Variations on "Playing the Ghost"

[Cleveland_Rocks]

My understanding is that there are two main accepted ways to "Play the Ghost". One, the "pro" version is to break and play from the break. This would mean that one would need a full, true break and run more than 50% of the games to win. Two, the more common "amateur" version, where one breaks and then takes ball in hand after the break, regardless of what happens on the break.

For me, I see the "amateur" version is being something that encourages laziness or apathy on the break, or to just "get a good spread" to beat the ghost and not necessarily make a ball. So I came up with what I call the "modified pro version".

In the modified pro version, one gets 2 points for a break and run, and the ghost gets 2 points for a scratch on the break. With a break that does not make a ball, then one takes ball in hand and runs out from there. With a break that does not make a ball, if one runs out after taking ball in hand its 1 point. If one misses at any time, the ghost gets 1 point. So - make a ball on the break, its on for a break and run and potentially 2 points, no ball in hand. Scratch on the break, the ghost gets 2 points. Any other miss, whether one made a ball on the break or not, the ghost gets one point.

This encourages practicing the break in a way that break and runs are sought after, and laziness or apathy on the break are discouraged. As most serious 9 ball players are aware, a scratch on the break is asking for a loss of game and loss of momentum, so the scratch on the break is heavily penalized.

In my earlier pool playing time, not too far back, I beat the ghost in the "modified pro" version twice, and I did so on a 9 footer. The 9 footer I used to beat the ghost in the "modified pro" version was not my home table, and I used a triangle rack. I generally play on 9 footers as a default, only playing on bar tables for occasional tournaments.

Of course, my "modified pro" version uses all 9 balls.

2 questions:

1. Has anyone ever heard of the "modified pro" version that I came up with being used?
2. What other variations of "playing the ghost" are you aware of?

 

[nataddrho]

Break a rack of 15 balls and play rotation. If you miss keep shooting, and mark your misses on the wire. Try to get personal best for 10 racks in a row.

This is more fun than keeping track of different points for different things happening. Plus if you run a full rack you feel like you accomplished something. It makes the other rotation games feel easier.

 

[straightline]

Break a rack of 15 balls and play rotation. If you miss keep shooting, and mark your misses on the wire. Try to get personal best for 10 racks in a row.

This is more fun than keeping track of different points for different things happening. Plus if you run a full rack you feel like you accomplished something. It makes the other rotation games feel easier.

I think the full rack / keep going part is a vital kind of practice. There are many challenges to juggle in full rack. If you're not getting out, you need the work.

 

[bbb]

in your version if you make a ball on the break can you still decide to take ball in hand for 1 point i would think?

 

[Jimmorrison]

If I make the money ball on the break, I get one. If I scratch on the break, the ghost gets one. After the break, if I run out, I get two. If I take BIH and run out, I get one.

 

[9BallKY]

The thing about variations of playing the ghost is You can play however you want to. I normally just play the regular way. BIH after the break mainly because it’s pretty easy even for a banger like me and I’m 59 years old and don’t play with the consistency I used to. Once in a while I play the 11 ball ghost just for the practice

 

[Cleveland_Rocks]

in your version if you make a ball on the break can you still decide to take ball in hand for 1 point i would think?

No, in my version if you make a ball on the break there is no ball in hand. It would be a true break and run. In my opinion, playing this way helps to train the practicer to have good enough breaks to be able to have true break and runs.

 

[Cleveland_Rocks]

The thing about variations of playing the ghost is You can play however you want to. I normally just play the regular way. BIH after the break mainly because it’s pretty easy even for a banger like me and I’m 59 years old and don’t play with the consistency I used to. Once in a while I play the 11 ball ghost just for the practice

It seems like a common theme is that people play it with 11, 15 balls, etc. instead of nine.

 

[straightline]

How about ball in ass? Break and give yourself the worst possible start on a run. Sorry they just keep coming...


OK done .

 

[u12armresl]

The "amateur" version is not lazy.
You still need a very good spread, with few or no tied up problem balls, and you still would want to make as many balls as possible on the break to limit the number of balls you have to run.

 

[skogstokig]

Break a rack of 15 balls and play rotation. If you miss keep shooting, and mark your misses on the wire. Try to get personal best for 10 racks in a row.

This is more fun than keeping track of different points for different things happening. Plus if you run a full rack you feel like you accomplished something. It makes the other rotation games feel easier.

this has always been my position on the matter. i'm not big on the rake em and start over. but maybe that is laziness. straight pool is also great even though it doesn't promote big stroke / cb travel practice

 

[sixpack]

My understanding is that there are two main accepted ways to "Play the Ghost". One, the "pro" version is to break and play from the break. This would mean that one would need a full, true break and run more than 50% of the games to win. Two, the more common "amateur" version, where one breaks and then takes ball in hand after the break, regardless of what happens on the break.

For me, I see the "amateur" version is being something that encourages laziness or apathy on the break, or to just "get a good spread" to beat the ghost and not necessarily make a ball. So I came up with what I call the "modified pro version".

In the modified pro version, one gets 2 points for a break and run, and the ghost gets 2 points for a scratch on the break. With a break that does not make a ball, then one takes ball in hand and runs out from there. With a break that does not make a ball, if one runs out after taking ball in hand its 1 point. If one misses at any time, the ghost gets 1 point. So - make a ball on the break, its on for a break and run and potentially 2 points, no ball in hand. Scratch on the break, the ghost gets 2 points. Any other miss, whether one made a ball on the break or not, the ghost gets one point.

This encourages practicing the break in a way that break and runs are sought after, and laziness or apathy on the break are discouraged. As most serious 9 ball players are aware, a scratch on the break is asking for a loss of game and loss of momentum, so the scratch on the break is heavily penalized.

In my earlier pool playing time, not too far back, I beat the ghost in the "modified pro" version twice, and I did so on a 9 footer. The 9 footer I used to beat the ghost in the "modified pro" version was not my home table, and I used a triangle rack. I generally play on 9 footers as a default, only playing on bar tables for occasional tournaments.

Of course, my "modified pro" version uses all 9 balls.

2 questions:

1. Has anyone ever heard of the "modified pro" version that I came up with being used?
2. What other variations of "playing the ghost" are you aware of?

I like this modification. When I used to practice using the ghost I needed to work on safety and kicking play so I modified it slightly as well. If you couldn't run out you could play a safety, then I would play as the ghost and try to make a legal hit 3 times. If I could hit the ball then the ghost won, if I couldn't, then I could take ball in hand and finish the run. You have to try your best to hit it.

I like the double point system you used and I didn't think to try and incorporate anything like that, just wanted to practice playing safe and getting out of tough safes. I think it improved my safety and kicking game a lot when I had a table at home.

 

[David in FL]

If you can't consistently beat the ghost playing BIH, there's no reason other than unfounded arrogance to consider anything tougher.

Hell, until you can do the same with a 6 ball ghost, I wouldn't recommend playing the 9 ball.

Screwing up harder stuff doesn't make you better...

 

[Cleveland_Rocks]

How about ball in ass? Break and give yourself the worst possible start on a run. Sorry they just keep coming...


OK done .

Interesting thought. I only give one chance to have a civil, respectful conversation. It sounds like you have thought of lots of ways to challenge yourself in billiards, that is good.

 

[Cleveland_Rocks]

If you can't consistently beat the ghost playing BIH, there's no reason other than unfounded arrogance to consider anything tougher.

Hell, until you can do the same with a 6 ball ghost, I wouldn't recommend playing the 9 ball.

Screwing up harder stuff doesn't make you better...

Again, I only give one chance to have a civil, respectful conversation.

I see what you are saying here, that reinforcing failure is not a good method of practice. However, I'm a believer in building patterns that are useful for the future. In reality, nine ball is a very commonly played game in competitive pool. When one sees a nine ball diamond, and is in the breaking position in competition, I feel that it is best to have practiced what you need to do in that competition, which is to break, make at least one ball, get a good spread of balls on the table, and get position on the next ball in sequence. And of course, to keep the ball on the table on the break, and not scratch.

One could consider success in my modified version as being increasing one's score against the ghost over time.

For running out balls, I have a separate practice method for that, which is to start with 4 or 5 balls, spread them randomly on the table, each at a minimum having a pocket to go in, not moving them otherwise until after the random spread, then running out, 4, 5, or whatever twice in a row. Keeping trying until I run that number of balls twice in a row, then going to the next higher number.

 

[Cleveland_Rocks]

I like this modification. When I used to practice using the ghost I needed to work on safety and kicking play so I modified it slightly as well. If you couldn't run out you could play a safety, then I would play as the ghost and try to make a legal hit 3 times. If I could hit the ball then the ghost won, if I couldn't, then I could take ball in hand and finish the run. You have to try your best to hit it.

I like the double point system you used and I didn't think to try and incorporate anything like that, just wanted to practice playing safe and getting out of tough safes. I think it improved my safety and kicking game a lot when I had a table at home.

This is a nice extrapolation to include safeties and kicking/jumping.

 

[Cleveland_Rocks]

The "amateur" version is not lazy.
You still need a very good spread, with few or no tied up problem balls, and you still would want to make as many balls as possible on the break to limit the number of balls you have to run.

I did not say the version is lazy, but the break method is. In competition, it is not a good idea to get a good spread and not make at least one ball.

 

[trob]

I don’t get lazy with the break.. I take every shot seriously whether I’m practicing or matching up. I take ball in hand after the break

 

[David in FL]

I did not say the version is lazy, but the break method is. In competition, it is not a good idea to get a good spread and not make at least one ball.

Is it a better idea to make a ball and get a poor spread?

Regardless, the purpose of playing the ghost has to do with running balls and position play. It has little to nothing to do with the break...

 

[straightline]

Interesting thought. I only give one chance to have a civil, respectful conversation. It sounds like you have thought of lots of ways to challenge yourself in billiards, that is good.

Nah it's a reflex. I dabble in music - where conventions are often fair game. To be fair, results can be ass but that's how evolution by RnD goes.