** 9.1 Barbox straight pool **

[Dead Crab]

I keep forgetting to give this a try on a 9 foot table. Not so sure how much I'll like not having the extra balls to move around, but then again I won't know till I try.

The point of using a 10 ball rack on a 7' table is that it approximately scales the game so that the area of playing surface per ball is about the same as it is for a 15 ball rack on a 9' table.

I think the advocates of this game are trying to popularize straight pool for 7' tables, not change the game of straight pool on large tables.

 

[BobTfromIL]

Sounds interesting, like to try it someday.

 

[stevekur1]

How long until someone comes in and says they can run 4500 in that game?

I can run 4500 in that game !!! LOL:wink:

like the idea
-STeve

 

[Johnnyt]

The point of using a 10 ball rack on a 7' table is that it approximately scales the game so that the area of playing surface per ball is about the same as it is for a 15 ball rack on a 9' table.

I think the advocates of this game are trying to popularize straight pool for 7' tables, not change the game of straight pool on large tables.

Exactly. 10 balls makes a 7' about to scale of the 9' table. Most league players play on 7' tables, so it might get them interested in playing straight pool for fun and practice of it (don't tell John S). If enough of them like it and talk it up, it will grow. As far as only using 10 balls for your $1.00, you need the other 5 balls to spot for fouls and such. You could even play it equal offense. Each player in turn trys to run as many of their rack up to 10. Play a pre arranged # of racks. Each ball made is worth 1 point. You can even give a ball or two bonus points for running all ten. Total points for each is added up after all racks are played. Johnnyt

 

[ctyhntr]

Do you think some bar leaguers may be turned off that even after you run a perfect rack (9 balls), you're paying for 15 balls. Perhaps a bonus round of 6 ball between each rack?

 

[Johnnyt]

Hey Johnny, how's it goin?

Nope, 4 1/2" pockets with quick and preferably quiet ball return system :thumbup:

Willie

I wasn't really trying to be a wise ass. I just know most of those 5x10's had bucket pockets in them. I've played on more than a few in the day. Johnnyt

 

[sfleinen]

That blasted coin drop -- but here's one way to get around it

Do you think some bar leaguers may be turned off that even after you run a perfect rack (9 balls), you're paying for 15 balls. Perhaps a bonus round of 6 ball between each rack?

ctyhntr:

You bring up a very good point -- that %$#@! coin drop! The problem with games like 9.1 (and one pocket, like another poster brought up) on a bar table is that occasionally balls need to be spotted. I know when I play "spotted ball" games like 9.1 and One Pocket on a bar table, we use the extra six balls to spot with, since once you pocket a ball, you can't retrieve it out of the ball cage unless you pay again.

What I (and my friends) usually do, is slip the proprietor of the establishment a $10 spot (to cover the cost of an entire roll of quarters), and have him/her fetch the key and open-up the side of the bar table (ball cage) to us for the entire session. It's actually a VERY INEXPENSIVE way to go when you think about it -- the proprietor gets an entire roll of quarters worth of coin drop in one fell swoop, and *you* -- the player -- gets an open table where you can fetch balls out of the ball cage at will, for the duration of your session at the table (which could last a couple hours -- basically $5/hour on that table!).

NOTE: you can really only do this when the establishment is not busy, and there's no demand for the tables. You can't do this during peak hours, because obviously, patrons coming in wanting to play on the tables are going to approach the table, thinking it's a "public" table, and put his/her quarters up to "play the next game." You *might* get away with commandeering a table like this if the establishment has several tables, but again, not during peak hours.

Anyway, that's an idea that hopefully is useful to folks out there.

-Sean

 

[Mike in MN]

I've played 9.1 on a barbox. It reduces the traffic, and makes it more enjoyable than 14.1 is on a 7-footer. However, the break shot comes up far too often, and as someone else said, is the most challenging part of the game. So that can prove to be difficult for beginners. I have fun with it, though.

 

[ShootingArts]

I have wondered about that

I've played 9.1 on a barbox. It reduces the traffic, and makes it more enjoyable than 14.1 is on a 7-footer. However, the break shot comes up far too often, and as someone else said, is the most challenging part of the game. So that can prove to be difficult for beginners. I have fun with it, though.

I have played(practiced) 9.1 on a nine foot Diamond but never tried it on a bar table. I'm hoping that the more frequent break shot makes it as interesting or more interesting than play on a nine footer. Also thinking about a mandatory stop after running a certain number of balls in tournament play. I don't know if I like that but it would be similar to alternating breaks. I'm thinking maybe a race to 100 with a maximum run of 30-35 balls to insure that both players at least get to swing a stick twice. The incoming player would almost certainly be working from a safety but that's the way it goes!

JohnnyT,

I asked John S to try 9.1 on a seven foot table years ago when he first got involved with the pool hall in Pensacola to see what a straight pool player thought of the ten ball rack on a bar table.

I'm still waiting to hear back from him . . . .

Hu

 

[ctyhntr]

Sean,

I agree, it best to air out all the possible pitfalls. Coin drop being a major reason why APA 8-ball rules differ from BCA and others.

The extra 6 balls is perfect for taking a safety race into account, that would be 5 balls (2-3 safety penalty).

Should safety penalty be changed from 25 points to say 15 points, to because of size of the rack? Or leave it, so it encourage safety play.

Henry

ctyhntr:

You bring up a very good point -- that %$#@! coin drop! The problem with games like 9.1 (and one pocket, like another poster brought up) on a bar table is that occasionally balls need to be spotted. I know when I play "spotted ball" games like 9.1 and One Pocket on a bar table, we use the extra six balls to spot with, since once you pocket a ball, you can't retrieve it out of the ball cage unless you pay again.

What I (and my friends) usually do, is slip the proprietor of the establishment a $10 spot (to cover the cost of an entire roll of quarters), and have him/her fetch the key and open-up the side of the bar table (ball cage) to us for the entire session. It's actually a VERY INEXPENSIVE way to go when you think about it -- the proprietor gets an entire roll of quarters worth of coin drop in one fell swoop, and *you* -- the player -- gets an open table where you can fetch balls out of the ball cage at will, for the duration of your session at the table (which could last a couple hours -- basically $5/hour on that table!).

NOTE: you can really only do this when the establishment is not busy, and there's no demand for the tables. You can't do this during peak hours, because obviously, patrons coming in wanting to play on the tables are going to approach the table, thinking it's a "public" table, and put his/her quarters up to "play the next game." You *might* get away with commandeering a table like this if the establishment has several tables, but again, not during peak hours.

Anyway, that's an idea that hopefully is useful to folks out there.

-Sean

 

[ctyhntr]

Hu,

I think your idea mandatory stop idea could work, if this was promoted as a part of a team format. If we use existing APA handicaps as a scale, and assign 5 points to each level. Possible match between a APA 4 and 7 would be 20-35 points, and APA 3 and 5 would be 15-25. 4 matches and 8 players in the evening would bring the cumulative to 100-140 points.

I have played(practiced) 9.1 on a nine foot Diamond but never tried it on a bar table. I'm hoping that the more frequent break shot makes it as interesting or more interesting than play on a nine footer. Also thinking about a mandatory stop after running a certain number of balls in tournament play. I don't know if I like that but it would be similar to alternating breaks. I'm thinking maybe a race to 100 with a maximum run of 30-35 balls to insure that both players at least get to swing a stick twice. The incoming player would almost certainly be working from a safety but that's the way it goes!

JohnnyT,

I asked John S to try 9.1 on a seven foot table years ago when he first got involved with the pool hall in Pensacola to see what a straight pool player thought of the ten ball rack on a bar table.

I'm still waiting to hear back from him . . . .

Hu

 

[oldzilla]

I've played 9.1 on a barbox. It reduces the traffic, and makes it more enjoyable than 14.1 is on a 7-footer. However, the break shot comes up far too often, and as someone else said, is the most challenging part of the game. So that can prove to be difficult for beginners. I have fun with it, though.

But it may help to improve those skills quicker then !

Nice to see alot of response to this idea even though it is not a new one.
We just need to keep chatting about it and something will happen !