I broke in the 9-ball (and felt horrible).

[Tony_in_MD]

I have taken the time during our 9 ball league play to advise the racker about what they need to look for in the rack to make sure that I don't break in 9.

As for most of them it is their first time playing competitive 9 ball, I feel that it is the least I can do in order for them not to give up a cheap game.

If I was the OP opponent, I would have been checking the rack after the first 9 in the corner.

 

[billiardspro]

Explain--- first senance,playing in single elemation tourny, and you lost first match??? then made 9ball so many time in next match-- if you lost first how you shoot in another?????

It dosent say he lost it says he was losing 6-2 in a race to 7....

 

[floppybear]

Who cares how you felt! Teach me how to break like that! LOL

Has this happened to any of you?

I played in my first USPPA 9-ball tournament last week - single elimination, rack your own. I went w/ a friend, and it was our first time playing in that pool hall, although we recognized a couple players from other places.

I was shooting rather abysmally in the first match, losing 6-2 in a race to 7. (Had a hard time w/ the speed of the tables.) My opponent missed a 6-ball on the hill, I ran out, and proceeded to rack my own.

Down 6-3, I shot a 50% controlled break from the left rail. The 9-ball went straight into bottom right pocket, 6-4.

I racked again, and broke in the exact same manner, and lo and behold, the exact same outcome - 9-ball in the bottom right pocket. 6-5.

As I racked a third time, I was thinking... "wow... I don't think I've ever broke in the 9-ball twice in a row." Placed my cue ball, broke exactly the same way, and ... you guessed it - 9-ball straight in the bottom right corner pocket. 6-6.

I felt... bad. Only 2 minutes ago I felt as though I was ready to shake hands and grab another table to practice while waiting for my friend to finish the tournament. Instead, I felt that my opponent (who has been nothing but a gentleman the entire match) had the rug pulled from under him (by the universe??) Worse was the feeling of having to hold back a grin while racking... I wasn't necessarily amused about my good fortune or his lack thereof, but at the sheer absurdity of the circumstances.

Unfortunately, any hope of levity for the situation was absconded when I heard some of the house players telling my opponent to check the rack. I honestly was at a loss - do I purposely give myself a bad rack? (I still am unaware that there is a way to rack in such a way that the 9-ball could be forced in.) My opponent graciously declined to check the rack, we shook hands for the hill-hill match, and I broke the same way. The 9-ball began to roll *again* toward the same pocket, but was kicked out at the last second. I felt... relief! He ended up missing the 1-ball, and I ran out the table to win the match 7-6.

Everyone in the tournament was extremely nice and friendly, but I could not help but feel that I raised a bunch of red flags. Despite my miraculous comeback victory (who doesn't love those?) - I felt rather sick. My opponent and I shook hands, and he said (perhaps facetiously) the only thing that could make me feel better at that point: "Don't worry, I've done that before."

(Summary: I broke in the 9-ball 3 racks in a row in a rack-your-own tournament at a pool hall I've never played in and felt genuine remorse.)

A statistical rarity? Or a frequent occurrence on certain equipment? I'm curious if anyone's ever done the same and how they felt.

-mig.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Seriously, you should stop for a moment and consider the opposite -

Although there are ways to influence the probability of the 9ball not moving, there is no way to MAKE the 9ball on a consistent basis, even if you're racking for yourself and leaving deliberate gaps. I can't think of any player in the world who has figured that out and I highly doubt your opponent thinks you have.

With that said, as the racker, I know that if the 9ball flies in on the break to pay special attention while racking. I can't say I can prevent it from happening again but I can lessen the odds. This special attention is not going to be paid by a player who is racking for himself.

 

[poscdr09]

I wouldnt worry too much about it... Sometimes weird stuff just happens!

The only thing like that that happened to me was in an APA league match. I was up 4 - 0, my 5 games to his 4. I broke and ran to my set ball for the 8 and dogged it. My opponent proceeded to run that rack out and then make the 8 on the break 3 times in a row!! Wasnt happy about it, but when it happens it happens...

 

[poolplayer2093]

I made 3 ten balls in a row on the break to end a ten ball match against Strickland in the South Jersey Open. We made 7 tens on the break between us in a race to 9 and that was with opponent racking. You can check the rack all you want, if you can't tap the balls (it was against the rules there) you often can't do much about it.

All the money balls flying into the corners or near the bottom corners for easy combos was a main motivation for inventing the racking template/tapping mat. That and not wanting to spend any more time watching rack wars from hard bleachers.

from what i hear the 10 ball tends to go a lot more when breaking 10 ball. that's why in most tournaments they don't count on the break

 

[poolplayer2093]

The most likely reason for it was the natural way the balls racked on that table, always a little different from table to table. and the way he happened to break them. You might have been able to push the rack a little forward, but he could say to you to put it on the spot and made you rerack until you gave up and let him rack them again.

Jaden

if they're going in the back 1 pockets there's a chance one of the back 3 balls is loose.

that and there's always the chance that if i make him rerack until he lets me rack 'em he might get a slug!

 

[enzo]

Has this happened to any of you?

I played in my first USPPA 9-ball tournament last week - single elimination, rack your own. I went w/ a friend, and it was our first time playing in that pool hall, although we recognized a couple players from other places.

I was shooting rather abysmally in the first match, losing 6-2 in a race to 7. (Had a hard time w/ the speed of the tables.) My opponent missed a 6-ball on the hill, I ran out, and proceeded to rack my own.

Down 6-3, I shot a 50% controlled break from the left rail. The 9-ball went straight into bottom right pocket, 6-4.

I racked again, and broke in the exact same manner, and lo and behold, the exact same outcome - 9-ball in the bottom right pocket. 6-5.

As I racked a third time, I was thinking... "wow... I don't think I've ever broke in the 9-ball twice in a row." Placed my cue ball, broke exactly the same way, and ... you guessed it - 9-ball straight in the bottom right corner pocket. 6-6.

I felt... bad. Only 2 minutes ago I felt as though I was ready to shake hands and grab another table to practice while waiting for my friend to finish the tournament. Instead, I felt that my opponent (who has been nothing but a gentleman the entire match) had the rug pulled from under him (by the universe??) Worse was the feeling of having to hold back a grin while racking... I wasn't necessarily amused about my good fortune or his lack thereof, but at the sheer absurdity of the circumstances.

Unfortunately, any hope of levity for the situation was absconded when I heard some of the house players telling my opponent to check the rack. I honestly was at a loss - do I purposely give myself a bad rack? (I still am unaware that there is a way to rack in such a way that the 9-ball could be forced in.) My opponent graciously declined to check the rack, we shook hands for the hill-hill match, and I broke the same way. The 9-ball began to roll *again* toward the same pocket, but was kicked out at the last second. I felt... relief! He ended up missing the 1-ball, and I ran out the table to win the match 7-6.

Everyone in the tournament was extremely nice and friendly, but I could not help but feel that I raised a bunch of red flags. Despite my miraculous comeback victory (who doesn't love those?) - I felt rather sick. My opponent and I shook hands, and he said (perhaps facetiously) the only thing that could make me feel better at that point: "Don't worry, I've done that before."

(Summary: I broke in the 9-ball 3 racks in a row in a rack-your-own tournament at a pool hall I've never played in and felt genuine remorse.)

A statistical rarity? Or a frequent occurrence on certain equipment? I'm curious if anyone's ever done the same and how they felt.

-mig.

when the balls rack a certain way (one of the back balls rocks back a tad) this can and does happen. i have, personally, never, EVER felt bad about it though. that does not compute in the brain of a competitive winner if you want my opinion.