The reason I prefer 8 ball over 9 or 10 ball.

[RDeca]

9 ball on a barbox. Super easy game. Once yur past the three ball tables usually open and shots are pocketed easily. Its tougher on a 9 foot table because ur shots have to be more accurate.

8 ball on a bar box is tough. Trust me luck comes into play but its much tougher to break and run then 9 ball because the table congested and clustered up. Eight ball is easier on a 9 foot table. Room to move,whitey and many shot options if u get out of line.

Pros have perfected 9 ball breaking months of nothing but breaking. Its boring to watch anymore. Run out rates are threw the roof.

Not a single pro has perfected an eight ball break. And in my opinion it is the best game for amature players, And master ranking amature

Pros should not be playing 9 ball. They should all be playing 10 ball with call pocket. No jump sticks and a break box. Random racks racked by referees no cheater magic racks.

Strait pool should be the pro game. Played in tournaments

 

[johnnysd]

So the reason I like 8 ball is it takes the luck out of 9 or 10 ball. What I mean by this is in an ideal game the 2 players have 7 balls to hit then the 8 ball. With 9 ball or 10 ball I can hit a low number ball and make the 9 or 10 ball in and win the game. Or I get my opponent to make the first 8 or 9 balls and I make the 9 or 10 ball. Then I win. 8 ball just seems more equal and fair. At least from that angle.

Thoughts?

Tons of luck in 8 ball too. I think 8 ball is a slightly weaker game because each player is not playing the same game essentially as the stripes and solids lay differently for each. At all but the elite level where the pros can just run racks. 10 ball tends to be a better challenge to separate B+ players.

That said 14.1 is a better game than any of them

 

[animatedvmaker]

So the reason I like 8 ball is it takes the luck out of 9 or 10 ball. What I mean by this is in an ideal game the 2 players have 7 balls to hit then the 8 ball. With 9 ball or 10 ball I can hit a low number ball and make the 9 or 10 ball in and win the game. Or I get my opponent to make the first 8 or 9 balls and I make the 9 or 10 ball. Then I win. 8 ball just seems more equal and fair. At least from that angle.

Thoughts?

They are both great games, in my opinion. I always really enjoyed 9 ball more, because I hated dealing with the clusters that came with the typical game of 8 ball.

They are just completely different types of games, and both have their pros and cons, but for the average good player, I do not feel that luck plays a factor for the most part.

I always felt that 8 ball was a more difficult game, because not only do you have to deal with the clusters, but you have to get very precise position.

With 9 ball, your position play does not need to be as precise as it needs to be with 9 ball.

I never even wanted to play 10 ball, because it is even more difficult then 9 ball, and needs even better position, I believe.

But, only beginner players need to reply on getting lucky.

 

[fan-tum]

I prefer 8B. There's more opportunities to create cool shots like in one P.

 

[Texas Carom Club]

That's true lol
And after playing enough tournaments and league
Luck is hardly the factor that leads to a winning multiple matches over ever better players

Your more likely to hook yourself or get a bad roll than win by luck

 

[The_JV]

Your more likely to hook yourself or get a bad roll than win by luck

Exactly, ...and that's why top players don't care about a fortuitous roll for their opponent from time to time. If you're playing that style of game, more often than not it's going to go against you just.

I find it interesting that some think 10ball is so much more difficult than 9. Sure there's one more ball, and generally accepted as a "called shot" game (which really doesn't matter at higher levels). However, that one extra ball doesn't seem to be much a difficulty multiplier to me. Now the break is supposed to be harder, but I guess when you 9 ball break already sucks, (speaking for myself) there's not much difference there either...lol

I do enjoy the 10ball last rule.

 

[Swighey]

9 ball is hard
you miss your probably done

Same in 8 ball if you are playing a good player. If you are going for a run out and you miss, you leave your opponent with little traffic and multiple routes to finish you off. Both games, and 10 ball, are simple most of the time. But 8 ball is a deeper game with more interesting problems when they happen. It's also deeper in the sense that it's more fun for all levels of players from the beginner to the elite. Wearing 9 ball like it's your best shirt, because it differentiates us from the great unwashed who know only 8 ball, doesn't make the game any better or any harder.

All three games are equally easy and hard depending on the setting. 9 ball (Texas express) was invented for TV because it fits around the ads and is reasonably exciting and more importantly straightforward to watch for the casual viewer. This in part has contributed to it becoming the tournament game of choice of pros.

I'm with the OP. 8 ball is a better game if you ask me. However, some players prefer rotation games and I understand the attractions of these games and how some people prefer them. The "8 ball players suck because they prefer 8 ball" comments make those who make the comments look dumb - so you are grouping all players who prefer 8 ball to 9 or 10 ball with those who only know 8 ball or are bad players? Really? It's just arrogance and nothing more.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... 9 ball (Texas express) was invented for TV ...

Maybe Randy G. or one of the people involved with Texas Express at the start will speak up, but I don't think the inventors had an eye on TV. I think they wanted the matches in the Texas Express Tour to take less than three hours. To the best of my knowledge, no TE Tour stop was ever televised.

 

[Paul Schofield]

In these kind of discussions, what comes to mind is not which game one prefers, but which game should be the "Headline Game" and represent the sport. Pocket Billiards needs a game that has broad based appeal.

 

[Geosnooker]

In these kind of discussions, what comes to mind is not which game one prefers, but which game should be the "Headline Game" and represent the sport. Pocket Billiards needs a game that has broad based appeal.

The issue with American pool is that it’s like fishing. Millions go fishing every year but most of those Millions, like me, have no interest in watching someone else go fishing. I personally wouldn’t go watch American pro Pool even if given free tickets. Again, I’d rather head off to the pool hall and play myself.

How many American adults play NFL style football? Or play MLB style fastball? Almost none. People may play Slow pitch or toss the football around in the field a couple times a year.

The popularity of a sport and popularity of watching a sport are hard to figure out. . The most successful billiards sport commercially is Snooker however it doesn’t have a wide base participation. In contrast, the most popularly played billiards game in the world is Chinese eight ball and it also has enormous public viewing.

 

[jaime_lion]

The issue with American pool is that it’s like fishing. Millions go fishing every year but most of those Millions, like me, have no interest in watching someone else go fishing. I personally wouldn’t go watch American pro Pool even if given free tickets. Again, I’d rather head off to the pool hall and play myself.

How many American adults play NFL style football? Or play MLB style fastball? Almost none. People may play Slow pitch or toss the football around in the field a couple times a year.

The popularity of a sport and popularity of watching a sport are hard to figure out. . The most successful billiards sport commercially is Snooker however it doesn’t have a wide base participation. In contrast, the most popularly played billiards game in the world is Chinese eight ball and it also has enormous public viewing.

I have that same issue with everything. I dont want to watch people do stuff I want to do it. Except anything very physical or outdoors. Martial arts would the the most physical I would get and it is done mostly indoors.

Anywho When you say chinese 8 ball is the most popular billiards game do you meen 8 ball over in china or the actual game of Chinese 8 ball? I htought regular 8 ball was the most popular.

Thanks

 

[garczar]

Maybe Randy G. or one of the people involved with Texas Express at the start will speak up, but I don't think the inventors had an eye on TV. I think they wanted the matches in the Texas Express Tour to take less than three hours. To the best of my knowledge, no TE Tour stop was ever televised.

You are correct. It just sped up tournaments. All the 9b gambling then was in the classic 2-shot roll-out format and that was just not doable as far as time constraints went.

 

[BC21]

Hear this bs all the time. I don't get the constant need to eliminate luck from the game. Its part of it and always will be. Its been my experience that those that squeal the most about luck are losers just looking for a way to whine.

I like this.:thumbup:

I've been called lucky more times than I can count, and not just in pool. Fact is, I'm a believer that we make our own luck most of the time, good or bad. If you aren't a very observant person, you probably don't have much good luck. If you are an observant person then you probably find yourself getting "lucky" quite often.

I read a great book years ago....The Awesome Science of Luck, by Peter Ragnar. A buddy of mine had read it and said it reminded him of me, so he gave me his copy. It really is a good book that puts "luck" in its proper place, explaining that most of good or bad luck all boils down to how observant we are throughout our lives.

 

[justadub]

I have that same issue with everything. I dont want to watch people do stuff I want to do it. Except anything very physical or outdoors. Martial arts would the the most physical I would get and it is done mostly indoors.

Anywho When you say chinese 8 ball is the most popular billiards game do you meen 8 ball over in china or the actual game of Chinese 8 ball? I htought regular 8 ball was the most popular.

Thanks

Chinese 8-ball is a different game. As I understand it, the tables are much tougher, I'm not sure the other differences. Likely considered the most popular due to the population differences and the number of people playing over there, is my best guess....

 

[Geosnooker]

I have that same issue with everything. I dont want to watch people do stuff I want to do it. Except anything very physical or outdoors. Martial arts would the the most physical I would get and it is done mostly indoors.

Anywho When you say chinese 8 ball is the most popular billiards game do you meen 8 ball over in china or the actual game of Chinese 8 ball? I htought regular 8 ball was the most popular.

Thanks

There are 1,4 billion Chinese and pool halls on every second street. They play Chinese 8 ball and Snooker. We could walk to and play pool even when working in remote villages.

I don’t think American 8 ball is that popular outside of a few countries. I never saw it played in Brazil or Russia. Tables are even different, in Britain it’s English 8 ball...black ball. Never been to India but I know Snooker is popular and English black ball.

Anyways. Chinese 8 ball is on the Chinese sports network. Snooker can draw 60million viewers. World table tennis championships dwarfs everything else including top cricket matches in India. Top table tennis match in China draws 450 million viewers. The Snooker special on a Chinese celebrity game show that featured Mark Selby and Ding had 125 million viewers.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kDYTvxLADrg&t=353s

 

[Straightpool_99]

Chinese 8-ball is a different game. As I understand it, the tables are much tougher, I'm not sure the other differences. Likely considered the most popular due to the population differences and the number of people playing over there, is my best guess....

Table cushions have square noses, like a snooker table.

Pockets are rounded and around 3.5 inches, maybe smaller.

No call shot.

The Joy federation uses nap cloth, though very much like a match snooker table, the nap is almost completely shorn off.

Jump shots/jump cues are allowed.

 

[justadub]

Table cushions have square noses, like a snooker table.

Pockets are rounded and around 3.5 inches, maybe smaller.

No call shot.

The Joy federation uses nap cloth, though very much like a match snooker table, the nap is almost completely shorn off.

Jump shots/jump cues are allowed.

Thanks, I knew there were differences, I just didn't know the specifics off the top of my head

 

[johnnysd]

Exactly, ...and that's why top players don't care about a fortuitous roll for their opponent from time to time. If you're playing that style of game, more often than not it's going to go against you just.

I find it interesting that some think 10ball is so much more difficult than 9. Sure there's one more ball, and generally accepted as a "called shot" game (which really doesn't matter at higher levels). However, that one extra ball doesn't seem to be much a difficulty multiplier to me. Now the break is supposed to be harder, but I guess when you 9 ball break already sucks, (speaking for myself) there's not much difference there either...lol

I do enjoy the 10ball last rule.

Empirical and statistical evidence will back up that 10 ball is significantly harder. I play in a 10 ball BCA league with a lot of very solid low A to mid A players and break and runs and run outs are pretty rare. If we were playing 9 ball they would be much more common. In terms of running out it is not really 1 ball, it is more often 2 to 3 additional balls to run out since way less balls are made on the break. In 9 ball you face a lot of 6 and 7 ball runs. After the break in 10 ball, many many are dry leaving a 10 ball runout, and if a ball is made it is usually 1 sometimes 2, making most after break runout opportunities 8-9 balls. Not sure the call shot thing really makes a huge difference but from my experience it is significantly harder to run 8 or 9 than 6 or 7. Just my view.

 

[noMoreSchon]

I like this.:thumbup:

I've been called lucky more times than I can count, and not just in pool. Fact is, I'm a believer that we make our own luck most of the time, good or bad. If you aren't a very observant person, you probably don't have much good luck. If you are an observant person then you probably find yourself getting "lucky" quite often.

I read a great book years ago....The Awesome Science of Luck, by Peter Ragnar. A buddy of mine had read it and said it reminded him of me, so he gave me his copy. It really is a good book that puts "luck" in its proper place, explaining that most of good or bad luck all boils down to how observant we are throughout our lives.

I was told years ago, that 'It is only lucky if you do not run out'....and I for one love that

saying. Sure in 9 ball you can shit in a few balls, and lose. That is luck. Never tell yourself

that it was lucky that you got out...let your opponent tell you that, while racking...

 

[lorider]

A lot of interesting opinjins on here...didnt read them all though. I also prefer 8 ball over 9 as i think 8 ball is more a thinking game and 9 ball is more a connect the dots game. Or as i once read on here and agree with . 8 ball is like chess and 9 is like checkers.

I had end of session playoffs last sunday and how my 8 ball match went down is exactly why i love 8 ball so much.

I am a 5 and faced a 7 in a 3-5 race. This guy come out firing on all 8 cylinders...made several efren like shots and played perfect pattern for the most part in order to break out problem balls..

He was up 4-0 and on the hill real.quick like.. When i got to the table in the 5 th rack i finally decided to get my head outa my azz as my team mates tell me i need to do sometimes..i looked it over and decided to play a safe although i had several options. I locked him up and got ball in hand. Got bih and broke out a problem ball while playing another safe.safe. won that rack. Won the 6 th rack in much the same way.

So its hill- hill. I break and run 5 balls and do t get quite where i want on the 6 th ball which was locked up against the 8 ball. I had 2 options....make a legal hit on the 4 ball which was locked up against the 8 a d breaking out a couple of his balls. Other option was a kick at the only other ball i had and didnt like that option either.

So i came up with a 3rd option....which most people would think is crazy against a higher level player but i have done it before and it worked out. I picked up the cue ball and handed it to him. His jaw darn near hit the floor.. No way was i going to break out a problem and i was confident he could not run out after looking over his layout.

Sure enough he did not run out and i was elated where he left the cue ball laying when he missed. I drilled the 1 ball in the side pocket with a little inside sending the cue ball to the top rail and back down splitting the 4 and the 8 ball perfectly. Easy peasy stop shot on the 4 in the left corner and easy peasy stop shot on tbe 8 in the right corner.

Game over and my opponemt just shook his head when givinc me a congratulatory fist bump.. There was no way i could out shoot him but when i get focused i can out think a lot of opponents and that is why i prefer 8 ball.. My opponent was surprised that my cirst zhot at the table was a safe when he was on the hill. He was flabergasted when i intentionally gave him bih when it was hill- hill.. I probably messed his head up which possibly helped also lol..