At what point is somebody a bonafide "player"?

[The Renfro]

you know them when you meet them.... They may have just started playing or they may have been playing for 50 years... But you recognize they are on the same journey you are on... Mastering this game can take a lifetime for many of us... Life gets in the way and we drop the game to pursue family and fortune but those of us on the journey never quite forget the sound of a great break or the solace afforded by a quiet room with nothing but us, our cue and the balls...We always find the way back... I have known players who could not run 4 balls but pool was in their blood and likely was going to be until the day ST Pete checked them onto table 12 in the sky.....

 

[Colonel]

you know them when you meet them.... They may have just started playing or they may have been playing for 50 years... But you recognize they are on the same journey you are on... Mastering this game can take a lifetime for many of us... Life gets in the way and we drop the game to pursue family and fortune but those of us on the journey never quite forget the sound of a great break or the solace afforded by a quiet room with nothing but us, our cue and the balls...We always find the way back... I have known players who could not run 4 balls but pool was in their blood and likely was going to be until the day ST Pete checked them onto table 12 in the sky.....

Great insight, good post

 

[Gotboost95]

I'm just a banger. So what's my spot John?


I feel like I have been stuck at the same level for awhile. I'm an APA 6 and run 1-2 racks out of 10 games of 8 ball. But still feel like there is plenty of things that could be learned. I still don't feel like a player.

To me a top A player or Master level and up are players. If I feel I'm going to get 2 or 3 more shots this game and your still not out. That's not a player to me.

 

[tonythetiger583]

This is only an observation (I've only been playing less than a year) But as I've gotten better, the one thing I've noticed and tried to steer clear of is getting stuck. I can look at a player and see the level they've plateau'd at. That point where their game just wont progress any further. I think being a "player" means not being afraid of starting over. I feel like I've been overhauling my game over and over since October. If it doesn't work, try something else. I just don't want to fall into that trap of being comfortable because the form I was comfortable with in say month 3, was probably that of a shitty pool player. I think it's super important to not be afraid of fundamentally starting over whenever you need too.

 

[Harold Smith]

When they bet 1k

I have to disagree with you on this, I as many in here have seen people bet 1k on games that can't run 3 balls sitting by a pocket. To me a player is someone who runs out when the table offers a runout, a lot of wannabes will screw it up somewhere along the line.---Smitty

 

[hang-the-9]

The term "player" gets thrown around a bit, as opposed to "wannabe player" or such. At what point do you consider somebody a "real player"?

If I had to take my pick, I'd say that it's at the point where they beat me more often than not! :embarrassed2:

If they know the proper rules for many games, including such things as what a push shot or double-hit foul is, know the difference between types of shafts, know that there are different tip types, things like that. And you need at least a middling ability to actually play, say a C+ that knows what they are talking about instead of a B level shooter that just knows how to pocket balls but could not name 3 pro players and has no idea what a push out in 9 ball is.

Someone that also does not just play in one pool room against the same guys he knows he can beat.

 

[RRfireblade]

The term "player" gets thrown around a bit, as opposed to "wannabe player" or such. At what point do you consider somebody a "real player"?

If I had to take my pick, I'd say that it's at the point where they beat me more often than not! :embarrassed2:

This is one of those, you know em when you see em, kinda things.

And if you have to ask then no, they aren't.

 

[JB Cases]

A player is some that other players recognize as such. We all know who the (top) players in our areas are and they all know who the top players in every other area is.

 

[DAVE_M]

I'll never know. (And likely won't care.)

I concur.

I never understood the point of calling someone that is a recreational pool player that gambles every now and then a "player." Of course he/she's a player, they are playing the game.

Only in the pool world is gambling known as the "cool" thing to do.

 

[JB Cases]

And the old saying can be adapted here....if you look around the room looking for the sucker and can't see him then you're the sucker. Players know how to spot suckers literally and figuratively. A player is a threat to win any local tournament no matter who is in it with him.

 

[haystj]

This is an interesting thread. It reminds me of a guy I met when I worked at a pool hall in college.

There was a guy that came in quite often, John. Nice guy,, super nice. One day I heard a rumor that John was an olympic archer. I had never met an olympian, so next time I saw him I asked him about it. Indeed he was in the olympics. So, being that I am socially awkward (I admit it)- I said to him- "Wow, you must be quite an archer".. It was obvious he was not down playing the conversation,, he just shrugged his shoulders and said he was OK.

Then I find out he won a world title in 1971 and was the Gold medalist in the Munich games.

Next time I saw him I asked him about his gold medal,, and awkwardly said something about him being the "best".... His reply was,,, only for a very brief moment in time. Really humble guy.

I guess this thread makes me think of that,,, in John's mind he wasn't a "player", but I would sure consider him one.

I like thinking about this kind of stuff. Thanks for posting.

 

[Jodacus]

A player.

Someone who works on technical, mechanical, and
strategic parts of pool and has the respect of others
that play well.

Joe

 

[StraightPoolIU]

I wouldn't really define it by skill level. I would just say that it is someone who takes more than a passing or casual interest in the game. For example a couple playing pool while out on a date or some buddies playing some 8 ball on a night out doesn't make them pool players. They play once in a while. A lot of league players I would still consider in this level as well. They probably own a cue, never read about the game, never practice, don't know much about the physics or techniques nor ever cared to. I would say someone is a player once they really get into the game and try to get better. They want to play all the time and improve. They want to know about the equipment, the strategy, the fundamentals. They know about pro players. They know other pool games besides 8 ball and 9 ball. They have played on and like playing on 9 ft tables in real poolrooms rather than only 7ft tables in bars.

 

[ssbn610g]

A tough competitive person who revels and enjoys seeing their opponent play to their ability and then plays to or above their level. There is no quit in this individual and when the match is over, the opponent may have won the battle but they know the war is not over.

Al

 

[Matt]

For some reason, I have always associated the word "player" more with the strategic side of the game and the term "shooter" with consistent and precise execution. Either one is a threat, but the feeling of losing by being being out-played is different than that of being out-shot, especially in one pocket, but also occasionally in other games where a well-played safe or two-way shot is pivotal to the outcome of the match.

I know several people that I would consider players because they make good decisions and know how to execute the shots they choose but haven't developed the technique or muscle memory to do it consistently.

 

[SmoothStroke]

When you control the cue ball as well as you tie your shoes.

 

[pwd72s]

As far as a pool hall owner is concerned, as long as you pay table time!

 

[dognit26]

I have to disagree with you on this, I as many in here have seen people bet 1k on games that can't run 3 balls sitting by a pocket. To me a player is someone who runs out when the table offers a runout, a lot of wannabes will screw it up somewhere along the line.---Smitty

Fair enough! Ok 85% of those that bet 1k

 

[Banks]

I'm never going to reach real player status at the rate I'm going. I should take up gardening.

If the description includes someone who; 1) Hates to lose. 2) Loves to win. 3) Devotes too much of their life to the game, then I guess I'm a "player". What's your description?

Lyn

PS Got beat by a bunch of old, old men last week .

I don't care if I lose so much.. well.. just not when I'm gambling.

Gotta watch those old guys, they've got a few tricks up their sleeves.. I even hear some of em can still run a few racks.

I'm just a banger. So what's my spot John?


I feel like I have been stuck at the same level for awhile. I'm an APA 6 and run 1-2 racks out of 10 games of 8 ball. But still feel like there is plenty of things that could be learned. I still don't feel like a player.

To me a top A player or Master level and up are players. If I feel I'm going to get 2 or 3 more shots this game and your still not out. That's not a player to me.

Hmm.. a 6 now.. let's see..

a) you've got the 7-out in 9b
b) an extra handicap level in an APA 8 or 9b race
c) 3:2 odds on the money(or 2:1 if I'm drinking)
d) 5-3 race in short rack banks
or e) all of the breaks in an even 8b race

I know a place nearby with cheap Diamond tables, too. :thumbup:

 

[jimmyg]

I think "player" automatically means good player in this case. I'd say a real player gets the girl over 80% percent of the time and that doesn't mean taking home a two o'clock girl. A real player never leaves the place with worse than a ten o'clock girl even if leaving at two o'clock.

Oh, on a pool table, somebody that can bust out shots I don't expect pretty often, . . . . and make them.

Hu

That 10 o'clock girl can usually give the 2 o'clock girl the five and the breaks, or 75 to 125 in straight pool all day long, plus she may even be a keeper. :thumbup:

I guess there are many measurements of a "real player". You may be a "real player" when a person who you consider a "real player" considers you one also.

It's also a bit like the supreme court judge who decided a major pornography case, he said something to the effect that "he couldn't describe pornography, but he knew it when he saw it". :smile:

Stay well.

Jim