log in
sign up or:

By using this site you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service

forgot password?

Which Is More Difficult 8 Ball or 9 Ball?

8/26/2006 12:34:03 PM

Which Is More Difficult 8 Ball or 9 Ball?

Which is more difficult a game, eight ball or nine ball?

Which Is More Difficult 8 Ball or 9 Ball?

Replies & Comments
  1. jayluke on 8/26/2006 10:59:09 PM

    Nine ball (9 Ball) is generally accepted as the more difficult game of the two, simply because there will never be more than one object ball at a time. This clearly limits the player's shooting options, whereas in eight ball (8 Ball) the player can have many shots to consider at one time.

    Additionally with nine ball, a your opponent can easily play safe if a run-out is imminent, making it very hard for you to finish your game.

    On the other side of the coin, one could say that even though there are oftem many object balls to consider at one time in eight ball, players must deal with clustering of the balls. How many times have you seen a player practically run a table and then miss their last ball or two since there are too many of their opponent's balls remaining on the table. The opponent then comes back to win the game, since they have practically an open table to play.

    That being said, I think you'll find that most billiard players will agree with me in that eight ball is more of a beginner's game. Others will maintain that the two can not be compared, as the games are simply to different in nature. You may also encounter a lot of bias in responses to this thread, since most players have a preference one way or anohter.

  2. jayGinger on 8/26/2006 11:06:46 PM

    8 Ball is very much a beginner's game. Perhaps though this is because of it's overall popularity and not because it is any easier or harder than other games.

    Then again, perhaps it is so popular because it is an easier game; meaning it appeals to the masses more.

  3. jaycuebald on 8/26/2006 11:29:48 PM

    9 Ball is far more difficult than 8 ball, no matter which way you slice it folks.

  4. jayMatthew on 9/19/2007 1:20:33 AM

    Hello, I am Matthew. Yes its more difficult to play 9 ball than it is to play 8 ball billiards.

  5. jaybilliardsforum on 9/20/2007 11:56:35 AM

    @Matthew - What is it about 9 ball that makes you think it is more difficult? (I agree, I'm just curious.)

  6. jaylalabugu on 12/21/2017 3:22:58 PM

    I personally prefer 9 ball over 8 ball. Learned 9 ball first and just have favored the game ever since. Never actually thought about its difficulty level till right now. Never crossed my mind how much harder it actually is. Curiouser and curiouser.

  7. jaycarbondalekid on 11/26/2018 6:47:34 PM

    Eight-ball pool and nine-ball pool are two completely different games, and both difficult in their own ways.

    With 8 ball, you need to be smart, and know when to go for the run out, and when to play safe. Also, with 8 ball, you will often have to deal with clusters, so those clusters need to be broken out, before you can win the game.

    Nine ball is easier, in a way, because with 9 ball, you often do not need to deal with any cluster situations, and the hardest part about 9 ball, is getting good shape on your next numbered ball.

    So, they are just different, and difficult in their own ways. I was always a much stronger 9 ball player, and a pretty weak 8-ball player, in comparison. I disagree that 8 ball is a beginners game. It is a game that all beginners start playing before any other game, but it is a great game, and takes smart thinking, in a lot of situations that you may find yourself in, while playing 8 ball.

  8. jayBallBuster on 11/20/2019 7:39:58 AM

    8 ball is a much more difficult game to play. There is no comparison.

    With 9-ball there's not much thinking but 8 ball you MUST run-out to play at a high level.

    Just watch some of the pro 8-ball matches. These guys take a lot of time figuring out the rack because if they miss after clearing most of their balls, THEY LOSE.

  9. jaygibson on 11/20/2019 2:43:51 PM

    Nine ball requires higher shooting skills than 8 ball. I know an 8 ball player who is not that good of a shot, but knows how to keep the opponent tied up with safety shots until the opponent gets frustrated and finally sells out. I think either game can be easy or difficult depending on how good the opponent plays.

  10. jayBallBuster on 11/20/2019 3:12:00 PM

    You can't tie-up your opponent when you have only one ball left.

    Watch the world 8 ball championships on YouTube to see how the game is supposed to be played.

  11. jayJalal on 12/31/2019 9:05:58 PM

    I think it really depends on a number of factors. Too difficult to say that one game is harder or easier than the other in a generic sense.

  12. jayBallBuster on 1/1/2020 7:22:54 AM

    Generally put:

    • In 8 ball you have to think more, but,
    • In 9 ball you have to make harder shots
  13. jayTarocoon on 3/5/2021 2:50:49 AM

    Been playing less snooker lately and more pool and I'm just finding the game of 8ball to give me way more trouble than what people usually consider the harder game because of the one ball you can shoot. The table is so much more open though that I can make shape so much better. I guess I'm more of a cb control guy than a shot maker these days.

  14. jaytexascountry8504 on 6/24/2021 10:36:51 PM

    The analogy I use is:

    8 ball is chess, and 9 ball is checkers.

    8 ball generally takes the luck out of the game.

    9 ball will teach you better cue ball control. But there only being 9 balls on the table compared to 15, you have way more room to manipulate the cue ball.

  15. jayBallBuster on 10/7/2021 7:25:34 AM

    8 ball is a much more difficult game to run-out in. Just watch pros who have to study the table for a full minute before they shoot. Then, if they get out of line they have to stop and think again.

    9 ball requires less thinking and is an easier game for position play.

  16. jayjoe f on 7/3/2022 2:23:11 PM

    I would say they're both the same depending on you and your opponent's playing ability and how smart each of you are.

    I have played games of both where the key ball (8 ball or 9 ball) was in a cluster, but my opponent was shooting much better than I was. I knew if I broke them up I would lose the game, so I intentionally scratched , hoping he (or she) would not catch on that I wanted them to break the cluster up. It worked perfectly and I won the games.

    So, in MY opinion, I feel they both have there own challenges so they are basically both the same. But then again, I am a nobody, so take it for what it's worth.

upload a photo or document

use plain text or markdown syntax only
log in or sign up

Sign in to ensure your message is posted.

If you don't have an account, enter your email and choose a password below and we'll create your account.

Preview:

Which Is More Difficult 8 Ball or 9 Ball?

  • Title: Which Is More Difficult 8 Ball or 9 Ball?
  • Author:
  • Published: 8/26/2006 12:34:03 PM