About those Chinese 8-ball tables

smashmouth said:
wierd though that alot of the chinese players don't transition well to american pool tables, meanwhile uk 8 ball players on 6 and 7 ft bar boxes seem to transfer nicely to chinese 8 ball,
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UK 8 ball players will all have had at least some experience playing snooker at a decent level on a 12 ft table. They all have easy access to what they call "9 ball tables" ("american" pool tables) so I guess they have the right range of experience to make their shots on a bigger pool table with tougher pockets where so called fundamentals are so important. Dunno about Chinese players - I'd have thought they would have the same kind of experience too.

What I do know is that I've done a 180 on Chinese 8 ball and think it's a great game. I hope it's here to stay big time.
 
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smashmouth said:
i tried to buy one from Garreth Potts sponsor with no luck

getting info on these tables has been very tough, I spent several weeks trying to source one putting in a good 15-20 hrs of my time

i recently became aware of a room across the country that bought some so I may call em up but I suspect I'll be going through several levels of middleman with the associated price premium to finally get one so I'm in no rush

the ball/pocket size ratio is insane just not quite as tight as russian billiards

you can essentially buy a 9ft snooker or even up to 12 ft table for the same result minus a slight difference in rail height

chinese 8 ball tables and snooker tables give you the benefit of being able to practice potting using snooker balls too on the same cloth and rounded corners as snooker players

wierd though that alot of the chinese players don't transition well to american pool tables, meanwhile uk 8 ball players on 6 and 7 ft bar boxes seem to transfer nicely to chinese 8 ball,
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Hi, I can get a 9 foot snooker table and want to play Chinese 8-ball on it. Do you by any chance know the rail height of a Chinese 8-ball table? cheers
 
The hall I play in has 8 of them (the rest conventional Pool tables). You can't simply judge by pocket size alone. The balls being bigger and the deeper shelfs make them tough/same/easier depending on angle.

Down the rail. C-8 ball is tougher than snooker
Shallow angles C-8 a bit tougher
Full angles Snooker pockets are tougher
Side Pockets C-8 a bit easier

12Foot vs 9 speaks for it's self.
 
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Nick B said:
The hall I play in has 8 of them (the rest conventional Pool tables). You can't simply judge be pocket size alone. The balls being bigger and the deeper shelfs make them tough/same/easier depending on angle.

Down the rail. C-8 ball is tougher than snooker
Shallow angles C-8 a bit tougher
Full angles Snooker pockets are tougher
Side Pockets C-8 a bit easier

12Foot vs 9 speaks for it's self.
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Guy wanted to know the rail height.
 
straightline said:
Guy wanted to know the rail height.
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The lower nose of the rubber is just below midway point of the ball. =2.25" /2. Thus about an inch from the bed. Top would be 1.375" + (cloth thickness x 2).

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I've watched a fair bit of this game and all i can say is i'm glad its not widespread here in the US. I watch people struggle to make balls in buckets daily and and can only imagine how bad it would be with tables this tough. Room owners might like it tho because a single game might take over an hour based on what i watch every day. ;)
 
We have Joy 9ft table in our club. Near rail ball have to be hit perfectly if you use any speed.
If you played snooker on good 12ft table, Chinese Pool table is little more difficult than normal snooker table but distance is little less than snooker.
It really takes a lot of focus to play good on those tables. My record is 4 run outs in row chinese 8-ball.

Edit: Side pockets are easier than snooker and you try play position to side pockets as much as possible. Corners are brutal.
 
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those high end Joy Tables are built tanks
with Rasson making these now I suspect similar build quality

one common denominator that does not receive much mention amoungst those who have seen success outside China , i.e. UK pool and Snooker guys.....their familiarity with the Strachan napped cloth
 
Poolmanis said:
We have Joy 9ft table in our club. Near rail ball have to be hit perfectly if you use any speed.
If you played snooker on good 12ft table, Chinese Pool table is little more difficult than normal snooker table but distance is little less than snooker.
It really takes a lot of focus to play good on those tables. My record is 4 run outs in row chinese 8-ball.

Edit: Side pockets are easier than snooker and you try play position to side pockets as much as possible. Corners are brutal.
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This guy knows what he's talking about.
Middle pockets are a 'Joy' on C-8 compared to literally any other cue sport I have played.
A ball a few Mm from being frozen on a long rail, into the corners... that is a science that will make you sweat and regret.
When balls are frozen on the long rail, some understanding of how napped-cloth tables play will make those long corners you friend.

I hope c-8 becomes more global, it's a great game.

The problem is, too many cue sports... too many tables in a club... People want to spend less and get more... not the other way around.
It is hard to branch out and diversify the amount of games played on the specific table... I hate playing 9-ball on a Chinese table, but watched a tournament with some pretty high class players making that look like it was easy...

I do love the 6-ball game that Chinese play on that table using playing cards... not a serious game, but good for a petty gamble with friends.
 
I played on one in Bangkok. Hustlers. The felt is snooker cloth so it has nap or grain? The pockets are tricky. Have to hit the ball "pocket speed". But long slow balls roll off and fast balls bounce out of the pockets.
They are fun to play on, I like them.
 
lakeman77 said:
I played on one in Bangkok. Hustlers. The felt is snooker cloth so it has nap or grain? The pockets are tricky. Have to hit the ball "pocket speed". But long slow balls roll off and fast balls bounce out of the pockets.
They are fun to play on, I like them.
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I like playing at Hustlers for a bit of fun when I visit Bangkok, the tables are a bit lacklustre though, I preferred playing at Highend. They have a weekly C-8 competition... and no pushy women asking you to buy another drink every 5mins...

The snooker facilities at highend too... good God! Like heaven.
 
Almost every pool hall that had a Chinese 8 ball table in the US has pretty much dumped the tables. There was a room owner on the for sale section a while ball selling 3 for $500 each, then asking if they could be converted to normal pocket tables. Chinese 8 ball will never fly in the US I don't care how much money is thrown at the game!!!
 
realkingcobra said:
Almost every pool hall that had a Chinese 8 ball table in the US has pretty much dumped the tables. There was a room owner on the for sale section a while ball selling 3 for $500 each, then asking if they could be converted to normal pocket tables. Chinese 8 ball will never fly in the US I don't care how much money is thrown at the game!!!
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It's too hard for those guys who like 4.5" pockets :ROFLMAO:
 
To my understanding the pockets are supposed to be the same as snooker pockets. I know that they can be as tight as 82mm. As comparison, the 4 1/4 inch pockets on American pool table is 108mm wide
 
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