Jeanette, Karen, & Allison In Florida

[rhncue]

No doubt, the single elim in the last sixteen has compromised the quality of the WPBA product, but don't overlook the influence of the IPT, either.

Let's say you are a big Allison Fisher fan. On July 24, if you had been at the IPT event in Las Vegas, you could have watched Allison Fisher play four matches and on July 25, you could have watched her play another five mathces. That's nine matches in two days. If you then flew to WPBA Peoria, you'd have gotten to watch Allison play just two matches on July 27, one match on July 28, and two matches on July 29. You'd have seen just five Allison Fisher matches in three days, seeing her eliminated short of a TV appearance. In fact, no WPBA player that lasted past the first round at the IPT event in Las Vegas reached the TV round at WPBA Peoria, and that was understandable, as those players looked tired.

The competition is very tough right now, with the IPT round robin format ensuring that you can watch the majority of the top ranked ladies (including all of the current top 4 by ranking) playing a whole lot of competitive pool without ever attending a WPBA event.

I fully understand why the WPBA has permitted it's best to play the IPT Tour, as disallowing it would likely have resulted in the defection of some of its very best players. Still, the decision does come with a price, and that price is that one can see most of the top women play without attending WPBA events.

It's a catch 22 for the superbly run WPBA.

I, believe, the reason the girls are not allowed to play with the men is because people would see how they actually stand up against good players on tables with tight pockets and the mystike would be broken. The girls play on those tables with oversize pocketts where the ball can hit the rail a diamond and a half up the rail and still go into the pocket and Mitch lawrence continually bragging about their great shot making and playing abilities. I watched the finals of a WPBA tournament on T.V. a while back and Allison Fischer was cleaning up the final rack for the win and good ole Mitch is proclaiming "There you are folks, your getting to watch the greatest pool player on the planet". Please! Give me a break

Dick

 

[9BallBust-O]

A few things

Well first off as a huge Allison fan I have to say it seems like her game is slipping just a hair. Second Im al almost positive she has read the book you were speaking of. I have seen men play and they make the same mistakes its nothing new. It happens, big deal. People actually mis shots. I was surprised to see her aiming at that shot thinking to my self - she is going to scratch. WHO KNOWS. I dont think Jasmine played in that - she wants to stay in Europe and stay in the mens tour. She says she wont give that up for anything.

Well ...later.

P.s. a later congrats to Hohman ... I was talking to a friend of mine the day before that talking about who was going to win. I said with out a doubt, TH. He doubts my logic about pool players and who can win at times, I guess I was right, for once.

 

[Williebetmore]

I, believe, the reason the girls are not allowed to play with the men is because people would see how they actually stand up against good players on tables with tight pockets and the mystike would be broken.
Dick

rh,
Not really sure what you are discussing. Women ARE playing in the IPT, the World 14.1 Championship, the DCC, and lots of local tours. Other than the U.S. Open and UPA events I don't see a lot of restrictions.

I think Jeanette Lee, and Jasmin Ouschan laid to rest any doubts that women could compete fairly well in the "non-power break" games at the World 14.1.

I think Allison, Karen, and Sarah Ellerby made a fine showing at the IPT.

On tight pocket tables EVERYONE misses including ALL of the top men. At DCC on only reasonably tight equipment; the very best pro's play like a bunch of scaredy-cats - attempting few heroic shots in the short races (with a few notable exceptions).

Having said all of that; I would agree that there are more good men players than women - but who really didn't know that????????

P.S. - The WPBA (starting this year) is now playing their tournaments on much tougher equipment than in any of the men's events. Does this mean the men are scared to play with tight pockets???

 

[Wally in Cincy]

I, believe, the reason the girls are not allowed to play with the men is because people would see how they actually stand up against good players on tables with tight pockets and the mystike would be broken. The girls play on those tables with oversize pocketts where the ball can hit the rail a diamond and a half up the rail and still go into the pocket and Mitch lawrence continually bragging about their great shot making and playing abilities. I watched the finals of a WPBA tournament on T.V. a while back and Allison Fischer was cleaning up the final rack for the win and good ole Mitch is proclaiming "There you are folks, your getting to watch the greatest pool player on the planet". Please! Give me a break

Dick

Hey Dickie,

The top 5 or 10 women on a good day (or Allison, Karen, Monica or Jeanette on a bad day) can hold their own with the men.

I haved watched Allison, Sarah Rousey, and Mellisa Herndon play abslolutely fawlessy in matches, as good as Dallas or Shannon M., Joe Brown, Putnam or Durb can play on their very best day.


I guess if someone is a fan like I am, I enjoy it as you might enjoy AAA baseball. Competitive matches, skill well beyond what I am capable of, and women who enjoy playing the game.

Don't rip the women, they play pretty strong.

 

[Williebetmore]

Don't rip the women, they play pretty strong.

Wally,
I hope rhncue wasn't paying attention to the Turning Stone results, with Karen and Jeanette making it to the semi's of the WINNER'S BRACKET OF A MEN'S 9-BALL EVENT!!! How good would they be if they had a decent man's break??? Sheesh. That humble pie must taste great, eh rhncue??

 

[Nostroke]

Wally,
I hope rhncue wasn't paying attention to the Turning Stone results, with Karen and Jeanette making it to the semi's of the WINNER'S BRACKET OF A MEN'S 9-BALL EVENT!!! How good would they be if they had a decent man's break??? Sheesh. That humble pie must taste great, eh rhncue??

Jeanette was knocked out in a hill hill match she easily could have won. In many matches there was no discernible difference between Jeanettes' break and her opponent. As for karen, there were sets where she made a ball on every break.

As a side note, I did not see a single three pack from any player at Turning Stone and 2 packs were exceedingly rare.

 

[Cornerman]

Also, they are playing on new Brunswick Metro's which are specially made mega-tight (compared to what they used to have). .

Good. They should be shooting on tighter equipment. I think that SJM said that WPBA specs. are 4 1/2" pockets, but there's no way the tournaments I've been to adhered to that. Maybe it's a newer spec.?

It does irk me that the general public already has no clue how good a great player can be, and that they may be mislead when they see some of the balls drop on the generous tables on ESPN.

Fred <~~~ needs generous tables

 

[Williebetmore]

Maybe it's a newer spec.?

It does irk me that the general public already has no clue how good a great player can be, and that they may be mislead when they see some of the balls drop on the generous tables on ESPN.

Fred <~~~ needs generous tables

Fred,
Yes, the tables are new. Someone told me manufactured especially by Brunswick for the WPBA (tight pockets WITHOUT shimming), just used starting sometime this year - WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? GET YOUR A$$ OUT AND WATCH SOME POOL (you need to ditch that day job).

SJM posted that he thought the WPBA tables were tougher than the IPT equipment just used in Vegas.

 

[Wally in Cincy]

They should be shooting on tighter equipment. I think that SJM said that WPBA specs. are 4 1/2" pockets, but there's no way the tournaments I've been to adhered to that. Maybe it's a newer spec.?

definitely

and it showed