Table size
- Thread starter Rhea
- Start date
Yes, and no...
Would it?
It is my understanding Bar Box 8 Ball is the most popular pool game in America. I think there are a few reasons for this.
The tables are small and it is easier to get more of them in a room.
There are no real long shots on a bar box when compared to a 9' table, so making a ball should be easier. That makes the game more fun for the average player and more shooters want to do it.
Some say 8 Ball on a Bar Box is harder as there are many balls in a smaller space making it harder to get clear shots at your chosen balls. I think that depends on ones skill level.
When some one is first learning to shoot we put the cue ball and the object ball close together and close to a pocket so they can make a ball and be encouraged. We don't put them on a 9' table and have them shoot long shots.
All though I am personally not a Bar Box fan, I see room for play on both sizes and if it promotes pool in a good way then go for it.
I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that thousands do not share my opinion of Bar Box tables and I respect their opinion and their right to have it.
I have a good 9' table, if I had room I would also get a 7' Diamond. I know a guy that sold his 9' Diamond and bought a 7' Diamond as that is the size he usually plays on in tournaments and league.
I guess I look at Bar Box 8 Ball as a good game for the "masses".
It is my understanding Bar Box 8 Ball is the most popular pool game in America. I think there are a few reasons for this.
The tables are small and it is easier to get more of them in a room.
There are no real long shots on a bar box when compared to a 9' table, so making a ball should be easier. That makes the game more fun for the average player and more shooters want to do it.
Some say 8 Ball on a Bar Box is harder as there are many balls in a smaller space making it harder to get clear shots at your chosen balls. I think that depends on ones skill level.
When some one is first learning to shoot we put the cue ball and the object ball close together and close to a pocket so they can make a ball and be encouraged. We don't put them on a 9' table and have them shoot long shots.
All though I am personally not a Bar Box fan, I see room for play on both sizes and if it promotes pool in a good way then go for it.
I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that thousands do not share my opinion of Bar Box tables and I respect their opinion and their right to have it.
I have a good 9' table, if I had room I would also get a 7' Diamond. I know a guy that sold his 9' Diamond and bought a 7' Diamond as that is the size he usually plays on in tournaments and league.
I guess I look at Bar Box 8 Ball as a good game for the "masses".
You are right and wrong and left.
Like the chicken and the egg, what came first, 8 ball on 9/10 foot pool tables, or the bar boxes and then 8 ball?
It's a hard question to answer. That's why I just play on my 10 footer.
So I guess size really does matter?
8-Ball produces similar statistics on 7-footers and 9-footers if the rules and tables (other than their size) are similar. Here's a comparison from about a year and a half ago: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=5255675&postcount=3.
When 8-Ball is played with a racking template, an open table after the break, and breaking from anywhere behind the head string, it is simply too easy for elite players on either sized table.
Changing to taking the group you make more of on the break toughens the game a bit. Accu-Stats did that in their most recent 8-Ball Make-It-Happen event. Darren Appleton's World Pool Series also used that rule plus a few additional steps to make the game harder, including the use of a triangle rack and the requirement to break from outside a 2-diamonds wide central box behind the head string.
what about folks that play on both, consistently? What are the "real" world results?
For me, I run out more on a 7 foot table then a 9. And if someone put a gun to my head and told me I had to play SVB a race to 5 for $10,000, but I got to pick the table, I'd pick a 7 foot.
If some APA 3 wanted to play me a race to 5 for a $10,000 because someone had a gun to their head, but I got to pick the table, I'd pick the 9 foot.
Now, your results may vary, but this is what I'd do if given the choice based on the above.
Would anyone do the same, or would you reverse it ??
For me, I run out more on a 7 foot table then a 9. And if someone put a gun to my head and told me I had to play SVB a race to 5 for $10,000, but I got to pick the table, I'd pick a 7 foot.
If some APA 3 wanted to play me a race to 5 for a $10,000 because someone had a gun to their head, but I got to pick the table, I'd pick the 9 foot.
Now, your results may vary, but this is what I'd do if given the choice based on the above.
Would anyone do the same, or would you reverse it ??
I'd do the same, my logic is:
If I'm the stronger player I back myself to make more tougher shots than my opponent, I stand a higher % chance of running out each time, so I have an edge on the 9 footer.
If I'm the weaker player then I'd choose the easy table...he can run out every time on the 9 footer, but I probably can't. By reducing the skill level I reduce his edge.
I feel that ever since Diamond came out with a seven-foot table that plays like a
Championship table.....the size is irrelevant....cloth and balls tend to be the same quality.
The old bar boxes with rough cloth and non-standard balls gave regular bar players an edge.
...their game reminded me of the snooker players in the UK,,,more center ball...
...and less finesse.
So, if you aren't talking about weighted or over-size cue balls, and a horse blanket for cloth....
....I'll bet on the best nine-foot player on a seven-footer also.
Championship table.....the size is irrelevant....cloth and balls tend to be the same quality.
The old bar boxes with rough cloth and non-standard balls gave regular bar players an edge.
...their game reminded me of the snooker players in the UK,,,more center ball...
...and less finesse.
So, if you aren't talking about weighted or over-size cue balls, and a horse blanket for cloth....
....I'll bet on the best nine-foot player on a seven-footer also.
You would loose your money. Back in the day Keith turned many championship players into crybabbies on a 7ft Valley as he was a monster playing on them, and if I had to bet....the best pool he ever played was on bar tables with the oversized cue ball. It's like there's this line between tables, players on 9fts didn't want to play on bar tables, and bar table monsters didn't want to play on 9fts.
If you re-read my post, Glen, Ithink you'll see that we don't disagree.
I rarely played bar boxes in the action days...and i felt they had a big edge on me.
...I was stuck 24 games playing nine-ball on an 8-footer with an over-size cue ball......
...got him to an 8-foot gold Crown in a pool hall....he needed at least the 7 there.
my point was, the Diamond 7-footers took away the bar specialist's edge.
I agree what what you're saying but only to the point that if the 9ft table player can't control the cue ball in zones for the next shot....he's going to face NY city traffic at 8am when it comes to congestion whereas the bar table player if he's good....already knows that about the table. Big strokes don't work out so well on a 7ft bar table.
There are still many that don't want to play on one or the other. I'm going strictly bar box next year, no more big tables, gonna sell my 9 foot in basement and replace with 7 Diamond.
Plus, for folks under 6', it's nice to be able to reach all my shots
And for folks over age 50, it's nice to be able to see all my shots When you break a rack of 8 ball on a 9' table the balls are nicely spread out. You tend to get less clusters and there's much more room to move the cue ball around. This was in my face last month after I decided to get on a 9' table for old times sake. I had quit in 2001 and had only played on 9' tables up until then. When I started playing again a couple years ago these new Diamond tables had come out and they are all I play on now. To me it seemed easier to run out on the big table due to the room for the cue ball to move around and the large areas you can get shape in. I should ad the big table had 5" pockets. I don't know what the difference might have been with smaller pockets. My eyes and back aren't what they used to be so playing on small tables is a benefit.