5 ball or 8 ball spot in 9 ball

garczar said:
If the 5ball is involved one of the players is NOT world-class or even close to it. KM must have been high when he told you that. He MIGHT give it up IF he got ALL the breaks but even then i seriously doubt it.
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When a world class player gets an open shot in 9 ball, you can basically write off the rack. It doesn’t matter if he gets to stop at the 5 or the 7,8,9...most of the time. And if someone like mccready is running racks it doesn’t matter what ball he gave you as a spot. I can definitely see him giving people the 5 to get them to the table, even his contemporaries.
 
JazzyJeff87 said:
When a world class player gets an open shot in 9 ball, you can basically write off the rack. It doesn’t matter if he gets to stop at the 5 or the 7,8,9...most of the time. And if someone like mccready is running racks it doesn’t matter what ball he gave you as a spot. I can definitely see him giving people the 5 to get them to the table, even his contemporaries.
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ONLY if he gets all the breaks. If its winner break there's NO way KM or anybody else could give an equal player the orange ball. If the guy getting the 5 gets to break any at all it can get brutal real quick.
 
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Didn't SVB give Cory the 5 ball and win?

Seems like I heard this

Cory is world class

if he can't win with the 5ball
I doubt I could win with any normal handicap that did not include the break
 
For lower level players, the 5 ball gives them a winning ball chance early in the game and a winning ball at the end.

The lower level player is rarely ever going to run the table, but may get lucky and make a ball on the break and then be able to run a few balls, one of which may be the 5.

If the more skilled player doesn't make a ball on his break, the lower level player has a better chance getting to the 5, than he does running to the 8, or the last two balls on the table. If the more skilled player does make a ball on the break, they may run out anyway and it isn't going to make a difference what ball you have.

Wild balls vs called balls changes the odds as well.
 
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When I was young, most tables had 5 inch corner pockets....
...the 8 or the break was considered even...
..most anyone I was playing even, I would offer them the 8 if I could hold the break..
...I felt being able to run packs made the break more valuable.

But that was under good conditions...there were times the 8 was more valuable...
....such as heavy, dirty cloth...tight pockets...lot of humidity....etc

When the rubber hits the road, it’s rare to find ideal conditions.
 
In college (early 70s) we would play 9 Ball $2 on the 5 and $3 on the 9. We would all run out now and again and get the $5, but more often only $1 changed hands. We were all dead broke and had to work a bit just to get tuition and book money. We all had great fun and no one got hurt too badly.

It was an old time place. You yelled “rack” after each game. I think 9 Ball was 15 cents a rack.
 
Korsakoff said:
In college (early 70s) we would play 9 Ball $2 on the 5 and $3 on the 9. We would all run out now and again and get the $5, but more often only $1 changed hands. We were all dead broke and had to work a bit just to get tuition and book money. We all had great fun and no one got hurt too badly.

It was an old time place. You yelled “rack” after each game. I think 9 Ball was 15 cents a rack.
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In college in the 60’s we played a 6 ball ring game for 25 cents on the 5 and 9. Same here. No money and having $5 was a big deal. $25 and you were king. I won $40 one night and it was a really big deal.
 
noMoreSchon said:
If you are playing someone who has gamble, it does not matter. If you are comfortable

with the spot...most likely your opponent is twice as comfortable. I myself deem the 8

more valuable, but when playing anyone with a 600+ fargo, who knows how to miss

as well when to make the ball, well you will not like the look at the table you get, and turn

over another BIH to your opponent. I like the five if I have the breaks...the old Orange

Crush. Making a game is an art in itself, and no one out runs the nuts anymore, because

they are rarely given. You have to really evaluate honestly about your game, and you

opponents game...Chances are you are losing either way, not that you are not good

enough, but they are better playing/giving weight. That is an art form by itself.
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Well said sir, you seem to get it. There are details that need to be considered in order to determine the strength of the handicap, I feel like some people are making it to cut and dry
 
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