Why isn't Rotation more popular?

[Get_A_Grip]

I luckily got to play some rotation with a real nice guy named Gel from the Phillipines at D&D Family Billiards in PA. I never played and he got me up to speed in no time. It IS a little strange at first counting points, but so is 14.1, and he kept the game going telling me when there were only so many balls or points left....I actually ran out 3 games which he said was real good for my first try. There is a ton of strategy to the game, and you better get good at shooting spot shots! combo's, caroms...etc........like any other game, it has MUCH to offer, and will sharpen your 9 or 10 ball game.

Gerry<<< rotation rookie!

That's a good job Gerry. I was just watching a match of Efren's when it was pointed out that in his earlier years, he ran 3 racks of rotation too -- but they were consecutive -- and done left handed!

 

[crosseyedjoe]

The high cost per hour for table time. It would be a great game for bar tables &$.75 a game at a Bar unless there are others that want to play faster 8 Ball.

I don't think you can really play Rotation in coin operated bar table because balls have to be returned to the table; ball is pocketed but a foul is committed, you scratched (you return the last ball you sunk legally)

 

[BillPorter]

I have a guess! You have to add numbers and keep score throughout the rack... I hate games like that!

Or, perhaps I don't understand how to play...one or the other.

I think you are on to something seymore. These days, without a calculator, kids can't add past about 14!

 

[gulfportdoc]

My home room in the late 1950's was Nick's poolroom and hat cleaning, in Dormont, PA-- south of Pittsburgh. Even though rotation was 15? per game, and 8-ball and 9-ball were only 10?, I recall that we played more rotation because the game would take longer and it was tougher. There were always ball racks on the foot rail facing of the table so you could keep count. There were bead counters that went to 100 points on each side. Then when the new Gold Crown I's came out (maybe it was the II's), they had counters set into the rails, which made it easier to score for Rotation and straight pool. Some guys called the game "61". If you played straight pool, you had to get put on the clock-- for 60? per hour!

But I too would like to see Rotation come back. It's not hard to count the ball points. I'm sure sick of 9-ball!

Doc

 

[ugotactionTX]

Bored with 8/9 ball/Turning to other games

One of the reason I have turned into a one hole nut is my recent boredom with 8 and 9ball. Unfortunately if you want to match up around here, 9 ball is about your only option. I play a little onepocket with a couple of guys who will bet a little, but no one will gamble on much other than 9ball. I also play some straight pool with an older pool hall buddy. I really like that game since all you do is pot balls. However its not much fun for the guy in his seat or spectators other than fellow pool junkies.

I have recently been trying to learn about other variations of games. I just heard about one called 1/15... kinda odd

 

[Mike_Mason]

We played Odd-Ball back in the early 60's...

And here's another chance to quote from my movie...I mean book...WONDERBOYS...

The narrator is talking about how Del is getting better and better...starting to play on the head table...the regular game on the head table every Saturday was Odd-Ball...this day he was playing Gootch and Homen...

"It's not easy to run an odd-ball rack. I don't think I've ever done it. It's the game of Combination, only the one, two, and four-balls are the corner balls of a fifteen ball rack. The four instead of the three because the three is a money ball (odd ball). Break them open and shoot the balls in rotation, from the one to the fifteen. Money on every odd numbered ball, plus count (the sum total of the numbers of the balls a player pockets), which is equal to a money ball.

So when Del ran a rack, at fifty cents a point, he scored all nine points, to collect four-fifty from each player. At nine dollars a run, and Del ran too many for me not to be very impressed, or had a three, four, or five count, it seemed Del was collecting something every game. And one rule that was popular, but vetoed by Gootch, was double on the run."

Thanks...and try it...it's a great ring game...

Mike

 

[Rod]

Rotation is a great game to learn position routes and avoid other balls. We played rotation but we also played One Side. Its scored the same, first one to 61 but you have one side of the table (three pockets) and your opponent has the other side. Either way we played push out. We also played the 1 and 15 have to be made in the side (optional of course).

Rod

 

[chilli66]

I think you are on to something seymore. These days, without a calculator, kids can't add past about 14!

I think you're being generous there, Bill!

I've never played Rotation but one of my favourite warm ups before league is to break the rack & try to run the balls in order, 1 through 15. Not easy but a great way to get my arm (& brain) working!

 

[Fatboy]

speaking only for myself, i think rotation is best played on a 10' box, less traffic jams good long shots and goood CB speed are what it would take, on a 9' box there is too much traffic and its like playing 10 ball on a bar box, I would guess that rotation faded away when the 10' tables did, we need Jay or someone who was around back then to say something, i didnt read all replys so perhaps he did,

 

[CebuanoNiNoy]

Actually counting points in rotation becomes easy if you get the hang of it.
Example 1 to 10 numbers is already 55 points so say your opponent gets 1,2,3,4 balls = 10 which means you're 45 points also. So you got two more balls to go for the win. And sometimes we don't even count the ball that was pocketed already. Instead we count what's remaining on the table and subtract it from 120. Believe me it would be very easy when you keep playing on it and besides it improve your arithmetic too...

 

[Danny Kuykendal]

Rotation has a couple of problems; one, the harder shots to make score the least amount of points; two, the balls are so numerous and jammed in the beginning of the rack it's too difficult to maneuver and run the table.

I recently created a game where rotation is played, but cue ball in hand after every miss. This makes the game much more fun and yet challenging. Every ball counts a point, so more value isn't placed on any one ball.

This game still couldn't be played on a bar box though, because balls that are made on a foul are spotted.

It's a lot of fun on a 4 1/2 by 9, though.

Danny