All this talk about getting sharked

[Bishop]

Who cares. Do we all suck so bad that we let this crap affect our game. I could careless what music is on, whos waving a towel, twiddling their thumbs, yapity yakking away. None of that matters unless someone throws themselves onto the table, just play the game.

I don't want to see this game turn into golf clapping for the slow and challenged. I still love the roots of the game, dark musky pool halls with blues and guitar pumped up way too loud. Money changing hands with voices at full throttle that you can't hear 10 feet away.

We don't need a perfect setting and environment to succeed and win. JUST PLAY THE GAME.

 

[despotic931]

Do we all suck so bad that we let this crap affect our game.

Yes hehe

 

[seymore15074]

Who cares. Do we all suck so bad that we let this crap affect our game. I could careless what music is on, whos waving a towel, twiddling their thumbs, yapity yakking away. None of that matters unless someone throws themselves onto the table, just play the game.

Apparently a lot of people suck that bad. I really don't care, either...nothing sharks me short of DD's; and in that case, I'll live.

 

[corvette1340]

Who cares. Do we all suck so bad that we let this crap affect our game. I could careless what music is on, whos waving a towel, twiddling their thumbs, yapity yakking away. None of that matters unless someone throws themselves onto the table, just play the game.

I don't want to see this game turn into golf clapping for the slow and challenged. I still love the roots of the game, dark musky pool halls with blues and guitar pumped up way too loud. Money changing hands with voices at full throttle that you can't hear 10 feet away.

We don't need a perfect setting and environment to succeed and win. JUST PLAY THE GAME.

I totally agree. I love when someone tries to shark me. There is nothing better than beating the hell out of someone no matter what they try. I shoot better the higher the stakes and the more pressure. That being said, I know that not all people are like this and I will occasionally use some subtle sharking tactics.

 

[Bishop]

Apparently a lot of people suck that bad. I really don't care, either...nothing sharks me short of DD's; and in that case, I'll live.

Hahaha rep for that.

I guess I could careless if someone is fiddling his diddle in my line of site. 2 balls, one hand, one cue and the playing surface is all I care about.

 

[Dr. Dissent]

Who cares. Do we all suck so bad that we let this crap affect our game. I could careless what music is on, whos waving a towel, twiddling their thumbs, yapity yakking away. None of that matters unless someone throws themselves onto the table, just play the game.

I don't want to see this game turn into golf clapping for the slow and challenged. I still love the roots of the game, dark musky pool halls with blues and guitar pumped up way too loud. Money changing hands with voices at full throttle that you can't hear 10 feet away.

We don't need a perfect setting and environment to succeed and win. JUST PLAY THE GAME.

It's just another excuse for the sore losers......

 

[Pinocchio]

!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats great insight an I totally agree. If you can't beat the shark my feeling is you can't play. I'm sorry but excuses are for losers.
Rep for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pinocchio

 

[StevenPWaldon]

I agree mostly, but pool is such a "zone" game that it can be easy to have other things get into your head.

Look at Strickland. If someone like Souquet gets into his head, he loses it. Partly it's that he's easily distracted, but when someone is obviously sharking and pacing around it's hard to shut out sometimes. I'm pretty good at it, but I can't say that it never gets to me.

The thing I hate most is when someone complains about sharking after dogging a shot, losing a set, or when the opponent clearly wasn't sharking -- that is, when someone is a sore loser and can't swallow the fact that they dogged a set. Pony up the cash, take it like a grown person.

 

[lewdo26]

I am now trying to take responsibility for being sharked. I sharked myself... If there is something taking my concentration away from the shot and I shoot it anyway, it is my boo-boo. Tell the guy to stop talking, or fiddling in you line of sight or whatever. Why act tough and impervious?

I used to get down there, and when the waitress crossed my line of sight, I'd tell myself "I won't allow it to distract me." I think I've finally come to the realization that if I'm saying anything at all to myself, I've already sharked myself...

Sometimes it's a fine line. Sometimes I don't REALIZE something was taking my attention away from the shot until afterwards.

All that said, I just know when guys offer me a money game and they got that sleazy look...That it's an ego thing for them, not about the game --- and I know I'll be sharked as soon as I get ahead. So... I just let them decide on my reputation as a nit and wait for someone who respects the game as much as I do.

 

[PoolBum]

Who cares. Do we all suck so bad that we let this crap affect our game.

I've seen some of the best players in the world get sharked and miss because of it. The better the players, the greater the affect on the outcome a shark can be, where one miss can determine the match.

 

[I rack balls]

I've seen some of the best players in the world get sharked and miss because of it. The better the players, the greater the affect on the outcome a shark can be, where one miss can determine the match.

I totally agree.

It does definitely change a lot for me. I am not one to make excuses but I have lost matches because of dishonorable sharking.

Eric.A.

 

[krbsailing]

Wanna Play Some Pool

Come on down to the Pub "Corvette 1340" and bring that there VISA card

 

[corvette1340]

Come on down to the Pub "Corvette 1340" and bring that there VISA card

I don't claim to be a world beater. I hardly ever play and if I play I usually get spotted a lot. But, I will bet as high as you can stack it if I like the match.

 

[acedotcom]

Yeah, I'm susceptible to sharking, too. And, I don't usually have the presence of mind to back off the shot and collect myself. Even at those times when I say to myself, "Look, that a-holes trying to shark me," I've already been sharked because I'm thinking about it. What's wrong with expecting your opponent to sit still and shut up when it's your shot? Of course, if you're playing in a bar, you have to ignore everything because there are so many people milling around, usual pool etiquette goes down the toilet with the recycled suds.

 

[seymore15074]

How about the walking bystandard that thinks abruptly pausing as if someone told him to freeze right in front of you will not distract you? It cracks me up when I see it, I get up and laugh...sometimes I think those people don't know wtf to do! lol

 

[Bishop]

I understand that certain things can be a pain in the arse but truthfully its just a matter of relaxing and falling into the game. There have been countless times when I play a race to 8 or 10 and I couldn't even tell you what music was on or even what type it was.

I don't totally think its a matter of concentration but more of a matter that I could care less what someone does around me because my concern should lie on the playing surface.

 

[Hierovision]

How about the walking bystandard that thinks abruptly pausing as if someone told him to freeze right in front of you will not distract you? It cracks me up when I see it, I get up and laugh...sometimes I think those people don't know wtf to do! lol

I think it's hilarious as well when they stop just inside your line of sight and stare right at you. I gotta laugh and then wave them on before taking the shot lol... bunch of noobs.

 

[mike253]

I think those of you who are taking the "excuses are for losers!" attitude are ignoring the fact that not all of us play pool on a regular basis, or have been playing for a long time. Just because you can ignore the guy doing jumping jacks beside you doesn't mean someone who plays once a week on an APA league and is still trying to learn the fundamentals can. I get easily distracted myself, but I've only been "sharked" once in the 3 years I've been playing (other than by friends when we're goofing around) I was playing an APA league match, my opponent left the cue ball sitting in one corner, about 1/4 of the ball hanging over the pocket, and the 8 ball sitting dead in the middle of the opposite corner. I called the pocket and got down to shoot and that jackarse squatted directly behind that pocket (almost with his chin on the table) and was waving his stick and his arms and making odd noises. I resisted the urge to go kick him in the face and simply got up and told him to sit down and shut the hell up, then made my shot.

 

[rackmsuckr]

If they know how to play ball in hand rules, then I expect them to know enough about pool etiquette and what is considered sharking. If it was insignificant, there wouldn't be a term for it.

In tournament play, I expect my opponent to be sitting down with their mouth shut and absolutely still while I am down shooting, period.

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

I don't mind getting sharked by my opponent, as long as she's a hot chick !

that sort of thing happened to me a few years ago. I was on a roll and she (my opponent) was itching to find a way to get a break, so she had to do this really outrageous maneuver by flashing me! I must honestly say that those were such a sight to behold, kinda stunned me for a few moments but not enough to break my entire concentration. though I gave the game away on purpose in the end and get something in return for it. I must say that it was the nicest shark attack that I ever had.