What constitues a "package"?

Z

zeeder

Will queue for cues
Silver Member
I've got a pretty simple question. Do you have to break a rack for it to be included in a "package"?

For instance, I was playing a race to 5 the other night and down 4-1 when my opponent came up dry on the break. I ran that rack out and broke and ran two more. Is that a three pack or a two pack? I ended up losing the set because on my last break I nearly made the nine but instead came up dry and left an easy one-nine combonation. Thanks in advance for providing some clarity...lol.
 
Yes ....

Packs are only when you break and run the table without missing, thus, the 'whole package'.
 
zeeder said:
I've got a pretty simple question. Do you have to break a rack for it to be included in a "package"?

For instance, I was playing a race to 5 the other night and down 4-1 when my opponent came up dry on the break. I ran that rack out and broke and ran two more. Is that a three pack or a two pack? I ended up losing the set because on my last break I nearly made the nine but instead came up dry and left an easy one-nine combonation. Thanks in advance for providing some clarity...lol.
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I've always only counted the ones where I break. The game before I got the break can be described all on its own. Like "he missed the 3-ball, I ran out, then hit him with a 3-pack."

But, I've seen people describe a "5 Pack" meaning "5 wins in a row," with the opposing player still coming up to the table!

Fred
 
My $0.02 and a question

steev said:
from a dry break i'd allow it :)

-s
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I agree with steev. But IMO when the opponent returns to the table the package is over.




Fred's comment reminded me of something I'd wanted to bring up on the board:

I once witnessed two guys gambling, one playing the nine ball ghost.

They were playing that you HAD TO run out every ball - i.e. no 9-ball combos. Of course the debate came up of "what happens when the nine is blocking another ball?".

Shooting the combo, playing position on the first ball and spotting the nine seems too hard for the shooter. I think they were spotting the 9 if it was in the way of anything. Is this proper? Why wouldn't combos count? That is a ran rack IMO, whether it's a 1-9 combo or an 8-9.

Can anyone clarify? Is there one universally recognized way or is it totally arbitrary?
 
NaClBandit said:
I agree with steev. But IMO when the opponent returns to the table the package is over.




Fred's comment reminded me of something I'd wanted to bring up on the board:

I once witnessed two guys gambling, one playing the nine ball ghost.

They were playing that you HAD TO run out every ball - i.e. no 9-ball combos. Of course the debate came up of "what happens when the nine is blocking another ball?".

Shooting the combo, playing position on the first ball and spotting the nine seems too hard for the shooter. I think they were spotting the 9 if it was in the way of anything. Is this proper? Why wouldn't combos count? That is a ran rack IMO, whether it's a 1-9 combo or an 8-9.

Can anyone clarify? Is there one universally recognized way or is it totally arbitrary?
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I have seen it played that if the nine is pocketed on a combination the rack is still run out in order. Basically the bet is on whether the shooter can run the table not "win" the game.

John
 
You guys are wrong ...

for counting that as a 3 pack. That's like saying I almost made that ball, either you did or didn't, or saying 'she is almost pregnant' ... lol

You do not get to skip 'step 1' in the definition of a pack, or change the definition of a pack to suit yourself..... Sorry to be so hard on you guys, but I am old school Pool.
 
Snapshot9 said:
for counting that as a 3 pack. That's like saying I almost made that ball, either you did or didn't, or saying 'she is almost pregnant' ... lol

You do not get to skip 'step 1' in the definition of a pack, or change the definition of a pack to suit yourself..... Sorry to be so hard on you guys, but I am old school Pool.
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I can definitely see where you're coming from, however, your analogy is a little flawed since I did run 9 balls the first rack...lol. It's not like my opponent got to the table every rack!
 
Say I break and run out the first rack, then break and run down to the 6ball and play a succesful 9-ball combination for the win of the second rack. Is that a 2 pack?
 
Icon of Sin said:
Say I break and run out the first rack, then break and run down to the 6ball and play a succesful 9-ball combination for the win of the second rack. Is that a 2 pack?
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To my knowledge combos and nines on the break count.
 
I believe a "package" is what you give to your opponent when you lose a bet and don't have (or choose not topay) the $.

You guys are talking about "packs".

You don't want to run around telling people you give out packages!
 
Well I was playing in a mini-tour event in Wisconsin.
It was a race to 7, I was down 6-0.
He missed a ball and I ran out on him; then I put a 5 pack on his butt.
6-6, my break sent the cue off table, he came in and finished the set.
Even though I put 6 wins in a row; there were only '5' consecutive games where he never saw the table, so.. "5 Pack".
 
Past Reports...

Perhaps someone here can do some research and check on past reports of significant matchups with our know champions...

I believe Earl ran a 10 pack for the million...

Bustamante ran a 13 pack in a money match...


Danny Medina ran a 9 pack at the sands reno open...


and there are several more that I know you guys have heard of or remember reading about in the recent past...

Go and find out what the write ups were and if there were combos and such...


Good Luck..

Mr. J.
 
Yeah, I always thought a "package" was what you had when the women follow you around and won't leave you alone...
 
Black-Balled said:
I believe a "package" is what you give to your opponent when you lose a bet and don't have (or choose not topay) the $.

You guys are talking about "packs".

You don't want to run around telling people you give out packages!
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I would say it's common lingo to say "package" as well, but more in a joking way.

Fred
 
Cornerman said:
I would say it's common lingo to say "package" as well, but more in a joking way.

Fred
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Yeah, the only reason I used that terminology is that I've heard it used here before when someone was talking about the act of putting a pack on someone they refered to it as a package where when the spoke of running a consecutive number of games they referred to it as an x-pack.
 
Mr. J said:
Bustamante ran a 13 pack in a money match...
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When I read the Post Title, I thought it was about Baryshnikov. ;)

I always thought that Busta was the recipient of the 13 pack compliments of the Scorpion:

http://www.azbilliards.com/roadstories/index.html

Considering all the posturing done in pool halls and in pool lingo, it's not uncommon to hear "4 pack" -> which should be understood to mean 4 games won in one "inning," i.e., without your opponent shooting and starting from the time you first started shooting. For example, running out from the 7 ball in one game, then winning 3 more in any way (run outs, combos, break the 9, etc) is called a 4 pack in some halls.

When I played in NY (at the now closed Corner Billiards), the word "pack" was generally used only when you broke and ran out. If you won a game on his break and then ran 3 more, this would be what Fred said, "he broke dry, I ran out, then hit him with a 3 pack."

-td
 
Thanks to all who have contributed. I kind of figured that there would be some people on one side or the other. I always thought you had to break in order for it to count but I wasn't sure if the first rack was run in it's entirety if it counted or not. I just really wish I would have made a ball on the last break so I'd have had a chance to run out the set...lol.
 
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