8 ball or 9 ball

There is more luck in 8 ball or 9 ball?

  • 8 ball

    Votes: 18 22.0%

  • 9 ball

    Votes: 64 78.0%
  • Total voters
    82
Most of the 8 ball that I have seen has not been at the pro level, so I assume that the luck factor goes way down at that point. But for us mortals I say luck plays a much bigger factor in 8 ball. Sh*iting one ball in during a 9 ball game really doesn’t mean much if you can’t get the rest of the way out.
 
When you miss position on 8ball, you have other options to choose from (unless your on the last ball) but on 9ball, you only have 1 option everytime you shoot. And regarding slopping on 9ball, then make it call shot/pocket on all balls. It's not like there's a rule saying that you can't have a call shot/pocket in 9 balls.
 
nyjoe14.1 said:
Sh*iting one ball in during a 9 ball game really doesn’t mean much if you can’t get the rest of the way out.
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It does if it IS the money ball. IMO the rules of 9 ball make it the game where luck can have a bigger impact on the outcome. Missed balls can rattle the points and go into the adjacent pocket etc.
It is also my opinon that more skill is required to play 9 ball well, because to have a shot depends on if the shooter positions the cueball where THE next ball can be made. In 8 ball, you can completely blow a leave (hide the cueball from the intended shot) and still have another shot and runnable table in front of you.
Chuck
 
Folks keep reiterating how much better of a chance a weaker player has at 8-Ball.

I used to think so too. Watching the IPT matches pretty much dispelled this myth for me. The lesser skilled players didn't last very long. Strickland's performance at the IPT showed how important strategy and knowledge of patterns are in 8-Ball.

Instead of looking at the 9-Ball scenario where the strong player runs to the 6, misses, and takes comfort in the fact that the weaker player can't get out from there very often, look at it from a full runout point of view. The more skilled player runs to the 9, then rattles it in the hole, or worse, scratches in the attempt. I have both won and lost many games because of this very thing. In 8-ball, if I run all my balls and rattle the 8, the other player is not handed a virtually automatic win, but still has to make 5 or 6 called shots before winning, an effort which might be more complicated by the fact that the 8 is partially blocking a pocket. While it's true that a decent player might have no trouble doing that, it still requires considerably more execution than the 9-Ball scenario.

Then there are the 9-Ball breaks that roll the nine near a pocket, and leave a combo, or worse, roll the 9 to a pocket and then scratch, leaving a plum combo - a situation with no equivalent in 8-Ball. Ditto the 9-Ball on the break. Add in the slop factor, and the scale tips noticeably in favor of 9-Ball being the more "lucky" game.

Ken
 
Slider said:
Folks keep reiterating how much better of a chance a weaker player has at 8-Ball.

I used to think so too. Watching the IPT matches pretty much dispelled this myth for me. The lesser skilled players didn't last very long. Strickland's performance at the IPT showed how important strategy and knowledge of patterns are in 8-Ball.

Instead of looking at the 9-Ball scenario where the strong player runs to the 6, misses, and takes comfort in the fact that the weaker player can't get out from there very often, look at it from a full runout point of view. The more skilled player runs to the 9, then rattles it in the hole, or worse, scratches in the attempt. I have both won and lost many games because of this very thing. In 8-ball, if I run all my balls and rattle the 8, the other player is not handed a virtually automatic win, but still has to make 5 or 6 called shots before winning, an effort which might be more complicated by the fact that the 8 is partially blocking a pocket. While it's true that a decent player might have no trouble doing that, it still requires considerably more execution than the 9-Ball scenario.

Then there are the 9-Ball breaks that roll the nine near a pocket, and leave a combo, or worse, roll the 9 to a pocket and then scratch, leaving a plum combo - a situation with no equivalent in 8-Ball. Ditto the 9-Ball on the break. Add in the slop factor, and the scale tips noticeably in favor of 9-Ball being the more "lucky" game.

Ken
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The weaker player does have a better chance in 8ball. When you get to the level of the players on the IPT tour, luck doesn't play a part in such an evenly matched and high level. The best player should win. If I'm playing Efren on the other hand, I'd much rather try my chances at 8ball than 9ball.

I made my decision on which game has the most luck based on which one the weaker player has the best chance of winning in an even game. IMO, that is definitely 8ball.
 
Age old debate around here, but I voted 9 ball. There is way more strategy in 8 ball than 9. You should never get down to 1 ball and not be able to get out in 8. You should recognize what's going on and do something about it before it's too late. The only way 8 ball can be considered "luckier" (IMO) is APA style where slop counts and BIH rules apply. In that case I'd say 8 involves more luck.

McCue Banger McCue
 
nyjoe14.1 said:
There is more luck in 8 ball or 9 ball??

Which ever one you vote for give us a few words as to why you think that way.
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Yet another poll question that gets asked every couple of months.

Anyone who doesn't see the obvious luck involved in both games apparently hasn't played both enough. 9-ball, slop counts, but you must hit the lowest ball. 8-ball, you don't have to be within 4 ft of your intended position, but the other balls bail you out. Two different kinds of luck, one more obvious than the other.

The question is like asking, "Which has more rice in it? Pinnacle or I have to catch the bus at 8:00 AM."

Fred <~~~ I love lamp
 
I don't think which game has the higher run out percentage has much to do with which game has the most luck. To the contrary, run out percentage has to do with skill not luck. There are statistics on run out percentages. There are no statistics on how often the cue ball stopped rolling just an inch short of leaving you nothing. We all sort of forget about these little stokes of luck don't we. We call that skill. LOL
 
Cornerman said:
Yet another poll question that gets asked every couple of months.

Fred <~~~ I love lamp
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CaptainJR said:
There are no statistics on how often the cue ball stopped rolling just an inch short of leaving you nothing. We all sort of forget about these little stokes of luck don't we. We call that skill. LOL
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Kind of funny. You mention all the threads that have been about luck. I've been watching them for almost 3 years now and don't remember ever seeing the little tid-bit I've brought up, ever being mentioned before. What, is it taboo?:eek::)
 
Klopek said:
Maybe it's no accident. I know when I'm playing a low percentage shot, I'll actually walk over and figure out where to hide the cueball if I miss. Looks like an innocent fluke, but it's no accident. I drive my opponents crazy with this, and when I play the ghost, I drive myself crazy.:D The hard part is doing it in a way where if you somehow make that tough shot, you still have another shot.:D
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LOL! You'll have to take my word for it - I know the skill level of the guys I play down here, and I know when they luck out and safe me up. I'm talking about guys who have two speeds - very hard and very soft - and don't have much of an idea where whitey's going. As for when I leave them safe, especially in bar tournaments where safes aren't allowed, that's always an accident too. :)
 
Everyone seems to think 9-ball players "get lucky and slot balls in" to get out...but I would bet on 9-ball before 8-ball.
 
nyjoe14.1 said:
There is more luck in 8 ball or 9 ball??

Which ever one you vote for give us a few words as to why you think that way.
Click to expand...
More luck in nine ball by far. I've been playing pool for 50 years and don't ever recall riding the eight.
 
actually according to the rules 9 ball is not a "call shot" game

sky.. said:
When you miss position on 8ball, you have other options to choose from (unless your on the last ball) but on 9ball, you only have 1 option everytime you shoot. And regarding slopping on 9ball, then make it call shot/pocket on all balls. It's not like there's a rule saying that you can't have a call shot/pocket in 9 balls.
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while eightball is, if played by the normally accepted rules, call pocket on all shots! this fact by definition makes, at least in this poll,:eek: nine ball the luckier game !
 
Lmao

dabarbr said:
More luck in nine ball by far. I've been playing pool for 50 years and don't ever recall riding the eight.
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I don't think it's ever been said better! :D :D :D

Good Rolls,
Rasta
 
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