Why Pool Leagues Should Embrace “ALL BALL FOULS”

[Corwyn_8]

The WPA rules include specific rules for wheelchair players. I don't know of any junior player who requires stools or such. Leagues are free to add their own special rules for people with disabilities.

As for four balls to a cushion ... if a player can't routinely make four balls hit cushions on an eight ball break, they need very badly to practice their break and they probably don't belong in a league yet. The alternative seems to be to allow a safety break at eight ball.

It is hardly surprising that you don't know any players that the rules so discriminate against, that it would be impossible for them to play.

As Dr Dave reminds us here, the rules are the rules, not just for leagues.

Thank you kindly.

 

[Corwyn_8]

I hate to be a dick but I've called foul on illegal breaks every time I remember it. The match is on a 30 minute time limit, 30 second shot clock and it's handicapped, meaning some guys have to spot 3 games... that's tough under the time constraint. You need a decent spread to even be able to do that, thus the rule.

It seems a bad idea (to me) to have time limits and games not based on time, and handicaps based on time, all at the same time. I would certainly expect a league rule in such a situation making sure games go quickly. You are, of course, still welcome to break up that cluster yourself.

Still don't think that it should be a general rule for all situations.

Thank you kindly.

 

[SeniorTom]

I play golf in tournaments and play by all the rules of golf, which can be quite extensive, nonetheless they are the rules that I play by. I also play golf casually, and occasionally in leagues where they get a bit LAX with rules and that's okay with me as well. Other people can b**** and complain all they want but they don't run my life, I do. The same applies to the game of pool, I'll play with whatever rules that are enforced in tournaments and leagues, but I also play with lax rules in open pool and some leagues that have Lacks rules so to speak. Again, if someone doesn't like it, oh well have a nice day, I live my own life. I said it before and I'll say it again, when it's all said and done and we're ready to depart this world, none of this stuff will even matter. In the meantime bring on the rules, or bring on the Casual play, I'm good with both.

 

[boogieman]

It seems a bad idea (to me) to have time limits and games not based on time, and handicaps based on time, all at the same time. I would certainly expect a league rule in such a situation making sure games go quickly. You are, of course, still welcome to break up that cluster yourself.

Still don't think that it should be a general rule for all situations.

Thank you kindly.

I agree, it shouldn't be in all situations. The way Ultimate Pool 8 ball league works is pretty fun. There's a strategy to the handicap system as far as who to play against who. Really with the break rule it does make the balls spread out so you don't have a straight pool safety battle from the get go. There are still clusters and such but honestly if you're giving someone 4 games on the wire you are probably at a very good skill level and can manage clusters. You get some "running the clock down" but that's part of it. Kind of like in football.

You can also tie up balls and such but you have to remember that you have to win the match too, so just spoiling someone else's balls won't win you a match. You have to be somewhat aggressive.

Honestly it's been a pretty fun and exciting experience and with the match starting at 6:30, a team of 5 is out of there by 9:30 or sooner. The last 5 person 9 ball team I played on in town and you might not get out of there until after midnight on a Monday...

Each "match" lasts 30 minutes. Each shot clock is 30 sec but you can get one 30 sec extension per game. I suppose if you really dragged ass and got into some silly safety battle you might make a singular game last 30 minutes. But that hasn't happened. Generally there are 5-10 games in a set. It sounds convoluted but just the fact of being on a shot clock gets rid of a lot of shenanigans, and can cause an unforced error if you dilly dally and have to rush. I've only been in a few leagues but this has been the best experience so far. After a few weeks and as people settled into playing with a shot clock it seemed to work itself out fine.