Tired of playing the same old games?

[Vinnie]

Here are some pdf score sheets/rules for several excellent alternative games.

Bowlliards score sheet w/ rules
Fargo score sheet w/ rules
QSkill score sheet w/ rules
Equal Offense score sheet w/ rules
Ten-Twenty rules
Gum Ball rules
2-Ball rules

(site was hacked and taken down. FT 2/16/23)

 

[TheWizard]

Does no-one know how to shoot a game of Cowboy, Cribbage, etc, anymore?

There are plenty of various pool games to enjoy, as well as the usual suspect like 8ball, 9ball or 10ball

I used to play alot of these games quite often and used to do very well, especially at Equal Offence, but I played it in a slightly different fashion, I would just shoot for the ball count in each rack, rather than the points value of each ball, because I found that it is much better for wanting to clear the rack, in order to get the highest possible scores

I won't mention what my highest score was, but it was pretty high

I've also had a few good runs at Cowboy also , but Cribbage is a good game and definitely worth playing a few racks, even if it is just for fun

Willie

 

[Vinnie]

Does no-one know how to shoot a game of Cowboy, Cribbage, etc, anymore?

Funny because playing cowboy and cribbage is what helped me come up with 2-ball and gum ball.:thumbup:

 

[TheWizard]

lol, nice one

What other pool games do you shoot?

There is a version of full rack banks that I play, where the pockets at the head of the table are the only 2 scoring pockets on the table

This is particularly good for practicing long and multi-rail banks, because of how deliberate one has to be in going for each shot, but there is also a goo safety element in the game also

Willie

 

[Vinnie]

My friend Scott Chandler showed me a game he calls 87. The rules are simple; Play a rack of 8-ball and then after making the 8, shoot the remaining balls on the table in rotational order. Try to run the whole thing without missing.

 

[henrygale39]

My friend Scott Chandler showed me a game he calls 87. The rules are simple; Play a rack of 8-ball and then after making the 8, shoot the remaining balls on the table in rotational order. Try to run the whole thing without missing.

Thanks , those are some cool games to try.

 

[pfduser]

Thanks for the games,rep coming your way!

 

[Njhustler1]

any idea where to find rules for Harrigan? It's a version of pill-pool they used to play in the place where I started playing pool in high school. Lot's of fun. Lots of cash changing hands pretty quickly.

 

[TheWizard]

I'm banking this thread to the head rail

There is another game that is enjoyable, but it's a tough game to play.... Honolulu

You can shoot any ball, but every shot must be called and played in a kick shot, and close rail kicks are not allowed, the scoring counts as 1 point per ball and the first person to make 8 balls wins the game

I hope that this helps a little more

Willie

 

[Vinnie]

OK, one more...

Around the world. Start with the object ball on the center spot and the cue ball in the kitchen. The object is to make the object ball into each pocket around the table in order. After each shot, the object ball is placed back onto the center spot and cue ball plays from where it stopped.

CueTable Help

 

[SJDinPHX]

OK, one more...

Around the world. Start with the object ball on the center spot and the cue ball in the kitchen. The object is to make the object ball into each pocket around the table in order. After each shot, the object ball is placed back onto the center spot and cue ball plays from where it stopped.

CueTable Help

That's fine if you guys want to entertain yourselves with meaningless games. You should realize that, that is exactly what has held pool back for many years. I defy you to name all the different games (and variations of those games) that are played on a pool table ! There is only one game of Golf, Tennis, Bowling, Ping Pong, Or any other game you can name.
All we have done is confuse potential sponsors with, in order, 3c Billiards,
14.1,One pocket, 8 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball etc. Until we decide which game we want to promote, the average man on the street is going to be terribly confused. I happen to love one pocket, but I know it is not TV friendly.
Until someone realizes this fact, nothing will change. We can still play ALL games among ourselves, but we need to get behind ONE GAME and promote it as OUR GAME OF POOL !!!

Dick

PS I know many people may not see the wisdom in this, but stop and think before you reply.

 

[Vinnie]

That's fine if you guys want to entertain yourselves with meaningless games. You should realize that, that is exactly what has held pool back for many years. I defy you to name all the different games (and variations of those games) that are played on a pool table ! There is only one game of Golf, Tennis, Bowling, Ping Pong, Or any other game you can name.
All we have done is confuse potential sponsors with, in order, 3c Billiards,
14.1,One pocket, 8 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball etc. Until we decide which game we want to promote, the average man on the street is going to be terribly confused. I happen to love one pocket, but I know it is not TV friendly.
Until someone realizes this fact, nothing will change. We can still play ALL games among ourselves, but we need to get behind ONE GAME and promote it as OUR GAME OF POOL !!!

Dick

PS I know many people may not see the wisdom in this, but stop and think before you reply.

I'm not sure if this post was meant to be sarcastic or not. If not, then please lighten up a little. I didn't start this thread in hopes to replace anything. Sometimes it is fun and challenging to play something different. Even with all of the games you mentioned only golf and bowling can be practiced alone the same way they are actually played, and even golf has driving ranges. Baseball has the home run derby, football has its off season "challenge" matches. Basketball has its fun stuff too. Besides, it would be impossible to pick one game of pool and call it pool. It would be better to promote each game separately.
There is no way we are going to convince the "common man" into watching pool on TV. To him it is just a past time played at the bar. To him, it would make as much sense as televising a national pull-tab derby. I say, lets just continue loving pool as much as we do and then maybe some of that love will wear off onto our friends.:smile:

 

[Beware_of_Dawg]

curious, on this bowlliards game, it says to spot illegally potted balls from the break. Whats the rule on exactly where they are spotted? lets say the footspot already has a ball on or near it preventing you from spottin on the dot.

 

[Vinnie]

curious, on this bowlliards game, it says to spot illegally potted balls from the break. Whats the rule on exactly where they are spotted? lets say the footspot already has a ball on or near it preventing you from spottin on the dot.

Here is the general rule (world rules) for spotting balls...

1.4 Spotting Balls
Balls are spotted (returned to play on the table) by placing them on the long string (long axis of the table) as close as possible to the foot spot and between the foot spot and the foot rail, without moving any interfering ball. If the spotted ball cannot be placed on the foot spot, it should be placed in contact (if possible) with the corresponding interfering ball. However, when the cue ball is next to the spotted ball, the spotted ball should not be placed in contact with the cue ball; a small separation must be maintained. If all of the long string below the foot spot is blocked by other balls, the ball is spotted above the foot spot, and as close as possible to the foot spot.

 

[Beware_of_Dawg]

so lets say you make 3 balls on the break, but there is a ball blocking the foot spot, do those 3 balls get spotted in a straight line down the center of the table the first touching the ball blocking the foot spot? or do they get spotted in a triangle configuration touching the blocking ball ?

the reason I ask is that we played that game a bit last night and the player shooting was taking the fouled balls and aligning them behind the blocking ball or placing mutilple balls perfectly aligned for combo's into the corner pockets

 

[Vinnie]

so lets say you make 3 balls on the break, but there is a ball blocking the foot spot, do those 3 balls get spotted in a straight line down the center of the table the first touching the ball blocking the foot spot? or do they get spotted in a triangle configuration touching the blocking ball ?

the reason I ask is that we played that game a bit last night and the player shooting was taking the fouled balls and aligning them behind the blocking ball or placing mutilple balls perfectly aligned for combo's into the corner pockets

They are placed in a straight line toward the foot rail and touching the blocking ball. The perfect break shot in bowlliards would actually be to spread all the balls and not make anything.

 

[SJDinPHX]

Fire away young man!

I'm not sure if this post was meant to be sarcastic or not. If not, then please lighten up a little. I didn't start this thread in hopes to replace anything. Sometimes it is fun and challenging to play something different. Even with all of the games you mentioned only golf and bowling can be practiced alone the same way they are actually played, and even golf has driving ranges. Baseball has the home run derby, football has its off season "challenge" matches. Basketball has its fun stuff too. Besides, it would be impossible to pick one game of pool and call it pool. It would be better to promote each game separately.
There is no way we are going to convince the "common man" into watching pool on TV. To him it is just a past time played at the bar. To him, it would make as much sense as televising a national pull-tab derby. I say, lets just continue loving pool as much as we do and then maybe some of that love will wear off onto our friends.:smile:

Vinnie, Nothing wrong with you inventing several new games, (there are allready hundreds to choose from.) In case you haven't noticed, the World
Pool community has zeroed in on 10 ball as the best way to present pool to the masses, and thats a good thing. Promoting each game "seperately'
has gotten us where we are today, which is nowhere. I can look at your picture and see that I've been at this game at least twice as long as you've been alive. Voice your opinion if you want, but don't attempt to discredit mine! If you would take the time to examine my credentials, you may realize that I just might know what I'm talking about.
Have all the fun you want to, playing different games, but first learn 14.1,
1 pocket, 9-10 ball and 8 ball. We can all still enjoy those games, just like
Bingo, Bango,Bongo, or skins in Golf. But when the camera lights come on
we'd better have a good solid product to promote. Speed Pool and Trick Shots are NOT getting it done, Bowlliards will not either IMO.

Cordially (not sarcastically)

Dick

Vinnie, Its great that you love pool, but if you think it's only, a "way to pass time in a bar", then that tells me you are a little jaded and pesimistic. Push, don't pull. Smarter people than us, Mark Griffin, Greg Sullivan, and Allen Hopkins, to name a few, don't think pool is dead yet, KT almost made it ! k:

 

[Vinnie]

... the World Pool community has zeroed in on 10 ball as the best way to present pool to the masses ...

When did that happen? Was there a world summit of pool or something? I agree that 10-ball is a better game than 9-ball, however, I do not believe that the World Pool Community has made this decision. How could you even get the whole world of pool playing people to communicate? Perhaps what you meant to say was "the majority of people who post on AZ Billiards prefer 10-ball over 9-ball".

I can look at your picture and see that I've been at this game at least twice as long as you've been alive.

You have been playing pool for 82 years? Seriously though, I appreciate that you think I look so young.

Voice your opinion if you want, but don't attempt to discredit mine! If you would take the time to examine my credentials, you may realize that I just might know what I'm talking about.

What good would it be if everyone had the same opinion? I am not trying to discredit you. I just have a different opinion. Nothing wrong with that. Perhaps you are right, perhaps I am right. Perhaps we are both wrong. That does not bother me because this forum is about sharing opinions. This is not a court room. Please lighten up.

...Speed Pool and Trick Shots are NOT getting it done, Bowlliards will not either IMO.

I agree. Bowlliards should not be used for televised pool. I never suggested to use any of the games I mentioned for televised pool. These games are for playing alone or socially TO HAVE FUN.

Vinnie, Its great that you love pool, but if you think it's only, a "way to pass time in a bar", then that tells me you are a little jaded and pesimistic.

If you read my post correctly, I said that the "common man" thinks that pool is just a past time played at the bar. I assumed that when you said "average man on the street" you meant non-pool players.

Finally, this thread is about playing pool in different, challenging, and fun ways. It is not about promoting pool to the masses. So to keep it on topic...

Rotational 8-ball
Just like regular 8-ball, except that you must pot your solids or stripes in rotational order. Very difficult and challenging.

 

[SJDinPHX]

When did that happen? Was there a world summit of pool or something? I agree that 10-ball is a better game than 9-ball, however, I do not believe that the World Pool Community has made this decision. How could you even get the whole world of pool playing people to communicate? Perhaps what you meant to say was "the majority of people who post on AZ Billiards prefer 10-ball over 9-ball".



You have been playing pool for 82 years? Seriously though, I appreciate that you think I look so young.




What good would it be if everyone had the same opinion? I am not trying to discredit you. I just have a different opinion. Nothing wrong with that. Perhaps you are right, perhaps I am right. Perhaps we are both wrong. That does not bother me because this forum is about sharing opinions. This is not a court room. Please lighten up.



I agree. Bowlliards should not be used for televised pool. I never suggested to use any of the games I mentioned for televised pool. These games are for playing alone or socially TO HAVE FUN.



If you read my post correctly, I said that the "common man" thinks that pool is just a past time played at the bar. I assumed that when you said "average man on the street" you meant non-pool players.

Finally, this thread is about playing pool in different, challenging, and fun ways. It is not about promoting pool to the masses. So to keep it on topic...

Rotational 8-ball
Just like regular 8-ball, except that you must pot your solids or stripes in rotational order. Very difficult and challenging.

Sorry Vinnie. Now that I get out my magnifying glass, I see you may look like an immature 41 year old. And yes, my agenda IS about promoting pool to the masses. :thumbup:

Dick

 

[TheWizard]

Guys, can you please just agree to disagree?

I prefer Full rack games, all around tournaments where there's more than one discipline like the DCC, etc, where there's more than 1 discipline being played as it keeps pool interesting and enjoyable to play or watch, since each discipline having it's own challenges

I would love to see a Full Rack All-Around tournament, consisting of 15 ball Banks, Straight Pool, 8ball, 1 pocket and Rotation, as I believe that they're the best games to shoot to test a player's true all around ability

I realise that a tournament like this would probably never happen as it would take ALOT of organizing, etc, but it would be an awesome tournament to either compete in or to sit back and watch from the bleechers

JMHO

Willie (Going to cure a case of the munchies )