How to get others interested in more than just 8-ball and 9-ball?

L

leto1776

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I’d really like to get into playing 1p, 14.1, and maybe even banks. Problem is, all anyone in my area wants to play is 8-, and to a lesser extent 9-ball. What’s a good way to convince people to try something new? I mostly play at social clubs with leaguers

Would I be better off just putting out some feelers at the two halls closest to me, to see if someone else is already interested?
 
Straight pool.

I had a league player sit at my table and he's watching two decent players play straight pool right next to me. They're not great shooters but they play the game.

While here I am running balls and beating the ghost .

Bring in new games people don't see often and have them try it out. I like straight pool and 8 ball because of the more compact space and the touches you have to use. It's a challenge for some people to use finesse and touch. Which is required in these games. I'm assuming league players can transition to straight pool. They are use to clusters.
 
It is a dwindling game of interest. Most patrons want to participate, or observe, a faster pace of play at a pool hall.
3 cushion is a wonderful game but the majority of pool players think of it as kick shots while it’s actually much more.

Regardless, finding a 5x10 table nowadays is getting harder and when you do, it’s usually a American snooker table.
1 pocket and bank pool have a following but it’s audience isn’t expanding and seems to get smaller year over year.
 
leto1776 said:
I’d really like to get into playing 1p, 14.1, and maybe even banks. Problem is, all anyone in my area wants to play is 8-, and to a lesser extent 9-ball. What’s a good way to convince people to try something new? I mostly play at social clubs with leaguers

Would I be better off just putting out some feelers at the two halls closest to me, to see if someone else is already interested?
Click to expand...
You can try to be more persistent asking people to play. "Eight ball again? C'mon, let's try some one pocket." Make sure you don't win all the time. :devilish:

I've organized 14.1 leagues. Pretty easy to handicap with fine-grain spots down to the ball. Of course, you would have to do all the work of the organizer. Could do 1P, too.
 
I learned how to play in the pool in the 90's and would sneak into pool halls. The routine would be to follow a group in and wander off. Then bullshit and small talk with a manager or bartender. Then the following week it was all good until it was someone's shift. Rinse and repeat. There was a time when casual players were pretty good because people would play often and consistently.

I don't hang out at night anymore so I don't know what kind of regulars s pool halls would get.

In a nutshell, the casuals today aren't as good and they are playing 8 ball. They're not even ready for 9ball.

I think a pool hall should have a laminated rule sheet and put it on every table to encourage different games. People play 8ball because the rack is a triangle. If there were 9 ball racks then people would to play it.

The rack at the tables is an issue. Default game is 8b. Some don't even know 9b exists. I also started playing 8b and eventually transitioned to 9 ball.
 
bank pool isn't a hard sell. fast and fun game without too much brain engagement.

i've found that time usually solves this problem. if you never get bored of 9-ball, play it day in day out, you're probably not a candidate for thinking games like straight pool or one pocket anyway
 
There are 6 pockets on a pool table; why on earth would I like to use just one?
And why bank when there is a pocket right in front of me? Remember K.I.S.S.?
These games are great for practice, but I wouldn't want to play them in a tournament.
Maybe if I was breaking and running out 9-10 racks in a row of 9ball and 8ball and got bored with it, I'd consider these...

14.1 is a great game but can be frustrating if you are not a high-level pool player and can run at least 30 balls. Otherwise, it's just 8ball with a bad break....
 
skor said:
There are 6 pockets on a pool table; why on earth would I like to use just one?
Click to expand...

Playing pool is about executing shots, not just pocketing balls and getting shape(or just making balls for beginners)

1P affords the opportunity to shoot every type of shot with a purpose. When you have a deep understanding of pool and all it has to offer 1P is a true test of everything on a pool table.

There’s more skill required to softly roll a 2 rail kick and freeze the CB to another ball gently than pocket 8 balls in a row playing 8B in some cases. Ofc if a player has a shallow understanding of pool games and different types of shots this isn’t clear and that’s ok-in the first year or 2 of playing.

Also the value of a shot at a particular time in a rack-this is where 1P shines. Making a ball is not often the most positive result (for a beginner it is). Not knocking beginners-we all were at one point.

I can’t tell a difficult from easy shot in golf or basketball. Is farther harder? I don’t know. It’s a matter of experience not intelligence.

It’s rare that such complex positions come up in 8B. Which is why people after a number of years playing 8B start looking for more complex games.

1P isn’t where you start, it’s where you end up. Or 14.1. The rotation games are in the middle. And 3C just might be the most complex of all games.

I get it that 1P isn’t for everyone, there are great players who hate it. But the reason it is a great game has nothing to do with everyone’s taste. No accomplished player will dismiss 1P as a bad game, boring for some? Yes.

Jumping from 8B to anything else is a process and a matter of time for most players. Some never do, most end up in rotation games and stay there.

Banks is a great game and I’ve never understood why it doesn’t have a wider audience (short rack 9B). Full rack banks is a different story.

Thats the long answer

Fatboy<——-gave up on all games. Being a rail bird is better 😃
 
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leto1776 said:
I’d really like to get into playing 1p, 14.1, and maybe even banks. Problem is, all anyone in my area wants to play is 8-, and to a lesser extent 9-ball. What’s a good way to convince people to try something new? I mostly play at social clubs with leaguers

Would I be better off just putting out some feelers at the two halls closest to me, to see if someone else is already interested?
Click to expand...
With Straight Pool you have to show them the whole game or they think it's just about shooting any ball any time. They will tell you 8 ball is much harder because you can't just shoot any ball. Make them understand the game is 14.1 CONTINUOUS.
 
skor said:
There are 6 pockets on a pool table; why on earth would I like to use just one?
Click to expand...

jesus christ.. well there are more than one suite of balls in a pool rack, why would you play 8-ball? you chose stripes, why would you like to use just stripes?

one pocket makes just as much sense as 8-ball. you can only choose one suite - you can only choose one pocket. it's a very basic premise
 
Fatboy said:
Playing pool is about executing shots, not just pocketing balls and getting shape(or just making balls for beginners)

1P affords the opportunity to shoot every type of shot with a purpose. When you have a deep understanding of pool and all it has to offer 1P is a true test of everything on a pool table.

There’s more skill required to softly roll a 2 rail kick and freeze the CB to another ball gently than pocket 8 balls in a row playing 8B in some cases. Ofc if a player has a shallow understanding of pool games and different types of shots this isn’t clear and that’s ok-in the first year or 2 of playing.

Also the value of a shot at a particular time in a rack-this is where 1P shines. Making a ball is not often the most positive result (for a beginner it is). Not knocking beginners-we all were at one point.

I can’t tell a difficult from easy shot in golf or basketball. Is farther harder? I don’t know. It’s a matter of experience not intelligence.

It’s rare that such complex positions come up in 8B. Which is why people after a number of years playing 8B start looking for more complex games.

1P isn’t where you start, it’s where you end up. Or 14.1. The rotation games are in the middle. And 3C just might be the most complex of all games.

I get it that 1P isn’t for everyone, there are great players who hate it. But the reason it is a great game has nothing to do with everyone’s taste. No accomplished player will dismiss 1P as a bad game, boring for some? Yes.

Jumping from 8B to anything else is a process and a matter of time for most players. Some never do, most end up in rotation games and stay there.

Banks is a great game and I’ve never understood why it doesn’t have a wider audience (short rack 9B). Full rack banks is a different story.

Thats the long answer

Fatboy<——-gave up on all games. Being a rail bird is better 😃
Click to expand...
Besides Carom (all carom games not just 3c), it’s all about pocketing balls, you can’t win without pocketing balls… shape is something necessary to be able to pocket successive balls.
Rotation games and 8ball are more aggressive and less defensive, still need to know when and how to play and execute a good safety.
If you play long enough, you’ll encounter all shots and situations.
Again, 1 pocket might be a good practice game to get you ready for those shots, but it can’t be the game.
If it was the game, then it would have been the main game for pros. But it’s not and not because they are not good enough.

Golf is played on 18 holes but at the practice range, it’s just one hole.
 
skogstokig said:
jesus christ.. well there are more than one suite of balls in a pool rack, why would you play 8-ball? you chose stripes, why would you like to use just stripes?

one pocket makes just as much sense as 8-ball. you can only choose one suite - you can only choose one pocket. it's a very basic premise
Click to expand...
I wish they sold a pack of 9balls, don’t need the 10-15 😁

I know what I say and think might not make sense to you, but it answers the OP question.
 
skor said:
Besides Carom (all carom games not just 3c), it’s all about pocketing balls, you can’t win without pocketing balls… shape is something necessary to be able to pocket successive balls.
Rotation games and 8ball are more aggressive and less defensive, still need to know when and how to play and execute a good safety.
If you play long enough, you’ll encounter all shots and situations.
Again, 1 pocket might be a good practice game to get you ready for those shots, but it can’t be the game.
If it was the game, then it would have been the main game for pros. But it’s not and not because they are not good enough.

Golf is played on 18 holes but at the practice range, it’s just one hole.
Click to expand...
Thanks for explaining pool to me! 😃👍
 
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