One simple change that I think would improve 9ball

No push

As mentioned in another post, there is no push in APA 9-ball. I'm in Vegas now for the APA 9-ball Finals, and I'm very interested to see how the top players break. Whether a normal 9-ball break, or play to send the 1 up table and hook your opponent behind the pack.
 
BrianK74 said:
I played in the CPA for about a year, (until I got sick of fluke shots & joined the BCA), and always lagged to decide who breaks. Find I have control and better odds over wining the break than the toss of a coin.

I practice the lag 4-10 times, (alternating sides of the table), to get the feel of the cloth/rails and almost always win the lag.

Just to clarify a point, both CPA and BCA rules are to lag to determine the break. If the two players agree to utilize some method other than that, then that's up to player discretion. But, if there is any disagreement then the rules clearly state that you lag for break.
 
BrianK74 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but on the European/Asian tours, don't they have a rule that you must call the nine-ball?. I once saw a match on ESPN with Jeanette Lee and she almost forgot to call the pocket on the nine-ball. She later commented that she almost gave the whole thing away there. If the European/Asian tour requires this, why not the North American tour?.

I've thought about it some more and think that you guys are right, calling the 1-8 balls is silly. I'm just not a big fan of the fluke shot in general after my little romp in the CPA leagues.

Call 9-ball would definitely be an improvement and works well for the pros.
Calling the 9-ball would greatly reduce the cheese factor of the game.

The amateur players may still decide to call a pocket on the 9-ball on every shot, either randomly or take a half-assed shot. Cheese shots discourages amateur players from learning how to run-out balls. Thus, one solution, is to give the player the option (taking the next shot, or passing it to opponent), when the opponent misses on a called 9-ball shot. This would serve as an additional incentive for players to only call reasonable shot attempts. That would serve to encourage players of all levels to play run-out 9-ball.

The fluke shot on the 1-8 balls has its advantages. Forces the player to play much stronger safeties, because if the opponent can get a good hit on the ball (even strategical hit - controlling the pace, separation of balls, directions of ball travels) or even pocket it, which will counter the opponent's defensive measures. Thus the defender has to use much more effort to execute a good safety, so that player can improve their chances of being given such a high reward of ball in hand. This encourages increased skill by the defender, and increased incentive for the defensed player to go for a good hit. The fluke shot, also encourages players to run more tables. If the player messes up a run-out, then a safety play could get countered. Thus, if the player ran it out to begin with, then they wouldn't encounter that additional risk of being countered.

There are always some extreme examples of fluke shots, but it'd be very difficult to eliminate them all. At some point, you have to realize that it's just a game and there will be some element of luck involved. If you can't handle some luck, then you probably shouldn't be playing this game, or any other games.

Most of the time the luck factor is just some excuse for the loser to use, so that the loser can ignore all the other bad play that is in their game. In other words, your opponent doesn't have a chance to make a lucky shot, if they never get to the table.
 
AceHigh said:
Eliminate the push out. That's right, get rid of it entirely. This will not improve TV ratings, but I think it'll really show who the better player is.

They have had every type of ruleset imaginable on TV. That would inclulde no push outs. It didn't make a difference. The general public didn't get sucked in. And the best players still always won (Sigel)

Fred
 
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BrianK74 said:
Yes, I'll quite aware of the rules in both leagues, but in Canada the CPA offers the players the option to flip for the break. Someone was saying that they always flip a coin for the break and come up losing. I was simply saying that they could disagree with a coin flip and take it to the lag, giving themselves reasonable odds of success (at least more reasonable than 50/50). Thanks

First of all, 50/50 would be reasonable odds. Can't get any more reasonable than that.

Next of all, I researched the rules in the CPA for determining the break.

http://www.poolplayers.ca/8-ball.shtml

2. Lag -
Method used to start a match. Players simultaneously shoot a ball from behind the headstring, banking it off the foot rail and back to the head of the table. The closest ball to the head rail wins. It is permissible to strike the head rail. If the lagged balls make contact with each other, lag over.
 
You know how in Snooker they have to pocket a red ball to begin each inning? Maybe 9-ball could be that you have to pocket the low ball or play safe your first shot at the table. Luck shots or combinations (even on the 9) wouldn't be permissable. I'm sure there are flaws but I'm not thinking totally clear at this time of the day.
 
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