I don't know what it is with me, I can play 9 ball on a tight pocket 9 footer okay, but can't run out for the life of me on a bar box playing 8 ball. I have a hard time moving around all the clutter and break out shots are harder for me. I know a lot guys specialize in playing on a bar box and I will be playing in a local tourney tomorrow night against those guys. Any real advice on playing bar box pool from those who dominate those 7 footers, also the heavier cue balls seem like bowling balls to me.
I suck at bar box 8 Ball
- Thread starter AHWOSU86
- Start date
Bar Box 8-ball
I've played quite a bit of bar box 8-ball and this is what I think:
In my opinion it takes a lot of practice, and if your not getting the rolls hang in there.
Some people play it not to lose and a few safety shots can neutralize that in a hurry.
I've played quite a bit of bar box 8-ball and this is what I think:
- Try to set up for the break out as soon as you can
- Go for the more difficult shot if necessary
- Don't try to run as far as you can and then play safe
- The bar box CB seems to throw the object ball a little more so I use more center ball sometimes and spin the CB around the table.
In my opinion it takes a lot of practice, and if your not getting the rolls hang in there.
Some people play it not to lose and a few safety shots can neutralize that in a hurry.
Most bar box CB's are weighted and obviously want to roll forward when you hit them. You don't need to use follow as much on them because of this fact. Stay around the middle of the ball and understand that the rock wants to roll. Once you hit it with some speed and spin it's gonna take off. When you hit the CB on a big table, it initially moves away from the contact point and then follow or draw take effect. A bar box rock will plow forward or sit until the spin takes over without as much deflection. That's why it is called the "rock".
There is not as much finesse needed to move the rock. When I play 9 ball on a bar rag my motto is, "Hit 'em to git 'em"!:grin-square:
There is not as much finesse needed to move the rock. When I play 9 ball on a bar rag my motto is, "Hit 'em to git 'em"!:grin-square:
watch some 14.1 videos to get an idea how to plan and use break balls
my advice
Change "break out" to moving balls.
9 ball style hard break outs are low % on the small table.You need to get fine shape and move balls around precisely to run out tough racks consitently.Planning more will help you get just the angle you need to get out.
Change "break out" to moving balls.
9 ball style hard break outs are low % on the small table.You need to get fine shape and move balls around precisely to run out tough racks consitently.Planning more will help you get just the angle you need to get out.
..not that I can execute this.. but.....
I try to look for the run-out pattern first that alows for the breakout of my clusters that I need. If I don't see it, I breakout my clusters first, leaving safe. Try to adjust for often slow cloth and heavy cue balls. Bring a aramith coin-op cue ball if you have one.
I try to look for the run-out pattern first that alows for the breakout of my clusters that I need. If I don't see it, I breakout my clusters first, leaving safe. Try to adjust for often slow cloth and heavy cue balls. Bring a aramith coin-op cue ball if you have one.
Greyghost is spot on. Find your pattern, learn to rearrange the furniture whilst having a good idea where the balls will end up, and get what i call "good enough" shape. Bartables roll funny so tryin for perfect shape is sometimes impossible.
Also, dont clear all your soldiers unless your certain you can win the war.
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I think that is great advise and agree. To add to your first point, if you can manage a break out early, you ay be able to still get out if you don't leave exactly right due to more balls on the table and possibly having a back up ball.
Bar box 8 is my best game, not that I'm an expert. But I also struggle with what the OP mentioned. This week in league, I literally missed three break and runs due to the last ball being just tied up enough and me missing the leave just enough to not be able to get the last ball and set up for the 8. I should have broke the ball out more clean earlier or played safe earlier in the match. Fortunately I pulled a 4-0 out but a good player probably could have ran out or hooked me bad.
I agree with all the previous posters and would make this addition.....Buy a copy of "The Eight Ball Bible" ASAP....... yes it may be too late for this tourny, but it is hands down the best publication ever written on Bbox 8 ball. I promise that by reading thru this book, the time you spend learning the intricacies of this aspect of our sport, will be lessened considerably.
Things to try:
- Do play position with stun or follow using the big cue ball
- Do clean up balls resting near the rails early
- Do break up your clusters as part of your position routes when ever possible
- Do utilize the stop shot and soft roll to play safe on your opponent
- Do try to minimize cue ball movement to reduce the errors in controling your big cue ball
Hope that helps.
PuT that big long stroke in the closet before you go out.
Shorter bridge and keep your head up a little. This will help you even see the layout of the table while you are shooting.
Don't be scared to raise the back of your stick a little. This will help you get your short little shape and actually shoot more acurate.
Practice these things and your game will really pick up fast on the bar box.
I was once upon a time a little bar box monster.
When i go back to the bar table now because i play so much big table i have to kind of downgrade my technique in these manners.
Good luck.. This stuff really works...............
Shorter bridge and keep your head up a little. This will help you even see the layout of the table while you are shooting.
Don't be scared to raise the back of your stick a little. This will help you get your short little shape and actually shoot more acurate.
Practice these things and your game will really pick up fast on the bar box.
I was once upon a time a little bar box monster.
When i go back to the bar table now because i play so much big table i have to kind of downgrade my technique in these manners.
Good luck.. This stuff really works...............
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A lot of good advice above. Forget about the big stroke is a good one for sure. BB is all about stop-shots, stun-shots, using balls to stop and/or get position. One other thing; Always be aware of the scratch on a BB. There is more air/pocket % on a BB than a 9'...or even an 8'.
One thing I've noticed now compared to a dozen years ago and more is that back then an "A" BB player could go into just about any bar in the US and come out with money. You didn't have to worry too much about them running out from the break or their first inning with all the balls on the table. Today almost every bar has a BB player or more that are a threat to runout from anywhere. Bars use to be almost like stealing, but not anymore:angry:. Johnnyt
One thing I've noticed now compared to a dozen years ago and more is that back then an "A" BB player could go into just about any bar in the US and come out with money. You didn't have to worry too much about them running out from the break or their first inning with all the balls on the table. Today almost every bar has a BB player or more that are a threat to runout from anywhere. Bars use to be almost like stealing, but not anymore:angry:. Johnnyt
Barbox 8ball
I will gladly show you the secrets for 20 dollars a game... On a 9footer you play "area shape" on a barbox...you have to play "exact shape"...at least until half the balls are gone...even still you have a much smaller area to paly within.
I will gladly show you the secrets for 20 dollars a game... On a 9footer you play "area shape" on a barbox...you have to play "exact shape"...at least until half the balls are gone...even still you have a much smaller area to paly within.
This is a rephrasing of what Neil is saying, more or less... but I think it's some of the best advice you can get.
Once you're at a certain level you can recognize what kind of angle you need on a ball.. medium angle into this rail, sorta thin on that one, almost straight on the other, etc.
On a big table, there often comes a tradeoff where you have to choose between getting more aggressive and moving the cue ball closer to the object ball... or settling a little and keeping the perfect angle.
The "settle shot" makes position fairly easy but you can miss the ball on a 9 footer. On a barbox though, you almost can't miss it. The longest barbox shot is not all that missable compared to the longest 9 footer shots. So stop worrying about moving the CB to get closer to the ball, and focus 100% on getting the right angle.
Once you're at a certain level you can recognize what kind of angle you need on a ball.. medium angle into this rail, sorta thin on that one, almost straight on the other, etc.
On a big table, there often comes a tradeoff where you have to choose between getting more aggressive and moving the cue ball closer to the object ball... or settling a little and keeping the perfect angle.
The "settle shot" makes position fairly easy but you can miss the ball on a 9 footer. On a barbox though, you almost can't miss it. The longest barbox shot is not all that missable compared to the longest 9 footer shots. So stop worrying about moving the CB to get closer to the ball, and focus 100% on getting the right angle.
Very little room for error of a BB playing 8 Ball. If an oversized cue ball is involved...you have to account for the extra mass when playing for position. A true test of stroke on a BB in playing a follow shot successfully. Absolutely deal with your 'problem' ball ASAP...or you will wind up in 'one ball hell'. Work from the outside rails in...and from the farthest point to the 8 ball in. Personally, I prefer to use follow over stun or draw, because of the higher % for accuracy...and often allows me to 'drift' the CB for position....but that's me. Learning to shoot 'shot safety' in 8 Ball may well be of more benefit than safety play...again, that's me. Read the "8 Ball Bible" and you will completely understand 'shot safety'.
Best of Luck!
Lisa
Best of Luck!
Lisa
BB eight ball is alot harder than big table eight ball because of all the clusters, but the more you play you will start to recognize how and if you need to break out balls. I agree with Neil that pattern play is prolly the most important part about 8 ball on the BB. Always try and pick the pattern where the cue ball doesn't move alot cause then you risk running into other balls and you never want to hit another ball unless you intended to.
K:Keep
I:It
S:Simple
S:Stupid
always remember that rule.
K:Keep
I:It
S:Simple
S:Stupid
always remember that rule.