9B: Runout or Early 9?

Is it better to run out or pot the 9 in early?

  • Run it out

    Votes: 26 50.0%
  • Early 9 (on the break; combo; carom; etc...)

    Votes: 26 50.0%

  • Total voters
    52
  • Poll closed .

okinawa77

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Most 9 Ball players have told me it's better to run out, than to pot the 9 in early.

What do you think?
 
For me it's not that cut and dry. It depends on the situation. If it's for money (even a tournament) then yes. And even then, it depends on how hard it is to make. Sometimes its easier to run out.

If its just banging balls, then I wanna try to run out. It just depends.

Shane
 
Well, here's why I ask.

I have been an 8 ball player for awhile, and I have started practicing 9 ball with a friend of mine. He is a better player.

If we play run out, he will beat me...but when I shoot carom/combo shots making the 9 in early....I beat him.

He gets pissed off.

So, what I am saying is... I play to pot the 9 in early.

In your opinion, is it better to play for the run out....or play for an early 9?

To me, it seems quicker and more efficient to pot the 9 in early.

Which makes me wonder.....?....why are we allowed to make the 9 in early as a win?
In 8 ball, you cannot pot the 8 in early for a win.
 
The object of the game is to make the 9 ball, sooner or later. If you can make it early, what's the difference?? There isn't any.
Good grief!!
 
People who only look to early 9, will usually always be bangers.

To add to my first statement, ill always try to run out, unless the short rack is not missable.
 
orangecrush said:
For me it's not that cut and dry. It depends on the situation. If it's for money (even a tournament) then yes. And even then, it depends on how hard it is to make. Sometimes its easier to run out.

If its just banging balls, then I wanna try to run out. It just depends.

Shane


Hi Shane,

What do you do most often, go for the run out, or go for the early 9?

In my case, I think I pot the 9 in early, more than I run out.
 
Richardson said:
People who only look to early 9, will usually always be bangers.



Why do you say that?


I have seen a strong 9 ball player give people the orange crush, and he murders them. He makes 3 ball combos look like a joke.

I think if a person is just slamming at the balls, then yes...they are bangers

But if they are consistently potting the 9 in early, and even setting up the shot for a 9 ball combo/carom/etc..., then that is not a banger.
 
Pushout said:
The object of the game is to make the 9 ball, sooner or later. If you can make it early, what's the difference?? There isn't any.
Good grief!!

That's kind of the way I see it, but there are some players that strongly believe in the run out, and only go for the 9 when it's a hanger.

I'm just wondering with the AZB forum community thinks.

Run out or E9?
 
Simply put, you are trying to win the game in the most efficient way possible.

Riding the 9 on a "hit and hope" shot is not efficient. But if the combo is relatively easy then you should try the combo, otherwise your best bet is to run out or play safe.

As long as your shots are calculated then you are playing the game right.

P.S. Just so we are all on the same page, these are not reasonable shots.

CueTable Help

 
it dosent matter one bit, no matter the circumstances you try to do what ever it takes to win each rack. the number of times it goes in is what counts not when, this is a fact.
 
In this neck of the woods, most go for the run regardless. I believe this is because APA 9 ball is popular here and each ball pocketed is a point, with the 9 being 2 points, the rack a total of 10 points. Since APA 9 ball is short rack straight pool, point count is what is sought after.
This becomes a weakness in tournament play because these players often over look the opportunity to win the game outright.

That said, if it is reasonably playable, and it is the logical shot, I will go for it every time. If it makes more sense to run the rack or play safe, that's what I do. I see nothing wrong with making it early if it's possible.

I also think that many times when it goes in early it is slopped in. When playing for cash around here they play call the 9. It's kind of amusing to watch the 9 get called anytime there is a chance of it going in. You hear a lot of "9 in the corner" when there is no intention of putting it there, rather the possibility that it goes. Aside from the excessive pocket calling I feel that calling the 9 is the most reasonable way to go.


:cool:
 
When guys go after an un realistic early nine instead of the out, they're considered bangers because: Most good players can run the last 6-7 balls much more easily than they could pocket a difficult combo/carom. When a guy goes after a pretty crazy combo on a 9 with lots of green, even if he/she is very skilled at the shot and can make it consistently, it still tells me that "this person just doesn't know billiards/pool very well" because in electing to take such a shot/risk, he/she has no idea of the risks involved in NOT making the shot (rattle the 9 and leave it hanging, changing the layout of the table, ect).
If you claim that you actually set up an easy nine by moving it around when playing other shots, then I think that you're taking un needed risks.
And, although I have met many many players that are actually quite amazing when it comes to long and multiple ball combos, usually they're still considered low risk shots, and if a player can get out more often with an un realistic combo than he/she can just by running out, then the player needs to work more on their 'other' skills.

Try playing the ghost or even a good player where you only get around one chance at the table per rack, and you'll never win by trying to play a game based on an early 9.
dave

(A realistic or un realistic shot on a combo 9 all depends on the player, but in general, I think if there's more than 24 inches in green between the 9 and it's desired pocket, unless it's a fairly straight shot I would consider it pretty un realistic. If there are one or more angles involved, the green distance for me would reduce to about 6-8 inches.)
 
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Every answer on here is correct imo.... that being said, bottom line is the good players run out if the combo is even slightly hard... depends on the run out how easy that is. If there are balls tied up and the brake out is really hard yea, the combo is your option.
 
You should do

whatever has the greatest winning percentage. For most players, that is running out.
 
If the 9 is a duck and the combo is relatively easy, I will take the combo.

If there is not an easy combo, I will ATTEMPT to run out. ATTEMPT is the KEY word.
 
I decided to read what you had asked before I answered because I expected a diagram of a specific game...Nothing.

I think the general rule of thumb for 9b is, "If you can run out and nothing is tied up or blocking another ball, it's better safe than sorry."

You need to consider the percentage chance that you miss, and where the 9ball will be if you do. If you run 5 balls and only have 2 or 3 left on the table but decide to do a combo and miss the shot...You pretty much gave the game to your opponent after you did most of the work. I'm afraid I can't answer the poll because there are just too many variables to take into account.
 
I disagree that people that look for the early 9 are bangers. There are players that I have seen locally that can run out from everywhere and still have no problem taking the early 9. if there are 3 balls on the table take the run but if there are clusters hard shots ect and the 9 is available take it... all the wins look the same in the final score.
 
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