Why Exactly Are We Addicted To Pool?

Kickin' Chicken

Kickin' Chicken

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You know, I don't ponder this question very often because it cuts into my pool playing time. :grin-square:

But seriously folks...

Why are we so taken with pool, to the point where it can, and oftentimes does, become addictive?

For me, there's a couple of reasons:

The most basic reason, to be perfectly candid, is that I'm a shameless showoff. Go and read what GreyGhost has written in his signature line. It's brilliant; and accurate! There's no better feeling than when you pocket a three rail kick shot or razor cut a frozen ball 90 degrees off a cushion, or spin around an interfering ball to pot yours, or that perfect, aggressive jump shot that gets you out of a jam, or putting your opponent in federal penitentiary with a perfect safety. You get the idea... When your stuff is working, it's a beautiful thing.

But how many times can you shoot these shots (or attempt them) before it all gets to be boring?

Well, that's the beauty and addictive part, as far as I'm concerned. Every break creates a new puzzle to solve; a blank canvas to paint a masterpiece. You don't always create a masterpiece, but the opportunity is right there in front of you, every break, every game, every match.

It never gets boring.

I love pool.

Why are you addicted?

Best,
Brian kc
 
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For me, it's the never-ending pursuit of perfection.

That, and every game is different after the break.
 
It's like a good marriage; you are surrounded by like-minded people who appreciate your talent and efforts. Even when you get into trouble and have to play safe, they can see the brilliance in your strategy and while they might not like having to find a way to overcome your snare, it's all part of the mind-game that has no hidden agenda.

Of course, it can also lead to a bad marriage when your wife/husband just doesn't understand. Maybe the fun is walking the line.

My wife always said I had to choose between her and pool. Gosh, I sure miss her when they recloth my favorite table.
 
For me, it started with meeting friends and league play. Leagues are an easy way to make lots of new friends and get out of the house. Pool was secondary.

Now that I have a table at home, it has become more of a hobby than it ever was before. I need to get my pockets set right so I can play more 14.1.
 
That's a really great question. Broken down into it's simplest form it's a bunch of plastic balls on a slate table that you whack around with a wooden stick. What is there to be addicted to? Yet, we are. I guess the same could be said of any sport. Knowing that you're better than the average guy is why it's fun but knowing there's plenty of others out there who are better is what keeps me coming back. "The endless persuit of perfection" sounds like as good an answer as any, but that doesn't quite fit either. I'm not such a perfectionist that my body has to be in top shape or my house always neat and tidy. So..why pool? Great question! Wish I had a great answer.
 
Thats a great question and before I think about it for too long and get a headache here's my thoughts.

There are lots of different reasons wanting to be good at something, gets you out socially etc etc etc. For me I always loved cue sports from th time I picked up a cue, having given up for 15-20 years it now an obsession again. I want to play well, I want to win, I want to pot balls, I want to have a good night out with good people, I want to drink good beer (only after my match though), it's fairly informal, I always want to improve both my game and my knowledge, it gets my adrenalin flowing, it's my 'High'.

I am also unbelieveably blessed in the marriage department too, my wife likes pool, she will come to League Matches where she scores for the whole team. She also comes to tournaments, she's as unhappy as I am when I lose, but she keeps my feet on the ground when I do lose. You can't win them all no matter who you are, you can certainly try, but her being there when I lose, probably stops me from beating the guy with my break stick :rolleyes:

I LOVE POOL !!
 
Great question. I'll add my two cents:

Pool is the great equalizer. You can be fat or skinny. Smart or not-so smart. Rich or poor. It doesn't matter...everyone can play. When you open the doors to all types of people, you open the doors to all types of experiences. I love meeting new folks, regardless of where they come from (physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.) Each new meeting offers something fresh. Somewhat related is this: no two games are exactly the same. As someone else mentioned already...every rack is a new puzzle to solve. If the game is different every time you play, there's no way to get bored with it (IMO, at least).

Second...for me...is that pool is an escape from all the serious crap life tends to fling at ya. I'm a banger, through and through. I'll be the first to admit it. Doesn't matter to me whether or not I can't pot a single ball...or on those rare occassions I can run a couple racks...it's still something I can go do, leaving all the obligations, concerns, and fears at the door. Be it 15 minutes or 15 hours at the table...when I'm playing, nothing else exists. I believe everyone needs some kind of escape...and pool just so happens to be mine.

Mark
 
8-ball Rat said:
Great question. I'll add my two cents:

Pool is the great equalizer. You can be fat or skinny. Smart or not-so smart. Rich or poor. It doesn't matter...everyone can play. When you open the doors to all types of people, you open the doors to all types of experiences. I love meeting new folks, regardless of where they come from (physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.) Each new meeting offers something fresh. Somewhat related is this: no two games are exactly the same. As someone else mentioned already...every rack is a new puzzle to solve. If the game is different every time you play, there's no way to get bored with it (IMO, at least).

Second...for me...is that pool is an escape from all the serious crap life tends to fling at ya. I'm a banger, through and through. I'll be the first to admit it. Doesn't matter to me whether or not I can't pot a single ball...or on those rare occassions I can run a couple racks...it's still something I can go do, leaving all the obligations, concerns, and fears at the door. Be it 15 minutes or 15 hours at the table...when I'm playing, nothing else exists. I believe everyone needs some kind of escape...and pool just so happens to be mine.

Mark
Click to expand...

You may be a banger....but you're my banger sweetheart.
 
I grew up, kind of around pool because my dad played pretty decent. I used to go play with him all of the time (I went and basically racked for him, LOL). It was never much more to me than like a father and son thing to do. I never practiced...he never showed me anything..we would just play. Not a quick way to learn, lol. I think he just liked me as his rack boy...but I did learn some and played ok for a little kid. Not like these little kids today, LOL.

In my early teens I used to go to this teen club with a friend where there was a bar table. There was this great big fat kid who used to hustle other people for their dollars, playing a dollar a game 8 ball. Well, I never cared about pool but could play a little from what my dad taught me...I mean, I had been playing since I was real little. Well, I put my money up and beat this guy really easily. A friend of mine was amazed and said we should start practicing up and gambling...which we did a little bit, but he could never play well and after several losers he lost interest, lol. I still wasn't "hooked" yet, but I was better than all of my friends and was interested.... and I still played with my dad once a week and had no chance with him. I did want to beat him in a set.

I was about 16 and started going to this other local pool room on my own and this skinny guy came over and asked me to play some $1 a game 9 ball. Now...I was a teenager and if I had a $20 bill on me I felt rich...He beat me five straight and I quit. It only made me mad and want to practice more, lol...and beat him. A few nights later, I was at the same pool room and saw this stocky asian guy (who I later became good friends with) break and run two racks of 9 ball in a row and he really knew what he was doing. I was hooked then...that is what I wanted to learn how to do. Although I rarely get to play, I'll always be a pool player. Greatest game there is, with golf being a close second.
 
I think some people like to haul their 40oz worth of cues in neat, 15 pound leather cases.
 
We strive to get better ... to improve with each subsequent game. We seek perfection which we will never acheive.
 
I agree Kickin, I can play as long as my body allows (which my health sucks by the way, I used to could play DAYS at a time and now its hours) and like you said I like to showoff as well. I really shoot good when my wife is around and I'm showing off:o

I'm hooked as well. I think us having the skill to shoot better than others is a big thing as well. This is not an easy game, and I think we all like to showoff at times because we can make a ball where we want, etc. Atleast thats my take...
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
You know, I don't ponder this question very often because it cuts into my pool playing time. :grin-square:

But seriously folks...

Why are we so taken with pool, to the point where it can, and oftentimes does, become addictive?

For me, there's a couple of reasons:

The most basic reason, to be perfectly candid, is that I'm a shameless showoff. Go and read what GreyGhost has written in his signature line. It's brilliant; and accurate! There's no better feeling than when you pocket a three rail kick shot or razor cut a frozen ball 90 degrees off a cushion, or spin around an interfering ball to pot yours, or that perfect, aggressive jump shot that gets you out of a jam, or putting your opponent in federal penitentiary with a perfect safety. You get the idea... When your stuff is working, it's a beautiful thing.

But how many times can you shoot these shots (or attempt them) before it all gets to be boring?

Well, that's the beauty and addictive part, as far as I'm concerned. Every break creates a new puzzle to solve; a blank canvas to paint a masterpiece. You don't always create a masterpiece, but the opportunity is right there in front of you, every break, every game, every match.

It never gets boring.

I love pool.

Why are you addicted?

Best,
Brian kc
Click to expand...

No better way to sum it up Brian. A new rack means a new/different challenge everytime you play. God I love pool!
 
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