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

Finally have got the guys were I play in the winter to get into 8 ball.
Quite a few of them are still learning all the aspects of the game but
it's much better than the crap we use to play. Also a real good player
joined us a few years ago and that really made a difference.

Still have a few die hard who think the game is too simple, which makes me
laugh.
 
I love 8 Ball on BB.

I honed my skills on 9' tables playing One Pocket, 9 ball and Banks. Didnt really play any on the BB until I joined an APA league. When I joined APA I played 9 ball because I liked it on the 9'.

I got talked into an 8 ball league and hated the game. But the more I played it, the more I liked it. Now, I have a real appreciation of the game. I play in a Double Jeopardy league where we play 8 and 9 at the same time on two tables. I dread the 9 ball matches because I love 8 ball so much.

My first preference is to play One Pocket on a 9'. But second on my list is 8 on the BB.
 
I like 8 ball okay. I prefer 9 Ball. But if I played 8 Ball more I would enjoy it more. My problem is I only play 8 Ball tournaments occasionally and I try to run out too much of the time and that causes me to lose games that were easily won if I played smart. But back when I played it regularly I used much more stradegy and won a lot. I won the Cherokee County Open 8 ball Championship a couple of times in the early 90's. I played smart 8 ball then and liked it better than I do now. You can't play 8 ball like 9 ball and have a lot of success.
 
As far as was mentioned about 8 Ball being the game to get pool back on mainstream TV. I agree, but I think one item would make it much more entertaining. Make them bank the 8 Ball. Nothing gets people on the edge of their seat like a called bank shot does. Even when they barely miss it, it makes you almost lose a breath. That would add some excitement to what is normally an easy game. It gives every game at least one highlight.
 
Any game is good, but I enjoy 8-ball and one-pocket more than rotation games because of the "chess" strategy aspects. I should add that the skill level of my playing group doesn't guarantee runouts; you usually always get a chance at the table, no matter what game you're playing.

Oldschool has an interesting twist on the game I think we'll try:

oldschool1478 said:
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.
Click to expand...

And so does cueman, although I'm afraid that my group would often play to a stalemate (both players with group down, now trying to bank the 8-ball or make sure his opponent can't):

cueman said:
As far as was mentioned about 8 Ball being the game to get pool back on mainstream TV. I agree, but I think one item would make it much more entertaining. Make them bank the 8 Ball. Nothing gets people on the edge of their seat like a called bank shot does. Even when they barely miss it, it makes you almost lose a breath. That would add some excitement to what is normally an easy game. It gives every game at least one highlight.
Click to expand...
 
I really enjoy barbox 8 ball.

My list
1. Snooker (just started playing and cant get enough. Every other game I had to gamble to keep my interest. I can play all day and not bet a penny!)

2. Barbox 8 ball (Calgary is a barbox city, lots of talented players here to play)

3. One Pocket (probably be tied for #1, if more people around here played)

4. Rotation games
 
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oldschool1478 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Now that's a neat twist! I'm going to try that. Thanks.:thumbup:
 
I've been to the World 8-ball Championships twice, played on nine foot tables.

I've been to the Grand Masters 8-ball events, in which pros are allowed, at the BCAPL event twice, with the event played on bar tables.

In each case, I enjoyed the game and the competition very much.

8-ball is a great game. I've always enjoyed Dan DiLiberto's take on 8-ball with respect to the "when to go for the runout" decision. To paraphrase Danny, "Every one of your balls (stripes or solids) is like a soldier on a battlefield and if you take your soldiers off the battlefield before the war can be one, it may cost you the war."
 
I didn't like playing 8 ball on a 9', but on a bar box I liked 10 ball 1st, followed by 9 ball, and then 8-ball. Johnnyt
 
Most of my play is barbox 8. I think it's fun and has more creativity involved than most other games. Being a 'better shooter' does not make you a better player in barbox 8, which some people have a hard time dealing with. Heck, it always frustrated me when I'd see people shooting at everything like they were ducks, but had no concept for breakouts, breakins and everything else.

A few things I really like about barbox 8..

1. Turning a horrible break into a run-out can be a wonderful thing
2. A really big break in barbox 8
3. Finding outs where people thought there were none
4. Humbling players that though it would be child's play compared to a 9'
 
Mr. Lock,

I like 8 ball because of the mine & yours aspect of the balls on the table. It's kind of like a chess game with big marbles. There are many more options for each & every shot to plan your run. I think it is more of an intellectual game. All that being said I am talking about call your exact shot. I'm not talking about slop or just call your pocket.

Hope to stroll into Buffalos after the holidays & meet you in person.

Merry Christmas.
 
I enjoy 8 ball on the BB mostly for the safety play. IMO safeties in the rotation games are much easier as you only have to hide from 1 ball. Also the decision making in 8 ball is superior on the BB as you really have to be sure you are going to get out before you blow it wide open and leave yourself no place to hide. The soldiers on the battlefield analogy is spot on.
 
ENGLISH! said:
Mr. Lock,

I like 8 ball because of the mine & yours aspect of the balls on the table. It's kind of like a chess game with big marbles. There are many more options for each & every shot to plan your run. I think it is more of an intellectual game. All that being said I am talking about call your exact shot. I'm not talking about slop or just call your pocket.

Hope to stroll into Buffalos after the holidays & meet you in person.

Merry Christmas.
Click to expand...

Hello English,
I look forward to meeting you. Merry Christmas. So you like 8 ball call your shot, huh?
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
The order of games I like are as follows ...

1. Straight pool

2. One Pocket ( pretty close second)

3. 8 Ball

4. Chess

5. Poker

6. Sticking bamboo shoots under my fingernails

7. 10 Ball

8. 9 Ball

:)
 
Great Post . . .

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.
Click to expand...

8-Ball is a whole different game of pool on a good bar box . . . It forces you to control whitey a lot more then bangin' out on 9-ball etc. 8-ball on a BB is a lot of fun . . . Especially against good players. I usually map my shot pattern at least three balls prior to my preferred shot on the eight ball.
 
3andstop said:
The order of games I like are as follows ...

1. Straight pool

2. One Pocket ( pretty close second)

3. 8 Ball

4. Chess

5. Poker

6. Sticking bamboo shoots under my fingernails

7. 10 Ball

8. 9 Ball

:)
Click to expand...

How could you forget these others? They're some of my personal favorites..

game1.jpg

game2.jpg

game3.jpg

I dunno about 1P.. maybe if I was playing a game on an adjoining table. :embarrassed2:
 
eddie0776 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...

I share these sentiments.
 
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