Fixing the game of 9 ball.

Paul Schofield said:
Allowing a tennis player to continue to serve as long as he wins the game is folly. It is to the detriment of the sport.
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Not really similar, although I believe I understand your point.. Aside from the obvious, the main difference between the two is that tennis is an interactive game where both players are constantly engaged with one another and pool is not. In tennis, unless the server serves four consecutive aces where the receiver cannot even get his racquet on the ball , the receiver gets numerous times "at bat" with opportunities to win points and possibly "break" and win the server's game. Granted the better servers rarely get broken, but the receiver still has opportunities. Whereas in pool when the breaker makes a ball and runs out the entire game, the opponent never even gets an opportunity hit a ball.

No use using comparisons, I doubt that pool will influence tennis rules...and visa versa.
 
sjm said:
Yes, Robin, that's about right. Nine ball played on difficult equipment is a very tough game. I also want to see a continuation of the strong trend toward having neutral rackers and the shot clock should be mandatory on any streamed match. Lest we forget, the lack of a shot clock in the 2019 WPA World 9-ball Championship rendered it nearly unwatchable, with several races to 11 taking over four hours.

I would be OK with a switch to ten ball if the call shot rule were removed. We see Texas Express ten ball every year at the Derby City Classic and the fans have come to love the event, known as the Bigfoot, as much as any during Derby week. Call shot, to me, was the single biggest problem in watching top level straight pool. Snooker has always done just fine without call shot, and to me, it offers evidence that as long as the equipment is set up tough, call shot isn't needed. Call shot is very fan unfriendly and doesn't play well on video.

Paul Schofield is one of the best posters on this site, and may be far more in tune with methods for keeping the game attractive to amateurs as players. I look forward to his comments.
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Great post as usual Stu. Thank you for your learned opinion.
 
realkingcobra said:
Question is, what do you propose, have you even tried to change this sport, or just knock anyone that is trying to make a difference??
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I like it the way it is, why would I want to change it? If it ain't broke why fix it. Not all sports are destined for million dollar payouts with crazy corporate sponsors. I'm just glad we have a few guys out there offering streaming of tournaments. If you want to help pool then sell some streams for the hardworking guys on the road bringing us all this good pool I can watch from the comfort of my chair on my iPad.
 
realkingcobra said:
Everything in pool has been tried, tables, pocket sizes, rules, you name it....but the pay has never improved with all the suggestions ever made to help pool, guess something different has to be done!!
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Rodney Morris is trying to put together pool and gambling on a level that's not been done before.
Especially if he goes after the non playing, ball beaters involved....start em betting/gambling on matches.
I wish em luck, but with this New avenue we'll see.
APA was designed and built by pool players.
 
Z-Nole said:
I like it the way it is, why would I want to change it? If it ain't broke why fix it. Not all sports are destined for million dollar payouts with crazy corporate sponsors. I'm just glad we have a few guys out there offering streaming of tournaments. If you want to help pool then sell some streams for the hardworking guys on the road bringing us all this good pool I can watch from the comfort of my chair on my iPad.
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I takes a Great player to win the US Open, no doubt about it. It's format for ''top end'' play has proven itself the test of time. It truly takes a special person to win that event, especially in the 21st century. Our past group of HOF members has lived up to it's truth/worth.
 
I think that changing rules to improve the game is very different than developing a show/tournament for pros and spectators. I think they are thinly related.
 
Paul Schofield said:
I think that changing rules to improve the game is very different than developing a show/tournament for pros and spectators. I think they are thinly related.
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You might be right about that. Which should prevail the entertainment end or the improvement of the game satisfying the players acceptance of the game?
 
I will say this: Our sport needs to nail down rules that make some sense and work for everyone before it can successfully take it's show on the road.
 
Paul Schofield said:
I will say this: Our sport needs to nail down rules that make some sense and work for everyone before it can successfully take it's show on the road.
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But isn't that exactly what Matchroom have done for the past few years? The (playing) rules haven't changed much if at all and now they sense the time is right to build a proper tour, they appear to be doing that.

I still struggle to see why everyone wants to re-invent the wheel, 10-Ball etc. won't work, its a game for the purists, not for TV, 9-Ball has the right balance of speed, luck and skill to make it a viable TV product, which is why I'm guessing Matchroom are running with it.

That said, with Barry Hearn retiring yesterday, who knows if the direction will change (unlikely I'd imagine)!
 
realkingcobra said:
Question answered, how do you fix the break and runs in 9 ball.

Add a ghost cue ball to the rack of 9 balls. Rack the balls exactly the same as you would 10 ball, only make sure the ghost cue ball is on the spot, and the 1 ball is at the back of the rack behind the 9 ball either to the left or right of center. Use a magic rack to make sure the balls are racked tight.

After the break, the ghost cue ball is removed and play continues. No help making it on the break either, it don't count! good luck running a rack on those breaks!! Its harder than running a rack after a 10B break!!!
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Well lookie here. The Ghost has returned, after his long self exile. :rolleyes:

As for the question raised by the OP. My opinion is that no matter the rules or the length of the matches, the best players will get there in the end. It's been that way since I came into this game and it will be that way long after I am gone. There is no rule that will affect a match more than good old Pressure!
 
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Paul Schofield said:
I will say this: Our sport needs to nail down rules that make some sense and work for everyone before it can successfully take it's show on the road.
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That would eliminate the permission given to try new things in the public venue where things need to be tested.
 
Island Drive said:
Which uniform?
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lol That IS the question.

The_JV said:
If you mean that some players are effected by pressure more than others, then yes, I'd say that's the point.

IMO, what makes a pro is their ability to handle pressure. There are thousands of players that play like gods when there's zero heat on them.
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True as far as that goes. Interesting you attached a value to the heat. Heat is a variable that when possible is scaled per requirement. Just sayin...
I'll let Bill Meacham paraphrase himself:
Island Drive said:
Ahhhhhhhhhh if life was that simple.
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