 or Rotation would catch on around here...
 
I like Winner Breaks & Alternating Breaks, but for different venues.

I would say the PRO level & Open level should be Winner Breaks.

In the local & regional handicap tournaments, Alternating Breaks is a good venue, so that all have a chance at playing.

In Winner Breaks, the player must have both facets of his game working well. In Alternate Breaks or Loser Breaks, that player has to come with a good break, so that his turn at the table is a true opportunity.

The Break Shot is a handicap or an advantage...
 
SJDinPHX said:
Winner or loser break is a fiasco.

No other sport does not allow an opponent a chance to display his skills.
The alternate break format is the ONLY way to level the playing field.

Name one sport that is oriented any other way.

CROQUET....

Winner breaks, loser racks is real life in run out rotation pool.

9-Ball/Ten Ball winner break games & Snooker are not comparable to other sports.
There is something special when your putting packages together on another player with his/her each miss, and something special when your in the audience and see a player come back from the dead with a six pack and cause the opponent to fold.
When your opponent has you down 9-1 with winner breaks, you still have a chance, allot of players relax knowing that is there only way out too win, down 9-1 with alternate breaks, I'm gonna change the channel.
Rotation pool is suppose to be fast and loose, alternate breaks with tight pockets is annoying.
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