Korean four ball game

I played 4-ball for the first time last night at a local Korean billiard/karaoke joint. Oddly, there was no outward indication that the place had billiard tables inside. However, once inside the place there were 6 4x8 tables in pretty good condition. I am a big 3-cushion fan (but a mediocre player), and i've always had an interest in trying 4-ball but I've never been able to find a place to play. Luckily I work with a guy from a Korean background that knew about this place.

I find the game itself to be more social and informal than 3-cushion... but it too seems to require a good amount of skill to keep the reds in good position and not hit your opponent's cue ball. It's a game I'd definately like to play again... especally after some Korean BBQ and Soju.

We played to 10, with the last point being a 3-cushion shot. Also, 3-cushion shots were scored at 2 points, and I somehow managed to run a game out on these alone. Very lucky! :D
 
Full_Metal_ Yeti,

This I agree with most - Korean billiard tables establishment are low profile. There was one in Norfolk, early '90 , But when I got interest in Korean 4 Ball, I found it have close.

I know other countries have their game of 4ball [information hard to find],but I find Korean 4ball more rounded as for playing and training for pool, position requirement and development of stroke [very soft to using masse].

The Scoring system is an area that might become confused, as I understand can be done in numerous way, Some only one point score for a hit, as you mention 2 point for 3 Cushion. Other mention added point for rail first shot or hitting both reds and your opponent cueball. What are the different scoring system use??

I hope some of the different website are useful!
 
Alex, is 8' table the norm to play 4ball on? What about 7' table or is at too small? Could you describe the scoring system and handicapped a little more.
Thank
Bob
 
St Louis rules

The Koreans that play in our room use the point system of one point per billiard. Last 3 points must have 3 rails. And if you hit the penalty ball you deduct a point. If you make a billiard and hit the penalty ball then no points. The play on our 10 foot billiard tables. Just my $.02 .:)
 
cueandcushion, Thank for information. What points [score] do they usually play to [50, 100. 500]? As a room owner what is your feeling, when the players use a masse stroke when rail nursing balls?
 
billiardshot said:
cueandcushion, Thank for information. What points [score] do they usually play to [50, 100. 500]? As a room owner what is your feeling, when the players use a masse stroke when rail nursing balls?
Click to expand...

Sorry for the long reply time, been a while since I visited this forum. The boys that come into my room usually play to 50 points. I say "boys" because most of them are under 21 so I dont know if generation has anything to do with it. We kind of banned masse shots because of numerous torn bedcloths due to improper shots. We went through 3 simonis/ Gorina bedcloths just this year due to rips and tears. :(
 
billiardshot said:
Alex,[mr. tortfeasor] or anyone who might be able to translate or give me instruction on how to from words pad. From the below site!

Site from "billiard Korea" has - #3] 4 nine deep-red game condition regulation [4 ball rules] in words pad, but need translated into english.

http://translate.google.com/transla...rch?q=%22billiard+korea%22rule&hl=en&lr=&sa=G :confused:

Thank you
Bob Watson
Click to expand...
Still hope to find how to translate into english. Plus still looking for added information or source to this game.

Here a Billiard Chronological Table, for those interest in Billiard History.
http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?h...rch?q=%22billiard+korea%22rule&hl=en&lr=&sa=G
 
One thing puzzles me when I see the TBC players compete: Are their tables heated when they play on the 4x8 tables or are the cloth and balls just clean?
 
Last night I had the opportunity to try this game with a Korean friend of mine. We played one point for each successful carom as long as the other cueball wasn't hit. Otherwise we just lost our turn. I think penalizing for hitting the other cueball might make things a little more interesting. After the set number of points was reached, we played that you had to hit a 3C shot to "get out" and win.

Things I noticed... the balls are much larger, even larger than regular carom balls (like 3C balls). The table didn't seem to play as fast as a 5x10 billiard table with those large balls. Also, the angle seemed to be a bit shallower for balls hit with running english coming off the rail.

We also enjoyed some Korean cuisine afterwards. It was a great experience!
 
Samiel said:
... Things I noticed... the balls are much larger, even larger than regular carom balls (like 3C balls). ...
Click to expand...
The four-ball sets are supposed to be 65mm, while standard carom balls are 61.5mm. In comparison, pool balls are 57.3mm. That makes the Korean balls almost as much larger than regular carom balls as carom balls are larger than pool balls.
 
Samiel said:
Last night I had the opportunity to try this game with a Korean friend of mine. We played one point for each successful carom as long as the other cueball wasn't hit. Otherwise we just lost our turn. I think penalizing for hitting the other cueball might make things a little more interesting. After the set number of points was reached, we played that you had to hit a 3C shot to "get out" and win.

Things I noticed... the balls are much larger, even larger than regular carom balls (like 3C balls). The table didn't seem to play as fast as a 5x10 billiard table with those large balls. Also, the angle seemed to be a bit shallower for balls hit with running english coming off the rail.

We also enjoyed some Korean cuisine afterwards. It was a great experience!
Click to expand...

Were you playing on a 5 x10 or 4x8 tables? how many points did you play to? Balls are large than standard carom as Bob Jewette describe.
 
We played on a 4x8 table, playing to 20 (since we were beginners, and it took a bit of time). For the last game, we played to 10... and I hit my 3C on my 2nd try! :p
 
What type of felt is use on Korean 4 ball table? Is rail height and bumper design different than 3 Cushion table? Still looking for as much information as I can find!!!!!
 
Samiel said:
The table didn't seem to play as fast as a 5x10 billiard table with those large balls. Also, the angle seemed to be a bit shallower for balls hit with running english coming off the rail.
Click to expand...

That's probably because the rails are dead (i.e. inefficient). Dead rails produce longer (shallower) angles and slower speeds just as you describe.

Another contributing factor to your perception could be rail height, if the rails are shorter relative to the diameter of the ball than normal carom tables. I think this is much less significant than cushion inefficiency, however.
 
4-ball or sah gu

dude everyone has a "handicap"
you start from 30 (which is hitting the carom 3 times = 1 = 10 points) and go up from there... i believe the numbers are...
30-50-80-100-120-150-200-250-300-400-500-700-1000-2000 and 2000 is considered professional

i am currently a 250 going on to 300 so im what koreans call "go-su" which means advanced player or people lower than me usually have to listen to me or respect my game HAH!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top