For me 8 ball is more difficult.
9 Ball is easier.
That's on a 9 foot table.
On a 7 foot table 9 ball is so easy it's boring.
9 Ball is easier.
That's on a 9 foot table.
On a 7 foot table 9 ball is so easy it's boring.
8 ball or 9 ball which do you find more difficult?
- Thread starter Nyquil
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middleofnowhere
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I miss balls playing one pocket I would never miss playing 9 ball or straight pool.
The game is so different. If you play say a 20 minute game the most balls you will have pocketed is eight.
In between you are bumping balls, lagging balls, slowing rolling balls. It is not conducent to confident ball pocketing. That's why one pocket specialists are hard to beat, they have a special temprement for the game.
8 ball is easier on a 9 foot and 9 ball is easier on an 7 foot table.
I agree with you.My position has always been, 9 ball is the young mans game and 8 ball the old mans game.
I enjoyed watching Ray Martin playing 9 ball. His game had straight pool stamped on it.Primarily shortest but very precise path to shape.
Straight pool was one way I practiced that improved my 8 ball.
There are a lot of similarities between straight pool and 8 ball.
Both games are about seeing the patterns.
Between 8- and 9-ball, I have found 8-ball the more difficult to learn for the reason you cited. I enjoy when my safety play keeps me in control of the game, but it doesn’t happen often enough to feel like I know the game.
I have always considered 8B a shot selection game and 9B a shot execution game. In 8B you usually have multiple runout options so you get choose what direction you want to go. In 9B you are limited in your runout options and it therefore requires a better executed stroke than 8B.
For me, depending on the day, I am better at one game than I am the other.
For me, depending on the day, I am better at one game than I am the other.
I disagree…….straight pool is a game unto itself. 8 ball is a game of avoidance as much as making balls.
Every game involves mapping a table in advance including 9 ball & especially 10 ball since there’s no slop.
You have to get position to keep any map working or create a new map if you get a different angle on a shot.
Running the table is a common denominator in every game except one pocket which tends to become tedious.
Two different games. 9 ball is tougher until you really start to learn how to move the cue ball. Then if you know pattern play, the game becomes very easy. 8 ball is “easier” for people who don’t really know how to move the cue ball around. Pool is funny though. The game becomes a lot more fun once you learn how to run out. 9 ball is quick and exciting when played that way. There’s a reason it was the game for TV rather than 8 ball.
Nyquil
Well-known member
Ya I was thinking 9 ball on 9 foot would be pretty easy, especially with league cut pockets. I have only played 9 ball on 7's until last night. My cue ball control is the issue at the moment that is making it more difficult along with breaking pattern consistency. All in due time I suppose.
Nyquil
Well-known member
Yup cue ball control was my nemesis last night.
The key element of safety play that is overlooked by new/weaker players is when to play safe. Usually they can’t resist making the easy balls. 
The key element of safety play that is overlooked by new/weaker players is when to play safe. Usually they can’t resist making the easy balls.
Agreed, I was playing someone 9B a while back and I had a perfectly good shot on the 1B after the break but chose not to shoot it. Instead, I used that one and drove it up table to break out a cluster that included the 2B (no reason to make the one if I can't make the two).
The guy came to the table and said something like "wow, I never would've considered that" and was asking why I did it. When I explained it to him he was very happy to have learned something and I saw him trying the same thing against me later. Good times
As far as safety play goes, 9B you can usually play a safe at any point but in 8B you better do it early before you get all of your balls out of the way
Each game builds different skills. I would have to say I play 8-ball better than 9, as I dont get around the table as well as I should. Often ending on the wrong side of the next ball. 8-ball has more strategy, and more stop shots. Easier to recover, easier to hide, if need be.
I enjoy both.
I enjoy both.
I play all of the games.
Stop shots and their close relative the stun shot are critical to all of the games.
They allow for less movement of the cue ball.
9 ball, when the lay out allows, and the player sees it, is a beautiful thing
when the last 5 or 6 balls are stun or stop shots.
Thanks for the morning laugh
A few years ago I was down two games and not playing well. I changed my strategy and the guy quit saying "I haven't had a shot in over an hour, we'll just call it even"
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9 ball game requires much better shape than 8 ball. Plus in 8 ball games, the PATTERN is most important. Had a teacher that would only allow 7-8 feet of run out of the cue ball after hitting all of the stripes or solids. That is for the whole run out. It's so hard to set up 15 balls so someone can see the patterns. Unless they have a projector with the balls illuminated on the table.
Howdy All;
I'm old school-ish. Learned with straight pool, back inna 60's, Teaches you BOTH,
how to see then play the patterns (8-ball), and helps ya learn the positional (9-ball),
skills required. It also helps develop your ability to focus, problem solve and imo
patience. Spend time developing your stance, stroke, and patience. It's all in the basics.
hank
I'm old school-ish. Learned with straight pool, back inna 60's, Teaches you BOTH,
how to see then play the patterns (8-ball), and helps ya learn the positional (9-ball),
skills required. It also helps develop your ability to focus, problem solve and imo
patience. Spend time developing your stance, stroke, and patience. It's all in the basics.
hank
If you are not yet at a solid B or higher level, then practice with 9 ball may be not yet something you should be doing to improve. Start with 3 balls play them in order. If you can do that say 8 of 10 tries, go to 4, then 5, etc...
I think a lot of newer players make the mistake of grabbing a cue then just going to play the game normally without first going through the training stages and just get stuck with a big mess of balls they can't get through. It takes a long time to develop position and pattern play to play a full rack of pool properly.
I'm with you, straight pool is the 'teacher', but every time I get close to the illusive '100' I miss on an easy shot, rattle the pocket, and beat my forehead with the cue. My head can't take any more abuse so I stick with the short rack games!