3 Ball Game.

jacob · Jan 27, 2017

I am getting together a three ball night at my local bar. The owner has agreed to add a little money and open the table for a period of time. I am trying to get people of all skill levels to participate. I have never heard of ways to handicap a three ball game. Any ideas would be helpful. The only handicap system for three ball that I can think of would to be to charge a different fee per round based on your skill level. Thank you in advance for your serious reply

mvp · Jan 27, 2017

Weak player .25,.50,.75 great player is 1.00 etc handicap the cash! With one tie the group ties!

Magyar19 · Jan 27, 2017

jacob said:
I am getting together a three ball night at my local bar. The owner has agreed to add a little money and open the table for a period of time. I am trying to get people of all skill levels to participate. I have never heard of ways to handicap a three ball game. Any ideas would be helpful. The only handicap system for three ball that I can think of would to be to charge a different fee per round based on your skill level. Thank you in advance for your serious reply

Eh, IMO 3-ball shouldn't have to be handicapped. I've played many many sessions of 3-ball and its been my experience that everyone has about an equal chance unless they are completely horrible. Not hard to run out 1-3 balls and any banger can smash the rack and get a lucky 1 or 2 balls in

Johnnyt · Jan 27, 2017

Handicapping the cash won't work with a great player in the game with "C" and "B" players. The top player wins most of the time. Johnnyt

couldnthinkof01 · Jan 28, 2017

Handicapping the money is the best way. I have seen a d player get a 1. Its possible just unlikely. If you cant afford losing 20 bucks over 9-10 hours to have a slight chance and shark the whole time, go to the movie theater pay 18 for a movie and 18 for snacks, lol. That will get you 2 hrs. of fun, maybe. 3 ball is so much fun, you cant lose even if your down.

garczar · Jan 28, 2017

Tre ball........................

I've played in a zillion 3ball games and none were h'cappd. Everybody from a beginner to roadie played. There is a LOT of luck involved when you line-up 3 balls and whack 'em. The best way,IMHO, is to play 3 rounds and pay-out for low total and also have an ace pot that carries over til its hit. We did a $6 entry with $3 going to 1st place pot, $2 to second and $1 to ace pot. House usually kicked in $100-200 to restart ace pot if hit. Largest ace pot i've ever seen was $5,700.00 Yeah, get 'ya some.

strmanglr scott · Jan 28, 2017

I agree totally, no handicap.

It's usually whoever put balls in on the break that wins, which is pretty random.

jacob · Jan 28, 2017

Thanks for the suggestions. I agree that the game doesn't need a handicap. I fear that only the same few "better" players may show up and chase away any newbies that may give it a shot.

strmanglr scott · Jan 28, 2017

That's what makes 3 ball so great, anyone can win w a lucky break.

Never played best score of three rounds though, that would help better players.

garczar · Jan 28, 2017

I need to add that most every 3ball game/tourn. i've played in was at a bar or poolroom that had one. 3ball is as much a social deal as it is serious pool. We'd get big turn-outs(over 70players at times) and everyone had good time. I haven't played the old-school "quarter ante"-style in forever. Fun with small #'s of players but the tournament-style, 3 round deal is a lot better when you have a bunch of players. Good luck with yours and have fun.

maha · Jan 29, 2017

sure anyone can win dont handicap it. it is just a coincidence that the best players always seem to win all the money.

just look at the big pool tournaments all the suckers play thinking they have a chance and the top five are usually all right there taking down all the entry fees.

PaulieB · Jan 29, 2017

We do a buck in per person per round and to handicap it for the chasers we give them a free round every time they have to put up 3 times in a row.

We've been burned a few times but whatever ... 3 ball is not considered the most skilled game.

Bavafongoul · Jan 29, 2017

This is the main table that's used at Blue Fin Billiards
(Fresno, CA) for 3 ball, golf and also snooker games.

The pool hall is doing some great thing & one in particular
is going to be revealed shortly that is just a fabulous idea.

In the meantime, I'll get some photos posted of the pool hall
in the Gallery. It is now a sea of Simonis Tournament Blue
with the pool tables, except the snooker, newly covered. All
the 7' and 9' tables were just completed ( bumpers & cloth).

Matt,

garczar · Jan 29, 2017

strmanglr scott said:
That's what makes 3 ball so great, anyone can win w a lucky break.

Never played best score of three rounds though, that would help better players.

I guess you could h'cap the tournament version by allowing lower rated player 3rounds and only 2 for upper-level players.

garczar · Jan 29, 2017

maha said:
sure anyone can win dont handicap it. it is just a coincidence that the best players always seem to win all the money.

just look at the big pool tournaments all the suckers play thinking they have a chance and the top five are usually all right there taking down all the entry fees.

Have you EVER played it? When you line-up 3 balls(not in a triangle) the break is ALL luck. Sure the better players get out better but i've seen really weak shooters get the $$ due to the break. Also, the ace pot is why most if not all people show up. A lot of them couldn't care LESS about the low-total $. They're swingin' for the fences and headed back to their beer.

strmanglr scott · Jan 29, 2017

Acepot blows my mind, that could go forever. I've never seen it, heard ppl talk about it is all.

garczar · Jan 29, 2017

strmanglr scott said:
Acepot blows my mind, that could go forever. I've never seen it, heard ppl talk about it is all.

Its really crazy. We always used a slightly tightened Valley and sometimes the ace would get hit 2wks in a row, other times it took months. The $5,700 pot i alluded to took something like 18mos. to build up. Reason i remember it is that ace-maker usually tipped racker 10%. A buddy of mine, drunk off his a^^, came runnin' over to show me the $570 tip he just got for rackin' the ace. Needless to say, the next few rounds were on him.

3 Ball Game.

jacob

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mvp

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Magyar19

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Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues

couldnthinkof01

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garczar

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strmanglr scott

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jacob

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maha

from way back when

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garczar

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strmanglr scott

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