Aternate Break vs. Winner Breaks

[chefjeff]

Loser breaks...just like almost every other game in the world. You had your score and now it's time for the opponent to have his attempt. Basketball, football, baseball, et al do it this way...why not pool?

But I wanna see a six pack...fine, go to a pool hall and watch someone practice that.

But I wanna watch my favorite player shoot all night...fine go to a pool hall and watch him practice there.

I wanna watch a MATCH, not an exibition...hey, that's choice isn't even in the poll!?!

Jeff Livingston

 

[Cameron Smith]

Loser breaks...just like almost every other game in the world. You had your score and now it's time for the opponent to have his attempt. Basketball, football, baseball, et al do it this way...why not pool?

Because pool isn't basketball football or baseball.

 

[chefjeff]

Because pool isn't basketball football or baseball.

No it isn't...but it is suppossed to be a match, not an exhibition, imho.

Could you imagine the NBA finals having the rule where the team that just scored gets the ball back and gets to try to score again? Yeah, Miami might have put together a 36 point run, but the fans would be gone by that time. Freethrow made...shoot another....freethrow made....shoot another....freethrow made....shoot another... yuk! Final score: 150 - 22. Not too exciting, imho.

I'm always thinking of pool as a spectator would, and if I paid to watch a match, I'd want to see some competition, not one-sided, biased potting.

Sure it can interfere with a player's rhythm, but that's too bad...a great player can pull out his game at will, if he's to win anyway. I'd like to see that skill more often...from both players.

Jeff Livingston

 

[BlackDragon]

If I'm playing at a serious level I want alternate breaks because its almost as powerful as having the serve in tennis. You set the trend and it should be fair. If I'm playing in a pool hall, game after game, I can't remember whose break it is and the other guy will jump a lot of breaks but if I play winner breaks then I can remember. Its easy.
If theres three of us playing, the winner stays on the table and the incoming player breaks. Or if a new player joins the session, he can break

 

[9 ball]

I prefer alternate breaks for the simple reason it gives an even chance to both players and the lag is less of a factor, I agree with Kim Davenport's statement at last years WPC when he said it should be alternate breaks all the way through because inevitably the best player will rise to the top 90% of the time.

 

[Cuebacca]

At my local poolhall, they do Trailer Breaks. (When its tied up, the loser breaks.) I'm not a big fan of it. I'd prefer Winner Breaks ideally, or if not that, then Alternate Break. ... but hey, if a close match is the end goal, then maybe Trailer Breaks is the way to go. =|

 

[Danny Harriman]

I like Alternate Break with a 3 run rack limit in one inning. To elaborate, If a player breaks and runs out he will break the next game. If he misses in that rack, but still wins, the other player will then be returned the break.

If a player runs three consecutive racks, on the fourth game, even though he has not missed in his inning, the break will be returned to his opponent.

This format inspires competition and heart. A player can be stuck 7 to 3 in a race to nine, put a 3 pack on the board and be right back in the match, whereas with the alternate break, a 4 game deficit is almost impossible to overcome even with a heart of a lion.

This format definately promotes competition, and gives the trailing player the opportunity to catch a gear and put the pressure back on the leading player.

 

[Cameron Smith]

No it isn't...but it is suppossed to be a match, not an exhibition, imho.

Could you imagine the NBA finals having the rule where the team that just scored gets the ball back and gets to try to score again? Yeah, Miami might have put together a 36 point run, but the fans would be gone by that time. Freethrow made...shoot another....freethrow made....shoot another....freethrow made....shoot another... yuk! Final score: 150 - 22. Not too exciting, imho.

I'm always thinking of pool as a spectator would, and if I paid to watch a match, I'd want to see some competition, not one-sided, biased potting.

Sure it can interfere with a player's rhythm, but that's too bad...a great player can pull out his game at will, if he's to win anyway. I'd like to see that skill more often...from both players.

Jeff Livingston

I see what you are saying but my concern is primarily with a player being unable to make a comeback. They have to rely on mistakes from their opponent. This is true for winner break as well, but a player on the comeback trail can keep control in order to make a comeback.

The biggest difference between pool and the sports you mention is that, you can not affect your opponents game unless he/she plays a safety or misses. As long as they are playing well you are s-o-l.

Besides in my (admittedly limited) experience even in winners breaks players get plenty of opportunities. Especially in tournaments like the US Open where the tables are very tough.

 

[cueandcushion]

Depends on if you want "fair" play.

I prefer alternating breaks. Why? Because I can't break. I am sure if I rolled the nine ball on a regular basis then I would be screaming for winner breaks rulings. Pool is one of the few sports you cannot "force" the other opponent to give up the possession of the ball. In what other sport can you play an entire match and win it without your opponent ever taking part of the match? I can't think of one off hand. It happens all the time in pool. That outcome does not determine who was the better player that day. If you are truly interested in making pool a "sport" that people respect you have to make it possible for the underdog to win.

My Ideal Rules.
Replace Nine Ball with Ten ball. Greatly reduces break advantage.
Combinations- Ten ball is spotted.
Alternating breaks, Coin flip first break.
Races get longer in later matches. Race to 5 prelims, to 7 when you hit 8 players and race to 9 in Finals.

If I play Ralf Souquet with all these rules...it means I will still lose...(badly..very badly) .but I will at least get to the table!