Shane says, "9 ball is too easy"

If you want pool to be big then it will need to be relatable. That means a non-pool player can watch a televised match and with not too much effort be able to figure out what's going on. I think pros should only be playing 10 ball. It's easy enough to understand you need to hit the balls in numerical order but it's harder than 9 ball.
It being relatable to the fans is the biggest thing. It has to be something people want to watch. This is why Trickshot Magic had higher ratings then the Tournament of Champions.
 
Since Matchroom changed the break rule circa August 2022, Shane has come up empty at the 9ball majors. 9ball has done a great job of sorting out who the truly elite are in our sport. That's likely to continue.

As we saw at the World 8-ball, 8ball on the big tables is boring to watch and its, basically, a breaking contest for the most elite players, as the run outs are so easy by world class standards. Shane probably has the best 8ball break in the world, and he rode it to victory. It was reminiscent of the days when Shane dominated with his 9ball break, but today's version of 9ball (tight pockets, tough breaking rules) require a far more balance skill set than that needed ten years ago.

Shane wants to return to a world in which his break will give him a gigantic edge over his opponents. Can't say I blame him, but it's big table 8ball that's too easy. 8ball, however, an interesting game on a bar box.
Yeah your right and everytime I hear someone call 9 Ball a game of luck I always think..., well why cant a APA Level 2 win the US Open? Just get up there and swing at the 9 Ball every time, you dont need talen, luck should pull you through!
 
You mean like the vaunted Chinese 8b and snooker?? Both games allow slop and in snooker they allow chickenshit no-rail safeties. My point is all pool/snooker games have a luck element. Trying to remove it all is pointless and pretty much impossible.
Yeah there’s no way to remove luck from the game
There’s always gonna be a ball shit in no matter if it was called or leave someone snookered to hell from a terrible miss
Or mark Williams kicking in an asinine ball on the other end of the table
 
Yeah your right and everytime I hear someone call 9 Ball a game of luck I always think..., well why cant a APA Level 2 win the US Open? Just get up there and swing at the 9 Ball every time, you dont need talen, luck should pull you through!
Its not that the 9 ball luck factor enables weak players to beat superior players but can and definitely does decide games and matches between relatively equal players.
 
No reason to make a it a gaff game. Simply adopt an alternate break, win by 2 format.
Have you played or watched it? I avoided even watching it until recently. I found it WAY more interesting than standard 8 ball, which I don't mind playing but watching it bores me. The rules are actually fairly straightforward. I think even non players would understand it, and maybe be interested in seeing what world class players could do. The trouble with standard 8 ball, is spectators rarely see things that average players can't do. Of course, more advanced amateurs can tell the difference, but that's not enough to move the needle.
 
There is a YouTube video from APA/Billiards Digest Live in which he is asked about 8 ball, and he says it is our culture. Then the 9 ball comments.

Not Stephen Hendry calling 9 ball "Mickey Mouse"; worse, really.

And, he was wearing what may be a MR shirt.

Worse?! Come on, it isn't a negative at all, imo, it is reality.

9 BALL IS AN EASY GAME.

I have never been anywhere near the caliber of the players we see in current pro events and I have played many perfect sets over my time on the tables.

Its ease does not mean it can't be a competitive contest but don't kid yourself, to svb, the game is easy.
 
I remember Ralf Souquet saying 9 ball was too easy over 20 years ago. He said at the time pros should only play 10 ball.
They should be playing with 15 balls and ball in hand after any miss, no push after the break either, damalama dingdong daddy.
 
Have you played or watched it? I avoided even watching it until recently. I found it WAY more interesting than standard 8 ball, which I don't mind playing but watching it bores me. The rules are actually fairly straightforward. I think even non players would understand it, and maybe be interested in seeing what world class players could do. The trouble with standard 8 ball, is spectators rarely see things that average players can't do. Of course, more advanced amateurs can tell the difference, but that's not enough to move the needle.
Last pocket 8 ball..? Yep, I play nearly after every league night, when we want to goof around and swing at 9 railers
 
english 8-ball is barboxes with rounded corners and a cueball smaller than the other balls.. i really don't think the future of pro pool is in more barboxes.
I think that's exactly why it is. Nine foot tables are increasingly hard to find in the wild. The rooms, not to mention the bars, are 9:1 7ft tables to 9ft. Nineball on a big table is foreign to most casual players. Barbox eightball they 'know' and play. People seem to like pro English eightball fine in England.
 
You know what, barry would say.... Success is bums on seats, Money in your pocket.
Its all about the cash.if it ain't going to make money. Most people aren't interested.
Regardless how good or hard the game is.
Very true, "fun to watch" is almost as important as "fun to play".
If I try to think of what is fun to watch:
- spectacular highlight shots
- elite skills pressed to the max
- always retain some hope that your player can still win
- variety and interesting choices (deep understanding of the game leads to suprising choices that make you go: ahhhh that's mf genius!!)
- 'climbing high then lose it all' - type of emotions, or any emotions really.
- simple rules, but lots of emergent strategy
- and probably more

If you think of 8-ball or 9-ball then both games lack in many of these requirments. They're still fun games and at times very fun to watch. But often not so much, even to people that love pool. Matchroom makes 9-ball about as sexy as it can get.

I'm convinced there's something more fun out there.
 
My goofy made up game is 15-ball rotation split rack. Standard 9-ball rack with the 1 on the foot spot, but then rack balls 10-15 (10 in front, 15 back middle) as a 6-ball mini rack on the head spot. Standard rotation rules, whoever makes the 15 wins.
 
Believe or not the best game I enjoy watching the most is bartable 8ball. When you get two solid players playing it's amazing watching them figure out the runouts and mistakes are way more costly. Always see close matches with alternate break too.
 
This is turning into another 8 versus 9 ball arguement. Both of the games have their own good and bad points.

I wish 8 ball had standized rules. You get two bars next to each other and they both have their own rules.
 
Also, 9 ball is as robotic as you can get. It is about execution. You're not suppose to think but only to make the shots in front of you.

With 8 ball you have to sometimes slow down to think or recollect your thoughts since layouts are always changing, misses or safeties. Of course, from a professional standpoint it can still get robotic but the players' personality come out with 8 ball. You will see the risk takers or the creativity come out.

I've played pros before and when playing 9 ball they will look like a pro. You play them 8 ball, while still great, they look more pedestrian.
 
I wish 8 ball had standized rules. You get two bars next to each other and they both have their own rules.
Yep.

You don't know how many times I have to ask the rules of 8 ball because every pool room's "house pro" or money player plays the game differently.

If you scratch it is ball in hand at some places and it is behind the kitchen at others (normal). This is probably the biggest confusion.
 
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