After reading the various threads regarding the Danny Harriman/Archer controversy, I have come to the conclusion that table climbing has the potential to really ruin the game of pool.
FIRSTLY:
Table climbing can cause damage to pool tables.
Cuebacca had pointed this fact out in another (Harriman) thread and I must say, I fully agree with him 100%. I’ve played on tables with dead spots on the rails and let me tell you, it can be pretty annoying, when it costs you undeserved position and in some cases can cost you the match.
Dead spots on the rails occur when the glue that holds the rubber to the rail gets separated. That separation often occurs or is enhanced by people jumping up on tables. Any pool table mechanic or room owner just cringes when people jump up on the rails.
SECONDLY:
Eliminating/ or diminishing the use of “The rest”
Table climbing makes the skill of using “the rest” unnecessary, less important or perhaps obsolete. Using the rest is a skill in itself. Many pool players hate the rest, however, the many good ones; (especially snooker players) have spent countless hours honing their SKILLS using the rest. Proper use of the rest is an acquired SKILL.
I’m all for the Filipino players who play shots left handed or behind their backs (to avoid using the rest), however, because that is also an acquired SKILL. You don’t have to go to mountain climbing school to learn how to climb up on a table, as it takes NO SKILLl at all. ZERO ZILCH! Taking (or diminishing) "the rest" out of the game, bastardizes the sport of pool and I suspect that the pool legends of old would be rolling around in their graves if they knew that this is now happening. Why take a SKILL out of the game? Maybe they should take sand trap shots out of the game of golf?
Furthermore eliminating the need for the rest does not punish people for playing bad position. Take the game on nine ball for instance. It is often very important to return to center (of the table) in the game of nine ball as to avoid using the rest and acquiring position. Players will often opt for a longer more difficult shot (from the center of the table) without the rest as opposed to perhaps an easier shot with the rest. If a player can climb on the table and shoot that easier shot AND shoot it without a rest, then those first options will in some cases be deleted from the game of pool. Players will also come up short for their shape and not be punished for hitting a bad position shot, by climbing up on the table.
Not being punished for playing BAD position is BAD for the game of pool.
Thirdly:
This looks FUKEN terrible!!!
http://photos.internationalpooltour.com/cpg/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=220
Really now folks, does anyone here really want to see these shots like this become commonplace in the game of pool?
Sympathy for the Short people:
Some would argue( PLEASE forgive me Rakumsukr, and other shorties) that short people are punished by not being allowed to climb up on tables and are therefore at a disadvantage. While it is true that short people may have to use the rest more often, I don’t see it affecting to many of the five foot nothing Filipino’s.Those SHORT Filipino's are the best pool players in the world.
It seems to me that Alex had no problem becoming champion of the world in nine ball in 2004 or winning the US Open. Seems to me that Efren is no Wilt Chamberlain either? The Filipino’s have learned to play with the bodies that they were God given. They have adjusted by shooting left handed, behind there backs, or have learned to use the rest and play great posistion. They have learned to cope with their height disadvantage in a SKILLful matter. Once again, CLIMBING ON THE TABLE TAKES NO SKILL.ZERO,ZILCH!!!
Maybe they should make allowances for short people in the sports of Basketball, Volleyball, football,badmintion etc etc.Or how about that poor short outfielder in baseball that can’t leap up and make that homerun saving catch.I don’t see those sports making spring loaded shoes legal to make everyone an equal. I don’t see those athletes complaining about their heights. Sorry, but I’m not trying to me mean here to the short people, but if you don’t like it, take up freakin’ limbo dancing.
IN CLOSING:
I’m not sure whether the IPT has already eliminated table climbing or is intending on doing so? If they don’t, they will be forever bastardizing the game of pool.This is something they should consider seriously.
JMO,
RJ
Ps. If I had have known that Varner and Parica had also done table climbing shots, I wouldn’t have singled out Danny in my song. I would have changed the lyrics to that 70’s tune called,”Hey Hey We’re the Monkee’s” by the band called “The Monkee’s.”My sincerest apologies for missing that.
I was thinking of penning out that tune, however,I may have insulted some pool players (who can’t use a rest) with the above already, so I respectfully decline.
...love ya all, including my enemies.
FIRSTLY:
Table climbing can cause damage to pool tables.
Cuebacca had pointed this fact out in another (Harriman) thread and I must say, I fully agree with him 100%. I’ve played on tables with dead spots on the rails and let me tell you, it can be pretty annoying, when it costs you undeserved position and in some cases can cost you the match.
Dead spots on the rails occur when the glue that holds the rubber to the rail gets separated. That separation often occurs or is enhanced by people jumping up on tables. Any pool table mechanic or room owner just cringes when people jump up on the rails.
SECONDLY:
Eliminating/ or diminishing the use of “The rest”
Table climbing makes the skill of using “the rest” unnecessary, less important or perhaps obsolete. Using the rest is a skill in itself. Many pool players hate the rest, however, the many good ones; (especially snooker players) have spent countless hours honing their SKILLS using the rest. Proper use of the rest is an acquired SKILL.
I’m all for the Filipino players who play shots left handed or behind their backs (to avoid using the rest), however, because that is also an acquired SKILL. You don’t have to go to mountain climbing school to learn how to climb up on a table, as it takes NO SKILLl at all. ZERO ZILCH! Taking (or diminishing) "the rest" out of the game, bastardizes the sport of pool and I suspect that the pool legends of old would be rolling around in their graves if they knew that this is now happening. Why take a SKILL out of the game? Maybe they should take sand trap shots out of the game of golf?
Furthermore eliminating the need for the rest does not punish people for playing bad position. Take the game on nine ball for instance. It is often very important to return to center (of the table) in the game of nine ball as to avoid using the rest and acquiring position. Players will often opt for a longer more difficult shot (from the center of the table) without the rest as opposed to perhaps an easier shot with the rest. If a player can climb on the table and shoot that easier shot AND shoot it without a rest, then those first options will in some cases be deleted from the game of pool. Players will also come up short for their shape and not be punished for hitting a bad position shot, by climbing up on the table.
Not being punished for playing BAD position is BAD for the game of pool.
Thirdly:
This looks FUKEN terrible!!!
http://photos.internationalpooltour.com/cpg/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=220
Really now folks, does anyone here really want to see these shots like this become commonplace in the game of pool?
Sympathy for the Short people:
Some would argue( PLEASE forgive me Rakumsukr, and other shorties) that short people are punished by not being allowed to climb up on tables and are therefore at a disadvantage. While it is true that short people may have to use the rest more often, I don’t see it affecting to many of the five foot nothing Filipino’s.Those SHORT Filipino's are the best pool players in the world.
It seems to me that Alex had no problem becoming champion of the world in nine ball in 2004 or winning the US Open. Seems to me that Efren is no Wilt Chamberlain either? The Filipino’s have learned to play with the bodies that they were God given. They have adjusted by shooting left handed, behind there backs, or have learned to use the rest and play great posistion. They have learned to cope with their height disadvantage in a SKILLful matter. Once again, CLIMBING ON THE TABLE TAKES NO SKILL.ZERO,ZILCH!!!
Maybe they should make allowances for short people in the sports of Basketball, Volleyball, football,badmintion etc etc.Or how about that poor short outfielder in baseball that can’t leap up and make that homerun saving catch.I don’t see those sports making spring loaded shoes legal to make everyone an equal. I don’t see those athletes complaining about their heights. Sorry, but I’m not trying to me mean here to the short people, but if you don’t like it, take up freakin’ limbo dancing.
IN CLOSING:
I’m not sure whether the IPT has already eliminated table climbing or is intending on doing so? If they don’t, they will be forever bastardizing the game of pool.This is something they should consider seriously.
JMO,
RJ
Ps. If I had have known that Varner and Parica had also done table climbing shots, I wouldn’t have singled out Danny in my song. I would have changed the lyrics to that 70’s tune called,”Hey Hey We’re the Monkee’s” by the band called “The Monkee’s.”My sincerest apologies for missing that.
I was thinking of penning out that tune, however,I may have insulted some pool players (who can’t use a rest) with the above already, so I respectfully decline.
...love ya all, including my enemies.