Can someone Break Down in Detail the different ways of giving WEIGHT in 9 Ball ?

garczar said:
good luck getting action. some nitty shit right there. been at this over 40yrs and NEVER has anyone stipulated what side you break from regardless of where a ball is in the rack. never.
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I’ve negotiated breaking and racking rules many a time while making a game. It’s been pretty common practice in my experience.
 
Black-Balled said:
I'll throw you a freebie...far more beneficial than that silly opposite side shit.

Spot balls don't count on the break. And of course they don't get brought back if they go in on the break
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That’s one way to play it. But if I am a lesser player and I am the one catching ball weight, I am going to try to negotiate the opposite.

Lots of ways to play it.
 
This thread is old as dirt.

The landscape today is a lot different due to FargoRate. Almost all the action I see in my area now is by game spot instead of ball spot. I think most of the newer crowd wouldn't even know what "last 2" or the other spot lingo means.

Another point about ball spots being wild, and/or counting on the break. I think that is regional. I played in the NorthEast from the 90's thru 2010. Usually it was the "called 7" or "called 8" as the spot. (but the 9 ball was always luck). If the 7 went in by luck, you stayed at the table, but didn't win. If it went in on the break, it was not a win, and you couldn't call it on the break either. Usually it spotted if it went in on the break regardless of who broke. The players would always go over this, at least I did every single time. I would even go as far as saying if the 7 goes in on a push or foul by the receiving player, it stays down (to penalize him). But if it goes in on a foul or a push by the giving player, it spots up.

Then in 2010, I moved to Atlanta, and over there, if someone said "you've got the 7", it counted on slop, and on the break, without any stipulations.

Point to all this is the game is whatever you make, but you sure as shit better discuss with your opponent beforehand.
 
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DogsPlayingPool said:
One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet in regard to giving ball weight is the relative strength of the weight in giving different balls. Maybe this is obvious but I'll explain. Giving someone the 8 ball is less weight than giving them the 7. The 6 is more weight still, the 5 even more, etc. This is because at any given skill level a player is more likely to run out to the 5 than the 6, the 6 more often than to the 7, and so on. There actually can be a significant difference between giving a decent player the 7 versus the 8.

One more thing. If you are giving someone a wild ball, say the 8, you should stipulate that it be racked immediately behind the 1 ball to minimize the chance of it going in on the snap.

Just thought I'd bring it up.
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Put the 5 there in all our ring games. Only safe place for it the way some of these guys snap.
 
Mensabum said:
Last 3.
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The "last three" around here meant the last three left on the table. If the eight was sunk early, you would win on the six if the lower balls were gone. The nine was still wild, but the 7 and 8 had no value until the end. That was a way to mostly remove wild balls without having to call anything.
 
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Back in the day, I remember the 'safe' ball spot. That meant that if a player got a 'safe' ball as part of his spot it meant that he could not lose the game if he made that ball. He could only win if he made the nine. A common spot used to be the 'seven safe' eight, nine. This meant that he could not lose if he made the seven and could win just be making the 8 or 9. The player who is giving the spot would have to make the 7,8, and 9 to win the game.
 
L.S. Dennis said:
Back in the day, I remember the 'safe' ball spot. That meant that if a player got a 'safe' ball as part of his spot it meant that he could not lose the game if he made that ball. He could only win if he made the nine. A common spot used to be the 'seven safe' eight, nine. This meant that he could not lose if he made the seven and could win just be making the 8 or 9. The player who is giving the spot would have to make the 7,8, and 9 to win the game.
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We threw out the last 3 quite a bit back then. Only way you could get some guys to go. They always wanted weight. Six is scary if you're not sure about their speed. They catch a gear and you could get stuck. Last 3 was the most we would give out to anybody.
Most players can't resist that spot. You could usually poke em into saving face by tossing the last 3 at em, or last two and the snap, wild seven, something along those lines.
Giving up the Break could be tough back then.
 
Desmondp said:
JB mate, but he didn't give you all the breaks did he ?

Getting all the breaks and BIH after the break really means you have a say in every rack .
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assuming you're skilled enough to beat the 6 ball Ghost EASILY and are capable of playing your best under the heat provided by the other player then yes you're correct but I have a feeling you might be surprised in the real world examples of the people who would offer you this. Be careful out there.
 
pletho said:
You have to get to the point that you play the table, not the player...

It does not matter who you play, they will do what they do best, but you have to learn to deal with your own mind.

Playing the table, the layout is the only way to do this. Your biggest obstacle is "you" and the table, not your opponent. It's the table and your own mind.

Granted, this way of thinking is not the norm, nor is it natural, it has to be learned and has to be diligently practiced, but once you get it down, it will not matter who you play, unless you let that get to you.... It's a mental battle...
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speaking in ideals this is so so obviously the correct way to look at it however it just isn't reality. People will always respect their opponent either too much too little or just the right amount and it DOES have an impact on performance vs said opponent. Always has and always will for 999/1000 players if not more lol
 
Frosty said:
No one does, I stipulate it as part of the spot. That it will be racked behind the 1 on the side opposite he will break from or it’s spotted if made on the break. If they don’t like it they don’t have to take the game. As I said in my initial post, that ball is second most likely to go. I don’t mind giving a spot if needed, but you’re going to have to earn the W.
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I've seen guys stop the breaker and re rack them to switch sides etc conversely I've seen the racker put the money ball on the wing when it doesn't count on the break. There is no limit to what can be stipulated is the point. BUT be careful with all that talk cuz the more it feels like you're talking to a lawyer the less likely you are to empty your rubber band.
 
pletho said:
You have to get to the point that you play the table, not the player...

It does not matter who you play, they will do what they do best, but you have to learn to deal with your own mind.

Playing the table, the layout is the only way to do this. Your biggest obstacle is "you" and the table, not your opponent. It's the table and your own mind.

Granted, this way of thinking is not the norm, nor is it natural, it has to be learned and has to be diligently practiced, but once you get it down, it will not matter who you play, unless you let that get to you.... It's a mental battle...
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This; as far as doing the pool goes. Lets call all the skill and fortitude, fundamental to winning - given. You make it to the tiny circle of elites and are able to hold your own with any one of them yet you can't beat anyone. And the Fillers and Gorsts always end up with your money. What's at work here?

I was watching this boxer guy Naoya something. Goes through everybody. Reminded me of this samurai legend Miyamoto Musashi. ALL his action was to the death and he took 'em all down.
My theory: He was in their poor heads. They all got played to death.

At some point, there's no ignoring the opposition - they're trying to take you down and the sooner the better.
 
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