8ball vs 9ball. Which game is more difficult?

the difficulty in box 8 amps up with the ability of the player you are facing...

you get a chess match....

In 9 ball.. you are both playing the same balls in the same order..

safeties are much easier.. you only have to hide him from 1 ball

in 8 ball you are both playing a different lay of balls and trying to prevent the other from getting the shot they need.

you need to see both sides... see what he needs to get out and see what you need to get out..

now you just have to get yours without giving him his...

there is an art to it..

and at its highest levels.... box 8 requires more knowledge and more skill than any form of 9 ball...

9 ball allows more slop than any other form of pool... 8 ball is no slop call shot.. and the bangers are more stringent on the call part than any 9 ball pro...and 9 ball bangers just hit em hard and call all pockets.. and walk away proud when they slop one in or slop the 9 in..

if you slop the 8 in ... you lose
 
okinawa77 said:
The same can be said for 8 ball. Miss the run out, and you'll leave your opponent an easier out.

Here's the way I see it.

9 ball gets easier as each game progresses because there are less balls serving as obstacles.
8 ball gets harder as each game progresses because there are less of your set of balls available to shoot at (pocket), and your opponent's balls serve as obstacles.
Click to expand...

While that is often true, it is not always the case.

About a week ago I played in a tournament, round robin, race to 2, against a very strong player. Way better than me. We're hill-hill, and I'm at the table, and take what in 14.1 would be a classic shot designed to break up a great big cluster. The shot was a difficult one, at least for me, but it was worth the risk, IMHO. I could have taken an easier shot and played hide and seek with my opponent, and he probably would have won that exchange. Nevertheless, I potted the tougher ball, and splattered the cluster. My opponent literally hung his head and shook it. The table was still quite messy, but I managed to run out most of it, but two balls were particularly difficult and I missed one. My opponent played a safe that resulted in ball in hand, but his balls were so tied up, and my two balls were right near a corner and very makeable and the 8 was very close too. Something must have gotten into his head because he dogged a ball in hand shot and let me see one of my balls. I potted it and won on that inning. First time ever I win a match in an open format against him.

While he had 5 balls, at least three were tied up in clusters. He probably should still have won, but he had death staring him in the face. He simply blew it.

The strategy side of 8 ball is huge. So too is the mental game. Fortunately for me in that match my opponent felt what, intimidated? I don't know what he felt, but he didn't play his normal game, and lost.

An old time hustler once told me when playing 8 ball that even if you can't make the 8 to leave it sitting as a duck in the pocket. Many players will let that affect them and simply miss a shot during what should be a normal runout.

Funny how the mind can affect one's play.

It's in those circumstances that Yogi Berra's famous quip is especially appropriate, "It ain't over 'til it's over."

Flex
 
TheNewSharkster said:
Sorry but some subjects can be discussed more than once. This is a message board and as such this is the place for a debate such as this.
Click to expand...
And was there anything I said that suggested we shouldn't discuss it? I did actually give an answer myself, so that should be proof enough. By your reply, people might think I didn't give you a decent answer. That's not really fair.

The SEARCH function allows an original poster to get added input from previous discussions. Surely that's not a bad idea, right? Every other forum, everyone would and should use the SEARCH function as well. Not just here.

Fred
 
Last edited:
If you look at runout percentages between professionals playing 8 ball vs 9 ball, 9 ball is the harder game. Im not going to look up the numbers again, you can do that for yourself. But the IPT tournaments on supposedly tougher equipment vs 9 ball tournaments on simonis with regulation 4.5 inch pockets, the break and run percentages were way different. If memory serves correctly, 8 ball was somewhere in the 10-15% higher range.
Figuring that 8 ball gives more chances to pocket a ball on the break, and given that the break is a huge portion of the game at the higher levels of play... the answer is pretty clear.
Chuck
 
To be fair, they are two very different games. I detest 8 ball but play it quite well when I've had to play it, either in a social setting or in the few tournaments that I've played since I moved to South Carolina. It's my considered opinion that 8 ball can be pretty easy if you have a Straight pool background. Straight pool helps with breaking of clusters and moving balls to a more advantageous position. Still in all, you only have to break and run 7 or 8 balls to win from the break. I've run out more times in 9 ball but only because I've played it more for years and years.
In 9 ball you don't have the variety of options to break out balls that you have in 8 ball and your run out path is usually pretty fixed. The break in 9 ball is a HUGE factor.
Personally, I've returned to a decision I made some years ago, not to play 8 ball at all. And, as I don't care for the current 9 ball rules, I've decided to concentrate on 10 ball, One Pocket, and Straight pool. All of which, in my opinion, are harder than either.
 
This argument is a very old one, and the only thing we've learned is that both sides are always going to say that their game is harder, and it's impossible to prove either side wrong.

The fact of the matter is that neither game is difficult enough for developing all of the skills necessary to play great pool, and someone who plays one game or the other exclusively will develop more slowly and less-completely as a player than someone who plays games that require more skill. The way I see it, the skills required to play great 8-ball come from 14.1, and the skills required to play great 9-ball come from 15-ball rotation. Those are difficult games, and the great thing is that playing either one of them will help both your 8-ball and 9-ball games. I think anyone who wants to progress as a player should spend a certain amount of time playing those more difficult games... especially if you can do it competitively against someone familiar with the game.

And once you're competent at those games, you can take up banks and one-pocket. You'll either get good or die of sheer frustration. ;)

As always, JMHO

Aaron
 
i agree...they both have pros and cons to each. i agree in 9 ball you have to play solid position - if you hook yourself behind a ball there's not another ball you can make to get yourself back in line...BUT...like someone else here said, 9 ball is a by-the-numbers game; the layout of the table tells you exactly the order you have to run out in, you just have to make the pattern. 8 ball, you have to make your own pattern, and if you're used to having a pattern layed out for you (not having to figure it out yourself, it could be a problem). plus, 8 ball makes for alot more traffic to navigate around, and since there are a third more balls on the table, more breakouts that need to be made which can mess up runouts. the only thing that might make 8 ball easier is the fact that you have choices - which IMO can mess some people up as easily as it makes the game easier for others. all in all, i think 8 ball is tougher b/c there's more to the game itself. question; who do you think would play the opposite game better - someone who played 8 ball all there life and never played a rack of 9 ball, or someone who played 9 ball all there life and never played a rack of 8 ball?
 
Cornerman said:
This question comes up every two or three or four months. Check the SEARCH feature.

But, here's my answer: Neither. If some people say 9-ball, and other say 8-ball, it should be obvious that neither is harder. The harder game for the individual will point to where s/he needs more work or needs more hours playing that particular game.

Fred <~~~ thinks pool is hard enough without having to rate each game.
Click to expand...

Yes, exactly.

I remember guys coming on right before the IPT started, promising that 9 ball was way more difficult.

The truth came out when the runout percentage was nearly identical with professional 9 ball games played as the IPT 8 ball games.
 
Last edited:
s13_ka24de said:
also tell me honestly how often you see someone string a 3 pack or more of 8 ball. while 9 ball you can pretty much expect it with someone that's breaking good.
Click to expand...

The statistics don't bear this out. Among pro players the break-and-run percentages are significantly higher in eight ball than in nine ball.
 
8 Ball is more difficult, as it is a CALL SHOT GAME. 9 Ball slop is allowed, and there are NO CALL SHOTS.
 
8 ball

This discussion has been debated many times with pro's and lesser players,and the opinions are usually mixed. After reading through this thread , Jondrums post #8 and KMRUNOUT post #27,in my opinion offer the most accurate and best synopsis in describing the intricasies of both 9 ball and 8 ball. So obviously I agree with them that 8 ball is the tougher of the two games. When I played 8 ball years ago ,unlike the old IPT rule that after the break the table was always open which clearly contributed to easy run outs following the break gave us a false perception of how difficult 8 ball actually is.So if we played 8 ball with the rule that forced the breaker to play the color that was pocketed on the break ,then the difficulty of the game is increased immensely.Even with the open table rule Reyes won just about every 8 ball tournament,which supports the fact that 8 ball is the more difficult game.Any time there is a dominant player in a game or sport ,that in my opnion conveys the message without words that,that game or sport is difficult, and whenever there are multiple winners in a sport that implies that there is parity and the game or sport is easier to master, if you will.
 
The good thing about 8ball is that, like straight pool, it can be played at many different levels and as long as the players are matched, it is a great game. In particular, for the casual player there are plenty of options at the beginning of the game and little traffic to negotiate at the end.

In contast, rotation games only really come into their own when played by players who can control the white consistently. For others - which is most players - games like 9ball are too tough (and the first half of the game often pointless).

So I should think that the average player would consider 8ball easier. At the more skilled level, however, there is probably little in it. It really depends on whether you like a tactical game or whether you are happy to let the balls do the thinking for you while you concentrate on the shotmaking.
 
jondrums said:
personally, I can't believe there is much debate. But to each his own opinion of course, I respect that.

For me, 8-ball is a much harder game! here's why.

both games require precise cue ball positioning, and excellent safety play when necessary. However, safetys are often more difficult and require more creativity in 8ball. Also, position play is more difficult and less obvious at times with 8ball with the extra traffic and clusters. This is relevant for both bar tables and big boxes.

In addition to the extra skill and consistancy required to play 8ball at a high level, there is the aspect of strategy. Strategy is almost non-existant in 9ball. IMO its limited to choosing between 2 position routes, or deciding between a risky offensive shot and a defensive one. I know a lot of people will take offense with that comment, however I really believe that 8 ball is much more-so a thinking mans game - when played at a high level that is! There are ten ways to run every 8ball rack, and it really depends on a player's exact skill set, preferences and experience.

comments?
Jon
Click to expand...


No way bro.

Strategy is almost non-existant in 9ball. IMO its limited to choosing between 2 position routes, or deciding between a risky offensive shot and a defensive one

this comment applies to both 8 ball and 9 ball. i'd say the more challenging game would have to be 9 ball being that you don't get to choose what shot to shoot next it's already chosen. in 8 ball there're options if you get out of line and until the end of the rack precission isn't really needed.

also in 8 ball sometimes there's no way to break clusters and if your competitor has a keyball to break that cluster and you don't than you've pretty much lost from the break (unless you can get creative or maybe tie something up)
 
Flex said:
Against a really good player, I don't think adding last pocket will slow them down all that much. It may slow down the moment of the runout, but it won't unduly disable a good player. It just adds an additional complicating element to a runout.
Click to expand...


i think it would slow just about anyone down if the guys are using their heads. just keep tying up the 8 or shoot your balls into his to keep them at the other end of the table (away from the 8)
 
TXsouthpaw said:
and having mutliple balls to shoot at in 8 ball makes the game harder not easeir. More decisions to make. 9 ball tells u the order to play them. 8 ball you gotta think.

and like someone else said. It also depends on what table your playing this. barbox or 9footer.
Click to expand...


more decisions only makes the game harder if you're indecisive
 
This is an age-old question that can only be answered with data. We had an opportunity to do so when the IPT was up and running, but alas they didn't keep statistics that would enable one to calculate a B&R % as a total of games that a player broke. Had all the matches been taped, we could have.

We have that data for professional 9-ball... but not for 8-ball for the same set of players. It's unfortunate, but true.
 
cigardave said:
This is an age-old question that can only be answered with data. We had an opportunity to do so when the IPT was up and running, but alas they didn't keep statistics that would enable one to calculate a B&R % as a total of games that a player broke. Had all the matches been taped, we could have.

We have that data for professional 9-ball... but not for 8-ball for the same set of players. It's unfortunate, but true.
Click to expand...

Which question are you referring to? Even if the run-out percentages are higher for 8-ball than for 9-ball, that wouldn't necessarily mean that 9-ball is the harder game.

Having said that, I could be wrong but, didn't the IPT keep break-and-run statistics as a percentage of the total games a player played? And weren't those break-and-run percentages already higher than the break-and-run percentages for 9-ball, counting only the games a player actually broke in?
 
PoolBum said:
Which question are you referring to? Even if the run-out percentages are higher for 8-ball than for 9-ball, that wouldn't necessarily mean that 9-ball is the harder game.

Having said that, I could be wrong but, didn't the IPT keep break-and-run statistics as a percentage of the total games a player played? And weren't those break-and-run percentages already higher than the break-and-run percentages for 9-ball, counting only the games a player actually broke in?
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that in all the IPT tournaments the rule was open table to either player after the break. Since then the rules have been changed to breaker must accept the color group that is pocketed on the break. With the old IPT rules the percentage of break and run outs from the break were high,but with the revised rule there will not be nearly as many.
 
PoolBum said:
Which question are you referring to? Even if the run-out percentages are higher for 8-ball than for 9-ball, that wouldn't necessarily mean that 9-ball is the harder game.

Having said that, I could be wrong but, didn't the IPT keep break-and-run statistics as a percentage of the total games a player played? And weren't those break-and-run percentages already higher than the break-and-run percentages for 9-ball, counting only the games a player actually broke in?
Click to expand...


why wouldn't it show that 8 ball was the easier game if the b/r % was higher?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top