Captain wont share scoresheet or info on opponent

LongGreen73 said:
Its funny Shawn, I will keep it in mind; people have laughed that know this miserable captain when they heard the joke. Lighten up and enjoy life. I originally sent you a link to mental health clinics in your area but it got held up for the moderator's approval. I don't think he should send it after thinking about it. If it comes through I apologize for stepping to your level.
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You mean like the level I'm stooping to by giving away a free autographed case to someone's kid from this board? I HOPE you stoop to THAT level. Otherwise, go back to whining about your situation. That suits you much better.
 
Knowledge is Power

Whether you play differently or not knowing your opponent's skill level, MORE information is better than less.

I hope you do find a much better group of people to compete with next year.

...the next time your captain refuses to show you the sheet, tell Captain that you're not looking at their skill level so you know how to play against them, you're just scouting for a team.

Be well.
 
TCo said:
Whether you play differently or not knowing your opponent's skill level, MORE information is better than less.

I hope you do find a much better group of people to compete with next year.

...the next time your captain refuses to show you the sheet, tell Captain that you're not looking at their skill level so you know how to play against them, you're just scouting for a team.

Be well.
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That's a good one. The best part is this was a 9 ball match. Who doesn't want to know the race and see where they are at in the middle of the match. I know one guy that counts his own score and his opponents during the whole match but that's not for me.
 
LongGreen73 said:
Youre one great guy Shawn. Thank you for introducing yourself!
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You may think I'm a douche. I really don't care. Here is my problem with knowing your opponent's skill level, especially in leagues: It is of little help to you in assessing how good your opponent is, and is usually flawed, due to people like you and your captain. Before you take exception to that, here's the explanation.

Let's say you're a 5. Your opponent is a 4. Now, it is rare to have a player at a level lower than a 6 that will concentrate on every single shot, and not play the score. If you're playing a lower ranked opponent, you subconsciously have already chalked up the win, because, according to the rankings, you're better than them. You may watch them, and figure out their strengths and weaknesses, but all you will discover is (a) they don't play as well as they should, (b) they're fairly ranked, or (c) they play better than their ranking would indicate.

If you're playing a higher ranked player, you will focus on playing better, as you know you won't have as many opportunities at the table, and will get punished for your mistakes. You'll also be playing with some nerves, as you have already mentally chalked up the loss, and start playing the score instead of the game. "Well, I'm down 2-0, but he needs to get to 5, so it's a 3-3 race". Or, in the case of 9-ball, "well, he's up 30-3, but I only need 28 balls to his 65". That isn't the correct way to play pool. It's the correct way to play "handicap management" pool, but not pool. You end up playing loose against lower ranks, and tight against higher ranks. So your handicap isn't a true reflection of how you play. It's a reflection of your chosen strategy against the majority of your opponents.

Give every shot its due attention. Play every opponent as if they can run the table on their next attempt. If you are a true competitor, you owe it to your opponent to play your best game. And you'd expect the same from them. Suppose your opponent shot one handed with their opposite hand against you in league, because they were pissed off at their asshat of a captain. It's like showing up to work and doing a poor job because you think your boss is a jerk. It's unprofessional. And it ends up being a reflection of how you will conduct yourself in life.

The only way you will get better is to go out and play everyone as if they can destroy you on their next shot. This way, you don't start playing loose because you don't think your opponent can beat you. That attitude is disrespectful. And I loved it when one of my players (yes, I was a captain...but I always told my players who they were playing, what their race was, and even updated them during the match if they wanted a count, or score) would come back after a loss and complain about the sandbagger that just beat them. Sometimes, it happened. Most of the time, they just took the win for granted, and gave the lower ranked opponent no respect.

Play the table. Respect your opponent.
 
Shawn Armstrong said:
You may think I'm a douche. I really don't care. Here is my problem with knowing your opponent's skill level, especially in leagues: It is of little help to you in assessing how good your opponent is, and is usually flawed, due to people like you and your captain. Before you take exception to that, here's the explanation.

Let's say you're a 5. Your opponent is a 4. Now, it is rare to have a player at a level lower than a 6 that will concentrate on every single shot, and not play the score. If you're playing a lower ranked opponent, you subconsciously have already chalked up the win, because, according to the rankings, you're better than them. You may watch them, and figure out their strengths and weaknesses, but all you will discover is (a) they don't play as well as they should, (b) they're fairly ranked, or (c) they play better than their ranking would indicate.

If you're playing a higher ranked player, you will focus on playing better, as you know you won't have as many opportunities at the table, and will get punished for your mistakes. You'll also be playing with some nerves, as you have already mentally chalked up the loss, and start playing the score instead of the game. "Well, I'm down 2-0, but he needs to get to 5, so it's a 3-3 race". Or, in the case of 9-ball, "well, he's up 30-3, but I only need 28 balls to his 65". That isn't the correct way to play pool. It's the correct way to play "handicap management" pool, but not pool. You end up playing loose against lower ranks, and tight against higher ranks. So your handicap isn't a true reflection of how you play. It's a reflection of your chosen strategy against the majority of your opponents.

Give every shot its due attention. Play every opponent as if they can run the table on their next attempt. If you are a true competitor, you owe it to your opponent to play your best game. And you'd expect the same from them. Suppose your opponent shot one handed with their opposite hand against you in league, because they were pissed off at their asshat of a captain. It's like showing up to work and doing a poor job because you think your boss is a jerk. It's unprofessional. And it ends up being a reflection of how you will conduct yourself in life.

The only way you will get better is to go out and play everyone as if they can destroy you on their next shot. This way, you don't start playing loose because you don't think your opponent can beat you. That attitude is disrespectful. And I loved it when one of my players (yes, I was a captain...but I always told my players who they were playing, what their race was, and even updated them during the match if they wanted a count, or score) would come back after a loss and complain about the sandbagger that just beat them. Sometimes, it happened. Most of the time, they just took the win for granted, and gave the lower ranked opponent no respect.

Play the table. Respect your opponent.
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Why couldn't you just say that from the beginning? I work with court mandated douchbags all day long for my job and all they like to do is play mindgames. So when I go to league its to have a good time and to get better at the game. I don't need mindgames when Im out suppose to be having a good time shooting pool. Its like playing softball, you play your best and hope for the best but your there because it suppose to be fun and challenging. Im not saying you're wrong. I agree you should play like everyone like they can destroy you. But at the same time if I want to know who I am playing and what the score is during the middle of my match, anyone on my team should not stand in the way of that. Its pretty apparent to me now why my Captain whos been playing for 19 years is only a SL4 because he is a complete sandbagger. I just learned how people sandbag, they play two teams and only win once a week so their handicap doesn't move up. I didn't know that a week ago, never thought about it until I thought I was being accused of it. I want my handicap to go up. I want to play longer matches. I like to know if Im playing someone at my level or someone way above me, because if its someone way above me I know I need to take less chances and play more safeties. I used to hate playing safe and would always go for it but I realized its part of winning. I also know there are guys that are better than me by far and are ranked at my handicap, I see them on my own team. So I like to know whats what, always have since I was a kid playing all different kinds of sports. Know your opponent is what I was taught. But back to my douchbag captain, Im there to have a good time first and become a better pool player 2nd. Its no different than being on a bowling team or a softball team. If I want do or die pool then I will go down to the pool hall where each game has money on the table. And I take my own time and my own money and put it on the line. This guy abuses his recreational pool captain role and I deal with enough douchbags all day that I don't need another one on my own time if I can avoid it. Me being new I didn't realize if this is what its like if youre in a pool league or not. My last Captain was a woman control freak but she showed me my score during the match. Seems to me from checking out this forum that douchebag captains are everywhere but you can avoid them if you want to.
 
Shawn Armstrong said:
You may think I'm a douche. I really don't care. Here is my problem with knowing your opponent's skill level, especially in leagues: It is of little help to you in assessing how good your opponent is, and is usually flawed, due to people like you and your captain. Before you take exception to that, here's the explanation.

Let's say you're a 5. Your opponent is a 4. Now, it is rare to have a player at a level lower than a 6 that will concentrate on every single shot, and not play the score. If you're playing a lower ranked opponent, you subconsciously have already chalked up the win, because, according to the rankings, you're better than them. You may watch them, and figure out their strengths and weaknesses, but all you will discover is (a) they don't play as well as they should, (b) they're fairly ranked, or (c) they play better than their ranking would indicate.

If you're playing a higher ranked player, you will focus on playing better, as you know you won't have as many opportunities at the table, and will get punished for your mistakes. You'll also be playing with some nerves, as you have already mentally chalked up the loss, and start playing the score instead of the game. "Well, I'm down 2-0, but he needs to get to 5, so it's a 3-3 race". Or, in the case of 9-ball, "well, he's up 30-3, but I only need 28 balls to his 65". That isn't the correct way to play pool. It's the correct way to play "handicap management" pool, but not pool. You end up playing loose against lower ranks, and tight against higher ranks. So your handicap isn't a true reflection of how you play. It's a reflection of your chosen strategy against the majority of your opponents.

Give every shot its due attention. Play every opponent as if they can run the table on their next attempt. If you are a true competitor, you owe it to your opponent to play your best game. And you'd expect the same from them. Suppose your opponent shot one handed with their opposite hand against you in league, because they were pissed off at their asshat of a captain. It's like showing up to work and doing a poor job because you think your boss is a jerk. It's unprofessional. And it ends up being a reflection of how you will conduct yourself in life.

The only way you will get better is to go out and play everyone as if they can destroy you on their next shot. This way, you don't start playing loose because you don't think your opponent can beat you. That attitude is disrespectful. And I loved it when one of my players (yes, I was a captain...but I always told my players who they were playing, what their race was, and even updated them during the match if they wanted a count, or score) would come back after a loss and complain about the sandbagger that just beat them. Sometimes, it happened. Most of the time, they just took the win for granted, and gave the lower ranked opponent no respect.

Play the table. Respect your opponent.
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no offense... but that there is some fine pyscho babble.

PS: If someone wants to play me one handed, or opposite handed, to set his cap'n straight and finally put him in his place... I take no offense. I take the easy win, which ups my win percentage, and then get to watch the cap'n stew in his own juices while we all laugh. That's win/win, baby.

Would I do this move at work ? Nope. At a pool league with a moron? yuuuuup
 
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