Ball Retrieval Question

KillerWhalePool

KillerWhalePool

Member
I’ve noticed that during some of the pro tournaments I’ve watched on YouTube and elsewhere, some players on the losing side of the rack will get up and help retrieve balls from the pockets and some won’t; my question is, is this just a common courtesy? A psychological ploy? Being helpful? Or mind tricks? I’ve noticed Gorst and a few others help, and some others don’t. Weird question, I know. Just curious.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0506.png
    IMG_0506.png
    552.9 KB · Views: 65
I think they are just being helpful. It's possible to imagine ways that it is some kind of shark, but with the ref racking It seems to be benign. There is the small detail that no ball should be touched until the last shot of the game has ended. Sometimes that's observed, sometimes it's lightly violated without comment and sometimes an over-active referee will call a foul for harmlessly fetching balls.

In some snooker tournaments you see the same thing. Some players help and some players sit. I think at snooker in practice matches, the seated player is expected to help fetch balls. I expect help from my opponent at pool if the table doesn't have a return.
 
The same type of courtesy that results in taking a scratched cueball out of the pocket/return and handing it to the other player rather than making him go get it himself when you're already right there…
 
KillerWhalePool said:
I’ve noticed that during some of the pro tournaments I’ve watched on YouTube and elsewhere, some players on the losing side of the rack will get up and help retrieve balls from the pockets and some won’t; my question is, is this just a common courtesy? A psychological ploy? Being helpful? Or mind tricks? I’ve noticed Gorst and a few others help, and some others don’t. Weird question, I know. Just curious.
Click to expand...
Common courtesy / respect to your opponent, for matches at any level. It is done by all our players in our weekly and bigger tournaments in our poolroom. Newer players who don’t know to do it will be informed by the TD.
 
Last edited:
Hugging at the end of the match should also be encouraged and allowed.
Seo wants a hug from Earl. Earl should have known better.
 
KillerWhalePool said:
I’ve noticed that during some of the pro tournaments I’ve watched on YouTube and elsewhere, some players on the losing side of the rack will get up and help retrieve balls from the pockets and some won’t; my question is, is this just a common courtesy? A psychological ploy? Being helpful? Or mind tricks? I’ve noticed Gorst and a few others help, and some others don’t. Weird question, I know. Just curious.
Click to expand...
No offense but you really must be bored. ;)
 
  • Haha
Reactions: bbb
Bob Jewett said:
I think they are just being helpful. It's possible to imagine ways that it is some kind of shark, but with the ref racking It seems to be benign. There is the small detail that no ball should be touched until the last shot of the game has ended. Sometimes that's observed, sometimes it's lightly violated without comment and sometimes an over-active referee will call a foul for harmlessly fetching balls.

In some snooker tournaments you see the same thing. Some players help and some players sit. I think at snooker in practice matches, the seated player is expected to help fetch balls. I expect help from my opponent at pool if the table doesn't have a return.
Click to expand...
For whatever reason I see very few ball return tables in Texas Other than bar tables, but that’s a different animal. I think it’s more of a “Yankee” thing. It never crossed my mind not to retrieve balls. Never played anyone that didn’t help in retrieving.
 
Brookeland Bill said:
For whatever reason I see very few ball return tables in Texas Other than bar tables, but that’s a different animal. I think it’s more of a “Yankee” thing. It never crossed my mind not to retrieve balls. Never played anyone that didn’t help in retrieving.
Click to expand...
My memory isn’t great, but I don’t recall anyone shagging balls in the ‘Hustler’ movie either (?).
 
Black-Balled said:
... Presume you mean pulling balls out of the hole, that was somebody's job.
Click to expand...
The rack boy. Also collected a nickel from each cue in ring games.

It's possible that the only table in The Hustler that didn't have a ball return was in the basement of the Louisville rich guy. ;)
 
Bob Jewett said:
The rack boy. Also collected a nickel from each cue in ring games.

It's possible that the only table in The Hustler that didn't have a ball return was in the basement of the Louisville rich guy. ;)
Click to expand...
In the early 60’s we had a racker named Andy. He has a carpenters apron tied around his waste to take money and make change. He was the grandfather of one of my classmates. “Rack ‘em Andy” was the call that went out at the end of a game. One and fifteen 8 ball and rotation were popular games. An hour on the table was 60¢ then went to 80¢. The other end of the room was used for high stakes “moon“.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I think they are just being helpful. It's possible to imagine ways that it is some kind of shark, but with the ref racking It seems to be benign. There is the small detail that no ball should be touched until the last shot of the game has ended. Sometimes that's observed, sometimes it's lightly violated without comment and sometimes an over-active referee will call a foul for harmlessly fetching balls.

In some snooker tournaments you see the same thing. Some players help and some players sit. I think at snooker in practice matches, the seated player is expected to help fetch balls. I expect help from my opponent at pool if the table doesn't have a return.
Click to expand...
I played alot of snooker and when just playing small sets I never liked the opponent pulling out any color ball to respot during a game. I liked to keep my rythem/concentration and mentally counting my points during break building. When playing match style sets( all fouls) we were each others ref and spotted balls etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top