One pocket Vs Rotation

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Is one pocket a better all around game than the rotation games?

I mean in one pocket everything counts. You cant make a mistake because other wise your opponent can go 8 and out in a matter of just one mistake.

When playing 9ball granted i do feel that the rotation games bring about more pressure situations, but you get a few more rolls in 9ball, slop counts, and when mistakes happen you either get rewarded or you sell out.

I myself prefer to play the rotation games but was wondering what you guys think. Plus everywhere i go now more and more people are playing one pocket instead of rotation games. I myself would rather be free wheeling and letting my stroke out than just nit picking at one ball for 20 minutes.
 
Is one pocket a better all around game than the rotation games?

I mean in one pocket everything counts. You cant make a mistake because other wise your opponent can go 8 and out in a matter of just one mistake.

When playing 9ball granted i do feel that the rotation games bring about more pressure situations, but you get a few more rolls in 9ball, slop counts, and when mistakes happen you either get rewarded or you sell out.

I myself prefer to play the rotation games but was wondering what you guys think. Plus everywhere i go now more and more people are playing one pocket instead of rotation games. I myself would rather be free wheeling and letting my stroke out than just nit picking at one ball for 20 minutes.


if you're worried about the slop/luck factor of 9 ball...have you tried 10 ball in competition?..no luck...10 on the break doesn't count...everything must be called, safties, very similar in rules to the game of full 15 ball rotation that the filipinos play...except for the spot shot rule.
 
Is one pocket a better all around game than the rotation games?

I mean in one pocket everything counts. You cant make a mistake because other wise your opponent can go 8 and out in a matter of just one mistake.

When playing 9ball granted i do feel that the rotation games bring about more pressure situations, but you get a few more rolls in 9ball, slop counts, and when mistakes happen you either get rewarded or you sell out.

I myself prefer to play the rotation games but was wondering what you guys think. Plus everywhere i go now more and more people are playing one pocket instead of rotation games. I myself would rather be free wheeling and letting my stroke out than just nit picking at one ball for 20 minutes.

For what it's worth, slop counts in one pocket too, as you are slopping a ball into your pocket.

I missed a ball by a diamond earlier today, (how shocking is it that someone on AZ actually missed a ball?), and four railed it into my hole.

When I heard my opponent groan, I simply turned and asked, "What, would you have played it differently?" :D
 
Is one pocket a better all around game than the rotation games?

My answer is yes. Any decent rotation game player can keep you in the chair for several racks if the balls are cooperating. (See SVB for verification)

In most one pocket games, you will at least get one shot. It may not be a good shot, but at least both players get to play.

If anyone ever runs a four pack in one pocket against me, I will quit pool forever. :cool:
 
Ill just say when a guy starts playing masterful and smart one pocket, it almost always shows up in the score. In 10 ball, a guy can play perfect, and then like 10 minutes later after a combo or two and a 10 on the break its a tie score.
 
Full rack call shot no slop rotation is a great game. It's the first game I learned. Nobody around here plays it unless I goad them into it.

Dave Nelson
 
Yo uare playing with the 'ez 8-n-out' crew and still ask?

I bet you know they really bear little similarity exept balls and pockets....and cues, and tables and pool.

And chalk and uhh, somebody help me here.
 
It depends on what kind of game you prefer to play...if you mostly play rotation games like 9 and 10 ball, then straight rotation (15 balls, race to 61 points) will make you a monster. If you're an 8 ball player, then 14.1 and one pocket will make you a much better player.

There are really two categories of pocket billiards...rotation games and pattern games. Great players can play them all, but everybody has a preference between the two categories.
 
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Is one pocket a better all around game than the rotation games?

If you are a straight shooter (especially for the cheese - takin the heat) w/a big stroke and understand how to get shape length of the table (w/a little safety play thrown in) - rotation games are the best for you.

If you like to to get rewarded for all aspects of cue sports: banks; straight pool; 8-ball; rotation games; touch; 3-cushion; and the ability to think your way throught the game w/o out having to make a ball to be successful (but you do when it's time to shoot and get out), then 1-pocket is the best game for you. There are many options to shoot and it is your job to select what's right for you and the game situation - you paint your own palate.

There is luck in both games but because there are not choices of what ball you have to shoot next in 9-ball it looks like it is luckier. A lot of luck happens in 1-pocket for both safty & offensive outcome.

I prefer 1-pocket but I really respect rotation players, they have to keep coming w/the shot or they may sit for a looooooong time.

Dave
 
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if you're worried about the slop/luck factor of 9 ball...have you tried 10 ball in competition?..no luck...10 on the break doesn't count...everything must be called, safties, very similar in rules to the game of full 15 ball rotation that the filipinos play...except for the spot shot rule.

I don't think Rotation is like 10 Ball much at all. First off, it is a points based game, first to 61 is the winner. Also, my understanding is that Rotation is not a call shot game. Not sure if they play call shot in the PI's but I do believe the usual game played there you go to 61 points, not the 15 as the "money ball." I had asked this question in an old thread and this is what I was told anyway, by someone from the PI iirc.
 
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if you're worried about the slop/luck factor of 9 ball...have you tried 10 ball in competition?..no luck...10 on the break doesn't count...everything must be called, safties...

There is luck in this game too, it's just bad luck for the shooter. Not a fan of these rules, it takes a away the 2 way shot. I agree about 10 not counting on the break & the call shot rule, but hate the safety rule if you miss. If this was a big thing for the poeple palying, if you call a ball and it doesn't go and you get safe, then I thing push out would be the best thing to do, but this would still eliminate the 2 way shot that you would play on purpose...but it's better than the stiff penalty they play now.

However, if it's the same for all players, whatever the rule, I guees it's fair. I just don't think it's just not fair for the spectators. I say let the balls fly and the best man that set wins, just not on the break since most are rack your own.

Dave
 
There is luck in this game too, it's just bad luck for the shooter. Not a fan of these rules, it takes a away the 2 way shot. I agree about 10 not counting on the break & the call shot rule, but hate the safety rule if you miss. If this was a big thing for the poeple palying, if you call a ball and it doesn't go and you get safe, then I thing push out would be the best thing to do, but this would still eliminate the 2 way shot that you would play on purpose...but it's better than the stiff penalty they play now.
Dave

When I lived in San Francisco and played at the Filipino pool room, I was going to play rotation with one of the locals. No one wanted to play one pocket, banks and I had tortured pretty much everyone in 9 ball, so rotation was the game. Now I played rotation as a kid and once you get a few balls broken up, 61 is pretty close. The stakes were a dollar a ball and twenty a game. I won the toss and broke. We shot a couple of turns and then they came up with this weird rule. I said, that's not how you play rotation. They answered; IT IS IN THE PHILLIPINES AND YOU'RE IN A FILIPINO POOL ROOM. the rules were so different, the game was called. See you in January, Dave.
 
There is luck in this game too, it's just bad luck for the shooter. Not a fan of these rules, it takes a away the 2 way shot. I agree about 10 not counting on the break & the call shot rule, but hate the safety rule if you miss. If this was a big thing for the poeple palying, if you call a ball and it doesn't go and you get safe, then I thing push out would be the best thing to do, but this would still eliminate the 2 way shot that you would play on purpose...but it's better than the stiff penalty they play now.

However, if it's the same for all players, whatever the rule, I guees it's fair. I just don't think it's just not fair for the spectators. I say let the balls fly and the best man that set wins, just not on the break since most are rack your own.

Dave

Just to be clear, the version of 10 Ball you are referring to sees only limited use right now, notably on the Tony Robles Predator tour back east. The World rules (WPA and BCA) do allow for the two way shot in most situations. Unless a ball is pocketed on the missed shot the incoming player must take the balls in position. For example, this is how the US Open 10 Ball tournament is played (under BCAPL, rules which follow the world rules in this aspect).
 
When I lived in San Francisco and played at the Filipino pool room, .

... I won the toss and broke. We shot a couple of turns and then they came up with this weird rule. I said, that's not how you play rotation. They answered; IT IS IN THE PHILLIPINES AND YOU'RE IN A FILIPINO POOL ROOM. the rules were so different, the game was called. See you in January, Dave.

don't leave us hanging! What was the weird rule? You play too good and if you win our money we gonna break your leg?! That was it, wasn't it?
 
My answer is yes. Any decent rotation game player can keep you in the chair for several racks if the balls are cooperating. (See SVB for verification)

In most one pocket games, you will at least get one shot. It may not be a good shot, but at least both players get to play.

Agreed. I go to Derby City every year not expecting to enjoy the one pocket event much, but I nearly always enjoy it more than both the banks and the nine ball, and one pocket is a game I rarely play.

I am awed by the sharpshooting you see in rotation games, but one pocket offers that special combination of offense played with defense that rewards the most imaginative players for their extremely insightful shot designs.
 
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