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Question for those of you who only play when gambling....
- Thread starter vapoolplayer
- Start date
I don't gamble, but I think I have an explanation as to why they don't "practice". For me, it is easy to get warmed up. I can start playing games right when I walk in, or after sitting for a bit. After a while of playing, I do get tired and lose focus.
When I go to practice, I do so for hours. If I were to play a game after hours of practice, I would shoot horribly.
When I go to practice, I do so for hours. If I were to play a game after hours of practice, I would shoot horribly.
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I have heard many people say that they play better when they are off pool for few hours to a day or even a week.
In one hand it make sense your focus level will be higher, but the stroke which is in my opinion at times secondary suffers a little as well as positioning; like i have been saying for awhile, pool has lots of advance knowledge (secrets) only those that has been there know it; and since the low level player often not consistent, and do not really know why, however, i bet that they notice that they make balls better when they are cold, therefore, that one reason will keep them away from the table until they realize the sad truth. Unfortunately they will never know the real secrets until they get to that high level, sadly i have been there for 20 years, finally i woke up, and now love it when my opponent take a bathroom or smoke break!!!
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I've never been in a tournament. The longest match I've ever played was a race to 12 high stakes. For that match, the money kept me going. It's more of a mental thing after a while, I think that if i even give a thought to how tired my body is feeling, my game would go downhill.
I'm not sure if I've answered your question. I just don't like to play for any reason after practicing.
I'm not sure if I've answered your question. I just don't like to play for any reason after practicing.
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My point is one have to always keep them hands moving when possible, before a match, during the match, during breaks..cannot do anything about it when your opponent is at the table!!
I believe some pool players may be able to learn different facets of pool-shooting strategies and shots by observing while sitting on the rail.
Some players enjoy a little competition when playing, whether it is high-stakes gambing or playing for the time. It is just a little extra incentive, I guess.
I learned a great deal from watching others play when I was actively shooting pool on the leagues.
Me personally, I could sit all night in a pool room, as you know, David, and watch a one-pocket match between two players. Time flies by and before you know it, it's daybreak. Man, is that drive home brutal, though.
I grew up playing bar-table pool in a one-pool-table tavern, and we'd play for a beer. Back then, beer was about a buck and the cost to play a game was 25 cents. We had our regulars of pool people in this bar. We would sweat each game, scrutinize the shot selection. It was great fun sitting on the sidelines analyzing what we would've or should've. It wasn't so much the cost of the beer or the game that made the triumph so sweet, though. It was defeating so-and-so for that almighty win! :grin-square:
Maybe Charlie Sheen was on to something with his "winning." :wink:
Some players enjoy a little competition when playing, whether it is high-stakes gambing or playing for the time. It is just a little extra incentive, I guess.
I learned a great deal from watching others play when I was actively shooting pool on the leagues.
Me personally, I could sit all night in a pool room, as you know, David, and watch a one-pocket match between two players. Time flies by and before you know it, it's daybreak. Man, is that drive home brutal, though.
I grew up playing bar-table pool in a one-pool-table tavern, and we'd play for a beer. Back then, beer was about a buck and the cost to play a game was 25 cents. We had our regulars of pool people in this bar. We would sweat each game, scrutinize the shot selection. It was great fun sitting on the sidelines analyzing what we would've or should've. It wasn't so much the cost of the beer or the game that made the triumph so sweet, though. It was defeating so-and-so for that almighty win! :grin-square:
Maybe Charlie Sheen was on to something with his "winning." :wink:
I believe some pool players may be able to learn different facets of pool-shooting strategies and shots by observing while sitting on the rail.
Some players enjoy a little competition when playing, whether it is high-stakes gambing or playing for the time. It is just a little extra incentive, I guess.
I learned a great deal from watching others play when I was actively shooting pool on the leagues.
Me personally, I could sit all night in a pool room, as you know, David, and watch a one-pocket match between two players. Time flies by and before you know it, it's daybreak. Man, is that drive home brutal, though.
I grew up playing bar-table pool in a one-pool-table tavern, and we'd play for a beer. Back then, beer was about a buck and the cost to play a game was 25 cents. We had our regulars of pool people in this bar. We would sweat each game, scrutinize the shot selection. It was great fun sitting on the sidelines analyzing what we would've or should've. It wasn't so much the cost of the beer or the game that made the triumph so sweet, though. It was defeating so-and-so for that almighty win! :grin-square:
Maybe Charlie Sheen was on to something with his "winning." :wink:
I hear you JAM, when i do not have action, i love to watch one pocket matches; at times i wish i have fast forward way with some slow players, or players that tend to play balls up table often. When i was free (not married) i wished pool rooms had motels above them, when tired just go upstairs, when you wake up go downstairs...
True dat! Some slow-play players take the fun out of one-hole. Two Virginia natives, the Boggs brothers, were at one time some of the best action pool players in the D.C. area. Scotty, the younger of the two, was more into 9-ball, but Freddy was the one-pocket player.
The late Weenie Beenie (Bill Staton) is another famous native of our area. He owned Jack and Jill's pool room, near Seven Corners, one of the biggest action spots on the East Coast in the '60s and '70s. Weenie Beenie was heralded as a "classy player," but one who would bet it up as high as the Georgia pine. He had very deep pockets. :wink:
Weenie Beenie eventually went on to other passions, enjoying country club settings and golf in particular. The man could play all games, it would seem, but pool never left his heart. In the '80s, the pool grapevine said Freddy Boggs was going to play the famous Weenie Beenie for $500 a game, one-pocket at the old Champions in Glebe Road. The famous Weenie Beenie was stepping out to make a cameo appearance in the pool world! Even though there was no social media and cell phones, the pool grapevine had a way of spreading the news. :grin-square:
By nighttime, it was standing room only at Champions. Everybody wanted to catch a glimpse of Weenie Beenie playing Freddy, hoping to see some big stakes action. Who would take it down?!
Now, Freddy is a fine pool player, but he's as slow as Kid Delicious, Ralf Souquet, or Nick Varner when it came to analyzing the table between shots. After 30 minutes into the first game, Weenie Beenie couldn't contain himself and said he couldn't take this slow play anymore. He lost one game and unscrewed his cue, much to the disappointment of us railbirds.
Geese was in the house, though, as was the action-ready Bobby Hawk. They negotiated a game, with Geese playing every shot one-handed and Bobby Hawk playing with his two hands, with Bobby spotting Geese. Big mistake for Bobby Hawk. $500 later, Geese drove away in that white Granada of his, into the sunrise, smiling from ear to ear. Ka-ching! :smilewinkgrin:
Action players don't make good railbirds. They usually find a way to get down. :grin-angelic:
I think for some people they only want to play when they're really focused (so they don't get lazy and sloppy and get into bad habits). ...And for some people they need some extra incentive (such as the risk of losing money) in order to find that focus, hence the reluctance to play when not gambling.
For me I can understand that, and I know that I play my best pool when there's something riding on the outcome (even if it's a beer).
On the other hand I enjoy playing with my girlfriend or with friends who are weaker than me, simply for the social aspect of the game.
For me I can understand that, and I know that I play my best pool when there's something riding on the outcome (even if it's a beer).
On the other hand I enjoy playing with my girlfriend or with friends who are weaker than me, simply for the social aspect of the game.
True dat! Some slow-play players take the fun out of one-hole. Two Virginia natives, the Boggs brothers, were at one time some of the best action pool players in the D.C. area. Scotty, the younger of the two, was more into 9-ball, but Freddy was the one-pocket player.
The late Weenie Beenie (Bill Staton) is another famous native of our area. He owned Jack and Jill's pool room, near Seven Corners, one of the biggest action spots on the East Coast in the '60s and '70s. Weenie Beenie was heralded as a "classy player," but one who would bet it up as high as the Georgia pine. He had very deep pockets. :wink:
Weenie Beenie eventually went on to other passions, enjoying country club settings and golf in particular. The man could play all games, it would seem, but pool never left his heart. In the '80s, the pool grapevine said Freddy Boggs was going to play the famous Weenie Beenie for $500 a game, one-pocket at the old Champions in Glebe Road. The famous Weenie Beenie was stepping out to make a cameo appearance in the pool world! Even though there was no social media and cell phones, the pool grapevine had a way of spreading the news. :grin-square:
By nighttime, it was standing room only at Champions. Everybody wanted to catch a glimpse of Weenie Beenie playing Freddy, hoping to see some big stakes action. Who would take it down?!
Now, Freddy is a fine pool player, but he's as slow as Kid Delicious, Ralf Souquet, or Nick Varner when it came to analyzing the table between shots. After 30 minutes into the first game, Weenie Beenie couldn't contain himself and said he couldn't take this slow play anymore. He lost one game and unscrewed his cue, much to the disappointment of us railbirds.
Geese was in the house, though, as was the action-ready Bobby Hawk. They negotiated a game, with Geese playing every shot one-handed and Bobby Hawk playing with his two hands, with Bobby spotting Geese. Big mistake for Bobby Hawk. $500 later, Geese drove away in that white Granada of his, into the sunrise, smiling from ear to ear. Ka-ching! :smilewinkgrin:
Action players don't make good railbirds. They usually find a way to get down. :grin-angelic:
MAN! old Champions in Glebe Road, 1981 to 1986 and then from 89 til they closed, lived few blocks away at the time, used to play late at nights when the owner, the (retired cop was house man, forgot his name), Lacy, and Beasely running it! at my time, there was a great one handed shooter, actually he has only one hand, used to work in the parts store next door, forgot his name; that guy would actually do a full table draw shot one handed!! unbelievable..
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Wow! You know, Geese could draw his rock one-handed the length of the table, as well. I wonder if he picked that up from that old Champions.
I remember that cop shop next door that sold police-related stuff. How weird! Those who liked to indulge in the parking lot would usually drive off to enjoy their "substances," for lack of a better term. :wink:
I sure do remember some fun times in that pool room during the graveyard shift with Seattle Sam working. :grin:
Whoever came up with that saying "Money won is sweeter than money earned" got it right. Today, some action players are looking for somebody to drop their wallet. They don't want to gamble. It's more about the finesse of handicapping to find the perfect "lock." Players like Grady Mathews, Harry Platis, Keith McCready, Jose Parica, Santos, Ronnie Wiseman, Richie Rich, just a few who come to mind at the time of this wrtiing, they just want to play pool and get down. A sure-thing lock is always a great way to pocket some money, but it ain't as fun as gambling between two great players, battling it out on the field of green. That's what holds my interest in a pool room, sitting on the rail.
Seattle Sam on the left and John Henry, another action player, on the right. You don't find this kind of action anymore 'round our way, but that may soon be changing.
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![seattlesamjamjohnhenry[1].JPG](/data/attachments/198/198354-289265682f2b5fbea41bebc02af4f610.jpg?hash=KJJlaC8rX7)
Nice story Jam, thanks.
.
A good friend of mine is a player who very rarely practices or plays at all unless he is in action. He has been this way for so long, his eight ball game is noticeably weaker than his nine ball game.
For him, its simple. Action is the reason he gets up in the morning.
He has more natural talent than anyone I have ever seen. When in stroke, he is literally out from anywhere, just flat out amazing. But, to get in the zone, there HAS to be cash on the line. Anything else is like kissing your sister.
.
A good friend of mine is a player who very rarely practices or plays at all unless he is in action. He has been this way for so long, his eight ball game is noticeably weaker than his nine ball game.
For him, its simple. Action is the reason he gets up in the morning.
He has more natural talent than anyone I have ever seen. When in stroke, he is literally out from anywhere, just flat out amazing. But, to get in the zone, there HAS to be cash on the line. Anything else is like kissing your sister.
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Nice story Jam, thanks.
.
A good friend of mine is a player who very rarely practices or plays at all unless he is in action. He has been this way for so long, his eight ball game is noticeably weaker than his nine ball game.
For him, its simple. Action is the reason he gets up in the morning.
He has more natural talent than anyone I have ever seen. When in stroke, he is literally out from anywhere, just flat out amazing. But, to get in the zone, there HAS to be cash on the line. Anything else is like kissing your sister.
LOL! :grin: Gosh, and I used to be just the opposite. I could run out from anywhere playing for a buck, a brewskie, or funsies, but when it came to gambling, like a C-note per game, I folded like a lawn chair. I just couldn't take the pressure, I guess.
Not having picked up a cue in 20 years, it was not so long ago that Mike Davis spotted me the 2 and out and the breaks -- yeah, that's right, the 2 and out -- in Laurel, Maryland. Keith was sitting on the rail licking his chops, thinking this was easy pickins', $5 a game, a little something to sweat with me on the table.
My very first shot, the break, I tried to hit the rack with all my might and missed the cueball. Do you know how embarrassing that is? :embarrassed2:
The rest of the games went about like that. I donated $50 to watch Mike Davis run out. It only hurt a little bit. :grin:
Wow! You know, Geese could draw his rock one-handed the length of the table, as well. I wonder if he picked that up from that old Champions.
I remember that cop shop next door that sold police-related stuff. How weird! Those who liked to indulge in the parking lot would usually drive off to enjoy their "substances," for lack of a better term. :wink:
I sure do remember some fun times in that pool room during the graveyard shift with Seattle Sam working. :grin:
Whoever came up with that saying "Money won is sweeter than money earned" got it right. Today, some action players are looking for somebody to drop their wallet. They don't want to gamble. It's more about the finesse of handicapping to find the perfect "lock." Players like Grady Mathews, Harry Platis, Keith McCready, Jose Parica, Santos, Ronnie Wiseman, Richie Rich, just a few who come to mind at the time of this wrtiing, they just want to play pool and get down. A sure-thing lock is always a great way to pocket some money, but it ain't as fun as gambling between two great players, battling it out on the field of green. That's what holds my interest in a pool room, sitting on the rail.
Seattle Sam on the left and John Henry, another action player, on the right. You don't find this kind of action anymore 'round our way, but that may soon be changing.
Wow! i find it fascinating, you are probably the only woman that was around those old days? There was a Sam, used to play at Champion in Rockville, Maryland, great one pocket action player, Buck used to have few action there too..and the KENO board in the back!!
Much to my chagrin today, there was a time when I played pool well. My game became strong after I went on the road with Geese, especially the first road trip up and down the East Coast. I sat back and watched all the action, but I learned a few things from sweating these high-stake games.
When I returned home to my one-pool-room tavern, I cleaned up. I'm telling you that my game improved that much. The regulars at the bar, who didn't play pool, suddenly noticed me and would turn around in their bar stools to watch me play. It was kind of exciting. Playing on the 9-foot tables when we were on the road and then returning to this bar box, I looked like a pro, making the 8 on the break, running out the table, holding the table for an hour or two. Man, that was fun!
RIP to one of pool's unsung legends, the Geese. He was, without a doubt, an action man. :angel2:
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Jam
Hey Thanks for the picture of Seattle Sam and John Henrey, great guys and great players! I never saw John turn down a game, I miss those days.
I know lots of players that dont want to pay table time? They want a chance to play for free or win something to pay the time with..., if they lose, the winner pays the time anyway!
Hey Thanks for the picture of Seattle Sam and John Henrey, great guys and great players! I never saw John turn down a game, I miss those days.
I know lots of players that dont want to pay table time? They want a chance to play for free or win something to pay the time with..., if they lose, the winner pays the time anyway!