sjm said:
Nobody cares, but...
- Thread starter Williebetmore
- Start date
860 Simonis
Jimmy's right to a point, as the game would have to be played on something a little slower than simonis 860 to be comparable to the game the old masters use to play. Still, how could you logically ask the top pros today to play on anything but simonis 860? I think you'd scare away more than a few potential entrants. Trust me, Willie, tighten the pockets and you'll make 100-ball runs rare again, even on the fast cloth.
Ooo... bad luck about Rempe's cue; it'd probably be worth something.
I was reading an article by Fast Larry on Colin's website and he actually said they used to play on a faster 760 cloth. So which one is it? We should also mention that around WWII they played on a 5x10 with tight pockets.
As far as 8 ball, we are used to thinking of warped bar boxes and bangers spilling beer on the cloth; but I'd like to know why the game is so inferior to 9 ball as most people say. Strategically, if played they way it should be played, 8 ball is actually richer than 9 ball. Granted, it is more difficult to pocket balls in rotation, so 8 ball makes for a good beginner's game. However, it seems to me most people's claim in favor of 9 ball arises from fashion and the need to disassociate themselves from casual bar pool.
However, I'd also like to say that the effort to popularize pool has to come within bounds. Pool is deceptively simple to the casual observer, but we can't compromise the subtler aspects of the game. Those aspects are what separates pool from darts or something, and will hardly be understood by people unless they put some study into it.
Jimmy's right to a point, as the game would have to be played on something a little slower than simonis 860 to be comparable to the game the old masters use to play. Still, how could you logically ask the top pros today to play on anything but simonis 860? I think you'd scare away more than a few potential entrants. Trust me, Willie, tighten the pockets and you'll make 100-ball runs rare again, even on the fast cloth.
Ooo... bad luck about Rempe's cue; it'd probably be worth something.
I was reading an article by Fast Larry on Colin's website and he actually said they used to play on a faster 760 cloth. So which one is it? We should also mention that around WWII they played on a 5x10 with tight pockets.
As far as 8 ball, we are used to thinking of warped bar boxes and bangers spilling beer on the cloth; but I'd like to know why the game is so inferior to 9 ball as most people say. Strategically, if played they way it should be played, 8 ball is actually richer than 9 ball. Granted, it is more difficult to pocket balls in rotation, so 8 ball makes for a good beginner's game. However, it seems to me most people's claim in favor of 9 ball arises from fashion and the need to disassociate themselves from casual bar pool.
However, I'd also like to say that the effort to popularize pool has to come within bounds. Pool is deceptively simple to the casual observer, but we can't compromise the subtler aspects of the game. Those aspects are what separates pool from darts or something, and will hardly be understood by people unless they put some study into it.
sjm said:
SJM,
How did the thieves find the cue under your pillow (at least that's where I would have been keeping it)?
You are correct about the tight pockets. I've got a match in September with our mutual friend on that evil Diamond table and the nightmares have already begun (I can just see the rack all spread out and my only shot is a severe cut into those ridiculous side pockets). On that table I figure my inning average on a regular table should just be divided by 10. As my dad used to say, "son you look like you're shooting softballs on a snooker table."
I will also say that I have never been bored when watching the great players perform at straight pool (I'm fairly certain they would not say the same about me).
Williebetmore said:
You are very much in the minority on this point, Willie. Few like it when long runs are perpetrated against them in straight pool. Among the old masters, waiting while opponent made a straight pool run was often referred to as "being in the electric chair," and was nealry as undesirable in the eyes of more than a few.
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sjm said:
SJM,
You are correct.
Signed,
Proud to be a Minority