Would tournaments be better with?

[bobroberts]

Wouldn't tournaments be better with no safes and no ball in hand.Where they would always be required to try to pocket the object ball.I for one would like to see players always trying to make a shot instead of snookering the opposing player.
JMHO
Bob

 

[ajrack]

different rules

For about 10 years in Atlantic City., we had, "Last chance for Nine Ball" and 3/4 years in Vegas ...>>if you do not pocket a ball , incoming player gets ball in hand!!!
worked great and the fans seemed to love it...the last tourney, I think we had 161 players and it was one of Willie Mosconi's last exhibitions.

I have used this rule quite often in smaller tourneys and after the players get used to it, most seem to like it.

Personally, I think this is the way we need to get the game going in the real world..
who wants to watch a baseball game with a score of 1-0..
who wants to watch a football game 3-0..
WE WANT TO WATCH GREAT PLAYERS "RUN OUT" !!!
...unless you are pulling for the other guy..
winner breaks and lets fire it up!

By the way, there are still safeties > just cluster up the balls..or spread them out at opposite ends..

 

[sjm]

Wouldn't tournaments be better with no safes and no ball in hand.Where they would always be required to try to pocket the object ball.I for one would like to see players always trying to make a shot instead of snookering the opposing player.
JMHO
Bob

Well, I'm an old schooler that always felt that nine ball is the very best game that is played on a pool table .... except for all the others.

Still, I've gradually grown somewhat fond of nine ball for three reasons above all:

1) you can play offense and defense at the same time (also a compelling point of both one-pocket and snooker)
2) defense and kicking (along with the need to play multi-rail position periodicallly) make billiard knowledge more important in nine ball than in all other major pool disciplines.
3) defense and kicking require extremely refined speed control, whereas nine ball position play, most but not all of the time, usually involves no more than "area position" to the right side of the next ball.

Your version of nine ball would strip it, to a great extent, of the things that, to me, make nine ball interesting. Yours is a "plain vanilla" version of the game that would wipe out parts of the game that require great creativity, innovation, and speed control.

Nine ball should be more than a run out contest, unless you want to make it far less compelling as a game than it is now. As the game that decides the world championship, it's appropriate that Texas Express nine ball requires such a complete set of skills.

 

[888]

well said sjm.

sometimes when the tables are so simple i want to see some exchanges of safeties to make the match more entertaining. i enjoy it when there is display of great skill in making snookers and kicking offs. but sometimes when players can't be successful even with lousy snookers, prolonged safety plays of that sort can be tiresome.

 

[bill190]

So far as TV tournaments...

People have a short attention span. So I suppose they would get higher ratings. Personally I would rather watch 14.1.


So far as "local" tournaments...

I play in a few tournaments where they "do not allow safeties - you must attempt to pocket a ball on every shot".

This is just plain silly if you ask me. The better players are just as good at playing a safety which looks like an attempt to pocket a ball as they are with blatant safeties.

I frequently play with a friend who attempts to make a shot on every try, but if it looks like he will not make the shot, he will frequently leave me with no shot. (And he has learned to do this since if I get a shot, away I go.)

Anyway I think banning safeties is a disadvantage to lesser skilled players, and gives an advantage to the better players.

 

[bobroberts]

They are all good points.I just would like to see T.V. and sponsors make it a prime time sport.I don't think the 9 ball format today will ever do that.Bring back 14-1 in an arena setting with every different camera view imaginable. Have big money on the line and maybe that will be the spark we need to get the sport respectable again.
jmho
Bob

 

[Pelican]

I for one would like to see players always trying to make a shot instead of snookering the opposing player.
JMHO
Bob

This is one of those things that look good on paper but do not always work in application. Good players can play a safety that looks like a shot. Also you say no ball in hand. What about a scratch? Would that be behind the headstring? I have seen intentional scratch shots to play safe. Just don't think you are going to get people to stick to the rule.

Later, Pel

 

[Pelican]

I just would like to see T.V. and sponsors make it a prime time sport.I don't think the 9 ball format today will ever do that.jmho
Bob

The venue to put pool on the same level as poker is the 10 ball ring game.

Later, Pel

 

[bobroberts]

Watching poker on T.V is really pretty boring.I do like watching the world series though.I don't care what format they have to do it but I just cant understand why it is not on par with poker or tennis for that matter.
I think the pros themselves need to produce a T.V. show on pool.Call it the world super classic or somthing to that effect.
Bob

 

[Pelican]

Watching poker on T.V is really pretty boring.Bob

I agree only because I am not interested in it. However, it is drawing a massive television ratings. If not there would not be so many shows featuring different poker matches. For pool to be successful on television it has to have (1) exciting personalities (2) a game that is fast and involves more than two players - and (3) lots of MONEY! And by money I don't mean holding up a 4 foot long check - I mean cash dumped out on the table by the bucket full. These are the things that will get the public excited and if the public gets excited the corporate sponsors get excited. That folks is what it is going to take to bring pool up the the televised level of golf, tennis, poker, or whatever.

Later, Pel

 

[bobroberts]

I agree only because I am not interested in it. However, it is drawing a massive television ratings. If not there would not be so many shows featuring different poker matches. For pool to be successful on television it has to have (1) exciting personalities (2) a game that is fast and involves more than two players - and (3) lots of MONEY! And by money I don't mean holding up a 4 foot long check - I mean cash dumped out on the table by the bucket full. These are the things that will get the public excited and if the public gets excited the corporate sponsors get excited. That folks is what it is going to take to bring pool up the the televised level of golf, tennis, poker, or whatever.

Later, Pel

I agree with you whole heartedly.
Bob

 

[JustPlay]

Push-out after every shot used to be played 25-30 years ago. 7-ball rules (as noted on espn) should apply to 9-ball, which would make 9ball more exciting.