9 footers VS. 8 footers

Wazuela

Wazuela

Future World Beater
Silver Member
Hello everyone!
My name is Rob & I'm a new member to the forum.

I've been playing pool obsessively for the past 5 years trying to learn everything I can about this wonderful game. For the past year, all I do is practice on 9 foot tables and I love it! It's my absolute passion playing on these bigger tables.

I play APA league once a week and am forced to play on 8 footers. For some reason, I don't play at my full potential on these tables. I get more B&R on a 9 footer and feel more comfortable on them.

My whole reasoning for playing on 9's is that it would make my game on 8's easier. I'm starting to think otherwise. Since pool is a "feel" game I'm thinking my game isn't as good on 8's because I don't have a "feel" for them anymore.

Am I wrong for this assumption? I just want some input and wonder what ya'll think about 8 & 9 foot tables?

Thanks!
 
It is a different tables the shots don't feel the same because often they are not the same. Look behind each shot it helps you see the shots that seem to be the same shots on a 9 footer that are not in fact the same. Pay attention to your speed more especially on 3 rail or longer position shots those change a lot as far as total distance and I find I have to really think before I act. But once you get comfortable you can one stroke on those things :D

Eric.
 
balls might be more clumped together regardless of what game you play. So if you can pot balls with high consistancy on a 9 footer, your problem might be clumps of balls. Just a guess though.
 
First off welcome to the Forum.

I would say that first and foremost that the angles might be throwing you off of your patterns as well as your shot selection.

Secondly, do both tables have the same felt on them? Do they play similar? I would say in this day and age pool has became a game of mostly finesse, compared to the older days it was more "power pool".
The reason being, is you have much better equipment today enabling you to get more spin on the qball with less effort (finesse) in relation to the "older" felts they used to play on. (and still do in some poolrooms)
The point I am making is, if the 9ft track is superior equipment compared to the 8ft tables that you play on, well that is enough to throw your game off.
Lets face it, playing on inferior equipment can be very demanding.

The moral of my story is...........
If you are playing on two sets of equipment that play totally different.......
well, the answer lies within that last statement.
GOOD LUCK
Todd
 
Not trying to insult you, but are you sure you're playing on 8' and not 7'? I don't find a whole lot of difference from 9' to 8', but there is a big difference from 9' to 7'.
 
Thanks for the input everybody!

Todd, you're right!
The felt on the 8 footers is slow. To compensate for the slow felt, I have a tendency to hit harder. I think I need to practice solely on the 8's to get a better feel for them, even though I really don't like playing on them.

And yes Pushout, I'm sure their 8's. They're not coin-op bar tables. Now the upper level APA tournaments are played on 7's and I absolutely detest those tables! But everybody else just loves them!
 
I find pocket size more important than table size.

Shape needs to be more precise on an 8'
Balls are more likely to be 'problematic' on an 8'
In pool rooms at least , 8' seem to be slower than thier 9's more often than not.

Give equal pockets sizes , I think a 9' is 'easier' alot of the time. :)

A heavily shimmed 9' , that's another story.
 
it's probable you had been accustomed to the shot length of the 9 footers. may also be possible that the pockets are more tighter in the 8 footers. are you having problems with bank shots on them? then it must be length adjustment.
 
Welcome to poolplayers heaven Rob!

I play mostly on very fast 8 footers but given the choice I prefer the 9ft tables. I think it's true that the smaller the table the more cluttered it can get & thus your positional play has to be more precise. I really do think you should spend more time practicing on those tables, getting used to the cloth speed, etc. It won't hurt your game to do it.

Whenever you play on a different table you'll find certain conditions you'll need to adjust to, whether it's size, cloth speed or pocket size. Being able to adjust quickly can be a great advantage to have.

Keep us posted on how it goes, and of course, have fun!
 
Pushout said:
Not trying to insult you, but are you sure you're playing on 8' and not 7'? I don't find a whole lot of difference from 9' to 8', but there is a big difference from 9' to 7'.
Click to expand...

It is more smallerer! You're jeanyus! :confused:
 
It is also possible that when you are playing on the 9, you are paying better attention to the details of shot making. When you feel you are sharp on the big table, you take for granted that your play on the smaller table will be easy and you aren't as attentive to your game and you miss more. In my experience, given honest and equal effort and focus, the small table is easier but you still have to try just as hard for success.
 
Pushout said:
Not trying to insult you, but are you sure you're playing on 8' and not 7'? I don't find a whole lot of difference from 9' to 8', but there is a big difference from 9' to 7'.
Click to expand...

I play on 9' nearly always, and I feel just like you said. I can play on an 8', but I don't prefer it. 7' is absolute torture, it's not even the same game in my book...I won't even play on them.
 
seymore15074 said:
I play on 9' nearly always, and I feel just like you said. I can play on an 8', but I don't prefer it. 7' is absolute torture, it's not even the same game in my book...I won't even play on them.
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I know what you mean, but you oughta try playing on a 3 x 6 with a big cue ball. When I left NY, all the bar tables were still 3 x 6 instead of 3 1/2 x 7. What they are now, I'm not sure. I played on 9' tables since I took up the game seriously, and when I moved South it took me three months before I was comfortable on a 3 1/2 x 7. Contrary to popular belief, playing on big tables does not insure that you'll play well on small tables right away. Good players told me that years ago.
 
I always prefer a 9 ft than anything else. To me, if I can make shots on a 9 ft table, the 8 & 7 would be even easier, right?
Just as important though is the clothe. Simonis 860 on a 8 ft table will be more fun than cloth that plays like astroturf on a 9 ft table.
 
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