boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Well, before TV and reality tv, you had to get some juicy drama from somewhere. Set them on tilt and enjoy the free entertainment. A good one would be a bullshitting topic for decades.
Thoughts on breaking down your stick?
- Thread starter ShootingHank
- Start date
BIH on the last ball can potentially be quite a challenge, if it is frozen on the side cushion on/near a side pocket point!
If you are playing a real flush ‘fish’ and want his money bad enough, you can put up with much. I’ve played guys who would stand next to you actually blowing cigar smoke in your face while you are shooting.
In a nutshell: “Don’t let your opponent‘s sharking bother you”. DUH!
Most normal people find controversy/confrontation upsetting. The unprincipled know how to take advantage. Few are immune.
Depends on who it is & the circumstance.
You can give it to him, to slow the momentum down, just walk up and nudge the OB with your cue. Not a class move but it happens to work.
Other times yes 100% make them shoot it.
It’s a circumstantial thing.
Best
Fatboy <———always looking for a edge
It wasn’t a thing for the longest time, then for about a year or 2 everyone was using it as a way to attempt to get a win. Then it kinda faded away again.
I seen guys tighten their cue when it wasn’t their inning after scuffing the tip, getting ready to shoot and getting called for breaking down. I never saw that work, but when you scuff your tip, powder your hands, chalk your tip, wipe down your cue sometimes out of habit guys tend to screw their cue or move their hands like they are. You know-a reset like the match just started. Usually guys trailing in a race do this. I’ve done it, seen it done.
Hyper sensitive people trying to win on the breakdown is bullshit. My post at the top of this thread cures that problem. But it should t ever be a problem.
You know “the more rules, the weaker the player”
The people addicted to rules need to gambol more and relax
Fatboy, <———broke even yesterday
In some setting yes that’s the correct and proper thing to do. I respect that.
Best
Fatboy
You will never make a professional pool player, but you have being an asshat down pat!
To elaborate: The most effective shark technique is the one that can be passed off as totally innocent. Leaves opponent talking to himself, trying to figure: Is this guy crazy? Could I risk setting him off? Was it my imagination, or was it an intentional act intended to disturb me? A seemingly unexplainable argument over a coin toss, choice of table for the final match, perceived insult, etc., etc. All it takes.
Thus anything less than perfect decorum/manners is naturally suspect (why billiards is a ‘gentleman‘s game’).
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I was trying to shark you with the last comment. Good job not falling for it!
This happened to me a few weeks ago in a straight pool league match. There is no specific league night so we just scheduled the match on our own time and this was first time I've ever seen/met my opponent. It was just the two of us without any league director or ref.
He was a nice and friendly guy throughout the majority of our match. However, he became very frustrated with himself when he missed his last shot and left the table wide open for me run the last 12 balls and win. He said "there you go, run them out..." and then he proceeded to unscrew his cue and start putting his equipment away. I paused for a second to see if he was actually conceding or if he expected me to run the balls. It was clear that he expected me to runout to earn the win.
I'm sure I could have argued that by unscrewing his cue he conceded the match already. That would have been easy but it would have pissed him off and ruined the small friendly relationship that we had developed over the past few hours of play. It also may have cost me action in the future.
So I didn't say anything about it. I just ignored him and ran the balls out. It wasn't a hard run out and it's not like we were playing for huge bankrolls. Plus his sharking was kind of a compliment in a way, by acknowledging that he knows the run out is easy for me.
In my opinion, it typically isn't worth the energy to argue with people who are actively sharking you. You'll play much better if you keep quiet and pretend that you don't notice or care. My philosophy is that once you become agitated or upset, you've already been successfully sharked.
Every situation is different but generally speaking, if you keep quiet and focus on running out you'll have the most success. Just remember, once they decide to start sharking, they've already admitted to themselves that they can't win. So just keep playing your game and you'll bury them in no time. Then you can smile and shake their hand with a shit-eating grin while they are beating themselves up inside.
On a similar note, whenever I gamble, I always expect to get screwed a few times per match. So I match up expecting to get screwed on a few close calls. Then when the argumentative situations arise, I just give my opponent the benefit of the doubt and move on. This keeps me from getting upset and keeps the match flowing, even though I'm getting screwed. It's all figured in at the start, so I'm not surprised when it comes up
He was a nice and friendly guy throughout the majority of our match. However, he became very frustrated with himself when he missed his last shot and left the table wide open for me run the last 12 balls and win. He said "there you go, run them out..." and then he proceeded to unscrew his cue and start putting his equipment away. I paused for a second to see if he was actually conceding or if he expected me to run the balls. It was clear that he expected me to runout to earn the win.
I'm sure I could have argued that by unscrewing his cue he conceded the match already. That would have been easy but it would have pissed him off and ruined the small friendly relationship that we had developed over the past few hours of play. It also may have cost me action in the future.
So I didn't say anything about it. I just ignored him and ran the balls out. It wasn't a hard run out and it's not like we were playing for huge bankrolls. Plus his sharking was kind of a compliment in a way, by acknowledging that he knows the run out is easy for me.
In my opinion, it typically isn't worth the energy to argue with people who are actively sharking you. You'll play much better if you keep quiet and pretend that you don't notice or care. My philosophy is that once you become agitated or upset, you've already been successfully sharked.
Every situation is different but generally speaking, if you keep quiet and focus on running out you'll have the most success. Just remember, once they decide to start sharking, they've already admitted to themselves that they can't win. So just keep playing your game and you'll bury them in no time. Then you can smile and shake their hand with a shit-eating grin while they are beating themselves up inside.
On a similar note, whenever I gamble, I always expect to get screwed a few times per match. So I match up expecting to get screwed on a few close calls. Then when the argumentative situations arise, I just give my opponent the benefit of the doubt and move on. This keeps me from getting upset and keeps the match flowing, even though I'm getting screwed. It's all figured in at the start, so I'm not surprised when it comes up
Here's an interesting scenario that happened in Tally when I was there. The owner of the room was playing in a weekly 9 ball tournament and down 4-1 in a race to five against a road player from Georgia. I can't remember who but he played real strong. The roadie got out of line and played safe but left the room owner a small piece and he was a able to make it and then to run out. Score now 4-2 in favor of the roadie. The owner has a monster break (because he plays with a cue that hits a ton- like a monster) and quickly puts a two pack on the roadie to even the score at 4 a piece. Room owner makes another fantastic break, runs all of the balls until he is straight in with a long but very easy 9 ball shot for the 5th game and the comeback win. No one says a word. The roadie never even made a whisper of a sound as he lost four games in a row and NEVER conceded the easy shot. But instead of shooting the 9 ball the room owner pushed it with his hands like it was conceded and went over to shake the roadies hand.
Anyone want to ask guess what happened next?
Anyone want to ask guess what happened next?
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
I'm guessing the room owner lost for fouling unless the roadie conceded.