SVB vs Orcollo Free Roll brought to you by OB Cues
- Thread starter JCIN
- Start date
Just an FYI, they didn't use a Magic Rack and it wasn't a perfect spread every time. They both simply used their monstrous knowledge of full table runout talent.
And how good is Shane? Down 8-0 in the first set, once he stepped up to the table and broke his first break shot, it didn't look like he could lose the set.
And how good is Dennis? We were sitting there watching him not get out after an 8-pack off the flip in the second set on 4 1/8" pockets thinking he dogged not running out the whole set!!!
These two are amazing to watch on this table. And guess what? There are six other players that might could do the same thing.
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I could go either way, but I think you'd just drop the B&R percentage only a little the way these guys play. And since it would affect both, "closer contest" might not be the result. Just less B&R's.
Alternating shots and win by two might get the best "closer contest" regardless of what shooting rules they use (bar rules, APA rules, World Standardized rules...)
I don't understand why everyone wants to change something that isn't broken. Pool is never going to be a high capacity event. It will never be at the spectator level of basketball, football, etc. It is what it is - a niche sport that is amazing to watch for those that know what they are watching.
There are many players in my area who are decent A/B players, and I only know of less than 5 who have ever bought a TAR match, myself included.
I absolutely love this game, but I also don't believe that we can change the rules or the table and suddenly there will be an enormous influx of players putting tons of money in.
I believe that the match that happened last night was perfect and nothing should be changed. Like Jalapus Logan said, there is almost never a set run out. Hell, JA ran 13 racks on Busty 20 years ago and that still gets talked about all the time.
No one is going to get rich off of pool. Those that love it and can make an acceptable living off it will continue to do so, and I am appreciative of everything they do to bring me coverage of these amazing matched in my house, as well as those who support pool like OB and Diamond. Why do we have to continue to try and fix pool? Can't we just enjoy what we have?
There are many players in my area who are decent A/B players, and I only know of less than 5 who have ever bought a TAR match, myself included.
I absolutely love this game, but I also don't believe that we can change the rules or the table and suddenly there will be an enormous influx of players putting tons of money in.
I believe that the match that happened last night was perfect and nothing should be changed. Like Jalapus Logan said, there is almost never a set run out. Hell, JA ran 13 racks on Busty 20 years ago and that still gets talked about all the time.
No one is going to get rich off of pool. Those that love it and can make an acceptable living off it will continue to do so, and I am appreciative of everything they do to bring me coverage of these amazing matched in my house, as well as those who support pool like OB and Diamond. Why do we have to continue to try and fix pool? Can't we just enjoy what we have?
Packages add so much for the spectator (and increase the mental challenge for the guys actually shooting)... I say no to alternate breaks, though there's no question it's a fairer format.
Using winner breaks, I think a good set length is one that virtually guarantees both players 2 turns at the table.
But race to ten is a nice length because a 10-pack is just barely possible, and the excitement of that possibility adds a lot. At the same time it's only a small chance, most of the times both players get to shoot at least once and probably twice.
Using winner breaks, I think a good set length is one that virtually guarantees both players 2 turns at the table.
But race to ten is a nice length because a 10-pack is just barely possible, and the excitement of that possibility adds a lot. At the same time it's only a small chance, most of the times both players get to shoot at least once and probably twice.
The level of play and the talent in a game that doesn't pay is astounding. That was easily, EASILY, the best 8 Ball I've ever seen played in my life.
Kevin
Wow that was an awesome watch. Really very impressive, every part of it. Thanks so much for providing it and I'll be so happy to pay it forward and order your product again.
Thanks
Kevin
TY Justin, can't wait to watch it again and can't wait for tonight!!
The only thing i'd ever change would be to make it a longer race so that i could love it even more...lol
I second this idea.
I missed the freaking thing, had no idea it was going on and a busy night. It sounds like it was epic, I expected Dennis to be a beast at 8-ball and I already knew SVB was but the level it sounds like they played at is unreal.
I definately want to watch this and see if it was just a run of really good breaks opening up the packs nicely every time or if these guys were doing short side shape, breaking out clusters or breaking balls off of rails, and getting out constantly despite the occasional issue.
I do think 8-ball is THE game for alot of reasons but we DO have to get the tables and pockets to a point where the game plays properly tough for guys at this level of play, and it sounds like with the TAR table we are not there yet.
I have always been adamantly against alternate break for the very fact all of the fantastic things we saw last night would of never happened had that rule been in play.
I would rather see one historic come from behind victory or someone run a set out every couple of years than see a whole bunch of artificially induced hill hill or close matches. Personal preference thing but if you want to be able to see amazing things you have to make them possible in the first place.
And THIS...
I don't get the desire to make the playing environment so tough as to make the top pros look pedestrian. And the thought that doing so would create more widespread exposure, or increased interest is silly, imo. I wanna see what these bad boys can do.
Can't we do both? I enjoy pool as much as anybody but if snooker can grow into a respectable sport it's not an impossibility for pool to do so. The funny thing is I don't necessary think table specs have anything to do with the overall health of professional pool. The table specs are really just something I'm interested in as a pool nut.
Part of the reason there's always the talk about the table specs isn't because sets are always being run out, it's really more because with the easier equipment coupled with the very short races it's much more difficult to tell the difference between the truely elite players and those that are in the 2nd tier. The TAR table has down a great job of displaying this difference. It was the hope of many that 8 ball could be played at the professional level provided the equipment was tough enough. That may still be possible. Maybe these guys are really just that freaking good. Only time will tell.
I can tell you now that you are never going to be happy then.
No one is going to want to watch these guys play on equipment so tight it makes them look like average players.
This table is tough. Very tough. A month ago Schmidt and Corey played on the same table and no one ran four. Dennis ran at least four in all but one of the sets I think.
Ten foot tables are not the answer either IMO. They are a fad and adding one more inconsistency into the pro game is needed like another hole in the head.
Why some people want to watch pro's miss I just dont understand.
I'm 100% with you here Justin! The interesting thing is that even playing "winner breaks" you still see many hill-hill matches. Maybe more!
I've been working major pool tourneys going back 30 years (Races to Eleven) and we played winner breaks in all of them and yet there were many hill-hill matches, including in the quarters, semis and the finals. Look at the U.S. Open where they still play winner breaks and so many other major events being held today. We still get hill-hill matches in all of them.
Alternate breaks takes some of the excitement out of the game. The spectators love to see a player string racks. That is exactly what made Earl so great, his ability to string racks match after match.
P.S. The TAR Monster is one tough box! Most (all) of us would get very frustrated playing on it. It just so happens you are watching two of the best who have ever played this game! Copy that!
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You are spot on once again my friend.
Alt. break detracts from the viewability of the sport, IMO. I typically lose interest in watching alt. break format tourneys. I want to see those b&r's. Even more so if a player is making a late charge in the match. With alt. break, much of the drama is eliminated. Bad for the sport, imo.
Sorry man...I should have texted ya. "Listen honey I know you want to rock my bones but they are playing freeking 8-ball on the web. Grab the bill...gotta go...bye."
Nick
Nick
Whether or not 10'ers will be a fad - time will tell. One thing's for sure - they'll never be commonplace in a pool hall.
Last night was epic caliber - and as you stated Justin, watching an 8 pack was just freaking incredible on that table (which you're right - it couldn't happen with alternate break). Making the table any tougher than the TAR's is just silly IMO and I suspect the vast majority of pros would be none too happy to play on it.
That was really a treat.
Thanks again TAR and OB Cues!
KK9 <-- off 200 miles to the beach where I'll have no internet to watch the battle royale
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I agree, I want to watch the Pros shooting great, as far as the 10 ft table, Pro football at least in the US is still played on the same size field, Pro Basketball still has 10 ft. high rims even with the very tall players of today, and baseball has not added any more bases. Everyone agrees, Pro pool needs more prize money, more tournaments, so there will be more interest and more players.