Adjusting from 9' to Barbox

victorl

victorl

Where'd my stroke go?
Silver Member
I'm planning on taking a trip to Vegas with my friend's team for the APA Team Championships (9-ball) and just looking for some advice.

Here, 99% of the pool tables are 9 footers and league matches are all played on big tables as well, so they have never even seen a 7 footer before. They assume it will be easier, but I know playing on a barbox can be whole different kind of challenge.

My experience with barboxes is very limited, so I'm looking for some advice on how to prepare or adjust to playing on a BB, or is it fine to just play the same way as on a big table?

Cheers,
Vic
 
Last edited:
In my opinion, it will be easier. I mostly play rotation games on 9' tables. When I play barbox 9-ball, I'm definitely looking to run out every time I get to the table. To me, it is a run out game. I don't play on bar tables often, but even so I don't feel like I need to make any major conscious adjustments.

If it were 8 ball, it would be a different story. But it's 9 ball. Run the balls. Control the cue ball. You don't need to move it as much. There are no "long" shots, so you can play position to pocket balls at the opposite end of the table without as much concern.
 
Last edited:
The only thing I ever worry about is speed control. The shots are easier, so a little extra focus on speed is how I manage it.
 
victorl said:
I'm planning on taking a trip to Vegas with my friend's team for the APA Team Championships (9-ball) and just looking for some advice.

Here, 99% of the pool tables are 9 footers and league matches are all played on big tables as well, so they have never even seen a 7 footer before. They assume it will be easier, but I know playing on a barbox can be whole different kind of challenge.

My experience with barboxes is very limited, so I'm looking for some advice on how to prepare or adjust to playing on a BB, or is it fine to just play the same way as on a big table?

Cheers,
Vic
Click to expand...

Hi Vic

I shoot allot on bar boxes because the closet pool room is 165 miles in one direction .

Bar boxes are a challenge because you have less room on the table .

You do allot more stop shots and you are not using the rails as much to get cue ball position.

Depending on the cloth but if its 22 or 21 ounce rubber backed cloth the tables are extremely slow , and they are real slow If you are use to 9 footers.
 
Thanks for the replies.

What do you think about safety play in bar box nine ball? With most long shots and banks being quite makeable, I suppose going for the runout whenever possible would be the best strategy?
 
I have an 8 foot bar box at my place. It has REALLY slow cloth so when I go play a tournament that has 9 footers with 860 cloth i overrun my shape for the first two games. I dont know what the 7 footers are going to be like where you are going but 30 min of warmup time should give you a good feel for how you will need to adjust.

The one big thing you will likely encounter is that it is MUCH easier to get stuck behind other object balls (same amount of balls with a much smaller surface area) so playing shape to areas with less traffic will help.
 
Last edited:
victorl said:
Thanks for the replies.

What do you think about safety play in bar box nine ball? With most long shots and banks being quite makeable, I suppose going for the runout whenever possible would be the best strategy?
Click to expand...

To me, moving to the barbox from a 9' makes the game so much easier and while speed can be an issue it generally isn't due to the difference in the cloth. Most 9' tables that can be found around here are either Diamond or Gold Crowns and are fitted with one of the Simonas cloths, either the 760 or the 860, a couple of reasonably fast cloths. The bar boxes at the APA event are Valleys with Mercury Ultra. There is some speed adjustment, but it's minimal, if you don't really think about it and just play you may not even notice, smaller table and slower cloth. The physical adjustment is minimal, It's more of a visual adjustment, you just have to get used to the cue ball not rolling as far. The real adjustment comes in trying to learn each individual table that you play on. I've shown up a day or two ahead of the APA events before and watched the table guys set up the equipment, each is set up and leveled, but every Valley bar table has its own personality, almost like a putting green. You could put your own NASA grade level on it and make sure it's calibrated to your liking, but sure as shit when you play the ball will almost always take a funny roll, like there are little hills and valleys in the cloth and the slate.Balls on the smaller tables seem to cluster up a bit more, but I think what they'll find are tables that might roll a little slower with bigger pockets.
 
I miss Japan its been several years since I've been there. I usually just read these threads and rarely post, but I've gotten so much help on AZ so I'll give it a try.

Advice I've received that's worked for me. Listed below in no particular order to make the transition
1. Practice games 1/2 table games on the 9 foot table to get used to the congestion
2. Warm-up with your "common" position and lag shots to see the speed difference. I like placing 4 balls frozen to the long rail one diamond from the corner pockets and run them in rotation. Critical to practice the speed of the table Vegas 7 ft tables seem much faster to me than any other table I play on all year.
3. 8 ball: Play as much stop shot position as you can early in the game. Its not about being afraid to move your cueball its about not getting into trouble. Once table opens up move cueball however you like. Practice lightly bumping object balls with the cueball to "hold" for position. Be really careful how hard you hit clusters so they don't tie up again. Practice cross table one rail banks for position
4. 9 ball: Have fun it will seem much easier than a 9 foot table.
 
If we're talking about older coin op tables, with oversized or overweight cue balls, then there is a bigger adjustment needed. Basically, those CBs rob you of a lot of draw action, especially on cut shots, so playing natural angles is more critical to predictability.

Although there is not as much space, I'd also caution being tempted to run out all the time if you're playing an equally skilled or superior player. Plenty of safety opportunities on a 7 foot table.
 
Chuck Fields said:
The only thing I ever worry about is speed control. The shots are easier, so a little extra focus on speed is how I manage it.
Click to expand...

+1

There are not many opportunities to let your stroke out on a barbox, if you're playing barbox pool. Then again, I like in Louisiana and we hit everything hard.
 
victorl said:
Thanks for the replies.

What do you think about safety play in bar box nine ball? With most long shots and banks being quite makeable, I suppose going for the runout whenever possible would be the best strategy?
Click to expand...

I forget who said it but I was watching the stream at the USBTC a few years ago and the commentator said "there is no such thing as safe on a bar table." And he was right. Shorter distances make judging kicks and playing jump shots easier. If you have a reasonable out you're better off going for it. If you have to play safe you better be damn sure you put them in jail where they can't see a kick and are tied up with a ball that makes a jump impossible.
 
I think the biggest factor is the kind of table you play on. You should have an easy time on a Valley due to short pocket shelves. The Diamonds on the other hand may cause a little grief due to rattling balls and not being able to cheat the pocket as much. I have a 9' Gold Crown at home with 4 3/8" pockets and play league and tournaments on only 7 footers. That's my experience anyway.
 
If you can play position the game is way easier. Getting boxed in or blinded from a shot is part of the game. Also the break clogs things up. Also suggest play 9-10 ball better spread than 8 ball. . Anyone with a half ass stroke but good knowledge of angles has the advantage. I play on a 7 footer every day. No problem moving up in size when traveling.
 
Agent 99 said:
Shorten your stroke .. Use a 'compact stroke' is another way to put it.
Click to expand...

:yes:


Yes...this is what I do. Like a half a stroke on most shots.

Like an Allen Hopkins stroke.



:idea2:

And now one thing you need to do on a 7 footer is get one of those

special Meucci Bar Box cues.:rotflmao1::lol::speechless:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top