yer rail first cut shots miss. and you cant "pinch" a pocket to help with position. generally i would't attempt a table length double in less you get good safe position with the cue ball as your likely to miss the pocket. playing shots with pocket weight is a lot more important as a ball in the jaws blocks the whole pocket (if you can block a corner pocket with a cluster of you opponents balls around it then play safety shots to the diagonal corner you can put loads of pressure on him)

A table length double can be worth going for because, if you hit it, it puts the shivers up your opponent. Especially if you have been playing well. And I prefer table length doubles to cross table doubles because the angle is usually smaller and there is less damage if you miss.

last time i was in the states i had some time to kill, so played a bit of 9-ball. if anything the pockets there are even larger than those on a 9 ball table in the uk, although that could have just been me imagining it or just random table variance

Some random points on this table discussion:

UK 8 ball clearing is often problematic due to density of traffic, not the toughness of the pockets. Clearing up balls in open play is significantly easier on a UK table than a regulation US table due to the much shorter distances involved.

Rail shots on a UK table are extremely difficult regardless of ability - any ball on the rails has a significantly different value than it does on a US table where they are very simple shots.

Side of any kind is a much stronger effect on UK tables. This increases a skilled player's edge on a UK table but decreases a weak players, where the throw on the ball will make them miss much more. This single factor makes these players nearly always think US pool is easier, as the unintentional side they constantly put on the ball has a much lower effect and the shots go in more often on a US table.

A standard prop bet I used to use with any player who laughed at US tables was to prop them at evens they could not run a 15 ball line up down the centre of the table. The distances involved nearly always made them mess up (certainly more than even money), even if they were players capable of doing 15 ball line ups on UK tables. This exact bet is also harder than it looks due to the final point:

Pocketing into US table's side pockets at any kind of angle is much harder than on UK tables. This makes life surprisingly difficult in many scenarios, and you regularly have to play much harder shots (either pots or position) to avoid having these endless tough, angled shots into the middle pockets or very long, blind pocket, horrible angled rail shots. Rail shots might be easier on a US table, but a whole host of other shots are much harder, so the equity change is not quite as one way as it appears.

Overall I would actually rate UK tables as marginally easier to play on than US tables in terms of just sinking open play balls, but much harder to play matches on due to the density of traffic and difficulties with rail shots. I certainly basically always disagree with any UK 8 ball player who just dismisses them as 'too easy' to play on - they either have not actually played the game against tough players, or just have a very one dimensional mind that focuses on one area of the game rather than the game(s) as a whole.

Thanks for the responses guys, very much appreciated. Why does sidespin have a stronger effect on UK tables? Is it because of the different kind of cloth or balls?

Might be wrong but believe it is the cloth - the extra thickness increases friction and makes the ball move more.

Tiny brag - Got a new cue yesterday from the gf (nothing expensive but its mine and sure beats a council stick) so went down to the pool hall today for an hour to break her in. When I'm on my own I'll just try and clear up any order from the break, usually miss a few times on the way. Third attempt I get them all down in one visit, including a sweet shot where I screwed back to break up a cluster, and a long one down the rail. When I was down to the last I racked up the rest 14.1 style but couldnt hit the pack after the pot, so my new high score for english straight pool - 15.

Fully agree about the American tables being surprisingly difficult, couldn't believe how much I was missing some shots, especially long ones. Was pretty frustrating tbh, gonna play some snooker next time I'm down there, the new cue could well end up over the knee lol

Mine was eight ball, maybe done it a dozen times, nine ball just twice. I played quite a bit when younger, not much at all anymore.

I agree with all these points (and find them helpful) but will add:

Experience tells me that a 7ft "US" table is far easier to clear than a 7ft "UK" table because of the range of easily made shots for a *good* player. So I'm not convinced it's due to traffic.

I don't attempt throw on UK tables because I don't have the skill/guts/confidence/style of play to use it due to the way the ball enters the pocket. It benefits me on a US table and is never "accidental". So it is "easier", at least for me. Maybe this is a psychological obstacle I need to overcome. Plus, side having or being a stronger effect doesn't necessarily make it easier to implement effectively to give yourself an edge.

Clearly, and admittedly, I am not what some people would call a "skilled player" - but an above average player who knows and enjoys the game.

I'm almost positive it was 8ball but I can't remember for sure now, I know the last two times I did it have been 9 ball because they are so rare these days I remember them clearly.

Interesting you say this. I've found that the basketballs on US tables throw 'off the cue' a lot more pronounced than UK, but turn the object ball less.

Most of my point was about accidental side added to the ball, in the context of a significantly larger US table (in the case of two 7ft tables the pocket size will make your point true regardless, and that would be the same for any game under basically any conditions) Assuming you always try and hit the ball straight and in the middle you will always find a US table easier simply because the accidental side that all players add (to some extent) shows itself less.

This does not mean that a bigger US table is easier in any real sense, just that the standard deviation on successfully potting balls in certain scenarios is significantly lower. This gain is generally swifitly paid for in other areas, such as positional play on larger tables, or the problems with square pockets from certain angles amongst others.

Ah, got it.

Er, I'm calling shill on this one.

i think i agree with you frank, but it seems like a strange place to advertise, being a low volume board on a poker forum.....

a very keen office junior trying to impress imo....

this forum really attracts 1-post-accounts...

on topic: 8ball for me, even though I played more 9ball than 8ball - every time I come close to a break and run at 9ball I miss the 9 and leave it over the pocket to give my opponent an easy one-shot score. Every single time

Woop! First run out at 8ball, opponent breaks, pots a ball but cue ball leaves the table, I run out the other 6 balls plus the 8. He's saying its not a 7 ball cos he potted one (he says he's never been 7 balled before), but I point out there are 7 of his balls left on the table, so it is. Who's right?

You ran out on him and he's making excuses. Tell him to stfu and RACK 'EM!
Nice run

if hes your friend then the rules of banter say that it is a 7 ball and you should hassle him loads about not doing a forfit etc. you should bring it up everytime you see him and needle him about it....

Haven't completed a run out in either 8 ball or 9 ball, but did manage to sink the 9 ball twice off the break in 2 consecutive games against the same guy last night . It was winner stay on though (between 3) so I didn't do it in consecutive games but in consecutive games vs the same guy.

I once made the 8ball off the break play on a rubbish pub table. it was a really weird situation as well. the 8 ball came out of the pack after the cue ball hit and went straight in to the bulk side pocket (not hitting any rails and going dead centre in to the pocket.)

2 days ago i had my first runout 8ball against my dad,was really sweet,he's been smoking my a$$ for 3 years(18 now)and now im a little comepitition for him.

+1

the skill needed to runout in 8ball is far lesser than the one needed to runout in 9ball

8ball for me obv (bar table)

First break and run was in 8 ball. I ended it up running out twice in a row, as part of an APA match. A the time, I was in total shock. I tried to pretend "no big deal" but, my teammates were having none of that.

Coincidentlaly, my first 8 on the break also ended up with my sinking it for the win, twice in a row, in the finals of an APA regional tournament. Was quite the pleasant surprise at the time and my opponent, rather than congratulating me, didn't speak to me for years after. Rofl.

APA league is serious business bro