The first is 8 ball and the other is 9 ball.
But what is the difference between 8 ball and 9 ball pool?
Despite the name, 8 ball is played with 15 balls and the cue ball.
Either way you need 2 groups of 7 balls that are easily distinguished and a black 8 ball.
To start off the balls are racked into a triangle.
They then must sink all of their balls before potting the 8 ball to win.
A player can continue their turn so long as their shot sinks one of their balls.
This game is played with 9 balls as well as the cue ball.
The numbers are important for the game.
The goal is to be the player that sinks the 9 ball.
So as long as the one is on the table the cue ball must hit it first.
However, should you hit the lowest number ball first and pot another ball you may continue your turn.
For example, you are trying to sink the specific ball to win.
Again, in both there are penalties for hitting and sinking balls out-of-order.
Both games will allow you to keep shooting so long as you sink a legal ball.
However, for their similar points the games do differ quite a bit.
First, one game uses nearly twice as many balls as the other.
Additionally in 8 ball sinking shots on your side will not aid the other player.
However, when playing 9 ball each ball sunk moves both players closer to shots on the 9.
