9-Ball Ring Game Rules

[okinawa77]

Nice, how many players? The most money balls I have seen in one game was 6 (2 fives and 4 nines). It was a four man ring game and luckily we were only playing $2 - $2 because I was on the losing end.

Seven players, including me. It is nice when you win, and stinks when you are on the losing end.....but it's that way in all competitions.
Batting order can help or hurt you, also.
I agree that ring games are good at sharpening your 9 ball skills, but in general it is only played in money situations. To really sharpen your 9 ball game, try and play 15 ball. If you can break and run 15, then 9 ball is kiddy pool in comparison.
Joe Tucker has a DVD called Racking Secrets, and in it he shows how he runs out 15 ball....among a lot of other useful information.

 

[okinawa77]

I see the problem. There is a disconnect in the game we are talking about. When I say "ring game" I am talking about a game with more than two players, where safety play is strictly prohibited. If you play an intentional safe you have to shoot again. If you do it again in the same session you will likely be asked to leave the game. The only safety strategy is playing a safe and making it look like you were attempting to pocket the ball. This can get you into the situation you described where the 3rd player takes down the cash, but sometimes it is the best option. The games I play in the money is never high enough to really consider this. I would normally just spray and pray.

The first scenario you describe above is a two player game with money on the 5 and the nine. I don't consider that a ring game.

More people playing the more money to be made. Instead of playing $5/$10 payouts with a few players, you can play $1/$2 payouts with several players.

 

[okinawa77]

Yeah, 3 person ring games can be tricky. You could get double teamed.

 

[okinawa77]

I suggest if you are new to ring games, to play with friends for small amounts. It is a lot of fun at parties. I especially like the allowance of sharking by talking smack to each other. It's a lot of fun, and it will help each others game performance as far as dealing with distractions and staying focused on your shots.

 

[Poolfiend]

trash talking

I suggest if you are new to ring games, to play with friends for small amounts. It is a lot of fun at parties. I especially like the allowance of sharking by talking smack to each other. It's a lot of fun, and it will help each others game performance as far as dealing with distractions and staying focused on your shots.

That is the other reason I love rings games. Our normal group allows a certain amount of trash talk during the game and the stakes are low enough that it stays friendly. If it looks like someone is going to get out the other players start chatting it up, pulling their money out and throwing it on the counter. It really does make you bear down if you ever want to run out.