Shane Van Boening challenging Chinese 8 Ball @ China

I love the idea of Chinese 8-ball, creating a version of 8-ball that is very difficult, forcing pros to play the game in a more interesting way, half offense, half defense.

Smaller, rounded, tough pockets - love it.

A table that treats rail frozen balls like clusters making it harder to runout - love it.

3 point break rule forcing strong breaks - love it.

Refs racking and enforcing rules - love it.

Shot clock keeping pace of play up - love it.

Professional dress and look - love it.

Bigger prize money - love it.

Things I don't like:

Intentional fouls = loss of rack. That's just silly.

Bar Rules style call everything = confusing situations for fans unless you start to mic the players and require them to speak up, which could be a lot of fun. But still, I don't understand forcing players to call kisses and carom. Why not just ball and pocket?

I also can understand having to call every ball you make, so if you are going to pocket your ball and an opponent's ball you must call it, I'm ok with that, it is much better than World Rules English 8-ball where pocketing an opponent's ball at all is a foul giving two visits. This is just a rule that needs to be better discussed so people understand that every ball pocketed must be called. But kisses and caroms seem silly to have to call in my opinion.

5 illegal breaks in a match is a loss of match - I don't like that at all, just make excessive foul breaks loss of rack and be done with it.

But overall, I think this kind of thing (9 foot table, tough pockets that force defensive play, professional dress) is a very good thing for professional pool.
 
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Wow, I was totally confused about what Chinese 8-ball was for a long time. I knew about the type of 8-ball referred to in this thread, with snooker pockets and the corresponding rules, but I didn't know this was called Chinese 8-ball.

Instead, I thought Chinese 8-ball was as described in the Wikipedia article below. Watching the video through me off for a blink, LOL. Great videos... Thanks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_8-Ball

Excerpt of description:

"Set up the balls as you would for eight-ball. The first player breaks by shooting the cue ball into the rack as one normally would. A ball must be pocketed, or two must strike cushions, for the break to be legal. If a ball is pocketed, the breaking player goes again.

The break is the only time players will strike the white cue ball with their cue stick.

From this point forward, balls are pocketed by striking the object ball with the cue stick and causing it to carom off the cue ball, then go into the called pocket.

Even if a ball is pocketed on the break, the table is still "open," which means that neither player is yet "stripes" or "solids." To determine which object balls one is playing, one must sink an object ball with a legal shot."
 
abs said:
Wow, I was totally confused about what Chinese 8-ball was for a long time. I knew about the type of 8-ball referred to in this thread, with snooker pockets and the corresponding rules, but I didn't know this was called Chinese 8-ball.

Instead, I thought Chinese 8-ball was as described in the Wikipedia article below. Watching the video through me off for a blink, LOL. Great videos... Thanks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_8-Ball

Excerpt of description:

"Set up the balls as you would for eight-ball. The first player breaks by shooting the cue ball into the rack as one normally would. A ball must be pocketed, or two must strike cushions, for the break to be legal. If a ball is pocketed, the breaking player goes again.

The break is the only time players will strike the white cue ball with their cue stick.

From this point forward, balls are pocketed by striking the object ball with the cue stick and causing it to carom off the cue ball, then go into the called pocket.

Even if a ball is pocketed on the break, the table is still "open," which means that neither player is yet "stripes" or "solids." To determine which object balls one is playing, one must sink an object ball with a legal shot."
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Whoever wrote that wiki entry should have his nose blued.
 
Ronnie O'sullivan would agree with me concerning this statement.

Steve Davis is right, if Shane applied himself to snooker like he has pool he would be beating champion players within a year. There's no question about this (in my mind), and I believe Ronnie O'sullivan would agree with me concerning this statement.
th




JB Cases said:
Steve Davis said a champion is a champion in any billiards discipline and he is confident that if Efren had grown up playing snooker he would have been a snooker champion just as he, Steve Davis, would have been a pool champion.

No one knows what would happen IF a truly elite pool player were to go full force trying to learn and play high level snooker. What we do know is that there is a ton of competition because there are ALREADY a ton of high level snooker players.

Maybe Alex and Corey will do some damage now that they are reportedly making a run at it.

I still think potting is potting and if a player can adapt to conditions then he should do well.
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abs said:
Wow, I was totally confused about what Chinese 8-ball was for a long time. I knew about the type of 8-ball referred to in this thread, with snooker pockets and the corresponding rules, but I didn't know this was called Chinese 8-ball.

Instead, I thought Chinese 8-ball was as described in the Wikipedia article below. Watching the video through me off for a blink, LOL. Great videos... Thanks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_8-Ball

Excerpt of description:

"Set up the balls as you would for eight-ball. The first player breaks by shooting the cue ball into the rack as one normally would. A ball must be pocketed, or two must strike cushions, for the break to be legal. If a ball is pocketed, the breaking player goes again.

The break is the only time players will strike the white cue ball with their cue stick.

From this point forward, balls are pocketed by striking the object ball with the cue stick and causing it to carom off the cue ball, then go into the called pocket.

Even if a ball is pocketed on the break, the table is still "open," which means that neither player is yet "stripes" or "solids." To determine which object balls one is playing, one must sink an object ball with a legal shot."
Click to expand...

There may well have been a version of 8 ball that was played this way and called Chinese 8 Ball.
 
CJ Wiley said:
Steve Davis is right, if Shane applied himself to snooker like he has pool he would be beating champion players within a year. There's no question about this (in my mind), and I believe Ronnie O'sullivan would agree with me concerning this statement.
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That's not what Davis is saying.

There's a big difference between growing up playing snooker and trying to transition to it over the course of a year. One is a likely way for someone with Shane's talent and work ethic to become an elite player; the other absolutely isn't.
 
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abs said:
Wow, I was totally confused about what Chinese 8-ball was for a long time. I knew about the type of 8-ball referred to in this thread, with snooker pockets and the corresponding rules, but I didn't know this was called Chinese 8-ball.

Instead, I thought Chinese 8-ball was as described in the Wikipedia article below. Watching the video through me off for a blink, LOL. Great videos... Thanks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_8-Ball

Excerpt of description:

"Set up the balls as you would for eight-ball. The first player breaks by shooting the cue ball into the rack as one normally would. A ball must be pocketed, or two must strike cushions, for the break to be legal. If a ball is pocketed, the breaking player goes again.

The break is the only time players will strike the white cue ball with their cue stick.

From this point forward, balls are pocketed by striking the object ball with the cue stick and causing it to carom off the cue ball, then go into the called pocket.

Even if a ball is pocketed on the break, the table is still "open," which means that neither player is yet "stripes" or "solids." To determine which object balls one is playing, one must sink an object ball with a legal shot."
Click to expand...

We played that game in Bartlesville, OK, lots & lots of times. BUT, we did it on a 9 foot Gold Crown. And we placed whitey at the nose of the Rack & started the game that way. The game got so easy we started doing two-railers after contact. That was actually great practice for Carom Shots.
 
I have no doubt that Shane could beat the top players a game or two

SakuJack said:
That's not what Davis is saying.

There's a big difference between growing up playing snooker and trying to transition to it over the course of a year. One is a likely way for someone with Shane's talent and work ethic to become an elite player; the other absolutely isn't.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Snooker's not that difficulty, I ran over 80 points the first time I played it on a 6/12 and ran 100 a few times when I had the 6/12 in my pool room (the pockets were smaller than England's too) ......I have no doubt that Shane could beat the top players a game or two within a year.....I'm not sure if he could win a major tournament, but no one could possibly know for sure.

'The Game is the Teacher'
 
SakuJack said:
That's not what Davis is saying.

There's a big difference between growing up playing snooker and trying to transition to it over the course of a year. One is a likely way for someone with Shane's talent and work ethic to become an elite player; the other absolutely isn't.
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Then again we simply don't know because the sample size is so small of people who tried.

Alex and Corey are the best examples we have although Alex is already halfway there due to his Canadian snooker experience.

We simply don't know what would happen if a top pool player were to move to England and spend 8 hours a day with a top coach for a year.

There is a lot to be said for starting with high quality stock.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
 
JB Cases said:
Then again we simply don't know because the sample size is so small of people who tried.

Alex and Corey are the best examples we have although Alex is already halfway there due to his Canadian snooker experience.

We simply don't know what would happen if a top pool player were to move to England and spend 8 hours a day with a top coach for a year.

There is a lot to be said for starting with high quality stock.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
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I think you must also consider the age factor.

I'm sure most top UK snooker coaches would tell you to forget it, once you are past the age of 20 if trying to make that leap to being a top pro.

I have watched some of Alex's matches and he deserves his pro ticket against
a lot of the applicants.

However he may get drawn against a very good player

Based on what I have seen from him so far and based on my personal experience of 40 years playing and watching top snooker, he will not beat any of the top 32.

So the big question is can he improve at his age or be satisfied as a journey man pro?

I say this wishing that he can make it, I would love to watch him on the box against
the top guys.
 
DGilb147 said:
I think you must also consider the age factor.

I'm sure most top UK snooker coaches would tell you to forget it, once you are past the age of 20 if trying to make that leap to being a top pro.

I have watched some of Alex's matches and he deserves his pro ticket against
a lot of the applicants.

However he may get drawn against a very good player

Based on what I have seen from him so far and based on my personal experience of 40 years playing and watching top snooker, he will not beat any of the top 32.

So the big question is can he improve at his age or be satisfied as a journey man pro?

I say this wishing that he can make it, I would love to watch him on the box against
the top guys.
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I don't really understand the age issue?

Is there some physical reason why a person can't start playing late and become a very good player?

I can understand social reasons.

I also know that myelin (sp?) is formed less quickly in the brain when people are older. Myelin is essentially the casing for synapses - i.e. the shielding that allows the synapses to fire faster.

But if one starts out already as a world class player from another discipline they already have a lot of the basics and certainly the mental toughness built up. So what's left? Game knowledge? Peculiar touch inherent to snooker?

The world at large is replete with stories of people who started "late" and then became world class, some even world champions in the fields they chose.

I personally think we aren't even close yet to realizing our potential as humans. I honestly hope Alex goes the full distance, with a coach and dedicated deep practice. I will predict he gets into the top 64 inside two years if he does. I firmly believe Alex will bring some "moves" to snooker from his one pocket experience that will help him once he gets fully immersed in the snooker world.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing what happens.
 
JB Cases said:
The world at large is replete with stories of people who started "late" and then became world class, some even world champions in the fields they chose.
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Any in snooker?

I'm not saying it's impossible for Alex to make the crossover, but acting as though starting late isn't an issue is facile at best.
 
JB Cases said:
I don't really understand the age issue?

Is there some physical reason why a person can't start playing late and become a very good player?

I can understand social reasons.

I also know that myelin (sp?) is formed less quickly in the brain when people are older. Myelin is essentially the casing for synapses - i.e. the shielding that allows the synapses to fire faster.

But if one starts out already as a world class player from another discipline they already have a lot of the basics and certainly the mental toughness built up. So what's left? Game knowledge? Peculiar touch inherent to snooker?

The world at large is replete with stories of people who started "late" and then became world class, some even world champions in the fields they chose.

I personally think we aren't even close yet to realizing our potential as humans. I honestly hope Alex goes the full distance, with a coach and dedicated deep practice. I will predict he gets into the top 64 inside two years if he does. I firmly believe Alex will bring some "moves" to snooker from his one pocket experience that will help him once he gets fully immersed in the snooker world.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing what happens.
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Well I suppose Steve Davis is a prime example of what happens to your game
as you get older and his technical knowledge is second to none.

Still plays well but every now and then inexplicably misses an easy pot, for some one
of his class is very frustrating especially as it will cost a frame.

Steve still loves the game with a passion and wishes to compete so its not
down to his commitment.

I find it difficult at my age to keep my concentration levels in long matches
let alone at his level.

I have seen Alex play some unorthodox shots, very interesting to watch.
 
SakuJack said:
Any in snooker?

I'm not saying it's impossible for Alex to make the crossover, but acting as though starting late isn't an issue is facile at best.
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I don't follow snooker closely but here is a story of a man who started playing when he was 13 but who didn't turn pro until he was 31. Before turning pro he married and had kids and held regular jobs.

http://www.snookerisland.com/blog/interview-with-terry-griffiths-part-1-of-2/

Any as I said we shall see. The odds favor your attitude.



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
 
JB Cases said:
I don't follow snooker closely but here is a story of a man who started playing when he was 13 but who didn't turn pro until he was 31. Before turning pro he married and had kids and held regular jobs.

http://www.snookerisland.com/blog/interview-with-terry-griffiths-part-1-of-2/

Any as I said we shall see. The odds favor your attitude.



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
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"Obviously that’s quite old in today’s terms.
Well not then it wasn’t but you’ve got to understand today the balls are lighter and the tables are a lot better to play on but back then at the amateur level the standard of play wasn’t that high. Today they’re all making them but when I started I remember getting a standing ovation against Doug Mountjoy when I had a 71 break! These days if you don’t do a hundred they just laugh at you."

A different time back then, obviously. Even then, though, Griffiths played from the age of 13.

These days, if you aren't making regular centuries by your early-mid teens, it's highly unlikely you'll be getting even near the very top of the game. That's just the reality of it.

Anyway, I get the feeling you probably think I'm rooting against Alex in all of this, but I'm really not. He's one of my favourite cueists across any sport and I'll pretty much always support him. I think the odds are stacked against him, don't get me wrong. But he's got more heart in his little finger than most players have in their whole body. I'd love him to do well.
 
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JB Cases said:
Then again we simply don't know because the sample size is so small of people who tried.

Alex and Corey are the best examples we have although Alex is already halfway there due to his Canadian snooker experience.

We simply don't know what would happen if a top pool player were to move to England and spend 8 hours a day with a top coach for a year.

There is a lot to be said for starting with high quality stock.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
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May I add snooker to the long list of cue sports you fail to understand?

Cheers
 
Difficulty, or Difficult

CJ Wiley said:
Snooker's not that difficulty, I ran over 80 points the first time I played it on a 6/12 and ran 100 a few times when I had the 6/12 in my pool room (the pockets were smaller than England's too) ......I have no doubt that Shane could beat the top players a game or two within a year.....I'm not sure if he could win a major tournament, but no one could possibly know for sure.

'The Game is the Teacher'
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You made a good point, but CJ come on, if your trying to make a point, at Least use the proper adjective when criticizing, not an Adverb :))))):thumbup:LMAO. Have a great Memorial weekend, I'm going to see the new twins the following week in Steamboat Springs :help:.
 
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