Not to be Captain Obvious, but...

evanlockhart

evanlockhart

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I stopped playing league a year and a half ago, which was mostly played on bar boxes, in bars. I've only been playing for a few years.

Since then, I haven't touched a bar box and have just been going to my local pool hall, where they have nothing but Diamond 9 footers.

I took up a second job, so instead of getting off work and practicing, I get off work and go work some more. Then sleep and do it again. I've been jonesing and headed to this place I used to go for league play because it was close to my second job, and I wanted to see if I would run into anyone.

Nobody was there, but I CANNOT BELIEVE how easy pool is on an 8-footer. I played 10-Ball and was able to sink a couple of balls and get incredible spreads on just about every game with a pop and squat break. I was shooting quick and was surprised at how much simpler it was, with judging the table in terms of speed, position, etc when compared to a Diamond. I missed or didn't run out not because of position play, but because I was playing too quick (had 30 mins to spend $5 in quarters on 10 games) or some balls were tied up.

Just curious if anyone else had experienced this. I've read that a ton of players believe they can beat anybody on a bar box, but I didn't realize that feeling until now.
 
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My opinion may be biased since I first started on 8 footers, but I think they're the easiest as well.

I played on a freshly felted 9' a while back and maybe ran 6 or 7 racks that night. A few days later I played on a freshly felted 8' and I broke and ran 18 racks of nine ball in the same amount of time. These were very comparable tables, save for the obvious size difference.
 
evanlockhart said:
I stopped playing league a year and a half ago, which was mostly played on bar boxes, in bars. I've only been playing for a few years.

Since then, I haven't touched a bar box and have just been going to my local pool hall, where they have nothing but Diamond 9 footers.

I took up a second job, so instead of getting off work and practicing, I get off work and go work some more. Then sleep and do it again. I've been jonesing and headed to this place I used to go for league play because it was close to my second job, and I wanted to see if I would run into anyone.

Nobody was there, but I CANNOT BELIEVE how easy pool is on an 8-footer. I played 10-Ball and was able to sink a couple of balls and get incredible spreads on just about every game with a pop and squat break. I was shooting quick and was surprised at how much simpler it was, with judging the table in terms of speed, position, etc when compared to a Diamond. I missed or didn't run out not because of position play, but because I was playing too quick (had 30 mins to spend $5 in quarters on 10 games) or some balls were tied up.

Just curious if anyone else had experienced this. I've read that a ton of players believe they can beat anybody on a bar box, but I didn't realize that feeling until now.
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A barbox and a Diamond Barbox are two different beast.
Saying Barbox pool is easy is just being naive . You deal with more clusters and have to play tighter position. And if your playing 8 ball,
you can make a tremendous out only to find yourself with a ball stuck.
And yes a flunky can run an open table when you remove the obstacles
and allow them to shoot in any direction.and if they miss,then you still may not be able to see your last ball or the 8.
Barbox pool is anything but simple
 
It's easy in comparison. And like I noted above, I stated I was playing 10-Ball.

I know 8-Ball is difficult on the smaller boxes...when I played league, it was that and 9-Ball. Even though I wasn't very good back then (a 5/6 in APA), I can definitely tell a difference. I'm sure I got better playing on Diamonds, but still, it's easier in comparison.

By the way, I don't think i'm a monster player. I'm not running 10-Ball racks on a Diamond. This was just a realization, and was curious to see if anyone else found the same
 
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peteypooldude said:
And yes a flunky can run an open table when you remove the obstacles
and allow them to shoot in any direction.
Click to expand...


Ummm, errrr, uhhhhh, my game must be even worse that I thought it was :embarrassed2:.

To the OP: If I haven't played on a barbox (Valley) in quite some time, they feel like a toy when I get back on one. I usually find potting balls to feel "very easy" and running out (without clusters involved) more often increases in ratio.

Maniac
 
evanlockhart said:
I stopped playing league a year and a half ago, which was mostly played on bar boxes, in bars. I've only been playing for a few years.

Since then, I haven't touched a bar box and have just been going to my local pool hall, where they have nothing but Diamond 9 footers.

I took up a second job, so instead of getting off work and practicing, I get off work and go work some more. Then sleep and do it again. I've been jonesing and headed to this place I used to go for league play because it was close to my second job, and I wanted to see if I would run into anyone.

Nobody was there, but I CANNOT BELIEVE how easy pool is on an 8-footer. I played 10-Ball and was able to sink a couple of balls and get incredible spreads on just about every game with a pop and squat break. I was shooting quick and was surprised at how much simpler it was, with judging the table in terms of speed, position, etc when compared to a Diamond. I missed or didn't run out not because of position play, but because I was playing too quick (had 30 mins to spend $5 in quarters on 10 games) or some balls were tied up.

Just curious if anyone else had experienced this. I've read that a ton of players believe they can beat anybody on a bar box, but I didn't realize that feeling until now.
Click to expand...

I started on an 8', too, and I prefer 8' tables to 9' or 7'. I think 8' finds a happy medium between the clutter of the smaller tables and the distances on the larger tables.

Just to be sure, though, were you playing on an 8' or a bar box? "bar box" specifically means 7'.
 
walrus_3d said:
I started on an 8', too, and I prefer 8' tables to 9' or 7'. I think 8' finds a happy medium between the clutter of the smaller tables and the distances on the larger tables.

Just to be sure, though, were you playing on an 8' or a bar box? "bar box" specifically means 7'.
Click to expand...

Definitely an 8-footer...didn't know bar boxes couldn't be that size, thanks.

I would agree as far as being a happy medium. On an 8-footer, you can still hit shots at varying speeds and get shape. On a bar box the margin for judging would be smaller. A lot of shots on 9-footers, if left long, can be really difficult (esp slight angle shots). For example, shooting up table at a small angle, having to use a lot of english, speed and slight draw to get the cue ball off the rail and back down table for a shot in the opposing corner.

As they say, "****ing Diamond tables."
 
The size of the table makes a difference as several have mentioned... but what you did not mention is the size of the pockets and the shelf depth of the slate.

Diamond tables with their standard Pro Cut pockets play tough... especially on a 9-footer.

8-foot tables in a bar are FAR easier to run out on... as they usually have BUCKETS for pockets. ;)
 
Yes pool is easier on a small table, but it is easier for your opponent also. I practice at home on a 9' table and I prefer to play matches on a 9' table as well.
 
alstl said:
Yes pool is easier on a small table, but it is easier for your opponent also. I practice at home on a 9' table and I prefer to play matches on a 9' table as well.
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Well, right, but as long as you can run out your opponent doesn't get a chance on the easy table. ;) :thumbup:
 
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