What I learned playing a banger.

inside_english

inside_english

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
What I learned playing a beginner.

I was in the room on Friday night practicing a little straight pool. The table next to me had three players. One older gentleman and two younger men. They were playing eight ball.

It was APA night at the room, and the house was full, but there was no one for me to play. So, I asked the guys on the table next to me if they would like to play me a game of eight ball while they waited for their turn on their own table (they were playing winner-stay-on).

The older gentleman began playing me. I would give him an APA 3 ranking at best, but I was a little bored and I do prefer playing against an actual human as opposed to banging balls around on my own.

He was a very nice man. Very humble, asked a few questions, and seemed quite receptive to my answers / advice and so on.

He seemed quite impressed with some of my shots, which I found to be a little amusing...because they were what most of us would consider routine. He was very impressed with the 2 or 3 racks I broke and ran. They (beginners) don't usually take into account the layout of the table or pattern play...they just see their opponent sinking every ball and shake their heads in amazement.

But...finally...my lesson learned...or my point...is that I had a good time playing this guy. I enjoyed giving him advice, answering questions about rules, etc.

I did not seek to humiliate him in front of his son or his son's friend...it was all very casual and sociable.

Sometimes playing a beginner can be good for your ego or confidence, because their perception of your game...while slightly skewed due to their lack of experience...will still serve as a reminder that you are indeed a good player.

Too many times we spend so much time beating ourselves up for missing shots, losing matches, money etc. that we frequently forget that we DO know how to play this game, and we play it well.

The shots, methods, fundamentals we have come to take for granted seem hopelessly out of reach for some beginners, and playing them once in a while, reminds us of this.

So...did I play great pool on Friday night? No.
Did I meet someone new? Yes.
Did I share some knowledge and possibly have a positive influence on someone else in the pool world? I hope so.
Did I have a good time? Definitely.

Thanks for reading.
 
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Great thing you did by answering his questions and helping him out
a little.When I was a kid coming up in my game I couldn't get anyboby
to show me anything.Now,I try to help anybody I can at the tables.
It's funny but now I can give those guys the 7 and beat the brakes
of them!It's great how things work out in the long run.Keep playing
those "bangers",because you will get rewarded in the long run.;)
 
ie:

Yes, nice post, indeed.

There definitely are rewards for playing lower skill level players. Just as you said, being able to help someone with their game can prove very satisfying. And even moreso, when playing with people who, like your opponent, are not only receptive, but also are very nice guys.

Thanks for sharing.

Best,
Brian kc
 
Sounds like you had too much fun...you will be a league player before you know it! :)
 
An interesting side effect is I often play better after I've been helping out a weaker player. I actually do all the things I'm telling them they should be doing for a change. ;)
 
Great post! You can definitely benefit from helping and guiding a weaker player. I'd say most players on here knows what the proper way to run a table is, but not everyone applies their knowledge to their actual playing. By guiding someone through racks it really helps reaffirm what we know and how to apply it to an actual rack.
 
inside_english said:
I was in the room on Friday night practicing a little straight pool. The table next to me had three players. One older gentleman and two younger men. They were playing eight ball.

It was APA night at the room, and the house was full, but there was no one for me to play. So, I asked the guys on the table next to me if they would like to play me a game of eight ball while they waited for their turn on their own table (they were playing winner-stay-on).

The older gentleman began playing me. I would give him an APA 3 ranking at best, but I was a little bored and I do prefer playing against an actual human as opposed to banging balls around on my own.

He was a very nice man. Very humble, asked a few questions, and seemed quite receptive to my answers / advice and so on.

He seemed quite impressed with some of my shots, which I found to be a little amusing...because they were what most us would consider routine. He was very impressed with the 2 or 3 racks I broke and ran. They (bangers) don't usually take into account the layout of the table or pattern play...they just see their opponent sinking every ball and shake their heads in amazement.

But...finally...my lesson learned...or my point...is that I had a good time playing this guy. I enjoyed giving him advice, answering questions about rules, etc.

I did not seek to humiliate him in front of his son or his son's friend...it was all very casual and sociable.

Sometimes playing a banger can be good for your ego or confidence, because their perception of your game...while slightly skewed due to their lack of experience...will still serve as a reminder that you are indeed a good player.

Too many times we spend so much time beating ourselves up for missing shots, losing matches, money etc. that we frequently forget that we DO know how to play this game, and we play it well.

The shots, methods, fundamentals we have come to take for granted seem hopelessly out of reach for some bangers, and playing them once in a while, reminds us of this.

So...did I play great pool on Friday night? No.
Did I meet someone new? Yes.
Did I share some knowledge and possibly have a positive influence on someone else in the pool world? I hope so.
Did I have a good time? Definitely.

Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...



This is great post, and I think that you found something out that many could benefit from, my hat is off too you.

Oh and by the way, I only thing I would change in your entire post is the title. I would not use the word Banger because at least in my opinion the word doesn't not fit with everything else you have written. I would substitute the word beginning play for banger.

Great post thanks for sharing your experience.
 
manwon said:
This is great post, and I think that you found something out that many could benefit from, my hat is off too you.

Oh and by the way, I only thing I would change in your entire post is the title. I would not use the word Banger because at least in my opinion the word doesn't not fit with everything else you have written. I would substitute the word beginning play for banger.

Great post thanks for sharing your experience.
Click to expand...

+1 on this point.

There is a negative connotation to the word "banger" as someone who not only lacks skills but also whacks at the balls.

The gentleman described by the op definitely sounded much more like a beginner who appreciated the kind advice.

Best,
Brian kc
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
+1 on this point.

There is a negative connotation to the word "banger" as someone who not only lacks skills but also whacks at the balls.

The gentleman described by the op definitely sounded much more like a beginner who appreciated the kind advice.

Best,
Brian kc
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip...post and title edited as requested.
 
Cuaba said:
Great post!

Playing weaker players who want to learn is one of the best ways we can all promote the game.
Click to expand...

That is very true. A couple games with some advices and teaching for players who can pocket balls well but have poor knowledge on position play can take their games to the next level. On top of that while these games may not be important for the better player, it can become a lifetime experience for the beginner player. I sure still remember the few guys that I played with and exactly the things they taught me.
 
ahhhhh very nice

inside_english said:
I was in the room on Friday night practicing a little straight pool. The table next to me had three players. One older gentleman and two younger men. They were playing eight ball.

It was APA night at the room, and the house was full, but there was no one for me to play. So, I asked the guys on the table next to me if they would like to play me a game of eight ball while they waited for their turn on their own table (they were playing winner-stay-on).

The older gentleman began playing me. I would give him an APA 3 ranking at best, but I was a little bored and I do prefer playing against an actual human as opposed to banging balls around on my own.

He was a very nice man. Very humble, asked a few questions, and seemed quite receptive to my answers / advice and so on.

He seemed quite impressed with some of my shots, which I found to be a little amusing...because they were what most us would consider routine. He was very impressed with the 2 or 3 racks I broke and ran. They (beginners) don't usually take into account the layout of the table or pattern play...they just see their opponent sinking every ball and shake their heads in amazement.

But...finally...my lesson learned...or my point...is that I had a good time playing this guy. I enjoyed giving him advice, answering questions about rules, etc.

I did not seek to humiliate him in front of his son or his son's friend...it was all very casual and sociable.

Sometimes playing a beginner can be good for your ego or confidence, because their perception of your game...while slightly skewed due to their lack of experience...will still serve as a reminder that you are indeed a good player.

Too many times we spend so much time beating ourselves up for missing shots, losing matches, money etc. that we frequently forget that we DO know how to play this game, and we play it well.

The shots, methods, fundamentals we have come to take for granted seem hopelessly out of reach for some beginners, and playing them once in a while, reminds us of this.

So...did I play great pool on Friday night? No.
Did I meet someone new? Yes.
Did I share some knowledge and possibly have a positive influence on someone else in the pool world? I hope so.
Did I have a good time? Definitely.

Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...

That is what this sport is about :thumbup:
 
DONT PLAY WEAKER PLAYERS, they are a waste of your time, all you do is learn how to beat weaklings. You learn nothing from them, because they dont know nothing, if they did, they would be beating you.

You only get better, by playing those far better than you, and you learn to lose something fierce, and you do an obit and figure out how they are beating you, then you go to work and learn what they are doing.

Stop playing hew haw, that will ruin you. Learn to match up and play for something every time, or sit it out. Turn these losers lose, let them go. Only play for cash, or the table time, a beer, but make it something. Playing for money, steels your nerves.

If you want to play with losers in bars for nothing, just pick up broads with lots of tatoots. Their whole lives are one giant mistake.
 
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