AZB, how do you deal with bangers?

evanlockhart

evanlockhart

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I want to know how everyone on AZB deals with the majority of players you meet in bars. I ask this as a serious question because, I frankly can't stand some of the ignorance, disrespect and lack of pool etiquette i've encountered with some people. Is it ridiculous to want a decent rack if you're breaking? Why is the ball-in-hand rule such a big deal to people if it's your table in 8-ball?

I'm not much of a drinker, but I go to bars due to the relatively cheap cost of pool, light atmosphere, good tables, etc. I love to gamble and play even better when there's money on the line, but i'm almost to the point of where I don't want to play any schmoe joe for a free game because he'd rather argue with me about, "well this is the way i've played it for fifty years" or, "this isn't how this bar plays 8-ball" or, "how about we get a neutral racker since you're racking your own rack and you could be cheating" crap. I know patience is a virtue, but i'm on the edge and have been verbal with some of these players lately, simply because I feel like i've seen enough of it and would rather not even waste my time. On the other hand, I know not every person is the same, you should invite a new experience, and give someone the benefit of the doubt. Maybe my odds with strangers have been against me for too long and it always screams a bad game before it begins. AZB, how have you dealt with these types of situations? I'll even pull up Wiki pages on games like Eight-ball so my opponent can't argue with reality.

Edit: I just want to go out and say that I don't go asking for games, these are people that ask me for a game.

Edit #2: It seems that the most common advice is to not have such high expectations. I didn't know wanting a decent rack was one- I may be in a lot of trouble :P
 
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there are as many rules in 8 ball as there are bars with tables. you should ask the rules in the bar you are playing in and accept them as stated. if you don't like the rules, have a drink and don't play.
 
Just mock and insult the regulars as much as possible. Contest every shot they attempt and make up rules on the fly.
 
larrynj1 said:
there are as many rules in 8 ball as there are bars with tables. you should ask the rules in the bar you are playing in and accept them as stated. if you don't like the rules, have a drink and don't play.
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Most of these places don't have billiards rules posted, only rules about not jumping, etc. I go to bars to play pool, not to drink.
 
evanlockhart said:
I want to know how everyone on AZB deals with the majority of players you meet in bars. I ask this as a serious question because, I frankly can't stand some of the ignorance, disrespect and lack of pool etiquette i've encountered with some people. Is it ridiculous to want a decent rack if you're breaking? Why is the ball-in-hand rule such a big deal to people if it's your table in 8-ball?

I'm not much of a drinker, but I go to bars due to the relatively cheap cost of pool, light atmosphere, good tables, etc. I love to gamble and play even better when there's money on the line, but i'm almost to the point of where I don't want to play any schmoe joe for a free game because he'd rather argue with me about, "well this is the way i've played it for fifty years" or, "this isn't how this bar plays 8-ball" or, "how about we get a neutral racker since you're racking your own rack and you could be cheating" crap. I know patience is a virtue, but i'm on the edge and have been verbal with some of these players lately, simply because I feel like i've seen enough of it and would rather not even waste my time. On the other hand, I know not every person is the same, you should invite a new experience, and give someone the benefit of the doubt. Maybe my odds with strangers have been against me for too long and it always screams a bad game before it begins. AZB, how have you dealt with these types of situations? I'll even pull up Wiki pages on games like Eight-ball so my opponent can't argue with reality.
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If you're going to places, looking for games where they don't know BiH, either accept that you won't be playing BiH or don't expect a good game. If that's the kind of pool you want.. deal with the problem, get over it or go to a pool hall. Your expectations of the people are way too high, imho, for something that serves as a backdrop to drinking.
 
Banks said:
If you're going to places, looking for games where they don't know BiH, either accept that you won't be playing BiH or don't expect a good game. If that's the kind of pool you want.. deal with the problem, get over it or go to a pool hall. Your expectations of the people are way too high, imho, for something that serves as a backdrop to drinking.
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I don't really go to places looking for games...we have a real pool hall thats about a twenty minute drive if I want some good action. Most of the time i'm at a bar because it's on the way home from work, they have cheap pool, they aren't a lot of people on the tables, etc.

These aren't instances in where i'm looking for a game...it's where i'm being approached by someone who's been watching me/wants a game/etc.

I also think you're right..my expectations of people must be too high.
 
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evanlockhart said:
I don't really go to places looking for games...we have a real pool hall thats about a twenty minute drive if I want some good action. Most of the time i'm at a bar because it's on the way home from work, they have cheap pool, they aren't a lot of people on the tables, etc.

I never ask for a game by the way, these are all people who come up to me.
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Play call-shot, it's good for your game.

I'm eating a cookie.
 
That is what I've always hated about bar 8-ball In the end it usually best to go with the flow. If everybody else plays that way and only you want to play differently, most people aren't going to change.

In some place, I've noticed that because to local leagues more bar players are playing BIH and shooting deliberate safes.
 
You may be the only person I have seen post that goes to bars for "good tables" hehe. You must be lucky, I've yet to see a bar with a good table. Although on the other hand, I avoid playing pool in bars more than I do 3rd world prostitutes so who knows.

Now there are bars / poolhalls that are pretty nice, but every bar I have seen that has only one or a couple of 7 footers, they were not in good shape. Much the same to be said of the customers.
 
evanlockhart said:
I want to know how everyone on AZB deals with the majority of players you meet in bars. I ask this as a serious question because, I frankly can't stand some of the ignorance, disrespect and lack of pool etiquette i've encountered with some people. Is it ridiculous to want a decent rack if you're breaking? Why is the ball-in-hand rule such a big deal to people if it's your table in 8-ball?

.

Edit: I just want to go out and say that I don't go asking for games, these are people that ask me for a game.
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A few choices as I see it:

Play in a real pool hall instead of a bar. (sometimes this is difficult as many have closed in this economy)

Play One-Pocket or Banks.

Finally realize that the majority of bar players aren't serious pool players even if they gamble a bit. You are in their environment (the bar) adapt or find a venue that suits you better. As a group, they are unlikely to change their behavior.

Good luck.
 
FreeShot said:
I don't mind call shot, but some places play you have to call everything not just ball and pocket which I don't much care for.
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That's what I meant with call-shot, not call-pocket. Call everything and everybody.

It'll learn ya real good.
 
evanlockhart said:
I want to know how everyone on AZB deals with the majority of players you meet in bars. I ask this as a serious question because, I frankly can't stand some of the ignorance, disrespect and lack of pool etiquette i've encountered with some people. Is it ridiculous to want a decent rack if you're breaking? Why is the ball-in-hand rule such a big deal to people if it's your table in 8-ball?

I'm not much of a drinker, but I go to bars due to the relatively cheap cost of pool, light atmosphere, good tables, etc. I love to gamble and play even better when there's money on the line, but i'm almost to the point of where I don't want to play any schmoe joe for a free game because he'd rather argue with me about, "well this is the way i've played it for fifty years" or, "this isn't how this bar plays 8-ball" or, "how about we get a neutral racker since you're racking your own rack and you could be cheating" crap. I know patience is a virtue, but i'm on the edge and have been verbal with some of these players lately, simply because I feel like i've seen enough of it and would rather not even waste my time. On the other hand, I know not every person is the same, you should invite a new experience, and give someone the benefit of the doubt. Maybe my odds with strangers have been against me for too long and it always screams a bad game before it begins. AZB, how have you dealt with these types of situations? I'll even pull up Wiki pages on games like Eight-ball so my opponent can't argue with reality.

Edit: I just want to go out and say that I don't go asking for games, these are people that ask me for a game.
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I think you should stick to playing people who are like minded. The average person playing bar pool doesn't have a clue about current rules, and most do not even care. I think your expectations may be stronger than they should be, I would just slow down and laugh at these fools. This way at the end of the day you can just shake your head smile and walk away!!!!
 
I don't mind playing in bars as I'm a social person, out and about anyway may as well shoot some pool, but I NEVER expect to play BIH in a bar. Occasionally there will be another league type player and we may agree to it, but otherwise, you are barking up the wrong tree to play BIH in a bar IMO, even if it is "your table". It is just not the way most bar goers play. Heck if you can get just call pocket you are doing good, most play you have to call all kisses, etc. So I expect this when I'm shooting at a bar.
 
hang-the-9 said:
You may be the only person I have seen post that goes to bars for "good tables" hehe. You must be lucky, I've yet to see a bar with a good table.
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We have a decent bar close by that has several 8' Valley tables with good cloth and okay balls, and one of the tables only costs $.25/game. I'll usually play there and get challengers as the night continues, and play free pool for about the whole night unless a real player comes along.

I prefer to go to the pool hall and play on 9' Diamonds with Aramith Super Pro's
 
Banks said:
That's what I meant with call-shot, not call-pocket. Call everything and everybody.

It'll learn ya real good.
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That's the worst way to play in my opinion. You can't take advantage of balls near the pocket making the pocket play wider. Then there is the "Hey, the ball grazed the rail. You didn't call that." It leads to more arguments and BS than just playing slop.
 
Make up rules on the fly, never.

I once told a guy that had missed his object ball that I now get a free shot on the 8.

I was teasing him of course but it was funny watching him trying to get his head around that rule.
 
Either play with like minded people or give up.

There are more bangers than "real" pool players. That makes them "right" from some perspectives.

For most people it's just a game and they just want to have fun, and it isn't the kind of fun you want to have.

If you can't loosen up enough to play in places like that, don't play there.

Waste your time? It sounds to me like you are wasting their time. Pull up a Wiki page? I know a few bars where that might get you hurt! LOL!!!

I used to take a bad attitude about playing in bars with bangers. I changed. Now I like playing in bars again. At a pool hall i went to a couple of years ago a guy tried instructing me when I missed a shot. I wasn't even playing him, he came over to me, I was playing somebody else! Then he had to go on about his custom wrapless POS hunk of junk as far as I am concerned "custom" cue. He didn't like the linen on my JOSS and had to insult it, literally. Jackass. The guy was honestly a lightweight low B maybe high C player that honestly didn't seem to know his ass from a hole in the ground.

I play however people want and just have fun doing it. I lived and breathed the game for years but now it's just nice to hit some balls and have fun. I never argue a rule and never argue a foul. I let them have whatever they thought was a legal shot and if I don't make what I felt was legal I don't stay at the table. Most often they don't even care to argue why I gave up the table except that I say "that ain't the shot I wanted". As lop-sided as that is I rarely lose in such places anyway, so why argue?

I guess I'm just a banger now. LOL!




.


.
 
FreeShot said:
That's the worst way to play in my opinion. You can't take advantage of balls near the pocket making the pocket play wider. Then there is the "Hey, the ball grazed the rail. You didn't call that." It leads to more arguments and BS than just playing slop.
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Sure you can, you just have to call the kiss(hence, call-shot). Unless you don't know the path the ball's going to take. ;) Anybody that tries to pull calling the 'soft' rail before the pocket, they can go suck a fat one.
 
Dont play in bars

In my 35 plus years of playing I have always lived by this. I have never played in bars.. In my mind there is nothing to gain by playing there. Most of the time you will find Guys just out for a fun night out drinking and banging balls around. They would rather play for a beer or drink rather then serious money. At least in my neck of the woods.

The answer is very clear, Dont go to bars to play LOL I mean seriously what did you expect.......
 
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