Anyone else like me?

Celophanewrap

Celophanewrap

Call me Grace
Silver Member
So from time to time I'll have a conversation with someone and inevitably the question will come up,

"What do you do for fun?"
"I like to play pool",
"I haven't played in a long time, maybe we can get together and play sometime"

I kind of cringe at that. I guess I'm really odd as a pool player goes. I don't gamble at it, at least not with my own money,
I don't like to. I love to play, I just don't like to play with or against other people.

I feel like I can discuss most things about pool, admittedly I'm not the fanatic some of you are, but I've read a lot of the books,
watched the matches, I've taken a lesson or two. I have a reasonable collection of cues and cases, I practice and play almost
daily (on a bar table). I do drills, I play the ghost, work on my break, cut shots, stop shots, position, stroke, etc.... and I have
kept a journal about what I do from day to day, how I feel, and things like that. I can see when I'm improving, what I can do today
that I couldn't do six months ago.

I bought a lathe and have taught myself to do tips, ferules, wraps, and most minor repairs and maintenance (that I usually do at no charge to the player).
I love pool, love to play, it's given me back many things that I thought I had lost with my last blown out ankle, but I really don't care to play other people.

I both love and detest league night at the same time.
It's fun hanging with my friends, having a drink, even doing a little coaching, but when it's my time to play I'd just rather not.
Is there anyone else that is like this?
Am I just really odd, or what?
 
I think I used to be like that a little. Partly because I just wasn't very good and didn't feel confident enough in my game to play with others and partly because I had gotten so used to shooting alone that it seemed like wasting time I could be at the table whenever I was in the chair.

But I'm not like that anymore. Partly my game has improved a little and partly I think I've just gotten used to it from playing league and a couple tournaments. I still enjoy playing on my own but I these days I prefer playing someone else.
 
Not at all like you. I can play for about a half hour alone and then I am looking for a game. For me it's all about the competition. I am no world beater but I always want to play the best guy in the room in tournaments, league, or cheap sets.
 
slide13 said:
I think I used to be like that a little. Partly because I just wasn't very good and didn't feel confident enough in my game to play with others and partly because I had gotten so used to shooting alone that it seemed like wasting time I could be at the table whenever I was in the chair.

But I'm not like that anymore. Partly my game has improved a little and partly I think I've just gotten used to it from playing league and a couple tournaments. I still enjoy playing on my own but I these days I prefer playing someone else.
Click to expand...

I think my confidence is fine, I'm a reasonable league player and I have no illusions about ever playing pro or anything like that.
I will play the occasional tournament, a couple of times a year and I usually cash, but then again I don't go out of my way to
look for tournaments with AAA players or anything like that.
 
Celophanewrap said:
So from time to time I'll have a conversation with someone and inevitably the question will come up,

"What do you do for fun?"
"I like to play pool",
"I haven't played in a long time, maybe we can get together and play sometime"

I kind of cringe at that. I guess I'm really odd as a pool player goes. I don't gamble at it, at least not with my own money,
I don't like to. I love to play, I just don't like to play with or against other people.

I feel like I can discuss most things about pool, admittedly I'm not the fanatic some of you are, but I've read a lot of the books,
watched the matches, I've taken a lesson or two. I have a reasonable collection of cues and cases, I practice and play almost
daily (on a bar table). I do drills, I play the ghost, work on my break, cut shots, stop shots, position, stroke, etc.... and I have
kept a journal about what I do from day to day, how I feel, and things like that. I can see when I'm improving, what I can do today
that I couldn't do six months ago.

I bought a lathe and have taught myself to do tips, ferules, wraps, and most minor repairs and maintenance (that I usually do at no charge to the player).
I love pool, love to play, it's given me back many things that I thought I had lost with my last blown out ankle, but I really don't care to play other people.

I both love and detest league night at the same time.
It's fun hanging with my friends, having a drink, even doing a little coaching, but when it's my time to play I'd just rather not.
Is there anyone else that is like this?
Am I just really odd, or what?
Click to expand...
I'm in the same area code as you.

I used to play tournaments and league. I've won across the country. But about ten years ago, something switched in my head and today, I have little interest in playing with anyone. I joined a league last year and quit after one session.

I enjoy teaching, mentoring and sharing. But I pretty much detest hitting balls with anyone. I've gambled twice or thrice in the last ten years, and really had no interest like i did 30 years ago .

Freddie
 
I prefer shooting alone. If there were serious players around where I live it would probably be different. I just don't enjoy playing against players at a significantly lesser skill level. When I do, it seems like there is always some delay because the person is texting. That drives me nuts. I've put out an offer to gamble anybody in the county in the hopes of finding someone to regularly shoot against...no takers. It'd probably be different if I lived in a more populated area. Oh well...have a blast just competing against and challenging myself.
 
Celophanewrap said:
I don't like to. I love to play, I just don't like to play with or against other people.
Click to expand...

A little odd, but thats your personality type (has nothing to do with pool IMHO)

You're kind of an introvert, a thinker....

I'm also like that in some respects, I can play alone and be happy, but I also like a little more to play against others.

(interesting topic)
 
Cornerman said:
I'm in the same area code as you.

I used to play tournaments and league. I've won across the country. But about ten years ago, something switched in my head and today, I have little interest in playing with anyone. I joined a league last year and quit after one session.

I enjoy teaching, mentoring and sharing. But I pretty much detest hitting balls with anyone. I've gambled twice or thrice in the last ten years, and really had no interest like i did 30 years ago .

Freddie
Click to expand...

X2. I'm on a long layoff at this time. Close to a year. It's just a game. I grew up poor. Not dirt poor but if I wanted shoes, slacks or shirts I gambled. I could turn .$35 into dollars. Pool and cards. I'll never be a world beater and I'm happy. Did I mention it's just a game?
 
Why the hell are you hitting a speed bag if you aren't going to get in the ring?

Pool, to me, is a war game....like chess and boxing.
...I could spend many hours by myself practising....
...but it was preparation for the action.
 
To be honest, I prefer practising too. I do enjoy tournaments on the rare occasion I get a chance to play. I don't mind practising with other people, but when it happens that I end up only playing practice matches for a week or two, I want to get back to the solo practice table.
 
Celophanewrap said:
So from time to time I'll have a conversation with someone and inevitably the question will come up,

"What do you do for fun?"
"I like to play pool",
"I haven't played in a long time, maybe we can get together and play sometime"

I kind of cringe at that. I guess I'm really odd as a pool player goes. I don't gamble at it, at least not with my own money,
I don't like to. I love to play, I just don't like to play with or against other people.

I feel like I can discuss most things about pool, admittedly I'm not the fanatic some of you are, but I've read a lot of the books,
watched the matches, I've taken a lesson or two. I have a reasonable collection of cues and cases, I practice and play almost
daily (on a bar table). I do drills, I play the ghost, work on my break, cut shots, stop shots, position, stroke, etc.... and I have
kept a journal about what I do from day to day, how I feel, and things like that. I can see when I'm improving, what I can do today
that I couldn't do six months ago.

I bought a lathe and have taught myself to do tips, ferules, wraps, and most minor repairs and maintenance (that I usually do at no charge to the player).
I love pool, love to play, it's given me back many things that I thought I had lost with my last blown out ankle, but I really don't care to play other people.

I both love and detest league night at the same time.
It's fun hanging with my friends, having a drink, even doing a little coaching, but when it's my time to play I'd just rather not.
Is there anyone else that is like this?
Am I just really odd, or what?
Click to expand...
I have a choice here. Do I write 4000 words or just stick to a single sentence. What? The gallery is voting you say? OK!........IF YOU'RE ODD YOU HAVE COMPANY!
 
I don't get it, I wouldn't want to play if there was no competition. How're you to progress without someone shooting back at you?
To each his own.
 
Celophanewrap...You're certainly not alone. I see students all over the country, at varying levels of ability, that feel the same way...meaning they prefer to play alone vs. playing an opponent. Interesting that you enjoy coaching, but prefer not to compete. Most of the amateur 'coaches', and plenty of us professional coaches, are chompin' at the bit to get in there and, "LET ME SHOW YA SOMETHING" (in my best Fire Marshall Bill voice)!*
:D: rotflmao1:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

* If you aren't familiar with Fire Marshall Bill, he was a character played by Jim Carrey, early in his career, on the tv show In Living Color. Many comedians and actors got their start on that program. Jennifer Lopez started there as a Flygirl dancer.

Celophanewrap said:
So from time to time I'll have a conversation with someone and inevitably the question will come up,

"What do you do for fun?"
"I like to play pool",
"I haven't played in a long time, maybe we can get together and play sometime"

I kind of cringe at that. I guess I'm really odd as a pool player goes. I don't gamble at it, at least not with my own money,
I don't like to. I love to play, I just don't like to play with or against other people.

I feel like I can discuss most things about pool, admittedly I'm not the fanatic some of you are, but I've read a lot of the books,
watched the matches, I've taken a lesson or two. I have a reasonable collection of cues and cases, I practice and play almost
daily (on a bar table). I do drills, I play the ghost, work on my break, cut shots, stop shots, position, stroke, etc.... and I have
kept a journal about what I do from day to day, how I feel, and things like that. I can see when I'm improving, what I can do today
that I couldn't do six months ago.

I bought a lathe and have taught myself to do tips, ferules, wraps, and most minor repairs and maintenance (that I usually do at no charge to the player).
I love pool, love to play, it's given me back many things that I thought I had lost with my last blown out ankle, but I really don't care to play other people.

I both love and detest league night at the same time.
It's fun hanging with my friends, having a drink, even doing a little coaching, but when it's my time to play I'd just rather not.
Is there anyone else that is like this?
Am I just really odd, or what?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
when someone says they would maybe want to play sometime (with unknown ability) I cringe myself, it's like going out on a dbl date with your wife and her friend and the girls telling you "you two guys will get along great" I already hate him and I haven't met him yet!
 
mvp said:
it's like going out on a dbl date with your wife and her friend and the girls telling you "you two guys will get along great" I already hate him and I haven't met him yet!
Click to expand...



Now this is true, So very true. Without fail.
 
mvp said:
when someone says they would maybe want to play sometime (with unknown ability) I cringe myself, it's like going out on a dbl date with your wife and her friend and the girls telling you "you two guys will get along great" I already hate him and I haven't met him yet!
Click to expand...

Yea, I hate it when my wife tries to set up a play date for me.
I've come to realize that I have very little in common with everybody
 
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