Preparing for 7 ft on a 9 footer.

Zphix

Zphix

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was playing last night in a small tourney and took second place. Watching my buddies across the way who are AA+ players, something became apparent to me: I think the same as them, just don't execute the same.

Familiarity was the difference. Sure some experience too but mostly familiarity. These guys live, practice, and play on 7 footers all the time while I mostly play on 9 footers.

Ironically enough when I play these same guys on 9 footers I come out ahead. But I have had some trouble adjusting to the differences between the two tables.

Is there any way for me to practice on a 9 footer to help familiarize myself to playing on a 7 footer?

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On a smaller table, you have less room for the cue ball to move, so your positioning needs to be more precise. Also, clusters become more of a problem and learning to deal with these in a controlled manner can make a huge difference.

To get familiar moving the cue ball less distances, then play straight pool on your 9-footer. For practice, do tight positioning drills like the "L" drill. Before you shoot each shot, make sure you pick an exact spot on the table where you want the cue ball to land. After you shoot the shot, note where the cue ball landed and compare it to your plan. This feedback will allow you to improve your positioning.

Keep up the practice!
 
I always seem too play better on small table after playing on big table that's just me I guess
 
Hopefully more advanced players will correct me if I'm wrong about this but...

Unless the shot is somewhat lined up, the corner pockets are usually going to be higher probability than the side pockets on a bar table. (as opposed to a 9' table)

You have to be a lot more aware of scratching on a bar table than a 9' table, especially if the 9' table has pro-cut pockets. So for shots where you might normally go three rails to get position on a 9' table you should practice just using one rail and leaving yourself more toward the middle of the table.
 
I appreciate the advice so far guys =)

I hate reading the advice people give only to realize that their advice isn't for me because I miscommunicated something (and in this case I think I have).

Clusters aren't a problem usually. Depends on where they are, etc. But the biggest issue for me is I try to use the pattern play on a 9 footer for a 7 footer. I'm used to using English on a 9 footer with a given speed and when I do that same thing on a 7 footer I get out of shape because of it.

The smaller area combined with the speed and English I use messes me up usually. Then I try to compensate for that knowledge I have. Basically I know that the speed,stroke, etc. I use on a 9 footer will go too far on a 7 so I try to guesstimate how fast, or strong to hit it to get that same shape on a 7 footer and I'll usually come up short or go long.
 
I run into the same kind of problem going from 9' to 7' tables. The only effective thing so far for me has been to allow at least an hour of 7' practice just before playing. If both sizes are present, say the tournament is on the 7' tables and the 9' tables are open for action, don't even look at the big tables. Any adjustment you gain through practice will disappear.
 
I would also like to say that I was given a very high compliment on Monday. While playing a AA buddy of mine, I force followed the cue up and down the table for shape and he remarked "Where the hell does that stroke come from?"

I've been working on my stroke for over a year and I'm damn glad to know that it's paying off =)

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The problem is that you are bringing your 9 foot game to the smaller table. It's a very different game until you get adjusted to it. Your runout pattern should be as many stop shots as possible. Ideally you would like to move the cue as little as possible which is the opposite that you would do on the larger table. When using the rails for position, use as few rails (one) as possible as opposed to the normal 3 rail approach.

One advantage that you have however is that you are more comfortable shooting "long" shots ( there are non on a bar table :p). So you can use that to your advantage by again, playing stop shots and accepting the longer shot. This will help you get comfortable on the table quicker. You will learn how fast or slow the cloth is based on the effort need to control the cue in a smaller area.

At least that's my take on it ! :thumbup:

Edit: Practice 8 ball on the bar table. In my opinion that's the best way to get a feel for the table, because you need to be more precise.
 
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I have 9ft at home, and play in a league with 7 foot tables. I find the clusters on small tables easier to break out because they are closer and easier to move the cue ball around the table, for me.

But, I do have to change my stroke a little. I hit softly on the bar box, a more delicate touch because of the small dimensions. I find my self hitting low on the cb on a majority of my shots. I'm not pulling the cue as far back on my hand. Soft and slow wins the race. Someone might even say I "poke" more, but I'm not really, just shortening up my stroke to keep me from hitting to hard....

I don't play for perfect position, I've learned to take the guaranteed position because there are no "long" shots, so I don't mind having the far straight in or cut shot.

But banking from a 9ft and banking on a 7ft still throws me off, so I have no answers there, I bank better on a 9ft table...... maybe cause I play more on it, and the rails are certainly different....
 
A lot of old BB scuffers use to play an hour or so on a 9' before hitting the bars with the BB action in them. After a good hour of pocketing 100's of 7',8', and 9' shots in on a 9'...the BB is easy. Johnnyt
 
It's been my experience that if you are used to playing on a 9', a 7' is relatively easier. Obviously there is no long shots on the 7' table if you are used to a 9 footer. This raises your confidence and yes the finesse game comes more in to play on the bar box where you have to move whitey around in shorter increments like playing straight pool on the 9 footer.
 
9 ft pool and 7 ft pool are two different games.

some sage advice I received: 9ft game is about finesse, 7ft game is about power.
 
When I watch the top pros play on 7-footers I'm amazed at how little speed they use. Even in 9- or 10- ball, where your pattern choices are limited, they seem to be soft-tapping the CB around the table.
 
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