What are the characteristics that distinguish a “banger” from a “real” pool player?

I would classify a banger a very weak player. Generally those that show up to a pool hall, hit balls around and get excited when they string 2 balls in a row together. Those who lack the knowledge, skills and generally the experience on a pool table. They usually have poor fundamentals as well.
 
a banger in its most subjective view may be a person who is perceived to have inferior skills to the person making the comment.
 
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When I read the word, I picture someone who points the cue in the general direction of balls and hits as hard as possible. If something goes in, it constitutes a good shot... And nothing is learned or planned in the course of playing.
 
Someone who in 9 Ball doesn't play shape on the next ball, or in 8 ball has no idea which ball he is going to shoot next until the cueball stops rolling
Also someone that just loves to draw the ball when a little follow would do the trick.---Smitty
 
Slim Limpy said:
Matthew Sherman, About.com Guide
Definition: Bangers is one of a number of derogatory terms better pool players use to remark on their neophyte colleagues. A new player can only "bang the balls around" rather than find the pocket consistently.


Ok, I rarely start new threads myself; rather, I prefer to make my little sometimes (what I hope will be considered) witty commentary on threads already started and developed by others. However, every now and then I get intrigued by something that I can’t really find out about by using the search function on AZB or by Googling it.

Such is the case with this one.

Because the word “banger” is used so regularly within AZ threads, trying to search out a thread defining the word “banger” could easily be 34 pages down the list. But during my last 3 years of reading AZ Forums, I can’t recall a thread dealing directly with this topic. One thread in the recent past was zapped by the Mods about “bangers” but I couldn’t tell what that thread was really about, since posters only referred to it as a thread that was zapped by the Mods for one reason or another.

Over the last 3 years or so, I have read the word “banger” used in ways that imply the word has many different definitions to many different people. As a result of starting playing pool in middle age for the first time, while I doubt if many would consider me a “banger” anymore, I’m not that distant timewise from being looked on as a “banger”.


There seems to be two different schools here in terms of defining a “banger” on AZ. One is that some use the word to classify a players technical ability to pocket balls as Matthew Sherman’s definition refers to and the other seems to be those who imply a “banger” might be someone who lacks the attitude, perspective, or respect of the game that they would prefer those “bangers” to have or acquire.

If it’s based on the ability to pocket balls, does that mean the player with permanent physical disabilities or diminished skills due to age is also a banger?

What about the player who has been away from the game for 30 years and returns to occasional past-time play? Is he or she a “banger” until they improve enough or somehow show enough of a serious renewed commitment to the game to again separate themselves for the “banger” category?

Can a good player with a lot of natural talent (stroke and mechanics) who never practices or even really cares about the game but can still get a good run going occasionally still be labeled a “banger”?

Or, as it appears to me to be with some AZ’ers, is someone a “banger” because that type of person just plain doesn’t perceive and play the game the way you prefer it to be perceived and played? They don’t practice with purpose, they don’t have the proper competitive drive or pool doesn’t have the proper elevated importance in their lives that it should have.

Is someone who loves the game, respects its tradition, plays with sportsmanship and integrity, puts in the table time, does all the right things to improve their game, but still plays at a very mediocre level rarely stringing more that 3 balls or so on a nine-footer because of poor stroke, mechanics, or aim still be considered a banger?

So if you believe that someone can be classified as a “banger” for whatever reason, then what does it take for someone to be classified as a “real” pool player and what in fact distinguishes the one from the other?
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Don't take this the wrong way but chances are from how you're talking you're probably considered a banger.

getting a good run together doens't matter. the game isn't about running easy balls. until you really know what you're doing and can do it you're a banger.

if you can't run out an open rack (no clusters or problems but requires cb control not just making balls) you're a banger
 
Hector3cushion said:
a banger in its most subjective view may be a person who is perceived to have inferior skills to the person making the comment.
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the real pool players on here refer to people they view as inferior to them as nits.

they use the term banger to describe any apa player.
 
if you're a typical apa player, play ever week and don't get better, you're probably a banger.

if someone tells you to go 3 rails with inside and you don't know what he means you're probably a banger.

if you can't pick out the simplest pattern you're probably a banger
 
The term banger has taken many forms to describe casual, drunk or rude players.

But at the core it's a guy who essentially has no, nor gives any thought to, cue ball control.
 
As you can tell by my profile caption that im a Professional Banger. Not to be confused with the average banger. My friends think I play like a pro and the pros think I play like a banger. So.... Im a Professional Banger :thumbup2: :lol:
 
I always thought a banger was someone who had better luck with the ladies than I ever had :rolleyes: :embarrassed2:.

Maniac
 
A banger is someone who doesn't know there's more to playing pool than just shooting the easiest shot every time.
 
DallasHopps said:
When I read the word, I picture someone who points the cue in the general direction of balls and hits as hard as possible. If something goes in, it constitutes a good shot... And nothing is learned or planned in the course of playing.
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Harold Smith said:
Someone who in 9 Ball doesn't play shape on the next ball, or in 8 ball has no idea which ball he is going to shoot next until the cueball stops rolling
Also someone that just loves to draw the ball when a little follow would do the trick.---Smitty
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Both of these are my impression of the word. If I see a beginner with a Byrne book and loose leaf reinforcements working on drills, I wouldn't belittle his effort by calling him a banger.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
if you're a typical apa player, play ever week and don't get better, you're probably a banger.

if someone tells you to go 3 rails with inside and you don't know what he means you're probably a banger.

if you can't pick out the simplest pattern you're probably a banger
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I agree with these points. I also think the term banger isn't applied automatically to a weak player, as someone who comes back from 25 years away from the table but has the knowledge and desire to improve will still probably be a weak player at that point in time. Getting your stroke back into shape and yours eyes used to aiming properly again doesn't mean you are a banger while you are reacquiring your skills.

I personally think the term banger comes from someone who doesn't understand the benefits and also the beauty of hitting a ball in at pocket speed. A lot of amateurs that stay amateurs will still say to me that they aim better when they hit the balls hard, and hey ... maybe it will go 3 rails and go in somewhere else.

That, in my opinion, is a banger.
 
This thread reminds me of one a few years ago where someone asked, "what's a shortstop"? On a recent thread on AZ, someone called me a "banger". I'm starting to take this personal :thud:!

I'm a Shortstop Banger! Perhaps my new signature?

Lyn
 
A few of you guys are confusing weak players with bangers, imo. Someone who can't run an open table without clusters is not automatically a banger. Hell, I've been playing for 15 years, and I can't do that reliably. Someone who doesn't know what going 3 rails means is not automatically a banger.

The general "player" ratings are this:

D
C
B
A
Shortstop/Open
Pro

A banger is not even on the scale.

A "banger", imo, is someone who comes in casually to a pool hall with a group of friends or a date just to bang balls around. They have no concept of cue ball control, pattern selection, or game strategy. They don't even know these ideas exist. They might have heard of english, but think it means if you put right spin on the CB, the CB will go to the right after hitting the OB. They also play by crazy rules that they heard about from their banger friends, such as if the CB lands on the rail, you can move it a distance equal to the butt of your cue.

A "D" player is someone who is just starting to get the pool bug. He graduates from coming in with his buddies, and actually tries to learn the game. He still stinks, but he is trying to learn how to control the cue ball. He doesn't know many shots, and when he sees an advanced shot, he won't know how it was hit. He will generally try to be competitive, in either weekly $5 tournaments, cheap gambling, or league play.

To summarize, a "banger" is someone who has absolutely no desire to learn the game, and literally just comes in to bang the balls around the table. A "D" player is the lowest level player that legitimately is trying to be competitive and learn the game.
 
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