John/Jane Q. Public and Pool

mchnhed

mchnhed

I Came, I Shot, I Choked
Silver Member
John/Jane Q. Public gets the urge learn Pool.

Imagine a True Pool Hall.
Maybe you frequent one.
In walks a person who only plays at a Level 1 or "D".
Noob, but knows and respects Pool Room Etiquette and the Basic Rules.
Learned at the Boys Club.
He practices shooting just straight shots at a table way far off from everyone else.

Do YOU welcome him and offer to play a game?
or
Do you scoff at his awkwardness, scarecrow stance and swooping stroke?

How does he approach "Those Real Players" over there and ask for a game & suggestions to help him improve?

Does he just continue to practice by himself 2 times a week for months?

On a positive note: He is getting better with his stroke and follow-thru.


Quote: Originally Posted by garczar
A healthy dose of playing people you can't currently beat is highly recommended as well. All the drills in the world(hi or lo tech) will not prepare you for what you'll need when someone is smoking you. I wish you well in your pursuit.
 
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All honesty you don't even pay attention to him/her, they will progress up the skill chain naturally by beating players their own ability ether thru leagues or tourneys. Slowly moving up to better players over time. I'm still waiting for my time at the big boys table!

Exceptions being if the new player is someone that people want to hang out with!
 
mvp said:
All honesty you don't even pay attention to him/her, they will progress up the skill chain naturally by beating players their own ability ether thru leagues or tourneys. Slowly moving up to better players over time. I'm still waiting for my time at the big boys table!
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But he's been coming there for almost a year!

Exceptions being if the new player is someone that people want to hang out with!
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He seems like a likeable guy.
Older, maybe early 60's.
Kinda serious about practice.
The waitresses like him.
 
offer a cheap race to 5 for 5$, give the regular room guys an out if they don't like it! So don't ask for a long session or table time unless it works out! It's nothing more than children playing on playground equipment, you gotta get noticed, then bullied, then come back and whoop ass!
 
mvp said:
offer a cheap race to 5 for 5$, give the regular room guys an out if they don't like it! So don't ask for a long session or table time unless it works out! It's nothing more than children playing on playground equipment, you gotta get noticed, then bullied, then come back and whoop ass!
Click to expand...

Sounds like junior high gym class, and maybe answers the questions asked elsewhere whether Pool was a sport, or why it is not flourishing, if that's the pervasive attitude. I hope that's an outlier.

My one experience is watching a pickup tournament at a local bar, and from just watching the local people invited me to participate and were very welcoming. I didn't -- to much a beginner -- but felt very good about the visit (Busters in Fort Myers, by the way). So I hope my experience is more typical.
 
mvp said:
offer a cheap race to 5 for 5$, give the regular room guys an out if they don't like it! So don't ask for a long session or table time unless it works out! It's nothing more than children playing on playground equipment, you gotta get noticed, then bullied, then come back and whoop ass!
Click to expand...
I don't think he knows what a 'race' is.
Plus a Level 1 against level 6+ players the Pool Room is known for?
I don't think he wants to be humiliated.
He just wants to learn some secrets of shooting straight, stance, stroke, etc.
Maybe become one of the regulars.

But to 'leave him be' doesn't sound very friendly.
 
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mchnhed said:
John/Jane Q. Public gets the urge learn Pool.
He practices shooting just straight shots at a table way far off from everyone else.
Click to expand...

Putting forth an image of wanting to have focused practice and not be disturbed. (Often hard to achieve in a pool room, but that doesn't stop me from trying...)

Obviously playing closer to other players will provide more opportunities for shop talk.

If "he" wants to break the ice with other players, perhaps he should introduce himself to them when they aren't in a match, maybe ask them when they started playing, how often they practice, the usual stuff. I find it most convenient to talk to players right as they arrive or are packing up to leave, unless they're clearly looking for conversation and/or a match.
 
At my age and ability - I tend to keep to myself. But ... If I were 25 years younger, and a decent shot (and had a more outgoing personality) - I'd walk over and introduce myself, then ask if he wanted to shoot a couple racks. If he asked for tips - I'd do the best I could to help.
 
bral said:
Putting forth an image of wanting to have focused practice and not be disturbed. (Often hard to achieve in a pool room, but that doesn't stop me from trying...)

Obviously playing closer to other players will provide more opportunities for shop talk.

If "he" wants to break the ice with other players, perhaps he should introduce himself to them when they aren't in a match, maybe ask them when they started playing, how often they practice, the usual stuff. I find it most convenient to talk to players right as they arrive or are packing up to leave, unless they're clearly looking for conversation and/or a match.
Click to expand...
Why does it have to be "he" that wants or needs to......
Maybe since he is the new person, he feels intimidated by "those real pool players".
Maybe since he's the new one, someone who is a regular (you) should be the one to approach him.
 
mchnhed said:
Why does it have to be "he" that wants or needs to......
Maybe since he is the new person, he feels intimidated by "those real pool players".
Maybe since he's the new one, someone who is a regular (you) should be the one to approach him.
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Yea - being a bit on the reserved side myself, I have to agree. Some folks are very outgoing, but walking into a new (for him or her) establishment, especially where they're going to be on the lower rungs of ability level, it can be very intimidating to approach one of the regulars.
 
mchnhed said:
I don't think he knows what a 'race' is.
Plus a Level 1 against level 6+ players the Pool Room is known for?
I don't think he wants to humiliated.
He just wants to learn some secrets of shooting straight, stance, stroke, etc.
Maybe become one of the regulars.

But to 'leave him be' doesn't sound very friendly.
Click to expand...

Thats what youtube is for
 
mchnhed said:
Why does it have to be "he" that wants or needs to......
Maybe since he is the new person, he feels intimidated by "those real pool players".
Maybe since he's the new one, someone who is a regular (you) should be the one to approach him.
Click to expand...

Maybe this person should get past their insecurities and play play the game, why should this person feel so entitled that others should approach him/her just because they been shooting balls by themselves? If you ever find the answers you're looking for......you might just have revolutionized how people approach dating!
 
Ched said:
At my age and ability - I tend to keep to myself. But ... If I were 25 years younger, and a decent shot (and had a more outgoing personality) - I'd walk over and introduce myself, then ask if he wanted to shoot a couple racks. If he asked for tips - I'd do the best I could to help.
Click to expand...
^^^ What he said. I'd help any way I could and I certainly wouldn't scoff or make fun in any fashion!
 
mvp said:
Maybe this person should get past their insecurities and play play the game, why should this person feel so entitled that others should approach him/her just because they been shooting balls by themselves? If you ever find the answers you're looking for......you might just have revolutionized how people approach dating!
Click to expand...
***Maybe the Regulars in the Pool Room should get past their feelings of superiority to beginners and approach the new person in the room.

The Noob doen't feel entitled he feels intimidated.

If we can ever find the answers to these questions Pool might have a chance to grow and survive.
 
When I started it seemed like I wasn't in the super secret cool kids club and nobody wanted to play unless it was gambling.Offered to play for play and I get the time....Nope.I thought most of the guys were dicks that thought they were way better than they were.They would sit around not playing haggling over some stupid big time set played for money that I would wipe my butt with.The really good players were nice mostly but I could see how bored they were playing a guy my level.I found tourney play was where everybody had to play with you so I progressed that way.I still hate the little rat "big time gambler"5-6s and gravitate to the 20% quality people worth actually hanging with.Communities of hobbies like this are so small.I never understood how so many guys would rather rape you out of $20 once the first day they meet you over having another friend in the hall for the next 30 years.I still can recall the people that first helped me ,showed me stuff after beating me in a match,and played for nothing with a bad player.
 
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Thank you for that insight us820.
It seems that people and Pool Rooms are the same all over.
 
As a middle aged guy who fit the description pretty close, it was my experience that if you are really trying, the regular players notice. If you keep coming around enough, the nicer guys will speak and nod when they see you, then comment "nice shot" (if there is one).
After a while folks grow comfortable with the newer face and invite to play.
(Course, they are MUCH better, but still offering the chance.

Pushy people are not very welcomed in my experience.
Of course if he has been coming for a year and none of this has happened, the person in question may be projecting a "leave me be" kind of vibe.
Social interaction is pretty much the same everywhere in life, you be friendly (but not over the top) and patient, most times folks will open up some.

Of course, your mileage may vary
 
If I was starting now I would start in the Apa.It is geared for new players.The better guys on your team will want to help you get better if you listen to what they tell you.I would play all the cheap bar tourneys you can find to play better players.I would just drill by myself on whatever free pool nights you can find.After a little bit you will find the subset of nongamblers around and find a regular practice partner.

If you hit all the weekly stuff you get to know most of the local players pretty quick because it's all the same guys.
 
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