Favorite game?

[Chuck]

Thought I'd get some activity going here:

So, what's your favorite/best billiard game to play watch?

I don't know that many, but I suppose you can't beat 8 and 9-ball, though for me 9-ball starts to become a slop and ball in hand fest if I play on a regulation size table. I like straight pool, but nobody seems to be interested in playing it, even to say only 50. I'd like to see some 14.1 tournaments, but I have yet to catch anything on TV other than 9-ball.

Cut-throat is a favorite of course, even with 5 people; though with 5 it can be tricky keeping track of everyone's turns when people are socializing.

[JUST LUCKY]

3-Way Ring Game of 10 Ball...$3 on the 5 and $6 on the 10. This is lots of fun and it keeps the Game friendly.

[Jackson]

I'd probably say that 9-ball and straight pool are my favorites at this time and I enjoy watching both. I tend to watch more matches in pool rooms than on television because there's a lot more to learn by actually being there. I would like to learn 3 cushion billiards because a relative of mine took up the game while he was in the military, mainly because others were playing 8 ball and 9 ball and by the time he arrived the only available table was the billiards table. I was able to see first hand how the fundamentals of 3-cushion allowed him to place the cue ball and play the rails like I've never seen by many players. Chuck, if you'd like to expand your position play, try a game called Cribbage! I've included the attached link to familiarize you with the game. http://www.usapoolhalls.com/billiards/cribbage/.

[Richard K.]

Hi;

I'm new here, but I thought I'd put in my .02 cents. I've always considered myself an 8-baller but recently I've found myself watching a lot of 9-ball on tv. Particularly the women's tourneys. I never seem to catch the men's somehow. The reason I like watching nine is that I feel that I can learn something from how the players approach the strategy of the game and then try to use them in 8.

I agree with you about 9 ball . . . if one of the players is not very good (5 or lower) then it quickly can degenerate into a ball-in-hand fest.

Personally, I have been interested in learning other games but haven't run into anyone that plays one pocket or straight pool. I also have wanted to at least watch a game of three rail, and maybe learn that as well.


Rich

[rramsey72]

I love to play one pocket though there aren't too many around here that know the game. We play a lot of nine ball and it tends to get boring after a while. Eight balls all right but the people around here count slop until you get to the eight which isn't too much fun. No skill needed around here.lol

[George]

I love to play 8ball, especially because of how different the game can be depending on the layout.
I'm not the greatest shooter, but I can usually out-think many of my opponents when it's not an open rack. I would like to play more 14:1 but rarely find an opponent, so it's usually just a practice tool.
9 ball is a great game, but current rules make it too easy for top players.

[George]

To add to my previous post. What I meant by 9 Ball being to easy for the top players.
Safety play has been degraded by the introduction of the modern jump cues. No longer does a player have to master multi-rail kick shots. Safety play is not emphasized as it is too risky when you leave a jump shot, as most pros can jump 3-4 balls.
Cue manufacturers would not like it, but I would only allow jumping with a full length playing cue. Also, bring back the push-out on all shots, not just the break.
Now you have a game that is more startegic & not just straight out offense.
14:1 used to be the big game & crowds would pile in to see the masters up until the early 60's. The move to 9 ball speed to satisfy the T.V. executives of the 70's we now pay the price of the weakened sport we have today.
I was at the Lucasi hybrid Invitational in Jacksonville & was appalled at the crappy purses the top players in our sport get ($2500 for 1st place???).
No wonder most Pro's have to resort to Alternatives (gambling) on the side to earn a living.
The Filipino's are now launching a new team league format with a T.V. contract. 10 Ball is growing in popularity in Asia as you can't get away with a soft break in 10 ball.
Where will we be the next generation if we stick with 9-ball mentality.
We need to revive 14:1 and play more 10 ball to save our sport.

[Chuck]

Does anyone know why 8-ball is not played in national championships? I have never seen an 8-ball championship. Is it because it relies on a great amount of safety play when professional players are playing? I would like to see professionals play 8-ball, just so I can see their strategies.

[Zim's Rack]

My best game is 8 ball on a bar box, with 9 ball falling close behind. I don't really enjoy 9 ball, too much of a bangers game. My favorite game to play is 14.1, as long as my opponent is an equal or better player than I am, otherwise it's no fun to play. I recently played some 1 pocket for the first time and can see that I will like this game as well.

Zim

[Steve]

14.1 Continuous is my favorite game. I play 8-Ball and some 9-Ball in the bars. I find the people here alittle shy when it comes to playing something new (to them) like Cribbage, Cowboy, Rotation, or variants of 8-Ball (Last Pocket or 3+ Rails on the cue ball, Old Style 1 & 9, Single Shot, or Rotation). I don't think we'll see any 14.1 tournaments on television any time soon, and that's a shame! Long ago, at the Milwaukee Journal Sports Show, I used to go to watch the State 14.1 Champion-ship held there over its 10 day run ...... and there was some really great matches played. But that went the way of television and everything went to 9-Ball because it was faster paced and more games could be played in a shorter time. We play "no slop" rules and there's no such thing as "cue ball in hand anywhere on the table" rule. If someone is trying to sandbag a shot we have rules for that in league play.
At present I'm trying to put together a "Bar Box Straight Pool League" and trying to get some interest in it going now so when regular leagues start I can start running my idea by the league players and see what happens. Oh well, what can I say other then I love the sport and when I go I'm taking my McDermott with me and see what I can hustle St. Pete into a
membership!!!!

[Scott Fuller]

I'd like to see Snooker on U.S. tv and a carom game or two...Aleast something thats alittle different.
Happy Shootin'