US Open rule change

Fleece3

Fleece3

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
At this years open, there is no Sardo rack and it is "rack your own" (Coreys gotta love that). Is there a story behind the changes?
 
First time poster long time lurker.:)

It'll be interesting to see if the percentage of wing balls potted goes down as a result of this. Even with rack-your-own, the pack will usually be skewed a little L/R making it less user friendly.
 
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Fleece3 said:
At this years open, there is no Sardo rack and it is "rack your own" (Coreys gotta love that). Is there a story behind the changes?
Click to expand...
My best guess would be that the Sardo rack is not being used at the U.S. Open because Sardo is not a sponsor of the event.

I don't know of any event where the Sardo rack has been used, where Sardo was not a sponsor. Does any one else? :confused:
 
Fleece3 said:
At this years open, there is no Sardo rack and it is "rack your own" (Coreys gotta love that). Is there a story behind the changes?
Click to expand...

This is surprising as they tried that one year and the next year Barry made a speech at the tournament beginning that the US Open would never be rack your own again, it had been wrong and that if you win a game "your opponent shoud rack" and that's the way it was gonna be for all eternity. Oh well. Must be a story behind it somewhere.
 
There were 2 changes that I think might contribute to balls on break more often, they were:

- 1 on the spot
- break from anywhere

Last year, they were doing the 9 on the spot, and the break box. I wonder what spurred the change of rules?
 
IMO racking your own is fine as long as they have the rack outlined to deter "tilting". It should speed things up because you won't have the whole rack....breaker checks.....re-rack....check again....etc.

I'd like to know if the guy NOT breaking can check the rack?

Also, we all know there are ball position patterns in racking that help/hurt depending on what you want to do. Do you have to rack the balls at random?....and is there any way to prove it either way?

My guess is if you let the breaker rack, we are going to see some BIG packs ran!


(not to hijack but)
on a similar note....in the IPT, why don't the refs rack?....seems silly they are standing there watching the players rack?

Gerry
 
Gerry said:
(not to hijack but)
on a similar note....in the IPT, why don't the refs rack?....seems silly they are standing there watching the players rack?

Gerry
Click to expand...

I've always wondered this myself. If the referee racks and the breaking player is at the foot of the table waiting, it seems as though this would speed up the proceedings a little. Besides, it ain't like the ref is working his ass off or anything like that.

Maniac
 
Is there a three-balls-must-cross-the-center-string rule on the break? That could be a reason to institute rack your own.

The non-racker had better be allowed to check the rack, or else there will be a lot of shady stuff going on.
 
Last years open was probably the best 9 ball event I've ever seen as far as racking and breaking were concerned. 9 on the spot, with a sardo, break box ( I believe but not positive) combined with slightly worn rail cloth on the already tough diamonds and the usual damp conditions neutralized the racking issues and the break better than I have ever seen. Right up there with rack your own 10 ball and the 10 ball spots on the break.
 
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