Pool Hustlers, Tell us the Truth

Black-Balled

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Shit... if there was a way to show it, you'd find the gunn has had far more $ in action than you...both in time and volume.

Dang you guys know all about Hustling huh! I'm not asking I'm saying you guys know everything there is to know about everything. Bet you guys are the ones hanging around the pool room at 11:00 am sharp to get the best table in the room and hog it all day while spending 50 cents on coffee and don't tip your server a dime . Meanwhile gripe about PayPal 8$ for all day pool and just talk about who is in town and when the pool player walks in you say hey how are you can I stake you or you can stay at my house and I'll tell you who the score is and we can split it !!!!! Every pool room has pool players and wanna bees .... I like everyone, pool players , wanna bees , haters , heartless pool players , heartless wanna bees and most of all I like me . let this world keep going around the way it is and enjoy it or get a table at home and be a hermit. I enjoy watching action and participating in it some people like it on the wild side man . Are you not entertained lol😝
 

Pushout

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
No, it isn't "obvious"at all. Suppose I say the same to you...that it's obvious you don't know what You're talking about.
That'd make a lot of sense, wouldn't it ? Yea, surrrrre it would.
He makes some good points about being pestered by pool room bums who "just want to play some cheap". They do very little to further the business or the public impression of pool.
Just because you possibly like to ambush someone, doesn't mean most people want to put up with it.
I'm well aware that you're a big time hero in the pool world, but there are others of us who are not. And we have legitimate feelings and concerns about the game too.
And we spend a lot of money........in the environment that suits us.
As for "no one can make a living playing pool in tournaments"................then get a job. (or join up with the democrats and protest about something. I hear that pays pretty good.)

"pool hustlers" are NOT the reason the game is dying. There are a whole lot of other reasons for that. The comment about Democrats was uncalled for and childish.
 

jackpot

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
You tell him FuManchu

You obviously have no idea what you are talking about!

No one can make a living playing in pool tournaments.

Bill S.

FuManchu,obviously DOES know what he's talking about. We all know how to
spot them a mile away, but your average recreational player has no idea until
it's too late. "We started out just playing for a Nugrape soda and before I new it
he had wiped us out,even jr.'s college fund.If only he had seen the old reruns
of I love Lucy, or Dick Van Dyke, with the pool hustler episodes The scumbag
on the Dick Van Dyke show even beat Rob at his house.
Slicked back greasy hair, dirty finger nails on cigarette stained fingers,
pointed toe shoes, long sleeve shirts, even if it's a 100 degrees ( hide the
track marks ). Did that description hit a nerve Mr. Stroud, You've been outed
Mr. So go find another way to finance your next fix and leave the decent pool
players alone.
jack
 

nine_ball6970

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I knew one road player. He didn't really hide his speed but the best players around just didn't realize how strong his game was until he had left town with all the money.
 

garczar

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I knew one road player. He didn't really hide his speed but the best players around just didn't realize how strong his game was until he had left town with all the money.
I've known/seen a FEW players who had what i call "dial-a-gear", the ability/talent/balls to just play the EXACT speed needed to get the biscuits. I was always amazed at this as just playing decent has always been tough for me. To be able to have a "pool rheostat" and just BRING IT when needed is just crazy to me. A tad jealous? Hell yeah.
 

Bobkitty

I said: "Here kitty, kitty". Got this frown.
Gold Member
Silver Member
I've known/seen a FEW players who had what i call "dial-a-gear", the ability/talent/balls to just play the EXACT speed needed to get the biscuits. I was always amazed at this as just playing decent has always been tough for me. To be able to have a "pool rheostat" and just BRING IT when needed is just crazy to me. A tad jealous? Hell yeah.

I know a guy that used to make his living as a hustler. Amazing the way he could miss a ball. He could hit the corners when he needed to for a miss. If you miss 6" away, you're obvious. Also, he would take his stance and then turn his head and look all around the table while into it. Funny. Just stuff that makes one think you're no good. Luckily, he owns a house, wife, and it's all good now.
 

nine_ball6970

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've known/seen a FEW players who had what i call "dial-a-gear", the ability/talent/balls to just play the EXACT speed needed to get the biscuits. I was always amazed at this as just playing decent has always been tough for me. To be able to have a "pool rheostat" and just BRING IT when needed is just crazy to me. A tad jealous? Hell yeah.

A player who was cashed in the World 9 ball more than once. He took down a pretty good sized amateur tournament without running over anyone. Aliases can matter for players not well known from other countries.
 

ShootingArts

Smorg is giving St Peter the 7!
Gold Member
Silver Member
Funny thing

It is a funny thing, I danged near lived in bars and pool halls for years, putting in more hours on a table than at home. I did waste some good pool time at my day job or businesses I owned but when I logged hours for weeks a couple of times I found I spent more time at a pool table than anywhere else.

I never encountered the pool hall bum that kept pushing to play. I had two strangers that were pushy over the years, a lot of years. One was a youngster that said he was Johnny Archer. He simply walked up to every man in the room demanding somebody play some pool. Nobody had heard of him at the time and he hadn't given his name yet. When everyone said no, he just started the lap again. Looked like JA, same bearing, fired the single most amazing shot I have seen in play, I suspect was JA in his bar playing days.

The other person that was persistent and annoying was Keith. One reason it was annoying is that I was in a pretty nice hall at the time with a date. Had I not been with a date I would have played but I think everyone was well aware I wasn't interested in gambling that night. In all honesty it was a slow night and I think Keith was more interested in entertaining the railbirds than trying to get me into a game.

All of the people hounding me for a game in every poolroom, I have never met! Sure somebody might ask if I wanted to play but if I refused that was the end of it. Other people saw I said no and left me alone. Maybe a few hours later somebody that wasn't there when I said no the first time might ask and again politely take no for an answer. That is hardly the high pressure hustling people seem to be complaining about.

Hu
 

jokrswylde

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Only time I ever saw a "road player" was in college. He walked into the little bar where me and a couple of friends played 3 nights a week. He looked young and clean cut. Walked over to the Valley and put his $.75 on the rail and introduced himself as "William"

He beat me by a ball, and proceeded to own the table for the next hour, never winning by more than a couple of balls. (We were only playing for drinks at the time).

After a while, he mentions that he is getting drunk and no longer wants to play for drinks, but will play partners for $10 bucks a game. When no one wanted to play ( we were broke college kids) he pulled the old "you can choose my partner". That should have sent up red flags, but again we were young and dumb. We put our buddy who was so drunk he could barely stand, and was a terrible player when he was stone cold sober, with this guy and proceeded to lose about a $100 each.

We were amazed at how lucky they were and how we were just a ball away from winning every game it seemed. It definitely kept us coming back game after game, knowing we "should have won that last game" (yeah right!)
He tried to jack the bet a couple times, but we were happy just donating $10 bucks a game to him. I don't think he left our drunk friend with a shot over two feet all night. It was a fun night and we were all laughing and cutting up together.

Anyway after we were bust, an older gentleman who we had never seen walks up with this young guys coat and tells him there is a ring game across town they need to go bust. I looked at the guy and said " ok, buddy, you got us...who are you?" I'll never forget his reply:

"you ever hear of Minnesota Fats?"
"sure"
"Would you gamble with him?"
"Hell no!"
"Well. Would you have gambled if I had introduced myself as "Pensacola Willy"?
"Hell no"
"Not many people would. That's why I'm just "William"!

The bar owner did come over and challenge the guy best out of three for $50, but wanted his best game. "William won the lag and the Bar owner never got to the table" Heck, my drunk buddy was so impressed, he gave the guy half of the money he won playing with him.

I lost a $100 bucks that I really could't afford at the time, but I got much more than $100 bucks in education!
 

Bobkitty

I said: "Here kitty, kitty". Got this frown.
Gold Member
Silver Member
Only time I ever saw a "road player" was in college. He walked into the little bar where me and a couple of friends played 3 nights a week. He looked young and clean cut. Walked over to the Valley and put his $.75 on the rail and introduced himself as "William"

He beat me by a ball, and proceeded to own the table for the next hour, never winning by more than a couple of balls. (We were only playing for drinks at the time).

After a while, he mentions that he is getting drunk and no longer wants to play for drinks, but will play partners for $10 bucks a game. When no one wanted to play ( we were broke college kids) he pulled the old "you can choose my partner". That should have sent up red flags, but again we were young and dumb. We put our buddy who was so drunk he could barely stand, and was a terrible player when he was stone cold sober, with this guy and proceeded to lose about a $100 each.

We were amazed at how lucky they were and how we were just a ball away from winning every game it seemed. It definitely kept us coming back game after game, knowing we "should have won that last game" (yeah right!)
He tried to jack the bet a couple times, but we were happy just donating $10 bucks a game to him. I don't think he left our drunk friend with a shot over two feet all night. It was a fun night and we were all laughing and cutting up together.

Anyway after we were bust, an older gentleman who we had never seen walks up with this young guys coat and tells him there is a ring game across town they need to go bust. I looked at the guy and said " ok, buddy, you got us...who are you?" I'll never forget his reply:

"you ever hear of Minnesota Fats?"
"sure"
"Would you gamble with him?"
"Hell no!"
"Well. Would you have gambled if I had introduced myself as "Pensacola Willy"?
"Hell no"
"Not many people would. That's why I'm just "William"!

The bar owner did come over and challenge the guy best out of three for $50, but wanted his best game. "William won the lag and the Bar owner never got to the table" Heck, my drunk buddy was so impressed, he gave the guy half of the money he won playing with him.

I lost a $100 bucks that I really could't afford at the time, but I got much more than $100 bucks in education!

Great story. Wonder where "William" is today?
 

bstroud

Deceased
No, it isn't "obvious"at all. Suppose I say the same to you...that it's obvious you don't know what You're talking about.
That'd make a lot of sense, wouldn't it ? Yea, surrrrre it would.
He makes some good points about being pestered by pool room bums who "just want to play some cheap". They do very little to further the business or the public impression of pool.
Just because you possibly like to ambush someone, doesn't mean most people want to put up with it.
I'm well aware that you're a big time hero in the pool world, but there are others of us who are not. And we have legitimate feelings and concerns about the game too.
And we spend a lot of money........in the environment that suits us.
As for "no one can make a living playing pool in tournaments"................then get a job. (or join up with the democrats and protest about something. I hear that pays pretty good.)

Perhaps it's Obvious to me because I have a lot experience hustling pool in the 50's, 60's and early 70's.

What is being described here is not the Hustlers that existed then. It was more a fraternity of gunslingers traveling around the US and playing anyone they could. People like Ritchie Ambrose, Larry Hubbard, Toby Sweet, Big Bob, myself and many others.

We trusted each other and shared info on spots to go and play. It was not about bilking people out of their money but more a way to show yourself what you could do under fire.

Pool was fun and we all liked to play as often as we could. We had run out of players in our home town so we went elsewhere.

I stayed on the road for three years once without having a home. I got to play and gamble almost every day. Most days were 12 hours or more in the pool room doing what I liked best.

Traveling to just about every city and small town in the US was a wonderful experience. I wouldn't trade that time for anything.

It is possible to make a very good living playing Snooker. It is one game and once you understand the rules it is simple for people to understand. To be a Pro you must qualify and maintain certain standards. Equipment is standardized for tournament and gambling thru Turf Accountants is common.

Pool on the other hand is what? Straight Pool, 9 Ball, 10 Ball, Bank Pool, One Pocket, 8 Ball and many other games. There are no standards over the tables, cloth, balls or anything else. There is little qualifying for the events and you can call yourself a pro if you wish.

That is why no pool player can make a real living playing pool without gambling.

Bill S.
 

Scott Lee

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
That is absolutely untrue Bill. What do you call a "real" living? To me, that's six figures! There is plenty of money to be made instructing, and performing exhibitions in colleges and elsewhere...no gambling involved.

On the contrary, as you know, most pro poolplayers have other vices besides gambling on pool. They may make a score one day on the pool table, and lose it the next day at the track or the casino. Once you reach the level you play at, who is going to play against you? Nobody...without a huge spot...or somebody with the same skill as you (which is a crap shoot). That's why you guys ended up playing each other, when there was no other action. The gigantic majority of REAL players cannot make a living gambling either. Most die broke. Look at the history.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com



That is why no pool player can make a real living playing pool without gambling.

Bill S.
 

bstroud

Deceased
That is absolutely untrue Bill. What do you call a "real" living? To me, that's six figures! There is plenty of money to be made instructing, and performing exhibitions in colleges and elsewhere...no gambling involved.

On the contrary, as you know, most pro poolplayers have other vices besides gambling on pool. They may make a score one day on the pool table, and lose it the next day at the track or the casino. Once you reach the level you play at, who is going to play against you? Nobody...without a huge spot...or somebody with the same skill as you (which is a crap shoot). That's why you guys ended up playing each other, when there was no other action. The gigantic majority of REAL players cannot make a living gambling either. Most die broke. Look at the history.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Scott,

I know nothing about the Exhibition and Teaching world.
I was talking about tournament prize money. Making over 100K is still not realistic playing pool. Expenses eat you up.

I like playing for money. I just don't get playing for fun althought I do it sometimes with young players that are eager to learn.

When I was 14 or so several good players helped me by playing fun pool so I return the favor. Watching good players is always a good way to learn.

I agree with you about pool players not making a living gambling. Thats' why I started making cues. I didn't want to die broke.

Still, playing pool for money is what I enjoy the most.

Bill S.
 

Low500

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Perhaps it's Obvious to me because I have a lot experience hustling pool in the 50's, 60's and early 70's.
What is being described here is not the Hustlers that existed then. It was more a fraternity of gunslingers traveling around the US and playing anyone they could. People like Ritchie Ambrose, Larry Hubbard, Toby Sweet, Big Bob, myself and many others.
We trusted each other and shared info on spots to go and play. It was not about bilking people out of their money but more a way to show yourself what you could do under fire.
Pool was fun and we all liked to play as often as we could. We had run out of players in our home town so we went elsewhere.
I stayed on the road for three years once without having a home. I got to play and gamble almost every day. Most days were 12 hours or more in the pool room doing what I liked best.
Traveling to just about every city and small town in the US was a wonderful experience. I wouldn't trade that time for anything.
It is possible to make a very good living playing Snooker. It is one game and once you understand the rules it is simple for people to understand. To be a Pro you must qualify and maintain certain standards. Equipment is standardized for tournament and gambling thru Turf Accountants is common.
Pool on the other hand is what? Straight Pool, 9 Ball, 10 Ball, Bank Pool, One Pocket, 8 Ball and many other games. There are no standards over the tables, cloth, balls or anything else. There is little qualifying for the events and you can call yourself a pro if you wish.
That is why no pool player can make a real living playing pool without gambling.
Bill S.
Do you honestly and truly believe that all the stuff you just posted is something the rest of those in the pool world with any age on them don't already know about??????????
That's old news, dead and gone. GONE WITH THE WIND....forever. Along with most players and 'sacred cows' who chose to live it. And the ones left are close to dying themselves.
There's a new breed out there.....they play better than you or any of those old road agents. Times have changed. Most pool players are still living in the past, cutting up jackpots about the big scores in Chicago, Detroit, and Johnston City from 50 years ago.
The new breed manages and invests. They buy property. They're not happy living in dump hotels, getting gum disease from smoking, or being addicted to booze. They hit the gym and try to diet properly. Good looking women like 'em. They laugh at "fat bellies" as losers.
Thank the good Lord for these changes in a wonderful game called pool.
Living in the past...man oh man.
 

Bobkitty

I said: "Here kitty, kitty". Got this frown.
Gold Member
Silver Member
Do you honestly and truly believe that all the stuff you just posted is something the rest of those in the pool world with any age on them don't already know about??????????
That's old news, dead and gone. GONE WITH THE WIND....forever. Along with most players and 'sacred cows' who chose to live it. And the ones left are close to dying themselves.
There's a new breed out there.....they play better than you or any of those old road agents. Times have changed. Most pool players are still living in the past, cutting up jackpots about the big scores in Chicago, Detroit, and Johnston City from 50 years ago.
The new breed manages and invests. They buy property. They're not happy living in dump hotels, getting gum disease from smoking, or being addicted to booze. They hit the gym and try to diet properly. Good looking women like 'em. They laugh at "fat bellies" as losers.
Thank the good Lord for these changes in a wonderful game called pool.
Living in the past...man oh man.

I disagree with what you wrote. Sounds like Bill Stroud has lived the life he wanted. Can't argue with that.
 

bstroud

Deceased
Do you honestly and truly believe that all the stuff you just posted is something the rest of those in the pool world with any age on them don't already know about??????????
That's old news, dead and gone. GONE WITH THE WIND....forever. Along with most players and 'sacred cows' who chose to live it. And the ones left are close to dying themselves.
There's a new breed out there.....they play better than you or any of those old road agents. Times have changed. Most pool players are still living in the past, cutting up jackpots about the big scores in Chicago, Detroit, and Johnston City from 50 years ago.
The new breed manages and invests. They buy property. They're not happy living in dump hotels, getting gum disease from smoking, or being addicted to booze. They hit the gym and try to diet properly. Good looking women like 'em. They laugh at "fat bellies" as losers.
Thank the good Lord for these changes in a wonderful game called pool.
Living in the past...man oh man.

You seem to be living in a dream world that doesn't exist.

Bill S.
 

Gunn_Slinger

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Do you honestly and truly believe that all the stuff you just posted is something the rest of those in the pool world with any age on them don't already know about??????????
That's old news, dead and gone. GONE WITH THE WIND....forever. Along with most players and 'sacred cows' who chose to live it. And the ones left are close to dying themselves.
There's a new breed out there.....they play better than you or any of those old road agents. Times have changed. Most pool players are still living in the past, cutting up jackpots about the big scores in Chicago, Detroit, and Johnston City from 50 years ago.
The new breed manages and invests. They buy property. They're not happy living in dump hotels, getting gum disease from smoking, or being addicted to booze. They hit the gym and try to diet properly. Good looking women like 'em. They laugh at "fat bellies" as losers.
Thank the good Lord for these changes in a wonderful game called pool.
Living in the past...man oh man.

I take offence to a few things you said, but what makes you think that the 'new breed'
of pool players play better that the players of the 40's 50's 60's 70's ??? We played
on a lot of 'junk' equipment and never wined about 'please clean the QB in the
middle of the game' ! Your 'so called better players' wouldn't make it in the pool
of years ago. Who today has run 38 banks in a row ?? Nobody. The best 'all around player' today would have 'the worst of it' playing the best all around player of the 40's 50's 60's and maybe the 70's....that would be Eddie Taylor ! Eddie ran the 38 banks in the us bank pool tourney btw. The great players of yesterday would do very well against the primadonna players of today. I quit playing in 1980 due to back problems. I came back in 1989 . Real pool seemed to have shriveled up ! Players played 3-4 races to 7 for $50 and complained they were tired....really? And $50 ? Turned out,
we bet more in the 60's 70's than they did in the 90's ? And they didn't play very long.
$20 a game, $50 a game 9 ball was very common in the 60's 70's. $50 a race ?
A joke.Plus, $50 a game back then would be app. $300 a game today.
Also, I agree that the top players handle there money better, and are usually in good shape. But, they have SPONSORS ! Most road players bet their own or usually had a 'road ' partner. Sometimes you could get a 'stake horse ' , but, usually you were on
your own. We were in pretty good shape also, because we could play for hours and
hours to get the cash ! You didn't quit winner. You played until one of you was broke.
 

Low500

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I take offence to a few things you said, but what makes you think that the 'new breed'
of pool players play better that the players of the 40's 50's 60's 70's ??? We played
on a lot of 'junk' equipment and never wined about 'please clean the QB in the
middle of the game' ! Your 'so called better players' wouldn't make it in the pool
of years ago. Who today has run 38 banks in a row ?? Nobody. The best 'all around player' today would have 'the worst of it' playing the best all around player of the 40's 50's 60's and maybe the 70's....that would be Eddie Taylor ! Eddie ran the 38 banks in the us bank pool tourney btw. The great players of yesterday would do very well against the primadonna players of today. I quit playing in 1980 due to back problems. I came back in 1989 . Real pool seemed to have shriveled up ! Players played 3-4 races to 7 for $50 and complained they were tired....really? And $50 ? Turned out,
we bet more in the 60's 70's than they did in the 90's ? And they didn't play very long.
$20 a game, $50 a game 9 ball was very common in the 60's 70's. $50 a race ?
A joke.Plus, $50 a game back then would be app. $300 a game today.
Also, I agree that the top players handle there money better, and are usually in good shape. But, they have SPONSORS ! Most road players bet their own or usually had a 'road ' partner. Sometimes you could get a 'stake horse ' , but, usually you were on
your own. We were in pretty good shape also, because we could play for hours and
hours to get the cash ! You didn't quit winner. You played until one of you was broke.
I know what we can do.
First we can find some of those 5 inch pockets and then, and then,and then...........
We can hitch up a victrola, listen to Bing Crosby records, drink Hadacol, and read the Saturday Evening Post.
:grin::grin::grin:
cartoon man asleep in chair.jpg
 
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