Hold'em Billiards, ESPN 2, Ring Games

Big Perm

Big Perm

1pkt 14.1 8 Banks 9 10
Silver Member
On ESPN 2 last night, they had a Texas Hold'em style 9-ball ring game of sorts....whomever won the rack got the pot, everyone had to ante a dollar amount sort of like blinds, that increased after a number of racks.....anyway, a couple of thoughts...

First, I personally thought it was great for TV.....it seemed to move quick, the players had fun, it was all offense, and the little betting twist sort of made it interesting.....saw some great shots.....if you didn't see it, check out your listings to see if there is a replay anytime soon....it's probably not the favorite of a purist.....oh, and the ladies played along with the guys, and both were easy on the eyes....

Second, it got me thinking along the lines of the Ring Game thread a week or so ago.....well, if you missed your shot during this Hold'em tourney, the next person got ball in hand....you saw pros actually miss a few easier shots because they HAD to make it.....got me thinking this would be a great way to avoid defense in ring games....we've all played with the guy that has the incredible luck, and sometimes skill, of leaving you bad when he doesn't have a shot.....BIH takes that out of the equation.....either you make, or you sit, and the other person always has a shot....

What do you guys and ladies think???

Jason
 
Big Perm said:
On ESPN 2 last night, they had a Texas Hold'em style 9-ball ring game of sorts....whomever won the rack got the pot, everyone had to ante a dollar amount sort of like blinds, that increased after a number of racks.....anyway, a couple of thoughts...

First, I personally thought it was great for TV.....it seemed to move quick, the players had fun, it was all offense, and the little betting twist sort of made it interesting.....saw some great shots.....if you didn't see it, check out your listings to see if there is a replay anytime soon....it's probably not the favorite of a purist.....oh, and the ladies played along with the guys, and both were easy on the eyes....

Second, it got me thinking along the lines of the Ring Game thread a week or so ago.....well, if you missed your shot during this Hold'em tourney, the next person got ball in hand....you saw pros actually miss a few easier shots because they HAD to make it.....got me thinking this would be a great way to avoid defense in ring games....we've all played with the guy that has the incredible luck, and sometimes skill, of leaving you bad when he doesn't have a shot.....BIH takes that out of the equation.....either you make, or you sit, and the other person always has a shot....

What do you guys and ladies think???

Jason
Click to expand...

I would not play in a ring game with my regular group if any of us were allowed BIH. You would go broke very quickly.
 
I'm watching it on tape. At first I was skeptical about the format, but I kind of like it. We get to see some of the top pros attempt shots they never would in a normal match, but the rules aren't so ridiculous to make it a completely different game (not a fan of speed pool for example).
 
I saw some of it too and have the rest Tivo'd and waiting for me to watch later tonight :)

and my gosh Barretta is beatiful, I was a little suprised at her break style though
 
Big Perm said:
On ESPN 2 last night, they had a Texas Hold'em style 9-ball ring game of sorts....whomever won the rack got the pot, everyone had to ante a dollar amount sort of like blinds, that increased after a number of racks.....anyway, a couple of thoughts...

First, I personally thought it was great for TV.....it seemed to move quick, the players had fun, it was all offense, and the little betting twist sort of made it interesting.....saw some great shots.....if you didn't see it, check out your listings to see if there is a replay anytime soon....it's probably not the favorite of a purist.....oh, and the ladies played along with the guys, and both were easy on the eyes....

Second, it got me thinking along the lines of the Ring Game thread a week or so ago.....well, if you missed your shot during this Hold'em tourney, the next person got ball in hand....you saw pros actually miss a few easier shots because they HAD to make it.....got me thinking this would be a great way to avoid defense in ring games....we've all played with the guy that has the incredible luck, and sometimes skill, of leaving you bad when he doesn't have a shot.....BIH takes that out of the equation.....either you make, or you sit, and the other person always has a shot....

What do you guys and ladies think???

Jason
Click to expand...

I enjoyed that format which I never saw before. I'm not a fan of one foul 9-ball anyways. I think it completely changed the way 9-ball was originally played...like pushout anytime with option which I prefer. Not sure if I like the BIH after a miss but it allowed the players to demonstrate their creativity more. Overall, I liked it!

Curly
 
I like the format...the all offense changes the game around alot....when I play ring games it's all offense and makes 9 ball really interesting...
 
I liked the show. I think what made it enjoyable given the fast and loose format was a good job of editing. I've alway thought better editing could make the hour of pool programs much more informative and exciting; this program seem to advance the good editing idea.....
 
It was entertaining

It was entertaining both to watch the game and because the players were far more relaxed than in a normal tournament, we were able to see personalities instead of players with their game faces on.

This also made for entertaining TV but I have to say that if the shelves were any shallower on those pockets they would have had to rack the balls on the center dot! I can't remember a ball hanging and not falling eventually. :D :D

Hu
 
Sounds like a good format.

I hope someone can put a sample up on youtube so we can check out the production.
 
Colin Colenso said:
Sounds like a good format.

I hope someone can put a sample up on youtube so we can check out the production.
Click to expand...

Hi Colin:

Here is a Google Video 6 part series authored by Billiard Club Network from Accu-Stats Production, with some CueTable layouts to follow.

2004 Derby City Classic 10 Ball Ring Game
http://pl.cuetable.com/showthread.php?t=308

Players: Corey Deuel, Alex Pagulayan, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Jimmy Wetch, Charlie Williams

Commentators: Jimmy Mataya and Danny Diliberto

The DVD can be bought here:
http://www.accu-stats.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=011&PROD=1082918072
 
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Hold em billiards--On today at noon on ESPN or Espn 2

The three hour Texas Holdem billiards will repeat today on ESPN or ESPN 2 at 12 noon eastern time to 3 pm.
Matt Braun's production team, imo, delivers the best production of pool on tv.
Having some involvement with the event the last two years i can tell it is definitely a more social format even if not pure nine ball.
While the players are often miked you usually don't hear as much talking as in this event.
I think the reason is with four players in the game, when you are not shooting, you have two other players to talk with and an audience when you return to your seat after missing. In a one on one event the player not shooting has no one to talk with.
Lastly the co-ed format also make it a little more social.
The one hour skins game broadcast the prior week was also played at the same time in Springfield, Mass.
Also with this format the result is more out of your control also making it more social than a head on event with the outcome not solely depended on how you play. ie. Archer was all but gone several times and won.
 
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thrasher789 said:
and my gosh Barretta is beatiful, I was a little suprised at her break style though
Click to expand...
Cory was using the same break style. I think they were focusing on making the 1-ball in the side. With three players shooting behind them, they probably wouldn't get back to the table if they didn't get one on the break.
 
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