Games to play with much weaker players

BRussell

BRussell

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've been playing pool with my kids and we like to invent games that are a challenge for me to play against them. Here are some ideas we have tried., in order of the advantage to the weaker player:

1. Stronger player plays rotation, weaker player can make any ball. First to 61 points wins. (This is a game called Mr. And Mrs.)
2. Same as above, but count balls rather than points. First to make 8 balls wins. This is for when the weaker player gets too hard to beat in the above game. :)
3. Eight ball where stronger player has to play their balls in rotation. This is a little easier on the stronger player than the above. This is what I play my wife on the once-a-year occasion that she feels like playing.

Another set of games we play uses 10 ball or 9 ball, again in order of advantage to the weaker player:

1. Weaker player gets ball in hand every shot. Good for practicing shots, not so good for practicing position.
2. Weaker player gets ball in hand at the beginning and after stronger player misses, and weaker player can move the cue ball within a one hand distance after making a shot.
3. Same as above but without the cue ball move.

We've tried games where I can only play in some of the pockets, like I have to play one pocket but the kids can make any ball in any pocket, but nothing we've tried has really worked. I was thinking of playing with a bonus ball pocket arrangement for me, but haven't tried it yet.

Any other ideas for this situation?
 
BRussell said:
Any other ideas for this situation?
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Odds and evens 8-ball.

The better player must alternate between an odd number and an even number. If the number of his evens and odds are equal, he can start his run with either. If there are more odd balls than even balls, he must start with an odd ball... and vice verse.
 
What I like doing with my nieces & nephews to keep it interesting for me, we play 8-ball and they call the pocket for me when I'm on the 8. I will even coach them as to the hardest pocket to get them started. If they are really beginners, they don't have to use the cue ball to make their balls (and I help them line up and hold the bridge for them) - but if they continue to beat me too bad I make them use the cue ball on the 8.

Enjoy,
Dave
 
How about having your kids pick the object ball on your turn. Or you could have them pick the object ball and the pocket to make it really challenging.
 
You can give up ball in hand every time you miss. It could help the weaker player to learn pattern play too.
 
BRussell said:
I've been playing pool with my kids and we like to invent games that are a challenge for me to play against them. Here are some ideas we have tried., in order of the advantage to the weaker player:

1. Stronger player plays rotation, weaker player can make any ball. First to 61 points wins. (This is a game called Mr. And Mrs.)
2. Same as above, but count balls rather than points. First to make 8 balls wins. This is for when the weaker player gets too hard to beat in the above game. :)
3. Eight ball where stronger player has to play their balls in rotation. This is a little easier on the stronger player than the above. This is what I play my wife on the once-a-year occasion that she feels like playing.

Another set of games we play uses 10 ball or 9 ball, again in order of advantage to the weaker player:

1. Weaker player gets ball in hand every shot. Good for practicing shots, not so good for practicing position.
2. Weaker player gets ball in hand at the beginning and after stronger player misses, and weaker player can move the cue ball within a one hand distance after making a shot.
3. Same as above but without the cue ball move.

We've tried games where I can only play in some of the pockets, like I have to play one pocket but the kids can make any ball in any pocket, but nothing we've tried has really worked. I was thinking of playing with a bonus ball pocket arrangement for me, but haven't tried it yet.

Any other ideas for this situation?
Click to expand...

I played a beginner in 8 ball where I had to bank every ball in my category and then the 8 ball. This does level the playing field a bit and made all of the games close. They typically came down to the last ball or two. Good way for you to improve your banking game and you will be trying just as hard as they do. You could also throw in ball in hand occassionally for them if the games still arent that close.
 
Don't worry about playing even with the kids, just teach them to play the right way. Let them win by just missing a ton if you like. Try playing one handed, also using only certain pocket or just one pocket is good. Depending on the ages and how much they like the game, won't take too long for them to play well enough to play normally. I'd just show them the right way to hit the ball, and have them fool arund with that for a bit, don't worry about position aside from just talking about it. Once they can hold the cue steady and pocket a shot clean, move to angles and speed control, then you can start playing actuall games.

I've been playing with my son since he was about 8, it took him till just about a year or two ago to really start to understand the game and how to move the cueball properly with seeing angles and speed needed. At 13, he is already at the stage where I can't give up much of my speed to play him. Just make sure they learn the "right" way to play, stance, lining up the shot, no rushing to hit the ball. I see too many kids that play in our junior league that have almost no solid mechanics which impedes them a lot.
 
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Bonus Ball. You get 3 pockets and shoot in the required order. They get all 6 pockets and can shoot any ball.

Too soon?? :grin-square:
 
If the gap isn't too huge, but still significant, play what we used to call "call ahead".

When I was starting, my best buddy and some of the others at our club would play like this: as we all play call pocket, they would have to call the current shot, and the shot they would have to make afterward. I only had to call my current shot. When they were on the 8-ball, they had to make it in the pocket that they called the first time they shot it, no matter where on the table it ended up.

If they got out of position at all, it became a good challenge for them, too.

Inevitably, I ended up playing along with them, calling ahead. I liked the challenge.

It's a fun game. Makes ya think.
 
justadub said:
If the gap isn't too huge, but still significant, play what we used to call "call ahead".

When I was starting, my best buddy and some of the others at our club would play like this: as we all play call pocket, they would have to call the current shot, and the shot they would have to make afterward. I only had to call my current shot. When they were on the 8-ball, they had to make it in the pocket that they called the first time they shot it, no matter where on the table it ended up.

If they got out of position at all, it became a good challenge for them, too.

Inevitably, I ended up playing along with them, calling ahead. I liked the challenge.

It's a fun game. Makes ya think.
Click to expand...

What I love... is when the weaker player is someone trying to get in your pocket and their attitude is such that they expect you to give them a little 'too much' weight because they suck; as though you're not supposed to be slightly rewarded for having earned learning to play well.

If I'm playing a weaker player, they can have whatever spot they want so long as they play at about 20-25 seconds per shot. It's bad enough they're going to leave the CB in the worst possible location nearly every time they don't scratch. They play safe better than B players intentionally play safe. It's uncanny. And if you aren't playing for anything, who cares about winning/losing... its about time-at-the-table, right? The average non-player takes as long to pocket 2 balls as I take to run out from the two ball.

I'm just assuming for the sake of this discussion you're talking about loved ones -- and in that case, if the goal is to let them have equal ... fun? then the goal is probably to give them equal time at the table... which means it's going to depend entirely on how slow they shoot each shot. :)
 
Modified 8 ball rotation game

I play this with my dad who is an okay shot.

He makes any 3 balls, either solids or stripes, then the 8 ball to win.

I make all of either solids or stripes, then whatever he has left in order, then the 8 ball to win.

It's a pretty fair game.
 
Lots of ways to even the difficulty:

1) First they don't need to use a cueball at all. Just shoot the balls directly into the pockets. This should only be necessary for a couple games at most.

2) Then they get ball in hand on every single shot

3) Then they get ball in hand on every starting shot only (when they come to the table for their inning), but must play position from there

4) Then play normally

5) Another stop-gap measure for #2, #3 or #4 is to give them 2 or 3 innnings per turn (ie: let them miss 2 or 3 times before I can get back to the table)

6) Play opposite handed
 
Play the ghost scotch doubles. This will challenge you. Helps improve your positional play and lets them shoot every other shot. Plus you both win or lose.
 
If playing with a near beginner, allow ball in hand on every shot.

As he/she gets better, start inning with ball in hand and then play as it lays.

You - standard rules throughout.
 
hang-the-9 said:
Don't worry about playing even with the kids, just teach them to play the right way. Let them win by just missing a ton if you like. Try playing one handed, also using only certain pocket or just one pocket is good. Depending on the ages and how much they like the game, won't take too long for them to play well enough to play normally. I'd just show them the right way to hit the ball, and have them fool arund with that for a bit, don't worry about position aside from just talking about it. Once they can hold the cue steady and pocket a shot clean, move to angles and speed control, then you can start playing actuall games.

I've been playing with my son since he was about 8, it took him till just about a year or two ago to really start to understand the game and how to move the cueball properly with seeing angles and speed needed. At 13, he is already at the stage where I can't give up much of my speed to play him. Just make sure they learn the "right" way to play, stance, lining up the shot, no rushing to hit the ball. I see too many kids that play in our junior league that have almost no solid mechanics which impedes them a lot.
Click to expand...

yep..just teach them the rules an basics of how to play..if they like the game,win or loose they seem to come back for more...My kids liked to play bowliards when they
were young..now they'll play golf too..when they come over to play..My middle daughter is going to Nationals in Aug. I think shes more into the night life tho..lol.
 
I play 8 ball with my brother, he plays standard 8 ball and I play rotation like 9 ball. If I do not hit my lowest ball (if he has solids I have 9-15 then bank the 8) he gets ball in hand. He learns defense as well as offense, and I get a lot of kicks and banks practice..
 
I didn't read the whole thread so if this has been mentioned, sorry.

Check pool will make it anybody's game to win. It's mostly the luck of the draw on the pills.
Check pool is like playing wolf on the golf course, the weaker player has about as good a chance to win as the stronger player.

If it's just for family fun, then the kids will probably like it.
 
TrumanHW said:
What I love... is when the weaker player is someone trying to get in your pocket and their attitude is such that they expect you to give them a little 'too much' weight because they suck; as though you're not supposed to be slightly rewarded for having earned learning to play well.

If I'm playing a weaker player, they can have whatever spot they want so long as they play at about 20-25 seconds per shot. It's bad enough they're going to leave the CB in the worst possible location nearly every time they don't scratch. They play safe better than B players intentionally play safe. It's uncanny. And if you aren't playing for anything, who cares about winning/losing... its about time-at-the-table, right? The average non-player takes as long to pocket 2 balls as I take to run out from the two ball.

I'm just assuming for the sake of this discussion you're talking about loved ones -- and in that case, if the goal is to let them have equal ... fun? then the goal is probably to give them equal time at the table... which means it's going to depend entirely on how slow they shoot each shot. :)
Click to expand...

I have no idea why you are quoting me for your point....

These guys that I played/play with aren't exactly "loved ones", but they are friends. I was a significantly poorer player than them, and to keep the games interesting, we played the way I described. We didn't have money on the line, I wasn't trying to get in their pockets (nor they into mine), the were trying to help me learn the game and to find a way to keep it interesting for all concerned. None of us would take an inordinate amount of time to shoot, either, though I will admit that we weren't timing it. I cannot imagine any of us taking more than 20-30 seconds to shoot, unless we were interrupted by folks talking to us, since we were there to have fun....

Have I answered your questions to your satisfaction, since you quoted me?

The OP was asking for a way to handicap a game between players of disparate skill. I gave him my example. It worked for us.
 
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