Betting Obsession

I have the unique experiences to have played a game I love and one I was good at.

When I played golf I preferred playing for cash. Playing for free was right up there with watching paint dry. I even bet my mother when we played. It was her idea! I guess she could tell I was bored but wanted to play with her son. Sad really that I was not a better son than that back then.

Then there is pool. I love to play it! I used to play a bit for money but I got to the point where winning meant nothing and losing just pissed me off. Not a healthy scenario...

If I gamble nowadays there is most likely more on the line than money. Generally it is due to having something to prove....either to myself or my opponent. This has worked out better for me. When I win...mission accomplished. When I lose...I get motivated more than just mad!

So gambling can be a barometer of sorts to see where ya stand among your peers but it isn't necessary to master the game.

I like to say that if you can play your BEST for nothing, you can play your BEST for anything!

For the above quote to be true, you must emotionally invest a piece of yourself into every shot you take. Do that and it doesn't matter what's on the line.

It's a great activity...for money or for free!

Just do it!

Ken
 
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I hardly ever played anyone for no $$. If someone asked me if I wanted to play I would ask for how much he wanted to play for. If he said nothing I would respect that and say no thank you. If I asked someone to play I always stated for $. If he said no I just respected that and moved on. I couldn't stand guys standing there after I said no woofing at me. Many that said the wrong thing to me didn't get a game but he did get a fight. Johnnyt
 
Neil said:
If you really think that is why some players stroke their cue in the air, you really have no clue. In fact, your other statements clearly show that you have no clue whatsoever.You just make up whatever excuses that sound good to you because you don't have enough faith in your own game to make any $$ off it. Wonder if you play poker for free also??
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I was thinking the same thing. Glad you said it Neil.
 
JC said:
I love to play pool. Period. I like to play for something because it eliminates that "I'm still better than you even though you won" attitude so many "only want to play for fun" types seem to have. They are in denial of their skills and are delusional about the idea that there's something they are holding back. If they ever did play for something, watch out!

There seems to be something humbling about taking money out of your pocket and handing it to someone else. Even if just a little bit.

JC
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Very well said. I totally agree with this post.
 
Money is just motivation for me to not go for crazy shots. Hero shots are for people who play for free. Smart shots are for people who play for some money.

I see people in local pool rooms who play for free with each other. They are there every single day and they never get better. It seems they would like to run out, but if they dont... no big deal. They're just having fun. That's fine but for me, I want to play the very best I can and money is the motivation for that.

Not even money that means anything. If I play a $20/set, I want to win. $20 is play money, but I want to win. No better feeling than someone reaching in their pocket and handing you money.
 
ideologist said:
Pool is my absolute favorite hobby, I am such a nerd for it... unbearably so, I expect, to those around me.

And yes, having to part with cash to someone is a repugnant feeling, unless they truly outplayed you. Making mistakes that cost money is pretty gross, a feeling that is hard to shake.
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All matches I have watched between amateurs contain mistakes. The only reason each and every one doesn't cost the player money is because the other player made more of them or they got an extremely lucky roll.

It's weird how if a player makes a mistake that they perceive "cost them money" they're all pissed off but if they make the same mistake and get by with it (and they do, all the time) they're all giddy. We tend to practice not to make mistakes that "cost us" and forgive the ones that don't. Until they do.

JC
 
Everybody Plays for Something

I play guys for no money sometimes because I just want to practice. I'll get a new tip put on or have a shaft retapered and want to see how it plays. I play a lot and have even won some of the local tournaments over the years. The closest place for me to go and practice, there are only a couple of guys that give me any competition, but I will play anybody if they want to play me. What I won't do is let them win. The last 2 times I played this one guy, he never won a game, and that is my goal when playing him, not to lose a game. I tell them up front that I am going to play my best. These guys are playing for pride or so they can tell their buddies that they won a game playing me. That's ok with me. It makes me focus, and I get a good practice in.

I also gamble and play in tournaments. Winning money gambling playing pool, and playing in tournaments has never given me any great amount of satisfaction, but playing well does. I like the competition. There seems like there is always something new to learn in pool. I try to learn at least one new thing everyday.

I have a standing offer " in my area " to play for up to 1k as long as they post the money. I am not going to let someone with $20 in their pocket try to win the $200 in mine. Ain't gonna happen. I learned my lessons the hard way. I paid for them.
 
Cdryden said:
How low you have sunk Fatboy. Betting money while other are raising money for your Gold Status. For shame. :D
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Brutal isnt it, pretty soon i'll be working the Dennys locations stealing tips off the tables....:D
 
in all fairness i only bet 50cents, they are raising BIG BUCKS for me. So please dont be too upset with me, I promise i'll go to a GA meeting every day for a month......After this bet...
 
Fatboy said:
in all fairness i only bet 50cents, they are raising BIG BUCKS for me. So please dont be too upset with me, I promise i'll go to a GA meeting every day for a month......After this bet...
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Bet ya 5 bucks you wont!
 
lstevedus said:
You guys are great! I almost fell off my chair laughing! Which Denny's???
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Actually where I got that line was from Rude Dog (John Morton RIP) a very good friend of mine and was on AZB many years ago,

Here is the story he tells me:

What happened is he and Jason Davis were in LA went up to NorCal Bay Area to find action, both guys played VERY strong-Brandon Shuff strong anyways they didnt manage their money very good and they got broke in San Jose at California Billiards. They started to drive back to LA this was in about 88-89 and back then on I-5 there was not very many stops along the way so no where to scratch up a game of pool. They had no gas, not many stops, ZERO pool, no $$$, no WU, what to do. Jason said lets go to Dennys "I got a idea". John wasnt clear on what was going to happen. Jason walks in and does a lap, grabbed all the tips, and cash off all the tables he could. The ran like hell got to the car, nobody bothered to follow them, they went down the road to the next gas station and used the tip$ and tab$ for gas. It was my understanding they had to hit 2 Dennys to get to LA. The funny thing is It wasnt unusual to see Jason with $30,000 in his cue case at all times back then, he had big $$$. they just got caught short and did what they had to do. Gods honest true story.


I havent ever had to do that, I took the 99, plenty of gas $$ stops on that road back then, Bakersfield was the best.
 
Harold Smith said:
My thinking on this subject is why worry about the outcome of a shot if you have nothing to lose. I play mostly 1pocket and the money keeps you from shooting crazy shots that may workout or not and you sell out. Playing for money makes you focus more than just shooting for fun.--Smitty
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Smitty u need to come down to legends and let me donate like 20 to u and take u fishing..ha ha David Parker
 
Fatboy said:
in all fairness i only bet 50cents, they are raising BIG BUCKS for me. So please dont be too upset with me, I promise i'll go to a GA meeting every day for a month......After this bet...
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I'll cover his bet if he loses. I already want to ramble 3 pages worth of posts on the topic. :cool:

I'm glad to see so many people are willing to bet on their game here. Playing for any cash or even drinks is pretty dead now where I live. :angry:
 
JC said:
All matches I have watched between amateurs contain mistakes. The only reason each and every one doesn't cost the player money is because the other player made more of them or they got an extremely lucky roll.

It's weird how if a player makes a mistake that they perceive "cost them money" they're all pissed off but if they make the same mistake and get by with it (and they do, all the time) they're all giddy. We tend to practice not to make mistakes that "cost us" and forgive the ones that don't. Until they do.

JC
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Meh, you knew what I meant all along. It is one thing to slip up on position or miss a ball. At the end of the day I am an amateur.

It is quite another to miscue or fumble a stroke because I am ****ing around.
 
ideologist said:
I'll cover his bet if he loses. I already want to ramble 3 pages worth of posts on the topic. :cool:

I'm glad to see so many people are willing to bet on their game here. Playing for any cash or even drinks is pretty dead now where I live. :angry:
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thanks man, all these nice people, wow.

and to show you i'm a nice guy when we meet you have a game, action.:thumbup:


best

Eric:smile:
 
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