Personally, I'd like to see a pool skills competition.
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A long time ago, I had an idea to have a H O R S E tournament for the players.
It would be incredibly TV friendly, spectator friendly, and a lot of fun.
The problem is that there are a lot of top level pros, who couldn't do shots the others could do.
As an example, a guy like Larry Nevel, could put 10 different shots up that would baffle the entire field. Only to have Earl come up and do some crazy stroke shot that the rest of the field couldn't do.
It would be incredibly TV friendly, spectator friendly, and a lot of fun.
The problem is that there are a lot of top level pros, who couldn't do shots the others could do.
As an example, a guy like Larry Nevel, could put 10 different shots up that would baffle the entire field. Only to have Earl come up and do some crazy stroke shot that the rest of the field couldn't do.
This is pretty much what the BU playing-ability exams and rating system are all about. For more info, and to see results from a wide range of AZB users, see the AZB BU thread.
Enjoy (and please participate),
Dave
I like it too. Something like the 3-point and dunk competitions the NBA has. I even liked the trick shot competitions but they got a little crazy, with all the gimmicks and "jump 5 balls at a time to a corner pocket lined with cue sticks" nonsense.
Do you have any ideas for shots? I assume shots like "fire the ball long distance and go 4 rails" kind of thing? A break speed competition would be cool too.
I really like it...........
It would sure perk up a lot of interest in how we aim..........
It would be good for the game..........
It would sure perk up a lot of interest in how we aim..........
It would be good for the game..........
I really enjoyed watching an equal offense tournament or two out here on the west coast
a few years ago. I thought the idea had good merit as the layouts could be replicated all over the country.
I also saw a video a few years back where a thing above a table could shine down spots on a table to place balls and create basically target pool.
I thought it would be great to have to setup up layouts and be able to set them back up precisely each time. Great practice
a few years ago. I thought the idea had good merit as the layouts could be replicated all over the country.
I also saw a video a few years back where a thing above a table could shine down spots on a table to place balls and create basically target pool.
I thought it would be great to have to setup up layouts and be able to set them back up precisely each time. Great practice
Something like an IPAT challenge, where you do the setups and keep score? That would be pretty cool but might be a little boring, kind of like video taping people do drills....maybe if there was a way to involve a random or exciting factor it would become more interesting.
I may be wrong, but it sounds like you want to see more shots where players are exhibiting their pocketing with positional skills and less defensive, breaking, lucky kicking, followed usually by game completions which are hardly worth watching?
I've been working on game formats to better exhibit the player's skills for several years.
One game I like achieves the following:
1. Break is earned, has a small advantage but won't decide matches.
2. No incentive to play safety, so players go for any shot they can think of making, rather than choose safety. (A bit like 6 player ring ball).
3. No Kosmo outs, dribbling and stop shotting sequences of balls which they may as well pencil in.
The game format I like, to achieve this, explained in simplistic terms is as follows:
1. Rotation 11 Balls Racked, 1 point per ball.
2. To continue visit, the nominated ball must be pocketed, lowest ball hit first and 2 rails minimum must be hit (not jaws or side rail of entry pocket).
3. Incoming player has Ball In Hand.
4. Player who pockets the final ball, meeting the 2 rail requirement, wins the break.
5. Breaker has ball in hand after break, unless a ball leaves the table. (Takes luck out of break - but often hard to make the first few balls requiring 2 rail position in rotation, so advantage is limited.)
6. If the incoming player doesn't want to play the shot left, he may take 1 point and send the previous player back to play that shot with BIH. (Stops players lagging a safe when in a difficult position. At best they can play a kind of poor man's push out, but with BIH to either player which is almost never an advantage)
The game can be played in sets of short races, say 15-21 or in longer races, say 51-101.
In one hour of good players playing this game, you'll get more highlight shots than in 5 days of Mosconi Cup. Unless you think jump shots and fluke kicks are highlights.
Colin
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I also had an idea like this many years ago, there would be a standard battery of shots tough kicks and banks cue ball control etc and each contestant could bring 5 of his own shots to the contest ,
But they would only be a small percentage ,maybe 5% of the total score ,more for flavor than to determine the outcome.
I am getting ready to try Dr Daves BU shots for the first time and I am pretty excited about it .
No, not a single trick shot involved. For instance, a "shot the diamonds" segment. How many tries to make spot shots with cb frozen to the rail at all the diamonds. And a target pool segment.
Please post your scores (and videos if available) on the AZB BU thread, both after your first attempt and in the future showing us how much you can improve.
Good luck,
Dave
BU playing-ability Exams.
Exact layout diagrams are provided (with detailed instructions and video demonstrations), and they all are online and free. Also, all essential pool skills are tested. And it is fun.
Also, the BU Rating System (also online and free) provides an objective and comprehensive measure of overall playing ability.
Regards,
Dave
How about this. The game is called: "Make a Shot, Do a Shot."
We have a pro player team up with an amateur and they compete against another pro/amateur team. A list of shots is given to each team and when that team makes that shot they have to do a shot of their favorite adult beverage, then move on to the next shot on the list. If they miss, the opposing team comes to the table.
I'd think Earl and a fat chick would be a great team, or maybe Efren and a league player. :smile:
We have a pro player team up with an amateur and they compete against another pro/amateur team. A list of shots is given to each team and when that team makes that shot they have to do a shot of their favorite adult beverage, then move on to the next shot on the list. If they miss, the opposing team comes to the table.
I'd think Earl and a fat chick would be a great team, or maybe Efren and a league player. :smile:
I'm not sure how much of your idea is tongue in cheek, but you're onto something.
Horse
I've had lots of fun playing "horse" on a pool table with friends.
The trick shot events are similar but have largely evolved into "gimmick" shots.
In response to other comments here...they used to have skills events at some of the national amateur events...I don't know if they still do. I was fortunate enough to play in sixteen national events, but the last one was in 1995.
I've had lots of fun playing "horse" on a pool table with friends.
The trick shot events are similar but have largely evolved into "gimmick" shots.
In response to other comments here...they used to have skills events at some of the national amateur events...I don't know if they still do. I was fortunate enough to play in sixteen national events, but the last one was in 1995.
How about organize a competition around Target Pool,Bullseye Billiards, or the Ultimate Pool challenge cards? These already have a built-in scoring system and rules, so you don't need to come up with your own.
http://bullseyebilliards.net/
http://ultimatepoolchallenge.com/
http://bullseyebilliards.net/
http://ultimatepoolchallenge.com/
That's exactly what I recommended in this thread: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=402056&highlight=target+pool
It didn't generate much interest.
It didn't generate much interest.