Bar Box vs 9 footer

tinman467

tinman467

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Silver Member
Ok, this may have been asked before, but I'd like everyones opinion on whether they think playing ( 8 ball ) on a bar box, or a 9 footer is harder. I get in this discussion with different shooters all the time. My personal opinion is that its harder to play on a bb..because the balls tend to tie up more. 9 foot shots are longer, but you seldom see a lot of balls together where you need to figure out position to break them up. I dunno..both sides have valid arguments. What do you guys think ?
 
If you are a shot maker then the 9 footer would be easier in my opion. You are right about the balls tieing up on the smaller table. On the smaller table you also have to be more aware of scratching. You have the same number of pockets with a lot less table. The odds of scratching are greater.
On a small table if your opponent clears most of his balls off of the table then you are more likely to run out your own balls. The shots are easier.
 
9 foot shots are longer, but you seldom see a lot of balls together where you need to figure out position to break them up.
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"Seldom" is a little strong - I have problems to solve in just about every 8-ball rack on a 9-footer.

pj
chgo
 
Both BB and 9' tables have their pros and cons. The better shot makers have more room to work on 9' tables and the BB racks require a little more finesse because of the tighter area to work in.

I think a weak player can run more balls on a BB than on a 9' table and the more skilled players can run out on either table.

James
 
I think it depends on what you play on most, for a bar box player a 9' looks big and intimidating for a big table player a bar box looks 'crowded' but I do think its easier for a big table player to adjust to a bar box than a BB player going to a big table.
 
Apples & Oranges

The 2 are completely different aniamals!

On a 9', you tend to see your stronger players. If you can play good on a 9' then you can play pretty good on a barbox.

On a barbox, which I don't know the percentage, but they far outweigh in quantity around the US than the 9'. It is easier for a beginner and novice to pocket balls. There are more top barbox players than 9' players, or it is more of an equalizer than a 9' (imo).

Also, just because someone plays well on a barbox, the transition of a players ability is usually less on a 9' table.

In conclusion, the differences between the 2 types of tables are many. Multiple rail shots, pocket size, distance, clustering, etc. can vary transitioning between the tables. Therefore, its hard to make a fair comparison between the table sizes, you have to almost deal with the player's skills on the 2 completely seperate.

That's my interpretation anyway.......which may not mean much!
 
9 footers are harder IMO longer shots, more ground to cover more table to travel around.
 
depends on the game.

8 balls harder on a barbox -more clutter
9 ball is harder on the big table. -more distance


I get alot more break n runs playing 8 ball on a big table and the reverse is true for 9 ball on a barbox.
 
I have an easier time breaking and running 8 ball on a GC vs. a Diamond barbox. I prefer playing 8 ball on the small table, but don't like 9 ball on them, if that makes any sense. I want the harder game....so for 8 ball, it's the box for me, but 9 ball on the 9 footer. BTW, the equalizer theory on a box, may not apply to a smaller pocket, deep shelf Diamond; I think most are assuming Valley barboxes. Dealing with the clusters on stingy Diamonds is a test, and what I play the most.
 
They are both easier than hell. Didn't you read my thread about me beating the three ball ghost?
 
If you are talking strictly about which is harder for the game of 8-ball, then Barboxes all the way. Yes, 9' tables have longer shots, but in 8-ball you have options early in racks. Unlike 9-ball where you might have all long shots.

If you have a good 8-ball break on a 9' table, balls won't even be close to touching, but you always have 1 group right? ha ha. But on the barbox there is not as much room for all those balls, unless you pocket 3 or 4 on every break.

My vote:

8-ball harder on barbox
9-ball harder on 9'
 
Thats sorta what I was saying SCCUES...I think it takes more "finesse" to get around on a BB without hitting other balls, dealing with balls that are tied up, and just having less playing area, or shot windows to deal with. As the guy said earlier.....they are 2 different animals.
 
crawfish said:
They are both easier than hell. Didn't you read my thread about me beating the three ball ghost?
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there's a table at the poolhall that guys always have 3 balls on....I watched for awhile and never saw them pocket a single ball!!!
 
trustyrusty said:
there's a table at the poolhall that guys always have 3 balls on....I watched for awhile and never saw them pocket a single ball!!!
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I played that silly little game once with the two reds and a white or vice versa. After firing them into the corners as hard as I could, I still couldn't get the rails to open up and show pockets. What a waste of time. I'm pretty sure someone forgot to cut out the spaces when they were setting them up. I'd send'em back to Home Depot. Somebody fu#$ed up.
 
tinman467 said:
Ok, this may have been asked before, but I'd like everyones opinion on whether they think playing ( 8 ball ) on a bar box, or a 9 footer is harder. I get in this discussion with different shooters all the time. My personal opinion is that its harder to play on a bb..because the balls tend to tie up more. 9 foot shots are longer, but you seldom see a lot of balls together where you need to figure out position to break them up. I dunno..both sides have valid arguments. What do you guys think ?
Click to expand...

8-ball on a 9 footer is a joke for good players. I remember watching Joe Salazar play Gean Cooper 8 ball on a 9 foot table and all they did was break and run out. At one point Joe ran like 9 racks but they both were running out at a clip of 3 and 4 racks at a time. It was just a war of running out. Back in the 90's they had a pro 8 ball tournament in vegas and it was the same deal. They were running out sets.
 
I am an 8-ball shooter (going to get into 14.1 here really soon) and I am pretty decent on a 9ft GCIII or on good days on a 10ft elephant leg. But on a Barbox, I just can't shoot worth a damn on it. I started out shooting on barboxes, than once I got comfortable, I started to move up on table size and has not gone back on a BB. Whenever I am at a bar, and I shoot on a BB, I look like an idiot because I will miss the easiest shots. It seems like my eyes cannot adjust to the table and there and much less space to work with on a BB. Is it me, or does the BB balls seems a bit bigger than the balls used on a 9 or 8ft? Are the pockets different? It seems that the pockets are tighter and the bumpers are a bit harder on a Valley BB.... I don't know, I get fraustrated on a BB now :(
 
macguy said:
8-ball on a 9 footer is a joke for good players. I remember watching Joe Salazar play Gean Cooper 8 ball on a 9 foot table and all they did was break and run out. At one point Joe ran like 9 racks but they both were running out at a clip of 3 and 4 racks at a time. It was just a war of running out. Back in the 90's they had a pro 8 ball tournament in vegas and it was the same deal. They were running out sets.
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IMO. I agree. I was at the IPT in Vegas a few years ago and can count on my hand the number of safties in the 9' 8-ball tourney. It was whoever made the first ball just ran out.

8ball BB is much tougher due to clusters and the smaller area required for precise position.

8 ball on a 9' requires better shotmaking ability. (and better eyes too < 40 years old.... lol)

SR
 
I think the difficulty of 8-ball on each table in question is directly affected by the level of player. As you start at the beginner (D-player level) levels the barbox will be considered easier because they are still learning how to make shots. As you approach A-player level the regulation table is considered easier because the challenge is no longer pocketing balls, but positional play. More room on the regulation table = easier position play. I think the real question is where is that cross-over occurs. I would say around B-/B level.
 
I agree...but I was refering to better players opinions. D players and newbees dont get around the table well, and dont see break out opportunities like the better players do. I was just curious as to who thought playing 8 ball on a 9 footer was easier, and vise-versa, and why they thought that way. :rolleyes:
 
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