I prefer games where you have to call every ball and every pocket..
As a kid in the 40's-50's we called every ball, every pocket. NO f'n Slop Shots, Baby.
That would be "too slow" for today's players BUT times change and we adapt.
In reality once you graduate from being a banger into a formidable player how often is slop ever really a factor? I can't remember the last time someone slopped a ball in a match I've played in, it just doesn't happen very often at all so I feel like this is all much ado about nothing.
Pros win championships on slop. Usually slop safes. I think letting the incoming player have the option to shoot is the best. Especially when betting anything over a couple hundred. I don't mind losing. Getting hijacked is another story.
I agree, once you hit a decent level of play you rarely slop a ball in. You don't get many people thinking I'm just going to hit this square in the face and hope for the best. Balls very rarely rattle and make their way to another pocket. I see more slopped balls in snooker than I do in pool. The cut of the pockets and curve of the rails mean some balls rattle and roll into the opposite pocket, especially on say a black ball into the corner.Well I guess that's one way of looking at it. When I was coming up I was taught that when playing a shot to shoot where if you miss it's a miss on the "on the pro side" which meant you didn't leave a shot. I consider those kinds of rolls part of the game as they even out on both sides. I W's referring to slopping in balls, once you reach a certain level it just rarely happens so its a moot point to me.
I agree, once you hit a decent level of play you rarely slop a ball in. You don't get many people thinking I'm just going to hit this square in the face and hope for the best. Balls very rarely rattle and make their way to another pocket. I see more slopped balls in snooker than I do in pool. The cut of the pockets and curve of the rails mean some balls rattle and roll into the opposite pocket, especially on say a black ball into the corner.
I prefer not having to call pockets, unless you are going for a shot which is out of the norm - banks, kicks, jumps and caroms. You should assume if I'm not shooting any of these shots I'm going for the ball, and pocket I'm lined up towards. Simple.
Safety slop, although annoying is part of the game. You can't punish someone for taking a pot on, missing and getting position on what would have been the next ball, but hooking you on the ball they missed. Just learn how to kick better.