mnorwood said:
This thread is not meant to disparage or criticize any player. The IPT is just getting started and it is new to everyone. With that thought in mind I have a question: can American pro players continue to play 9 ball on simonis with buckets and expect to compete at the highest level? Maybe this question is a bit premature due to the fact that the results of the second round are not even complete. However, enough top American nine ball players have fallen and are about to fall as I type to warrant throwing it out for discussion.
Will they have to devote more of their time to playing 8 on diamonds and gorino to improve.
Maybe these questions are too obvious. I hope I am not rubbing anyone the wrong way.
I think you've brought up some significant points. First of all, the current IPT cloth made by Garino (sp?), is a bit faster than the previous Mali cloth and should not be a significant factor. The Diamond Pro-Am tables are another story. My friend has the identical table, set up the same way, and I assure you those pockets are *tight.* To anyone accoustomed to firing in long cut shots on softer tables is in for a big surprise. So, all the players, Americans and Internationals, will learn to play much tighter position. As this tournament progresses, those who control the cueball best will rise to the top.
Another thing the IPT has done is raise the appreciation for 8-ball. It's no longer the game of amateurs. As anyone who has played it at a high level knows, it's a game requiring precise position, creativity and careful planning. And unlike 9-ball, make a tiny mistake during your run-out in 8-ball, and you are in big trouble against a good player. In 9-ball, it's *much* easier to duck because you only need protect one ball. Many argue that 9-ball requires more shotmaking ability and things like 3-rail position. Like those things are a part of 8-ball? Try 3-rail position, threading the cueball through a table of a dozen or more balls, where contacting one ball can mean a loss. That's easy?
In any case, I don't think Americans are any more disadvantaged than those from other countries. However, it's clear the Filipinos with their collective experience playing rotation (a 15 ball game) know how to play tight position on a crowded table. I believe that is the biggest difference. It's knowing how to hit a stop, as opposed to an area or a line as in 9-ball.
