It took a little luck to hide it, skill to hit it, luck to make it, and I'll be damned if this wasn't incredibly entertaining to watch (for me at least) after Selby hit 68 following those first few misses:Honestly though... at the elite level. It's the manifestation of "luck" (good/bad) that's typically the most memorable.
Not in North Carolina. I don’t know of any pool rooms featuring 7 foot tables. No one here wants them.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.
I've beaten many "house pros" and most of them are a joke and wouldn't stand an hour in a pool hall.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.
I don't gamble anymore but I can definitely relate. Every poolhall think there version of rule altering is the best. Then you walk up to the bartender or the guy working at the pool hall and ask them what the real rules are and they will most likely state the same rule as the player you're playing. LOLThe main reason i really don't play is rule variations. I'm not in the mood to start a fight over a single 8 ball game.
Sorry Colonel I just thought you saying this....."who really cares what Shane says".Did I say that you should? No I didn’t.
Same in VA...I can only recall one place that brought diamond bar boxes in.Not in North Carolina. I don’t know of any pool rooms featuring 7 foot tables. No one here wants them.
I like that game too- but random luck also plays a factor in that game too- it is not uncommon for one group of balls to be much easier to run in order than the other off the breakHaven’t watched the video yet but I will.
Wonder what Shane’s thoughts are on Saratoga? Seems like an obvious hybrid, meet in the middle kinda thing between 9 and 8 ball THAT IS EASY TO FOLLOW for both players and spectators alike.
Well luck does come into play, but it comes into play just as much in 8 Ball. I've watched more times than can be counted a guy play for a ball, not get shape and shoot what ever ball is available and then runout, luck. How many times have you seen somebody pocket the 8 ball out of sequence and lose, luck.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.
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.
as great as the pros are, playing 8 ball on a bar table presents challenges to them in that there are more clusters. True, they still usually manage to navigate the clusters properly, but they usually have to slow down and figure it out.it's not a big audience sport. other e8b players watch it, but that doesn't mean much. plus, the reason why it's somewhat popular is that it's fairly difficult with its rounded pockets, and i don't see that being imported en masse to the US. icbw.
in most these threads people tend to underrate the pros and base their opinions on what's fun for amateurs to play, and watch play. but watching filler, gorst or orcullo play 8-ball isn't very fun. they almost never miss or get in trouble. watching lesser players play 8-ball is more fun, to me atleast
Maybe we need a tournament game with more luck, so the masses would enter believing they have a chance against the elite players (eg the Chris Moneymaker at WSOP effect).
Having a hard time figuring out a pool game with as much luck as poker, however. Might have to involve a deck of cards lol.
This is a popular opinion, as much as I dislike all the break rule changes at least they kept winner break. Changing rules because someone got good or mastered one aspect is no better than handing out participation trophies to me and I'll leave it at that. I do appreciate all that MR is doing for the game, so, I'm on board.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.
is is
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 balanced 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.