What happened to power 9ball?

xianmacx

xianmacx

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ive been watching some nineball matches the last few days from the late 80's early 90's. It so much better than todays nineball. The players play fast and fire balls in. They are running 3-4 packs like nothing.

Whats happened to that kinda play? Now it seems like a race to 7 can take 3 hours and its alot more picking and tucking. The only answer I can come up with is the creation of the diamond table. These are all brunswicks with more forgiving pockets that seem to allow the players to let their strokes out.

Im sure some diamond lovers are gonna attack me but I would much rather watch/play on a slightly looser gold crown where the players can get loose and fire balls in.

Ian
 
It has nothing to do with the brand of the table, tighter pockets means that the conditions are tougher. Thus the better player will win. And that is really all that matters. We don't want mens professional pool to sink to the level of the wpba where shots they completely miss go in, its embarrassing. They should also have longer races, two sets race to ten, or something like that. Take as much luck out of the equation as possible.
 
What happend was TV!

One of the first tapes i watched of the Mens tour was from about 94 i think, and it was Archer / B. Hall. And it was a race to 15 i think, winner breaks and I think it took about 90mins. But they was also running 4-6 racks sometimes.

Now with the stupid alternate break, it drags out the match. Expecially when its a race to 7.

If they would allow 90mins per episode, and make let the race goto 9 or 11 winner breaks, that would make it alot more interesting. Expecially showing guys running 4 or 5 racks at a time.

And the diamond table has nothing to do with the time table of the match, its just the set up.

A race to 9 or 11 between two pro's winner break, shouldnt take more than 1 hour to 90mins to do.

I prefer to play on Diamond tables, its such a good feeling when you can run out on a Diamond Pro.
 
Well if you're comparing ESPN pool with Accu-stats, then I think ESPN will make players play slower. And I think that's because there's a camerman following the players around. I think that kind of pressure would slow almost anyone down. Many of those Accu-stats matches are races to 11 or 13 where players can get in rhythm and run 3-4 packs. An ESPN race to 7 puts lots of pressure if you make a mistake in judgment.
 
Also I think the players started noticing, a while after 9-ball became the game of choice, that when both players just let their stroke out and run balls fast-and-loose, it was basically a coin flip which one would win. They started looking for ways to get the edge against another player who's going to get out at every opportunity, and I think they started looking through the whole rack, analyzing risks, and figuring out strategies to minimize those risks, instead of taking a lot of chances on medium-percentage outs. Really I think the style of play just caught up with the level of competition. They realized they can all run racks at will, and that the champions were going to be the guys who played mistake-free (which basically means playing risk-free).

-Andrew
 
Slower Matches

You won't see anyone running any racks when they are playing Alternate Breaks. And this seems to be the new formula for televised matches. Of course, after you play a Race to Eleven all week, make it to the final day, and now get to play a short race with alternate breaks, is kind of a joke. And an insult to Pool and the players. Now what commentator will tell that like it is. They couldn't put me on ESPN, because I would blast them for bastardizing the game.

The second thing about TV matches, is all the long delays between games. No one can get a rhythm going. Pool has long been treated like a poor stepchild on ESPN, with grade C coverage of long finished tournaments, where everyone already knows who won. Now I ask you, who would want to watch the PGA golf tournament, if you already knew Tiger won it last month. That is the answer to why Pool on TV gets low ratings. NO SUSPENSE! It amazes me anyone watches it.

As for the other Pool shows ESPN airs, how much Trick Shot Magic can we stand? Enough already. God bless Matt Braun, but that format sucks. Two Races to Five? Duh, why not two out of three? I'm sorry that would make too much sense. Instead they play two sets, and maybe 16 or 17 games, and now have to play one game for the cheese. This is premanufactured Hill-Hill matches. Why not just forget the two sets, and go directly to a one game match?

You want to see Power 9-Ball, come to Derby City and watch a few money games. They'll be running racks there.
 
I don't watch pool on TV anymore because of the slow play. I think for the most part most of the players of the 1960's to 1990''s shot fast fast and loose. Most of todays players have to whipe the cue, check if the tip is still on, do housekeeping on the table, check the windage, then walk around the table at least twice, and then if someone coughs they go over the same thing again. Johnny Archer is a great player but when I'm watching him I want to run up behind him and scream in his ear SHOOT THE BALL> Johnnyt
 
I know what you are saying and it is fun to watch or do the firing and running. However, that should have no place in championship pool. Unless maybe you want to call it the Power Pool Championship or something like that.

I'm not saying that the way it is now is any good though either. It is just completely absurd that today's championship pool is based on a game that you don't have to call any balls or pockets and there are only 9 balls on the table. Pool = 15 balls on the table and tell me what ball is going where. (Except for on the break that is.) Also you should not be able to win a game on the break.
 
Yeah I guess I didn't factor in the alternate break cr@p. Its funny how slow johnny plays now. The match I was watching was from 94 and he barely let the cueball stop before he was shooting the next ball...lol

Another match I watched was Steve mizerak vs CJ wiley at the sands regent I think. Ive heard alot about CJ's high gear but had NO idea....this guy shoots so fearless and never misses a ball. If you get a chance watch this match...its one of the top 5 accustats matches Ive seen.

Ian
 
xianmacx said:
Another match I watched was Steve mizerak vs CJ wiley at the sands regent I think. Ive heard alot about CJ's high gear but had NO idea....this guy shoots so fearless and never misses a ball. If you get a chance watch this match...its one of the top 5 accustats matches Ive seen.

Ian
Click to expand...

I did watch it...live! :D :cool:
 

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Ah, Golden-Era talk. You realize that there is always historical reference The Golden Era when talking about ANYTHING? You see a couple good matches and believe that it must've been the time or the equipment or something.

Trust me, those that are slow on Diamonds are slow on everything. Danny Basavich takes his sweet time on the Brunswick GC's, too and so does Johnny Archer and Jeremy Jones.
 
I guess "slow" isnt the right word. It almost seems like some of the pro's play timid now. Not as many aggressive shots, just "sinch it and play safe" I guess I was asking if the tighter table cause that attitude a little bit?

Thanks again,
Ian

Jude Rosenstock said:
Ah, Golden-Era talk. You realize that there is always historical reference The Golden Era when talking about ANYTHING? You see a couple good matches and believe that it must've been the time or the equipment or something.

Trust me, those that are slow on Diamonds are slow on everything. Danny Basavich takes his sweet time on the Brunswick GC's, too and so does Johnny Archer and Jeremy Jones.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the picture! CJ is now one of my favorites to watch play...I hope he can regain some of that "gunslinger" firepower. Alot of fun to watch.

Ian

rackmsuckr said:
I did watch it...live! :D :cool:
Click to expand...
 
Johnnyt said:
I don't watch pool on TV anymore because of the slow play. I think for the most part most of the players of the 1960's to 1990''s shot fast fast and loose. Most of todays players have to whipe the cue, check if the tip is still on, do housekeeping on the table, check the windage, then walk around the table at least twice, and then if someone coughs they go over the same thing again. Johnny Archer is a great player but when I'm watching him I want to run up behind him and scream in his ear SHOOT THE BALL> Johnnyt
Click to expand...

:D LMAO Rep points for you my friend !

Larry
 
xianmacx said:
I guess "slow" isnt the right word. It almost seems like some of the pro's play timid now. Not as many aggressive shots, just "sinch it and play safe" I guess I was asking if the tighter table cause that attitude a little bit?

Thanks again,
Ian
Click to expand...

Ian,
One factor that, in my opinion, DEFINITELY slows down the pace of play is short races. You see this at DCC all of the time. You have a multitude of world beaters who will not try any shot their grandmother couldn't make. It is quite surprising how few players play to make the heroic runouts (obvious exceptions are Efren, George Breedlove, Alex Pagulayan).

Of course if you like heroic runouts, then run (don't walk) to the action room where the action is fast and loose (in an "ahead set" is where you will see the really aggressive play; because you can recover from a failed heroic runout).
 
This is a very good point.... All these races I was watching are race to 11 or MORE. One mistake can have way more impact in a short race.

Ian

Williebetmore said:
Ian,
One factor that, in my opinion, DEFINITELY slows down the pace of play is short races. You see this at DCC all of the time. You have a multitude of world beaters who will not try any shot their grandmother couldn't make. It is quite surprising how few players play to make the heroic runouts (obvious exceptions are Efren, George Breedlove, Alex Pagulayan).

Of course if you like heroic runouts, then run (don't walk) to the action room where the action is fast and loose (in an "ahead set" is where you will see the really aggressive play; because you can recover from a failed heroic runout).
Click to expand...
 
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