Snooker vs Pool players - More fuel for the fire

[pete lafond]

You are right, Buckster. Cliff like 90% of Canada's top nine ball players started out playing exclusivly snooker. Horsfall, Kennedy, Martel and a host of others all started on the 6x12.

Kent

I just started reading these posts on Snooker/Pool. (Hope Fred did not abandon us, Ii always enjoyed and looked forward to his posts).

My opinion,

Neither Snooker or pool players have an advantage what-so-ever. It is the individuals capability that determines whether the player will be good. My dad played snooker, I did not - except when I played straight pool on a snooker table with regular pool balls against a player 'cause I wanted to. So I have limited knowledge of the game.

However, if a snooker player becomes good in their game, they will also become an equally good pool player. (If the player has the same desire and interest in pool.) The reverse is also true. Take two players with equal amount of desired to play their game of interests. One likes snooker, the other pool. They will both achieve the same levels of play in the game of their choice. Now they each switch games. They both put in the same time in the other game and now share equal interests. They again will equal.

No matter how big or small the pockets, big or small the table,.. neither player has the advantage over the other. A good snooker or pool player adapts quickly. Some skills might be developed earlier while playing the new game because of skills required in their first game, but in a very short time each player will learn the new needed skills very quickly.

What I believe is missing is that it has nothing to do with what game the player started with, rather what level of interest and desire a player has to play the game.

We compare snooker players going to pool but not the reverse. The reason is that the reverse is not so common. I understand that around the world this transition of snooker players to pool is much more common. Given this, a pool player would most likely not carry a high desire to play snooker. Anyway from snooker to pool or pool to snooker does not matter as both games have their own challenges and with desire and skill any player from any side would become equally good.

 

[Teddy Harris]

I can't believe this.

Fred, pro pool players who haven't spent time playing snooker will never be able to beat pro snooker players!!! Never!

You are absolutely right...
Personally, I think it is easier for top snooker players to make the transition...the ONLY reason being that they have the money to practice and take the time to make the switch. With the money that has been in snooker, it is a much more attractive lifestyle than playing pool. For pool players to make the transition, they have to almost go back to square one. How would a top player such as Efren, Johnny Archer, or any other top player that wanted to play snooker make the transition financially?
I mean, he has already paid his dues. To get to a professional level in pool is a hard life. Who says he wants to pay his dues again? Hasn't his life already been hard enough? Top pool players have already been through there own version of that...maybe they just don't have the stomach to start over and be broke, AGAIN? At least now they can whittle out what would be considered almost a living. How would all you snooker aficionados suggest they pay the rent, or go to the doctor, or buy diapers? Do you really believe that if snooker was pressed in other countries the way it has been pressed in England that you would rule. If so, you are living in the same fantasyland that we Americans have been in regarding pool. We have had that elitist attitude for decades regarding pool, and have slept throught the rest of the worlds rise in pool. Now America is at best in a tiebreaker for the best poolplayers. But it took a very long time for it to happen because the money wasn't right to elevate the level of pool in other countries. Now the time is here...and it could be for you too.
If Efren had 6 million in the bank, and did not have to worry about where his next meal came from, or where he was going to sleep tonight, would he be able to make the transition? If he could take the time away from pool that was necessary to make the switch, could he do it? Are you saying that he is not talented enough?
What do you all think about this?
Forget about whether or not is is harder to go one way or the other, and ask yourself if any top pool player is less talented than any top snooker player?

 

[runscott]

Anyone ever hear of this?

I haven't played much snooker, but I got myself into an interesting situation about 20 years ago in Ireland - I walked into a Gaelic pub in a remote part of Galway and they had what looked like a normal bar-box, but the pockets were tight like a snooker table and the cue ball was bigger than the object balls. They played a modified version of 8-ball with a semi-circle kitchen and a double-shot foul potential. When I tried to ride balls down the rail there was some chuckling, but I kept at it and eventually started winning some games using my American 8-ball techniques. I think it would be real interesting to match an 8-ball player against a snooker player on one of these tables - seems to require the skills of both.

I haven't played pool in the UK - perhaps all the tables are like this?

 

[Buckster_uk]

I presume you were playing with red and yellow balls? If so this is English 8-Ball, similar to American 8-Ball where you pocket all your coloured balls with the black 8 as the final ball pocketed. The pockets are very tight and you can often get in tactical battles where you cover pockets with your balls instead of opting for the run out if the situation of your colours are not in favourable positions, it can become very tactical.

 

[runscott]

I presume you were playing with red and yellow balls? If so this is English 8-Ball, similar to American 8-Ball where you pocket all your coloured balls with the black 8 as the final ball pocketed. The pockets are very tight and you can often get in tactical battles where you cover pockets with your balls instead of opting for the run out if the situation of your colours are not in favourable positions, it can become very tactical.

No, this was a set of the 1-15 solid/stripe colored balls I'm used to. I walked into this pub drenched after walking in the rain about 10 miles - I thought I was in heaven when I saw the guys in the back playing pool. English was a 2nd language and the Guinness was perfect. But the game shocked me - I got into a rut of lose a game, sit 3-4, lose a game, sit 3-4, etc. This was 20 years ago and in a very remote part of Ireland, so maybe it was unusual. The strategy was definitely heavy-defense, but you still had to pot your balls and then the 8-ball.

 

[TATE]

Since I had to spend some time after school in detention/brat camp/reform school, I missed all of the happenings here. I was totally shut out.

Can someone please tell me what happened to Fred Agnir?? Why is he now listed as "guest"?? Was he banned also, and if so, for what reason?
In other words...what the hell is goin' on here?

Welcome back, bad boy!

We had a thread going supporting you, which they promptly deleted. Me and Koop were going to boycott for the week you were out, but we quickly succumbed to our weakness.

See what happens when you're not around to moderate these discussions?

If you want in on this thread, DM, you better wear a cup.

Chris

 

[evilmoody1]

Little bit nervous posting in this thread, so please don't slap me down to hard.

One part of the equation you guys seem to be missing in all this is the human part. All of you are posting about is stats and skill level, but what about preferance for the particular game you are playing, I know that when I switch from 8 to 9 ball, my skills seem to sharpen, most of the time subconsciously, we all do better at what we favor. I know that's not all of it or even a high percentage it, but it shouldn't be overlooked.

Hi DM, glad to have you back

 

[2wld4u]

Snooker players pot just as well or better than a pool player, to understand this you must play on a snooker table, the room for error for a given shot is minimal... you cant really apply english like you can on a pool table, for this reason snooker players playing 9 ball have a tough time, position is alot differnt, and thus the need to understand english and how it affects shotmaking... I feel they are missing trying to play position...

this can easily be overcome, all the snooker player needs is time and the right kind of practice.. Considering the time envolved most snooker players possibly cant afford the change, I mean lets face it, to become good they would need 6-12 months of vigorous practice before I would even suggest a match...

Rythem along with position play is key...





2wld4u

 

[Bruce S. de Lis]

You are absolutely right...
Personally, I think it is easier for top snooker players to make the transition...the ONLY reason being that they have the money to practice and take the time to make the switch. With the money that has been in snooker, it is a much more attractive lifestyle than playing pool. For pool players to make the transition, they have to almost go back to square one. How would a top player such as Efren, Johnny Archer, or any other top player that wanted to play snooker make the transition financially?
I mean, he has already paid his dues. To get to a professional level in pool is a hard life. Who says he wants to pay his dues again? Hasn't his life already been hard enough? Top pool players have already been through there own version of that...maybe they just don't have the stomach to start over and be broke, AGAIN? At least now they can whittle out what would be considered almost a living. How would all you snooker aficionados suggest they pay the rent, or go to the doctor, or buy diapers? Do you really believe that if snooker was pressed in other countries the way it has been pressed in England that you would rule. If so, you are living in the same fantasyland that we Americans have been in regarding pool. We have had that elitist attitude for decades regarding pool, and have slept throught the rest of the worlds rise in pool. Now America is at best in a tiebreaker for the best poolplayers. But it took a very long time for it to happen because the money wasn't right to elevate the level of pool in other countries. Now the time is here...and it could be for you too.
If Efren had 6 million in the bank, and did not have to worry about where his next meal came from, or where he was going to sleep tonight, would he be able to make the transition? If he could take the time away from pool that was necessary to make the switch, could he do it? Are you saying that he is not talented enough?
What do you all think about this?
Forget about whether or not is is harder to go one way or the other, and ask yourself if any top pool player is less talented than any top snooker player?

My First COMMENT on this Thread. Ted your Post makes Sence to me.....

 

[Rickw]

I have played both games but certainly not at the top level. Given my limited experience, what I have found is that snooker requires tremendous pocketing ability and less emphasis on cb control, i.e., different types of english. I used to play in a local 9b tournament where quite a few snooker players (they played on a 6 X 12) also played. The snooker players didn't do as well as I thought they would and I think that had to do a lot with the cb control. I think they would probably do better playing 14.1 than 9b which requires you to move the cb all over the place with a high degree of accuracy.

Another thing, if I were starting out today as a cueist, given the current situation in pool, I'd put my time and effort into becoming a snooker player. The money is certainly better and the way the snooker players conduct themselves seems to me to be a better environment to play in. There are some great people in pool but there are some people that I just can't stand to be around and they are not only tolerated but it seems they are almost praised for their behavior. Earl is just one example. I've seen many like him, intolerant of anything that moves around them while they are playing. The world is expected to stop turning while they are playing. If someone moves in the next state, that is the only reason they missed a shot. People like this should be kicked to the curb and disregarded until they change their childish behavior. Sorry but that felt good to unload!

 

[tfdr]

well enough about efren's all around cue skill,

Though considered one of the best in 9-ball, Reyes, who is on top of the 2005 money list with almost $70,000 in earnings according to Azbilliards.com, has shown his versatility by winning the gold medal in snooker in 1987, with just three days of practice.

“I’ve played every billiard game imaginable – English billiards, carambola, one pocket, snooker, straight pool, 8-ball, 9-ball, rotation,” Reyes told Ted Lerner of the World Pool Championships.

“My best games are rotation and one pocket. In 1987 I won a gold medal in snooker in Jakarta at the Southeast Asian Games (although) I didn’t know the rules (of the game). I only practiced for three days (but) I still won a gold.”

 

[Solartje]

hiya all, i got asked to post here if i wanted so here's my experience.

played 3cushion for 2years, french biliard for 2 years, intensive snooker for 6 years (4+h/day) and ive changed to pool for 2 months now.

important changes:

1/ ball size. as long as u are hitting straight balls this aint a problem, but as soon as u are cutting it it changes alot. the contact point is not where a snooker player feels it should be. (u could calculate it with traingles, and geometrie, but if u play with feeling 'like i do' ull miss as soon as u need to cut.

1 Bis/ ball size. how u place the bridge. my bridge i used to play snooker , isnt as easy to use on pool , as the balls are higher, i need to lift my hand up ALOT to make contact on the cb at the same place. = u nead to relearn how to have a higher but still as stable bridge.

2/ cusions. snooker cussions BOUNCES your ball, where i feel pool cussions kill a balls speed. alot of snooker players prefere to use cussions when using placement, where i rarely see pool players use this. they tend to keep the CB as much as possible in the middle of the table without much movement.

3/ pocket size: no point in arguing, potting a snooker ball is harder.

4/ techniques:

banking: rarely used in snooker, part of the game in pool

breaking: 9ball brakes u need to learn them. if no one ever teached u (liked i never found someone to teach me) ull rarely pot more then 1 ball, and ull rarely have a good shot at the 1ball

rack bracking in 14-1. snooker players mostly have a non closed rack. they use screw to get the ball in the middle of the pack and screw the balls in the rack open, leaving the white IN the pack, where 14-1 players, have closed packs (5balls in on straight line) they Tough the pack, and try to escape from a cussion to the middle of the table, and not in the pack. (this made often made it end of brake, as i opened the pack in a snooker way, leaving me nothing.

pocketing balls close to a rail, on the long side of the table. rarely used in snooker , used ALOT in pool. its just the practice of these shots that make snooker players miss more often.


the hardest part i think is, play 2 hours of snooker, and then play 2 hours of pool. ull miss almost every ball. (because u got to cut them differently). but if u do like me, play snooker for x years, chance to pool (and only pool) for some years, u can get VERY good.

after only 2 months of pool, ive tried a national ranking, where i passed the qualifying rounds, and finished 17 overall. (without knowing any opening shot, etc etc. i had NO experience at all of the diferences). why i won? (safety play, snoooker players use safty ALOT more often as its harder to pot a ball, a safety shot is more often a good choice), better positional play.
why i lost my match? (missed combined shot on the 9's, (rarely used in snooker), missed easy banks, etc, so mostly shots that im not used to play), and most of all, my just EXPLODING the pack instead of breaking and controling it.

overall: i think its easyer to change from snooker to pool , then from pool to snooker.

ps this is just my 2cent experience

 

[BillyKoda]

I am by no means a professional anything but the biggest difference in my opinion between a snooker player and a pool player is a snooker player has to be dead on accurate. Yes the balls are smaller and the pockets are smaller but on a snooker table the cushions at the corners are rounded, the pockets are unforgiving. After playing on a snooker table and moving to a pool table I find the pockets look like giant gaping holes in which to pocket the ball.