Offensive Games?

Another good way to promote offense is always allow the player to give the shot back. This is what I've played many ring games with, and it seems to take away the "oh I missed and coincidentally you are hooked" factor.
 
I thought the offense game was called 9 ball. Lol.

Try Saratoga 8 ball. It's only 5 stripes and 5 solids and the eight.
 
6 Ball

We used to play a lot of 6 ball in the late 80s , same as 9 ball but only 6 balls with the six being the money ball , Wide open offense , you could win or lose a lot depending on if you got on a hot streak and started running packs
 
What offensive games rules have you come across, where defense is rare and a player often has little choice other than to attempt a big shot?

My favorite is ring game 10-ball, and occasionally 8-ball, when a player becomes committed to finishing in that shot or losing.

Some drill like games come to mind, such as golf and ghost games.... interested to hear of offensive games.

FWIW: I consider 9 and 10 ball to be about the most defensive of all games, post a great / fortunate break.

Colin
Short rack banks.
 
Thanks guys!

Have been experimenting for years with offensive game formats and got a couple of good ideas to consider from this thread.

Am planning a live stream challenge event in a couple of months, to see if viewers enjoy it.

I want a game that forces players to play more of the shots that demonstrate an advanced stroke and skill with rails.

It's called Strokepool, and the version I like is 2 Rail, where 2 Rails need to be hit in addition to pocketing a ball. That can be a bank + CB or other OB hits 1 rail, or any other combo... though most shots are direct pots with CB going 2 or more rails to position.

There is a rotation version and a Solid v Stripes version. Once a player finishes their run, the opponent has ball in hand... but gonna try out the send player back option. I just worry that players will be tempted to push out instead of going for a huge shot that could be a highlight.

Usually making 4 balls in rotation is a good result, as averaging over 3 balls per visit is a sign of a pretty experienced player. My best is a run of 23. Gawd knows what the likes of Efren in his prime could run, but sure would like to see them try it.

I prefer to score it in points per ball. Can have long races but I think short races such as races to 25 would work better for TV... a little like darts being broken up into short legs, which puts pressure on players to finish or risk losing a set every 4 or 5 visits.

It may sounds like a bashers game, which it can be at times once out of shape, but with some practice there can often be finesse to keep right side of shots for building runs. That said, you'll get to see some power stroke shots that you'll never see in a 9-ball tournament.

I use a lot of inside english in this game to run 2 and 3 rails to bring the CB through center of the table. Not many shots don't have some side english.

Colin
 
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Thanks guys!

Have been experimenting for years with offensive game formats and got a couple of good ideas to consider from this thread.

Am planning a live stream challenge event in a couple of months, to see if viewers enjoy it.

I want a game that forces players to play more of the shots that demonstrate an advanced stroke and skill with rails.

It's called Strokepool, and the version I like is 2 Rail, where 2 Rails need to be hit in addition to pocketing a ball. That can be a bank + CB or other OB hits 1 rail, or any other combo... though most shots are direct pots with CB going 2 or more rails to position.

There is a rotation version and a Solid v Stripes version. Once a player finishes their run, the opponent has ball in hand... but gonna try out the send player back option. I just worry that players will be tempted to push out instead of going for a huge shot that could be a highlight.

Usually making 4 balls in rotation is a good result, as averaging over 3 balls per visit is a sign of a pretty experienced player. My best is a run of 23. Gawd knows what the likes of Efren in his prime could run, but sure would like to see them try it.

I prefer to score it in points per ball. Can have long races but I think short races such as races to 25 would work better for TV... a little like darts being broken up into short legs, which puts pressure on players to finish or risk losing a set every 4 or 5 visits.

It may sounds like a bashers game, which it can be at times once out of shape, but with some practice there can often be finesse to keep right side of shots for building runs. That said, you'll get to see some power stroke shots that you'll never see in a 9-ball tournament.

I use a lot of inside english in this game to run 2 and 3 rails to bring the CB through center of the table. Not many shots don't have some side english.

Colin

I've thought about the two rail thing before, and like it. It's an absolute must for safety play imo. Safety is the biggest joke in pool - so cheap it's cheating.

Something I've noticed - those that complain about eliminating safety are the least fun to play. They grind the joy out of the game.
 
I'd love to see safety play banned in league matches I've played in, but you'd just get players playing safe but making it look like they went for the pot. Rattle a ball but make sure you get the white in a place that leaves the guy completely screwed.

Yeah, imagine the arguments!
 
Is it 9 balls racked in short rack Fred?

The most common short rack form is with 9 balls, racked in a diamond. First to 5 balls wins. 11 ball Banks is also played. Adds a slight bit more defense since the racks (Christmas Tree) aren't so opened up.

Derby City Classic has had the 9 ball Banks division since its inception.

And I saw some mention of it being played in rotation some times. That's not standard right?

Players might practice or gamble this way, but I've never heard of a tourney held like this.

Freddie
 
The most common short rack form is with 9 balls, racked in a diamond. First to 5 balls wins. 11 ball Banks is also played. Adds a slight bit more defense since the racks (Christmas Tree) aren't so opened up.

Derby City Classic has had the 9 ball Banks division since its inception.



Players might practice or gamble this way, but I've never heard of a tourney held like this.

Freddie

Colin:

I agree with Freddie, in that short-rack bank pool (racked like 9-ball) is a very offensive game. Just FYI about bank pool; you know that the balls are not shot in rotation, right? You can shoot any ball, but it must be a bank shot, and most importantly, it must be CLEAN -- i.e. no caroming off another ball into the pocket -- and it must be as you called -- i.e. you can't call a cross-side bank and have the ball go double into the opposite side pocket. Any improperly-potted balls spot back up.

Some argue that it's the purest form of pool there is -- no slop (every shot is called, and the shot must go as called with no extra contacts), and defense is very rare.

Examples:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hPMIEr0frj0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oppGT2l_wZ4

Short-rack banks is a blast as a ring game!
-Sean
 
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Colin:

I agree with Freddie, in that short-rack bank pool (racked like 9-ball) is a very offensive game. Just FYI about bank pool; you know that the balls are not shot in rotation, right? You can shoot any ball, but it must be a bank shot, and most importantly, it must be CLEAN -- i.e. no caroming off another ball into the pocket -- and it must be as you called -- i.e. you can't call a cross-side bank and have the ball go double into the opposite side pocket. Any improperly-potted balls spot back up.

Some argue that it's the purest form of pool there is -- no slop (every shot is called, and the shot must go as called with no extra contacts), and defense is very rare.

Examples:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hPMIEr0frj0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oppGT2l_wZ4

Short-rack banks is a blast as a ring game!
-Sean

Thanks Sean,
Have watched the Derby Bank ring game a few times- great to watch! Wasn't aware of having to go in clean.
Colin
 
Short rack 8 ball (4 stripes, 4 solids and the 8). That is a very aggressive game. And Cowboy, that's pretty aggressive too...
 
Razzle. Lots of variations, I think.
I've heard 6 ball described as"suicide six".


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Try Pool 300.

It's similar to Bowliards, but much more challenging. It has a few twists too that make it different but a lot of fun.

We had a league here in North Dallas a few years ago that played this game exclusively. It's scored just like bowling, which makes it very efficient as far as handicapping goes.

Here's the only link to the rules I could find.

http://www.killeen-billiards.com/official_rules.htm


I helped Don Owen, my business partner and the "O" in OB Cues, develop the game several years back. At first, it seems very easy, but it's actually pretty frustrating at times. It teaches you that missing carries a severe penalty.


Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
 
Players will always try to make a game into easy shots!

Even in very offensive games, players will do their utmost to leave the easiest possible shots to run out... hence, much of the time viewers see shots they they think they can make.

That's the main reason I think we need games like 2 Rail which forces players to play a minimum of reasonably demanding shots, and rarely can they run a few without playing a shot that is beyond what a viewer / enthusiast can execute with any regularity, if they could make it at all.

Trick shots seem to have been the one consistent mainstream broadcasting form of the sport, despite the silliness of half the current shots and the almost total lack of competitive drama.

I think broad audiences want to be thrilled by great shots, while players want to make every challenge as easy as possible. The two goals are in conflict, hence, we need games that force good players to play shots on the margin... the type of shots that seem miraculous to the average dribbler.
 
Odd Ball

Full rack rotation, each odd ball worth 1 point, and having 61 points or more in ball numbers adds 2 points for a total of 10 possible points per rack. Who ever makes the one ball is partners with the person who makes the nine ball. Breaking and shooting order are set, but once partners are chosen they can Not follow each other just for that rack. Add up total odd balls and team ball point count. If you play for $1 a point and your team made all the odd balls, but did not get over 61 points, then 8 minus 2 equals 6 dollars paid to winning team, each player, or play for 25 cents a point. Next up, who ever broke last racks, next in order is up. We used to play Blitzes, where one team would get all the balls and all the points, it would pay double. There also was a situation where one player would run the entire rack and get the dreaded triple Blitz....he's get paid double from each player. So if you were playing for $1 a point, one player could make $60 in one rack.
 
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