break and run: 8 and 9-ball

Colin Colenso said:
Pro stats indicate 9-ball B&R is about 30% while the IPT 8-Ball was around 40%. Bar box 8-Ball B&R is probably higher for pros.


Colin
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Well, equipment will always have a huge impact on such stats but I have to say, in general, running out in 8-ball is easier on a 9-footer than it is on a 7-footer. The clusters you get on barboxes can make many layouts simply impossible. Those scenarios also creep up on 9-footers but it's not quite as bad.


In response to the initial question, I package far more often in 8-ball than I do 9-ball and I play far more 9-ball than I do 8-ball. To put another way, whenever I'm playing someone in 8-ball who I respect, I'm always terrified they're going to run out the set. I don't think the same thoughts in 9-ball.
 
I think my break is strong, on typical equiptment I break and run atleast one in 5 games in each game. On a barbox, foggitabout it.

Eric.A.
 
I think it depends on the equipment many times, but I think that on average, 8-ball will be easier to break and run.

I think the number one reason is that if you make a ball on the break in 8-ball, you are almost guaranteed to have a shot (and you can pick almost any ball to start) and you can almost always get shape on another ball afterwards. In 9-ball, if you make a ball on the break, you only have one choice of which ball to make next, coupled with the fact you may not be in good position to get shape on the next ball afterwards! This is a huge disadvantage for breaking and running in 9-ball.

I think that if you were given Ball In Hand after the break in either game, your results might stack in the favor of 9-ball instead of 8-ball.
 
8-ball is harder to run out. See, if I look at how often the pros run out in 9-ball and then compare that to how often I run out in 8-ball, then I can clearly see that 9-ball is easier to run out. LOL. :p

Just kidding; I think 8-ball is easier to run out, at least on a 9-foot table.

On a barbox, I've played too few games of 9-ball to form an opinion as to which is easier.
 
The big luck factor in 9ball is getting a good shot on the 1 ball after the break. You can see plenty of pro matches with no break n runs in 9 ball for that very reason.

In 8ball you will have a shot the vast majority of the time and if you are skilled you will find a way to break out problem areas.

I have broke and ran 3 straight racks of 8ball during league play but I've only got a 2pack in 9ball league play.

So if I had to bet someone with 7-1 odds that I could break and run I would have to take the 8ball rack.
 
djkx1 said:
I can't begin to count the number of times I've made a ball, but had no reasonable shot on the one, in 9-ball. This eliminates the BNR chances much more often than in 8-ball, assuming you make a ball on the break. However making a ball on the break is perhaps more difficult in 8-ball.

Over all I think 8-ball is easier to BNR. Bangers with no sense of positional play can run out racks once in a while, but rarely if ever can fluke position all the way through a 9-ball rack.
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Well put. 9-ball BNRs are harder, that's how I see it. More clusters in 8-ball, but far more choices to break them out, plus you can leave a duck just in case on a breakout, and also you can hit the break out on whatever ball you think will work out best. In 9-ball, when you break out you have to utilize what the table gives you.

But, even so, the main reason for the quotation above is that someone who can't make a ball can BNR 8-ball, maybe it's rare, but it happens. I have never seen anyone who can't make a ball BNR a 9-ball rack...at least not yet. ;)
 
I play 8-ball and 9-ball almost every day on a 9 foot table. I definitely have way more 8-ball break and runs than 9-ball. I also have a 10' snooker table and have never managed a 9-ball break and run on that table, but have a few 8-ball BNRs. Of course, I'm usually playing snooker on that table. On smaller tables during league play, I also have more 8-ball BNRs. For me, much easier to run 8-ball.
 
Seems as though theres a consensus that it's a lil easier to break n run in 8 ball vs 9 ball, with the caveat being that you have to run them all in order.

Wonder what the comparisons in 9 ball vs 8 ball for winning 0 inning games. That would thus include 8 and 9 on the break. And that would also include combinations like 1-9 or 2-9. And of course would include any slop 9.
 
PKM said:
How would you compare the difficulty of getting a break and run in 8-ball vs. 9-ball?

Obviously any particular rack depends on the layout, but say based on a long-run average.
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i'm more likely to break and run out in 8 ball because it's easier for me to change my shot selection. if you pick the balls that're set up right with shots leading to break shots for tied up balls then i run out more
 
FLICKit said:
Seems as though theres a consensus that it's a lil easier to break n run in 8 ball vs 9 ball, with the caveat being that you have to run them all in order.

Wonder what the comparisons in 9 ball vs 8 ball for winning 0 inning games. That would thus include 8 and 9 on the break. And that would also include combinations like 1-9 or 2-9. And of course would include any slop 9.
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I think it depends on the player. Someone with crap cue ball control but good shot making ability will have a more difficult time running out an 8 ball rack since they are likely to hook themeselves at some point. In 9 ball you can often play zone position and do okay as long as you pot the balls.

The all around players have an easier time with 8 ball because they are less likely to snooker themselves later in the rack.

But lets put this another way. If I had to break and run a rack of any game of pool (outside of 14.1) to save the lives of my self and all of my friends and family, I would choose 8 ball. The reason, I am almost certain I will get a shot after the break and I can't help but feel more comfortable that I can miss my position by 10 feet and still have an easy shot.

That is not to say that 8 ball is an overly easy game, just that there are things that can wrong in a 9 ball rack.
 
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