Straight Pool Anymore?

[jgraves10k]

I haven't really been following the latest tournaments, but I did notice that all I see is 9 ball tournaments. What ever happened to straight pool? Are there any world tournaments anymore or is that a thing of the past? It's a longer and slower game I know, but I think it requires more skill....more balls to play position on...and more to get messed up by.

[jgraves10k]

Well..I guess with the amount of replies...I got the answer.

[skor]

The 2005 European Pool Championships is taking place in the Netherlands these days, they play 8ball, 9ball, 14.1 (straight) and teams, men and weman.
Today was all 8ball during the morning and in the evening they had the semi finals and finals for 14.1.
I saw the semi final it was Thorsten Hohmann (germany) vs Alex Lely (the Netherlands), alex got two balls and then Thorsten run 125 balls to win the match after seeing that I rushed to the pool hall to shoot some pool and I didn't get to see the final but Thorsten Hohmann won 125 - 3 over Nicolas Otterman (germany), looking at the score I guess it was kinda of rerun of the semi final :)

[DZ314]

I like straight pool, but it is a game that no one around here plays AFAIK.

[skor]

I like the game a lot too, but I don't get to play it that often, here there are no buyers for this game either, I get to play it once every few months.
I used to play it by myself as a practice but lately I just shoot and no practice, I should get back to practice though, I signed up for a singles 9ball league that starts this coming month after I haven't compete in almost a year and a half, I do not expect to do well in it after so long but I just feel like I need the thrill of competing again ;)

[ThePoolHustler]

I haven't really played straight pool that much. I would like to play it more and learn more about it. It seems like a fun game. I think a serious pool player should be well-educated in all aspects of the game, including how to play different types of games. What do the rest of you think?

[skor]

It's hard to play good all games, each game has different strategies and you have too think differently in each game, there are some players that play well 8ball, 9ball and 14.1, Johnny Archer is one of then, so are most of the German players so was Buddy Hall when he was in his top shape and of course Efern Reyes will play great any type of game that includes a table with 6 pockets and some balls, but on the other hand there are great players that are great in one type of game and they don't do that well in others, since 9ball is the game that is mostly played by pros then a lot of them focus on 9ball and they do not practice or play anything else

[spartan]

I once saw Efren Reyes run 6 racks of rotation in succesion practicing before his match. Hes also the best one pocket player i have ever seen.

[skor]

rotation is what they used to play in the philippines, all the greatest players that came from there are rotation players and they play it on 10ft. tables.

I never saw Efren plays one pocket but if you would ask me I think that Buddy Hall is THE one pocket player.

When Efren first came to the U.S in 1985, he came under the name Ceaser Morales, he came to the U.S Open but did not play, he hanged in the practice room and played 10ball with all the pros giving them weight and still no one could beat him, the other players called for Buddy and he was the only one who could beat Efren.

[DEATHTRON]

How exactly does rotation work?

[skor]

How exactly does rotation work?

Rotation
Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.

Rotation requires that the cue ball contact the lowest numbered object ball first on each shot; any ball pocketed on a legal shot counts. It is not neccessary to call balls or pockets. Rotation is a formidable test of a player's imagionation, shot-making ability and repertoire. Few games require more exact position play.

Players:
2 or more.

Balls Used:
Standard set of object balls 1-15, plus cue ball.

The Rack:
Standard triangle rack with the 1-ball on the foot spot, 2-ball on the right rear corner, 3-ball on the left rear corner, and 15-ball in the center. All other balls placed entirely at random.

Object of the Game:
To score balls of greater total points value than the opponent(s).

Scoring:
Each legally pocketed object ball has a point value equal to its number. When a player's point total mathematically eliminates an opponent(s) from outscoring him (61 points in a two-player game), the game is ended. If two or more players tie for highest point total after all 15 object balls have been pocketed, the tied player who legally pocketed the last object ball is credited with an extra tie-breaking point and wins the game.

Opening Break:
The starting player must (1) make an open break, or (2) legally pocket an object ball. If failing to do so, the incoming player has the choice of (1) shooting with cue ball in hand behind the head string and object balls in position, or (2) having the balls reracked and shooting the opening break shot.

Rules of Play:
1. A legal shot requires that the cue ball's first contact be with the lowest numbered ball on the table. A player must then (1) pocket a numbered ball, or (2) cause the cue ball or any numbered ball to contact a cushion. Failure to do so is a foul.

2. A legally pocketed ball entitles a shooter to remain at the table until failing to pocket a ball on a legal shot. If necessary, a player is permitted only two legal safeties played by merely hitting that object ball (only) to the near cushion.

3. When a player legally pockets a ball, he must shoot again. The shooter can't call a safety and spot a legally pocketed object ball.

4. When a player has the cue ball in hand behind the head string (as after a scratch) and the legal object ball is also behind the head string, the object ball may be spotted on the foot spot upon request.

5. It is a loss of the game if a player commits three successive fouls. In more than a two player game, balls pocketed by disqualified players remain off the table.

Illegally Pocketed Balls:
All spotted.

Object Balls Jumped Off the Table:
All spotted. The stroke is a foul, and the penalty for fouls is followed.

Cue Ball After Jumping off the Table or Scratch:
Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string.

Penalty for Fouls:
No point penalty. Incoming player has the option of (1) accepting the balls in position, or (2) requiring offending player to shoot again with the table in position (if cue ball is in hand behind the head string it is so for either player).

[DEATHTRON]

So basically.....you shoot the lowest ball on the table (like 9-ball), whatever number of the ball you sink you get that many points, and you shoot until you miss? Sounds cool.....

Zach

[jgraves10k]

I didn't know about the 2005 European Pool Championships, definately would like to have seen it. The most I have personally seen someone in my local pool hall run, was 47 balls. The owner was behind 59 to3 (50 point game), the other guy missed and george with 3 points, ran the rest to 50. But that was about...30 years ago!

[jkregan]

I have had the fortune, in the past, to watch Irving Crane practice many times. I saw him miss only once. He was amazing.

I used to live in Rochester and he would practice at Olympic Billiards.

What was most amazing was the way he stalked the table and his focus. His fundamentals were so perfect that he set up for every shot exactly the same and NOTHING moved except his arm.

If ever Seybert's gets a new shipment of "Clash of the Titans", buy a copy and watch an amazing exhibition of straight pool.

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