Handicapping an 8 ball game

mattiefingaz

mattiefingaz

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Good day all,
I'm trying to get myself back into playing shape at the same time trying to teach my wife to play better. She's a decent shot shooter, shot making is a ways out. She's only ever played bar room 8 ball.
I tried only playing 9 ball with her and gave her the 7 and the 8 and was still winning 9-3ish. And she's getting a bit frustrated at losing and a bit of "rackers back" :smile: So I decided to try something new.
We now are playing 8 ball with one twist. Whatever set I choose or end up with I have to shoot in rotation, and she only has to play standard BCA 8 ball rules. If she fouls (I do count stick fouls against her), my shot's from the kitchen not BIH.

Thoughts?

Thanks for the feedback...

Mattie
 
That's not a bad handicap. Glad you got your wife involved. That's great. You might be even able to give her a handicap by letting her take a few balls off her side by atomaticly taking a few balls off of her color and putting in in the pocket.

That's cool though. Giving her a handicap will only make and force yourself to shoot better as well. Good luck.

Chino
 
A good handicap would be to let her take off the last ball or two before the eight with the option to either take them off or shooting at them for better position on the eight.

Depending on her skill level it could be more balls with the option and cut the handicap down as she gets better.
 
Another good handicap for 8-ball is to give her BIH to start every turn, or two misses instead of one.

-s
 
Thanks for the feedback guys...It truly is appreciated...

Just a bit where my heads at to maybe coerce more conversation on it, not just for myself..

I'm not good at the quotes thing so I'll just point out posters and reply...

Chino - Letting her pull 2-3 balls after the break would be too much of an advantage for me - a la "Pool Hall Junkies"...I can usually run 5-7 without the extra added obstructions.

Dabarbr - She's good enough to take me on that one, letting her pull her last two...maybe one, but I think she'd get wise quick.

Steev - I do that with my daughter all the time- She's 10 and actually beat me a couple days ago playing like that.

I guess all I can say about my choices is that I'm on the right path, based on what you guys have said (and I respect that a ton). I'm really concerned about my daughter learning to play and my wife getting better.

I've said in a few posts before, I was a student of the game and I have SO much respect for it and want to pass that on.

Now that I'm back playing again after damn near two decades I can see that a lot of that has been lost by a lot of bangers and I want to do my part to keep it alive and well.

Thank you again for your feedback, It's just nice to talk about the game with the reverence I was raised with.

Good racks to all,

Mattie
 
steev said:
Another good handicap for 8-ball is to give her BIH to start every turn, or two misses instead of one.

-s
Click to expand...

(1) What Steev said, or
(2) If (1) not enough, also give her games on the wire (say race to 5 and she starts out ahead 2-0)
(3) You have to play last pocket or bank on the 8-ball
(4) Play with your non-dominent hand (my personal favorite -- makes you work to improve)

If you're still winning too much, a combination of 2 or more of the above. You should be able to come up with something that allows her win 50+% of the time (which gives her plenty of table time and keeps her interested) and makes you work hard.
 
Good post

I have tried many of the above ideas with my girlfriend.:cool:

taking a few of her balls off the table is only helping me to run out :rolleyes:
giving her BIH every time she comes to the table seems to work ok(except on the 8)
I like the idea of shooting the balls in rotation. (I'll try that tonite)
I am really bad shooting left handed so I don't like that option.
 
mattiefingaz said:
Good day all,
I'm trying to get myself back into playing shape at the same time trying to teach my wife to play better. She's a decent shot shooter, shot making is a ways out. She's only ever played bar room 8 ball.
I tried only playing 9 ball with her and gave her the 7 and the 8 and was still winning 9-3ish. And she's getting a bit frustrated at losing and a bit of "rackers back" :smile: So I decided to try something new.
We now are playing 8 ball with one twist. Whatever set I choose or end up with I have to shoot in rotation, and she only has to play standard BCA 8 ball rules. If she fouls (I do count stick fouls against her), my shot's from the kitchen not BIH.

Thoughts?

Thanks for the feedback...

Mattie
Click to expand...

i don't like it. just try giving her games on the wire or something. imo people doing stuff like that just makes the weaker player not want/need to try harder and improve
 
mattiefingaz said:
Good day all,
I'm trying to get myself back into playing shape at the same time trying to teach my wife to play better. She's a decent shot shooter, shot making is a ways out. She's only ever played bar room 8 ball.
I tried only playing 9 ball with her and gave her the 7 and the 8 and was still winning 9-3ish. And she's getting a bit frustrated at losing and a bit of "rackers back" :smile: So I decided to try something new.
We now are playing 8 ball with one twist. Whatever set I choose or end up with I have to shoot in rotation, and she only has to play standard BCA 8 ball rules. If she fouls (I do count stick fouls against her), my shot's from the kitchen not BIH.

Thoughts?

Thanks for the feedback...

Mattie
Click to expand...

Great idea! I used to have different variations of this for me. But my wife (and old girlfriend back in the days) doesn't play a lick. I mean...at all! I will play either I have to bank or combo all my shots. Or I sometimes play I have to use my opposite hand. And I still always win! And I suck! :rolleyes:
 
I do something similar as TJ above when playing my wife. I try to shoot only bank shots - it's something I need to work on anyway - and she gets upset if she thinks I'm letting her win.

Gary
 
Best handicap to improve both of your games

To benefit both of you and to teach her about table layout I would recommend allowing her to strategically place a number of balls (3 is usually good) on the table after the break.

Preferably these would be balls that cause you to have to break clusters or play for near perfect position. In this way it is much harder for you to win and gives her better awareness of the table positions. Of course you could make it harder/easier by changing the number of balls she may move or allowing her to move some combination of yours and hers.
 
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Give her BIH after you miss. I have given this before. This will keep her in the match and make you attempt every shot.

I also gambled with guys in 9 ball. I would shoot, if I missed the first guy would play, if he missed, the other guy would shoot... So, they got a miss like someone else posted. Give her enough to make it interesting.
 
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