8' Harder Than a 7' Table?

My 7' pro/am plays harder than the gc's at the only pool hall in the area. The pockets are might less forgiving.

The diamond is also slightly larger than the average barbox, so there isn't much difference transitioning to an 8' table.

League is played on barbox and the diamond definitely helps sharpen your pocketing skills.

If I had room I'd have the 9' version of my table but I got the best table I could for my available space.

It is also my opinion that going from 9 to 7 is an easier transition than going from 7 to 9. Small errors are magnified over the longer distances equalling more missed shots.

:cool:
 
I very rarely shoot on any size table than a 9ft,, I believe any size below
9ft. is much easier to play on,, cause there isnt as much room to cover for sets.......
 
Here in Texas we mainly play on 8 ft. table from all different manufactures, while most of the other states have 7 ft. and 9fts. only.
Very few place in Texas have good 7 ft. to play on and not many rooms have more than four 9 ft. tables. I prefer the 9fts, then 7fts, and last 8fts. I find it easer playing on 9fts. because the balls are open more allowing you to move the cue ball with out contacting other balls. On the 7fts. the balls are more congested and moving the cue you have to contact other balls while playing shape.
 
JE54 said:
Hey Johnny T, those ridgeback rails that you have, did you get custom ones that are alittle longer to make the pockets tighter, or the standard valley BB length ? I talked to the guy at ridgeback rails and he told me that I can get them any length that I would want. I was thinking about getting them 1/4 inch longer on each end. That would tighthen up each pocket a 1/2 inch.
What's your opinion ?
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To tell you the truth I didn't know he made them any size or I probably would have got them a bit longer if the pockets would still play the same as they do now. I would ask Ridgeback or ask Glen (therealkingcobra) if they will play ok with the smaller pockets because the Ridgebacks are cut at a different angle than standard Valley rails. Mine plays a hell of a lot tougher with the 4 1/2" pockets than it did with the Valley rails. You won't notice it much at first but as the rail cloth wears in a bit...oh boy...big differents. They bank a lot truer with no clunk. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
In the last few weeks I've played about a dozen hours on my friends 8' Brunswick with 4 ½" corner pockets. As most of you know my table is a 7' Valley with Tour Edition and Ridgeback rails. I don't find the 8-footer any harder to play on than mine. In fact I believe it's a bit easier than mine because you have more room to get around balls with less clusters. The extra foot long doesn't give me any problem at all. Is it just me or do others feel the 8-foot is not any harder to play on than a 7-foot?

Now when I jump from the 7 to a 9-foot I go from "A" to "C" in a heartbeat. Johnnyt
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Keep practicing on that eight footer for a while and then try to make the transition to a nine foot table. It will be a lot easier. You are shooting longer shots on the 8' table than you ever did on the 7', whether you realize it or not.

Lassiter used to practice on a tight 8' table to get ready for tournaments held on nine footers. His reasoning, "It helps me get my cue ball." Those were his words, not mine. He knew something too, since he was the best player of his generation.

Personally I like all pool tables if they play good, and have decent pockets (not buckets). I remember after a year of playing on bar boxes in California I headed North looking for action. I couldn't believe it when I got to Oregon and Washington, all the bar tables were eight footers. I just wasn't used to it and I struggled a bit. Mike Z. beat my ass, I remember that.

The absolute hardest tables for me to play on were the 10' tables I found in New York in the 60's. OUCH! They seemed so big after growing up on oversized 8' tables in Ohio. I never got used to those big bombers and all the lonnng shots. I was glad to get back home after that trip.
 
When you say cut different, I'm assuming you mean at the ends ?
Any chance of you taking a picture of your corner and side pockets ? That way I can see what they look like. Others might interested in how they look also. I can send you my email address and you can send them to me directly if you'd like.
Thanks
 
JE54 said:
When you say cut different, I'm assuming you mean at the ends ?
Any chance of you taking a picture of your corner and side pockets ? That way I can see what they look like. Others might interested in how they look also. I can send you my email address and you can send them to me directly if you'd like.
Thanks
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I will take some pictures of the corners and sides for you...but not today. It's in the 30's in Tampa and the table is out on screened patio. Johnnyt

PS: When I came to Florida from NY in 1980 I'd wear shorts in this weather...now forget about it.
 
jay helfert said:
Keep practicing on that eight footer for a while and then try to make the transition to a nine foot table. It will be a lot easier. You are shooting longer shots on the 8' table than you ever did on the 7', whether you realize it or not.

Lassiter used to practice on a tight 8' table to get ready for tournaments held on nine footers. His reasoning, "It helps me get my cue ball." Those were his words, not mine. He knew something too, since he was the best player of his generation.

Personally I like all pool tables if they play good, and have decent pockets (not buckets). I remember after a year of playing on bar boxes in California I headed North looking for action. I couldn't believe it when I got to Oregon and Washington, all the bar tables were eight footers. I just wasn't used to it and I struggled a bit. Mike Z. beat my ass, I remember that.

The absolute hardest tables for me to play on were the 10' tables I found in New York in the 60's. OUCH! They seemed so big after growing up on oversized 8' tables in Ohio. I never got used to those big bombers and all the lonnng shots. I was glad to get back home after that trip.
Click to expand...

When I was hustling in bars on the bar boxes I'd stop at a poolroom and play an hour on a 9' before I hit the bars. When I got on the BB it was like shooting fish in a barrel. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
When I was hustling in bars on the bar boxes I'd stop at a poolroom and play an hour on a 9' before I hit the bars. When I got on the BB it was like shooting fish in a barrel. Johnnyt
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Good move JT! If I wanted to find my eye quick, I would take the pool balls over to a 10' snooker table and practice for a couple of hours. Man, those pool table pockets looked big after that! :wink:
 
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It might be a little easier to shoot on a 8 but stringing racks together is easier on a 7 especially on a diamond that breaks good , I have and seen incredible strings of balls pocketed on the break in 9 ball on those tables at the SBE, and by far those tables play easier than the 8' olhausen I have at home which breaks much much harder, and when I have to go to a 9' its a much easier transition, I had a 7 before and it was much more difficult to go to the 9 that's why I got a 8 this time simonis cloth shimmed pockets, I have become a better all around player because of it

IMHO
 
I can't believe that this thread has gone to page 3 talking a lot about the easiness of the 8' table without defining WHICH 8' table you are all talking about, the STANDARD 8-footer or the PRO 8-footer. I have the standard 8' table in my house. I am retired and shoot a LOT of pool on it. The 3 leagues I shoot on are about 75% 7' barboxes. I can honestly say IMO, that the "traffic" on a barbox as compared to the STANDARD 8-footer is not that different as the playing surfaces are not all that much different in size. Now the PRO 8-footers, that is quite the different story. IMO, the Pro 8-footers are closer to like playing on a 9-footer.

Keep in mind that these are just MY personal observations and I am in no way arguing with anyone elses opinion.

For the record, I shoot much better on my standard 8-footer than I do on any other table on which I have played. I don't know for a fact if this is because of the size of it, or if it is just that I spend a LOT of hours playing on it (familiarity).

Maniac
 
Just a thought, and using rough figures, consider this.
The pockets average about 30 inches wide (5" x 6 pockets) on both a 9 and 7 footer.
The total of the 6 pockets make a much bigger hole on a smaller table. :smile:
 
jay helfert said:
Keep practicing on that eight footer for a while and then try to make the transition to a nine foot table. It will be a lot easier. You are shooting longer shots on the 8' table than you ever did on the 7', whether you realize it or not.

Lassiter used to practice on a tight 8' table to get ready for tournaments held on nine footers. His reasoning, "It helps me get my cue ball." Those were his words, not mine. He knew something too, since he was the best player of his generation.

Personally I like all pool tables if they play good, and have decent pockets (not buckets). I remember after a year of playing on bar boxes in California I headed North looking for action. I couldn't believe it when I got to Oregon and Washington, all the bar tables were eight footers. I just wasn't used to it and I struggled a bit. Mike Z. beat my ass, I remember that.

The absolute hardest tables for me to play on were the 10' tables I found in New York in the 60's. OUCH! They seemed so big after growing up on oversized 8' tables in Ohio. I never got used to those big bombers and all the lonnng shots. I was glad to get back home after that trip.
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Personally I like all pool tables if they play good, and have decent pockets (not buckets).





Hey , i agree with this , worst thing about playing in any tavern or pool room is playing on tables that aren't kept up. Worn cloth , no ball spot etc.



As far as table sizes , the one thing i have noticed is on 9 footers unless your shooting off the rail you are able to get down lower on longer shots , especially cuts near the short rails to make a ball in the corners.

I notice that people , myself included tend to stand up more on 7 footers than 9 footers because on 7 footers if your playing 8 ball you risk fouling if you lay out on the table.

Your field of vision is shortened on a 7 footer with less background or open spaces to make distinctions. You can't change the physical dimensions of a room but if clutter it up with more furniture and wall hangings it will appear smaller.

Colors can make things appear bigger or smaller. Our sub conscious will play tricks on us too.I believe that since you have to stand up a little more or do it sub consciously your changing your vision angle.

I read where Ralf Souquet(sp) won't play on a bar box , this might be due to stroke or it may be due to pride. He said it was like playing mini-pool. Maybe it could be a blow to the ego to not fair well on a smaller surface.

When i play on 9 Footers i see the ball better on long shots because i get down , but most of all i just like shooting pool:smile:.
 
im not so sure that an 8 footer is the easiest of the 3....
Define "easy"

i think that an 8 footer is the most Comfortable (in any game) of the 3 tables for a person to play on....wich is why some might say its the easiest. there is plenty of room to move the cuball around and the longshots with the cueball on the rail....dont seen like they are a mile away.

Most comfortable is the better word i think....i guarantee youll make more balls over the corse of a day on a 7 foot diamond, than on a 8 foot diamond...if you spent a day on each. so what is it that warrants calling an 8 footer "easy"
 
On 9 foot table you have 27 (324 inches) feet of rail perimeter, versus 21 feet (252 inches) for the 7 foot table. On paper 30 inches of total pockets on either size isn't a significant factor, unless I'm missing something.

9 foot table has 40 1/2 square feet compared to 24 1/2 square feet on a 7 foot bar box, requiring more precising positioning on a BB.

Ralph Kramden said:
Just a thought, and using rough figures, consider this.
The pockets average about 30 inches wide (5" x 6 pockets) on both a 9 and 7 footer.
The total of the 6 pockets make a much bigger hole on a smaller table. :smile:
Click to expand...
 
RD3P said:
im not so sure that an 8 footer is the easiest of the 3....
Define "easy"

i think that an 8 footer is the most Comfortable (in any game) of the 3 tables for a person to play on....wich is why some might say its the easiest. there is plenty of room to move the cuball around and the longshots with the cueball on the rail....dont seen like they are a mile away.

Most comfortable is the better word i think....i guarantee youll make more balls over the corse of a day on a 7 foot diamond, than on a 8 foot diamond...if you spent a day on each. so what is it that warrants calling an 8 footer "easy"
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It would seem the 8 would be the best of both worlds where transitioning from an 8 to a 7 or an 8 to a 9 would require the least amount of stroke adjustment.

I can see where if i pro player thought playing on smaller tables messed up any muscle memory they had developed they would avoid smaller tables.


Quarterbacks throw touch passes , golfers cut their swings down etc. And how many pool rooms and bars only cater to serious pool players. I haven't noticed any male snooker players dominating other pocket billiard games.

And i think the reason Alison and the other women from Britain have faired so well here is because of dedication and instruction. Now other women are catching up due to instruction in the game.

Women from Asia , Monica Webb, Ouschan(sp) etc. They start out playing either 9-ball or straight pool. Snooker is a great game for preparation for other games.

I've seen good players miss seemingly easy shots on bar boxes.
 
david(tx) said:
It would seem the 8 would be the best of both worlds where transitioning from an 8 to a 7 or an 8 to a 9 would require the least amount of stroke adjustment.

I can see where if i pro player thought playing on smaller tables messed up any muscle memory they had developed they would avoid smaller tables.


Quarterbacks throw touch passes , golfers cut their swings down etc. And how many pool rooms and bars only cater to serious pool players. I haven't noticed any male snooker players dominating other pocket billiard games.

And i think the reason Alison and the other women from Britain have faired so well here is because of dedication and instruction. Now other women are catching up due to instruction in the game.

Women from Asia , Monica Webb, Ouschan(sp) etc. They start out playing either 9-ball or straight pool. Snooker is a great game for preparation for other games.

I've seen good players miss seemingly easy shots on bar boxes.
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GOOD POST

also i know alot of guys that only play on 7 footers because thats what the amature tourney s are on....valley/global 7 footers....if im playinga and practicing for state tourn im not gonna play on a 9 footer every day 2 weeks before the tourney...im gonna play on a 7 footer...

other guys will think they do better playing on 9 footer all the time and come down to a 7 footer a few days before the tournament....

i think theyd be better off spending a good 2 weeks on that 7 footer if they always play a nine....also guys play on 9 footers with a red circle cueball( i like this ball better too) ....but the valleys take a different cueball
also if the tourneys on a valley...im not gonna practice for it on say a diamond 7foot
smart table...

that cueball makes a big difference....and diamond tables have a style thats all there own.
 
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8 foot

I have always considered that an 8 foot table was harder to shoot on than a 7 or 9 foot table, primarily because the cut of the pockets is different, and usually smaller.

You can not slide balls on an 8 foot table like you can on a 7 or 9 foot table.

When I moved to Indianapolis 13 years ago for a job, I ended up playing on 8 foot tables most of the time, and I thought they were harder.
 
Snapshot9 said:
I have always considered that an 8 foot table was harder to shoot on than a 7 or 9 foot table, primarily because the cut of the pockets is different, and usually smaller.

You can not slide balls on an 8 foot table like you can on a 7 or 9 foot table.

When I moved to Indianapolis 13 years ago for a job, I ended up playing on 8 foot tables most of the time, and I thought they were harder.
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the cut of the rails(pockets) is diffferent depending on the brand...not really the size.. usually
if all things are equal and you had a 7,8,9 footer exatly the same just dimensionally different ...the 9 footer is the tuffest to pocket balls on....the 7 the easiest ....and the 8 the comfortable medium.

the 7 footer can be tuff because its like a boxing match in a phone booth sometimes theres just not a lot of room....people that have difficulties on nine usually have a hard time pocketing balls because of the distance...and they are thrown off by the different angles...usually they are just overwhelmed by the size of the table and it really messes with the rest of their game
 
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