Introducing 8-ROT -- 8-ball & 9-ball pool run practice game

Shot with my little dinky camera -- 8-ROT is a break & run practice game created by Colin Mazaika. It's a call shot (no slop) game that combines 8-ball and rotation ("9-ball") played with a cue ball and 15 object balls.

The object of the game is to first run (either stripes or solids) as in a regular 8-ball game. One point is scored after the 8 ball is pocketed. The remaining balls are then played in rotation (as in 9-ball, caroms and combos are allowed as long as the low ball is hit first). Maximum score per inning is 2 points -- one point for the 8-ball run, and one point for the rotation. A match is played in 10 innings, making the maximum score 20 points.

A miss is a loss of game, hence, the inning ends after finishing a rack or missing a shot.

After the break, the table is always open -- whether balls were pocketed or not, the player continues to shoot. If a player scratches on the break or doesn't like the layout immediately after the break, the player has the option for one re-rack.

This dinky video shows Colin playing a rack of 8-ROT on a triple shimmed Gold Crown at Shoreline Billiards in Mountain View California.

-- peer

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Billiards
• Pool
• milkdud
• tip
• Miles
• Davis
• Mike
• Stern
• trumpet
• solo
• guitar

[krymexus112]

This is 9ft table?

[PeerLanda]

Yes, it's a 9-foot table with tight pockets (triple-shimmed).

-- peer

[6shamus5]

Peer, another cool vid featuring "The Boy". Is that a Mike Stern tune or maybe John Schofield?

[PeerLanda]

It's Mike Stern -- the most underrated guitarist ever.

-- peer

[rojogrande82]

That would be an absolute joy to watch, inevitably pulling off some truly creative shots we'd otherwise never see in a competitive format, and probably tossing up a near miracle or two along the way. Sorry, I had to pick a comment to reply to a hundred times to speak my mind, nothing personal, but I chose yours. Thanks!

[rojogrande82]

I've played head to head against people, alternating racks, and its interesting to observe how different people play when they have to run out. It really is a different mindset. I enjoy that mentality, and the torture that follows, most players get frustrated and refuse to play. I imagine though that top players would average something like 13-14, with an occasional 18,19 and possibly one day I'll see a 20.

[rojogrande82]

His shot selection goes out the window and you get to see what a unhindered pool genius is capable of. Challenge players to blow our freakin' minds! Back to the game at hand... 8-rot probably lands in a difficultly of 11-12 ball rotation difficulty realm. I have a spreadsheet of 200+ full 10-rack sessions and my average is right around 7 points, with a high of 13 (only played on tight tables), and even two flat 0's. The vast majority of my scores land right in the 6-8 area.

[rojogrande82]

But seriously, where is the fun in that as a spectator? It's almost like being bailed out for a lackluster position play. Don't duck because of a cluster 2 balls ahead that looks 40% as it lays, but jumps to 70% if you get ball in hand. That's boring! Why handcuff the worlds best players by rewarding % play, shoot the tough shots, play the multi-rail breakouts, carom object balls off others because they lay naturally. The best pool to watch is Efren winning a landslide match...

[rojogrande82]

A 9 or 10-ball ghost is too easy for a top tier (not me) player, all the scores would be right at the top edge of what's possible. I dislike safety play because I feel like it keeps top talents from going for truly creative or difficult shots that land outside of 'the % play'. Why handcuff the worlds best players? I was well out of line on the 11, and playing a straight rotation game it would've been smarter to play a basic safe, send the 11 back up table and roll behind the 12.

[rojogrande82]

@rjoI created this game to be a brutal form of practice. A fairly accomplished local player (120+ usppa, strong APA 9, BCA Master... not bragging at all just giving an idea of how I play in terms hopefully most people can relate to), I was looking for something more cerebral than 9-ball/10-ball, but not as hard as 15-ball rotation. In my opinion rotation is too difficult to accurately gauge a players ability consistently in a 'run out or bust' format, even among pros. Simply too much traffic

[rojogrande82]

@lphooper03 He ( i ) was trying to get off that rail with a high-right english but because my angle was so flat on the 13-ball, the cue ball caught he pocket-point rather than the flat of the rail... hence the odd shape on the 14

[lphooper03]

That was a pretty impressive run. Good break out...good focus...left a little out of shape on a few shots but overall impressive. On the shot getting shape on the second to last ball, he should have taken the ball off of the rail giving an easy angle.

[rjohnson8ball]

I thought up a similar game, "Rotate 8", where each person must hit their stripes or solids lowest to highest as they play 8 ball. BCA rules. Your "8-ROT" game can be played solo for training, but mine can involve some safety strategy.

[cappspw]

You mean Mike "10 inches" Stern?