American 8-ball question

[forcefollow]

i think most of pro play snooker or pool, because they love to play, so it isn't really a attitude problem, if US player don't care or don't love the cue sports, why they turn into pro in the first place

You have to first define what you mean by "pro" I don't even define these guys as real pros. A pro is someone who makes their living solely by their chosen daily activity. Most of these guys are independently wealthy, have a backer or some other means of income. No American makes a real living from playing pool. Most of them are single, no family, no responsibilities and when they grow old they are broke. Yeah they play because they love it, when they feel like it. Don't let the payouts that are posted on AZ fool you that doesn't take into account their traveling expenses, losses from gambling and the money they owe their backers.

[matoski]

I thought Pool was the number one cue sport in the US? Or don't they really care about cue-sports in general?



Snooker is a more delicate game than pool, but a lot of power is required in certain situations.

AAAAAnnyway, to get the thread back on topic, here's another question about 8-ball! Where is the best place to hit the pack on the break-off shot? Is the ball on the point the best place to hit it to get a good break, or is it better to move the cue ball to the side a bit and try to hit the side of the pack? I'm used to just clipping the corner of the pack as you do in the snooker break off shot!

In 8-ball you must hit the 1 ball which is allways in front of the pack, and hit it hard enough, so at least 4 balls make contact with the cushion. It's not a legal shot if you break the pack in a snooker fashion, beacause you must hit the 1 ball first. That kind of break off is legal only in straight pool (14/1).

[DavisFan76]

In 8-ball you must hit the 1 ball which is allways in front of the pack, and hit it hard enough, so at least 4 balls make contact with the cushion. It's not a legal shot if you break the pack in a snooker fashion, beacause you must hit the 1 ball first. That kind of break off is legal only in straight pool (14/1).

Thanks for clearing that up.

[matoski]

Thanks for clearing that up.

In straight pool you can't effort to play a power break off shot, because in that game the coloured and striped balls are not divided between the oponents, but you can pot any nominated ball on the table. If you break off with power, and nothing goes in, then your opponent is going to wipe the floor with you.

[poolqjunkie]

In 9 ball you need to hit the one ball first but not in 8 ball. Some people hit the first ball, some the second ball and whatever they feel like really. But it is true most people prefer to hit the first top ball, although it is not a must.
There are lots of pool players in 9 ball in the US who makes their living playing pool, giving lessons, and doing exhibitions such as Johnny Archer, Earl Strickland, Shane Van Boeing, Rodney Morris...etc. I dont know how much they make. If they have a sponsor, they probably have at least their expenses covered.
I dont think they make millions, and for sure they dont make as much as golf players--but they probably make enough to get by or else they wont be doing it for so many years.

[forcefollow]

In 9 ball you need to hit the one ball first but not in 8 ball. Some people hit the first ball, some the second ball and whatever they feel like really. But it is true most people prefer to hit the first top ball, although it is not a must.
There are lots of pool players in 9 ball in the US who makes their living playing pool, giving lessons, and doing exhibitions such as Johnny Archer, Earl Strickland, Shane Van Boeing, Rodney Morris...etc. I dont know how much they make. If they have a sponsor, they probably have at least their expenses covered.
I dont think they make millions, and for sure they dont make as much as golf players--but they probably make enough to get by or else they wont be doing it for so many years.

Archer and Van Boening's earnings are in the 120,000 - 150,000 range. But, there are only maybe 10 guys like that in the US. Archer, Strickland and several other top players lost their sponsors this year. Very few American players have corporate sponsors now.

[Rethunk]

8-ball: you'll get the best break from hitting the head ball dead center. The 8-ball must be located in the center of the 3rd row (of course), and there must be a solid in one back corner of the rack and a stripe in the other back corner. All other balls are to be placed "randomly".

By some rules--especially on coin-operated tables--making the 8-ball on the break is a win, in which case striking an outside ball on the 2nd or 3rd row on the break has a slightly improved chance of sinking the 8.

In addition to the power break (8-ball, 9-ball, bank pool) and safety break (14.1 continuous a.k.a. "straight pool") there are some specialized breaks as well, the most notable of which may be the one-pocket break.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-pocket
http://www.onepocket.org/getting_started.htm

If you want to extend your snooker safety play to pool, then give straight pool or one-pocket a try. One-pocket is widely considered the most difficult game on an American pool table.

As a rule professional pool players who play on the American tour(s) make squat. Johnny Archer was the first player to earn US$100,000 in tournament winnings in the States, which happened in 1993 or so. Players jumped at the chance to make more money on the short-lived IPT tour, which (predictably) went bust.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Pool_Tour

[cyrusbobo]

Archer and Van Boening's earnings are in the 120,000 - 150,000 range. But, there are only maybe 10 guys like that in the US. Archer, Strickland and several other top players lost their sponsors this year. Very few American players have corporate sponsors now.

pool and snooker got different charm, so sometimes it's not about payed or expense covered or not, first they must love the game, when economy up and down, sometimes they may got sponsor, sometimes not, but in china, though the pool player is not revered as much as snooker player, but they can run a pool salon, or teach someone else, as long as people's fancy about the game is not faded, i think it's always easy to make a living by the skill on the game.