are your local bar rules as dumb as mine?

S

smashmouth

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
the 100 or so regulars and semi regulars at my local pub, very working class blue collar spot, almost unanimously swear by the following;

-cue ball behind head string on fouls
- must shoot up table
-a foul is pretty much only a cueball going into a pocket
-any missed shot of any kind or fouls of any kind you just lose turn, opponent plays cue ball where it lies
-balls must be pocketed call shot call pocket including rails, caroms, etc....
- a few other wacky ones I can't remember

they think ball in hand makes for an easier game and any explanation of the "hitting a rail after contact" rule is received with high levels of confusion and beweliderment

can usually be quite fun EXCEPT when trying to get an actual real game going
 
Pretty standard fare for bar play. Common as dirt.

When in Rome....


If you want to look like a weenie, try fixing it. Only on rare occasions do I see a real opportunity to step up and do so. Otherwise...weenie....or worse....


Oh...and there is often a "resident expert" that claims to know all and says you are wrong.





And to add to your frustration...how about how they rack?


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Silly Rules

I have played in bars where folks insist you make every thing clean on top of what you mentioned. And the most ridiculous thing I have ever played. If you scratch on the break you lose. Not even sure where that one comes from. The others are really simplifiers to make it where idiots and drunks don't have to remember too many things to play.
 
It's amazing that 100 or so casual players have it all wrong. I didn't think I would ever say it but that bar needs the APA.
 
I think we can all empathize with you. Bar rules are what makes going to a new joint fun. I never argue the rules before matches, but I'll enforce any BS rule they stipulate.

Just take it for what it is. It's a bunch of people playing a game while they party. If they cared enough to learn a rule set outside the confines of The Double Deuce, they'd never play silly bar rules.

Just go with the flow and get drunk. :thumbup:
 
us820 said:
Got accused of cheating in 9 ball for not racking 123495678 in order every rack.
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I brought my cue into a new bar I was trying out. Two guys immediately jumped on the table right before I got close to it.

I put my money up, and the guy who won the game right before I was up says, "What are we playing, for a million dollars or something?". I told him that it was his table and it was up to him. He said no more about playing for anything.

I proceeded to rack the balls for an 8-ball game, and he made me re-rack, as he insisted that the 1-ball needed to be in the front. Go figure.
 
Don't forget the spot shot! If all your balls are in the kitchen and your opponent scratches, the ball nearest the headstrong gets spotted so you have a clean shot! That one was the most unusual bar rule I've ever seen
 
Meh. I spent a lot of time winning games, money, and drinks playing bar pool. It's one of the greatest experiences a young player can have.

I played a lot at my university from 18-22 before I went to a bar to play for the first time. I thought I was about the worst person to play pool ever because all the people I played against were better than me.

After going to my first bar tourney and taking 3rd out of 24, I figured I might be okay.

After that, I played in bars very often...and that is what gave me the confidence to beat the people I played at my university.

The only bar rules you should be concerned with are:

1. Be friends with the bartender, bouncer and biggest dude in the room.
2. The drunkest guy wins the argument. If you aren't sure who is drunkest, it is the other guy.
3. Make sure it is fun--for you and for your opponent. I've had guys keep playing me even after telling me they knew they couldn't beat me because they were having fun.
4. Never call a foul unless you might lose.
5. If you win six-eight times in a row, give up the table. You'll be a hero.
 
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yea - it's a pain. Mostly I just use the bar tables to practice - gave up trying to play folks not open to options.
 
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I played in a league where we were allowed to win by making the 8 and our last object ball on the same shot so long as the 8 went in last.

I SHIT YOU NOT.
 
A banger once told me your turns over and run to the table when the cue ball double kissed a ball in on the break

He said no no no no. While waving his finger
"We play for perfection"
2 shots later he knocks the 8ball in cause hes hitting everything as hard as possible

My response to him making the 8 ?

PERFECT!
 
smashmouth said:
the 100 or so regulars and semi regulars at my local pub, very working class blue collar spot, almost unanimously swear by the following;

-cue ball behind head string on fouls
- must shoot up table
-a foul is pretty much only a cueball going into a pocket
-any missed shot of any kind or fouls of any kind you just lose turn, opponent plays cue ball where it lies
-balls must be pocketed call shot call pocket including rails, caroms, etc....
- a few other wacky ones I can't remember
Click to expand...

that is standard in most bars......plus you can hit the 8-ball first in combinations :grin-square::grin-square:
 
I know it's hard to believe, but not everyone keep up AZ or know the latest World Standardized Rules. In the more casual environment, where walking in with your own stick still raises a flag, don't surprised if old bar rules still prevails.

As others stated, go with the flow. Before you make that safety, asked if intentional safeties are allowed. Some places it's considered dirty pool and unsportsmanlike behavior if you don't make every attempt to hit the object ball.

One time I was minding my own business, when two kids were arguing asked me to decide whether making the 8-ball on the break was considered a win. I asked, which rule set are you using? BCAPL or APA?
 
I think the worst bar rule has to be last pocket on the 8, meaning you have to pocket the 8 in whichever pocket you make your last object ball. It just makes the game last foreeeeeevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvverrrr.
 
So does bank the 8
These games made up by really bad players just extend the game so long because they aren't that good to begin with them made it harder to win
 
Barboxes are usually co-operated, so you're paying by the game, not by metered by time. This is the logic for barbox specific rules as well.

Hollismason said:
I think the worst bar rule has to be last pocket on the 8, meaning you have to pocket the 8 in whichever pocket you make your last object ball. It just makes the game last foreeeeeevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvverrrr.
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ShakesSea said:
Yep, bar rules. Anything else is for pussies. When I lived in NYC they commonly had an additional rule that not touching the 8 with the cueball when you were on it was a loss.
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That was the official BCA rule up until the 70's (or late 60's).

When Fats and Mosconi had their first or second challenge, Fats lost a game this way on the Wide World of Sports.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtnmfb9Dnkg;t=1h34m30s
 
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