8 ball vs 9 ball

BasementDweller

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Positional demands are moot without potting demands. That's why I said all players have better potting then CB control. Placing your position on a dime after a miss means nothing. Not because you don't get to shoot again, but because you tangent and control is based on a falsehood. Yes imo positional demands are tougher in 8ball. However that's rooted in being able to pot effectively and work the pocket to gain angles that 8 ball navigating requires.
I'm not talking about on a per shot basis, like the typical banger that misses but exclaims, "see I got perfect shape!" I'm more talking overall, as in what kills your outs? For years for me, it was untimely misses (while being inline). I suppose I've probably finally balanced that out to some degree but it's still a consideration.

I'm in Michigan, where I've played quite a bit of bar table 8 ball (and 9 ball) but I don't really judge my game on what I can do on a bar table. Guess I'll concede here that on the bar table, 8 ball is a better and more challenging game, but on AZ we are usually focused on the big table.
I agree to a point, but a little confused... I presume your opinion of 9 ball being tougher is because of the "pocketing demands". However you then say 8 ball is easier on a big table. Again I'll make an assumption and presume because of a lack of congestion. A good break on a 'big' table generally translates to an open table and longer potting because of that spacing. So should not a strong break in 8 ball make the game closer to difficulty as compared to 9 ball...? Kinda spinning here...lol
Nah. If the table is spaced out then you have options and you almost never have to start your run with a shot that's outside of your comfort zone. In 9 ball you don't get this luxury so there's no making 8 ball as demanding.
Again, CB control is moot without pocketing so I struggle with the notion that your CB is better than the avg for your level but your pocketing is somehow weaker...?

I don't mean to be argumentative. Just seems counter intuitive to me. Now if you were to say that you table IQ is stronger than your physical ability. I'd fully grasp what you trying to say.
I'm probably in a minority but I think we exist. I'm a guy that started out playing of all things one-pocket. The room I played in starting out played a lot of that game, so I learned to move pretty well. That coupled with being an analytical player, and playing bar-table 8 ball, I learned pretty good patterns. On the flip side, I never wow'd anyone with my pocketing prowess. I'd beat guys by staying inline and playing closer position than they would bother or need to. Players that pocketed balls better would recover more often than I would.

I suppose as I've fixed fundamental flaws over the years it's probably finally balanced out, and I stopped playing one-pocket a long time ago too -- so that probably helped as too much of that game can atrophy your pocketing skills in my opinion.

I don't know. It's a self-perception thing so I could be off a bit.

Lastly, 8 ball is a dead game to me for the pros as I just think it's too easy for them. Darren Appleton gave it a good shot with his rules, but I still found it too easy for them on American style tables. The standard has just gotten too high.
 

SeniorTom

Well-known member
We oftentimes play 8 ball on a 9-ft snooker table. Talk about difficult, but it does improve your stroke. Personally I would rather play 8 Ball on a 9 ft table then a 7 ft. As far as nine ball, probably the same, I would rather play on a larger table instead of the 7 ft table which looks like a toy compared to the other tables that are larger.
 

buckshotshoey

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
We oftentimes play 8 ball on a 9-ft snooker table. Talk about difficult, but it does improve your stroke. Personally I would rather play 8 Ball on a 9 ft table then a 7 ft. As far as nine ball, probably the same, I would rather play on a larger table instead of the 7 ft table which looks like a toy compared to the other tables that are larger.
Just out of curiosity how do you play 8 ball on a snookerr table Since the cushion is set lower? Do you have a special 8 ball set that are smaller?
 

SeniorTom

Well-known member
Just out of curiosity how do you play 8 ball on a snookerr table Since the cushion is set lower? Do you have a special 8 ball set that are smaller?
Yes, they are a bit smaller in size and fit the table. They are probably similar in size to Snooker balls , but I am not sure of that cuz I have never played snooker. Nonetheless, it's very difficult to pocket the balls.
 
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