What is Slop?

[Surly]

I can easily see how the two guys who taught me were probably hustlers... and I like the comment about the suckers deciding to fight back!

I didn't realize that pool was so relaxed. How would I know when I thought I was learning from the best?

And please, no comments about my judgement of the 'best' as a beginner, ok?

Thanks to everyone.

 

[Pushout]

Bar room rules is no rules. I do know what you mean but most bar room players do not understand the difference between call shot and call pocket.

There is no difference. There never has been. Bar players made up the the supposed rules as being different. If you want a call shot game, play Straight pool.

 

[RRfireblade]

I don't know what your talking about , personally I've never slopped in a ball but I do however regularly play 2,3 and 4 way shots.

 

[Pushout]

As far as I know, there is no rule book, for any game, that stipulates that you must call every instance of ball contact, other than made up bar rules that is.

All call shot does is nothing but cause arguments and is nit-picking by those who have no clue how to play as far as I'm concerned.

Dick

Well put, Dick! The luck factor in 9 ball used to be what made it a popular game among hustlers, who could make a shot "look" like luck and still keep the mark interested. I've said a hundred times, if you take away the luck factor and ball-in-hand-anywhere rules, people will stop playing 9 ball in droves. Against a strong professional or a "good player" these rules really don't matter, the amateur still doesn't have much of a chance, but they don't see it that way.
I've played more 8 ball in the last couple of years than I did all the time I lived in NYS when I took up the game seriously. I've resolved to not play it anymore as I did in NY. I've just about given up 9 ball, also. I practice Straight pool and am again looking at One Pocket more, as that was pretty much all I played when I left NY.

 

[MikeM]

Oh yeah!

As far as I know, there is no rule book, for any game, that stipulates that you must call every instance of ball contact, other than made up bar rules that is.

I almost forgot. It's loads of fun to tell the bar ball banger that it's your shot because he didn't call three rails when his shot rattles the pocket on the way in. Usually puts an end to the call shot farce! (or starts a fight!)

MM

 

[longhair]

I think I understand what you're saying... I never thought of it that way. It's not about playing within defined restrictions, it's about getting the job done...

Huh. I do have a lot to learn...

You're not quite there yet. None of the folks here are telling you that pool is not about playing within defined restrictions. There are very well defined restrictions. The rules are just not the rules you learned first. You are judging all systems as if they were within your system, but they are not.

I like your approach to the board by the way. The people here have a lot to offer, and you are clearly open to learning.

 

[JimS]

Just play call the pocket and any kisses/combinations must be called. Then of course you'll have the inevitable arguments when a rail is hit by the ob prior to it's going into the pocket.

 

[Fatboy]

I've been watching some small time games on On the Rail and CueTV, and I've also been brushing up on APA rules since my local hall is an APA league hall... and I'm kinda surprised at what I'm seeing...

The first thing that surprised me is that my object ball can accidently slam into anything and as long as I make the pocket, I'm good to go. It seems to me that a good player isn't going to veer off 2", accidently hit another ball with their object ball and drop the OB by some crazy stroke of luck... an average player will do that a lot, but not a good player, so why is that accepted?

And then on a video I saw recently between two AZers, the object ball was frozen on the long rail down at the end of the table. The cue ball was right across from it on the opposite rail. The player slams the object ball, it banks pretty as you please to the corner pocket in front of the shooter, and just barely misses! It then banks back and goes into the opposite corner pocket and the player keeps playing! I KNOW the player intended it to drop in the first corner pocket - it was obvious - it just barely missed, but yet they were allowed to keep playing.

It's kind of blowing my mind that the dive bar I learned to play in had stricter rules than professionals.... What am I missing here?

the more rules the lesser the players is the pattern, I have a friend who wants a contract on every shot with instant replay so he can read the contract watch the video of the shot to make sure that all kisses are called, or rails, but pocket facings dont count? He can only win by "out smarting" you on his rules, which do vary from game to game. he cant run 3 balls in a row. This is typical bar pool too, lots of rules to compentate for shit play.

 

[DoubleA]

the more rules the lesser the players is the pattern, I have a friend who wants a contract on every shot with instant replay so he can read the contract watch the video of the shot to make sure that all kisses are called, or rails, but pocket facings dont count? He can only win by "out smarting" you on his rules, which do vary from game to game. he cant run 3 balls in a row. This is typical bar pool too, lots of rules to compentate for shit play.

AMEN!!:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: Noone likes playing "this guy".

 

[ronhudson]

9-ball has always been ok to slop. Even in the WPC and any other professional league, it's always slop in 9-ball. But 8-ball has always been call pocket, call shot, call caroms. those are the rules that I've always played by.

If I remember the history correctly, 8-ball was originally a game without numbers - there were 7 yellow and 7 red balls and a black ball, and there was no calling of balls or pockets.

I think the first published rules were seen in the early 1940s. Here's a document I found that has the 1948 BCA rules. Short and sweet. No call pocket, but some other interesting requirements.

http://www.okwinners.com/uploads/1948_BCA_ 8_ball_rules.pdf

 

[DelaWho???]

Just play call the pocket and any kisses/combinations must be called. Then of course you'll have the inevitable arguments when a rail is hit by the ob prior to it's going into the pocket.

If I call the 3 in the corner, why must I tell you how I am going to get it there? If I don't have a clear shot at the 3, but can hit one of my object balls that will combination the 3 in, shouldn't you be able to see that too? Either way if I call the 3 in the corner and it goes there, shouldn't I keep shooting. Maybe I intentionally carom in off of your ball but don't care to inform you I was doing it on purpose. Should I reveal my game strategy to you, or let you continue to think I am a "sloppy" player?

I say keep it simple, call the ball and the pocket, everything else is just an arguement waiting to happen.

 

[DaveK]

So I'm not going to see any of that during the US Open, right??

When you watch better players, and one shoots a shot, misses by a bit, but gets a lucky kiss into the called pocket you will most often also see that player give some gesture of appology to his opponent. You also see this same "sorry buddy" thing happen when a pro tennis player drives one into the tape (top of the net) and the ball dribbles over into his opponents court for the point. It's not what they intended, they know they got lucky, and will acknowledge this lucky break.

Dave