potting 1 ball of break and then whacking the balls around - luckily potting the 9 isn't a run out. all 9 balls in succession is a runout, this needs fixing :).
also some competitions have a no planting policy, meaning that a player cannot cannon the 9 for a cheap, no skill needed win. I'd love to see this option added. Get rid of the luck element of 9 ball for the people that don't want to suffer from it. Should be skill dependant, not luck ?

Then again, some people make some great shots doing a combo shot

Thats the risk of playing 9 ball, the luck element is really high and any player can beat the top players. I think it should be kept as it is.

Also welcome to the forums

luck shouldn't be an unavoidable element... at least implicate a call shot option? so people with skill could actually show it.

I think there should be a seperate stat for proper 9ball run outs and 9ball combo run outs- probably too late to do this now though

Technically it is a run out (as far as I'm aware).

i can see where he is coming from though and im sure you can too nick.

There is a massive difference between potting 9balls in a row and potting one ball and then knocking them about and the 9 flying in

OK, but what about potting 7 balls but then a 8-9 combo, should that count?

haha- i see where you are coming from also.

But imo it should be a seperate stat whether its a 8-9 combo or 2-9 combo. A run out is when the other person doesnt get a shot i know but as i said before there is a big difference between a combo run out and a proper run out.

As i also said its proably too late to do anything about this now as some people have hundreds of run outs

The problem with having a different stat for a one-by one runout is that it goes against the basic priciple of the game, which is to pocket the 9-ball legally as soon as possible.

To argue that one method requires more skill than another is impossible, both are equally difficult/easy depending on player strenghts and how the break falls.

potting the 9 ball on ANY combo other than off the break is just an ordinary win.

9 from break is a golden break.

the only way a runout can occur is a clearance from the break (All 9 balls, not a combo) or all 9 balls at anytime during a rack. Thats a run out.

potting 1 through 7, then 8 - 9 combo isn't a runout, just an ordinary win.

:)

Keep 9 ball the way it is, it's a flukey game, sometimes its not.

Thats the fun of it, A runout is a run out. Im sure if you fluked a runout you would obviously be happy.

well, i usually opt out of planting for runs as to attempt to improve my skill in the game.

for example, i am playing bastilha right now, i potted none off the break, he potted all 9 balls, in succession and no runout. surely he should have something to show for it, people planting 1-9 plant do, so why not him? :)

I've always thought it should be called... Broke And Cleared Up, if you pot all 9 balls from the break!

And doing a combo after potting off the break should be ...running the rack! In my opinion

yeah thats what i mean. Although both are a run out as your opponent didnt get a shot, something to define the difference between the two would be great

Are you sure? Can anyone find a link to clarify this one way or the other.

i'm positive, in 9 ball, there is no such thing as a run out if their are still balls left on the table.

however. 1 through 7.. then potting the 8 AND the 9 ball on one shot is a run out, strange how it works :P

From billiardsforum.info :

Run out refers to a run where the player pockets all remaining required balls and wins the game without the opponent ever getting another chance at the table. Run out may also refer to the series of balls pocketed in one inning to win the game. The key aspects of the run out are that there must be a run, and the run must be finished by winning the game.

Run Out Usage
The game was about half over when it was Jim's inning. He shot and pocketed the 6 ball, and proceeded to make every shot from there to run out the game.

Billiards - Run Out
The run out definition was entered on 2/15/2006 and was updated on 1/2/2008 12:48:00 PM.

knowledge, but billiards is not the same game as 9 ball.

Edit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xiyqkPxxdo

9 ball run-out.

Edited at 16:55 Thu 19/06/08 (BST)

I haven't been able to find any information on this. All the websites I've looked at state how the game ends, but nothing with regards to running out, or other forms of ending the game.

Cowuube, unless you can provide evidence from one website and back it up with another source, your going to be on a loser. Spinner has provided information that is relevant to pool, so go out and find evidence disproving what he's said

EDIT: That video only shows a run out, not stating whether all the balls need to be potted, although they are in that. I don't think a youtube video can be considered as hard evidence.

Edited at 17:01 Thu 19/06/08 (BST)