mrpiper, That's quite an assortment you've amassed there.
I have a question about those 8-balls. Did it come as a set, or did you have to compile them from different sets?
It's a good set to practice with for someone suffering from "money ball" anxiety.
This balls thread is one of my favorite threads. Thanks for posting them.
Hi JessEm,
You nailed it friend. I collected these over time. I started just colleting if I saw something fun that I wanted, and after 5 or 6, I decided to proactively make a set. Most came from either the big "Auction" site, or from online retailers. The cool stars and stripes ball I got from the guy who sold me a whole set of those and had extra eight balls. I actually have about 7 or 8 other 8 balls not in the pic but the ones pictured are my favorites, and the ones I use to play with as a set. While I don't particularly have 8 ball anxiety, I saw it as an opportunity to finish with consistency and confidence every time I am lined up with the last ball. I still actually have 1 extra of the stars and stripes balls if you know anyone who gets this bug!
We also play some fun games with all 8's.
We call one game "Crazy 8's" where the gold ball is the money ball. Each player chooses a side of the table. Once 7 balls are in pockets on your side (whether pocketed intentionally by you, or accidentally by your opponent) you can go for the golden 8 for the win. We play variations where the 8 must be pocketed on your side, or your opponents side, and we decide that before the game starts. Another version is to play where the 8 can only go in a side pocket, or occasionally, we play where the 8 can only be pocketed as a bank shot off the rail.
Another game we call "Around the World" where the pockets are numbered 1 through 6 with the number 1 pocket being on the left at the head of the table. Each successive ball must go into only the next pocket, and you go around and around the table. Again, the LAST ball has to be the gold 8 and whoever hits it into the final hole wins. The final hole will change if one or more balls are made on the break, so it's not always certain that the number 3 hole is the final hole, but after the break you can determine the final hole by the number of balls on the table. That is important because sometimes we also play with a "Kicker" where the game can be won ANY time by pocketing the golden 8 via combination or bank shot into what will be the final hole for an early win.
We also play "Rebound" where every shot can go in any pocket, but ALL shots must either be a combination or a bank shot and the golden 8 wins.
Finally, a family favorite we call "All Eight Up" where we replace the cue ball with a 16th 8 ball. 2 to 4 can play.. After the break, ANY 8 on the table can be chosen as the cue for your turn. During your turn, ONLY that 8 can be your cue and you try to get any ball into any pocket. 1 point for each ball pocketed and 5 points for the last golden 8, and play to 50 or 100.
If you have any other fun alternative games you, or anyone who reads this likes to play, please post and also message me about it. I am always looking for ways to keep the table fun and interesting to friends and family.
) BTW there is one more set available right now with your name on it LOL