thanks Chris I appericate your opinion, I learned that from the school of hard knocks. Thats exactly what I thought.
when do you know you're in a bad game
- Thread starter Gmanpoke
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thanks Chris I appericate your opinion, I learned that from the school of hard knocks. Thats exactly what I thought.
A bad game can be good if cheap because as you said it makes you play your best and might bring you up a notch.Being hustled every notch you move up the hustler moves up to.IMO bad for ur mental game.
I watch the guy kick,i pay attention to the effort he puts into his safes and when there are 3 or 4 balls left and you miss does he seem to get out more or make the balls and position better than he does early in the game. 9ball is a harder game to hide speed because you do have to get out.One pocket I can stall around make 1 here 1 there let u make a couple and win without showing much.Alot can be told by safes if hes playing basic safes and you make a few do they get tougher and tougher.Also watch what he misses soes he miss the same shot the same distance from the pocket everytime,he may be shooting at a point to miss where he thinks you can make a few but cant get out from.
the problem with starting for $5 is you cant ever win anything, you sell your self out too cheap. I realize that not everyone has alot of $$$, but $5 wont cover the time.
I understand what you're saying but I think its really a matter of what an individual's motive is. Not everyone plays to make money. Take me for example. I don't ever have to gamble again. But the best players won't play unless there is money on the line. I want to get better and I believe I need to play better players. So, I gamble cheap with the better player and usually have the worst of it.
Steven
I would think 2 sessions would be enough. 3 or 4 sessions may end up being too costly. As far as gauging someone's speed how he or she handles the cue ball and presence at the table is always the best indication for me of how strong they play assuming they are not on the stall. Also don't forget about your gut instinct, that can go a long way in telling you if your in a bad game.
This thread reminds me of something that happened in my poolroom back in the 80's. I was talking to Joey Spaeth (RIP, Joey) and a local shortstop came up and joined the conversation. He told us that he played a guy the previous night on a barbox. They played sets, race to 7 for $200 a set. He tells Joey, "The guy had me stuck 3 sets and I was pretty sure I was in a trap, but I went ahead and lost 2 more sets, just to make sure"! We couldn't help but to laugh at the guy, the way he told it.
How do your know you're in a bad game?
10 ) When a 10 year old walks up and asks if you "wanna play some, mister?" , and she's a girl.
9) When the House man says " I'm sorry, but if you're playing Driller we need to collect for your half of the table time in advance"
8) When your best friend says "do you realize who you're playing?"
7) When you Google your opponent's name, and 347 pages of information pop up.
6) when you start watching bronco bull riding on the big screen Instead of you opponent breaking and runnnig out.
5) When you look at the railbirds and they're looking back at you, pointing and snickering.
4) When your knuckles start bleeding from the friction of reaching into your pocket.
3) Because you need to change positions after sitting for so long.
2) Because your opponent looks a like Yoda, kicks like God himself, and says "me get rucky" a lot.
1) When Eddie Wheat is holding your stake!
Chris
10 ) When a 10 year old walks up and asks if you "wanna play some, mister?" , and she's a girl.
9) When the House man says " I'm sorry, but if you're playing Driller we need to collect for your half of the table time in advance"
8) When your best friend says "do you realize who you're playing?"
7) When you Google your opponent's name, and 347 pages of information pop up.
6) when you start watching bronco bull riding on the big screen Instead of you opponent breaking and runnnig out.
5) When you look at the railbirds and they're looking back at you, pointing and snickering.
4) When your knuckles start bleeding from the friction of reaching into your pocket.
3) Because you need to change positions after sitting for so long.
2) Because your opponent looks a like Yoda, kicks like God himself, and says "me get rucky" a lot.
1) When Eddie Wheat is holding your stake!
Chris
Last edited:
master9baller
Banned
This is good stuff!
Steven, if you keep your hands in your pocket you don't have to worry. Most "suckers" get taken because of their own greed!
Thanks Jay. I appreciate your input. And, you're right, I really didn't have any business playing a stranger.
I do want to say, I don't approach matches like this from a perspective of trying to make money. I'm trying to get better. I believe I have to play better player to achieve my goals. I would be perfectly happy playing these better players for free but they won't play that way.
Steven
Steven,
I don't know your age and I guess it doesn't really matter unless you are really, really old or just in poor health. I get the impression that you are neither.
If you seldom win at gambling matches you are probably in a bad game most of the time.
It's great that you don't mind gambling with the better players. Neither do I but we both know we're going to get more than our share of being whipped on.
It definitely helps to play better players but to get better faster, you have to practice, take lessons, not just from gamblers but from people who play better than you do. I tell people to practice on the pool table by themselves, shooting the same shots over and over until you can make those shots in your sleep.
As to knowing whether you are in a bad game or not, sometimes it requires testing your opponent. If you threaten to quit them because you just can't beat them and their game then gets a little worse and you seem to be holding your own but still not winning, you are most likely in a bad game.
If you seem to lose the game more often than when your opponent simply runs out, you are also most likely in a bad game. Good gamblers have a way of allowing the lesser player to lose the games rather than for them to just run out and beat the players with their shooting.
If the other player is patronizing you with comments about when you make a good shot, he is probably trying to boost your morale to keep you playing. Gamblers if they have any really good will to share, share it best when they are winning. Maybe 10% of all of the gamblers in the world compliment you when you are winning , an occasional compliment when you are losing, just to keep your ego from deflating entirely.
For the most part, I think you can trust your instincts when you feel like you are in a bad game, unless your ego gets in the way of seeing the reality of what's actually happening. The old saying, "To thine own self, be true." is probably something that you really have to take to heart because if you can't be honest with yourself, you can't trust yourself to know if you're in a bad game.
Keep playing the good players (especially for cheap stakes as they will appreciate the action and will realize that you aren't actually trying to get their cheese) but in addition, get some pool lessons and practice, practice, practice.
Good luck.
Cant hustle an honest man
i completely agree. you beat someone 8 ahead once then play again and you only win 4 games playing 6 ahead theres no room for adjustment. especially if the other person think its a good move to change locations.
I know I'm in a bad game when I keep reaching in my pocket! :grin: