Advantage to have a "name" in pool world?

Billy_Bob

Billy_Bob

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Is it an advantage to have a well known "name" in the pool world or is it a disadvantage?

i.e. Could you win a certain percentage of games just from the intimidation factor, making other players nervous, etc. by having a "name" and being sure as many players as possible knew that name?

Or would it be a liability. i.e. Other players would be gunning for you and would play extra good just so they could say they beat "the name"?
 
Billy_Bob said:
Is it an advantage to have a well known "name" in the pool world or is it a disadvantage?

i.e. Could you win a certain percentage of games just from the intimidation factor, making other players nervous, etc. by having a "name" and being sure as many players as possible knew that name?

Or would it be a liability. i.e. Other players would be gunning for you and would play extra good just so they could say they beat "the name"?
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I think it depends on what you want in life through pool. If you want to be a tournament winner and participant then your name is going to get known and will be tougher in getting money games without giving away the kitchen sink.
Also if you have a name, EVERYONE is gunning for you and wants to take you out.

If you have no name, you can glide under the radar and get games anywhere in the country. You won't have to give all the weight to a player because you can hide your game. And from the dumb egotist, you can GET weight and have a walk in the park. So the question really is...how would you rather earn YOUR money in pool if you had the choice?
 
Billy_Bob said:
Is it an advantage to have a well known "name" in the pool world or is it a disadvantage?

i.e. Could you win a certain percentage of games just from the intimidation factor, making other players nervous, etc. by having a "name" and being sure as many players as possible knew that name?

Or would it be a liability. i.e. Other players would be gunning for you and would play extra good just so they could say they beat "the name"?
Click to expand...


I honestly think the "name" players have a disadvantage. Just because everyone who the "name" player is, would also know his/her game and would know how to play them. What really intimidates me is when someone new comes to the pool room, you notice them right away cause they kinda dont fit in at first. S/He is just shooting some balls around but mostly just standing there and watching everyone shoot. Those are the people I would be a little weary of.
 
Hunntyr said:
...Those are the people I would be a little weary of.
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I am tired of them too. Spend some $$, this ain't the mall!!

But seriously, look at those 'name' players. They are sure that they can give 99.5% of the world the 7 and 99.9% the 8. Try one of 'em a 7-ahead for 1 or 2K$.

For this reason, they don't care if you know them and they don't know you. IIRC, they wear undershits that say, "wanna play some?".

-pigi
 
piglit said:
I am tired of them too. Spend some $$, this ain't the mall!!

But seriously, look at those 'name' players. They are sure that they can give 99.5% of the world the 7 and 99.9% the 8. Try one of 'em a 7-ahead for 1 or 2K$.

For this reason, they don't care if you know them and they don't know you. IIRC, they wear undershits that say, "wanna play some?".

-pigi
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Pigi, I love your posts but your a bit off on the percentages. I would think that they could give far more than 99.5% of the world the 7! That would be in the neighborhood of 30 Million people that they COULDN'T give the 7 to and 6 Million that they COULDN'T give the 8 to. That, of course, is using approximately 6 Billion people in the world. I would say that the numbers are off by, at least, two orders of magnitude...lol.
 
It matters a lot. Intimidation and nerves have an major effect on your game, and if you are an unknown expect your opponent to freewheel on you too..

I've seen good players suddenly become bumbling idiots when up against a "name brand" player. How would you like it if all your opponents suddenly turned to jell-o at the thought of playing you?

Chris
 
I agree with all of you. But I looked at it from a different perspectice. The reputation you have goes both ways. Especially among weekly or monthly tournaments. For example, a player is known to dog shots. Or blow a big lead. The people he plays against will definately take this into consideration. Just like they would if he was known as a tough player.

Even though we're supposed to play the table, and not the man. It's tougher said than done.
 
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Billy_Bob said:
Is it an advantage to have a well known "name" in the pool world or is it a disadvantage?

i.e. Could you win a certain percentage of games just from the intimidation factor, making other players nervous, etc. by having a "name" and being sure as many players as possible knew that name?

Or would it be a liability. i.e. Other players would be gunning for you and would play extra good just so they could say they beat "the name"?
Click to expand...

i think anything you can use to your advantage is worth its weight in gold. i've seen pros fold when they play efren,,,and i know they have deep abiding respect for his game and hold him in awe.

if a player "guns" for a name, then that "name" has to show why he's earned the rep.
 
I think having "a name" is a big advantage. More power to those able to block it out, but for me, if I draw Tony Robles or Frankie Hernandez in a local tournament in my hometown, I find it a bit intimidating, and tough to play my best. I really believe that Earl, Johnny, and Efren all win some matches because their reputations precede them, making it less likely that their opponents will be cool and composed in the heat of battle.

I believe that in all sports, the "name" players have a psychological edge that helps them to succeed.
 
sjm said:
I think having "a name" is a big advantage. More power to those able to block it out, but for me, if I draw Tony Robles or Frankie Hernandez in a local tournament in my hometown, I find it a bit intimidating, and tough to play my best. I really believe that Earl, Johnny, and Efren all win some matches because their reputations precede them, making it less likely that their opponents will be cool and composed in the heat of battle.

I believe that in all sports, the "name" players have a psychological edge that helps them to succeed.
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Its the opposite for me, I've played my best pool in tournaments playing the more well known players. For me its very motivating to get in there with a better player and see how you do. I feel no pressure when I am playing these guys, I am supposed to lose anyway. I am sure that their reputations do win them matches but for me I seem to really lock in when I am playing much stronger players, I am trying to figure out how to find that level of concentration for every match but haven't quite figured that out yet.
 
Well honestly, i think everyone wants to have best of both worlds, being the no name guy, who comes into the pool hall and hustles the big names outa money.

And everyone wants to be the big name player who runs racks all day long. With everyone watching in amazement.

I have played in a couple local big money tournaments that draw these big name guys.

the last one i played in was Oct 23, and i played a guy by the name of Rick Schroder (sp) i think he is from Saginaw, Mi and he plays almost flawless.

I ran into him on the loser side of the bracket, and he wins 9-2 lol. He started out by putting a 5 spot on me, before he broke and didnt make anything and i ran out. I then break make a ball run a couple balls, and miss, Rick then runs out.

Next game he breaks makes a ball and then runs to the 4ball and miss's and i run out.

After that anytime i got to the table i was kicking, or making a couple balls and then trying to play safe.

I think the toughest part about playing someone who has made a name for himself is, knowing if you miss or try to play safe and dont get it, the other guy is going to run out.

So people play scared, or nervous and tend to miss the easy shots they would normally make.
 
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