Unusual Games
- Thread starter Guda
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18 holes of 'golf' on a pool table
I've become partial to the 18 'hole' golf game for pool. Assuming you are familiar with '3 ball', then this is simply 18 rounds of 2,3, or 4 ball. Hole #1 is the old familiar 3-ball rack, and the 'par' is 4. The remaining holes are par 3,4, or 5 depending on the rack (2, 3, or 4 balls respectively in specified racks).
Here's what I like about the game :
- can be played by 1 to many players
- the worst player gets the most table time, and the best player shoots least, which keeps all players interested
- it can be handicapped by balls-per-hole quite easily to make the scores more competitive
If this is not clear I can get a score sheet from the hall (I have a dry-erase board at home with the scorecard) and scan it to post.
Note that this is not the same 'golf' that has multiple players on a snooker table, each with a shooter and and object ball, trying to pocket their object ball in each pocket in order. This too is a good game ...
Dave
Guda said:
I've become partial to the 18 'hole' golf game for pool. Assuming you are familiar with '3 ball', then this is simply 18 rounds of 2,3, or 4 ball. Hole #1 is the old familiar 3-ball rack, and the 'par' is 4. The remaining holes are par 3,4, or 5 depending on the rack (2, 3, or 4 balls respectively in specified racks).
Here's what I like about the game :
- can be played by 1 to many players
- the worst player gets the most table time, and the best player shoots least, which keeps all players interested
- it can be handicapped by balls-per-hole quite easily to make the scores more competitive
If this is not clear I can get a score sheet from the hall (I have a dry-erase board at home with the scorecard) and scan it to post.
Note that this is not the same 'golf' that has multiple players on a snooker table, each with a shooter and and object ball, trying to pocket their object ball in each pocket in order. This too is a good game ...
Dave
cribbage
My favorite game is cribbage.We always played to 15 points.To score a point
you shoot the two balls that add up to 15(14 -1 7-8)ect.We play that the first ball can be made any way but the second ball has to be a good hit & call the pocket.The 15 ball goes last & counts as one point
My favorite game is cribbage.We always played to 15 points.To score a point
you shoot the two balls that add up to 15(14 -1 7-8)ect.We play that the first ball can be made any way but the second ball has to be a good hit & call the pocket.The 15 ball goes last & counts as one point
Bowlliards
When I have a family get together sometimes I'll have them play bowlliards. I make up my own rules because none of these people can play. I just keep score. Rules can be modified for good players (no ball in hand, etc.).
Rack up 10 balls (all but the back row of a 15 ball rack).
Player brakes and gets ball in hand.
Shot till you miss. If they run them all it is a strike. If not the number of balls made is 1st box of bowling score sheet.
Player gets ball in hand again.
Shoot till you miss. If they run the rest of the balls it is a spare. If not the number of balls made is the 2nd box of bowling score sheet.
Once that much of the sheet is done the rest of the scoring is just like bowling.
When my daughter and I play I don't get any ball in hands and I have to save the 8 for last and bank it.
When my wife is playing, all of the above plus I have to shoot one handed while she is poking me in the ribs.
When I have a family get together sometimes I'll have them play bowlliards. I make up my own rules because none of these people can play. I just keep score. Rules can be modified for good players (no ball in hand, etc.).
Rack up 10 balls (all but the back row of a 15 ball rack).
Player brakes and gets ball in hand.
Shot till you miss. If they run them all it is a strike. If not the number of balls made is 1st box of bowling score sheet.
Player gets ball in hand again.
Shoot till you miss. If they run the rest of the balls it is a spare. If not the number of balls made is the 2nd box of bowling score sheet.
Once that much of the sheet is done the rest of the scoring is just like bowling.
When my daughter and I play I don't get any ball in hands and I have to save the 8 for last and bank it.
When my wife is playing, all of the above plus I have to shoot one handed while she is poking me in the ribs.
Have your tried things like 1) Bank pool, 2) Last pocket eight ball, 3) Back pocket nine ball, or 4) Back pocket ten ball? These are nice hybrid games that tend to combine the usual cueing skills with billiard knowledge.
Another game, best suited for more highly skilled players is "kicks," in which you can only score a point by kicking a ball in.
Another game, best suited for more highly skilled players is "kicks," in which you can only score a point by kicking a ball in.
scratch
Rack 15 balls with cue ball in front,break soft & try to scratch with numbered ball.Each "scratch " is a point.If you can learn how to scratch you'll learn how not to.Another easy game that's fun "101" pockets numbered 5-10-1-2-on the corners 3 & 4 on side pockets.Break & shoot any ball shoot till you miss,add up points by numbered pockets.scratch cancels points must come out exactly on one hundred & one or start over.You can either rerack each time or line up made balls behind the spot after each miss.
Rack 15 balls with cue ball in front,break soft & try to scratch with numbered ball.Each "scratch " is a point.If you can learn how to scratch you'll learn how not to.Another easy game that's fun "101" pockets numbered 5-10-1-2-on the corners 3 & 4 on side pockets.Break & shoot any ball shoot till you miss,add up points by numbered pockets.scratch cancels points must come out exactly on one hundred & one or start over.You can either rerack each time or line up made balls behind the spot after each miss.
different games
I saw a couple of guys playing a variation of 8-ball I had never seen before; after the break the eight ball is placed on top of a cube of chalk, if you knock the eight ball off the chalk...you loose, the rest of the game is the same as regular eight ball (obviously the eight ball is taken off the chalk when you have made the last of your ball and are about the shoot the eight ball) Makes you mare careful with your cue ball movement.
Also I read an interview with Ronnie Allen where he talks about a one-pocket variation where you play to a set number of points, say 30, playing out the entire rack, then racking with the player behind breaking, play continues through as many racks as needed for one player to reach 30. Changes the tactics a little; say its 7-7 in the first rack, it might be good strategy to make the ball in your oponent's pocket so you get the break in the next rack.
I don't know what it's called but I occasionally see people playing a game where the balls are placed on the rail next to the diamonds and, I think, they are pocketed in order. There's always Rotation, a great game, not played enough.
I saw a couple of guys playing a variation of 8-ball I had never seen before; after the break the eight ball is placed on top of a cube of chalk, if you knock the eight ball off the chalk...you loose, the rest of the game is the same as regular eight ball (obviously the eight ball is taken off the chalk when you have made the last of your ball and are about the shoot the eight ball) Makes you mare careful with your cue ball movement.
Also I read an interview with Ronnie Allen where he talks about a one-pocket variation where you play to a set number of points, say 30, playing out the entire rack, then racking with the player behind breaking, play continues through as many racks as needed for one player to reach 30. Changes the tactics a little; say its 7-7 in the first rack, it might be good strategy to make the ball in your oponent's pocket so you get the break in the next rack.
I don't know what it's called but I occasionally see people playing a game where the balls are placed on the rail next to the diamonds and, I think, they are pocketed in order. There's always Rotation, a great game, not played enough.
I've got a good game I call "in-offs" for a bar box when it has locked up and you find there are no more challengers. Whatever spare object balls you have remaining from the last game of 8 ball, stash them away except for one, and put it on the foot spot. Take ball in hand on the head string and shoot to carom off the object ball and sink the white, and make the object ball hit a cushion. Every time that happens, score one point and take ball in hand on the head string (shoot forwards or backwards). See how many you can get in a row. If a few of you are playing simply rotate when a player fails to score a point.
Depending on how many object balls you have, you might make sinking one a 10 point penalty, or if you only have one, total loss of game.
It's very good for improving cue ball control. You also build up an instinctive feeling for when you are going to sink the white which is very useful for alerting you of a potential sctrach in other games.
Cheers!
Depending on how many object balls you have, you might make sinking one a 10 point penalty, or if you only have one, total loss of game.
It's very good for improving cue ball control. You also build up an instinctive feeling for when you are going to sink the white which is very useful for alerting you of a potential sctrach in other games.
Cheers!
I don't know if you've ever played 3 ball but it's a great game when you have at least 3 or 4 players, lot's of gamblin involved for little or lot's of money. There's many different formats for the game, the way I play:
1) Each player antis up a buck or whatever you want to gamble for into a cup
(You can have antis of ten cents or ten bucks, whatever you agree on)
2) 3 balls are racked in a little triangle, each player breaks and pockets the
balls in as few shots as possible
3) The lowest score takes the cup of money....however, if 2 players tie all
the players tie and you re-anti into the cup on top of what's already in
there, this way you can build up the $$ your playing for.
4) Scratches cost you a buck or whatever the anti is and loss of your turn
5) Play until someone has the lowest score without being tied
A good game to make quick money, also helps you play under pressure.
1) Each player antis up a buck or whatever you want to gamble for into a cup
(You can have antis of ten cents or ten bucks, whatever you agree on)
2) 3 balls are racked in a little triangle, each player breaks and pockets the
balls in as few shots as possible
3) The lowest score takes the cup of money....however, if 2 players tie all
the players tie and you re-anti into the cup on top of what's already in
there, this way you can build up the $$ your playing for.
4) Scratches cost you a buck or whatever the anti is and loss of your turn
5) Play until someone has the lowest score without being tied
A good game to make quick money, also helps you play under pressure.
Guda said:
One game that I like to play pretty frequently is called "Loop"
Pool backwards.
It is a great game for learning cueball control, carom angles, and angles of the cueball off the rails.
The game starts like 9-Ball. Rack and break them. If you make a ball you continue shooting.
You never shoot the Cue Ball in this game. The object is to carom the object balls OFF of the cueball into the pockets. Starting with the lowest numbered ball, you shoot it into the cueball and attempt to make it straight into a pocket, or off a rail and into a pocket.
You can even play position in this game by controlling the speed of the cueball and hoping it lands near a pocket and or near the next object ball.
I hope this made sense, becasue it is a great game to try!
Honolulu (sp) first player to eight (any) you have to carom,bank or combo all your shots is different. Played lots of three ball we only the low ties carry over. That golf is fun did you see that at a dooly's? I haven't seen that version anywhere else they probably don't know there's already a pool game called golf.