Bar Box vs 9 footer

After 50+ years of playing I've probably played 50% on BB, 35% on a 9-foot (probably 75% of that was 14.1), and 15% 3-cushion billiards. I am about an "B' player on a BB now and a "C+" player on a 9-footer. Use to be "B+" to "-A" on BB, and "B" on a 9-footer.

I have always found 8-ball on a bar box harder than on a 9-footer and 9-ball harder on a 9-footer than a BB. On a BB playing 9-ball, the hardest part is having a shot on the lowest ball after the break and getting position for the next ball. After that it's mostly a cake walk for "C+" and up. On a 9-footer the first two balls are as critical as on a BB, but then you have 8' to 9' going back and forth on the table. As far as scratching more on a BB...figure that into your shot % before you go 3 rails. If it's close to a scratch, find another way to get there or leave a longer shot. How long can it be???....less than 7-foot pfft...no problem.

On a 9-foot you need better position IMO, and be a better shotmaker. Johnnyt
 
Answer to the question

tinman467 said:
Ok, this may have been asked before, but I'd like everyones opinion on whether they think playing ( 8 ball ) on a bar box, or a 9 footer is harder. I get in this discussion with different shooters all the time. My personal opinion is that its harder to play on a bb..because the balls tend to tie up more. 9 foot shots are longer, but you seldom see a lot of balls together where you need to figure out position to break them up. I dunno..both sides have valid arguments. What do you guys think ?
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I think the barbox 8 ball is tougher than the 9' foot 8 ball, more room to work on the 9 footer, I am not that great at break outs and less to deal with on the 9 footer, as far as an open table I think they are equal as far as running out. Nate
 
I play in 2 different leagues and both are on bar boxes. I can run out every once in a while (more consistently of late). I believe that im a B caliber player. I find that you need to have much stronger fundamentals on a 9 footer vs the bar box. I love to practice on the 9 footers and then go onto the barbox for league. It's almost hard to miss. More clusters on a barbox and more of an open game on the 9 footers. If you have great fundamentals it should not matter what table you shoot on. I would love to elevate my game so that I could play at the same level I do on a barbox onto the 9 footers. Just my 2 cents.
 
djpstacked03 said:
I play in 2 different leagues and both are on bar boxes. I can run out every once in a while (more consistently of late). I believe that im a B caliber player. I find that you need to have much stronger fundamentals on a 9 footer vs the bar box. I love to practice on the 9 footers and then go onto the barbox for league. It's almost hard to miss. More clusters on a barbox and more of an open game on the 9 footers. If you have great fundamentals it should not matter what table you shoot on. I would love to elevate my game so that I could play at the same level I do on a barbox onto the 9 footers. Just my 2 cents.
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I think you probably do as far as running out goes. If you rack up 15 balls on a 9 footer and open break them and try to run the 15 balls (14.1 style) it's not too hard. Now add another row of balls to the back of the rack totaling 21. It goes from maybe an almost even money bet to much bigger odds. It is amazing how balls are tied up all over the place. That is what it is like on a 8 footer. There is no getting past the lack of room you have. It is just harder for all level players.
 
For a decent player (B, B+, A-) the 3½x7 foot tables are still a challenge. IMO pocket billiards on any size table is a challenge. That is why so many of us continue to play as long as we do.

I've spent my last 20+ years playing on 9 footers. I am more comfortable in this challenge. The 3½x7 footers normally present much more difficult challenges.

These tables (aka Bar Boxes or BBs) aren't as consistent. The cloth is in different stages of age and material. The balls are usually mis-matched, difficult to get a tight rack. The cushions are either so soft they play more like folded blankets or as hard as concrete. The corner Pockets are as big as the Grand Canyon, but the side pockets look huge but play small. IMO.

I admire anyone that can play well on these tables. I will stick with the ones I feel comfortable.
 
1965 GTO "street car"...1400 hp on a fat tune-up.
565 ci Pontiac on 2 stages of sauce.
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Got any pictures of that beast on the web other than the avatar? I'd love to check 'em out if so!:grin:
 
I can only assume that by BB you are referring to a 7' table. As was previously pointed out, not all BBs are created equal. Some manufacturers use smaller pockets...and in the case of the PNW, most of our BB are actually 8' in length as opposed to 7'. I think playing on an 8' BB makes the transition to playing on 9' tables a bit easier.

I am sure I will catch flack for this, but personally, I feel that 8 Ball is just a harder game all the way around. I liken the popularity of 9 Ball to that of Texas Hold 'Em...as a rule, both are much quicker games than other types of games that can be played in that genre, and therefore more popular.

Lisa
 
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