am i too serious?

JayBates

JayBates

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i love to play pool, especially 8 ball. i dont like to just "shoot around". recently i have been told by a few people that i play too seriously. every game i play when not in a tournament is what i would consider practice. i dont care who im playing against, im always going to try my best. i regularly play with a few guys that seem to be getting mad bc they keep losing. by no means am i saying i can beat anyone, just better than them. they say i always play as if 100 bucks is on the line. i see it as if i dont try my best, im not getting any better. im not being mean by trying my best am i? feel free to call me a butt hole or whatever you like...thoughts and opinions?
thanks,
Jay
 
I play serious every time I play too..and my husband complains..The thing is that you also have to enjoy yourself and have fun while you are playing or you will loose interest. I love pool, and have a passion for it like nothing else, but I also enjoy it. Win or loose! Being serious is a good thing just don't take the fun out.
 
Serious?

Just my opinion. I believe if you aren't trying to do your best on every shot, you are laughing or making fun of the game itself. I also believe you should practice like you play and play like you practice.

Perhaps the bigger question is how you behave when it isn't your shot or when you miss a shot. If you're acting like a butt hole then, the people with whom you play have a right to complain. The answer may be to look in the mirror first. :o

Brian in VA
 
it depends. When you are playing with your friends are you hanging out, chatting, laughing and enjoying yourself? Or is it "This is pool! this is serious! No talking, moving, thinking, sniffing, looking or watching!".

I think to some degree you are too serious. When I am playing with people who can't win, I generally don't play safe, I chat while im at the table, I go for impossible shots, I just have fun. Of course if I start losing a few games I turn it up a few notches but still ensure that it is all in fun.

If you want to practice go and do so either by yourself or with a player who can beat you. Playing your friends as though they were top ranked pros will only make them not want to play with you anymore.
 
Cameron Smith said:
it depends. When you are playing with your friends are you hanging out, chatting, laughing and enjoying yourself? Or is it "This is pool! this is serious! No talking, moving, thinking, sniffing, looking or watching!".

I think to some degree you are too serious. When I am playing with people who can't win, I generally don't play safe, I chat while im at the table, I go for impossible shots, I just have fun. Of course if I start losing a few games I turn it up a few notches but still ensure that it is all in fun.

If you want to practice go and do so either by yourself or with a player who can beat you. Playing your friends as though they were top ranked pros will only make them not want to play with you anymore.
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I agree. If you take pool very seriously, try and look for others who vibe the same way. For your own good, and theirs.

Recreational and serious types don't mesh together. When I'm shooting at a bar, for instance, I just go ahead and shed my pool fanatic's hat. If I don't do that, I'm a martian to the rest of them. Though it's been taking me a while to learn that!:)
 
Don't listen to and avoid playing with those people.

For some the game is just a social experience, for others it is study.
 
If you are trying yourhardest every time you play? No. You're not being too serious.

If you can't enjoy the game and the company of those around you, yeah. You are taking it too seriously.
 
it's only bad if you're offending people with bad behavior. if you're simply "serious" about your game, then they don't get it.
 
If you have to ask, then yes.

Leave the Purple heart titlist conversion at home, along with your Joe Porper 6X12 cue case, measles cue ball, Television set Aramith Pro cup ball set, engraved chalk case, billiard glove, yellow tinted glasses, pool shoes, etc at home.

Honestly, some people just really want a casual game, so to speak. They see the game as more of an amusement than a sport.
 
to add a bit more.....
when i say they cant beat me i mean they always have one or two balls left on the table. i dont whoop them by any means. im not the one to yell at everyone if they are talking or what not. its sad but where i play the most is at a truck stop...it is never quiet...people are always walking around or chasing thier running children. i have gotten used to it and just tone it out now. i play respectfully and observe respectfully when it isnt my turn. im always having fun when i play pool...good day or bad. i would say i probably have the best pool edicate (cant spell) of all the regulars up there. what i originaly meant by being a butt hole was not letting up to "give" a win every once in a while. another thing people get pissed at me about is if i dont have a shot i play safe. they just slam the cue ball around and hope something falls. to me it only gets you better to be able to play a safe and then play out of one. thanks for the quick responces,
Thanks again,
Jay
 
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...there are a few truck drivers that come in and give me a lesson so to say. i like to win and play every game to win. when i lose im not pissed or upset, you learn from every game. its just strange that a few people will get mad at me when i beat them but they are always the ones hustling the non regulars when i come in.

Gregg....i wish i had a titlist purple heart conversion....only bring my players sneaky pete and a piece of masters.:)
 
So it would be safe to say that most of the competion is bangers trying to play by bar rules then???
 
kinda...the people who get upset at me are decent players. they can make shots but hardly controll the cue ball. when they clearly dont have a shot, instead of playing safe, they will try something crazy like a 3 rail kick shot. then wonder why its easy for me to get out. i do play these guys a lot bc they are regulars and its nice to know the regulars so to say ya know? but i play a few other guys alot who know their game as well.
thanks again,
Jay
 
I wouldnt sweat it then.

Ask them if they ever saw a pro on TV play a safety. They will answer,"Yes." And your reply should be, "A safety is within the rules and it's one of the ways the games played if you want to win."

By the way I'm too serious.
 
tact

Jay,

You can call it being sneaky or you can call it tact but unless there is real money on the line I do suggest that you adjust your game somewhat when playing bangers that are friends of yours. Back when I played a lot of recreational pool all of my friends knew I had another gear when it was time to play seriously. At the same time I could shoot some tough shots playing with them which was good practice when I had to come with a tough shot with dollars on the line. Work on your two way shots too, I rarely if ever played obvious safeties in those days, it wasn't done. I still played a lot of safeties and even when gambling often went to a dead lock-up safety instead of finishing a run.

I find that when I only play one style of play I get a bit burnt out. When I play different styles I stay much fresher. As mentioned earlier, the low percentage shots need practicing too. Playing with friends is a good time to do it.

I am playing with a friend who's speed I don't know and a friend of his who is easily offended tomorrow. They are both business associates of mine also. Tact will be the name of the game!

Hu
 
It is obvious that you suffer from the fever, the green felt fever to be exact and it is doubtful that you will ever find a cure. Welcome to the fraternity, brother. Many are called, few have what it takes. Congratulations!
Warm Regards,
JoeyA

JayBates said:
i love to play pool, especially 8 ball. i dont like to just "shoot around". recently i have been told by a few people that i play too seriously. every game i play when not in a tournament is what i would consider practice. i dont care who im playing against, im always going to try my best. i regularly play with a few guys that seem to be getting mad bc they keep losing. by no means am i saying i can beat anyone, just better than them. they say i always play as if 100 bucks is on the line. i see it as if i dont try my best, im not getting any better. im not being mean by trying my best am i? feel free to call me a butt hole or whatever you like...thoughts and opinions?
thanks,
Jay
Click to expand...
 
Re; am i too serious?

I sometimes get told the same, especially if I'm in the "zone". It's not that I'm bad mannered, just that I am living the game, and not paying attention to what else is happening in the room.

I am never angry if I lose to good stroke play, only if I missing a sitter, and I try to take that feeling on board to help in the next rack.

An old saying is different strokes for different folks. I am sure many players use pool as a social outlet, but I think if you are a member of this forum then it is a more serious endevour, and with that comes the "serious" attitude.

Daniel:D
 
Gregg said:
If you have to ask, then yes.

Leave the Purple heart titlist conversion at home, along with your Joe Porper 6X12 cue case, measles cue ball, Television set Aramith Pro cup ball set, engraved chalk case, billiard glove, yellow tinted glasses, pool shoes, etc at home.

Honestly, some people just really want a casual game, so to speak. They see the game as more of an amusement than a sport.
Click to expand...

To avoid these kinds of comments, the way to go is to get a good, cheap sneaky pete, a no name one for sure, not a custom, ding it up a bit, then get a Predator 314 shaft for it, put a Moori or Talisman tip on it, and if you use a shooting glove, make sure it looks worn out. Get a cheapie 1 butt 1 shaft cue case at Walmart for $10, then go have fun, but be serious when you are actually shooting. Most won't catch on to what you are doing, and you'll probably play better. The only time you need to ACT serious is when you are thinking about your setup and alignment and all that. Outside of those moments, joke around and so on. You can be totally serious when the moment requires it, and affable at other moments.

Try it!

Cheers,

Flex
 
JayBates said:
i love to play pool, especially 8 ball. i dont like to just "shoot around". recently i have been told by a few people that i play too seriously. every game i play when not in a tournament is what i would consider practice. i dont care who im playing against, im always going to try my best. i regularly play with a few guys that seem to be getting mad bc they keep losing. by no means am i saying i can beat anyone, just better than them. they say i always play as if 100 bucks is on the line. i see it as if i dont try my best, im not getting any better. im not being mean by trying my best am i? feel free to call me a butt hole or whatever you like...thoughts and opinions?
thanks,
Jay
Click to expand...

If you would like to cure yourself of the curse of good play, go ahead and put 100 bucks on the line. After you dog your brains out and lose your money and get humiliated in front of them, your friends will forgive you.

Jelly Bean
 
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