Strengths and weaknesses of various pool games
- Thread starter westcoast
- Start date
My opinion
Ok, here is my opinions on the different pool games.
9-ball is a fast and entertaining game which is maybe the best game for TV. In my opinion it is a great game if you want to get in stroke for example after a little break. Long shots, few clusters and lots of running out. Also makes you feel good about your game if you put a package of runouts. However 9-ball has a lot of weaknesses in my mind. First of all luck plays too big role because you can fluke balls in. Also the breakshot is too easy especially if the 1-ball is on the spot. For pros 9-ball is way too easy, too easy to run out if the table is open.
10-ball is my favorite game at the moment and I think it is a way better game than 9-ball. No fluked balls, more challenging breakshot, tougher runouts and positions and more safety battles. It simply requires more from the players. Only thing that 10-ball lacks compared to 9-ball is the two-way-shots. Sometimes it is also a bit frustrating when you get a series of dry breaks, but at least then you know what to practise :wink:
I think 10-ball is the right game for pros.
I like 8-ball because you have to think about patterns, what is the easiest way to run your balls? Also the fact that both players have their own group of balls is different from other games and every once in a while this reults in very interesting safety battles that might be very different from the safety battles in rotation games. The biggest weakness of 8-ball is that the breakshot is waaaay too important. Watching pros play 8-ball it often seems that the winner of the rack is decided on the breakshot which makes it a bit boring to watch. In my opinion 8-ball should always be played on a tight table where running the balls is also a big challenge. 8-ball is also a fun game on the barbox when you have lots of clusters and more tactical situations.
One pocket is a great game if you like tactics. It is very versatile: safety battles, patterns, running the balls, bank shots, kick shots, intentional scratches and other strategies etc. Simply a great way to develop your all-around game. However many people don't like 1P because of the slow tempo but they are allowed to play 9-ball!!
The game itself has few flaws in it but if 1P is the only game you play I think it will hurt your ball potting because of the amount of safety shots.
Last but not the least: 14.1 a.k.a. straight pool. It is a good game for practise and competition. It teaches you patterns better than any other game. Also it requires a lot from your position play. In straight pool you will face a lot more often a situation where you have to have a certain angle than in 9/10-ball where you play a lot of zone positions. It is also nice to keep count of your high runs and you can always try to break them. 14.1 is a nice game to play because you know that you might get punished for your mistakes with a long time in your chair. That means a lot of pressure on shots. That is also a weakness in my mind. I think it is pretty brutal when you miss once and your opponent puts you in the chair for an hour and runs the set. This also happens a lot more often in straight pool than in other games.
In order to develop a good all-around game you should play all the games. Also if you are making a game with someone you don't know it's good to know all the games well so that you can beat the young 9-ball guns, the one pocket hustlers and the old straight poolers and get all the cash!!
Ok, here is my opinions on the different pool games.
9-ball is a fast and entertaining game which is maybe the best game for TV. In my opinion it is a great game if you want to get in stroke for example after a little break. Long shots, few clusters and lots of running out. Also makes you feel good about your game if you put a package of runouts. However 9-ball has a lot of weaknesses in my mind. First of all luck plays too big role because you can fluke balls in. Also the breakshot is too easy especially if the 1-ball is on the spot. For pros 9-ball is way too easy, too easy to run out if the table is open.
10-ball is my favorite game at the moment and I think it is a way better game than 9-ball. No fluked balls, more challenging breakshot, tougher runouts and positions and more safety battles. It simply requires more from the players. Only thing that 10-ball lacks compared to 9-ball is the two-way-shots. Sometimes it is also a bit frustrating when you get a series of dry breaks, but at least then you know what to practise :wink:
I think 10-ball is the right game for pros.
I like 8-ball because you have to think about patterns, what is the easiest way to run your balls? Also the fact that both players have their own group of balls is different from other games and every once in a while this reults in very interesting safety battles that might be very different from the safety battles in rotation games. The biggest weakness of 8-ball is that the breakshot is waaaay too important. Watching pros play 8-ball it often seems that the winner of the rack is decided on the breakshot which makes it a bit boring to watch. In my opinion 8-ball should always be played on a tight table where running the balls is also a big challenge. 8-ball is also a fun game on the barbox when you have lots of clusters and more tactical situations.
One pocket is a great game if you like tactics. It is very versatile: safety battles, patterns, running the balls, bank shots, kick shots, intentional scratches and other strategies etc. Simply a great way to develop your all-around game. However many people don't like 1P because of the slow tempo but they are allowed to play 9-ball!!
The game itself has few flaws in it but if 1P is the only game you play I think it will hurt your ball potting because of the amount of safety shots.
Last but not the least: 14.1 a.k.a. straight pool. It is a good game for practise and competition. It teaches you patterns better than any other game. Also it requires a lot from your position play. In straight pool you will face a lot more often a situation where you have to have a certain angle than in 9/10-ball where you play a lot of zone positions. It is also nice to keep count of your high runs and you can always try to break them. 14.1 is a nice game to play because you know that you might get punished for your mistakes with a long time in your chair. That means a lot of pressure on shots. That is also a weakness in my mind. I think it is pretty brutal when you miss once and your opponent puts you in the chair for an hour and runs the set. This also happens a lot more often in straight pool than in other games.
In order to develop a good all-around game you should play all the games. Also if you are making a game with someone you don't know it's good to know all the games well so that you can beat the young 9-ball guns, the one pocket hustlers and the old straight poolers and get all the cash!!
Other games
As I said all pool games develop your all-around game, but if you have the chance, play other billiard games as well. I started playing in pool hall where we had tables for pool, snooker, 3-cushion, russian billiards/pyramid and Kaisa billiards (Finnish national game). I think it was a big asset that I had the chance to play all games. Snooker requires you to concentrate more on your technique, 3-cushion and other carom games teaches you to kick and go around the table with the cueball, russian billiards teaches you the in-offs and Kaisa is a unique blend of the other games which requires super accurate potting.
As I said all pool games develop your all-around game, but if you have the chance, play other billiard games as well. I started playing in pool hall where we had tables for pool, snooker, 3-cushion, russian billiards/pyramid and Kaisa billiards (Finnish national game). I think it was a big asset that I had the chance to play all games. Snooker requires you to concentrate more on your technique, 3-cushion and other carom games teaches you to kick and go around the table with the cueball, russian billiards teaches you the in-offs and Kaisa is a unique blend of the other games which requires super accurate potting.