Slow play/Racking issues at the US Open

[dirtypool40]

I was curious about the 1-2-3 position you mentioned. Where should they be racked to get the fairest rack?

1-2-3 on the corners busts up most of the patterning that would queer "rack your own".

Some have suggested that the 2 & 3 cross 4 rails and go hang in their original pockets "too often".

Putting the 2 & 3 next to the 10 in the 3rd row might be an option, and generally keeps them down table in the vicinity of the rack, but then so did putting them on the corners.

I watched the TAR matches with CD, AP and SVB, and they racked 1-2-3 on the corners. Other than the 1-2-3 the players could rack how they wanted to. I don't think anyone put up any packages just because they figured out how to make 10-ball patterns easy.

I am probably not even a solid B yet, but for me, 1-2-3 on the corners works FOR NOW. It breaks up the patterning. The 2 & 3 can run into something up table, and if they don't they almost ensure a long movement from the 1 to the 2.

I would vote for 1-2-3 on the corners and re-evaluate it down the road.

 

[Big Perm]

Yes, slow play kills pool....it runs away participants and bores fans to death.....sports that draw fans all have a shot clock and keep a reasonable pace of play.....simply put, it's called keeping the attention of your audience.....if you had a professor in a class that stopped after every sentence, took a 60 second break to collect himself, and then made another point, he would be called unprepared....

Yes, 30 second clock, one 30 second extension per rack....regardless of the game, have a neutral racker....they get the balls fairly tight, break away.....if the breaker doesn't like the rack, they can give it up and allow the other player to break....Also, the races are too short....big tournament matches need to be about two hours, which is maybe 25 games or so.....this would likely solve the issue with slow play - a race to 7 or 9 can be one or lost with one shot....

 

[dirtypool40]

Yes, slow play kills pool....it runs away participants and bores fans to death.....sports that draw fans all have a shot clock and keep a reasonable pace of play.....simply put, it's called keeping the attention of your audience.....if you had a professor in a class that stopped after every sentence, took a 60 second break to collect himself, and then made another point, he would be called unprepared....

Yes, 30 second clock, one 30 second extension per rack....regardless of the game, have a neutral racker....they get the balls fairly tight, break away.....if the breaker doesn't like the rack, they can give it up and allow the other player to break....Also, the races are too short....big tournament matches need to be about two hours, which is maybe 25 games or so.....this would likely solve the issue with slow play - a race to 7 or 9 can be one or lost with one shot....

well said. k:

 

[abbassi]

2 tables

The way the balls were racking, it took more time to rack than to run the balls.
Hell, setup 2 tables, play on one rack the other.LOL

 

[whitewolf]

SArdo has issues of its own. Too easy to make balls, so the 9 has to be racked on the foot spot. Then the 1 goes easier. Also, if the table isn't prepped right, you are scrod.

I played a big event w/ Sardo once and my opponent won the first 2 games w/ th 9 going straight into the same corner pocket. When I checked the rack on game 3 there was a chasm behind the 9...and my opponent had inspected his rack every time too. I lost hill-hill. :sad:

No, the 9 doesn't have to be racked on the foot spot. How ridiculous. At home I draw a circle where my Sardo rack fits and I get a perfect rack every time, with the 9 ball being in its normal position.

 

[whitewolf]

Is slow play and the rack wars killing interest in the US Open?

I hate slow play and cant much stand to watch it either. In the finals of this years US Open, at the start of the match, Ralf took about 5 mins to mull over a safe move on the 1 ball after he broke. When he finally shot he pretty much butchered the safe attempt. Then a game or 2 later he spent another 5 mins pondering a easy kick shot only to miss it completely when he finally shot. At that point I pretty much gave up watching.

Add in the fact guys now have to spend 10 mins just to rack the balls to their opponents liking is just ridiculous imo.

I’m a die hard pool fan and love to watch matches whenever I can. But this kinda crap turns me off right away and I stop watching. I can only guess what a casual fan, or fan to be might think of this.

How can you televise someone walking around a table for 10mins and expect people to get excited about it.

I’m not trying to pick on Ralf personally. I hear lots of stories about what a good guy he is and that he is also a good sport. I’ve seen him shoot under the clock so I know he can. I guess he just gets in the moment and prob doesn’t realize just how long he takes sometimes.

Personally I would like to see a 30 sec shot clock, with one 30sec extension per game. And a ref who also does the racking, and you take what you get. Heck, I almost thought Donny was gonna bust out an electron microscope to check his racks.

I realize it’s more than just this killing pool, but it sure cant help spark much interest either.

I completely agree and I am not going back until the problems of slow play and slow racking are fixed.

BTW, Mika played in a match that started at 11:00 and it wasn't over until 2:15. Yes, 3 and 1/4 hours.

And for the other poster who suggested that the rules should be made for the players, I strongly disagree. Yes, we the fans pay their salaries. They should entertain us as we see fit.....PERIOD.

I hope enough people complain to Barry - but chances are that he has heard all of the complaints already and he plans on doing nothing about it - just wallering in his success.

 

[Black-Balled]

No, the 9 doesn't have to be racked on the foot spot. How ridiculous. At home I draw a circle where my Sardo rack fits and I get a perfect rack every time, with the 9 ball being in its normal position.

Surely you don't think anything that happens on your or my table is going to produce food for thought on the matter...Right-->?

The 9 was put on the spot @US Open because it was too easy with Sardo. Not open for discussion, history.

 

[Eric.]

Surely you don't think anything that happens on your or my table is going to produce food for thought on the matter...Right-->?

The 9 was put on the spot @US Open because it was too easy with Sardo. Not open for discussion, history.

No need to explain to him any further, BB, he has exceeded his known limitations


Eric >what a maroon