8 ball vs 9 ball
- Thread starter SeniorTom
- Start date
I know what you are saying but I think there comes a point for all of us where we have the choice to decide to win or learn.
Nothing at all wrong with formats or rules or point systems that "level the playing field" (at least for a while) either.
thanks for the explanation....
Agreed, and that's where I struggle a bit as a beginner. My cue ball control is still a work in progress. I just played 10 racks of my own format of run the table and I averaged about one miss per game. The photo I attached shows you how I rack them, and after that it's just make all your solids, and then sink the eight ball as if it were a game of 8 ball. I really noticed my cue ball control being a struggle and getting out of position is not uncommon for me.
Attachments
I'm a mediocre league player. I enjoy both games, but I prefer 8-ball to 9-ball.
I also think I'm better at 8-ball, or perhaps more accurately, I'm worse at 9-ball In 9-ball, if you get on the wrong side of the next ball, you're in trouble. I have more recovery options in 8-ball. Obviously, I'm not a run-out player.
I do believe that playing both games helps a beginning player develop, as there are different skills needed for each game.
I also think I'm better at 8-ball, or perhaps more accurately, I'm worse at 9-ball
In 9-ball, if you get on the wrong side of the next ball, you're in trouble. I have more recovery options in 8-ball. Obviously, I'm not a run-out player. I do believe that playing both games helps a beginning player develop, as there are different skills needed for each game.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Yes sir. It's my favorite game. I feel as if I've only scratched the surface of 1P but I find the concepts leak over into other games. It's gives you a healthy respect for percentages and what you can get away with letting your opponent see. It's also kind of interesting how hot headed many 8B and 9B players can be if they come to the table a few times without much to shoot at. For many any kind of strategy just goes out the window and they take the biggest fliers imaginable.i think there is onepocket player hidden inside you.....
For those who like slop games, 9 ball is for you. 8 ball is for me.
wilhelm
Active member
I half-jokingly tell the fellows I play with that 9 ball is for meth-heads.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
That looks like a good practice game. Getting out of position is something I struggle with. Either that or I get pinpoint position on the CB and miss the object ball.
I always try to focus 100% on making the ball and just getting OK shape. Meaning if bringing the CB downtable 3' was perfect, I'll settle with getting it 1' down table. I'd like better but not at the expense of missing. The good part is that after a while you start noticing certain patterns for moving the CB.
Sometimes I just sit there dumbfounded about how to get shape on the next ball, but other times I quickly recognize that I've seen/practiced similar shots in the past. If you ever practice with a more seasoned player and they don't mind, just pause for a second and ask how they would get shape. Sometimes it's a way you didn't even consider. If you don't know, you don't know!
I’m telling You.. start focus all your practice on rotation. The better your rotation play gets the easier 8 ball will be. There is position play you don’t know and don’t need to know to be a good 8 ball player but once you do know it will make you a great 8 ball player. I started with the 16 critical shots in pool and it opened everything up for me. 100%I'm a mediocre league player. I enjoy both games, but I prefer 8-ball to 9-ball.
I also think I'm better at 8-ball, or perhaps more accurately, I'm worse at 9-ball
I do believe that playing both games helps a beginning player develop, as there are different skills needed for each game.
Compared to 14:1 they both stink
I overall agree, but the one thing that doesn't come up as much in 9 ball is how to deal with clusters- which is a big factor in 8 ball especially on bar tables
That’s where the patience comes in. 8 ball is about patience and finding the path of least resistance. I’m aggressive early going straight after a cluster. If you fail early then it turns into a safe game. Breaking out balls isn’t that difficult when you learn to attack them early so you can play position on one of the balls that aren’t in the cluster. You don’t want to break out a ball and try to play position on that same ball. to man bad things can happen. I do like playing 8 ball on a bar box though.
I wonder if it's just a player development process, but I found playing 14.1 during lockdowns improved my rotation game. 14.1 being far more closely related to 8ball then rotation. Developing the skills to slide the CB around which is a common occurrence in 14.1 has simplified rotation patterns. CB target zones in 8 ball (and 14.1) tend to be very tighter than what you would funnel into during open table rotation games.
I guess my point is that there's a common finesse in 8 ball that rarely occurs in rotation. I think most lose perspective on the finesse in 8 ball because in most cases there's a back up offensive plan that doesn't exist in rotation.
For me it's easier to identify advanced players during a rack of 8ball. The strategy in rotation boils down to if you think you can make the shot and get on the next ball. High level 8ball demands a combination of strong/schooled table IQ and the ability to manipulate both patterns and CB. You don't learnt that advanced play by swinging at rotation racks.
IMO it's harder to become an advanced 8baller. All the shots that exist in rotation also live in 8ball. They're just hit harder. The same can't be said going the other way.
One pocket.
Yes sir. It's my favorite game. I feel as if I've only scratched the surface of 1P but I find the concepts leak over into other games. It's gives you a healthy respect for percentages and what you can get away with letting your opponent see. It's also kind of interesting how hot headed many 8B and 9B players can be if they come to the table a few times without much to shoot at. For many any kind of strategy just goes out the window and they take the biggest fliers imaginable.
Bank shots. One pocket gets you to learn banks that are applied to al billiard games.
I would ask for $5 three ball, right here right now.
There's about 6 of us in our poolroom that really like 1 pocket ,the rest say it's boring but some are getting converted great thinking game.Also there is a live cam from Gateway Billiards in Greensboro NC Table 14 and 15 are mostly 1 pocket action good to watch.
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Clusters and messy tables are the equalizer (heh) for me when playing stronger players, at least in our league. In 8-ball, when I play the guys that are much better shooters than me (but not up the level of the top shooters, this doesn't bother those guys), they struggle when the table is a mess. I'll break from the side every time then, cuz it rarely spreads out the table for me. I can work around stuff, and it slows those guys down some.
I think that's part of what draws me to 8-ball more than 9-ball. I enjoy the position play game. Of course, if I could run more balls, more often, I would probably have a different opinion