why a 9' table

My take on the bar box player vs the 9' player...

On a 9' table the BB player is going to struggle with accuracy and having to let the stroke out more often...These two things tend to compound each other in a negative way...

On a BB the 9' player really just has to adjust to the crowded table...stroke and accuracy are non issues...

I think its much easier and faster for the 9' player to adjust to the BB than it is for the BB player to adjust to the 9 footer...
 
ChicagoRJ said:
True, but if you only practice on the same equipment that you compete on, that's gonna help tremendously. So, if you only play 7 footers everywhere else, then it would be smart money to practice only on a 7 foot as well....
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It's one of the laws of physic's
It' specificity. If I only played league on bar tables or only gambled on bar tables, I wouldn't have a need to play on anything else.:smile:
 
DRW said:
It's one of the laws of physic's
It' specificity. If I only played league on bar tables or only gambled on bar tables, I wouldn't have a need to play on anything else.:smile:
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Sorry for the Hijack...DRW is that the Korengal Valley in your avatar?
 
imo, it would depend on what game you play. if you play 8-ball or 15-ball rotation, the 7-footer would improve your cueball control. if it's 9-ball or 10-ball, then the 9-footer.

but whichever table makes you enjoy the game then that's the one you pick.

-arps
 
realkingcobra said:
I think Keith Macredy would disagree with you on this one, see...there's one BIG advantage a bar table player had years ago, that the 9ft player never came across...and that was the over sized cue ball. I can't tell you how many players I use to rob on a bar box in a pool room because of that cue ball.

My point was that you can shove a pool table into a corner, leaving only 2 sides available to shoot from...and still get better and better with practice, reguardless of what size the table is, if you're working to control your stroke and cue ball control, banks, combo's and so on....
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Plus one for this. I've told my friends many times that they don't need enough room to play pool but instead need enough room to practice. Give me two sides and the right drills and I'll improve my game. The real problem is that very few of us really practice the game. I'm quite guilty. I'd much rather just play........

So in considering some of the logic in this thread, why aren't 10-footers the rage? Let's leave lack of space out of the equation. I'm curious to read the responses about merit alone.

So Glenn, when will you be in Alaska? I found a place in Wasilla that will accomodate my 10-foot Anniversary. It needs your loving touches!
 
Rackemep said:
I think its much easier and faster for the 9' player to adjust to the BB than it is for the BB player to adjust to the 9 footer...
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I used to play almost exclusively on bar boxes, mainly because that's all the pool I was playing (pool league play) and I wasn't too bad. I was the highest handicap in the league and I thought my game was OK until one of my best friends bought a 9' Gold Crown. We started playing on his home table on Friday nights and I knew I wasn't going to play my best since I wasn't used to the 9' table, but it was awful. My fundamentals were out the window and I didn't even realize it since you could get away with bad fundamentals and still get out on a bar table. My stroke was bad, I raised up on shots, and my position play was off on the 9' table among other things. We played 9 ball exclusively and I was more used to 8 ball in the league play and my friend made a top notch rack boy out of me. He played well on a 9' table and I struggled and he won most of the games for weeks until I finally started getting my fundamentals in order so I could win a few games.

My friend was a better player than I am to start with and combine that with switching from bar box 8 ball to 9' table 9 ball and you have a recipe for me racking a lot of pool games (I mean a lot). I didn't give up and my friend never said a word about me struggling we just played and had a good time socializing and playing pool. I finally got to a point where I could run the balls on a 9' table and be competitive, but believe me a bar box 8 ball player isn't going to go to a 9' table and play competitive 9 ball without a learning curve to get their fundamentals in order unless they are a rare case where they have the type game that most of us don't have and that's unusual.

Now, after many nights of racking many games of 9 ball if I had my choice of any table and any game I would chose a 9' Diamond table and play only 9 ball or 1 pocket the rest of my life. Real pool is on a 9' table and it's just more fun to be able to move the cue ball around the bigger table. It's so satisfying to me to run racks on a big table and it makes me feel like i'm good at the game! Some may not agree, but I still play in a weekly local 9 ball league on, you guessed it, bar boxes and I love the game and the competition, but I hate the tables.

James
 
I practice on a 9' table at home and play league and local tournaments on 7' barboxes. So long as I'm able to hit a few balls on the 7' before playing, I don't see any major difference in my game between the two tables.

I also have a heavy cueball to practice with at home.

So why a 9' table? 14.1
 
Man, now i'm confused.... was gonna by a Diamond 7 footer. I have a 9 foot Brunswick now.... but play mostly on 7 footers, and it just seems to make sense to play on what you compete on. I know my stroke is fine, being playing on a 9 foot forever....... but now second guessing my choice :(
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Man, now i'm confused.... was gonna by a Diamond 7 footer. I have a 9 foot Brunswick now.... but play mostly on 7 footers, and it just seems to make sense to play on what you compete on. I know my stroke is fine, being playing on a 9 foot forever....... but now second guessing my choice :(
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I played almost exclusively on 9 footers for most of my pool shooting life and when I would occasionally play on the 7 footers I didn't notice a big difference in my game either other than there was no such thing as a "long shot"...

I took a 4 year break from pool but for the past year I have been playing only 7 footers. I decided to take the 1.5 hr. drive to go hit some on the 9 footers...it felt like i was playing pool on a football field...I'm now a firm believer that Bar Box Syndrome does exist...I was amazed at how bad my game was lacking in all aspects...Keep the 9' and stay sharp on your game...There is nothing wrong with the Diamond 7' ...they are amazing tables but the 9' is where its at to stay sharp...
 
My decision was made by the fact I would like to get good enough to play in 9' tourney. I think you should look at the goal you want to achieve. If you never compete on a nine and only do league and local barbox tourney you may not need a big table.
 
fasted71465 said:
My decision was made by the fact I would like to get good enough to play in 9' tourney. I think you should look at the goal you want to achieve. If you never compete on a nine and only do league and local barbox tourney you may not need a big table.
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That's where I'm leaning... now 51, and kinda looking forward from having to face those long shots :)
 
On a 7' vs 9', you're going to see some shots that are 2' longer. That 2' can make a big difference, particularly if your stroke has some flaws. On a 7 footer, you really don't run into many shots where you have to stretch out, use a bridge or extension. On a 9 footer, your CB positioning thoughts need to include consideration for easily reaching the shot.

Many bar boxes, in bars, have crappy felt and aren't level. Those conditions alters the shots you can play and the way you get position.

I see quite a few bar box players with short pokey strokes that are very good playing 8 ball but I seriously doubt could regularly run a 9 ball rack on a 9' Diamond.
 
nobcitypool said:
On a 7' vs 9', you're going to see some shots that are 2' longer. That 2' can make a big difference, particularly if your stroke has some flaws. On a 7 footer, you really don't run into many shots where you have to stretch out, use a bridge or extension. On a 9 footer, your CB positioning thoughts need to include consideration for easily reaching the shot.

Many bar boxes, in bars, have crappy felt and aren't level. Those conditions alters the shots you can play and the way you get position.

I see quite a few bar box players with short pokey strokes that are very good playing 8 ball but I seriously doubt could regularly run a 9 ball rack on a 9' Diamond.
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I know some barbox killers with that exact stroke.... but then again, they never play on 9 footers unless someone is pointing a gun to their head. But they still know the patterns on the 9 footer, and a lot easier to "see", just not as easy to execute.
 
I've always found it easier to execute on a 9 footer, because the balls aren't so crowded.
 
Quick question, are full sized balls used on all / most bar boxes ? (2.25 inch)
Cheers



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
 
Just wondered what its like in the states. Damn - must be crowded indeed playing 8 ball on a 7 footer using 2.25" balls.
Down here in Australia ball sizes seem to be matched to table sizes.(rail sizes / designs)
7 foot billiard (snooker ?) tables = 1 7/8" balls (correct size for the rails IMO)
8 foot billiard (snooker ?) tables = 2" balls (correct size for the rails IMO)
Full size snooker tables at the clubs of course use 2 1/16" balls.
I use 2.25" balls on my 9 foot (american pool style) table - correct size for my rails IMO. (nose height measurement & rebound performance)

Maybe its a colonial hangover thing down here in Oz ? ie. Maybe different sized tables in the UK use these different ball sizes as well ? (different rail design for different size tables ?)

Cheers.
edit: I havent checked or measured any balls or tables in the pubs / bars down here - but am pretty sure they aren't 2.25". Those full sized pool balls are massive & hard to not notice when ur used to using 2" or 2 1/16" most of the time...
The pubs / bars do use different size or weight cue balls (which suck).
The pool halls in Sydney use the full size balls. (they gave me 2.25" for play on a 9ft table)
 
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