SUPERSTAR said:Go back to 2 foul ball in hand, with an express rule so that nothing spots up and it is ball in hand after a foul on the break. Call the money ball.
Back in the day, with 2 foul ball in hand, IMO, the better player would win the majority of the time.
I agree with you, SUPERSTAR!

A few years ago at the Trump's Marina 10-Ball Challenge in Atlantic City, the rules were push-out after the break AND at any time during the game. If you pushed out and your opponent didn't want to shoot it, then you MUST pocket the ball or face giving the opponent ball in hand. Lots of calculated risk-taking with this format.
Two-shot/push-out, though, would remove a lot of the luck factor in the game of 9-ball as we know it today.
JAM