I could have been wrong......

I know exactly what you mean. I'm not what I would call a gambler, but I do need to bet a little something on pool.

I liken pool to poker, you can't play poker without betting something...otherwise everybody is always in every hand. Like folks firing in one pocket, there needs to be a penalty.

Having that been said, I know a few old guys at a local room that are good players (100 ball runners at one time) but now don't have any cash to gamble. Watching these guys shoot their guts out, take a half dozen intentional fouls, argue, fight, cheat, shark and swear, you would think they're playing for $1,000 per rack. Really, they're not playing for anything. Zilch. They just learned to enjoy the game without the penalty and reward of gambling. My point is - it is possible.
 
fjk said:
I know exactly what you mean. I'm not what I would call a gambler, but I do need to bet a little something on pool.
I liken pool to poker, you can't play poker without betting something...otherwise everybody is always in every hand. Like folks firing in one pocket, there needs to be a penalty.
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I totally agree.
Like skins, or a Captain and Crew in golf. A small wager is like salt and pepper on mashed potatoes. Makes 'em taste better. :)
 
We occasionally play "partners" one pocket and it always for small money $20-$30 per man per game and never for shits and grins.

Gambling makes you pay attention unless you are mad at your money.

I'm not against playing pool for "fun". I play for fun with a rare few people. One pocket as others have mentioned was designed primarily as a "gambler's game".

Some people's ego gets in the way of their skill when gambling and that's where things get out of line and sours the fun of gambling.

A very few people can really pay attention and play pool at a high level for shits and grins.

A few like me would rather practice by themselves than to hit the balls around with someone else who doesn't pay attention to playing their best pool.

I guess it really gets down to this: Do you play for the socialization that sometimes comes with pool, or do you play because you like the competition in pool? It takes all kinds of people to make the world go 'round......................

JoeyA


Tramp Steamer said:
I have officially retired from playing team One Pocket with the guys. Why? Because it has wrecked my game.
It seems that when pool players are only playing for shits and grins then all you ever wind up with is shits and grins. Allow me to explain.
Our (team) One Pocket matches tend to be played very loose. Each player, when at the table, will, if at all possible, try for a shot to his pocket and not generally give a big rat's pa-toot where the white ball ends up. This makes for very poor One Pocket.
The usual cure for this is to place a small wager on the game's outcome which will almost always tighten things up considerably. Unfortunately we do not do this because of one guy's religious beliefs, and another guy's lack of money. Like I said, the end result is chaos.
So, from this moment on I am changing my stance on gambling, and am now of the belief that it (gambling) does indeed bring out the best in a pool player. Sometimes the worst, too, but I mean 'best' as from a performance point of view.
Do you agree, or disagree? :smile:
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JoeyA said:
We occasionally play "partners" one pocket and it always for small money $20-$30 per man per game and never for shits and grins.



Gambling makes you pay attention unless you are mad at your money.



I'm not against playing pool for "fun". I play for fun with a rare few people. One pocket as others have mentioned was designed primarily as a "gambler's game".



Some people's ego gets in the way of their skill when gambling and that's where things get out of line and sours the fun of gambling.



A very few people can really pay attention and play pool at a high level for shits and grins.



A few like me would rather practice by themselves than to hit the balls around with someone else who doesn't pay attention to playing their best pool.



I guess it really gets down to this: Do you play for the socialization that sometimes comes with pool, or do you play because you like the competition in pool? It takes all kinds of people to make the world go 'round......................



JoeyA
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Very interesting points here. I watch guys gamble with each other playing partners & it's a very friendly thing, I never understood that. I don't find being "friendly" matching well with gambling. I guess I'm just feral. I'm not a dick but if I'm gambling with you I'm not going about it with a cavalier attitude.

Bank it<------ not mad at his $
 
Bank it said:
Very interesting points here. I watch guys gamble with each other playing partners & it's a very friendly thing, I never understood that. I don't find being "friendly" matching well with gambling. I guess I'm just feral. I'm not a dick but if I'm gambling with you I'm not going about it with a cavalier attitude.

Bank it<------ not mad at his $
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Yah, I like being "competitive" as opposed to "friendly" if you're talking about playing pool. "Friendly is great AFTER A MATCH.

JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
Yah, I like being "competitive" as opposed to "friendly"

JoeyA
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I can do both at the same time, and usually do.
Its just my natural personality, kinda mellow even when competing....


I become moody when I lose however.
 
has nothing to do with money...

that has absolutely nothing to do with money and everything to do with who you're playing.

I've played with just good players and with top players for just sits and giggles and I promise you we were playing right most of the time.

jaden
 
Highmiles said:
Yes..........
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Ditto.

My One Pocket crew is purely predatory. We take sweet delight in crushing one another and simultaneously giving grudging (very) respect to whomever is shooting with inspiration and particular savagery. It's a rough crowd.

Lesh
 
Played team 1p at our clubhouse yesterday. Have to do that...we have 4 tables. It becomes a sideshow almost every time. I should pay these guys for the entertainment. Played for cash a few times to tighten everyone up... all in all it's not great 1p. The guys agree we should stop playing doubles yet keep going back for more. Would less painful to go home and suck the tail pipe.
Yes to playing for a buck or two changes the tempo.
 
I ve played pool for about 8 years and only recently did I start playing one pocket. I was told when I first started playing pool in general to stay away from one pocket because it will kill ur stroke. Unfortunately I listened and probably attempted to play maybe 5 games total the first 8 years of playing. As I've mentioned a few times I took a few years of from pool n started up again around February n being the addict I am jumped back into the game full force. This time around I got into buying the streams n after watching 9 ball n 10 ball a bunch I was willing to watch a one pocket stream to change it up. I started enjoying it and quickly realized watching the top guys play one pocket is a way better watch then 9 ball if just for the simplicity of 9 ball.(that's just me I know a lot don't care to watch one hole)

Anyway I decided I wanted to start playing but knew that to learn the game I either had to bet and take my lumps starting with a top player to try n learn as much as possible without losing my bankroll, or start at the bottom of the ladder n play the weaker players til I can beat them n work my way up. I chose option two figuring I'd lose less money n maybe even win some. Long story short I'm hooooooked. I can't get enough one pocket. I love playing 10$ a game with a player around my speed n grinding it out. To me it's the best game especially for gambling purposes.

As far as the question in the thread playing one pocket for free I assume could work if both players agree to play it 99% the same as if they were gambling. The worst thing to hear when ur trying to learn the game n get better is when ur opponent says I would t shoot this shot if we were gambling then fires a 6 ball combo n just fails miserably n sells out n u don't learn a thing about the game. Obviously the simple fix is put a few dollars on it. I play a guy 5$ a game when I can get a weekday off n go in for the 12-6 special for 10$. So again if both players are interested In improving and can commit to playing the game as if they were gambling then by all means practice for nothing if u want. But the game is def better when selling out will cost u. It teaches u imo faster to play the right way n protect the cue ball
 
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