Quick Poll - which would you rather watch...?

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dinovirus

Banned
Simple question. Would you rather watch:

1. A long race (13) of nine-ball between two top 10 players OR
2. A long race (7) of one pocket between two top 10 players?

Naturally the definition of 'top 10' is discipline related. i.e. the nine ball match would be between, for example, Johnny Archer and (say) Earl Strickland. The one pocket between (say) Cliff Joyner and Shannon Daulton.

Comments...?
 
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dinovirus said:
Simple question. Would you rather watch:

1. A long race (13) of nine-ball between two top 10 players OR
2. A long race (7) of one pocket between two top 10 players?

Naturally the definition of 'top 10' is discipline related. i.e. the nine ball match would be between, for example, Johnny Archer and (say) Earl Strickland. The one pocket between (say) Cliff Joyner and Shannon Daulton.

Comments...?
Click to expand...

9-ball. 1-pocket may be fun to play, but I find it quite boring to watch.
JMHO.
 
One pocket because you get to see many more and varied shots in 1h as compared to 9b, imho.
 
One Pocket.

If you find watching One Pocket boring, you probably don't know that much about pool in the first place.
 
Wow!! What is wrong with you guys. Watching one pocket is somewhere right below watching paint dry. I love pool, I love playing one pocket; but onepocket without a shot clock is just unwatchable for me. At DCC I tried to watch 2 of Efren's last 2 matches, but was bored to tears (I watched 6 of his 9-ball matches) - had to go watch the greatest straight pool match I've ever seen (Pagulayan-Schmidt). The nine ball was a sneeze, the one-pocket was a long, drawn out yawn, and the 14.1 was a 5 hour orgasm. JMO

P.S. - Tom in Cincy, you may be correct, or it may be that it is just a boring game to watch - I watched Efren and Billy P. play for about 30 minutes, and didn't see them do anything I wouldn't/couldn't do. Just agonized for 5 minutes at a time before bunting a ball to the rail. I appreciate the strategy of the game, but only if I'm involved. When watching, you are never certain of the reasons behind their shot selection. I am continually amazed by the endless strategic discussions on the Accu-Stats tapes where the commentators are often certain of the "correct" move, and then the expert player does something totally different. Hey, maybe the one-pocket watchers don't know as much about the game as they should, and thats why they enjoy watching, believing that they are actually learning something, or seeing inspired genius at work :) :) .

P.P.S. - a pro friend of mine played a several day session of one pocket with Efren, and said it was "incredible." Efren would be completely locked up, then with one or two shots, my friend would be in jail, and all the balls would be by Efren's pocket - genius at work (but still hard to watch for me).
 
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One pocket

I would take one pocket, far and away. Don't find it boring to watch at all. If it was a decision between one pocket and straight pool, that would be a harder question to answer! 9 ball is just not as strategically challenging, although tactically, it makes for an alright game.
 
One Pocket, because I can't play the game to save my life. I've watched good players play a match and for some reason I just don't absorb it as fast as I did 9-ball. I pay attention to what shots they select and most of the time it's one that I would have done. But, it's the little things about the game, setting up for a shot 3 or 4 shots away, like chess, which I can't play either, that I have trouble seeing. And, my execution could use some work, but that's from a lack of playing the game. But, I'd still choose a match of 1 pocket over a match of 9 ball.
 
One pocket by far. I hear it can be really fast and exciting at times. A few years ago I was at the Cue Club in Vegas with a friend watching Earthquake and Scott Frost play a something ahead set for something (??) anyway Keith was stuck two games, I ask my friend if he wanted a beer he said sure. The Cue Club was pretty crowded as there was a lot of action going on at that time (during the BCA event). I danced through the crowd up to the bar and got a couple of beers and danced straight back to sweat the match. Now …Keith is UP 2 games!! :eek: In the time it took me to get a couple of beers he scored 4 games of one pocket! My friend just shook his head and said wow that was really something. It must have been pretty special (like yesterdays fishing).

Sometimes however I have seen the score change like that in a match I am playing in when I return from the bathroom …but that is a different situation. ;)
 
I find the predominance of one pocket watchers quite a surprise (I think I've heard Accu-Stats sells far more 9-ball than one pocket tapes). I hope it reflects a true love of the game, and not a snobbish desire to seem "in the know" - like the guy who says, "I always listen to public radio, read only classical literature, never watch pornography, hate television." My vote is that you guys really do love the game - that's why I spend (??waste??) so much time lurking around here; perhaps I'll learn something.
 
I would rather watch 10 ball instead of 9 ball. But one pocket from Joyner, Daulton, Efren, Richie Rich, Ronnie Allen or Grady. Bring the popcorn and watch for hours.
 
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I would rather watch 9-ball between to top players that I didn't know personally. At the 2004 DCC a friend of mine played in the one pocket event and I really got more enjoyment watching the one pocket because sweating the long games seemed more exciting, so I kind of felt personally involved.
 
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Williebetmore said:
Wow!! What is wrong with you guys. Watching one pocket is somewhere right below watching paint dry.
Click to expand...

I have to admit, I have a different perspective than some players. I love the game of One Pocket and play it as much as I can. But, I have to have the right mental attitude to play AND the time available. I want to be able to commit to the session. If I only have a few hours to play, I can't make that commitment. The same for 14.1. I need an all day (or evening) session (4hours+) to commit to playing either.

I also run a monthly One Pocket tournament that had 2 and 25 entries in the last 2 months. Lots of great 1P player in this area and it is as exciting to watch as any series of matches I have ever seen. I still look forward to the monthly 1P tournaments.

We have some die hard spectators at these 1P tournaments. Gentlemen in their 30s and 40s and some in their 60s. All in all, there are some very knowledgable 1P players that frequent this pool hall.

Strange that over the years, I have become more of the 1P fan than I thought I would. I like the competition of any pool game. But, for me 1P has become the top choice.

I guess the Derby City Classic got me into sweating these matches. I've only missed one, and I don't plan on being there in 2005. Too many things going on in California with work and family in January. Maybe in 2006?
 
Nine ball, by far. Efren vs Johnny, nothing less will do.

One pocket is really fun to watch for about an hour. In a long race, however, those fan-unfriendly racks where someone who's ahead 5 - 0 knocks all the other balls to the top rail and causes the rack to take another half hour pop up a little to often for my taste. On my best day, l doubt I could endure a race longer than three.
 
catscradle said:
9-ball. 1-pocket may be fun to play, but I find it quite boring to watch.
JMHO.
Click to expand...
i agree if you are a fair or good onepocket player then you would like to watch onepocket if you want to know more but me since i play one pocket pretty fair
i would like to see race to 15 9 ball. most players that like watching onepocket seems to be trying to learn new moves which is good:)
 
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