Do You Find Pros Playing 8-ball Boring?

[sjm]

Bar table eight ball is the much better game at pro level. Negotiating the traffic on the smaller table makes it a greater challenge than eight ball on a nine-footer.

On a nine-footer, without take what you make, the game is merely a breaking contest, for the runouts are just too easy for the pros. Take what you make should be mandatory at pro level on the nine footers, as it often toughens the runouts.

Overall, however, eight ball on a nine-footer is not a challenging game for today's pros. There's no game I less want to watch.

 

[sjm]

He did four 8-Ball Make It Happen events -- 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017

Those Make it Happen events were great events, as every match featured two of the game's most elite players.

 

[Swighey]

Overall, however, eight ball on a nine-footer is not a challenging game for today's pros. There's no game I less want to watch.

9 Ball is often touted the same way, but the actual games played prove the opposite. I wonder how it would be with 8 ball?

 

[Rocket354]

Pro 8 ball is boring whether it's 7ft or 9ft. I've seen some 7ft pro 8ball tournaments and they didn't seem any different from the 9ft one we just watched. If anything, it seemed easier.

Here's an example. Race to 9. Every rack was a break and run except one rack where there was a scratch on the break by Josh and so SVB ran out.

Watching pros play plink pool on toy tables is never interesting. Almost none of the talent and abilities they spent years developing and honing are ever used.

 

[Jedco]

I enjoy watching 8-ball and wish there were more opportunities to watch it played at a high level.

 

[fastone371]

Pro 8 ball is boring whether it's 7ft or 9ft. I've seen some 7ft pro 8ball tournaments and they didn't seem any different from the 9ft one we just watched. If anything, it seemed easier.

Here's an example. Race to 9. Every rack was a break and run except one rack where there was a scratch on the break by Josh and so SVB ran out.

Watching pros play plink pool on toy tables is never interesting. Almost none of the talent and abilities they spent years developing and honing are ever used.

Yeah, because that has never happened in 9 ball before.

 

[Fore Rail]

There are 3 things that readily come to mind that I prefer to do than watch.

Sex, golf & pool.

I hope that answers the original question.

 

[Rocket354]

Yeah, because that has never happened in 9 ball before.

Per stats posted here, the BnR percentage is significantly higher in 8b than in 9b or 10b.

People complained about the 10b BnR percentage going from something like 19 to 32 going from the predator rack to a template. The 8b BnR was over 50 with most of the rest done in the opponent's first inning.

Like it or not, the spectator experience is vastly different between the disciplines. I personally do not like it.

 

[JolietJames]

On a big table, yes.
On a bar box, no.

 

[Philthepockets]

Good game if you play it on the right size table, too much space on a 9ft.

 

[JPB2]

Pro 8 ball is boring whether it's 7ft or 9ft. I've seen some 7ft pro 8ball tournaments and they didn't seem any different from the 9ft one we just watched. If anything, it seemed easier.

Here's an example. Race to 9. Every rack was a break and run except one rack where there was a scratch on the break by Josh and so SVB ran out.

Watching pros play plink pool on toy tables is never interesting. Almost none of the talent and abilities they spent years developing and honing are ever used.

I have watched that match before and enjoyed it. Not every match on the bar box is like that. I don’t have a problem seeing great players run out. HAVING to run out in a match brings its own pressure. I don’t understand not wanting to see great players run out.

I am not saying every pro match should be this format or that there are not better tests in other formats. I would just rather watch that than a lot of the snooze fest 10 ball. Obviously others disagree, but 10 ball is usually what I enjoy the least as a spectator event

 

[Cameron Smith]

I think I’ll be in the minority here but 8 ball on the big table has to be winner breaks to be interesting for me.

Alternating breaks, I’m just watching to see who makes the first mistake. But at least with winner breaks there is that high run component to see if they can put a big package together and then if the other guy can come back.

I find take what you make a bit more interesting to watch, but I’ve never been able to get on board with putting one guy at a disadvantage for making a good shot (ie. making the ‘wrong’ suit on the break)

 

[loggerhead12]

8-ball is way more fun to watch pros play. As soon as the break happens I try to visualize what the player is going to do. I might get 2-3 balls right, but they always come up with some amazing, clever, creative shot through gaps in the traffic that I did not see.

Rotation is only interesting because of the safeties. I still watch, though.

 

[ChrisinNC]

Break, make a ball and run out. Rinse and repeat. Unwatchable. At least in 10-ball there are more opportunities for a bad roll or spectacular safety play. In pro level 8 ball it's Break, make a ball and run out. And, if you don't make a ball your opponent has a 90% chance of running out.

Not much different than 9-ball with the top pro players, assuming they have a makeable shot after the break.

 

[justadub]

Not much different than 9-ball with the top pro players, assuming they have a makeable shot after the break.

This was my thought, as well...

 

[fuggles]

The only reason 9 ball bnr is so low now is because the powers that be changed the breaking rules to make it harder. Hard break. Break in the box. 9 ball on the spot. 4 inch pockets. When the old rules were in play 9 ball at the pro level was a break and run festival.

 

[skogstokig]

Not much different than 9-ball with the top pro players, assuming they have a makeable shot after the break.

i don't think the statistics agree. the recently concluded 8-ball had 85% runout after successful break, i doubt 9-ball or 10-ball is anywhere near that.

as for barboxes, stats seem to disagree with the popular opinion there as well, with even higher numbers than 85%.

boring or not, what it becomes is very unilateral, with the single visits and no input from the opponent. in that regard similar to practice/ just playing the table. but some people like to watch that too. it's all preferences in the end

 

[fuggles]

i don't think the statistics agree. the recently concluded 8-ball had 85% runout after successful break, i doubt 9-ball or 10-ball is anywhere near that.

as for barboxes, stats seem to disagree with the popular opinion there as well, with even higher numbers than 85%.

boring or not, what it becomes is very unilateral, with the single visits and no input from the opponent. in that regard similar to practice/ just playing the table. but some people like to watch that too. it's all preferences in the end

That is not what the data said. If the breaker made a ball on the break, 127 times, they ran out 85 times. 67%.
but real break and run % is 85/163 or 52%.

 

[Bob Jewett]

[Pat Fleming] did four 8-Ball Make It Happen events -- 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017

He also did an invitational 8 ball round robin at the 2001 LA Open, which you might call a Pat Makes It Happen.

 

[Brookeland Bill]

Not boring when two hotties playing in bikinis.

Are you talking Ghorst and Filler? No thanks. I’m thinking a game between two large busted 21 year olds playing topless and when they are bent over and shooting both of their t*ts have to be touching the rail.