Pool play that irritates you!

SeniorTom

SeniorTom

Well-known member
Well, I will start it off. I play with a group of players a couple times a week, mixed company in terms of gender, skill level, but all have the same desire to win. Probably about 8 to 12 of us play in tournaments we make up for a few hours. I am probably one of the best in the group, but there are also a few others that are just as good, and then the rest of the folks there gradually diminish in talent level. We play scotch doubles 8 Ball tournaments, and oftentimes I am paired with lesser players who don't know how to position the cue that well. We allow coaching so often times I will try to coach an individual a bit, trying to be tactful as well, but they want nothing to do with somebody 'telling them what to do'. Instead of taking kind advice, they do what they want to do and usually end up giving me poor cue ball position on relatively easy position shots. It's as if they expect the cue ball to sense what they are thinking and automatically go to a certain position. The cue ball does not listen like that of course, and when it doesn't, which is all the time, they usually stick the cue ball snookered somewhere. When I was up and coming, I longed for people to coach me and suggest what to do, it's a way of learning for a humble individual. I guess to sum it up, those who don't want to take coaching, then mess up their shot, really irritates me, especially when we're playing Scotch doubles!
 
I enjoy coaching (work, pool, mountain biking, hockey, etc), but one thing i've learned as an engineer that feels the need to fix everything: You don't need to fix everything.

Don't offer unsolicited advice/coaching (unless there is potential for injury or damage to property).
 
The solution is simple, shut up and play two balls in advance! When I was a young man young ladies sought me out as a mixed doubles partner. I left shots even a banger could make and only had to tell them to hit the shot soft, medium, or hard to give me shape.

The thing that annoys me that everyone including top pros do sometimes is stay at the table to evaluate their safeties. The shot is over, you know you aren't shooting again, get out of the way! I have even seen them checking the shot for the incoming player. Go sit your ass down!

Hu
 
SeniorTom said:
Well, I will start it off. I play with a group of players a couple times a week, mixed company in terms of gender, skill level, but all have the same desire to win. Probably about 8 to 12 of us play in tournaments we make up for a few hours. I am probably one of the best in the group, but there are also a few others that are just as good, and then the rest of the folks there gradually diminish in talent level. We play scotch doubles 8 Ball tournaments, and oftentimes I am paired with lesser players who don't know how to position the cue that well. We allow coaching so often times I will try to coach an individual a bit, trying to be tactful as well, but they want nothing to do with somebody 'telling them what to do'. Instead of taking kind advice, they do what they want to do and usually end up giving me poor cue ball position on relatively easy position shots. It's as if they expect the cue ball to sense what they are thinking and automatically go to a certain position. The cue ball does not listen like that of course, and when it doesn't, which is all the time, they usually stick the cue ball snookered somewhere. When I was up and coming, I longed for people to coach me and suggest what to do, it's a way of learning for a humble individual. I guess to sum it up, those who don't want to take coaching, then mess up their shot, really irritates me, especially when we're playing Scotch doubles!
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On your specific problem, coaching lesser players is hard. I’ve seen many great players be lousy coaches because they don’t understand the limitations of the other player. “Just draw the ball 2 feet” when the player can’t draw consistently. “Just play 3 rails with inside” when they can’t make a shot with English or judge the speed for 3 rails. Etc.

As for pool play that irritates me,

Shooting too slow.
Shooting too fast.
Chalking too much
Chalking too little
Playing too aggressively
Playing too safe
Talking too much
Escaping from my safety
Deliberate sharking
Accidental sharking
Leaving the chalk top down on the rail

The list is endless. The game is all torture.
 
Played in a league ...the guy took 25 warm up strokes. Think he was f'd up?
Played partners at my house with family. One player is telling me everything I did wrong and what to shoot before I shot. Says he played APA years ago. He could not run 2-3 balls but knew his shit huh😂
What truly irritates is the opponent that does not know etiquette...Busy fiddling while the game is going on.
 
Best post in the thread...

GideonF said:
On your specific problem, coaching lesser players is hard. I’ve seen many great players be lousy coaches because they don’t understand the limitations of the other player. “Just draw the ball 2 feet” when the player can’t draw consistently. “Just play 3 rails with inside” when they can’t make a shot with English or judge the speed for 3 rails. Etc.

As for pool play that irritates me,

Shooting too slow. - The bane of my existence! Just get on with it already...
Shooting too fast. - I tend to fall in this category.
Chalking too much - The bane of my existence!
Chalking too little - Meh, I rarely chalk my break cue and only make sure the tip is properly covered.
Playing too aggressively - Only if they're banger's and get lucky. Good players know how to use the tangent line and ball speed to better their chances, it's easy to tell the difference.
Playing too safe - Get a rope...
Talking too much - Get a gun. Shut up and sit in your corner while I'm shooting,
Escaping from my safety - Good on them - means I didn't do what was needed.
Deliberate sharking - LOL, two weeks ago I played in a local tournament and the local sh** talker was gabbing as I got down on the 8B, I lined up the shot, made sure the stance was good, looked him straight in the eyes and fired the 8B in the center of the pocket at max velocity and walked away.
Accidental sharking - My nemesis, I hear everything in earshot when playing and it throws me off most of the time. It's not intentional so I don't want to say anything in fear of being pompous but, please, just sit in your corner and keep your mouth shut and respect the game..
Leaving the chalk top down on the rail - Public execution via guillotine.

The list is endless. The game is all torture. - I've said it before, and I'll say it until the day I die - "It's a stupid fu***** game!"
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tim913 said:
The player who boasts about all his accomplishments but can’t make two balls in a row and blames his cue, table, humidity and everything except himself
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A local guy I know has a 9' table and wanted me to come over, well his friend showed up thinking he knew how to play pool (decent cue with CF shaft but didn't what a CF shaft is about) but has never played in league or a tournament, daddy had a table and he banged balls in high school -20 years ago. After about 5 or so games of me getting used to the big table they realized they were in over their heads. I'm no world beater but guys like that like make me chuckle.
 
Maybe not a "play" thing, but a pool thing that irritates me is the amount of people who claim to be a "world champion" nowadays. The person who is an APA3 on the team that wins in Vegas and now they're out there calling themselves a world champion. :rolleyes:
 
I'd say it's safe to say that the majority dislike the same things. My biggest pissoff is losing in a match that I played like crap in and beating myself and the opponent walking around like a proud peacock and I so badly want to say go fk yourself.
 
Watching my team mates play , the opposing team might make a great shot or miss a shot but falls on deaf ears so to speak . They are too busy drinking and busy with the BS ........... to even know it is or isn't their shot . Often the player is looking to call a safety or the pocket to call and I am the one to acknowledge even if I'm not the one playing the match
 
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