Bar Box monsters

[MitchAlsup]

What are the reasons someone would be great on barbox but not longer tables? Or did they just get get at barbox because that is where the action was?

There are::
a) more clusters on the bar box
b) more interference on the bar box
c) can't take balls out of pockets,...
d) fuzzy felt instead of real cloth
e) odd weight/size CB
f) 20 year old balls with pock marks,...

So strategies are different between the wide open tables (9 foot) and the bar boxes (generally 6.5 feet around here), potting is easier, position is more difficult, runouts are harder to achieve:: and your muscle memory is "not representative" of what is about to transpire.

 

[Johnny Rosato]

Johnny I wonder if we crossed paths. I was in Denver off and on from 1990-2004 solidly from 1999-2004 until I moved to Ca.
What was unique about Denver during that time is that there were a lot of really good players. Not a lot of true champions. Island Drive and Danny M were two of them. But there were hundreds and hundreds that would regularly hit you with a 2-pack.
The main reason was that several bar owners - Terry McFadden, Lief Jensen, Alex Johnson, and several others formed the CBA and coordinated tournaments and met to handicap players monthly. This led to a bunch of us being able to play 6-7 nights a week. We all fed off of each other and challenged each other and it became a good farm system for players. Almost all of the regular players from those days are AA or AAA players now.

Could have ran into one another but I mainly played in bars on E. Colfax and S. Broadway, a few times at Sheridan Billiards, Hanks, Table Steaks. If you ever seen me and heard me talk you wouldn't forget, I have an incredibly heavy southern accent.
I was a non-union carpenter on Isbell Lofts @ 18th & Lawrence and then union journeyman on Museum of Natural History
on Colo Blvd and other smaller jobs.
I probably saw Island Drive play but wouldn't have known who he was. I worked with Danny's nephew for a while, Lorenzo something, but not last name of Medina. (Lorenzo couldn't hit a rail,,, or a nail). lol

 

[Sunchaser]

7

He's a good player but not on the level of most of the names mentioned so far. I know a few guys in Okla. that would walk thru broken glass to gamble with him.

Wow. Fair enough. I just rewatched the 2019 black tier apa finals where Dustin runs a 5 pack and out for 15 thousand. To me thats pretty sporty. Your Okla guys must be amazing.

 

[Island Drive]

My own homeboy Randy 'Fat Randy' Wallace(RIP brother) played a mean game with the smaller cueball.

He and Goose played for over two daze straight early 80's at Reds Houston on the bar box. Goose got the gander. We all called it ''chemical warfare''.

 

[ribdoner]

He and Goose played for over two daze straight early 80's at Reds Houston on the bar box. Goose got the gander. We all called it ''chemical warfare''.

Goose must have been a straight shootin bird

 

[jay helfert]

Any monster on a 9 foot or 10 foot table is likely to be the same on a 7 footer, even if they don’t play on it that much. They simply don’t need to because everything is easier on the smaller table and their cue ball control is so fine tuned.

Case in point – the top 3 current US 9-ball / 10-ball players on a big table most would agree are Shane, Skyler and Justin. I’d say those same three would likely be the top 3 US players right now on a barbox.

Of course any of those three would prefer to match up against anyone else on a bigger table, where their superior skills will more likely prevail. But as long as the race is long enough, any of those three would still be the favorite when playing against anyone else on a smaller table.

Chris, I always used to say, "It's a lot easier to go down in size then it is to go up."

 

[jay helfert]

Goose must have been a straight shootin bird

Benny "The Goose" Conway! He shot me down like a dog! I actually played him on the bar table at Jansco's Show Bar where the tournament was being held. It was right by the entrance and he got me going in. I lost half my bankroll before I even got to watch one match! Of course, when you only have fifty bucks it's not too smart to play five dollar Eight Ball with the first guy you run into at Johnston City. I'd been beating up on the soldiers at Ft. Polk for the last month and I thought I could play.

 

[westcoast]

Any monster on a 9 foot or 10 foot table is likely to be the same on a 7 footer, even if they don’t play on it that much. They simply don’t need to because everything is easier on the smaller table and their cue ball control is so fine tuned.

Case in point – the top 3 current US 9-ball / 10-ball players on a big table most would agree are Shane, Skyler and Justin. I’d say those same three would likely be the top 3 US players right now on a barbox.

Of course any of those three would prefer to match up against anyone else on a bigger table, where their superior skills will more likely prevail. But as long as the race is long enough, any of those three would still be the favorite when playing against anyone else on a smaller table.

true- however, I think Corey Deuel could beat any of these guys playing 8 ball on a bar table. When he gets that 2nd ball break working, he is unbelievable. I think he had something like 16 break and runs in this match with SVB

 

[ribdoner]

Benny "The Goose" Conway! He shot me down like a dog! I actually played him on the bar table at Jansco's Show Bar where the tournament was being held. It was right by the entrance and he got me going in. I lost half my bankroll before I even got to watch one match! Of course, when you only have fifty bucks it's not too smart to play five dollar Eight Ball with the first guy you run into at Johnston City. I'd been beating up on the soldiers at Ft. Polk for the last month and I thought I could play.

i went to Polk for basic training in Dec, 65 and upon completion the 3 week "jungle warfare school".

the only time i got to Leesville was when i caught the bus headed north

My primary MOS was "forward observer", i schooled at Ft Sill in Lawton, Ok

Went to town every night with the exception of a couple when i had guard duty, beat everybody i played there with the exception of a big ( tall and overweight) Indian who called himself "Brassie" or something like that

i much preferred Ft Sill to Ft Polk (lol)

Speaking of the GOOSE

He spent a little time around here 30+- yrs ago, got some action and broke about even

 

[Island Drive]

I played the Goose one time, on a big table pro event in Vegas 1978. I had the match under control and was playing real good. Knocked Davenport out, anywho/during our match. The Goose rolled out a thin cut on the short rail, bout a 80 degree cut, cue ball up and down three rails plus for shape on my next ball, made it, ran out, Goose uncorked....knew he had better action elsewhere....his Big table game was no where near his box game. That was thee ONLY time in any pro event I played in where my opponent, uncorked & walked in the middle of a match. Kimmer didn't like it either.

 

[NINEBALLART]

Bobby Pickle was also a damn good bar box player...

 

[OKDog]

YouTube

"US Bar Table Championships"​

 

[Welder84]

Who were some of the Incredibly strong bar box players over the years? The area where I live pretty much is exclusively bar box tournaments(tournaments on 9 ft tables have almost totally disappeared) so I was thinking about checking out videos for players the good folks here think of as primarily bar box specialists. Many Thanks,Mike S.

Bobby Legg from Baltimore.

 

[SBC]

Matt Clatterbuck...great player that I see at SBE every year and avoid playing.

 

[Tommy-D]

Bobby Pickle was also a damn good bar box player...

Sure was,but I was there in Memphis when he was offered the 7/8 from James Walden on a 9 footer,and he took a pass.

I was like "damn,how does Bobby not play there",so I asked James. He said that if the bet was right,meaning 20k or more,that he had at least 60/40 the best of it,maybe even 70/30.

Probably about like Buddy giving Louie the 7 all those times,and still getting there. Tommy D.

 

[James F]

Jon Smith, AZ. Killer!! My favorite to watch and learn from. True gentlemen and advocate of the game.

 

[mekane84]

At 8 ball, Justin Bergman is the best, Corey Duel right behind him.

 

[S8er]

Tony moshay and Scotty townson where great bar box players..

 

[garczar]

Bobby Pickle was also a damn good bar box player...

Too bad he's about a 200 Fargo criminal.

 

[Black-Balled]

Too bad he's about a 200 Fargo criminal.

Shit. At least a 650.