Behavior of Guests in Your Home

What is it about pool that people have tendency to abuse the equipment? I've been to parties with a table present, and people have been respectful to everything else in the house, but once they get onto the pool table it gets abused.

Balls are bounced on the bed of the table, cues used as hockey sticks, people start using it as though the table was a shuffleboard table, they sit on it, balance their drinks on it. I don't understand, especially since I think it's common knowledge that a table is an expensive investment.

Maybe it's just a minority of disrespectful people that give the rest a bad name, but I've always found it odd.
 
Cameron Smith said:
Balls are bounced on the bed of the table, cues used as hockey sticks, people start using it as though the table was a shuffleboard table, they sit on it,
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Bottom line for me is if the cover is off I've gotta be there to supervise. When my kids were younger they had to use the Junior Shark Guiding Wheel if they wanted to play. The JSGW helped a whole bunch with any player who's stroke makes you fear for the preservation of your Simonis.

I also leave cues in the bedroom closet that I don't want people to use -- much better I think than saying, "You can't use that one".

I'd say most kids under ten aren't going to posses the maturity to take care of equipment... but I'd rather make an effort to show them how to have respect for another person's property than to just say "have at it".

I am also quick to lay some blame on TV, where oftentimes it is cool to set a beverage in the table or to sit on a rail.

One more cradle of learning for kids how to trash things is the family mini-van. Is it any wonder that some models now come with their own on-board vacuum systems as an option?

Just so you won't think I have no compassion for kids playing pool, I'll spend hours with the kid who has that look of awe and wonder (like all of us most likely did when around a pool table at a young age) in their eyes when they see a pool table.
 
Does this sum it up.
Mid 60's...Neubies poolroom on Chestnut St (Phila Pa) had sign in the bathroom. "If you Pee on the floor at home feel free to Pee on the floor here. We want you to feel at home".
 
phil dade said:
I just had my Centennial redone. I had it redone and tuned up just 3 to 4 tears ago. The first time I used it with a friend, the very first game of 8 ball he miss cued and put a small tear in the Simonis 860. :eek: I was pissed, but did not say anything other than be careful. A couple shots later, his first rum and coke of the day was spilled on the table. :mad: We stopped, I cleaned up as best, but the cloth was stained, we quit. I have never let him play since.:angry:
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HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE???????????:confused::confused::confused:
So far I have had no problems with the people I have invited over to play. Even though I offer the use of any of my cues, still waiting for someone to pick up my Orange Crush break cue and play a game with the phenolic tip, most just grab 1 of the 1 piece house cues. My pool shooting friends will ask permission before attempting a jump shot, I guess Im lucky. If I visit you, I will most likely even take my shoes off (I wear socks) before walking into your house and I am always careful to treat your things even better than my own.
 
Do any of you non-smokers let friends use e-cigarettes (vapor cigarettes) when playing at your house?

A friend was over at a party of mine and asked if he could. He said it was odorless. I somewhat felt like a jerk but I went ahead and said "no".
 
jeffj2h said:
Do any of you non-smokers let friends use e-cigarettes (vapor cigarettes) when playing at your house?

A friend was over at a party of mine and asked if he could. He said it was odorless. I somewhat felt like a jerk but I went ahead and said "no".
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I did not quit smoking to have any smoke blown in my face. So..no not in my house. I do not care what any does outside of my house or car or work area.
 
jeffj2h said:
Do any of you non-smokers let friends use e-cigarettes (vapor cigarettes) when playing at your house?

A friend was over at a party of mine and asked if he could. He said it was odorless. I somewhat felt like a jerk but I went ahead and said "no".
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I have a friend who uses it. Generally he uses flavored stuff, so he smells a bit like a glade air freshener.

I know he wouldn't use it inside other houses unless he asked...and he probably wouldn't ask.

It's basically water vapor and nothing worse than febreze.
 
Well when I was younger I never played on a friends table that I ever lost on many times the dad would come down and play after the rif raft cleared out , I always let them get even or close and thanked them for their hospitality ,,
When I got older at a friends place I got on a pretty good run my friends kid who lost in the final of the semi finals as a juniors , as sure to be pro player if he wanted to be watching on , and I turned to the guy who was getting bent out of shape and said hell not only can't you beat me but that kid sitting in the corner will take your lunch money
Of course he just laughed said a few words in Spanish which the kid was and he stepped up a drilled him game after game , the guy got so pissed off he threw his beer in the corner was not even going to pay the kid till my friend grabed him by throat told him to pay his son and escorted him out
After that only scotch doubles or pill pool ever got played at his house

1
 
I don't get too stressed about such things, but then again, most of my friends have been playing comp pool for 20+ years.

And I've learned, it's no fun playing pool or golf with hack players. I can't bare to watch and they don't know what they're watching.

Colin
 
fd_colorado it is great to see you here again. For anyone who is wondering the op has a great set up and knows the game better then most. I have been to his house many times and can't wait to get back there.
If its good enough for Santa Clause its good enough for me, I will be on my best behavior and bring my B+ game!
 
I have to ask myself, 'have I ever erroneously used/misused a billiard table? I am sure that many of us did not just pop out into this world with the studious disposition it takes to conquer this great game. I can just imagine what our stroke at 10 or 12 years old actually looked like. I bet it would be quite humbling realizing that we at one time did not know or even realize that we were abusing the equipment. Educate your guests. Like we were educated.
 
fd_colorado said:
It's nice when someone comes over to play and brings something: A bottle of wine, beer, hard salami or cheese etc., or even the aforementioned hash... it's all good. It's also great when they clean up after themselves and don't leave empty beer bottles stuffed into the sofa cushions. One rule I have for some regular buddies is that if you move something (guitars etc.) put them back where you found them. Another pet peeve of mine is when I adjust the volume on the music and someone decides they want it louder.

It's fun to have player friends over but I hardly ever get any help vacuuming the table, cleaning the balls or wiping the rails down.

Pic of Santa stopping by for a game Christmas eve --

2e4cbdf5-9745-4124-99f2-215d5a65a4b0_zps85be8780.jpg
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Now THAT is a Christmas picture!:D
 
Cuebuddy said:
fd_colorado it is great to see you here again. For anyone who is wondering the op has a great set up and knows the game better then most. I have been to his house many times and can't wait to get back there.
If its good enough for Santa Clause its good enough for me, I will be on my best behavior and bring my B+ game!
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Cuebuddy, thank you for the kind words. You are always welcome! BTW, I am working on finding my B+ game again. :wink:
 
If I go to someones house I always try to take a snacks or drinks for everyone.
I treat everyones things like I want mine to be treated.
Most people I have over have been the same way.
The ones that were not , did not stay long and did not come back.
I don't think it is a good idea to leave unchalked collector cues , or equipment or stacks of money or anything else that could be considered tempting fate, sitting around to see if anything will happen.
If I did I would take responsibility for it , not blame someone else, after all they are MY guests, and my responsibility.
I also offer to help clean up, and thank the person who invited me over.
I also treat their other guests like they are special people, no matter what I think of them.
Of all the things that can go bad, having guests argue with each other, is the last thing I ever want.
So I make sure my host, does not have to deal with anything like that, involving me .
 
At first it was nerve racking having non pool players on my table. The jacked up sticks and scooping the ball. Not to mention there are no house cues I own only customs. When the table was purchased I never considered having people play on it unless they brought they're own cue. Now my table has a cover and my nerves get a break. I'm the only one that takes it off. Guests do not play on my table unless it is another serious player that respects equipment. A lot of people adults kids otherwise have no respect for other peoples thing. Sad but true. I was lucky and never had any damage done but it would have happened. Specific gripes would be drinks, dirty hands, SLAMMING THE FKNG BALL 1,000 Miles an hour, poking cue into cloth (this happens more than i think people realize). ETC
 
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