How big is the break rules in Mosconi Cup this year

hang-the-9

hang-the-9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Pretty damn big. The break rule on it's own is dictating the outcome from what I have seen. Also some very lucky kicks by the Euro team that enabled them to make a ball and then have a great shot on the next one when it seemed the US was about to take charge of the set, but from watching the matches, that is not nearly as big of a factor as breaking dry all the time and then leaving an easy run for the other guy.

Racking the 9 in the middle and limiting the break area is HUGE to stopping the run-outs but is also giving games to those that end up with more easy shots after the break due to luck. Even when players do make a ball, it seems they end up with no shot on the lowest ball.

I think the last time the 9 was in the middle was when they starting using the Sardo rack, but even then a softer break with a larger break area allowed balls to be aimed during the break.

Another thing I wish the Mosconi Cup team would just get together is the overall rules. Race to 5, race to 6, back to race to 5, then race to 6 again, rack here, rack there, first to 11 wins, first to 13 wins, first to 12 wins, ties, no ties. Argh!!!
 
By making the break equally hard for both teams, it has been neutralized. I feel neither team has the advantage on the break now. This makes the rest of the game play that much more important.

Its like Donny Mills vs SVB. With Donny's knowledge of the rack, he can hang with and even best SVB. If they were to play with these Mosconi Cup rules, Donny wouldn't have a chance to hang with SVB.
 
iusedtoberich said:
By making the break equally hard for both teams, it has been neutralized. I feel neither team has the advantage on the break now. This makes the rest of the game play that much more important.

Its like Donny Mills vs SVB. With Donny's knowledge of the rack, he can hang with and even best SVB. If they were to play with these Mosconi Cup rules, Donny wouldn't have a chance to hang with SVB.
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Spot the nine if it is made on the break and play call shots and you have about as even and fair a game that can be played in short race nine ball. The break is back to a power shot with a random outcome.
 
iusedtoberich said:
By making the break equally hard for both teams, it has been neutralized. I feel neither team has the advantage on the break now. This makes the rest of the game play that much more important.

Its like Donny Mills vs SVB. With Donny's knowledge of the rack, he can hang with and even best SVB. If they were to play with these Mosconi Cup rules, Donny wouldn't have a chance to hang with SVB.
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While each team should be equal under these break rules, in practice it ends up being which team gets the best table layouts. So far I've seen the Euros with the better chances, especially given the several times I have seen them kick at a ball, make it, and end up with great position for the next ball.

I have to say, for a back and forth game, I like the break layout. The whole Magic Rack, Soft Break, Pattern Rack, all the balls are in the same spot each time breaks were getting a bit worn out and I don't think any pool player that knows what is going on during those breaks is interested in seeing those types of games.

I just don't like having a randomness factor, or something like a funny table setup affect the outcome of the sets. Even in my own crappy pool ability, I HATE when I hit a shot that looks like it's in, then some roll or poor pocket cut jumps out and ruins the shot for you. The game, if at all possible, should be decided by how well you play, not by outside forces such as a random break layout.
 
I really dig the way they have the break rules set up. Even though team USA took it on the chin yesterday I don't really think the break rules were the factor. I think it was pretty even for both teams.
 
kryptonite9 said:
Spot the nine if it is made on the break and play call shots and you have about as even and fair a game that can be played in short race nine ball. The break is back to a power shot with a random outcome.
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I agree. I believe it would be a much better game than just being a breaking game...and slop is a joke for pros. Johnnyt
 
At least they finally did away with the ridiculous break rule where three balls must past the headstring, and if not, even if you made one or two balls, than your opponent got to come to the table.
 
Joe_Jaguar said:
At least they finally did away with the ridiculous break rule where three balls must past the headstring, and if not, even if you made one or two balls, than your opponent got to come to the table.
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I really did not like that rule. Past the side would be the most I'd go with this type of rule, it's way too easy to break hard and end up with a loose ball in the rack that causes the break to scatter funny. Or hit the point of the side and have a ball or two go up table, get collisions that knock balls back up-table, etc...

I think with a ref racking, regular rack, alternate break, they could leave the 1 on the spot instead of putting the 9 there and still get good games from the result.
 
:grin:


The game has always been played with being lucky on the break.

Everyone involved knew what the break rule was going to be, I'm sure everyone was practicing this rack and break.:smile:

Team USA just isn't running out when they are supposed to, missing shots, and getting bad position. Seems they get too straight or on the wrong side of the ball for position.

I think the tight pockets might be a problem and some parts of the table play fast and sometimes it seemed the cue ball just died.

Today is a new day and everything can change around.

Just hard to root against Darren and Mika.

This is an exhibition and doesn't prove who is the best. It's played for pride and show.:thumbup:

Let's go Team Red, White, and Blue!:yeah:
 
If we had the technology (and actually we do) what would be "fair" is to record the position of the balls after the break. After the rack is won replace the balls to their recorded positions then let the other team (the ones that didn't break) shoot as if they broke and got that layout. The exact table layout played twice by different teams going first. That would be fair and actually very cool
 
is nine-ball placed on the spot? in my neck of the pool woods, nine-ball is placed on the spot only if magic rack is used.. this would explain the dry breaks
 
skogstokig said:
is nine-ball placed on the spot? in my neck of the pool woods, nine-ball is placed on the spot only if magic rack is used.. this would explain the dry breaks
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Yes 9 is on the spot, with a regular rack, ref is racking. It looks like the players are not allowed to inspect the rack for gaps as no-one has done that so far.
 
hang-the-9 said:
Yes 9 is on the spot, with a regular rack, ref is racking. It looks like the players are not allowed to inspect the rack for gaps as no-one has done that so far.
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weird..

regular rack -> one on the spot
magic rack -> nine on the spot

is how it should be imo
 
Changing the break should have helped the USA. In past years the Euros have mastered the break in the Mosconi cup under the rules they had in place due to their experience on the Euro tour. Team USA constantly had issues in past MCs and the break and it was a factor in many of their previous losses.

This year team USA is losing because they are being outshot. They are missing a lot of makeable balls that pros are expected to make and that is shifting the whole flow of momentum to team Europe. When momentum is on your side good things happen. Team USA has caused their own luck in this event by playing sloppy pool and making luck become more of a factor.

Case in point the shot that Archer scratched on with the 6-ball, that was all on terrible shape play by Rodney, which was started all the way back to Archer leaving too much angle on the 3 ball after a relatively simple 2-ball. Noone on team Europe is playing sloppy shape play like that, they are getting better angles because they are playing tighter more professional pool, period.
 
The 9 ball in my opinion is moving WAY too much on the break & it's because there are gaps being left below the 9 & back 2 balls, in my opinion they need to start using the magic rack & quick because the referees are making a mess of these racks & thus it makes this years tournament look farcical in regards of the scoreline.
 
9 ball said:
The 9 ball in my opinion is moving WAY too much on the break & it's because there are gaps being left below the 9 & back 2 balls, in my opinion they need to start using the magic rack & quick because the referees are making a mess of these racks & thus it makes this years tournament look farcical in regards of the scoreline.
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of course. everywhere else in the world, magic rack is the new standard
maybe it doesn't look classy enough on tv, lol
 
9 ball said:
The 9 ball in my opinion is moving WAY too much on the break & it's because there are gaps being left below the 9 & back 2 balls, in my opinion they need to start using the magic rack & quick because the referees are making a mess of these racks & thus it makes this years tournament look farcical in regards of the scoreline.
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It has nothing to do with racking or gaps. Actually the opposite. The 9 ball is froze and staying in the middle of the pack and getting kicked uptable by other balls bouncing off off the end rail as the result of the head-on break. I suspect that the magic rack with the 9 on the spot and the small break box would yield the same results, but of course to know that you'd actually have to pay attention and actually read some of the comments hear from Joe Tucker and others. I know that's a lot to ask for AZ.
 
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