The way I heard it was they lined up to play $1000 sets. Buddy was the only one to beat him out of uh a bunch as in all night. It is as 10 by the time I heard it.
Watching professional pool, do you prefer winner break or alternate break?
- Thread starter Smutzc
- Start date
I post information on "alternate-break packages" in each of my stats threads for events using alternating breaks.
I wasn't aware that the opposing team didn't get the ball after Jordan scored.
I voted 'winner breaks' but that's only for long matches, like the world championships this weekend. A shut-out of one player is not very likely to occur, and there is a bigger chance for some good packs and then a nice come back run.
In short races like in mosconi cup, I understand that they will never switch to winner breaks. Too much chance that one player will never step to the table.
In short races like in mosconi cup, I understand that they will never switch to winner breaks. Too much chance that one player will never step to the table.
Willowbrook Wolfy
Going pro
There’s that 3 point rule in 9 ball to give the loser better chance to get to the table nowadays. Winner breaks. Even without it. Just how it is. Winner of 8/9/10 should never have to rack.
Banks-alternating rack your own.
Banks-alternating rack your own.
WobblyStroke
Well-known member
Winner breaks all the way. Pool is a game you are supposed to run out in. Part of the skill is getting up after being in your chair for 30 min and being able to play. Part of the thrill is knowing even though you are up big, if you let your opponent in they can beat you. As someone who has both lost a race to 9 without getting out of his chair since sitting down with an 8-1 lead, and having put a 7 pack on a guy on the hill to comeback and win, I would never go away from the winner break format in any race to 7 or longer.
The game just feels different with winner break. There is much more pressure. As far as watching pros goes, the effect is magnified that much more since, as spectators, we need to have a reason to keep watching for some drama (watching to learn aside). SVB's 10-3 comeback on Mika in the world championship couldn't happen in alternate break. Forget about Omar's 10-1 down comeback. As soon as a guy is up 3 or 4 racks in alternate break, the gap feels huge, but with winner break, the other world class player is always in it.
I don't just dislike alternate break; I hate it. I think it isn't true to pool--a game in which you keep your inning at the table till you miss. That said, for races to 5, I get it...too many matches would just end 5-0 or a player would go up 4-0 and suck the air out of the drama making it a weak TV event. Even for races to 7 I could go either way on. But any longer than that, only winner breaks makes sense to me.
The game just feels different with winner break. There is much more pressure. As far as watching pros goes, the effect is magnified that much more since, as spectators, we need to have a reason to keep watching for some drama (watching to learn aside). SVB's 10-3 comeback on Mika in the world championship couldn't happen in alternate break. Forget about Omar's 10-1 down comeback. As soon as a guy is up 3 or 4 racks in alternate break, the gap feels huge, but with winner break, the other world class player is always in it.
I don't just dislike alternate break; I hate it. I think it isn't true to pool--a game in which you keep your inning at the table till you miss. That said, for races to 5, I get it...too many matches would just end 5-0 or a player would go up 4-0 and suck the air out of the drama making it a weak TV event. Even for races to 7 I could go either way on. But any longer than that, only winner breaks makes sense to me.
I hate that 3-point-rule. Seen too many games where balls were just blocking each other from reaching the kitchen when the break was more than hard enough to get balls moving all over the place.
Woodshaft
Do what works for YOU!
Alternate breaks for 10-Ball. And 8-Ball.
As for 9-Ball, it is too easy for this generation of pro players and should not be played at the pro level. The talent pool of Pros, and the advancement/changes in equipment, have made 9-ball a kid's game. Any fargo 700+ can string racks. It's boring as hell to watch pros play lol.
My friends, it's time to introduce the world to "11-Ball", where the 11-ball is racked in the middle of a standard 10-ball rack, and the (now-extra) 11th ball is racked in the center bottom behind the triangle of ten balls. Again--"11-Ball". Same rules as 10-Ball, no slop or golden breaks.
I practice 11-Ball with my friends all the time and we love it. Much more challenging and enjoyable to both play and watch.
And give 9-ball's rules to 10-Ball.
There you have it, modern solutions for modern problems!
As for 9-Ball, it is too easy for this generation of pro players and should not be played at the pro level. The talent pool of Pros, and the advancement/changes in equipment, have made 9-ball a kid's game. Any fargo 700+ can string racks. It's boring as hell to watch pros play lol.
My friends, it's time to introduce the world to "11-Ball", where the 11-ball is racked in the middle of a standard 10-ball rack, and the (now-extra) 11th ball is racked in the center bottom behind the triangle of ten balls. Again--"11-Ball". Same rules as 10-Ball, no slop or golden breaks.
I practice 11-Ball with my friends all the time and we love it. Much more challenging and enjoyable to both play and watch.
And give 9-ball's rules to 10-Ball.
There you have it, modern solutions for modern problems!
Alternating break gives the other guy, you know, A PLAYER, a chance to play, exactly what he came for.
Imagine TWO players running out instead of just one. Back and forth, who's gonna fall first, who's gonna keep it going, etc.? If I want to watch some long ass runnout by a pro, I'll park by his practice table.
Jeff Livingston
And would the game last as a spectator sport if the "winner" got the ball back everytime after making a basket? But I wanna see Michael score over and over and over and over and over.....yuk!
Loser breaks is the only format that has potential to make this game popular, if anyone cares.
Jeff Livingston
How about I post again because I just posted again? You wait until I don't post then you might be able to post. Oh, you came here to post? tough. It'll be marvelous and you'll be amazed by my runout posts. No need to read other posts until I'm done posting the winning posts
Imagine paying to watch a player play and the format doesn't allow that.
Jeff Livingston
Imagine paying to watch a player play and the format doesn't allow that.
Jeff Livingston
Tadaimarlon
Well-known member
Winner breaks all the way. Whether I'm playing or just watching, winner breaks.
Buddy has beaten ER almost every time they've played 9b. Dick Lane told ER's handlers at Red's that they could bet a million if they came to Dallas the next week. Needless to say it didn't happen but that's how much DL liked Buddy's action.The way I heard it was they lined up to play $1000 sets. Buddy was the only one to beat him out of uh a bunch as in all night. It is as 10 by the time I heard it.
What's wrong with having both winner break and alternate break for some variety?
I guess I would say Alternate break for short races, and games where template rack is used. As another posters mentioned, the Mosconi Cup for example.
Winner break for longer races ONLY when a referee is racking. That's to avoid the crap, criticism, and controversy SVB and Corey Deuel drew upon themselves. There are many others but these two came to mind.
I guess I would say Alternate break for short races, and games where template rack is used. As another posters mentioned, the Mosconi Cup for example.
Winner break for longer races ONLY when a referee is racking. That's to avoid the crap, criticism, and controversy SVB and Corey Deuel drew upon themselves. There are many others but these two came to mind.
You’re coming off real SJW-ish right now my man. Both on your stance and your presentation.
As a chef, and also carrying the first name of Jeff, I must insist you cease and desist with that crap.
I’ve only ever seen Eklent Kaci run out the set. It was an 8-piece in ten ball on a tough table. A thing of beauty. As I mentioned somewhere before, I do believe every tournament should have a rule where the other player gets a chance to run their own set back, then they’d have some kind of tie breaker.
Pool is a singular game, a demonstration of your skills on the table. Anyone half decent can run a rack. You need to give a pro player space to breathe and really get going to show the skills rack after rack after rack, in a groove, in the zone, each break causing puckerage to everyone in the room...will the run continue?