Where do you rate 8 ball with all the other pool games?

L

Lock N Load

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I had a thread on here about your favorite pool game without listing 8 ball. And now I am giving the 8 ball players their thread. How well do you like to play 8 ball? I am sorry for leaving it out of my other thread!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
I enjoy 8 ball if i am playing against a player that can run the table out and we can go back and forth.
 
Lock N Load said:
I had a thread on here about your favorite pool game without listing 8 ball. And now I am giving the 8 ball players their thread. How well do you like to play 8 ball? I am sorry for leaving it out of my other thread!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
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I love 8-ball.
 
I really like 8-ball.
Also because you need to play good patterns,and overall knowledge helps you a lot in 8ball-
you furthermore have a big advantage if you re a good 14.1 player.
 
I'm not fond of 8 ball. If I want to work on patterns, I will play 14.1. If I want to work on execution, 9/10 ball. 8 ball doesn't really force you to become great at either skill. Of course I will play it if I am looking for a tournament and there is nothing else going on that night.
 
I play 8 ball because that is the league we have, but it is at the bottom of the list for me. There is some pattern play to it, but also too many safety nets. If you get out of line on your next shot, there is generally another one of your balls that you can shoot instead. I call it the equalizer for the lower players to be able to compete with the better players.
 
I love 8 Ball, but if I play with somebody for the money, I'll not choose this game.
Even low skilled players could run out in 8-ball, it's easy.
 
8 ball is ok but I prefer 9 ball and 1 pocket

I did not like 8 ball at first, but the majority of tournaments in my area are 8 ball on the bar box, so now that I have played the game a lot I like it ok. There are so many good 8 ball bar box players in my area that if you make one mistake, you usually lose the game, so it makes it a challenge to win.
 
I like to play 8 ball, but it is a much easier game than others. Weaker players can look real good playing 8 ball but get them in a rotation game and all bets are off. The reason for this is that you can play bad position up until the last few balls and still get out because you can always shoot a ball you didn't intend to get position on. I see this all of the time.
 
8 ball is definitely a different game. In my opinion a hybrid between 9 ball and 14.1. Granted you have many options on a run-out that don't exist in 9 ball, but you have a lot less clusters.

8 ball on a big table is a joke, the congestion is not significant but on a bar box it becomes a significant part of the game. When you get out of line and need to hit a small window to run out or you have clusters to deal with.

I think the part about 8 ball is it is dynamic in nature. Generally balls are moved during the rack. In 9 ball, much more frequently the balls are ran without movement. This static nature of 9 ball is the result of less congestion.

As far as the safety aspect, it is easier in 9 ball. I watched a 10-ball tournament not too long ago and the runner-up never ran a rack from the break. His safety play got him to the finals. So getting out of line in rotation pool typically results in a defensive game.

Someone will say, but if the initial run-out is missed, the other player has easy pickings at a run-out without congestion. I will counter with this: miss the 7, 8, or 9 ball without playing a safe and see how easy it is for your opponent! :)
 
Woof Biscuit said:
I like to play 8 ball, but it is a much easier game than others. Weaker players can look real good playing 8 ball but get them in a rotation game and all bets are off. The reason for this is that you can play bad position up until the last few balls and still get out because you can always shoot a ball you didn't intend to get position on. I see this all of the time.
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and i've seen many a big table 9 ball players get their rear ends handed to them playing 8 ball on the barbox. not because it was easier for the "lesser" player, but because they weren't any good at it. navigating that barbox and running out consistenly on it playing 8 ball is high level play.

i'd much rather play a big table 9 ball player 8 ball on the barbox than the 68 yr old guy i've known my whole pool life. he gets out or he buries your ass. the 9 ball guy gets out or he leaves you a wide open rack. he's smarter than they are and he has sharpened his BB 8 ball skills to the point, i'd put him up against anyone at that game.

the point is, they are different games with different mindsets. to me, 9 ball on the big table is the easiest game there is. no balls to get in your way and a GPS to guide you from ball to ball. BB 8 ball, you have to know how to read the map. big table 9 ballers usually hold the map upside down.
 
hlymnstr14 said:
and i've seen many a big table 9 ball players get their rear ends handed to them playing 8 ball on the barbox. not because it was easier for the "lesser" player, but because they weren't any good at it. navigating that barbox and running out consistenly on it playing 8 ball is high level play.

i'd much rather play a big table 9 ball player 8 ball on the barbox than the 68 yr old guy i've known my whole pool life. he gets out or he buries your ass. the 9 ball guy gets out or he leaves you a wide open rack. he's smarter than they are and he has sharpened his BB 8 ball skills to the point, i'd put him up against anyone at that game.

the point is, they are different games with different mindsets. to me, 9 ball on the big table is the easiest game there is. no balls to get in your way and a GPS to guide you from ball to ball. BB 8 ball, you have to know how to read the map. big table 9 ballers usually hold the map upside down.
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I have a contrary feeling about this one. I feel that a good/great player coming from a 9' table to a 7' bar box has some major advantages. First of all he is able to reach shots easier as he is used to the longer ones. If they play on a 9' table with reasonably tight pockets they are used to hitting the center or pro side of the pocket, so their shot making ability is enhanced compared to a good/great 7' table player. Lastly, "reading the map" is the same on any position play. You have to manuver the cue ball and object balls around the table in a particular way in order to run out. Doesn't matter whether you are playing 8 ball or 9 ball, doesn't matter what the size of the table is. If you can't make the ball do what you want it to you will not be able to navigate the table. Speed control is normally the question. Can the player coming from the bigger table adjust his speed control to the smaller table? Normally the better players have no problem after a few games of practice.
 
I HATE 8-ball more than any other game. It frustrates me to now end. However, I think it is the game to grow the sport with, and it's the ONLY game in town. Finding some one to play 9-ball or 10-ball can be a serious pain in the arse around here. As I'm starting to play it more now, and getting better at it I hate it less, and less, everyday. Still would rather play ANY game other than 8-ball though.

best,

Justin
 
RioSevario said:
I have a contrary feeling about this one. I feel that a good/great player coming from a 9' table to a 7' bar box has some major advantages. First of all he is able to reach shots easier as he is used to the longer ones. If they play on a 9' table with reasonably tight pockets they are used to hitting the center or pro side of the pocket, so their shot making ability is enhanced compared to a good/great 7' table player. Lastly, "reading the map" is the same on any position play. You have to manuver the cue ball and object balls around the table in a particular way in order to run out. Doesn't matter whether you are playing 8 ball or 9 ball, doesn't matter what the size of the table is. If you can't make the ball do what you want it to you will not be able to navigate the table. Speed control is normally the question. Can the player coming from the bigger table adjust his speed control to the smaller table? Normally the better players have no problem after a few games of practice.
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the size of the table and more traffic absolutely matters, thats what makes the game more challenging. its like saying that big pack of balls in the middle of a one pocket rack don't matter. 9 ball on the 9ft is like driving on a 4 line hwy with no cars. doesn't matter what lane you are in. BB 8 ball you have to be in the correct lane. cue ball control skills and creativity are at a premium. the lanes are tighter and room for error is much less because of the opponents balls and just less real estate to use.
 
8-ball is a good game...if you're the best player...you WILL win.
...what more could someone ask of a game?

regards
double hemlock..<..refuses to play 'bar' rules....likes last-pocket
 
Woof Biscuit said:
I like to play 8 ball, but it is a much easier game than others. Weaker players can look real good playing 8 ball but get them in a rotation game and all bets are off. The reason for this is that you can play bad position up until the last few balls and still get out because you can always shoot a ball you didn't intend to get position on. I see this all of the time.
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On my home 9' Diamond, we play "Rotation 8 Ball".
Same game, but you have to hit your balls in rotation. Makes for some real interesting safety play.
You have to be very mind-full of your opponents next ball, when playing shape on yours.
When playing regular 8 Ball, my practice partner would beat me 80 to 90% of the time. :(
After adding rotation to the game, we play nearly even. :p
Even he likes it better now, and we hardly ever play regular 8 Ball any more.
 
8-Ball is ok but I rather play rotational games or 14:1. There are too many ways to lose in 8-Ball therefore letting lesser skilled players beat you. I went to one tournament where I was the favorite to win and went two and out because of the luck factor. Races to 3 and Races to 2 in 8-Ball are too short to even out the lucky factor. Was it my fault that I lost?? Absolutely!!! If the races where a bit longer would I have won it?? I would say definitely. Both players that beat me where top C's or low level B players. Players that normally would get out with a wide spread maybe 3/10 times beat me. It infuriated me to no end and I no longer play in that tournament. Now when they hold a 9 Ball tournament we will see a big difference :cool:
 
I enjoy it a lot. A good player is supposed to run out, and if you need to solve clusters and problems it's really satisfying to get out, even if you've run a million racks in your life. If you don't it may become strategic which is enjoyable in its own way.

I reluctantly have to admit though, at the pro level, it may simply be too easy. Guys who both can run 5-7 racks repeatedly will need to play some very long races to figure out who's the better player.

For the other 99% of us, it's still a challenge.
 
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