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.

 

[SeniorTom]

Pool is like golf when it comes to playing by the rules, and maybe other sports as well. I would say a good portion, maybe a majority, of players want to have fun and not be bogged down by technicalities. I can respect this approach because when it's all said and done, enjoying yourself is the primary goal. When I go out and play golf, I'll roll the ball over in the fairway, take a mulligan on the first tee, and other leniencies. I don't care what Joe professional does on the golf course in accordance with the rules, that is his choice. Some people say I'm not actually playing golf when I play casually, but that's okay because I play the way I want to play. Pool is a lot the same to me, and I can go any direction with respect to rules that the league imposes. I will say that for the most part if leagues get too picky, they will lose players and eventually die out. Who makes money off of playing pool? Only a small percentage of people, and the rest just want to enjoy themselves.

I am replying to my own message, as I've had a bit of a change of heart of what I would like to see according to the opening post. Whatever venue one might happen upon that pool is being played, and that would be whatever variation of Billiards you are playing, it would be very beneficial to have a known set of rules that everybody abides by. I am not saying leagues can't have their own set of rules if they choose so, but for standard 8 Ball, 9 ball, 10 ball, and others, it would be so much easier if everybody played by the same rules. As it is right now, even in the open leagues I have played in at various pool halls, I don't think many people understand what to do in certain situations like coming into contact with another ball with your stick, hands, hair, or clothing. People should be schooled in the rules and be able to retain those Rules by virtue of the rules never changing from one game to another, or who you might be playing at particular match. Now with my friends in casual pool, sometimes we get pretty lax, but that's just fun pool. But in any organized setting, one set of rules would be very beneficial. So DD has a good idea.

 

[dquarasr]

For a true, fair comparison, even the tables should be the same specifications, i.e., size, cloth, rail height & pocket size.

7’ tables are hardly the test of your pool skills and I’ve proven that to myself. On a 7’ table, my best run in 9 ball was 3 consecutive runouts and I missed on the 7 ball or it might have been 4 in a row. Running the table on a 7’ table Is far easier than on a 9’ table and BTW, the runout I’m referring to was on 7’ Diamond tables. But on 9’ Diamond tables, I’ve never accomplished that and I mainly play on 9’ tables. I’ve run 2 racks in 9 and 10 ball but still haven’t reached 3 games.
And my runout % on a 7’ table is much higher than what I can achieve on 9’ tables regardless of the game played.

Mike Page still has to learn that bigger tables do play more difficult than smaller ones. Just get your ass on a 10’ table
with pocket size not larger than 4.5” and see how you do. Then go play on a 7’ table. That’s pool table reality in action.

All ball fouls don’t belong in APA, BCA, etc. There’s too many sloth like players & also beer consumption for it to work.
However, for pool tournaments, all ball fouls should be used. That’s how pool used to be played and IMO, should be.

I am late to this thread but I would like to comment on this post. Why does Fargo need to account for table specs when the criteria is mainly based on win/loss? Does the opponent play your match on a 9’ while you are on a 7’? No, I didn’t think so….

 

[Bavafongoul]

I am late to this thread but I would like to comment on this post. Why does Fargo need to account for table specs when the criteria is mainly based on win/loss? Does the opponent play your match on a 9’ while you are on a 7’? No, I didn’t think so….

My post never mentioned nor discussed the Fargo rating methodology or any specific handicap rating system.
However, I did write 7’ tables are easier for me, Mike Page shld play on a 10’ table & all ball fouls should count.

I think in your hurry to post, confusion appeared before composing your thoughts & are referring to someone else.
If you inferred my post refers to Fargo ratings, table specs, win/loss….(what…percentage?)…..you do need bed rest.