Etiquette question: Picking up a leaning cue during shot
- Thread starter cwong79
- Start date
Well, no! I'm clearly waiting for you to shoot and you are wasting my money and time by taking so long. Make the 9 and I'll rack. I don't concede games. And hurry up.:grin-devilish:
For the record, this happened to me in a tournament and the TD said it was a concession on the part of my (old, sly, sharking) opponent.
I read my post again and didn't see anything about controlling everyone in the room, or that what the people in the room were doing bothered me.
Why do these things if it doesn't matter?
I would much rather my opponent remained seated and still when I'm shooting in his direction.
He said that he lost because of that, or did he say something like "it put me off my game?" From your original post, it sounded like he was discussing it with you after the set, not complaining or placing blame on you. All of these other posters are relating it to situations that they have come across and making assumptions about your interaction. Any reply in this thread saying that your opponent should "stop whining", "man up", or whatever is completely missing the point. They are failing to contribute to the conversation and are most likely bullies whose mommies didn't hug them enough.
To your original point - we're talking about etiquette and what is right and wrong. We are not discussing individual's tolerance for distractions. You said that you were standing the entire time - did any other actions you took while standing bother your opponent? If the answer is no, ask yourself why these specific actions did. I think that you will conclude that these specific actions are bad etiquette.
To your original point - we're talking about etiquette and what is right and wrong. We are not discussing individual's tolerance for distractions. You said that you were standing the entire time - did any other actions you took while standing bother your opponent? If the answer is no, ask yourself why these specific actions did. I think that you will conclude that these specific actions are bad etiquette.
I don't doubt that you are an honest person. But to me there is a lot wrong with what you say. First of all, the only indisputable place for a player to be when his opponent is shooting is seated in the chair. No one can argue with this, which is why it is a good idea. Don't give the other guy any reason to have an issue with you. Sit. Sit quietly. Sit still. You never have to move out of anyone's line of shot. You simply need to sit still.
Picking up and putting down your cue is a shark move whether or not you see it that way. Kind of like when the guy stands up when you are shooting the 9 ball. "Oh, I was just getting up to rack". Yeah ok...get up when I'm done. Saving 10 seconds isn't worth it. If you needed to put your stick down, you could have just conceded the 8 and 9 ball.
Also, regarding line of sight...many people have no idea just how amazing some people's peripheral vision is. I personally tested mine at the Museum of Science, and I can see 105 degrees to the side.
Most importantly, do not change your position, stillness, etc. any more on the 8 or 9 than you would on the 1 or 2. Every shot is a shot, and deserves the same respect.
I haven't read any responses to this thread. Interested to see how it goes. One time playing in the US Amateur in Florida, my opponent made a great shot and I snapped my fingers. I thought that was pretty universal "good shot"...like tap tap tap. After the match he said he was upset about that...he had simply never heard that before. So I was talking to one of the pro players at my home room. He said "just don't say anything. You never know how the other guy will take it. Just don't speak. Don't move. Then at the end of the match, the guy can never have an excuse for losing to you. All he can think is 'I just can't beat that guy'." I have to say it is a good way to do it.
KMRUNOUT
A "real" player is someone who can tune out the childish BS of insecure fools. Interesting. I thought it was about playing pool. To each their own I guess.
KMRUNOUT
Me doing anything other wetting my finger and sticking it in your ear while you shoot and having an affect your shoot is on you.
Someone placing their stick differently than normal, someone counting quarters or someone even walking away from the table making a pissed at self comment because they left your perfectly should not have any baring on your shoot. If you are player that is that sensitive to every little thing going on around you then you need to toughen up and learn to focus.
With that said I am pretty good about not doing those things but if I do it without thinking and you miss, tough shit.
After reading all of Runout's replies I thought maybe I missed something..... Was this game one of those $2000 entries played in a pool area that had 10 clear feet around the table with designated seating or was it in a public place with people all over the place doing lots of distracting things that have absolutely nothing to do with the shooter or their opponent? If it wasn't the former, then learn to focus because that is the pool game in a vast majority of all situations. Consider it part of your training and STFU.
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Who would, and why would, anyone count quarters?
I always like it when my opponent is standing ready to shoot with his cue in hand then finally decides to put it down when I have only a ball or 2 left. If my opponent has confidence in me to finish out the rack then I should have just as much confidence in myself. Sharking probably does not bother me much from the 20+ plus years I was racing. In racing everything you or your opponent does is a shark to try to get into your head, not only is sharking acceptable in racing but its expected. Probably the biggest shark move is a guy not sharking you. 
I always like it when my opponent is standing ready to shoot with his cue in hand then finally decides to put it down when I have only a ball or 2 left. If my opponent has confidence in me to finish out the rack then I should have just as much confidence in myself. Sharking probably does not bother me much from the 20+ plus years I was racing. In racing everything you or your opponent does is a shark to try to get into your head, not only is sharking acceptable in racing but its expected. Probably the biggest shark move is a guy not sharking you.
or the reverse shark... as we all know, if something catches your attention away from the table, stand up and look at it.... sometimes it's just a loud talker on a nearby table, or a waitress blindly moving through, or it could be your opponent. If it's your opponent and you stand up, silently look at him in the eyes, smile or laugh, and then restart your psr and make the shot... it's a reverse shark... you are now officially in HIS head. Consider those moves as lucky opportunities for you
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Can you read?
I think if you have to ask if it's an etiquette issue there must be something in your mind that lets you know it is.
A shark? Ehh... only you know how much of what your movement was was calculated. I think the term shark more implies intentional.
If I'm understanding correctly .... during the opponents stroking motion you made a movement to place your cue down against an adjoining table. Yeah, that's kinda cheap IMO.
I owned a pool room some time ago, and some of the waitresses, being very conscious of the better players playing for money, would stop and wait for the player to finish their stroke as they approached from behind the player trying not to disturb the player.
I told each of them, don't stop, keep delivering the food or drink. The players expect you to be walking around ... .they don't expect you to stop short like your brakes bound up.
Conversely, your opponent expects you to remain still while they are shooting, not to make a movement in their mid stroke.
The same logic applies to each case.
A shark? Ehh... only you know how much of what your movement was was calculated. I think the term shark more implies intentional.
If I'm understanding correctly .... during the opponents stroking motion you made a movement to place your cue down against an adjoining table. Yeah, that's kinda cheap IMO.
I owned a pool room some time ago, and some of the waitresses, being very conscious of the better players playing for money, would stop and wait for the player to finish their stroke as they approached from behind the player trying not to disturb the player.
I told each of them, don't stop, keep delivering the food or drink. The players expect you to be walking around ... .they don't expect you to stop short like your brakes bound up.
Conversely, your opponent expects you to remain still while they are shooting, not to make a movement in their mid stroke.
The same logic applies to each case.
Oh, I know I know. Imbeciles, morons, jerk offs, creeps, losers, scum bags, immature little boys, and the rest of the aholes who get so uptight that a guy is about to win a game against them they feel the absolute need to start "giving up" on the match rather than watch their opponent finish the shot, tell him "nice out" and then grab his quarters like a human being AFTER the game is over.
And everyone that does it, does it for one purpose, they are tying to "shark". Yeah, and the "defenders" will say toughen up your mental game. Sorry, we are NOT pro players, we're guys that want to play well without bs.
Isn't it enough that we get bs from bosses, ex-wives, politicians, neighbors, relatives, traffic cops, some jerk customer service dude who could less about your problem, can't we "pool players" have one night off from the usual bs, just one
Is that so much to ask?
The crafty codger I mentioned earlier had a habit of jingling the change in his pocket while his opponent was shooting.