This is how it should be done

[Takumi4G63]

The obvious problem with call-shot 9-ball, which has been mentioned many a time, is that you can then play intentional safeties when making a ball like you can in 8-ball. This would make safeties way too easy.

Then again, now that I think about it, I do think the better play would win more often this way. There are also no rotation games that I can think of which are call shot.

 

[NervousNovice]

IMO, it takes more strategy and execution skills to play safe if you are not allowed to pocket the ball on the safe. If you can pocket the ball, it becomes too easy to play safe in 9-ball because it completely takes the object ball speed out of the equation. You'd only have to hide the cue ball from the next lowest ball which, generally, would be stationary.

The flaw that I had overlooked, was that, if a table can be passed back, it removes the 2-way shot out of the game.

In 9-ball, you may try a tough shot, intending to leave the cue ball where it will be safe on the current ball if you miss, but in a good spot for the next ball if you make it. So this element of strategy would be removed in the effort to reduce some of the luck. It's not worth the trade, IMO.

I agree too. I haven't thought deep enough.

 

[3kushn]

Brings back lots of memories of my days in Carbondale IL in the 70's & 80's

Fats was really fun to watch and listen to.

 

[crawfish]

Bumpin this one again.

 

[BillPorter]

The video is a treasure!!!

Never thought I'd watch a 2+ hour video of pool from 20+ years ago. But I did. Anyone who is 50 or older would probably love it. And, by a nice coincidence, the day I say the op was the day that R. A. Dyer's book, The Hustler and the Champ arrived in the mail.