I've been strictly a 9-ball player for the entire 8 years I've been playing pool. Of course when I played pool socially my friends and I played 8-ball, but with the stupid bar rules, such as you don't have to hit a rail, and you have to call every miniscule detail of a shot (like off the rail, off the 8 then off the 4 in the corner, etc). When I really got into pool I was taught 9-ball and I stuck with it. Now recently 8-ball has become slightly more popular at the local poolhall. We have cheap money games, and everyone is really starting to enjoy it. 9-ball money games are almost non existant there, with 1-pocket being the main game played for money. I played someone a race to 5 8-ball, just cheap sets for practice. In one of the games I broke the balls poorly and there was a bunch of clusters on one side of the table. The game went on for about 30 minutes, we had a tactical exchange of innings that was like chess. We were both executing very well, just constantly playing safe, and ever so slightly moving a ball or two of our own into a better position, while tying up each other's object balls. I was concentrating so deeply, and I can't remember ever really having to think this much playing a game of pool (since I don't play 1-hole). After we got done with that set, which I lost, on the drive home I was constantly thinking of certain situations, and trying to think of other situations I could have created or negotiated differently. There are just so many options. I think I'm going to start practicing this alot more often. I say more power to the IPT!
I'm Really Starting to Like 8-Ball
- Thread starter cuetechasaurus
- Start date
A Thinking Man's Introduction to Pool...
cuetechasaurus,
I couldn't agree more! Finally, 8-Ball is getting the attention it deserves, and credit for being the closest thing to 14.1 played on a Pool Table, (clusters, traffic, tight position play etc)...people all laughed when KT and The IPT said, 'We're going to start a Pro Tour and play 8-Ball on Slow Cloth with Tight Pockets'. Let's face it, we've been fed 9-Ball by TV so long we feel it's the 'Players' game. Personally I think 8-Ball is a much more challenging game for all the reasons you state and more. Watching the IPT Qualifiers her in ATL, it was quite interesting to see some of Pool's best players, play a game that I play all the time, and be confounded by some of the same break, spread and cluster challenges that I see weekly. Not to say that you can't run racks of 8-Ball, but it is much more challenging than running packs of 9-Ball. Bad break and your picking balls out of the pack, breaking clusters and all the while trying not to open the rack for your opponent...get a good spread, run a few balls get 2" out of line and your screwed! We're all used to seeing the 'Bangers' playing 8-Ball with their buddies or girlfriends, but when 8-Ball is 'Played' by an above average player, (non-banger), and given the attention that's required to play it well, it's a 'Thinking Man's Game'.
Good Post-
cuetechasaurus,
I couldn't agree more! Finally, 8-Ball is getting the attention it deserves, and credit for being the closest thing to 14.1 played on a Pool Table, (clusters, traffic, tight position play etc)...people all laughed when KT and The IPT said, 'We're going to start a Pro Tour and play 8-Ball on Slow Cloth with Tight Pockets'. Let's face it, we've been fed 9-Ball by TV so long we feel it's the 'Players' game. Personally I think 8-Ball is a much more challenging game for all the reasons you state and more. Watching the IPT Qualifiers her in ATL, it was quite interesting to see some of Pool's best players, play a game that I play all the time, and be confounded by some of the same break, spread and cluster challenges that I see weekly. Not to say that you can't run racks of 8-Ball, but it is much more challenging than running packs of 9-Ball. Bad break and your picking balls out of the pack, breaking clusters and all the while trying not to open the rack for your opponent...get a good spread, run a few balls get 2" out of line and your screwed! We're all used to seeing the 'Bangers' playing 8-Ball with their buddies or girlfriends, but when 8-Ball is 'Played' by an above average player, (non-banger), and given the attention that's required to play it well, it's a 'Thinking Man's Game'.
Good Post-
same here.....ive always been strictly a 9ball player......played in a few 8 ball tourneys just cuz it was all that was happening but its not usually my choice. But ever since the IPT started ive been trying to get more 8ball in.......i got a buddy i practice with (we play cheap sets) and Ill sneak in a race to 5 in 8ball when i can. If i could only learn to think like an 8ball player, just need more practice i suppose.
To me 8 ball requires more strategic thinking and more time given to defensive maneuvers and options. 9 ball on the other hand, while having a defensive component, is more of an offensive game. I would say 8 ball is 50/50 offense/defense, whereas 9 Ball is more like 90/10.
I play both and enjoy both, but a good strategic 8 ball match, using real rules and not bar rules, is really a mental challenge that most 9 ball matches don't offer.
I play both and enjoy both, but a good strategic 8 ball match, using real rules and not bar rules, is really a mental challenge that most 9 ball matches don't offer.
I think a big part of the reason I like 8-ball over 9-ball is simply this: in 9-ball, you can cheese in the 9 and it's a lucky shot, but you win. Or you can cheese in other balls when you otherwise missed. Slop is "ok" in 9-ball.
Not so in 8-ball. You've gotta make all of your balls, then the 8. No 1-8 combos to end the game when the break sets the money ball right in the pocket.
Not so in 8-ball. You've gotta make all of your balls, then the 8. No 1-8 combos to end the game when the break sets the money ball right in the pocket.
I agree, 8-ball is a more mentally challenging game of chess. Not just the tactical games, but planning the outs, looking for the highest percentage route.
This is not something that comes easily, it takes a lot of work over time to start seeing better patterns, better shot options.
I've played a few hundred 8-ball comps/tournies and a similar number of league matches. But still most games provide a good mental challenge and the opportunity to spot a creative shot that greatly turns the game in your favor.
When I'd play socially with fellow 8-ballers over a few drinks, we'd play rotation games, the reason being that it took much less mental effort. Trying to play serious 8-ball all night while drinking is just too much hard work, and the game isn't fun if you know you're not putting in the mental effort required to play the right shots. In 9-ball you can pretty much turn your brain off and enjoy the challenge of just stroking some nice shots.
This is not something that comes easily, it takes a lot of work over time to start seeing better patterns, better shot options.
I've played a few hundred 8-ball comps/tournies and a similar number of league matches. But still most games provide a good mental challenge and the opportunity to spot a creative shot that greatly turns the game in your favor.
When I'd play socially with fellow 8-ballers over a few drinks, we'd play rotation games, the reason being that it took much less mental effort. Trying to play serious 8-ball all night while drinking is just too much hard work, and the game isn't fun if you know you're not putting in the mental effort required to play the right shots. In 9-ball you can pretty much turn your brain off and enjoy the challenge of just stroking some nice shots.
This quote from Alex Lely re: 8-ball, at the Weert IPT event.
When asked what he’s looking forward to most about the IPT, he responded enthusiastically, “Playing eight-ball all day! Eight-ball is a great game, I love eight-ball. I think for the viewers and the players, it brings a little extra. Nine-ball is so … so much of the same thing all the time. I mean, you have nice kick shots and all, but in eight-ball, there are so many more creative shots being shot. Sometimes it’s more functional to play a bank shot than a straight-in shot. I love the game. And in the IPT, you have to break from the box, so players are forced to pound the balls, which is great for the spectators as well.”
When asked what he’s looking forward to most about the IPT, he responded enthusiastically, “Playing eight-ball all day! Eight-ball is a great game, I love eight-ball. I think for the viewers and the players, it brings a little extra. Nine-ball is so … so much of the same thing all the time. I mean, you have nice kick shots and all, but in eight-ball, there are so many more creative shots being shot. Sometimes it’s more functional to play a bank shot than a straight-in shot. I love the game. And in the IPT, you have to break from the box, so players are forced to pound the balls, which is great for the spectators as well.”
I think the thing is to get local 8-ball money tournaments to switch to using BCA rules. I've been to many of these where most of the players there prefer BCA rules, yet they continue to use bar rules just because that is what they have always done.
I was able to switch one local tournament to BCA rules. It was a battle with the bangers at first, but they are now seeing the light.
8-ball played with BCA rules and safeties allowed is an entirely different game from bar rules 8-ball. BCA rules are fair rules.
BCA (World Standardized) rules...
General rules...
http://www.bca-pool.com/play/tournaments/rules/rls_gen.shtml
8-ball specific rules...
http://www.bca-pool.com/play/tournaments/rules/rls_8bl.shtml
I was able to switch one local tournament to BCA rules. It was a battle with the bangers at first, but they are now seeing the light.
8-ball played with BCA rules and safeties allowed is an entirely different game from bar rules 8-ball. BCA rules are fair rules.
BCA (World Standardized) rules...
General rules...
http://www.bca-pool.com/play/tournaments/rules/rls_gen.shtml
8-ball specific rules...
http://www.bca-pool.com/play/tournaments/rules/rls_8bl.shtml
S
Scottster
Guest
8 ball will always be the choice of bar bangers. Then add their "Bar Rules" and I will always have a bad taste for eight ball. Of course my biased opinion may be influenced by a mass beating of bar patrons and the placement of fingers on the curb and the result of a hammer manicure.
However, 8 ball played by "Players" is a good game. Maybe the IPT will reach out to these ball banging buttheads and they will realize how the game is actually supposed to be played.
However, 8 ball played by "Players" is a good game. Maybe the IPT will reach out to these ball banging buttheads and they will realize how the game is actually supposed to be played.
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Colin Colenso said:
Of straight pool, one pocket, nine-ball, eight ball, rotation, bank pool and three cushion, I'd have to say that I consider eight ball to be the least mentally challenging of the seven by far. That's part of what make it the perfect bar game.
Those points aside, however, I love playing eight ball, and I'm quite sure I'll enjoy watching it when I get the chance. Hope I'll get to watch you play it sometime, Colin.
I agree I have really begun to enjoy eight ball. 14.1 is still my favorite game but I do really enjoy 8 ball. I've never enjoyed 9 ball outside of being a practice game. I have always grimaced when my opponent fluked balls, especially the nine. I played a guy today that every time he missed I was hooked. You might think he was playing the safety, but trust me he wasn't. There was typically no point, getting to next ball would have been simple.
8 ball provides its own challenge. If you attempt the run out you have to be sure it is the right decision. Every ball you pocket the room for error decreases. Furthermore there are less oppurtunities to play safe.
8 ball provides its own challenge. If you attempt the run out you have to be sure it is the right decision. Every ball you pocket the room for error decreases. Furthermore there are less oppurtunities to play safe.
sjm said:
I always respect your opinion sjm, but I have to wonder how much serious 8-ball you've played from that statement.
I'll grant you that my familiarity with 1-pocket and bank pool is limited, but they certainly could be very mentally challenging games.
One thing about 8-ball is that it is an easy game for beginners to play. A quite ordinary player can regularly run a few balls in a row. Some players with few positional skills can even run the occassional rack.
But to the advanced player, running 4 or 5 balls and missing is almost end of game. So the plan chosen on to make the out is crucial. With many options to consider for each shot, it presents hard mental work. At the KOH, with no time limits, the players often studied the table for minutes at a time, especially after the break.
The version of 8-ball I played was tight pocket 2 shot rules (as did a lot of the UK players who are doing quite well, such as Melling, Boyes, Broumpton, Peach), where you couldn't pocket the opponent's balls. This led to a lot of pocket blocking and strategical battles. The US type rules with bigger pockets is a less strategical game, but still the outs are not easy as was shown by stats at the KOH.
Anyway, I'm sure we'll have lots of good discussions on the comparative merits of the various games in coming times
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love playing 8 ball, hate watching it! prefer watching 9 ball or one pocket
This game is all that i play mainly don't get me wrong i love all the games but i would rather rack up some eightball. Its more of a thought process for me, especially when i play my dad or my uncles banking the eight in last pocket and such. I can't wait to see this game on tv. i think this is why i love'd watching the classic billiards on t.v. as time to time they had eightball matches.