Playing 8 ball bad for your game?

I like 8 ball, never was in the league thing but tonight we are having an in house 8 ball league and its on big tables which is cool. So I am looking forward to the first night of it tonight and think it should be fun plus some of those league guys are very competitive, looking forward to crushing them. :grin:
 
Omar said:
You've never seen an eight ball game where a ball is missed and it rolls to where it blocks an opponent's? Over the last 25 years, I have seen literally hundreds of games won that way. Bottom line, there's luck in every game.

I also don't think you would have any trouble finding someone who would play call pocket nine ball.
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I'll be sure to ask all the guys running local weekly tourneys if call pocket is an option for the 9 ball tourneys....no way, that's changing the entire game, blah blah blah. Why hasn't 9balls rules either a) changed to that, or b) just been that way from the beginning?

Sure both games the opponent can miss and get LUCKY rolls, but only one of 'em can he MISS, knock something else in and either immediately WIN or keep on shooting for the win. :grin:
 
My thoughts

Playing 8ball wont help you much in 9-10ball.

Playing 9-10ball will make you a better 8baller.


Justin Nuder
 
The more well rounded a player is, the better chance of them progressing.
8-Ball bad for your game? Ask Ralf Souquet, I think he would differ on that opinion. When he won, I believe it was the 2006 World 8-Ball Championships in Fujairah, UAE, in an interview he mentioned 8-Ball was actually his favorite game. I don't think it's affected his 9-Ball game at all either :)

Years ago I had the same narrow minded attitude about 8-Ball as your friend, because it is not quite the instant gratificationist game that 9-ball is. Over the years I came to appreciate 8-Ball, which happened more after I learned and started playing 14.1. It is a thinking game in a different way, and it varies more based on the size table than 9-ball does. When you see two excellent 8-ball players go at it on a 7' Diamond, sweet!

All games are good to know, 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 10-Ball,1-Pocket, 14.1, rotation, banks...

Personally, I croak at banks, but it's great to watch when played well.
 
There are several variations of 8 Ball that can be more of a challenge.

If you play the 1-15 in the opposite sides (dedicated pocket or the side pocket that's left), you can triple that difficulty with the Outside-In version which one player starts at the 1-Ball & play rotationally through to the 7-Ball, before making the 8. The opponent starts at the 15 & moves (reverse rotation) down through the striped balls to the 8. Add Last Pocket to that & you have a difficult game on your hands.

There are lots of ways to play Pool games & increase the challenge. Try playing 9-Ball like rotation. Count points for the win.

Try Short-Rack 8 Ball, 4 stripes, 4 solids & the 8-Ball (racked like 9-Ball). The BreakShot will make a Big Difference in who wins. Winner breaks is a great advantage.
 
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I dont think I can add much to this thread that hasn't already been said but I did make a topic awhile back asking which game was more difficult.

Seemed like I got a wide range of opinions but the majority of people said 8ball is a more difficult game. Since you have more balls on the table the chances of having locked balls is higher. Also in 9ball the path to getting out seems pretty clear most of the time where in 8ball you have to use a lot more creativity.
 
Gotta agree . . .

Holly said:
It is a thinking game in a different way, and it varies more based on the size table than 9-ball does. When you see two excellent 8-ball players go at it on a 7' Diamond, sweet!
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I play a couple of nights a week in BCA 8 ball league on Diamonds . . . its a hoot. You have to think a lot more - much more strategy - and controlling whitey is usually the difference if you're gonna win. 15 balls can make the traffic lanes a little tough if you're out of position.

I've improved more playing 8 ball on a bar box (both mentally and technique wise) then I ever did playing 9-ball on whatever.

I don't really care if I ever play league 9-ball again . . . its so much more luck then 8 ball, and if you're playing it in the APA or something then forget it. That's a joke - its a points / handicap game - but anything but real 9-ball.

If you can find 'em, watch clips of Buddy Hall playing on a 7 footer . . . a MASTER of position on a tight table regardless of the game. He was lights out and hand me the cash . . . from damn near anywhere on almost any kind of equipment.
 
I don't mind playing 8 ball, but I definitely hate bar rules 8 ball where you have to call every kiss, not just ball and pocket, and people get angry if you play safe.
 
8 ball is a great game and presents a differentr set of challenges like each game does. If you practice 8 ball alone try running the stripes then after you make the run the solids in rotation. Or practice 8 ball playing all balls in rotation. Not as easy as it sounds.
 
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