New break rule for European Open

sjm said:
June 22 thread with 138 replies:

Matchroom changing break rules for European Open (Aug 9-14 Germany)

Old: winner breaks, 1 on the spot, no restrictions except forceful break New: winner breaks, 9 on the spot, with a break box and needs to be forceful Thoughts?
forums.azbilliards.com
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Just seeing this, it makes me feel, we here on the Forum have been listened too, smart.
I like giving this set up a chance ALLOT.
I had compared 9 ball to the PGA months ago, the boys need a smaller tee box.
Emily does NOT like changing something that has worked.
Doing this is simple and changes NOTHING.
Cept making this game better. :)
Way to go Girl!
 
AtLarge said:
Well, she is certainly used to playing against him. Looks like he had trouble in his last match (hill/hill). Something crazy could happen.
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true. tough luck to end up playing each other. when father and son dominguez draw each other ernesto usually takes a dive. i don't think we'll see that, pia is building her own career / brand and doesn't get to play often on the tv table (i assume it will be a feature match)
 
Island Drive said:
Emily does NOT like changing something that has worked.
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The break rule at the UK Open worked perfectly, so you are mistaken. It was an almost unimprovable event. Nine on the spot WITH the break box is not something I can ever recall seeing before.

Actually, Matchroom seems to like changing the break rule in every single event. This will eventually raise suspicions about whether they are actually American. One thing for sure, though, is they haven't delivered on their promise to standardize equipment and rules, something they stressed as critical when they unveiled their new tour.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said "the only constant is change" but I doubt he had the rules for the nine-ball break in mind when he said it.
 
tomatoshooter said:
They should break from wherever the cue ball landed on the last shot, like 14.1.
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Obviously only on winner breaks
That could put a whole new tactical aspect to the game if it was also alternate break! If it’s the opponent’s break you leave it behind the pack so they foul as they can’t hit the 1😀
 
Fatboy said:
Change the purple 5
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I was looking at the table and could not find the five for the life of me! I guess you shoot the pink 4 and then the purple 4 and then the 6.
Monti said:
Obviously only on winner breaks
That could put a whole new tactical aspect to the game if it was also alternate break! If it’s the opponent’s break you leave it behind the pack so they foul as they can’t hit the 1😀
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Yeah, it might not work so well in practice but I like the random aspect of it. I suppose you could move the cue ball to the similar spot on the opposite end of the table if it's in an unworkable position.
 
sjm said:
The break rule at the UK Open worked perfectly, so you are mistaken. It was an almost unimprovable event. Nine on the spot WITH the break box is not something I can ever recall seeing before.

Actually, Matchroom seems to like changing the break rule in every single event. This will eventually raise suspicions about whether they are actually American. One thing for sure, though, is they haven't delivered on their promise to standardize equipment and rules, something they stressed as critical when they unveiled their new tour.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said "the only constant is change" but I doubt he had the rules for the nine-ball break in mind when he said it.
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Stu, you have watched quite a few big events with the 9-ball racked on the spot and a break box (9" to either side of the long string in those events). As I posted in the June 22 thread on this subject, those rules were used for the US Open 9-Ball Championship (2014-2017) and the International 9-Ball Open (2018, 2019, 2021).

As for the UK Open break rules working perfectly, that is certainly not Emily Frazer's opinion. In a recent video (link below) she called the matches unenjoyable for both players and fans, largely because of the break rules. She also talked about what Matchroom is trying to achieve and how they went about determining whether to change the rules. Although Matchroom is looking to standardize things, she views these current rules as still on trial, to be reassessed again prior to the US Open. She talks on these subjects for about 6 minutes starting at about 1:30:

 
AtLarge said:
Stu, you have watched quite a few big events with the 9-ball racked on the spot and a break box (9" to either side of the long string in those events). As I posted in the June 22 thread on this subject, those rules were used for the US Open 9-Ball Championship (2014-2017) and the International 9-Ball Open (2018, 2019, 2021).

As for the UK Open break rules working perfectly, that is certainly not Emily Frazer's opinion. In a recent video (link below) she called the matches unenjoyable for both players and fans, largely because of the break rules. She also talked about what Matchroom is trying to achieve and how they went about determining whether to change the rules. Although Matchroom is looking to standardize things, she views these current rules as still on trial, to be reassessed again prior to the US Open. She talks on these subjects for about 6 minutes starting at about 1:30:

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I've only watched a bit of Dominguez - Teesaar but I've seen a lot of dry breaks and difficult layouts. They seem to be playing quite deliberately but I'm not too familiar with either's typical pace. Where I'm used to nine ball being more run and gun shootouts, this seems to be a more patient, strategic game. I don't foresee anyone playing a perfect set, that's for sure. It's nice that both players are getting several chances at the table instead of missing one shot and selling out the whole match. I could get used to this style of game.
 
I don't think it makes that much difference, you can still get balls easy with a cut break dead on anyway. Small amount of centre left english.
The pro's always find a way... which kind of brings it back to...why bother putting these type of restrictions in place.
 
Monti said:
Obviously only on winner breaks
That could put a whole new tactical aspect to the game if it was also alternate break! If it’s the opponent’s break you leave it behind the pack so they foul as they can’t hit the 1😀
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The new break rules are almost a form of alternate break (in spirit anyway.) I wonder how long it will take the players to figure out this
break?
 
sjm said:
The break rule at the UK Open worked perfectly, so you are mistaken. It was an almost unimprovable event. Nine on the spot WITH the break box is not something I can ever recall seeing before.

Actually, Matchroom seems to like changing the break rule in every single event. This will eventually raise suspicions about whether they are actually American. One thing for sure, though, is they haven't delivered on their promise to standardize equipment and rules, something they stressed as critical when they unveiled their new tour.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said "the only constant is change" but I doubt he had the rules for the nine-ball break in mind when he said it.
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Stu, I must of gotten sidetracked.
Looking at the OP.
Shows the 1 ball on the spot.
 
AtLarge said:
Stu, you have watched quite a few big events with the 9-ball racked on the spot and a break box (9" to either side of the long string in those events). As I posted in the June 22 thread on this subject, those rules were used for the US Open 9-Ball Championship (2014-2017) and the International 9-Ball Open (2018, 2019, 2021).

As for the UK Open break rules working perfectly, that is certainly not Emily Frazer's opinion. In a recent video (link below) she called the matches unenjoyable for both players and fans, largely because of the break rules. She also talked about what Matchroom is trying to achieve and how they went about determining whether to change the rules. Although Matchroom is looking to standardize things, she views these current rules as still on trial, to be reassessed again prior to the US Open. She talks on these subjects for about 6 minutes starting at about 1:30:

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Thanks, I just didn't remember it.

I just happen to think this break rule is too difficult, and if Matchroom tightens the equipment to the extent they suggest they will, it will become even tougher. Nonetheless, I'm sure to sing a different tune soon if this proves to be the last time the break rule is modified. If they use it for a year, and players no longer have to endure the endless tinkering with the break rule, and the scrambling that comes in preparation, then everybody will have had a chance to get used to it and a year from now we'll have some stability in the game.

I'll trust Emily here if she feels that fewer break and runs is what the game needs. Maybe she's right, but it's clear Matchroom's not sure what they are shooting for and are OK with regularly changing rules and equipment. They are making the game more difficult, and speaking for myself, I am and have always been OK with matches taking a little longer and containing more tactical exchanges, but it's a new direction for nine-ball. I don't think it is what fans want, but I may be wrong. Then again, one of the things I really like about snooker is the greater balance between offense and defense and the race to the first shot is often fascinating to watch. I've noted before that the serious players and diehard nine ball fans might like things this way, but that the more mainstream fans like the break and runs.

The one thing of which we can rest assured is that Emily wants what's best for pro pool, but like every other pool promoter, they'll need to come to grips with the fact that what the players what and what the fans want rarely coincides.
 
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