Carnival Pool Game

R

Run the Century

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Its state fair time - just wondering if anybody has a method to beating this game. With 4 balls I have tested it a little and it seems if you break slightly from the right of the head spot and cut the headball slightly to the right (with a SOFT break) - the headball heads toward the side pocket and the 2 side balls end up near the two corner pockets with the bottom ball on the rail between them for an easy run out. Anybody else have a good system?

BTW - thinking of bringing a cube of chalk with me LOL.
 
If you want a moldy stuffed animal that bad, throw 10 bucks my way and I'll send you one of Big Perms stuffed buddies. :)

Now if you want to learn a real carnival game, you should take up speed pool.
 
This system include trying it on their tables?

They tend to have the tables unlevel on purpose as well as the pockets are specifically modified by changing the angles to kick balls out unless it is a dead center hit. I also wouldn't put it past them to use balls that are out of balance.

Brian
 
I've beat it lots of times. Key is a couple of things.

1. Be aware where the poles of the tent are. Usually there are poles right next to the tables. They won't move them for your shots, so be aware of where you can reach on these tables.

2. Big rocks. A lot of the places are using over sized cue balls.

3. Soft break. With a 4 ball rotation, soft break, leaving the lowest numbered ball near the spot. Check #1 when coming around two rails for shape on it it.

4. Don't roll anything. These tables are FAR from level, so your best bet is a good pocketing speed.

hope this helps.

It's always a fun thing to go up to one of these places, put up 2 bucks and walk away with something first try. Love seeing the carnie get all upset.
 
I have beaten them many times

I got banned one year - I dont care about the stuffed animal - I get a kick out of making the carnie mad. I was just wondering how others played the game.

Didnt think about the pole being an obstacle - good point there. The year I got banned - they did have really small pockets, the cues had barely a tip on them, the chalk was horrible and the balls were filthy. However the table was fairly level.

I have a diamond pro am 9 foot with pro cut pockets at home - I have been keeping my average - I can beat the game on my table about 60%. I figure with the carnival playing condition that may go down quite a bit - but worth it for the carnies face. LOL
 
There are two types of carni tables from what I've seen. One has normal, but tight pockets.... and the other has mega-triple-shimmed pockets (maybe quadruple).

If the table is the latter--- honestly, don't even play. A tour pro, using the carni's tipless house cue and unlevel balls/table is prob 50% to get out, if that. You prob have better odds throwing a ring around a bottle or a softball into a milk jug.

Conversely, if the table doesn't have those HUGE shims on it--- i beat the hell out of them even with their cheating, crooked tipless crap equipment. I got lucky one time in Ocean City, MD years ago where they had a table setup that had normal pockets. The kids were lined up handing me $5 to play for them and I was running out almost at will. The carni guy banned me from the game (true story). If the table has those monster shims, you can't beat them no matter how you play.

Dave
 
love this game

i have played this game every year the carnival comes around and down the shore each year on vacation. soft break hitting 3/4 ball is definitly the way to go. the biggest problems i have found are the sticks and table being level. they usually have the oversized slip on tips with nothing left on them. all that being said, i can still beat it about 7 or 8 out of 10 times. i usually get end up having people give me $5 to do it for them (it usually costs $2) until i get banned.
want to really have some fun with it? go late at night and bet the carnies on doing it with 1 hand or doing it 3 out of 5 times. i have made a lot of money a few different years before i got banned.
 
Here in Austin every year, we have the rodeo with the carnival. I love playing the 4 ball at the carnival. I was with some friends and they knew I played pool. So they gave me the money for the big prize. I won the first time. And then again the second time. Then I had some girls come over and asked if I could win them a prize but the carnie cut me off. Sayin I had to come back the next day. So I was back a couple of days later and the carnie saw me coming from a mile away. Before I could give him the money, he told me only one prize per day. So I won my one prize and left. Heck, he was using me for advertisement, saying look how easy it is to win. (which it is easy if you can make a ball) I told him you should pay me for making it look so easy. BTW the soft break is the best.
 
The last time I played this it was 4 ball run them in any order. The carnie was barking up a storm trying to get action. No action. There were 5 or 6 people standing there doing nothing. I walked up, gave him the money and broke soft and ran the 4 balls quickly. As I was walking away with my worthless hard as a rock doll, the carnie was busy taking the other people money who were now all ready to play. He gave me a wink and told me thanks for playing. No really thanks he said. Those guys are always moving.
 
Funny post! Last time I played this game at the State Fair, I think I was about 50/50. Soft breaking works great! Learn to use follow only! :p

Try using no chalk or washing off your tip for practice! :p
 
It's been awhile...........

Haven't seen this carnival game in awhile. Last time I played this was in Pensacola Florida when I was 13. I played once and won, but I thought the prize was lame so I ended up goin to the knife ring toss game. More fun and get some cool knives:rolleyes:
 
Soft break, keep all the balls down by the foot end and then run out. Don't worry about making a ball on the break. You just want all the balls in the same area with no long shots and no having to go up and down table for position.

Years ago I was at the Orange County Fair with my wife and son. My wife saw the big stuffed bulldogs hanging above the pool tables and said those were cool. Her and my son wanted to go on the carpet slide right across the way. I sent them up the stairs and then went over to the 4 ball game.

When they got to the bottom of the slide maybe two minutes later I was standing there with the huge bulldog in my arms. :grin-square:
 
This is so funny and brings back so many memories , just break the balls enough to push them down to the bottom rail and pockets and run out. I get ran off every year at Ocean City , MD. My kids look forward to me makeing a ass out of the carney game attendant. I talk it up and act like it's impossible so they say i will give you 2 large anything you want for $5 so I say ok , then they get so pissed . Then they say my boss said get the hell going you are not aloud to play anymore. My kids arent worried about the ratty old stuffed animals but this year they got steelers backetballs ,, lol. my kids look forward to doing this every year just to see the look on their face when the old man hustles the carney guy !!:grin:
 
I remember one year

I had a convertible and had to put the top down and seat belt the 2 bears I won in the backseat. I got so many looks on the way home.
 
A Bad Name...

Neil said:
Sometimes it won't work, and sometimes you will get caught, but it helps if you pull one on them. Have a slip-on tip palmed, and slip it on while you chalk the cue. Then, if he hasn't noticed it, slip it off when you are done.
Click to expand...

Stunts like this have caused Carnies to give pool players a bad name:eek:
 
Thats a good one!

Neil said:
Sometimes it won't work, and sometimes you will get caught, but it helps if you pull one on them. Have a slip-on tip palmed, and slip it on while you chalk the cue. Then, if he hasn't noticed it, slip it off when you are done.
Click to expand...

Neil thats a good one, should help lots, and take your own chalk with ya for sure!


David Harcrow
 
Neil said:
Sometimes it won't work, and sometimes you will get caught, but it helps if you pull one on them. Have a slip-on tip palmed, and slip it on while you chalk the cue. Then, if he hasn't noticed it, slip it off when you are done.
Click to expand...

I wonder how they would react if you just showed up with a Gina. :eek:
 
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