Making your opponents shoot every shot or concede out of respect?

Shermanscs

Shermanscs

Steve sherman
Silver Member
I posted this in the thread congratulating Earl for winning the Ginky 10-ball memorial. For those who didnt see it, it was a hill/hill match & with 4 simple balls to runout, Kiamco was playing great. He has to just sink the 9 in the side (which he is straight in on), then roll up for the 10 in the corner to send him into the finals. He sinks the 9, then in rolling up, follows the cue ball into the side pocket,scratching!

Interesting example of why you should make everyone shoot every shot. Before Kiamco scratched, I was thinking Earl should have conceded the game (even as early as when Kiamco had about 4 balls left and it looked like simple connect the dots). Even the pros can miss em'. Interesting question about showing respect to a skilled opponent vs. making every opponent shoot every shot.

Thoughts?

Steve
 
I HATE concessions and think they should be punished with public flogging. With a flaming whip.

You dont see a linebacker step aside for a running back because he is only an inch from the goal line. I understand some think its an act of respect but I have seen way too many miscues, chokes and other things happen.

Make the guy beat you. Dont give them anything.

Incase I wasnt clear in the beginning I do not care for concessions.
 
JCIN said:
You dont see a linebacker step aside for a running back because he is only an inch from the goal line. I understand some think its an act of respect but I have seen way too many miscues, chokes and other things happen.
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While I agree for the most part, I think the football analogy you make isn't fully accurate. I think it's more fitting to think of concessions through a different phenomenon in football. A linebacker will attempt to "track down" a kick returner, but after a kick returner has passed said linebacker, and if the returner has passed all the defenders on the field and becomes the closest player to his enzone, you'll see the linebacker go from a full out sprint to a slow jog towards said enzone. The linebacker hasn't given up, he simply is fully aware that he has become a non-factor in the play due to his lack of control over the play (since the returner is simply faster than he is). Now yes, it is possible that the returner will trip, stumble, and slow down - in which case the linebacker would be able to make a play - but he slows down nonetheless.

While I agree with the basic premise that it is never a good idea to simply give up in a game of pool, I sympathize with a professional player who, in a match with another professional player, has the capacity to realize while I haven't been beat yet, this guy I'm playing is both in control of the game, and will beat me.

Again, I'm mostly playing devil's advocate, and I would never personally concede a match, but I can understand the impulse to get up out of your seat when you're playing a game of straight pool to 100, and ralf soquet has three balls left. Shaking his hand before the end, looking him in the eye, and saying "you won", I think, is one of the ways that professional players publicly recognize the victor in a match, and publicly say you beat me, through and through, and I respect you enough to give you victory now.
 
I actually think conceding shots/games is a form of sharking.
If I'm in-stroke or getting in-stroke, then I want to shoot all the balls to maintain my rhythm and stay in the zone. When someone wipes the balls off the table when I'm trying to shoot them in, I think it's very disrespectful.
 
I will not concede to anyone. They must shoot everything because you can never know (scratch, misscue or just plain miss). It has nothing to do with respect.
 
No shot is ever 100%. Making someone shoot a shot isn't disrespectful, its smart strategy. I think interrupting them before the last shot is more disrespectful.
 
I think the game would be elevated in terms of professionalism if players had to sink every ball. It is hard to explain to friends who play but are not die hard fans why someone doesn`t have to shoot in the last ball or the last two.
And what was up with Dechaine quitting with 8 or 9 balls left on the table?
 
In my world,I make them shoot every shot, cuz you never know. I've seen some crazy misses...

I was thinking about this, watching the stream yesterday. And then, whaddayaknow, it happens...:eek:

Definitely. Make'em shoot it.
 
When I play with a friend of mine we concede a lot of games when we get down to the nine (sometimes the eight) just to save time, but if I was playing competitively then I'd make them pot the ball. I've heard arguments that it can stop people getting in stroke, but I don't know how much I buy that. I'd rather give someone the chance to miss.
 
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I'd rather agree in the beginning of the match to just shoot all shots. This takes away the respect, whatever aspect. I've seen lots of people miss shots that I'd take a loan out to bet on them making... myself included.
I always thank anyone who gives me the last ball or two, etc. In the past few years of getting marginally better at the game, I've learned that there's not a shot on the table that I can't screw up.
 
I sometimes concede ball's, but Iplayed a tournament sunday night , my opponent had the 9-ball dead in the hole table length just touch it and it falls shot, and missed it. Didn't roll off, just flat out missed it. By the way that put me on the hill, I had to 4 before he 3 beat him 4-2.
 
If I'm gambling with someone, I'll make them shoot the bih spot shot on the 9 if I make the 9 and scratch.

If I'm just hitting balls with a buddy, we'll often concede the 9.
 
There are no concessions in professional golf. You must putt out. I don't think pool should be any different.
There are any number of things than can go wrong with even the easiest of shots. A heart attack in mid-stroke, for instance. A jealous husband tapping you on the back, just as you shoot. A wife with four kids standing at the front dood of the pool room screaming, "I need money for food!" Shit like that. :smile:
 
SakuJack said:
When I play with a friend of mine we concede a lot of games when we get down to the nine (sometimes the eight) just to save time ...
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If you're just playing with a friend, then I'd say it's most important to shoot all the shots. Don't you want to learn how to make the nine? Even with simple shots you can work on playing perfect position. Here's a hint: play position when pocketing the last ball.

Around here, many tournaments will charge a 1-game penalty for a concession. I think that's a good idea.
 
My brothers and his buddies do this all the time in golf, they are scratch players and I'm a 6 or so. They give 4 foot putts what seems like all day long.....then make you make 'em when it counts. 4'ers given, really!

I tell them to back off and putt anyways because it keeps me in practice of making them.

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Same in pool, make 'em shoot them all, everyone can and does sometimes miss.

Although, if your opponent was on the hill with an easy:rolleyes: 9 left, and you were 5 games back, I'd still make him shoot it.

Earl missed that 10 in the side against Landon in Tunica and it could have been a big game for Earl if he was still at the table.......who knows, but Landon took the momentum and ran with it :smile:

I also agree that swiping several balls with your stick while conceding a game mid match is disrespectful and could be construed as sharking:cool:

Great point about playing position when playing the last ball Bob.

But since I'm a nobody I'll stop sucking up bandwidth with coffee fresh in my system.
 
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sometimes

Tramp Steamer said:
There are no concessions in professional golf. You must putt out. I don't think pool should be any different.
There are any number of things than can go wrong with even the easiest of shots. A heart attack in mid-stroke, for instance. A jealous husband tapping you on the back, just as you shoot. A wife with four kids standing at the front dood of the pool room screaming, "I need money for food!" Shit like that. :smile:
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In stoke play when you are against the whole field there are no concessions, but in match play, one on one, there are concessions. With that being said I think every shot should be taken.

On another note. I bought a guy in a calcutta, bar table 8 ball. In one of the games of the final matches he conceded after the guy broke the balls. Pissed me off.
 
In competition I always prefer that the game be completely played out, but if you want to give one to me I wont stop you!
 
robsnotes4u said:
In stoke play when you are against the whole field there are no concessions, but in match play, one on one, there are concessions. With that being said I think every shot should be taken.

On another note. I bought a guy in a calcutta, bar table 8 ball. In one of the games of the final matches he conceded after the guy broke the balls. Pissed me off.
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Yes, Rob. I am aware that holes are conceded in match play golf. I used to pay to a 3.25 handicap myself. It was merely a segway into a damn funny joke line. :smile:
 
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