Poll: Do certain people "own" good rolls

[accustatsfan]

Good post.
Remember in the finals of the 1993 U.S. Open 9 Ball Championship, Earl was playing the late Tony Ellin. I remember Tony getting some horrific rolls, even though he was shooting great. The thought that went thru my mind was how demoralizing it had to be to shoot THAT good and STILL get beat! I'll never root against Earl, but I felt bad for Tony.

The margin for error at that level is miniscule.

What sucks from a spectator's point of view is that what's sometimes called a good/bad roll shouldn't be a bad roll (I don't think so anyway).

One case is a ball that misses the intended pocket and goes in another or a player misses a called ball, but the cue ball hooks the incoming player. I think all pool games should be call pocket or safety (Grady's rules). If the player misses a called ball (not a safe) the incoming player can take the shot or give it back.

An example would be Efren's "Z" shot. I can't help but think Earl got screwed by a kick and hope situation after his opponent played poor position that led to it in the first place. If it was a called ball I would be "God that was great", but as it stands it sucks.

People have ideas to improve pools image, but I think it starts with showcasing the greatness of the game and not showcasing "hit and hope" games. I know rotation isn't "hit and hope" but a lot of casual players like 9 ball because they think it takes less skill. Hit them hard and it'll find a pocket and if I can't jump no worries I can use a jump cue.The jump shot is exciting, but jump cues ruined it.

 

[Neil]

..............

 

[Tikkitavi]

I know a player who has a surgically implanted horseshoe. Trust me it works, I have been playing against him for over twenty years.

 

[Thunderball]

Could not reply or "vote" as it were...

Had 'nonsense' been an option it would have been a lanslide imho.

 

[Mowem down]

I think its the.....

Level of play that is the biggest factor...
If you watch good players the rolls are few watch bad players you cant beleave what you see..
My girlfriend is the master and I mean master of the 5 rail safe, she hitsthe ball so hard (from to many years of playing on shi**y little bar tables) the cue ball way to often flies arund and stops somewhere bad for you good for her. Its sick We were playing last night as a matter of factand i told her " The rolls equil out my a** if I knew I was going to getback all the rolls youve got on me Id sign up for the US Open and not even take my cue. After 3 or 4 of theose five rail safties in a row theyd all be crying in their chairs" shes laughing so hard she about fell off her stool. Ive sat and watched people just break down to dust because she gets so lucky. Its really sad in truth, you shouldnt be able to win any game like that.

 

[softshot]

I think "Rolls" are proof that our sub conscious knows ESP

you get the roll you expect to get....

if you expect everything to go wrong.... IT WILL

if you are relaxed having fun and don't care... you get great rolls..

if you are any good at all... most everyday people have no illusions about beating you.. they know you are pretty good as soon as you don't miss for a few minutes...

I have one guy who only played me once... one rack...

he was in the place all the time when I was practicing he knew how well I could play...

he came over one night 3/4 trashed challenged me to one rack for $5

he broke and slopped around the table fancy free for 3 or 4 innings got lucky as hell poke and hope shot after shot.. cueball crashing into everything on every shot.. everything got all bunched up I got them broken apart got some balls in ... either way he won the rack

and to this day he tells people how he just kicks my ass in pool.

 

[ChazL]

What would you call a missed shot, then the ball hitting two rails and falling in ?

Err... overhit???

 

[pocketspeed]

What sucks from a spectator's point of view is that what's sometimes called a good/bad roll shouldn't be a bad roll (I don't think so anyway).

One case is a ball that misses the intended pocket and goes in another or a player misses a called ball, but the cue ball hooks the incoming player. I think all pool games should be call pocket or safety (Grady's rules). If the player misses a called ball (not a safe) the incoming player can take the shot or give it back.

An example would be Efren's "Z" shot. I can't help but think Earl got screwed by a kick and hope situation after his opponent played poor position that led to it in the first place. If it was a called ball I would be "God that was great", but as it stands it sucks.

People have ideas to improve pools image, but I think it starts with showcasing the greatness of the game and not showcasing "hit and hope" games. I know rotation isn't "hit and hope" but a lot of casual players like 9 ball because they think it takes less skill. Hit them hard and it'll find a pocket and if I can't jump no worries I can use a jump cue.The jump shot is exciting, but jump cues ruined it.

i'm not sure what youre saying with the z kick example. not sure how earl got screwed? efren made a bad shot (not got a bad roll). tried to safe earl and didnt pay enough attention to where the cue ball was going, made a ball and he ended up safing himself instead of earl, which earl was pretty happy about. then efren comes with his z kick, makes the ball and gets shape (and if you really think that this was a "good roll" or efren "got lucky" with this shot i have a bridge in brooklyn you should look at) and earl loses. how did this screw earl?

there are no bad rolls in pool, only bad shots. if you end up hooking yourself or scatching or whatever it is a result of the shot you made.

luck is where preparation meets opportunity.

good rolls and bad rolls are just excuses we use to make ourselves feel better about losing.

brian

 

[EZMoney]

I totally understand the concept of two-way shots, safety play, ect.. And, I agree that for most people, the rolls come and go, and over time equal out. I also KNOW, that for some people, they get a lot of good rolls.

By good rolls, I am talking about things like missing an easy 8, it comes back two rails, hits the cb, and knocks the cb behind the 9 for the hook. Missing a ball, having it go several rails, knock another ball in the middle of table in a pocket, and getting perfect shape on the ball he missed while getting terrible shape on the next ball in order. Missing a ball, the cb going for a dead scratch which doesn't scratch, but does corner hook you. Kicking at a ball two rails at warp speed and leaving you so hooked in the process that Semingh Sayinger couldn't figure out how to hit it. And doing this nonsense game after game after game. Session after session after session.

KK9 I fell the love.

Did you write this thread because of my suspicion that you have that golden horse shoe up your a$$. As Neil stated above some people are blessed by the tooth fairy. I'll give it that some of your good rolls are due to your famed 2 way shot, but on occasion when you miss the shot that your grandmother could make you leave it safe as mothers milk.:frown: I know that's no 2 way that's the KK9 way.

You're a tuff nut to crack I have to be on the top of my game to edge you out. I guess my success has to do with sucking the air out of the room?

 

[KoolKat9Lives]

KK9 I fell the love.

Did you write this thread because of my suspicion that you have that golden horse shoe up your a$$. As Neil stated above some people are blessed by the tooth fairy. I'll give it that some of your good rolls are due to your famed 2 way shot, but on occasion when you miss the shot that your grandmother could make you leave it safe as mothers milk.:frown: I know that's no 2 way that's the KK9 way.

You're a tuff nut to crack I have to be on the top of my game to edge you out. I guess my success has to do with sucking the air out of the room?

LMAO Rick. Hey, I just had a colonoscopy my friend and damn if you ain't right. My doc not only found that golden shoe all up in it, but he plucked it too! Me thinks he sold it to you early this week and that's why you been walking funny and peeling off my oats!

Well, so far the poll has 24 people saying "no" to horse-shoe people, and 14 say "yes" to horse-shoe people. I'm gonna guess you voted yes!

Hey, did you decide if you're playing the DMIRO stop today at Gate City Billiards?

 

[ShootingArts]

I can support both sides of the discussion

Years ago a university built a random two state generator to test how long of a run of one state or the other could be generated, basically a fair coin flip. I forget if they ran hundreds of thousands or millions of times but the end result is that they generated a high run of one state just over 20 times in a row! Luck can be your friend or enemy.

However when we talk about "lucky rolls" on a pool table, I don't believe they exist at a level to matter. Some people's style of play means they get very few rolls, good or bad. Some people's style of play means that they are very likely to get rolls, both good and bad. Either style can be clocked.

I watched a fellow AZB'er playing Scotty Townsend in a barbox tournament. The AZB'er plays a very controlled game, almost zero rolls good or bad. Scotty fired almost like a bar room banger when the shot is low percentage. In raw ball pocketing ability or playing shape the AZB'er is probably Scotty's equal. The AZB'er probably plays better strategy. However, Scotty knows barboxes like a momma knows her baby's butt.

The AZB'er missed one shot he probably shouldn't have, big table player on the box error; Scotty made his own lucky rolls by the way he hit the shot a few times. No doubt some luck involved but Scotty put himself in position to be lucky. Scotty stays alive to place well, AZB'er is done. Scotty is the perfect example of someone that gets lucky because his playing style makes the opportunities for luck. His "lucky streak" has ran for decades and is probably good for a few more!

Hu

 

[EZMoney]

LMAO Rick. Hey, I just had a colonoscopy my friend and damn if you ain't right. My doc not only found that golden shoe all up in it, but he plucked it too! Me thinks he sold it to you early this week and that's why you been walking funny and peeling off my oats!

Well, so far the poll has 24 people saying "no" to horse-shoe people, and 14 say "yes" to horse-shoe people. I'm gonna guess you voted yes!

Hey, did you decide if you're playing the DMIRO stop today at Gate City Billiards?

I was wondering why I was walking funny. I guess if I got the shoe I should go to Gate City and kick some a$$, is yours' going to be one of them?

 

[Tramp Steamer]

You bet they do. There was a place here in town called Hamby's, who had the best rolls ever.
They came with their chicken fried steak dinner, and man, oh man...what's that? I did it again, huh?
Damned reading glasses!

 

[KoolKat9Lives]

I was wondering why I was walking funny. I guess if I got the shoe I should go to Gate City and kick some a$$, is yours' going to be one of them?

Not going. Til I get my contacts right and adjust to 'em, I'd just be wasting my time and dough. Hopefully the combo I'm trying now will be the ticket.

Good Luck!

 

[Banks]

Bell Curve

In general, you will get your share of good rolls and bad rolls. Sometimes there will be people who will get one of those more than the other. Just ask my friends. :grin: