Enjoyable Practice Game - 8-ball & 9-ball Combined

[ChrisinNC]

Taking a break from my normal 9-ball vs ghost or 14.1 solo practice sessions, I’ve discovered an enjoyable game that I’m sure is nothing new, but new to me. It starts out as 8-ball and I think it’s helpful to be doing this on a 9-foot table and using an 8-ball template, to give you the best chance at a really nice ball spread off the break with minimal problem clusters.

After breaking and attempting to run, if you are successful running out after the break shot (regardless of whether or not you make any balls on the break) you then attempt to run out the remains 6-7 balls on the table in rotation, as if you are playing 9-ball. If you miss on the 8-ball in your initial runout attempt, the 8-ball then becomes the final ball in rotation.

A perfect game constitutes an 8-ball runout after the break, followed by running out all the remaining balls in rotation. I find this an enjoyable, challenging and valuable solo practice session, especially if you currently compete in both 8-ball and 9-ball.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Sounds a lot like FARGO (Flip and Run, Guts Offense), a practice game invented by MIke Page.

Smash break a full rack, take ball in hand (or not), and shoot any ball (like straight pool) until you get to a point where you think you can run the rest in rotation - then try that. I think you get 1 point for each "random" ball and 2 points for each rotation ball.

The rules were posted here years ago. (The "flip" part refers to putting a coin on the rail and flipping it over when you start the rotation phase.)

pj
chgo

 

[middleofnowhere]

The rule book is full of different games most have never heard of. Cowboy pool and Cribbage used to be very popular. You don't need to invent games.

 

[Cornerman]

Taking a break from my normal 9-ball vs ghost or 14.1 solo practice sessions, I’ve discovered an enjoyable game that I’m sure is nothing new, but new to me. It starts out as 8-ball and I think it’s helpful to be doing this on a 9-foot table and using an 8-ball template, to give you the best chance at a really nice ball spread off the break with minimal problem clusters.

After breaking and attempting to run, if you are successful running out after the break shot (regardless of whether or not you make any balls on the break) you then attempt to run out the remains 6-7 balls on the table in rotation, as if you are playing 9-ball. If you miss on the 8-ball in your initial runout attempt, the 8-ball then becomes the final ball in rotation.

A perfect game constitutes an 8-ball runout after the break, followed by running out all the remaining balls in rotation. I find this an enjoyable and valuable solo practice session, especially if you currently compete in both 8-ball and 9-ball tournaments.

This is basically how I‘ve practiced 8-ball for as long as I’ve been playing. Pretty much always run the remaining balls in rotation. I’m sure I’m not alone.

 

[Cornerman]

Sounds a lot like FARGO (Flip and Run, Guts Offense), a practice game invented by MIke Page.

Smash break a full rack, take ball in hand (or not), and shoot any ball (like straight pool) until you get to a point where you think you can run the rest in rotation - then try that. I think you get 1 point for each "random" ball and 2 points for each rotation ball.

The rules were posted here years ago. (The "flip" part refers to putting a coin on the rail and flipping it over when you start the rotation phase.)

pj
chgo

The original game was Allen Hopkins’s Q-skills. The first ten balls were open and worth 1 pt each. The last five were in rotation, each being 2 pts. So max 20 per frame, ten frames. Mike’s flip option made for an advancement of the game.

 

[ChrisinNC]

The original game was Allen Hopkins’s Q-skills. The first ten balls were open and worth 1 pt each. The last five were in rotation, each being 2 pts. So max 20 per frame, ten frames. Mike’s flip option made for an advancement of the game.

This version is quite a bit harder than Q-skills, as at the outset of the game you attempt to run all stripes or solids followed by the 8-ball, before playing the remaining balls in rotation, as opposed to being able to shoot any ball you want starting out.

 

[Cornerman]

This version is quite a bit harder than Q-skills, as at the outset of the game you attempt to run all stripes or solids followed by the 8-ball, before playing the remaining balls in rotation, as opposed to being able to shoot any ball you want starting out.

I was answering Pat Johnson’s post about the game of FARGO. My answer to your post was totally different.

 

[fastone371]

Taking a break from my normal 9-ball vs ghost or 14.1 solo practice sessions, I’ve discovered an enjoyable game that I’m sure is nothing new, but new to me. It starts out as 8-ball and I think it’s helpful to be doing this on a 9-foot table and using an 8-ball template, to give you the best chance at a really nice ball spread off the break with minimal problem clusters.

After breaking and attempting to run, if you are successful running out after the break shot (regardless of whether or not you make any balls on the break) you then attempt to run out the remains 6-7 balls on the table in rotation, as if you are playing 9-ball. If you miss on the 8-ball in your initial runout attempt, the 8-ball then becomes the final ball in rotation.

A perfect game constitutes an 8-ball runout after the break, followed by running out all the remaining balls in rotation. I find this an enjoyable, challenging and valuable solo practice session, especially if you currently compete in both 8-ball and 9-ball.

I always run out the remaining balls but never thought about running them in rotation, great idea. It might also make you think twice about "accidentally" moving an opponents ball to a tougher lie, something I am not ashamed to admit that I am guilty of when playing against an opponent.

 

[alphadog]

I always run out the remaining balls but never thought about running them in rotation, great idea. It might also make you think twice about "accidentally" moving an opponents ball to a tougher lie, something I am not ashamed to admit that I am guilty of when playing against an opponent.

That is advanced 8 ball , no shame in that.

I play mostly barbox 8 ball and anytime I have ball in hand I try to run out in rotation. Or if the first couple balls are doable I get after it.

 

[pwd72s]

A good way to handicap 8 ball...the better player has to run his in order. Lots of variations out there...

 

[hang-the-9]

Taking a break from my normal 9-ball vs ghost or 14.1 solo practice sessions, I’ve discovered an enjoyable game that I’m sure is nothing new, but new to me. It starts out as 8-ball and I think it’s helpful to be doing this on a 9-foot table and using an 8-ball template, to give you the best chance at a really nice ball spread off the break with minimal problem clusters.

After breaking and attempting to run, if you are successful running out after the break shot (regardless of whether or not you make any balls on the break) you then attempt to run out the remains 6-7 balls on the table in rotation, as if you are playing 9-ball. If you miss on the 8-ball in your initial runout attempt, the 8-ball then becomes the final ball in rotation.

A perfect game constitutes an 8-ball runout after the break, followed by running out all the remaining balls in rotation. I find this an enjoyable, challenging and valuable solo practice session, especially if you currently compete in both 8-ball and 9-ball.

I do this quite a bit, also just run out both solids then stripes before shooting the 8 ball in. I had a good run a few days ago and had 3 break and runs that way.

 

[ChrisinNC]

I do this quite a bit, also just run out both solids then stripes before shooting the 8 ball in. I had a good run a few days ago and had 3 break and runs that way.

Another variation is to run out 14 balls alternating stripes and solids every shot, then the 8 ball as the 15th and final ball in the run.

 

[fastone371]

Does anyone take BIH when playing the 8 ball ghost?? I never liked the idea because the break is such big component of 8 ball, especially on a barbox. You see so many players let the cue ball run wild on an 8 ball break, even better players which really surprises me. Who doesn't want to start an 8 ball run from center table instead of having the cue ball pinched by the foot rail and an object ball????

 

[Chili Palmer]

Taking a break from my normal 9-ball vs ghost or 14.1 solo practice sessions, I’ve discovered an enjoyable game that I’m sure is nothing new, but new to me. It starts out as 8-ball and I think it’s helpful to be doing this on a 9-foot table and using an 8-ball template, to give you the best chance at a really nice ball spread off the break with minimal problem clusters.

After breaking and attempting to run, if you are successful running out after the break shot (regardless of whether or not you make any balls on the break) you then attempt to run out the remains 6-7 balls on the table in rotation, as if you are playing 9-ball. If you miss on the 8-ball in your initial runout attempt, the 8-ball then becomes the final ball in rotation.

A perfect game constitutes an 8-ball runout after the break, followed by running out all the remaining balls in rotation. I find this an enjoyable, challenging and valuable solo practice session, especially if you currently compete in both 8-ball and 9-ball.

At home I get to play a 10 year old so I've been doing this for a while out of necessity. We alternate breaks, she shoots first, and if I run out my solids/stripes I have to run hers out before I can pocket the 8B. If I'm in stroke I will do it in rotation or it's no fun for her

But the overall concept is fun to play as it helps you look at breakouts for balls you wouldn't normally look at i.e. you're shooting stripes but you notice the 2-3 is locked up, regular 8B you're not touching that but in this game you have to

 

[hang-the-9]

Does anyone take BIH when playing the 8 ball ghost?? I never liked the idea because the break is such big component of 8 ball, especially on a barbox. You see so many players let the cue ball run wild on an 8 ball break, even better players which really surprises me. Who doesn't want to start an 8 ball run from center table instead of having the cue ball pinched by the foot rail and an object ball????

I've never done an 8 ball ghost, but it may depend on if I have a first shot or not. The point of the ghost is "if you miss you lose", unless one is a pro level players, playing from where the cueball ends up after the break is a bit hard. With the number of balls on the table in 8 ball it does not take much to not have a shot as funny as that sounds with being able to shoot at half of the balls.

 

[fastone371]

I've never done an 8 ball ghost, but it may depend on if I have a first shot or not. The point of the ghost is "if you miss you lose", unless one is a pro level players, playing from where the cueball ends up after the break is a bit hard. With the number of balls on the table in 8 ball it does not take much to not have a shot as funny as that sounds with being able to shoot at half of the balls.

Thats exactly why I mentioned the importance of not letting the cue ball run wild on the break.

 

[sjm]

Another variation game you might enjoy is one that Thorsten Hohmann showed me just a couple of days ago.

Play straight pool with the condition that the last four balls on the table, whatever they are, must be played in numerical order. Hence, if the last four balls you leave on the table are the 7, 13, 8 and 3. You must play the 3, then the 7, then the 8 and the 13 must be your break shot for the next rack. Thorsten said his high run playing this way is 98.

It's an interesting blend of straight pool and rotation pool.