Speed pool
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Speed pool is a solitary pool game. As its name suggests, one pockets all the balls on the table as quickly as possible. It can played competitively with the aid of a stopwatch.
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[edit] Rules
- The cue ball must not be in motion when shooting
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- Object balls can still be in motion when shooting
- Ball and pocket must be called, (No flukeing the balls in)
- Legal shots must be made — a 10-second penalty will be incurred for each foul.
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- A legal shot involves the cue ball contacting an object ball, and driving it to a cushion, or the cue ball hitting a cushion after contact, or pocketing an object ball
- Any ball may be pocketed, except that the 8 ball must be last.
[edit] Strategy
Observing professionals, one can see them running madly around the table to place their next shot. Unlike most billiard games, the cue ball is mostly used with a stop shot to minimize the waiting time. Bank shots are legal, but time-consuming, and thus rare. A legal shot to just nudge the object ball for shape on a subsequent easy shot is preferred.
[edit] Tournaments
Because speed pool is a very modern variation in pool, there are few tournaments devoted to it. One notable event was the International Speed Pool Tournament which was broadcast on ESPN.[clarify] The games played in this event included one based on straight pool as well as the more common version described above, which is derived from eight-ball. The object in each match was to play all games with a shorter total time than other players. Luc Salvas won this event and the US$50,000 winner-take-all purse.
[edit] Notable professional players
- Dave Pearson ("the Ginger Wizard")
- Jason Kane
- Luc Salvas
- Jeanette Lee ("the Black Widow")
- Bobby McGrath
[edit] References
- One set of rules, from the Valley National Eight-ball Association
- "Game Rules"; Hackett, Geoff; Speed Pool Timer — Digital Pool Timer Board: Operator & Reference Handbook, page 6; 2002
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