The jury is still out... but I made the argument before: Unfortunately, many players affirm their identity as "real" poolplayers by dissociating themselves from 8 ball (the banger's game) and playing the "pro game", 9 ball, almost exclusively.Gregg said:Damn right. I had a guy calling me a retard for even mentioning possibility.
It's a sad sight to see some of the AZBillards strong arms bashing everyone in sight willing to even mention that 8 ball can in any way shape or form test the abilities of a top flight pro.
I will never mention names (not my style) but some people need to get their heads out of the clouds on this issue and come back to reality. Or, at the very least, tune into the IPT!@#
Furthermore, 8 ball is counterintuitive in many ways, and many reasonably competent 9 ballers probably don't understand the game theoretically. That helps create the prevailing myths about 8 ball: "it's too easy"; "you can shoot any ball"; "you don't have to play tight position"; "it favors the lesser player"; etc.
Hopefully the IPT will help change all that.