Personally I like this, you break from the spot. I've seen this used as a handicap in a money game and it changes everything!
I like breaking from the spot, also. Any ideas on how to speed up the time
spent racking? Some guys seem to take forever!
Personally I like this, you break from the spot. I've seen this used as a handicap in a money game and it changes everything!
I think we should tell the WPA to take a flying ....! Johnnyt
One thing for sure, no matter what rules are instituted by Barry, Jay, et al., you can be sure that there will be a plethora of dissenting opinions. No matter how hard a tournament director and promoter try to make things happen for the better, you will NEVER satisfy everybody. That goes with the territory.
So the only thing you can do is punt and hope for the best. :grin-square:
With the 9 on the spot
Do you put a new spot for the 1 to go on ?
That would be ok, but you may as well add in another rule, that the 1 ball doesn't count in the side pocket. Lol
JoeyA
Okay guys, I just had a phone discussion with Barry and his feeling is we need to implement the rules now so players have time to get ready. The Open is one week away so that is ample time to prepare imo.
Based on the responses we've gotten the nine ball will be on the spot, the smaller break box (9") will be used and the balls will be racked with the one in front and the two in back. It's still Rack Your Own, Winner Breaks and your opponent can inspect the rack one time. We will monitor the matches from a podium in the middle of the arena (only nine tables) and watch for any soft breaking. Of course if a player feels his opponent is soft breaking he should inform us so we can observe the break.
Yes, fouls on all balls, with the same qualifier for incidental touching of a ball by a piece of clothing or hair. Once again if the ball moves it is a foul, no matter what.
By the way, Barry has made changes to the rules of play multiple times down through the years, all in the interest of keeping the U.S. Open as competitive as possible. Most of these players have played internationally, so they are familiar with the rules as stated above.
I like breaking from the spot, also. Any ideas on how to speed up the time
spent racking? Some guys seem to take forever!
It makes no sense to go picking and choosing rules to suit yourselves. The reason that this event got anywhere near to 100 players is because it carries WPA ranking points.I think all WPA rules should used in all events period.
I think that once the rack is lifted that you cant fiddle or touch the one ball.
With the 9 on the spot
Do you put a new spot for the 1 to go on ?
Okay guys, I just had a phone discussion with Barry and his feeling is we need to implement the rules now so players have time to get ready. The Open is one week away so that is ample time to prepare imo.
Based on the responses we've gotten the nine ball will be on the spot, the smaller break box (9") will be used and the balls will be racked with the one in front and the two in back. It's still Rack Your Own, Winner Breaks and your opponent can inspect the rack one time. We will monitor the matches from a podium in the middle of the arena (only nine tables) and watch for any soft breaking. Of course if a player feels his opponent is soft breaking he should inform us so we can observe the break.
Yes, fouls on all balls, with the same qualifier for incidental touching of a ball by a piece of clothing or hair. Once again if the ball moves it is a foul, no matter what.
By the way, Barry has made changes to the rules of play multiple times down through the years, all in the interest of keeping the U.S. Open as competitive as possible. Most of these players have played internationally, so they are familiar with the rules as stated above.
As TD this year it is my goal to make the rules as fair as possible for everyone. It will be a stellar field, full of great players, and for that I'm excited. Since this is a WPA sanctioned event we will follow their rules as closely as possible.
9-Ball, Texas Express, Winner Breaks and Rack Your Own for starters. We will be playing Foul on All Balls, which is the way most major events are played today all over the world. An incidental touch of a shirt sleeve will not constitute a foul unless the ball moves. It's actually much easier to officiate playing all ball fouls than playing cue ball fouls only. If a ball moves you fouled and there is no question about it.
The big question is how to rack the balls, and there is no clear WPA rule to cover that. We will definitely be using the break box and can either rack the one on the spot or the nine on the spot. The problem with racking the one on the spot is the wing ball is wired for one of the corner pockets, thus making a run-out that much easier. With the nine on the spot this is not the case. Most of the top players I've talked to support the idea of racking the nine on the spot. It makes for a better game requiring more skill. That's the way they do it on all Matchroom events and it seems to work pretty well for them.
Barry's goal as the promoter of this event is to make it the best test of pool in the USA, similar to the U.S. Open in golf. I'm still open to suggestions about this and anything else rule related. I seriously doubt we will require three or more balls to be pocketed or sent past the head string. But we will not allow soft breaking. A cut break is okay as long as a firm stroke is used.
Thanks for your input. Barry has a lot of faith in the members of this forum and he asked me to please put this out there for all to see. It also serves to inform the players in advance what rules we will be using.
It makes no sense to go picking and choosing rules to suit yourselves. The reason that this event got anywhere near to 100 players is because it carries WPA ranking points.
Many overseas players would not attend if they were not on the trail of those points.
Therefore you should follow the WPA rules as a matter of courtesy.
Better still the WPA should issue a written statement asking that their rules are used
before agreeing to sanction the tournament. All these things serve purely to ensure that the game remains fragmented.
It makes no sense to go picking and choosing rules to suit yourselves. The reason that this event got anywhere near to 100 players is because it carries WPA ranking points.
Many overseas players would not attend if they were not on the trail of those points.
Therefore you should follow the WPA rules as a matter of courtesy.
Better still the WPA should issue a written statement asking that their rules are used
before agreeing to sanction the tournament. All these things serve purely to ensure that the game remains fragmented.
... The other issue is 9 ball going on the break in the back two pockets??? ...
It makes no sense to go picking and choosing rules to suit yourselves. The reason that this event got anywhere near to 100 players is because it carries WPA ranking points.
Many overseas players would not attend if they were not on the trail of those points.
Therefore you should follow the WPA rules as a matter of courtesy.
Better still the WPA should issue a written statement asking that their rules are used
before agreeing to sanction the tournament. All these things serve purely to ensure that the game remains fragmented.
They actually should have few spare one balls on hand, and gets changed every match! to avoid long racks..Plus many players thinks once they get the rack perfect no gaps, and walk away to other side to break, the gap opens up the minuet they place the CB on the spot to break, or touch the table, or when they back swing and forward swing..hard before CB reaches the rack!