8-ball Talk, I LUV it

Cornerman

Cornerman

Cue Author...Sometimes
Silver Member
It's amazing that with the IPT, how much discussion of 8-ball has popped up of late.

It's a game played by most of us amateurs, and can be played at a high and entertaining level. We have 8-ball tournaments on both bar tables and 9' tables all over the place, all the time. Finally, it's truly being put on the stage where it belongs: with the pros. They used to have pro 8-ball tourneys in the 70's and 80's, with a sparse sprinkle in the 90's and the aughts.

It's not new, and there's a wealth of 8-ball knowledge on these boards. The game has come full circle for many of us, and it is a breath of fresh... refreshed air.

Fred <~~~ hasn't played 8-ball in days (hours?)
 
Couldn't agree more !!!!

I was just talking to a buddy of mine the other day and we were both saying the same things. It's nice to see 8 ball getting some bigger exposure. I believe the game is vastly underrated by many. I've been playing pool for a long time and I still never get bored playing 8 ball. I play in a variety of different 8 ball leagues and tournaments and I can say without question that I still look forward to playing every time. I guess maybe I burned out on 9 ball too early. ;)
 
Cornerman said:
It's amazing that with the IPT, how much discussion of 8-ball has popped up of late.

Fred <~~~ hasn't played 8-ball in days (hours?)
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I agree. Everyone I've met from these pool groups that visits us up here in the Great White North always wants to play 9-ball or some weird aberration like 1-pocket or banks (grin).

In Canada we play 8-ball. I'd have to travel to Oshawa to play in the nearest 9-ball league, yet there are dozens of viable 8-ball leagues right here in the Toronto area. Snooker and 8-ball - that's Canadian.

I'm looking forward to seeing it played at a high level. I bet I learn something...
 
Like 'em Both!

I concur. I like both games equally as well (8-Ball & 9-Ball). They are such different games with different strategies and execution methods........but I would be hard-pressed to pick one over the other. But it certainly is refreshing to see all the on-line chatter about 8-Ball lately. Also, with the IPT choosing 8-Ball as their ONLY game.....I'm much more curious about seeing who wins the tournaments.....because being a great 9-Ball player doesn't necessarily mean one is a great 8-Ball player. I think we're going to see some different names winning these tournaments......
 
The Hamster said:
In Canada we play 8-ball. I'd have to travel to Oshawa to play in the nearest 9-ball league, yet there are dozens of viable 8-ball leagues right here in the Toronto area. Snooker and 8-ball - that's Canadian.
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What ? Nothing in Pickering ? Ajax ? Whitby ? You Scarborough folks really need to go west sometimes ... I hear Etobicoke is very nice this time of year.

I tend to agree with Fred et al about 8 Ball. To me it is a game that you play AGAINST your opponent. 9 Ball is much more about playing the table, but I enjoy the direct competition of 8 Ball (played properly that is, not the various 'bar rules' games).

Dave
 
I actually saw a serious game of 8 ball played last week on the front table at a place I frequent.

I've even THOUGHT of racking one up for myself in practice for the first time in a year. Haven't made the plunge yet ... hate to be a camp follower, lol.
 
Have to agree Fred, I've been saying for years that the TV game should be 8 ball as that's what everyone in the world understands and plays. Now I just hope they ge rid of the stripes and spots and use reds and yellows (or another color) like they do in the UK, great for TV IMO

PS
Welcome back.
 
I never appreciated 8-ball until I went to Vegas for the BCA Nats. What a strategic game it can be and, as echoed by others, it's a game readily understood by the audience.

KT made a great choice for the IPT tournament.

Barbara
 
Barbara said:
I never appreciated 8-ball until I went to Vegas for the BCA Nats. What a strategic game it can be and, as echoed by others, it's a game readily understood by the audience.

KT made a great choice for the IPT tournament.

Barbara
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Should be fun watching 9 ball at a high level of competition. I would expect to see a little strategy and lots of run outs. Has some of the characteristics of straight pool and nine ball all in one. Hoping to see lots on TV.
 
DaveK said:
What ? Nothing in Pickering ? Ajax ? Whitby ? You Scarborough folks really need to go west sometimes ... I hear Etobicoke is very nice this time of year.
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Nothing in those eastern towns as far as I know. Le Skratch has a league in Oshawa...

If I go west per your thought, I hear there are some 9-ball leagues in Brampton but again it's a fair ways away from Scarborough. My league operator, when asked, said, "There isn't enough interest locally to put together a 9-ball league".

Lots of fine 8-ballers here though. Especially bar-box players...
 
Cornerman said:
Al is Aluminum (Aluminium) on the element chart.

HTH,

Fred
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Thank you for spelling Aluminium properly. BTW, it's the Periodic Table :D

Dave
 
TheOne said:
Have to agree Fred, I've been saying for years that the TV game should be 8 ball as that's what everyone in the world understands and plays. Now I just hope they ge rid of the stripes and spots and use reds and yellows (or another color) like they do in the UK, great for TV IMO
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Yeah, but then you cannot call the balls so easily. I assume the IPT will require call pocket rules, none of that sloppy APA nonsense. (APA stands for "Any Pocket Allowed" apparently.) I guess if it really takes off maybe we'll see a "TV 8 Ball" set put together by Aramith that makes all the balls in each set the same easy-to-see color like UK Ball sets but retains the numbers so shots can still be easily called.
 
TheOne said:
Have to agree Fred, I've been saying for years that the TV game should be 8 ball as that's what everyone in the world understands and plays. Now I just hope they ge rid of the stripes and spots and use reds and yellows (or another color) like they do in the UK, great for TV IMO

PS
Welcome back.
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I would hate to lose the numbers. How do you explain to get from the 1 to the 6 and the angle you need on the 2 to break out the 4 with out the numbers??? Also, with the stripes, sometimes it is helpful to aim at a place on the intersection of the stripe.
 
rackmsuckr said:
I would hate to lose the numbers. How do you explain to get from the 1 to the 6 and the angle you need on the 2 to break out the 4 with out the numbers??? Also, with the stripes, sometimes it is helpful to aim at a place on the intersection of the stripe.
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OK the numbers help with regards commentating but they have all sorts of visual aids in the UK to get around this. Also snooker has 15 reds and its never been a problem fro commentators, even in black and white snooker was very popular on TV amazingly. Which of course brings up the famous quote by I think whispering Ted Lowe, "for those of you watching in black and white the pink is behind the green" :-)

I'm looking at this from a viewers perspective to help better the game and have as many people as possible understand whats going on. Reds and yellows have been used in the UK for some time with great success, both on TV and off. I for one love scanning the table after the break with reds and yellows, sooooooooooooo much easier.
 
AuntyDan said:
Yeah, but then you cannot call the balls so easily. I assume the IPT will require call pocket rules, none of that sloppy APA nonsense. (APA stands for "Any Pocket Allowed" apparently.) I guess if it really takes off maybe we'll see a "TV 8 Ball" set put together by Aramith that makes all the balls in each set the same easy-to-see color like UK Ball sets but retains the numbers so shots can still be easily called.
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I think they do make a red and yellow set but I guess having some numbering system wouldn't be a bad idea on them, but for reasons above its been proven to not really be neccessary.
 
TheOne said:
OK the numbers help with regards commentating but they have all sorts of visual aids in the UK to get around this. Also snooker has 15 reds and its never been a problem fro commentators, even in black and white snooker was very popular on TV amazingly. Which of course brings up the famous quote by I think whispering Ted Lowe, "for those of you watching in black and white the pink is behind the green" :-)

I'm looking at this from a viewers perspective to help better the game and have as many people as possible understand whats going on. Reds and yellows have been used in the UK for some time with great success, both on TV and off. I for one love scanning the table after the break with reds and yellows, sooooooooooooo much easier.
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I agree Craig!
Most of my playing and watching pool was with the yellows and reds. It is much easier to see what is going on. The change to reds and yellows from the bigs and smalls as we call them, in around 1990 was received warmly by players very early on.

I think a good telestrator to point out balls and paths on the screen is a crucial feature to help audiences follow the game. This is also necessary with solids and stripes because many viewers cannot recognize the numbers by color anyway. At least not yet.

It may also be a good idea to put large numbers (perhaps more than 2) on each ball, to aid with visual recognition and naming of the balls.
 
I don't think 8ball will make for a better tv. Striped balls all look the same, it will be harder to follow than 9ball. Besides, general public don't really play 8ball by international rules at all. Far from it. How many casual players know about ball in hand rule? 0.5%? Whether it's 8ball or 9ball, Joe Six Pack will find it just as confusing IMO.
 
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