8-ball lucky?

J

JMBoyd

Registered
I got into an argument with a couple of friends today who said that they preferred 9-ball to 8-ball because there was too much luck involved in 8-ball. I completely disagree. If anything, 9-ball involves more luck simply because you don't have to call your shots, and can make the 9 at any time.

What do you guys think?
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JMB
 
9 Ball takes more skill to "run" on the other hand anyone who hits the next numerical ball has a chance to win, 9 ball "riders" I call them... 8 ball? if you call your shots, Id say 9 ball is what the slop artisits would rather play....


2wld4u
 
I believe that is why the IPT chose 8-ball. To rule out a little of the luck factor???????randyg
 
randyg said:
I believe that is why the IPT chose 8-ball. To rule out a little of the luck factor???????randyg
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as well as making the game a game... 8 ball will bring new life to some players who have been out of the scene for awhile, believe it or not but some 9 ball players have trouble with 8 ball... you must know a thing or two about clusters, and banks... My money is on the one pocket and straight pool players to dominate... with some exceptions ofcourse..


2wld4u
 
Actually, the IPT chose 8-ball because of the public's familiarity with the game.

As far as straight pool and one-pocket players dominating, I think that statements needs to dissecting.

There seems to be this misconception that just because pros play 9-ball on TV, that it's all they play. Strickland is one of the the best 9-ball players in history, yet he's run 400+ in straight pool and I'm sure he could do it again. Same for Thomas Engert. Hohmann can play 9-ball, straights, and 8-ball at a world-class level and he's not even yet 30. Reyes won the Maine event despite so little experience with straight pool. Souquet won the '01 Straight pool US Open. Robles admits straight pool is his best game, despite winning the BCA Open. Scott Frost, Shannon Daulton, Tony Chohan -- all big names who can play just about all games.

My point is only that to think that pros only play 9-ball is narrow minded; these guys can play all games well. Look at Reyes 140+ ball run against Hall of Famer Dallas West. It's unconventional, yes -- but he kicked poor old Dallas to the curb. So to say simply that the straight pool and one-pocket kings will rule is sort of a half-truth -- just about *all* of these guys are either straight pool or one-pocket players with perhaps the exception of the snooker players. These guys are pros not because they play 9-ball so well. It's because they play *pool* so well. 8-ball, 9-ball, straight pool and one pocket. So I'm not counting out any of the "9-ball players." These guys didn't get to be pros without thousands of hours of effort and hard work.


2wld4u said:
as well as making the game a game... 8 ball will bring new life to some players who have been out of the scene for awhile, believe it or not but some 9 ball players have trouble with 8 ball... you must know a thing or two about clusters, and banks... My money is on the one pocket and straight pool players to dominate... with some exceptions ofcourse..


2wld4u
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Are you Real ?

JMBoyd said:
I got into an argument with a couple of friends today who said that they preferred 9-ball to 8-ball because there was too much luck involved in 8-ball. I completely disagree. If anything, 9-ball involves more luck simply because you don't have to call your shots, and can make the 9 at any time.

What do you guys think?
--
JMB
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It's exactly the opposite.
 
I think 9 ball is a more skill game at the higher levels of competition. At any time, you only have one option to shoot at, the lowest number ball on the table. And half of that time, you might not even have an available pocket for that ball. In eight ball, you start with the option of the easier set of balls. then you have 7 different options on how you'd like to run them out. Not even a question to me.
 
JMBoyd said:
I got into an argument with a couple of friends today who said that they preferred 9-ball to 8-ball because there was too much luck involved in 8-ball. I completely disagree. If anything, 9-ball involves more luck simply because you don't have to call your shots, and can make the 9 at any time.

What do you guys think?
--
JMB
Click to expand...

Opposite, they're bangers aren't they?
 
Lucky ?

Njhustler1 said:
I think 9 ball is a more skill game at the higher levels of competition. At any time, you only have one option to shoot at, the lowest number ball on the table. And half of that time, you might not even have an available pocket for that ball. In eight ball, you start with the option of the easier set of balls. then you have 7 different options on how you'd like to run them out. Not even a question to me.
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I like players that think this way because when were done we still get to play nine ball, sometimes for a couple days.
 
I always thought 9-ball was harder, until I tried to play 8-ball. I concluded that one is not easier or harder than the other. They both have their difficulties. In 9-ball, you have to pocket the balls in succession. In 8-ball, you pocket the balls in any order but you have another set acting as obsticles. I found, personally, that I'm a terrible 8-ball player and will be sticking to 9-ball.
 
Njhustler1 said:
I think 9 ball is a more skill game at the higher levels of competition. At any time, you only have one option to shoot at, the lowest number ball on the table. And half of that time, you might not even have an available pocket for that ball. In eight ball, you start with the option of the easier set of balls. then you have 7 different options on how you'd like to run them out. Not even a question to me.
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If 8 ball is easier because you "have 7 different options", then straight pool must be REAL easy, no?

In fact, 8 ball is either easier than your regular 9 ball layout, or MUCH more difficult to run depending on the difficulty of the layout. Some layouts are just not runnable, period, even though you may have a few shots available to you after the break.

I think that is a superficial assessment of the difference between the two games. Both have their brand of challenging skill sets.
 
Pro's and 8ball

To think Pros will struggle with 8ball is a mistake. I agree with StevenP that Pros will adjust. Most will do just fine with 8-ball, except when the feeling that great shots make runouts becomes overwhelming. Those that use more caution and safety play will be the doninating players, IMO.
 
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