American Rotation dead already?

[fathomblue]

We played it for 1 session in central Arkansas. Out of the 9 player group, we had one guy drop out after a couple of matches because he didn't like it. I honestly think it was a tougher game than he anticipated, but I wasn't very familiar with the guy, so who knows.

Otherwise, virtually everyone else loved it. I know that I LOVED it. After playing it for a while, I could tell that 8B, 9B, and 10B were getting easier. I was looking at the table differently.

We decided to take a little break, because winter was here and bad weather might mess up the scheduling. People started to move onto other things, myself included, and we just never started back up again.

I think it's the best game out there.

 

[Matt]

American Rotation is my second favorite game (I like the back and forth struggle of one pocket even more, but it's definitely not for everyone). I didn't get a chance to try out the league when they did a few sessions around here, and I think that one already died out, but it's the game of choice between me and higher skill level players when we get time for some heads-up play at my place. However, it's something I almost never see played at the pool room. I suspect it's at least partly due to the length of a match and the relatively high amount of skill required to enjoy the game.

I hope it doesn't fade away entirely, and I really would like to see more pros playing it since it does away with so much of the luck and requires a higher degree of skill than 9 or 10 ball.

 

[336Robin]

It what we should be playing when deciding the best players. I promise a lot of these players that are winning “pro” events would not do so well playing that game. 9 ball & even 10 ball now are all a break contest, actually not even breaking it’s a racking contest. Someone with Fargo Rate of 840 will lose to a Fargo 700 if they get outbroke most of the time. I wish they would have some American Rotation events, I would play for sure and I know a lot of other guys would also.

How would you feel about 10-ball, ball in the kitchen?

 

[fram6878]

We played American Rotation in OKlahoma City. We had 1 group that played for the chance to compete in the national tournaments, and we had a bunch of us that played in our own group to just get better. The league operator got real busy with running tourneys, working, and other stuff. So these leagues have kind of faltered but I would bet that if he or someone else were able to re-start the league again we would have a good turnout here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fram6878]

It what we should be playing when deciding the best players. I promise a lot of these players that are winning “pro” events would not do so well playing that game. 9 ball & even 10 ball now are all a break contest, actually not even breaking it’s a racking contest. Someone with Fargo Rate of 840 will lose to a Fargo 700 if they get outbroke most of the time. I wish they would have some American Rotation events, I would play for sure and I know a lot of other guys would also.

I’m glad to see at least 1 pro come out and give their opinion, as well as give their positive thoughts on American Rotation as well. Thanks brother.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RiverCity]

It's not dead until we say it's dead.

Jeff Livingston

 

[RobMan]

AmRo is a great game in my view. I played a couple seasons and thoroughly enjoyed the format even as a lower tier player - I liked the non-handicap league. I did play Johnny Archer - I think I gave him a scare as the final was 140-36 or so!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Meucciplayer]

That's nice - playing Johnny Archer and even making a few points! In 9-ball or 10-ball chances of not winning a single game (without a massive handicap) are very high. In AmRo you can least make a few "honorable appearances" with a few points although the chance of winning a complete - single - rack is probably even lower. Let alone winning the match.

I am a C-player too sometimes playing people in my neighborhood who play even worse than I. Still, some of them like to play me in AmRo because they at least have a tiny chance whereas in 14.1 (my personal favorite) I always beat them badly. So even on a low level AmRo is more fun than many other games. Ok, if you're closer to your opponent than Johnny Archer vs. a low-level player your chances in a short set of 9-ball are greater but you always know that you only win against a better player with a lot of luck whereas in AmRo you really have more of a feeling that you accomplished something - even though it may have only been a good day for you and a bad one for your (better) opponent. That's what I like about it - you know why you win or lose. In 9-ball you can make 8 balls but your opponent makes the 9 two or three times and you still lose. Same in 8-ball where fouls on the 8 still make you lose games even though you really played better. Losing in AmRo always gave me a better feeling because I knew I lost and deserved the loss.

 

[randyaz]

ROTATION? I play it when I practice. Ever heard of "Pea pool"? We play a 'quarters' game over at the clubhouse. Its Rotation essentially. Mike G once ran out , took the table with the two ball and went out all the way.

 

[chefjeff]

........................................

Seriously, one of the reasons it breaks down is because, here anyway, each player has to set an appointment, if you will, with every other player for a match time and place. Some guys are not good at this task. I'm in sales and having make appointments to play pool is like working, for me. I dread it but try to get mine done early in the season.

When the season is close to ending there are always a few guys who have played like one or two matches and have to catch up. But, catch up with who? A lot of the guys can't play when the lagger needs them to play so the league stretches out, or people drop out, and/or the money didn't ever come or won't come, etc.

I'd like it to be on one night where a bunch of players show up and play their matches as a group. This brings camaraderie, of course, but also would allow us to watch other matches to get good ideas and advice, etc. Maybe that's just done here not elsewhere?



Jeff Livingston

 

[garczar]

I respect your position on hating call-safe, garczar, especially when trying to adopt a version of it to an existing well-known game, which is probably why no one else warmed up to it for TEN-BALL.

I think it’s worth mentioning here that the call-safe rule already applies to 8-BALL rules where you are forcing your opponent to shoot next and whatever balls were pocketed on that shot stay down - HOWEVER, this is not how the safety play or rules apply for AmRo, and since it’s an integral part of that game, the strategies and importance of that play are a crucial element - like many other rules.

Oh - just a reminder / clarification, garczar- the CALL POCKET / CALL SAFE rules for AmRo are completely different than the call-safe rules you played in that 10-Ball event (I’m guessing of course) where your rule required the opponent to shoot next regardless. Not the case in AmRo. If you call a safety AND make a ball, your opponent can still force you to shoot the next shot - but you’ll get the points for it Or l, if you take the shot he left for you on that safety (again, he pocketed a ball doing it) then you get the points. There are basically no two-way shots in AmRo.

My experience and lousy $.02 also knows that a lot of players prefer and need as much luck as they can wrangle in order to have fun in the cuesports - which is why they invented 9-Ball Otherwise, they shy away from the more challenging games of 1P, 14.1, Rotation and AmRo.


~K.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You really need to take the shot at the end? I was somewhat following what you were saying til then. Look, this game never got off the ground(for a LOT of reasons) and now its deader than HulaHoop. BTW, i play one-pocket so i'm not averse to skill requirements.

 

[Johnnyt]

If you were in it to make money...good luck on that. Letting top players play with no handicap was a bad move IMO. If you just played for fun, it was a good game to play. It was free money to Mike D and the rest of the top players that played. Johnnyt