U.S. Open rules discussion

StraightPoolIU said:
... Oh one other thing I would suggest if no one else has (sorry didn't read every post) is that if guys are worried about crooked or tilted racks a line and a rack outline on the table just like 14.1 should solve that.
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You don't need a full rack outline. Just position the rack precisely where it should be, draw a line parallel to the short rail along the back of the rack (it need not be the full length of the rack), and then put a short, intersecting line perpendicular to that on the long string (i.e., 25" from each side cushion).

Diamond wooden racks have a kerf -- a notch -- cut into the center of the back side of the rack (http://www.diamondbilliards.com/index.php/accessories/triangle-ball-rack). So to rack without any tilt, just put that notch right on the two intersecting lines, making sure the bottom edge of the rack runs right along the longer line.

[Note: Simply drawing one line along part of the long string is not sufficient, because it is difficult to see exactly where the center of the foot spot is when racking. It's possible to have the notch of the rack (i.e., the center of the rack) right on the long string and still have a tilted rack if the base of the 1-ball (or 9-ball) is not precisely on the center of the foot spot.]
 
Island Drive said:
Hey, it's the last year of Barry. He did a great job over the years to get it where it's at, time to gentrify the business model....and move to the next level.
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No, he has already talked about having a grand 40th anniversary next year, so I don't think he will leave before that.
 
Island Drive said:
Hey, it's the last year of Barry. He did a great job over the years to get it where it's at, time to gentrify the business model....and move to the next level.
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He said he's selling Q Masters and retiring from that, not giving up the U.S. Open.
 
3 rules needed to make world class 9ball

1- NO JUMP CUES
2- 9 ball does not count on the break
3- NO JUMP CUES
 
FranCrimi said:
The Americans used to get a lot of WPA invitational spots. However, the way it works is when you keep turning down invitations, the invitations eventually go elsewhere. Then the following year the invitations are less. The WPA wants American participation. The problem is that the Americans don't want to participate.
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Fran, the WPA giving American pro players invitations to attend overseas pool tournaments is like going to a community-based shelter and giving a resident of the community-based shelter an invitation to attend an opera at theTeatro Alla Scalla in Milon, Italy. How are they going to get there? Professional pool in America is a fractured industry with the same payouts in 2014 as there were in 1974, yet the cost of living has at least quadrupled. The BCA, the representative for American professional pool players, did not seem to exert any effort to maintain professional pool in this country. As such, the American pro players cannot afford to attend overseas tournaments. It is a matter of economics. :smile:
 
Bob Jewett said:
In my experience, you can get volunteers who will work for nothing or next to nothing at most tournaments. Free admission when they are not working and free sandwiches for lunch and dinner will often do it.

It is, however, a lot of work to both get the volunteers and to herd them. For that it's good to have a master volunteer.
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I'll only be there for a couple of days. I'd be willing to do it for about half the time I'm there, which would be two full sessions, Wednesday day and Thursday day as an example. Not that it's going to happen. I mention this example to show that you would have ebbs and flows on the availability of volunteers. Sometimes you may have many, other times little to none. I'd say you'd need at least 3 volunteers at all times to cover racking for 9 tables.

And yes, it would be difficult to manage and schedule all that. I'd say it's too late this year to manage signups and scheduling, but could be something to consider for next year.

Also, while I believe I, and most others, would be neutral, competent, and respectful, I can easily imagine one or two either playing favorites or somehow thinking their special cuz they're down on the floor and annoying the players by talking to them. Would need a no talking to the players rule unless they are asked a question and designated places for them to sit when they aren't racking.

Could work tho.
 
Island Drive said:
thx, I thought his daughter was going to ''take over''.
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Last year right after the Open concluded, some members of this forum posted some mean-spirited remarks about Barry and his daughter, which were untruths. His daughter came on this forum and was outraged. I felt so bad for her having to read the filth. It may be a coincidence that she is not a part of the Open admin staff this year, but I doubt it.:sorry:
 
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Its always a great tournament, right up to the train wreck right before the finals start. I wouldn't expect anything less this year.
 
itsfroze said:
A race to 9 can possibly go 17 games though.
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Sorry I mean the break pattern repeats again, so in a race to 9 it goes like this

Player 1 won lag break 5 consecutive games, then player 2 breaks 4 times, then player 2 breaks 5, then player 2 breaks 4 times if they need to,,
The point is winner break is not very fair, alternate by one is not good for streamers..
 
Cobra Jet said:
Anyone know where I can find a players list for the US Open?
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As of 9/30

1. Shane Van Boening - USA
2. Earl Strickland - USA
3. Efren Reyes - Philippines
4. Johnny Archer - USA
5. Francisco Bustamante - Philipines
6. Mika Immonen - Finland
7. Darren Appleton - England
8. Jose Parica - Philippines
9. Dennis Orcullo - Philippines
10. Waleed Alars - Qatar
11. Rodney Morris – USA
12. Raj Hundal - India
13. Edmundo Ambross - USA
14. Niels Feijen – Netherlands
15. Thorsten Hohmann - Germany
16. Matt Krah – USA
17. Nikos Economopoulos - Greece
18. Stephen Fleming - USA
19. Denis Grabe - Estonia
20. Frankie Hernandez - USA
21. Suad Kantarevic USA
22. Alex Kazakis - Greece
23. Tommy Kennedy - USA
24. Stevie Moore - USA
25. Jerome Rockwell - USA
26. Randy Russell - Canada
27. Joe Scarborough - USA
28. John Schmidt - USA
29. Justin Bergman - USA
30. Corey Deuel - USA
31. Brandon Shuff - USA
32. Justin Hall - USA
33. Oscar Dominguez - USA
34. Jeremey Sossei - USA
35. Kenichi Uchigaki - Japan
36. Ralf Souquet - Germany
37. Warren Kiamco - Philippines
38. Do Hoang Quan - Vietnam
39. Le Quang Trun - Vietman
40. Chris Futrell - USA
41. Nikos Malaj - Greece
42. Chris Cantrall - USA
43. Paul Poiter - Canada
44. Amai Rota - Qatar
45. Hanni Alhowri - UAE
46. Matt Haines - USA
47. Brett Stottlemyer - USA
48. Kevin West - USA
49. Majid Alzaabi - UAE
50. Daryl Peach - England
51. Tony Drago - Malta
52. Marc Claramunt - Spain
53. Dana Aft - USA
54. Brian Parks - USA
55. Tom Skinner - USA
56. Donny Mills - USA
57. Mike Davis - USA
58. Mohammed Obaid Mohammed Khamis - UAE
59. Karl Boyes - England
60. Maceo Butts – Virgin Islands
61. Nick Van Den Berg - Netherlands
62. John Cook – USA
63. Pay or Play Tournaments Qualifier Winner
64. Tom D’Alfonso – USA
65. BR Tatum – USA
66. Larry Phlegar – USA
67. Corner Pocket Billiards N Café Qualifier Winner Dan Maddien– USA
68. Skyler Woodward – USA
69. Albin Ouschan – Austria
70. Mario He – Austria
71. Reinaldo Dendariarena – Puerto Rico
72. Jeremy Jones – USA
73. Jorge Rodriguez – USA
74. Mike Dechaine – USA
75. Ali Almarri – Qatar
76. Q-Master Billiards Qualifier Winner
77. Q-Master Billiards Qualifier Winner
78. John Moody – USA
79. Chris Bruner – USA
80. Randy Labonte – USA
81. David Hennessy – USA
82. Brad Shearer – USA
83. Jayson Shaw – Scotland
84. Christopher Pyle – USA
85. Travis McKinney – USA
86. Danny Mastermaker – USA
87. Joey Arbuckle – USA
88. Aaron Remijio – USA
89. Rodrigo Geronimo - USA
90. Michael Ricciardella – USA
91. Luke Sutliffe – USA
92. Scott Smith - USA
 
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Bob Jewett said:
In my experience, you can get volunteers who will work for nothing or next to nothing at most tournaments. Free admission when they are not working and free sandwiches for lunch and dinner will often do it.

It is, however, a lot of work to both get the volunteers and to herd them. For that it's good to have a master volunteer.
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I second that.
it also looks more professional to have neutral volunteer rackets rather than players rack themselves . I mean at tennis Grand Slams they have volunteer ball boys- you don't see players collect balls themselves LOL. I know some folks are going to say tennis is higher level professional sport but in this case using volunteer rackets will cost next to nothing so worth a try
:)
 
Most of the players won't accept any more neutral rackers, unless it's really professionaly organized. But they won't accept racking from their opponent too, even with a membrane used, which would be the best solution for creating a fair environment without referees.
That's the result of another parody of today's era in 9ball, the rack your own one.
That parody was applied in order to "make things smoother", eliminating the only defence one has against his opponent's break.
One could not help wondering how were the big events in the past completed in a fine way, when players racked for each other without membranes and participations were much more than today........
 
Petros Andrikop said:
One could not help wondering how were the big events in the past completed in a fine way, when players racked for each other without membranes and participations were much more than today........
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Simple. Once Mr. Tucker, et al, solved the rack mysteries, it changed the game. Before that, players weren't checking racks so closely, having re-racks, or manipulating their own to such a high degree. Such a incredibly high degree...

The genie is out of the bottle, and she ain't interested in getting back in. At this point, its a matter of trying to account for this newer behavior and make the game as fair as possible. And make it work in a fashion that allows the tournament to run smoothly. Tough task.
 
It's going to be a great event with superb play. That I have no doubt.
With Jay as TD and the abundance of talent in the field , I expect it will be stellar
Thanks Jay and Barry for asking for opinions. Real classy move in my opinion
 
justadub said:
Simple. Once Mr. Tucker, et al, solved the rack mysteries, it changed the game. Before that, players weren't checking racks so closely, having re-racks, or manipulating their own to such a high degree. Such a incredibly high degree...

The genie is out of the bottle, and she ain't interested in getting back in. At this point, its a matter of trying to account for this newer behavior and make the game as fair as possible. And make it work in a fashion that allows the tournament to run smoothly. Tough task.
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Players knew everything about the rack in the old days too, and they did check every time before breaking.
There was even Mike Sigel's tape about 9ball racking, available way before rules were changed.
Rules were not changed because everybody started breaking well, rules were changed at a period when participations declined, since most players couldn't keep up any more with the best players (better breakers and run outers), bad prize money distribution played a part too.
In the beginning, they made the break too easy....
After that, came the internet era and wide distribution of total pool knowledge, thus leading to a total level increase and less gap between top players and the rest.
Then they made the break harder, which is reasonable, but eliminating the break factor in any way is overacting, leaving better players unprotected, taking out completely the spectacular part of the game, thus leading to another decline in participations now.
9ball is on the wrong path now, and this has to be dealt with.
 
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I did not see any comments on this, is there a draw back, or issues if this could be implemented:

Sorry I mean the break pattern repeats again, so in a race to 9 it goes like this

Player 1 won lag break 5 consecutive games, then player 2 breaks 4 times, then player 2 breaks 5, then player 2 breaks 4 times if they need to,,
The point is winner break is not very fair, alternate by one is not good for streamers..
 
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