How do you congratulate your opponent on a good shot?

[Andrew Manning]

I'll say "nice shot" if it's a safety, and I'll say "nice shot" or "nice out" after a rack is won, but in a competitive match I try not to say anything out loud during my opponent's turn. I don't like it when people say "nice shot" in the middle of my run, so I don't say it in the middle of theirs.

If they're looking toward me I'll tap my cue on the floor. If they're looking away (you can't hear a cue tap on the floor where I play) I'll snap my fingers.

-Andrew

 

[TSW]

IMO any unnecessary verbalization during your opponent's inning is a potential shark and should be avoided.

A short butt tap, however, is fine.

On a related note, I play 14.1 with a good friend and a relative beginner who has a habit of moving around when I'm about to shoot my key ball. For example, I'll get shape on the key ball, and then he'll start putting his cue down, reaching for the rack, etc. It's rather distracting, especially when the key ball is not a stop shot.

 

[boogeyman]

Just wanted to do a poll on this and see what people do in different parts of the world and if they would be acceptable everywhere somewhere else.

I like to lightly slap my thigh (the side).
It's convenient and sounds like a light clapping.

I certainly don't like saying 'good shot' and I don't like others to do that either to me.
That's too distracting.:grin-square:

 

[peteypooldude]

You say nothing unless it's the money ball he made.
At any other time it's more of a shark... Intentional or not

 

[fastone371]

I voted other. If its a friend I usually tell him he can open his eyes now, the ball went in or something like that. During league or a tournament I like to wait till its over to offer congratulations, if needed I will point out a particularly good shot that they may have made.

 

[victorl]

Some good points. I definitely keep it shut in tournaments, unless I know my opponent well. I don't mind it but I know it bothers some people, especially in a quiet tournament setting.

 

[CreeDo]

"Shot."

I'm from the Clint Eastwood school of compliments.
I don't like pounding the cue for some reason.
When one of my buddies snaps fingers, I automatically do it too.
But it does feel a little weird. Like I'm at a beatnik poetry reading.

 

[jay helfert]

I tell him he is a lucky SOB!

 

[BeiberLvr]

A short butt tap, however, is fine.

Women don't take too kindly to this gesture.

 

[FairladyZ]

I'm a 'good shot' kind of guy. If its a just plain impressive shot, I may buy the guy a beer too.

 

[67tbird]

Women don't take too kindly to this gesture.

+1

- Andy

 

[itsfroze]

Great poll...

 

[Straightpool_99]

..................

 

[Mikey Town]

Depending on the opponent, room and situation that I am in, I will:

- Tap cue on the floor
- Clap a couple times
- Smack hand on table (one handed clap)
- Snap Fingers (quiet clap)
- Say "Nice Shot"

Every once in a while I try to start the wave, but nobody ever wants to join in.

 

[SmoothStroke]

Never ever do I acknowledge a good shot during a match, I don't care if it is the greatest shot I have ever seen. Anything else could be taken as a sharking

After the match,win or lose, I say good match.
That was a great shot you made on the 3 ball....walk away


Kick em,beat em to the ground,,,when they are down keep your foot on their neck.
We can be buddies on the rail after we are knocked out. I might even give you a hug.

 

[Rackemep]

I give a few taps of the cue on the floor and/or quietly say "nice shot" or "that was a hell of a shot" just to acknowledge my opponent...

If its a serious match I stick with the tapping of the cue so I dont disrupt the other players concentration and then after the match if a noteworthy shot/shape was made I bring it up when we shake hands...

kind of off subject but I was playing this little old lady in league and she made a couple of really nice shots...I gave the cue tap a couple of times and after the match she asked if I was angry???.....I said "No...Not at all...Why do you ask?" She said "Because when I called that shot and made it you banged your stick on the floor"....lol....

 

[Island Drive]

As someone else mentioned, it's a snooker thing to acknowledge a good defensive shot, so it's done on the way to the table when it's your turn to shoot. I have a friend that I play pool, and some snooker, with who is really into snooker that hasn't quite caught on to that detail. He will occasionally lean in to tap his cue on the table after I make a good shot. It's always as I am moving around the table, so it doesn't really bother me since I know it's coming, but I'm sure it would irritate some people.

Cue tapping tends to be acceptable between two players matched up that know each other, but in Tournament play it should be avoided out of respect for the unknown, which is your opponents internal action/reaction. Anytime another is trying to grease my thoughts during match play, I tend to feel its to get me out of my zone, which I prefer to be in. Even if their intentions are Not to distract, ''don't go there'' is Best....Especially in Big added money events.

 

[Black-Balled]

I'm a 'good shot' kind of guy. If its a just plain impressive shot, I may buy the guy a beer too.

Shit! I need to get together with you. When I run out, it always looks tuff, I am bound to get a beer or 4 out of you.

And I want the keez to the zs.

 

[blah blah]

Nothing.

It occurs to me my teacher was really an *(&^.

I said, "Nice shot" to him early on and he let me have it:

(read this in a southern accent for additional flavor):

"What the *^% are you, my f&^* cheerleader? I'm not playing football, I don't need a *&)(*& cheerleader! I know it was a good (*)& shot because I did it. And if I get out, or you give me ball in hand, I'll know it was a great *&(^ shot- I don't need you to tell me nothing while you're sitting there. Now- you got anything else to say?"

 

[Agent 99]

I congratulate them by making sure their ass is completely snookered the next time they get to the table.