US Open-The Other Way Around

Island Drive

Island Drive

Otto/Dads College Roommate/Cleveland Browns
Silver Member
While there thru Friday I gathered other perspectives on the game at hand.
9 Ball was Always an aggressive game, where pocket size must be considered.
When current pocket size makes the players Not go ''the other way around'' for shape, the game becomes one dimensional. Toooo predictable.
SAFTEY
When a great player gets on the wrong side of his next ball, the table should offer a pocket size that accepts an object ball at high speeds with whitey coming 5 around or more for shape.
It's pure beauty when a top player weaves the cue ball around other balls and rails then gets ''back in line''.

I hope the play conditions will eventually.... allow this aspect of play to return.

bm
 
Island Drive said:
While there thru Friday I gathered other perspectives on the game at hand.
9 Ball was Always an aggressive game, where pocket size must be considered.
When current pocket size makes the players Not go ''the other way around'' for shape, the game becomes one dimensional. Toooo predictable.
SAFTEY
When a great player gets on the wrong side of his next ball, the table should offer a pocket size that accepts an object ball at high speeds with whitey coming 5 around or more for shape.
It's pure beauty when a top player weaves the cue ball around other balls and rails then gets ''back in line''.

I hope the play conditions will eventually.... allow this aspect of play to return.

bm
Click to expand...
I saw a lot of that. Maybe not as much as with bigger pockets but enough to be impressed
 
All tables at the US Open have 4" corners and 4.5" sides. With new cloth, this is the perfect size for the best in the world. I saw plenty of running cue balls and strokes being let out. Perhaps they were playing safe due to factors other than pocket size. I do not think top players consider pocket size when they are running out.
 
Island Drive said:
While there thru Friday I gathered other perspectives on the game at hand.
9 Ball was Always an aggressive game, where pocket size must be considered.
When current pocket size makes the players Not go ''the other way around'' for shape, the game becomes one dimensional. Toooo predictable.
SAFTEY
When a great player gets on the wrong side of his next ball, the table should offer a pocket size that accepts an object ball at high speeds with whitey coming 5 around or more for shape.
It's pure beauty when a top player weaves the cue ball around other balls and rails then gets ''back in line''.

I hope the play conditions will eventually.... allow this aspect of play to return.

bm
Click to expand...
'we' need to 'encourage' the 'go for it' spirit.

15 balls. Ball in hand after any miss.
 
Pocket sizing and shelf depth are the major factors in position play. Pool pocket sizing should not be so snug as to interfere with position play. You have to be able to CHEAT the pocket to run balls.
 
Yep next year will be regulation pool balls on a snooker table, just hope it isn’t grey!
 
Island Drive said:
While there thru Friday I gathered other perspectives on the game at hand.
9 Ball was Always an aggressive game, where pocket size must be considered.
When current pocket size makes the players Not go ''the other way around'' for shape, the game becomes one dimensional. Toooo predictable.
SAFTEY
When a great player gets on the wrong side of his next ball, the table should offer a pocket size that accepts an object ball at high speeds with whitey coming 5 around or more for shape.
It's pure beauty when a top player weaves the cue ball around other balls and rails then gets ''back in line''.

I hope the play conditions will eventually.... allow this aspect of play to return.

bm
Click to expand...
It's been this way for years,even before the pockets got tighter.before this current generation of players. 9 ball was the most exciting game to watch. Because players would go for it,no matter what. But in recent years,players not willing to risk it all on the big shot. Even now though,the player willing to risk it more than others,will get the rewards. It definitely isn't as good to watch. Hopefully one day, those days will come back.
 
Baby Huey said:
Pocket sizing and shelf depth are the major factors in position play. Pool pocket sizing should not be so snug as to interfere with position play. You have to be able to CHEAT the pocket to run balls.
Click to expand...
There's enough known arithmetic to scale a pocket for any aperture. The veterans maybe complain because they know the terrain game - where all the wiggle room is - at the hole and consequently where you can land the rock.

This is all so much slack to the new crop of technicians. Precision is the future.
 
Island Drive said:
While there thru Friday I gathered other perspectives on the game at hand.
9 Ball was Always an aggressive game, where pocket size must be considered.
When current pocket size makes the players Not go ''the other way around'' for shape, the game becomes one dimensional. Toooo predictable.
SAFTEY
When a great player gets on the wrong side of his next ball, the table should offer a pocket size that accepts an object ball at high speeds with whitey coming 5 around or more for shape.
It's pure beauty when a top player weaves the cue ball around other balls and rails then gets ''back in line''.

I hope the play conditions will eventually.... allow this aspect of play to return.

bm
Click to expand...
Agree with most of this, Bill.

This is a perfect example of where what the players want is at odds with what makes pool as entertaining as possible.

These pockets will not stop the elite from finding their way to the top of the WNT rankings, but the formula for winning has changed, and winners must do more grinding than ever before. I believe this makes for less entertaining pool. I love the pool I am seeing but feel it could be even better. Nobody runs packages anymore and Matchroom 9ball events, more and more, have the feel of the WPA sanctioned 10-ball events.

9ball isn't fast and loose anymore, and it is losing its identity.
 
Baby Huey said:
Pocket sizing and shelf depth are the major factors in position play. Pool pocket sizing should not be so snug as to interfere with position play. You have to be able to CHEAT the pocket to run balls.
Click to expand...
I know this subject has been beat to death but size alone isn't the lone factor for toughness. Oscar and his dad make pockets with less angle that although technically smaller they accept balls way better than the larger stock pockets on say a diamond.
 
Maybe 4 1/8" is the ideal size?
The pros will adjust. Watch the snooker players they move the ball over the place while making incredible pots/shots.

I see the pocket size/cut dilemma representative of golf dilemmas. Better athletes and better components seem to justify a need to make things harder just to keep "par" the same. Pro pool played on good equipment - new cloth- new clean balls- in often ideal conditions also warrant some tightening up.

Pro golf has time limits and pool needs them also.
 
alphadog said:
Pro golf has time limits and pool needs them also.
Click to expand...
Put pro golfers on a ticking/winding-down time clock once they get the club they're going to use in their hands and let's see how it changes the game. Oh yeah, be sure there is an audible clicking when they have 5 seconds left.
 
King T said:
Better shooters than Pros??? Will who or what are you hoping for??
Click to expand...
Better than the old - pushing whiny garde. You imply <Pro> designates some divine species. They clearly prove their fallibility. The pros ace is they bias their game for the long cash. Todays' tournaments offer an alternative to that grind and the kids have embraced that next level vibe. Going for it doesn't have to mean sucker any more.

And as sure as the world not ending first, they'll up the performance bar but good.
 
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