Anyone play 3C and other games well here?

hang-the-9

hang-the-9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was watching a live stream not long ago and Blomdahl ran something like a 10 or a 12, some of the shots that even the guy losing played looks pretty impressive, and that long run looked to be tougher to do than someone running 200+ balls in 14.1 or running 5-6-7 racks in 9 ball.

Is playing 3C at a decent level harder than other cue sports? I guess snooker may be closest due to the pocketing skill it takes.

What would be the level of skill and practice in 3C for a guy to run 3-4 or more pretty regularly? Would that be a top 10 pool player? 100 ball runner in 14.1? Someone that can string 3-4-5 racks in 9 ball often?
 
I know that I've heard in the past that if you can average 1 point per inning you would be considered a very good player. To me that says a lot about the skill required.
 
StraightPoolIU said:
I know that I've heard in the past that if you can average 1 point per inning you would be considered a very good player. To me that says a lot about the skill required.
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I think that running 1 at 3-cushion is roughly equivalent to running 10 at straight pool, so a run of 10 billiards would be like a run of 100. The highest 3-C run in competition is 28 (in a 3-way tie) while the highest 14.1 run is Appleton's recent 200 and out.

I've heard that Don Feeney once had runs of 100 at 14.1, 10 at 3-C and a 100 at snooker in the same week. That's a pretty good triple-threat.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I've heard that Don Feeney once had runs of 100 at 14.1, 10 at 3-C and a 100 at snooker in the same week. That's a pretty good triple-threat.
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[SIDE NOTE ALERT]

Don "The Preacher" has been mentioned a couple of times here recently, and coincidentally I saw him at Chris's yesterday after years of not seeing him around Chicago (since he moved to Florida). He's looking healthy (gained a few pounds) and looks to be still playing pretty well.

By the way, it was at Chris's in the 90s (or early 00s) that I saw Semih Sayginer set the (then, at least) US 3C tournament high run record of 20.

pj
chgo
 
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Bob Jewett said:
I think that running 1 at 3-cushion is roughly equivalent to running 10 at straight pool, so a run of 10 billiards would be like a run of 100. The highest 3-C run in competition is 28 (in a 3-way tie) while the highest 14.1 run is Appleton's recent 200 and out.

I've heard that Don Feeney once had runs of 100 at 14.1, 10 at 3-C and a 100 at snooker in the same week. That's a pretty good triple-threat.
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That seems a bit too easy, A B player should be able to run 10 points in 14.1 pretty easily but I don't see a B 3C player getting 1 per inning in 3C, seems tougher than that. Maybe it's because I never really played or tired to learn 3C but seems an average run of 20 or more in 14.1 would be closer to a 1 average in 3C.
 
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hang-the-9 said:
That seems a bit too easy, A B player should be able to run 10 points in 14.1 pretty easily but I don't see a B 3C player getting 1 per inning in 3C, seems tougher than that.
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I think the highest pro average in a 3C tournament is still less than 3. I don't know if an average of 1 at 3C is better than an average of 10 at 14.1. They sound closer to me than they do to you.

pj
chgo
 
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Patrick Johnson said:
I think the highest pro average in a 3C tournament is still less than 3. I don't know if an average of 1 at 3C is better than an average of 10 at 14.1. They sound closer to me than they do to you.

pj
chgo
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Maybe so, I did ask because to me, I look at 3C as a bar banger would look at a B pool player even though we know that a B player is OK, to a really bad pool player a B player is God.

Maybe we need a chart out there comparing cue sport runs. 5 racks of 9 ball = 100 14.1 = 6 racks of 8 ball = 2 average in 3C = 8 and out in 1 pocket = max break in snooker. Something like that. Would be fun to see how people would roughly compare things. I smell the idea of a new post!
 
Important to this overall discussion is the difference between runs and averages I think. While it's fairly easy for a B player like myself to run 10 it's harder to carry a 10 BPI in a game of 14.1. I imagine it's similar with someone with an equivalent experience level in 3C.
 
hang-the-9 said:
That seems a bit too easy, A B player should be able to run 10 points in 14.1 pretty easily but I don't see a B 3C player getting 1 per inning in 3C, seems tougher than that. Maybe it's because I never really played or tired to learn 3C but seems an average run of 20 or more in 14.1 would be closer to a 1 average in 3C.
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If you played with an optional cueball on the first shot in 3-C many people would average pretty good. There is a lot of safety play in 3-C and it really degrades averages.

We used to play a gambling game in 3-C where you could use either cue ball on the first shot but if you made a billiard you used the same ball till you missed. We may play for like $5.00 and any number can play. You had to run 3 to collect from every one else.

You would be surprised how fast even average players can run three if they have a shot to start with.
 
Try balkline. Check out the match between Efren and Calderon. There are more scoring opportunities and it translates better to pool.

I'll play snooker, 3c, bar box pool, anything billiards has my name on it. Love this game.
 
To use myself as a comparison since I have played and love both games.

In pool I am considered an "A" player with straight pool runs of 75, 77, 82, 82, and 93. I never did quite get to 100.

In 3 cushion my average was between 0.3 and 0.4 and my high run is 8. I would be considered a "C" player in 3 cushion and the good players do average close to and above 1.0.

I can crush 3 cushion players on the pool table, but they can crush me on the 3 cushion table, but I do love both games.
 
hang-the-9 said:
I was watching a live stream not long ago and Blomdahl ran something like a 10 or a 12, some of the shots that even the guy losing played looks pretty impressive, and that long run looked to be tougher to do than someone running 200+ balls in 14.1 or running 5-6-7 racks in 9 ball.

Is playing 3C at a decent level harder than other cue sports? I guess snooker may be closest due to the pocketing skill it takes.

What would be the level of skill and practice in 3C for a guy to run 3-4 or more pretty regularly? Would that be a top 10 pool player? 100 ball runner in 14.1? Someone that can string 3-4-5 racks in 9 ball often?
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From my limited knowledge and experience, I would not say that 3C compares with any pocket games. I used to play at World Class in Peabody quite a bit where there were four 3C tables and quite a few pool tables. People tended to play one or the other. Most of the 3C players I knew didn't feel that confident with their pocketing skills. They believed that their knowledge of 3C and different ways to successfully handle the various shot options took them further in that game than their pocketing skills would in pool.

You live pretty near Mazin Shooni's pool/billiard room in Malden, MA. If you're interested, there may not be a better place to learn. Even if you don't become a great 3C player, a limited understanding of the game makes you a better rotation pool player. Mazin used to give lessons, but I don't know if he still does. He would be a great teacher. He is one of the strongest of the cross-over players. Pretty good at 1P, but one of the best at 3C.
 
I enjoy the hell out of 3c im very new to it however and not any good,
same as my pool game really,8ball and 14.1 ,love playing but I don't think ill ever really get good at any of them,
I just enjoy billiards period
would love to try snooker
 
I think alot of the wow factor that us non-3C players see when watching that game is just attributed to the players' mastery of that game's fundamentals and feel, and our lack of mastery as onlookers. We can see the shots done, understand them, and probably execute them sometimes, but not with their level of consistency. Like a 50 ball runner in straight pool aspiring to be the 100 ball runner.
 
I've run 7 in 3C quite a few times, and i've run 100+ 4 times.

I do not play 3C regularly, but i am learning the game. dont want to mess up my pool stroke too bad. i find the more i play 3C the more i start focussing on the Cue-Ball path and not concerning myself where i am sending the object ball, and thats not good for pool. also i tend to start stroking shots too hard as well.

-Steve
 
Sealegs50 said:
From my limited knowledge and experience, I would not say that 3C compares with any pocket games. I used to play at World Class in Peabody quite a bit where there were four 3C tables and quite a few pool tables. People tended to play one or the other. Most of the 3C players I knew didn't feel that confident with their pocketing skills. They believed that their knowledge of 3C and different ways to successfully handle the various shot options took them further in that game than their pocketing skills would in pool.

You live pretty near Mazin Shooni's pool/billiard room in Malden, MA. If you're interested, there may not be a better place to learn. Even if you don't become a great 3C player, a limited understanding of the game makes you a better rotation pool player. Mazin used to give lessons, but I don't know if he still does. He would be a great teacher. He is one of the strongest of the cross-over players. Pretty good at 1P, but one of the best at 3C.
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I've been to Mazin's room, nice room but don't like the membership thing since I can't go there often enough to justify paying for it.

My son beat Mazin in a 9 ball tournament there a bit over a year ago and someone took a picture of them together.

I was just amazed at that 10+ run that I saw, the guy was shooting 3-4-5 rails shots with spin and acting like they were hangers.
 
3 cushion is very difficult but once you get used to the heavier balls and using English to get to the ball it becomes easier to get closer, not necessarily hit your carom, and heated tables you don't have to hit hard. That's the biggest adjustment I had to make. Not hitting everything hard. I'm a terrible 3 cushion player, but it's a good change and very instructive. Good game, I play in a room with several professionals and they make some ridiculous caroms, and the verhoven open held there everyyear you see world class carom. And every time efren is in NY he stops by for a little 3 cushion fun. I recommend it to anyone who needs rail practice. It can get a little boring if you play for an hour and hit one, but at least your trying:o
 
ask Bob Jewitt (done), SJM, CUEBUDDY, & LOUF. they were playing 3C at Best Billiards during Mosconi.
 
hang-the-9 said:
That seems a bit too easy, A B player should be able to run 10 points in 14.1 pretty easily but I don't see a B 3C player getting 1 per inning in 3C, seems tougher than that. Maybe it's because I never really played or tired to learn 3C but seems an average run of 20 or more in 14.1 would be closer to a 1 average in 3C.
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I was talking about high runs, but maybe averages align similarly.

A good but not phenomenal average at straight pool is 10. A good but not phenomenal average at 3-C is 1.0.
 
hang-the-9 said:
I've been to Mazin's room, nice room but don't like the membership thing since I can't go there often enough to justify paying for it.

My son beat Mazin in a 9 ball tournament there a bit over a year ago and someone took a picture of them together.

I was just amazed at that 10+ run that I saw, the guy was shooting 3-4-5 rails shots with spin and acting like they were hangers.
Click to expand...

What is the membership thing? I am thinking about going there myself.
 
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