I have been hearing a lot of stories about guys playing one pocket on barboxes because they think it is harder. I am still fairly new to one pocket and in all honesty pretty much suck at it, but I would have to believe that it would be harder considering they would be much more bunched up and harder to play safe on an opponet, the one downside of it is once they are opened up a little bit there are no long shots. What is everybodies opinion of this? Would you gamble some 1p on a barbox or just stick to regulation tables?
One pocket on a barbox
- Thread starter master_cueist
- Start date
I don't even want to play it on an 8 footer.......
Barbox one hole
I'm interested in this as well. Thanks for starting the thread. I have a Valley and have never really played one pocket. But I'd like to start. Not because it's might be harder (I can't play either) but because I want to learn a new game. I'm sure everyone will advocate playing on a 9 footer, but I can't make it to the hall much these days and I only have to walk about 45 feet to get to my table.
What would some differences be? Is breaking more difficult on a barbox? Is the strategy the same?
Not trying to hijack...just interested in keeping the thread alive.
Rick
I'm interested in this as well. Thanks for starting the thread. I have a Valley and have never really played one pocket. But I'd like to start. Not because it's might be harder (I can't play either) but because I want to learn a new game. I'm sure everyone will advocate playing on a 9 footer, but I can't make it to the hall much these days and I only have to walk about 45 feet to get to my table.
What would some differences be? Is breaking more difficult on a barbox? Is the strategy the same?
Not trying to hijack...just interested in keeping the thread alive.
Rick
it is more difficult in the sense that when you make a mistake, you will pay dearly. i have gambled on bar tables, but i can honestly say it is not my favorite game. it is alot like 6 ball in that it evens the game. the lesser player need not know all the moves that a seasoned player obtains after years of playing one hole. it's harder to make a good break on a bar table but if you get your break going, playing winner break, you can "put a hurtin" on your opponent quickly.
I don't want to play on one either, but it's not harder it's just more crowded. :smile:
Last edited:
Never on a true bar box but on a 7'er.
Definately crowded but not insanely so. Its really a different kind of game on such a small table tho IMO. Not sure it translates to a 9'
Definately crowded but not insanely so. Its really a different kind of game on such a small table tho IMO. Not sure it translates to a 9'
May work on a DIAMOND pro-am 7'. Really it is the only 7' that has any sort of pocket shelf. Why anyone would play any game on the shite valley
table is beyond me.
table is beyond me.
Last edited:
You either need quick hands or lots of change, 1P has quite a few ball spotting going on, would be a pain to play on a true bar table.
Definitely easier. Combinations and caroms are much easier because everything is much closer to the holes. Banks are easier. The one thing harder is the break. You need to change the break to accommodate for the small table. One hole on the bar table is ok if you want to play one handed.
One hole is a better game on the big table.
One hole is a better game on the big table.
Could this be played with a short rack? Play it with the traditional 9 ball rack but with the 9 on the spot so the wing ball doesn't go every time. That seems like it would be interesting, at least in my head. I wouldn't have much interest in trying full rack one-pocket on a bar table. That would make me want to gouge my eyes out.
Toledo Joe, via Freddy the Beard's site, has a video on this exact subject. Many ''Game Buster" shots and moves.
http://bankingwiththebeard.com/?p=1571
http://bankingwiththebeard.com/?p=1571
Of course, sure why not? Most bar tables are 4 x 8 and it is no problem. It's just pool no big deal. Steve Cook by the way played real good bar table one pocket.
Most bar tables are 3.5 x 7. Big difference from the 4x8.
You are right although you may see as many 8 footers as 7's depending on the type of bar. Bars that have a focus on pool usually have 8 footers, even 9 footers. Regardless even on a 3/2 x 7 it is still just pool. Its fun to play different games and formats. Steve Cook by the way used a kick break a lot of times with the big cueball. It just sunk into the rack and stayed there.
I would not try it on a Valley or similar table.I have played it on a 7' Diamond tourney table.
I wanted to play a short rack just racking 10 of the balls because of the smaller table but my opponent insisted on racking all 15.It was legit 1P IMO.It was still possible to play most safeteys,the only real difference was that leaving them a long shot at they pocket is no longer a tester.Running balls is about the same difficulty,more traffic but you can play for shape on balls closer to the kitchen.
I still prefer 1P on a 9' or 10' table.
I wanted to play a short rack just racking 10 of the balls because of the smaller table but my opponent insisted on racking all 15.It was legit 1P IMO.It was still possible to play most safeteys,the only real difference was that leaving them a long shot at they pocket is no longer a tester.Running balls is about the same difficulty,more traffic but you can play for shape on balls closer to the kitchen.
I still prefer 1P on a 9' or 10' table.
There's no question that it's a much different game on a 7' than it is on a 9'. Several years ago Greg Sullivan contacted a bunch of us to try 1P on a Diamond 7' table, and let him know what we thought. He was considering starting some 1P league play. Turns out it wasn't as nutty as I'd thought.
The 7' Diamond is really a miniaturized 9', with the pockets smaller and deeper than on most other bar boxes. I used an 11 ball rack rather than 15 (put the 11th ball in the center of the last row), so as to shrink the area, and also to make for fewer large clusters.
Played that way, I think that it's a viable alternative when there are no 9' tables available. There are many parts of the country where they have no 9-footers, so folks can still enjoy 1P. I'm not sure if it would be as interesting on a Valley with bucket pockets. Haven't tried it.
Doc
The 7' Diamond is really a miniaturized 9', with the pockets smaller and deeper than on most other bar boxes. I used an 11 ball rack rather than 15 (put the 11th ball in the center of the last row), so as to shrink the area, and also to make for fewer large clusters.
Played that way, I think that it's a viable alternative when there are no 9' tables available. There are many parts of the country where they have no 9-footers, so folks can still enjoy 1P. I'm not sure if it would be as interesting on a Valley with bucket pockets. Haven't tried it.
Doc
Easier to shoot the wrong hole?