Efren v Earl 9-ball - "Call Pocket" ?

[mamics]

Yesterdays 9-ball match between Earl & Efren - looked like they were playing "call pocket" ? I saw a few racks of it on replay without sound - so not sure if the commentators spoke about the rules format ?

I have never seen or heard about 9-ball being a call pocket game before ?

Any explanations / ideas anyone ?

Thanx
Cheers.

 

[Agent 99]

Takes the slop out of the game

Yesterdays 9-ball match between Earl & Efren - looked like they were playing "call pocket" ? I saw a few racks of it on replay without sound - so not sure if the commentators spoke about the rules format ?

I have never seen or heard about 9-ball being a call pocket game before ?

Any explanations / ideas anyone ?

Thanx
Cheers.

It's a good way to take the luck factor out of 9 ball. That's why the call your shot rule is used.

 

[Black-Balled]

At their level, it is not necessary though.

How many balls to the luck in? 1/50 is doubtful.

 

[mamics]

There was a few sloppy / lucky ones in the mosconi this year - maybe they should have been playing call pocket also ?

Earls kick off the short rail to get out of the snooker on the 1-ball in the 35th rack I think it was - he made it in the side pocket - table got turned over to Efren. You're right though - its very few & far between to slop any in at their level.

 

[Cornerman]

Yesterdays 9-ball match between Earl & Efren - looked like they were playing "call pocket" ? I saw a few racks of it on replay without sound - so not sure if the commentators spoke about the rules format ?

I have never seen or heard about 9-ball being a call pocket game before ?

Any explanations / ideas anyone ?

Thanx
Cheers.

They were playing the Predator 9-ball Tour Rules.

 

[pt109]

It's a good way to take the luck factor out of 9 ball. That's why the call your shot rule is used.

Call shots takes out a lot more skill.
I've seen far more games, at a high level, decided by complicated responses than someone
lucking a ball in.
Much clever thinking can not be applied using call shot rules.

 

[Donny Lutz]

Slop? No.

At their level, it is not necessary though.

How many balls to the luck in? 1/50 is doubtful.

I once played a match to 9 that went hill-hill with each of us running four racks. In the last game my opponent slopped the 9.

Sometimes all it takes is one slop shot to ruin a match.

I remember top players playing call 9-ball in the '50s and '60s. I'm with Buddy Hall on this one...9-ball should always be call pocket!

 

[krupa]

At their level, it is not necessary though.

How many balls to the luck in? 1/50 is doubtful.

Efren lucked-in a 9-ball at the US Open to win a match over Appleton. It doesn't come up much, but it can definitely have an impact on a match when it does.

Was the Earl/Efren match call everything, or just call the 9-ball?

 

[Sofla]

Efren lucked-in a 9-ball at the US Open to win a match over Appleton. It doesn't come up much, but it can definitely have an impact on a match when it does.

Was the Earl/Efren match call everything, or just call the 9-ball?

If you mean Efren's hill-hill 9 two years ago on the winners' side, he lined that kick up and would have called it where it went if it had been call shot or call nine rules. Somewhat lucky to make it, but it wasn't an accident.

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

If you mean Efren's hill-hill 9 two years ago on the winners' side, he lined that kick up and would have called it where it went if it had been call shot or call nine rules. Somewhat lucky to make it, but it wasn't an accident.

Earl and Efren weren't just playing called shot at Steinway, they were playing called shot/called safe. By those rules, if Efren called that ball at the Open and missed it, Daz would have had the option to pass it back if he left him safe. The proper move there would have been for Efren to call safe and just try to hit the damn ball.

Basically, called shot/called safe eliminates the two-way shot, but makes the game better in other ways. Personally, I'm in favor of it. I don't think slop belongs in any game.

What I didn't like in last night's 10-ball was that you couldn't pocket the 10 for the win until it was the last ball remaining. Seems like a well-played carom or combo should be rewarded at any time. Call the 10 and miss it and your opponent still has the right to pass it back to you if you accidentally safe him, so it's not like luck is involved in this case. Anyway, it must have been an Earl rule, because Efren seemed confused and a little perturbed when Earl called him on an early (failed) attempt at the 10.