Rotation, anyone?

[Renegade]

I've often read that in the Philippines, Rotation is (or was) the most popular pool game. Some even say that it's a better measure of true pool talent. What I want to know is,

1) is it only played in the Philippines,
2) how do you play it,
3) how does it compare to other more popular games, like 8- or 9-ball,
4) did it contribute to the fact that the Filipinos are really very good at this game, and
5) how come not that many people play it? At least not anymore?

Thanks!

 

[grubbydubby2000]

I've often read that in the Philippines, Rotation is (or was) the most popular pool game. Some even say that it's a better measure of true pool talent. What I want to know is,

1) is it only played in the Philippines,
2) how do you play it,
3) how does it compare to other more popular games, like 8- or 9-ball,
4) did it contribute to the fact that the Filipinos are really very good at this game, and
5) how come not that many people play it? At least not anymore?

Thanks!

Any game where you can make 2/3rd's of the balls, which are the hardest to run and lose, is not a very fair game to play. Cribbage requires the same skills as rotation and is much fairer.

 

[dooziexx]

I've often read that in the Philippines, Rotation is (or was) the most popular pool game. Some even say that it's a better measure of true pool talent. What I want to know is,

1) is it only played in the Philippines,
2) how do you play it,
3) how does it compare to other more popular games, like 8- or 9-ball,
4) did it contribute to the fact that the Filipinos are really very good at this game, and
5) how come not that many people play it? At least not anymore?

Thanks!

Rotation is fairly simple to play. The first person to accumulate 61 total points wins the game. To accumulate the points, just add the face value of the balls that you've legally pocketed, eg. if you made the 1,2,3 & 4 and missed the 5, you've accumulated 10 points for that inning.

I have 2 filipino friends that we play a variation of rotation with all the basic rules. According to them, this variation of rotation is very popular in the Phillipines especially for a 3 person ring game. In this variation of the game, first you have to draw a small circle say 2-3 inches in diameter in the center of the table and draw another circle around the first around 3-4 inches diameter. Those are the 'target circles' and each is assigned a value, say $1 for the big circle and $2 for the little circle. If you make a shot legally and if the cb lands on the small circle, you get $2 from your opponents. There are also other money making shot too which you can assign a monetary value to it. For example, pocket a ball in side pocket, bank shots, kiss shots, carom shots anything you can think of. Its a fun game but make sure you bring lots of $$ when you play.

 

[Buddha Jones]

Any game where you can make 2/3rd's of the balls, which are the hardest to run and lose, is not a very fair game to play. Cribbage requires the same skills as rotation and is much fairer.

I thought I was the only one that played Cribbage. I like to play rotation but dont score on the face value of the balls, each ball is a point, take that to any number you want to play to, say 21, and play it that way.

 

[cardiac kid]

Rotation

Hi Renegade,

I watched Niels Feijen and Efren Reyes play fifteen racks of "61" at the Vegas Cue Club last week! I'm not sure whether Cribbage is a tougher game as suggested by Grubby.... Whichever, my comment is "WOW". It seemed no one else was watching. All eyes appeared to be on Harry Platus and Ronny Allen working at one hole.

 

[Raistlin]

Hi Larry!

gd2000: been reading Larry's material, have we?

Rotation is a GREAT practice game, not sure about it as a tournament game.

 

[predator]

Any game where you can make 2/3rd's of the balls, which are the hardest to run and lose, is not a very fair game to play. Cribbage requires the same skills as rotation and is much fairer.

What does that say about 9ball then? You can make 8/9th's (88%) of the balls and still lose...

I'll try this rotation game someday. It would be too difficult for me at the moment.

 

[grubbydubby2000]

What does that say about 9ball then? You can make 8/9th's (88%) of the balls and still lose...

I'll try this rotation game someday. It would be too difficult for me at the moment.

You have just not figured out yet 9 ball is rotation, short rack rotation, but it is even more stupid than 15 ball rotation, none of the balls count score but one. You can make 90% of the balls and lose which makes it a more dumb game than 15 ball rotation.

 

[Craig Arnold]

Grand Old Game

I've often read that in the Philippines, Rotation is (or was) the most popular pool game. Some even say that it's a better measure of true pool talent. What I want to know is,

1) is it only played in the Philippines,
2) how do you play it,
3) how does it compare to other more popular games, like 8- or 9-ball,
4) did it contribute to the fact that the Filipinos are really very good at this game, and
5) how come not that many people play it? At least not anymore?

Thanks!

Straight rotation was my fathers game and probably your grand fathers game of pool.

One on the foot spot, 2 in the right rear corner, 3 in the left rear corner and 15 in the center of the rack. Lowest numbered ball must be hit first and a ball pocketed or driven to a rail after contact for a legal shot to occur. On the break four object balls must hit a rail or a ball be pocketed. Only two safeties can be played by each player per game and only by hitting the lowest numbered ball to the nearest rail (no other balls can be involved). If a ball is legally pocketed a player must continue shooting. All scratches are ball in hand behind the headstring. If the object ball is behind the headstring then it may be spoted on the foot spot at the shooters request. The three foul rule is in effect. Balls illegally pocketed or off the table are spoted. When a foul occurs the incoming player has the option of shooting as they lay or requiring the offending player to shoot again. First to 61 wins.

Thems the rules- simple. The ten thru the 15 make or break you so be very aware of there positions. Carom and combination win the day. Creativity as in 8 ball, control as in 9 ball. It is my belief that many "BAR" 8 ball rules evolved from the rules of this game and straight pool.

I used to play my father two games of rotation so he'd play me one game of 8 ball.

Craig
BCA Senior National Referee

 

[ajrack]

Different rules

I have been running Rotation tourneys (and many other games) for many years and I changed the basic rules format to
"BALL COUNT" not "POINT COUNT"...
We play one point per ball and not the point value...the player who makes the last ball of the rack can either break the next rack or give the break shot to their opponent. We normally play matches to 30 (balls) for beginners and 60 (balls) for the better players.
I will be opening a new poolroom later this year and will be running a monthly event with these rules.

 

[Renegade]

Hi Renegade,

I watched Niels Feijen and Efren Reyes play fifteen racks of "61" at the Vegas Cue Club last week! I'm not sure whether Cribbage is a tougher game as suggested by Grubby.... Whichever, my comment is "WOW". It seemed no one else was watching. All eyes appeared to be on Harry Platus and Ronny Allen working at one hole.

Thanks cardiac kid. Was it a tournament? Who won? Between Efren and Niels, I mean? Wish I could've seen that game.

 

[Renegade]

Straight rotation was my fathers game and probably your grand fathers game of pool.

One on the foot spot, 2 in the right rear corner, 3 in the left rear corner and 15 in the center of the rack. Lowest numbered ball must be hit first and a ball pocketed or driven to a rail after contact for a legal shot to occur. On the break four object balls must hit a rail or a ball be pocketed. Only two safeties can be played by each player per game and only by hitting the lowest numbered ball to the nearest rail (no other balls can be involved). If a ball is legally pocketed a player must continue shooting. All scratches are ball in hand behind the headstring. If the object ball is behind the headstring then it may be spoted on the foot spot at the shooters request. The three foul rule is in effect. Balls illegally pocketed or off the table are spoted. When a foul occurs the incoming player has the option of shooting as they lay or requiring the offending player to shoot again. First to 61 wins.

Thems the rules- simple. The ten thru the 15 make or break you so be very aware of there positions. Carom and combination win the day. Creativity as in 8 ball, control as in 9 ball. It is my belief that many "BAR" 8 ball rules evolved from the rules of this game and straight pool.

I used to play my father two games of rotation so he'd play me one game of 8 ball.

Craig
BCA Senior National Referee

Thanks for the in-depth explanation, craig. seems a very interesting game to me. i think strategy and creativity really play important roles in rotation. correct me if i'm wrong, but a player can win pocketing just the 7, 12, 13, 14 and 15 but only if shot in combination with the lowest ball on the table, right? i can just imagine the shotmaking and strategy involved! wish there were more tv coverage, not just for pool in general, but also particularly for rotation. but hey, beggars can't be choosers. i'd take any pool game that airs on tv.

 

[BAZARUS]

fast times

These days only games that really count, are fast games, good for television, mostly 7&9 ball. Also, those games are very popular, because anyone can play them. Yeras ago, when straight pool was on top, you had to go through a line of qualifying turnaments, like Mosconi said: "first you have to win regional, than you go to states than to natioal, etc". Now, all you need is $500 and you can play in US Open 9 ball, and no one will stop you.
At Derby City back in january, I've played this guy, that was thinking 5 minutes on every shot, and besides he had hard time to pocket 3 balls in the row.
9 ball can be played by shotmakers, in staright pool you have to be a sergeon. It is sad, that this game is forgotten.
I bed Willi Mosconi is turning in his grave seeing his name on a 9ball event!

 

[predator]

Thanks cardiac kid. Was it a tournament? Who won? Between Efren and Niels, I mean? Wish I could've seen that game.

Read the Neils Feijen official site. Under news section, he describes his game with Efren. He needed a spot too.

 

[cardiac kid]

Rotation Anyone?

Thanks cardiac kid. Was it a tournament? Who won? Between Efren and Niels, I mean? Wish I could've seen that game.

Hi Renegade,

I watched very carefully as they both put their cues away. I saw no money change hands. Only a hand shake and some good natured kidding. It appeared that Efren won Eight to Seven. The match took place at the Las Vegas Cue Club during the BCA Open Championships between matches at the Riviera.

When they finished playing, Scott Frost and "Little John" started a one hole match. Scott looked cold for the first few racks. When I left for a match, John was ahead four racks to two. I don't know who finally wound up ahead. Someone mentioned a nickel a rack. Perhaps another AZ member was there. I can tell you the defense never entered the game. It was all offense. Balls were being banked at an alarming rate from everywhere! After watching Efren and Bill Palmer at the DCC, this was quite a departure.

 

[cardiac kid]

Read the Neils Feijen official site. Under news section, he describes his game with Efren. He needed a spot too.

Hi Predator,

Niels website mentions playing at his "home" room with Efren. I watched them from start to finish in Vegas. I didn't count each run. I know they both were playing to the twelve or thirteen ball each rack. Perhaps they were jockeying for postion in the future match played and mentioned on the website.

 

[Renegade]

what's neil's website?

 

[Renegade]

OK. Saw Neil's site already. Nicely done. And very informative. Thanks predator.