Giving weight which is easier to win: 8Ball or 9Ball

jeffj2h

jeffj2h

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have to give games on the wire so it will be a, say, 5-3 race or even a 5-2 race.

I can pick if we play either 8ball or 9ball.

Assume I play better them my opponent and know more of the strategy of both games. But my opponent is a threat to run 3-4 balls if the layout is right.

I'm an APA 6 in 8ball. I don't have a SL in 9ball.

Thanks,
Jeff
 
jeffj2h said:
I have to give games on the wire so it will be a, say, 5-3 race or even a 5-2 race.

I can pick if we play either 8ball or 9ball.

Assume I play better them my opponent and know more of the strategy of both games. But my opponent is a threat to run 3-4 balls if the layout is right.

I'm an APA 6 in 8ball. I don't have a SL in 9ball.

Thanks,
Jeff
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I'd go with 8. There's no slopping in the win in 8. Much easier to prevent somebody from running out, too. If you play better and have better strategy in 8, giving up a game or two shouldn't be a problem against a lesser player.. except if they're on.
 
i agree with Banks, your opponent has to make 7 balls and the 8, luck wont factor in, there are more balls on the table to duck behind.
 
8 ball... all day, every day. No short racks in 8-ball. Plus, if they are a threat to run out 3-4 balls, then they aren't a threat to run out 8.
 
Eight ball or nine ball...doesn't matter. What matters is your own skill level and how you feel when you shoot either game. If your breaks sucks and you are a choker, then nine ball is not your game.

If you like nine ball and able to move the cue ball around, then nine ball is better. :thumbup:
 
It's very relative toYOU

Which one is easier to give up a spot in is simply in your mind. If you believe you can give up one game easier than another, you will have better results in that discipline. For me the answer would be 8ball.
 
8 ball for sure. the better player has a huge advantage. there is less unpredictability in 8 ball (choosing your group, usually having a shot after the break, calling pockets, having to run all your balls, etc.) and its easier to control the game against a weak player. especially on a barbox, giving weight playing 8 ball is almost a non factor if youre a far better player and the other guy can only run a few balls. shit, give em 5-1 who cares, just dont miss;)
 
?

Whichever game your better and more comfortable at. Your the one giving up the weight, choose to play to your strength and don't over think it..

As a side note, if your an APA 6, and your possible giving up a 5-2 race, how bad is the other player or are you giving up way too much weight? If the other player is really that bad, why is he even gambling (and tell us your secret how you got action off him, lol.. :thumbup:)
 
As several have stated, and I agree, I'd go the 8 ball route. BCA rules, no slop, ball in hand on fouls. There is strategy in 9 ball, but much more so in 8 ball (that's just my opinion). Most folks think 8 ball is easier, but when you are playing someone that plays smart and plays excellent strategy, 8 ball can become a brutal game.
 
Rain-Man said:
If the other player is really that bad, why is he even gambling (and tell us your secret how you got action off him, lol.. :thumbup:)
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Actually I'm playing in an in-house league, not gambling. This season we decided to use a new format where each night the teams play two 8ball games, one 8ball scotch doubles, and two 9ball.

Thanks for all the comments. Based on the feedback, last night I put our SL2 in a 9ball match against a SL4 and he won. Actually a funny thing happened. My guy had to win 2 games to 4. A minute into the first game he landed on an easy 2-9 combination, and boom he was on the hill (good advice so far AZB!) Next game the other guy misses the 9, leaving it a few inches from the corner, with the CB a foot away. Straight in shot on the 9. My guy smiles, walks up to the 9, picks it up and drops it into the pocket!?! (I guess he's seen better players do this when we casually play 9 ball). As he's walking away like he won the match the other team erupts into protest. It was decided he had lost the game for that (we are playing on Valley coin-ops, so no respot). Next the impossible: It's hill-hill an our guy misses the 9 ball and scratches. The other guy says "hey you scratched on the 9, you lose", grabs the 9 and drops it into a pocket! Now our team erupts into protest. So my guy won the match after all :)
 
As others said, 8 ball. The thing about 9 ball is it's a luckier game.
Even at the highest skill levels, rolls play a part.
Watch how many times someone makes a ball on the break and then has no shot in 9b, vs. 8b.

Luck in theory should help both players equally but in practice helps the weaker player more
because he has more opportunities to get lucky (aka misses, positional errors).
Therefore, that extra luck is sort of a spot you give to the weaker player.

You want to pick the game that minimizes the "luck spot".
 
You are obviously an 8 ball player. That is your game. Stick to your guns.

To play devils advocate I would suggest 9 ball to the better player. How many times will slop prevail? 9 ball is a position game more than 8 ball most of the time. A 3 ball run in 9 ball is not much. Especially if that's their high run in 8 ball.

As I said before 8 ball is your game. If you know you are better at 8 ball than them then choose 8.
 
Using APA handicap is a little easier for me to win in APA 8 ball against a low skill player than APA 9 ball in bar tables.
 
MapleMan said:
To play devils advocate I would suggest 9 ball to the better player. How many times will slop prevail? 9 ball is a position game more than 8 ball most of the time. A 3 ball run in 9 ball is not much. Especially if that's their high run in 8 ball.
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Good point!
 
jeffj2h said:
Actually I'm playing in an in-house league, not gambling. This season we decided to use a new format where each night the teams play two 8ball games, one 8ball scotch doubles, and two 9ball.

Thanks for all the comments. Based on the feedback, last night I put our SL2 in a 9ball match against a SL4 and he won. Actually a funny thing happened. My guy had to win 2 games to 4. A minute into the first game he landed on an easy 2-9 combination, and boom he was on the hill (good advice so far AZB!) Next game the other guy misses the 9, leaving it a few inches from the corner, with the CB a foot away. Straight in shot on the 9. My guy smiles, walks up to the 9, picks it up and drops it into the pocket!?! (I guess he's seen better players do this when we casually play 9 ball). As he's walking away like he won the match the other team erupts into protest. It was decided he had lost the game for that (we are playing on Valley coin-ops, so no respot). Next the impossible: It's hill-hill an our guy misses the 9 ball and scratches. The other guy says "hey you scratched on the 9, you lose", grabs the 9 and drops it into a pocket! Now our team erupts into protest. So my guy won the match after all :)
Click to expand...

:D


Now that you explained what you are doing, I think everyone should be confused now. You are using a handicap system, playing 8 ball and 9 ball...which is easier to win?????????????????????

LOL...for the weaker player or the more skilled??????????

Neither game is easier with a handicap system. Don't matter if you are more skilled or less skilled. The handicap system will make the game more fair with different results every day you play.


:thumbup:
 
I'd take 9 ball any day, especially on a 9 footer. However, I my opinion are based on the fact that I consider myself a much better 9 ball player than an 8 ball player. Additionally, I'm thinking only in terms of big tables.
I'm also referring to a situation where there is a considerable difference in level between myself and the person I'm playing. If I'm playing a guy with exceptional pocketing skills, but limited knowledge and ability to move the CB, I'm going with 9 ball all day long. My opponent would not be able to compete if he's limited to one 'next' ball on the table to play shape for. In 8 ball, it seems that with the exception of the last two or three, a straight no shape shooter ALWAYS has another option left on the table.

dave
 
Make It Easy.....Don't Quibble

Play Ten (10) Ball......no slop, a mini-straight pool table of only ten (10 ) balls and it's rotational play just like 9 Ball....everything is called shots........the very best of all worlds.
 
jeffj2h said:
I have to give games on the wire so it will be a, say, 5-3 race or even a 5-2 race.

I can pick if we play either 8ball or 9ball.

Assume I play better them my opponent and know more of the strategy of both games. But my opponent is a threat to run 3-4 balls if the layout is right.

I'm an APA 6 in 8ball. I don't have a SL in 9ball.

Thanks,
Jeff
Click to expand...

People play 8-ball?
 
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