8-ball or 9-ball: What's Your Preference?

[ceebee]

I'd rather play Rotation games. If 8-Ball was played rotation, it might prove too difficult for most. We play inside-out 8-Ball (7 > 1 or 9 > 15) or outside-in ( 1 > 7 or 15 > 9) & add Last Pocket once in a while to spice it up. Add the Alabama 8-Ball requirement of the 15 & 1 in the side pockets, makes the game interesting even for great players.

For good players, the Break Shot in 8-Ball is extremely important. Last year I played BCA, I tied with another player for the most EROs (54) in the season.

If you end up with e suit of balls that is in trouble, you have a task on you hands.

I don't like 8-Ball, because of the "good fortune" value (that may be the wrong words to use).

I like Snooker, One-Pocket, 9-Ball, 10-Ball, 15-Bal Rotation & 3-C when I can play it.

 

[FairladyZ]

I love both games. 9-ball is a good game to play by yourself or practice with. 8-ball on my table is 'last pocket', makes for some really interesting finishes!!

 

[Pushout]

I've played both for years and don't really care for either. 9 ball is, in a single rack situation, harder, because you have to shoot the balls in rotation, which limits your choice of shot enormously. On the other had, it's is simpler, because, again, you choices are limited. In both games you are only shooting 8 or 9 balls, maybe, before beginning a new rack with the balls blasted open again. Playing a good player in Straight Pool, he may run out the game if you miss one ball, not just a rack.

You will never be good at pool playing games that allows CB position for multiple balls, 1st and foremost, you have to learn how to get CB position for a single ball, and proper angle for next ball; then you can play any other games with ease. Rotation games offer all kind of shots and speeds; where as 8 ball, straight pool, one pocket, at times restricts you to your "own desired speed" true some shots becomes tricky but not much..

I've only heard/seen this kind of attitude twice in all the years I've played and both times on AZ and in the last few months. Due to my personal experience, I just can't agree. 9 ball may show you a good many shots over a good many years but unless you see those shots, you won't know to practice them. In 14.1 you will probably see those shots a lot sooner, if you are studying the game in order to improve at it. When I was learning Straight Pool I was taught that I had to learn a huge variety of shots in order to get any kind of "feel" for the game. As I've said before, I've won games/matches in 9 ball that my opponents played safe on because they didn't even see the shot, let alone know how to shoot it. I spoke with a former top pro about this several years ago and he said the difference in attitude makes for less talented players, in a manner of speaking. Playing, then discussing and analyzing play is what improves your game, not just playing and playing.
Any and all pool games depend on playing for the next ball, if you are playing position on several balls, you're probably doing it wrong. Learning Straight Pool makes this extremely important,certainly not just rotation games. Any and all pro or pro caliber players I've talked to agree with this. Straight Pool will improve all games, especially 8 ball. Straight Pool teaches a myriad of things, position play, shot making, speed of stroke, in my opinion, one of the most important things in the game of pool. Carom shots, banks, combinations, safety play, when to pass a shot in favor of playing safe, on and on. Knowledge that becomes invaluable playing 8 or 9 ball. Many US Open 9 Ball winners were high caliber 14.1 players before they became 9 ball champions, though, to be fair, some were not.

 

[Zphix]

I've played both for years and don't really care for either. 9 ball is, in a single rack situation, harder, because you have to shoot the balls in rotation, which limits your choice of shot enormously. On the other had, it's is simpler, because, again, you choices are limited. In both games you are only shooting 8 or 9 balls, maybe, before beginning a new rack with the balls blasted open again. Playing a good player in Straight Pool, he may run out the game if you miss one ball, not just a rack.



I've only heard/seen this kind of attitude twice in all the years I've played and both times on AZ and in the last few months. Due to my personal experience, I just can't agree. 9 ball may show you a good many shots over a good many years but unless you see those shots, you won't know to practice them. In 14.1 you will probably see those shots a lot sooner, if you are studying the game in order to improve at it. When I was learning Straight Pool I was taught that I had to learn a huge variety of shots in order to get any kind of "feel" for the game. As I've said before, I've won games/matches in 9 ball that my opponents played safe on because they didn't even see the shot, let alone know how to shoot it. I spoke with a former top pro about this several years ago and he said the difference in attitude makes for less talented players, in a manner of speaking. Playing, then discussing and analyzing play is what improves your game, not just playing and playing.
Any and all pool games depend on playing for the next ball, if you are playing position on several balls, you're probably doing it wrong. Learning Straight Pool makes this extremely important,certainly not just rotation games. Any and all pro or pro caliber players I've talked to agree with this. Straight Pool will improve all games, especially 8 ball. Straight Pool teaches a myriad of things, position play, shot making, speed of stroke, in my opinion, one of the most important things in the game of pool. Carom shots, banks, combinations, safety play, when to pass a shot in favor of playing safe, on and on. Knowledge that becomes invaluable playing 8 or 9 ball. Many US Open 9 Ball winners were high caliber 14.1 players before they became 9 ball champions, though, to be fair, some were not.

So, would you say that straight pool is a good game to play alone for better practice?

My biggest problem is that except for Wednesday nights, I'm not around any players who have any knowledge of games other than 8 and 9 ball.

I played one pocket with some APA teammates on Thursday and they broke like 8 ball scattering the balls everywhere instead of a more traditional one pocket break so I easily ran out.

Basically,, I'm not around people who know there stuff beyond 8 and 9 ball. Hell! I went up to a local 7 and asked him to play some 10-ball and he said "what's that?"



Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2

 

[kaylaemarx]

The game of 9 ball is very popular in the States though. The games of 8 ball and the 9 ball have now taken over as the preferred games these days as they are fast games with simple rules.

 

[ScottK]

Basically,, I'm not around people who know there stuff beyond 8 and 9 ball. Hell! I went up to a local 7 and asked him to play some 10-ball and he said "what's that?"

That's why your LO is ruining pool in this area. His better players don't even know there are games other than eight and nine ball.

 

[Pushout]

So, would you say that straight pool is a good game to play alone for better practice?

My biggest problem is that except for Wednesday nights, I'm not around any players who have any knowledge of games other than 8 and 9 ball.

I played one pocket with some APA teammates on Thursday and they broke like 8 ball scattering the balls everywhere instead of a more traditional one pocket break so I easily ran out.

Basically,, I'm not around people who know there stuff beyond 8 and 9 ball. Hell! I went up to a local 7 and asked him to play some 10-ball and he said "what's that?"



Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2

Yes, if you have access to an 8 or 9 foot table, 14.1 doesn't translate well to bar tables. I have an 8 foot Olhausen that allows me to play 9 foot or 7 foot without too much trouble.
Phil Capelle's Play Your Best Straight Pool will show you the fundamentals of the game and there are various YouTube videos available online showing some great players. Pay particular attention to how hard they hit shots to achieve position.

Edit: If you haven't yet seen the pdf from George Fels in my sig, I strongly recommend downloading it, it's one of the best articles George ever wrote!

 

[naji]

I've played both for years and don't really care for either. 9 ball is, in a single rack situation, harder, because you have to shoot the balls in rotation, which limits your choice of shot enormously. On the other had, it's is simpler, because, again, you choices are limited. In both games you are only shooting 8 or 9 balls, maybe, before beginning a new rack with the balls blasted open again. Playing a good player in Straight Pool, he may run out the game if you miss one ball, not just a rack.



I've only heard/seen this kind of attitude twice in all the years I've played and both times on AZ and in the last few months. Due to my personal experience, I just can't agree. 9 ball may show you a good many shots over a good many years but unless you see those shots, you won't know to practice them. In 14.1 you will probably see those shots a lot sooner, if you are studying the game in order to improve at it. When I was learning Straight Pool I was taught that I had to learn a huge variety of shots in order to get any kind of "feel" for the game. As I've said before, I've won games/matches in 9 ball that my opponents played safe on because they didn't even see the shot, let alone know how to shoot it. I spoke with a former top pro about this several years ago and he said the difference in attitude makes for less talented players, in a manner of speaking. Playing, then discussing and analyzing play is what improves your game, not just playing and playing.
Any and all pool games depend on playing for the next ball, if you are playing position on several balls, you're probably doing it wrong. Learning Straight Pool makes this extremely important,certainly not just rotation games. Any and all pro or pro caliber players I've talked to agree with this. Straight Pool will improve all games, especially 8 ball. Straight Pool teaches a myriad of things, position play, shot making, speed of stroke, in my opinion, one of the most important things in the game of pool. Carom shots, banks, combinations, safety play, when to pass a shot in favor of playing safe, on and on. Knowledge that becomes invaluable playing 8 or 9 ball. Many US Open 9 Ball winners were high caliber 14.1 players before they became 9 ball champions, though, to be fair, some were not.

Push out i agree that straight pool helps 9, and 8 ball games, so all other games that you play helps all other games

The only way to know if your stroke is 100% straight is to shoot the 6 and 7 diamonds distance shots, with speed and all english to get to other side of table and back, two or three rail position; not many long shots in straight pool, and if there is the game isn't played right.
So for mastering the game of pool one should be able to master 9 ball 1st, then anything else; i played 8 ball for 1st 10 years and was good at it, then tried to play 9 ball i sucked miserably then, so i did like everyone who's stroke is not as good, (and have no break power) to the game that allows you to dock one pocket. Last couple years or so started up 9 ball again.. a bit late unfortunately. To all pool players want to be pros, do not do my mistake! for those that looking to just enjoy playing nothing else, 8 ball or straight pool is good and less frustrating!