Bar table specialists

VTtuna

Member
Are there any pro players out there that could only play on a bar table? Is it possible to be considered a pro player if you only compete on 7 footers? I see a lot of big money bar table tournaments on the streams with monster players. I definitely have my favorite bar box monsters ( Jesse Bowman, Jason Kirkwood , Shane Mcminn) . Were most 7 foot champions proficient on the 9 footers as well or was there any bar table specialists that couldn’t get the job done on the big tables? Not trying to drag anyone’s name thru the mud but I find that my game drops dramatically on the 9 footers compared to the bar table and I’m just looking for some comfort knowing that I’m not alone 😂. Anyhow, back to practicing. Shoot Straight
 
By me, all we have are bar box specialists. I bet most players make it a whole year without hitting a ball on the big table.
So around here, just about everyone’s game drops off when playing on the 9 footer. You are certainly not alone.

I liked watching sky on the barbox when he was coming up. But he made the transition ok, I think. 😂
 
The upcoming Super Billiards Expo will have a great many of the countries bar table specialists competing in the various tournaments and challenge tables. One of the best places to see who's who in the pool world and see some interesting matchups on the challenge tables.
 
The upcoming Super Billiards Expo will have a great many of the countries bar table specialists competing in the various tournaments and challenge tables. One of the best places to see who's who in the pool world and see some interesting matchups on the challenge tables.
I’ll be there 😁
 
SVB has little trouble on either field. Me, I find the big GCs easier to play on than the toy tables. The positional requirements to get out are less stringent and as long as the table is fast and level, pocketing is seldom an issue.
Playing what game? If you're going to say 9b is easier on a 9ft you're delusional. 8b MAYBE but that would be the only game that MIGHT be a bit easier on a 9ft.
 
Are there any pro players out there that could only play on a bar table? Is it possible to be considered a pro player if you only compete on 7 footers? I see a lot of big money bar table tournaments on the streams with monster players. I definitely have my favorite bar box monsters ( Jesse Bowman, Jason Kirkwood , Shane Mcminn) . Were most 7 foot champions proficient on the 9 footers as well or was there any bar table specialists that couldn’t get the job done on the big tables? Not trying to drag anyone’s name thru the mud but I find that my game drops dramatically on the 9 footers compared to the bar table and I’m just looking for some comfort knowing that I’m not alone 😂. Anyhow, back to practicing. Shoot Straight
Bar tables a waaay easier. ONLY game that MIGHT be a lil tougher is 8b due to all the traffic. Other than that a bar-box is like comparing a kiddie pool to an Olympic pool. Not even close.
 
There have always been people considered bar box specialists because they had a knack for seeming to always get the cash on the short tracks. Those guys could generally get it done on the big tracks too, just weren't as well known on the big track. Some people better known on the bar box could get it done on snooker or three cushion tables too.

I have never hit a ball on a table without pockets, but I have played on six foot tables, seven foot tables, eights and super eights, nines and ten foot tables. Snooker too. The snooker table actually played more like a barbox than a big pool table. Pockets were small but most of the game was played down amongst the red balls and shooting the seven.

Back in the old days, even now to some extent, understanding the cue ball and the object balls had a lot to do with bar table mastery. I took a notion to play a bar box tournament for the first time in years so I was working on banks and kicks on a Valley. I had been on nine foot Diamonds so long that I had forgotten that the cue ball and the object balls don't play the same on the coin op's!

Bottom line, if I had to guess a bar box monster might drop half a ball on the big track. Still a threat anywhere. The growth of seven feet diamonds everywhere is going to end whatever differences there were in short track and big track players. Won't be enough difference to call.

Hu
 
Playing what game? If you're going to say 9b is easier on a 9ft you're delusional. 8b MAYBE but that would be the only game that MIGHT be a bit easier on a 9ft.
I learned most of my pool on 10 and 12 ft snooker tables and loose 9 footers so pool on a big table was normal. We're not talking pro level pool by any means but by the same token, never had any difficulty with it. Practiced 15 ball rotation a lot so 9 and 10 ball patterns weren't and still aren't much of a problem. The small tables OTOH, are still a runout challenge. So much congestion and micro speed issues.
 
There have always been people considered bar box specialists because they had a knack for seeming to always get the cash on the short tracks. Those guys could generally get it done on the big tracks too, just weren't as well known on the big track. Some people better known on the bar box could get it done on snooker or three cushion tables too.

I have never hit a ball on a table without pockets, but I have played on six foot tables, seven foot tables, eights and super eights, nines and ten foot tables. Snooker too. The snooker table actually played more like a barbox than a big pool table. Pockets were small but most of the game was played down amongst the red balls and shooting the seven.

Back in the old days, even now to some extent, understanding the cue ball and the object balls had a lot to do with bar table mastery. I took a notion to play a bar box tournament for the first time in years so I was working on banks and kicks on a Valley. I had been on nine foot Diamonds so long that I had forgotten that the cue ball and the object balls don't play the same on the coin op's!

Bottom line, if I had to guess a bar box monster might drop half a ball on the big track. Still a threat anywhere. The growth of seven feet diamonds everywhere is going to end whatever differences there were in short track and big track players. Won't be enough difference to call.

Hu
Great response. Thank you
 
I learned most of my pool on 10 and 12 ft snooker tables and loose 9 footers so pool on a big table was normal. We're not talking pro level pool by any means but by the same token, never had any difficulty with it. Practiced 15 ball rotation a lot so 9 and 10 ball patterns weren't and still aren't much of a problem. The small tables OTOH, are still a runout challenge. So much congestion and micro speed issues.
I agree with speed control almost being more important on the 7 footers.
 
8 ball is easier on a 9footer than a 7 foot table. The shots aren't that much longer on average and you have tons of space to play shape. Only thing a barbox player needs to work on is proficiency with the crutch since almost never gets used on a 7 footer . Also two and three rail shape is much more common on 9 footer....crutch and multiple rail shape are what barbox guys need to work on for a great 9 foot game

Less balls locked up and less balls stuck to rails usually On big table

Idk why people think a guy that's accurate on a 7 isn't going to make shots on a nine.

If everyone in your area plays bar box you play that. If everyone plays 9 footers u play that. I've never seen a good player and said he can't play on a 9. Play on one for a week and your pretty well adjusted to it
 
Last edited:
I aim by contact points which, properly done, hits the object ball along the desired line; the pocket being incidental. So switching to a bigger table involves little more than a couple hours working out the speed and CIT. Position is seldom as critical as on the toy tables although in dense half table layouts the touch is there.
 
Are there any pro players out there that could only play on a bar table? Is it possible to be considered a pro player if you only compete on 7 footers? I see a lot of big money bar table tournaments on the streams with monster players. I definitely have my favorite bar box monsters ( Jesse Bowman, Jason Kirkwood , Shane Mcminn) . Were most 7 foot champions proficient on the 9 footers as well or was there any bar table specialists that couldn’t get the job done on the big tables? Not trying to drag anyone’s name thru the mud but I find that my game drops dramatically on the 9 footers compared to the bar table and I’m just looking for some comfort knowing that I’m not alone 😂. Anyhow, back to practicing. Shoot Straight

No pro player skill level would be much worse on either table size. I can see someone being a step behind on 9 footers but still at a pro level (730/750 Fargo). Maybe 30-40 points lower on a 9 footer vs a 7 footer for some of them.
 
Back
Top