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 $$ off it. Wonder if you play poker for free also??
Betting Obsession
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If you really think that is why some players stroke their cue in the air, you really have no clue. In fact, your other statements clearly show that you have no clue whatsoever.You just make up whatever excuses that sound good to you because you don't have enough faith in your own game to make any $$ off it. Wonder if you play poker for free also??
No offense Lenny, but that seems to be the problem. I can roll out of bed and play baseball or softball all day long for nothing.... I love to go the batting cages, love practice , and love when the game starts, and love it even more when it's a tight game and it's the last inning and someone hits a wicked one hopper at you and you turn a double play to end the game. I love pool in the same way, but still will always be number 2 to baseball.
I play in an over 40 baseball league and an over 30 softball league. I bet many folks feel the same way about Golf. If folks loved the game as much as this, pool would be swimming in the money... but when folks mention they prefer NOT to play for "fun", from folks like you who do a lot for pool, what chance does pool really have ?
20 bucks says it goes over 12. (even if I have to push it there myself) :grin-devilish:
Betting at pool can make you schizophrenic. Not a good idea.
BTW .... I got the over!
I'm kinda surprised to see that I am in the minority of people who have posted on this.
I like both.
I am absolutely fine with playing for nothing but I also love a good challenge and find that playing for money (usually less that $100, yes I'm small time!) really sharpens my focus.
For me the trick has been maintaining that focus when playing for free. It is something I have worked on quite a bit and I have managed to do it for the most part but to be honest it isn't quite the same thing.
But when someone comes up to me and asks to play I usually let them be the one to ask to play for some cash. If they don't that's fine, I don't see a need for me to pressure anyone into a game. I'm not in this for the money and I checked my ego at the door so whats the point.
I like both.
I am absolutely fine with playing for nothing but I also love a good challenge and find that playing for money (usually less that $100, yes I'm small time!) really sharpens my focus.
For me the trick has been maintaining that focus when playing for free. It is something I have worked on quite a bit and I have managed to do it for the most part but to be honest it isn't quite the same thing.
But when someone comes up to me and asks to play I usually let them be the one to ask to play for some cash. If they don't that's fine, I don't see a need for me to pressure anyone into a game. I'm not in this for the money and I checked my ego at the door so whats the point.
I just guess ever since I started playing the game I have bet money even if it was just $5-$10 a game or a beer. I am okay with playing for table time even or a friendly dinner. I just feel most people shoot differently and take crazy shots when its just for fun and it becomes a bit of a joke. I played a young man from China recently just for fun as he did not gamble but is in the pool hall often practicing so I wanted to give a little something back. I have played with an older veteran just for fun because I feel he deserves my time. I have played with cute girls just for fun and well we know why, haha. I really do prefer to play for a little something, just friendly competition and I am picky with who I play because if I do not enjoy it then winning money won't make up for the bad time.
Playing for the cheese
Putting small cheese down on a match is a great motivator to stay down and play with proper fundamentals.
With nothing on the line, people get lazy. And lazy is fine if you're just out to have fun!
...but you'll never improve through laziness. If you can stay disciplined with nothing on the line, then you don't need to bet anything.
I made most of my living for 2 years on my pool game in bars and halls around the way. I can honestly say it aged me considerably, always having my nerves on the line.
Putting small cheese down on a match is a great motivator to stay down and play with proper fundamentals.
With nothing on the line, people get lazy. And lazy is fine if you're just out to have fun!
...but you'll never improve through laziness. If you can stay disciplined with nothing on the line, then you don't need to bet anything.
I made most of my living for 2 years on my pool game in bars and halls around the way. I can honestly say it aged me considerably, always having my nerves on the line.
I really understand the "gambling" aspect of pool... I literally grew up around it. And I have no problem with folks that wanna gamble... that's cool too. But I just love the game, I could play all day for nothing... pool is like playing cards, time just flies by when your doing it....
Now, I do play in the occasional ring games with friends, but I'm probably one of the few guys that would care less if it was free or for money... don't matter, cause if we play tiddly winks, I'm always trying to win.
Just wish more folks enjoyed the game for the "game", and not the money. I know some local tournament shortstops that I don't even think like pool at that much, they just like the money they take in from the various local and state tourneys.....and when the money runs out, I"m sure they will be hanging up their cues while I"m still picking up a basball bat
I like to play for fun, problem is though it's hard to find someone that is really trying and giving a shit unless it is for money... even in a tourney you find people dumping matches to try to get in action with someone else...
So I play cheap on occasion... this also keeps me from screwing around and not really trying as I am guilty of that when playing for fun as well.
So I play cheap on occasion... this also keeps me from screwing around and not really trying as I am guilty of that when playing for fun as well.
I have no issue either playing for free, or betting a little.
I personally like to have a small wager. It keeps you and your opponent "honest". There probably won't be a lot of those wild shots taken if you have a little something on the line, unless you have a pocket full of money.
I'm not one to lose a house note or car note and never will be. I don't have any problem with having something on the game though.
I personally like to have a small wager. It keeps you and your opponent "honest". There probably won't be a lot of those wild shots taken if you have a little something on the line, unless you have a pocket full of money.
I'm not one to lose a house note or car note and never will be. I don't have any problem with having something on the game though.
I have a few maybe contradictory thoughts about this.
One group is people that will ONLY play if it's for money, and often large amounts. They say "it's not worth it to me to play for less". Don't like that group at all. Unless pool is your only means of making a living, even then it's annoying.
The other group is that "I need to play for something to focus", that I am starting to agree with. If you are just playing to play, most, if not all, people would be lax with shots, they'd go for that 10% potting chance rather than play safe, have a free wheeling stoke, talk and drink too much, in short, not have total focus on the task as hand.
I was always against the money part all the time, but I have grown to see that a $5, $10, $20 bet, even if it's a long race to 9 or 11 for that small amount, or even just for the time, will give you that small edge in focus that you really should have to play.
Gambling
If you beat me 3 sets out of 3 for fun it means nothing.
If you beat me 3 sets out of 3 for $300, well then you have a story to tell don't you?
Gambling lets me know that I will get your best game and you will get mine. It's a way of keeping score.
BTW pool is great, but there are a lot better things to do if I want to have "fun". I like to get some return on the invesment of time that it took to get a strong game. Every day I go to the pool hall it's about making money. I have a pool table home anyway.
If you beat me 3 sets out of 3 for fun it means nothing.
If you beat me 3 sets out of 3 for $300, well then you have a story to tell don't you?
Gambling lets me know that I will get your best game and you will get mine. It's a way of keeping score.
BTW pool is great, but there are a lot better things to do if I want to have "fun". I like to get some return on the invesment of time that it took to get a strong game. Every day I go to the pool hall it's about making money. I have a pool table home anyway.
This is exactly why I like a little something on it, it helps me to focus and play the game correctly. I hate to have poor practice and just smack them around whether its playing by myself or with someone for fun. Most recreational players are just smacking balls around and not taking it seriously, I am trying to improve and become a better player so I know what is working for me and its not playing funsies.
JC
Coos Cues
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
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
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.
I feel ya. I like to just play and not have to worry about making it all serious.
Gambling and tourneys just stress me out.
I didn't get the mindset of my buddies who gambled, at first. I think I was suffering from
a sort of "empathy gap"...
basically, when I gamble there's no special satisfaction or thrill of victory.
So it's hard for me to imagine why anyone else would do it.
But I sort of understand that if there's no money, they can't stay interested and focused.
If they can't stay focused, they play bad and lose. And if they lose, they're irritated.
So a few people just can't really enjoy pool and play their best without something on the line.
It's funny, just as I can't imagine why they need to gamble,
they can't imagine why I don't.
I have a buddy who is baffled that I don't seek out tough tournaments
and sets. He figures it's something that can be cured if they just throw
me in the box enough times. So now I have someone backing me and paying
entry fees when I don't even feel like playing the matches.
I feel bad because I'm sure there are others out there who'd love to have a backer.
Gambling and tourneys just stress me out.
I didn't get the mindset of my buddies who gambled, at first. I think I was suffering from
a sort of "empathy gap"...
basically, when I gamble there's no special satisfaction or thrill of victory.
So it's hard for me to imagine why anyone else would do it.
But I sort of understand that if there's no money, they can't stay interested and focused.
If they can't stay focused, they play bad and lose. And if they lose, they're irritated.
So a few people just can't really enjoy pool and play their best without something on the line.
It's funny, just as I can't imagine why they need to gamble,
they can't imagine why I don't.
I have a buddy who is baffled that I don't seek out tough tournaments
and sets. He figures it's something that can be cured if they just throw
me in the box enough times. So now I have someone backing me and paying
entry fees when I don't even feel like playing the matches.
I feel bad because I'm sure there are others out there who'd love to have a backer.
There is nothing wrong with playing for fun, and if the is your comfort zone, don’t leave it. As many of those who will only play you for MONEY, only want to take your money.
I use to live in Sacramento CA, and once in a great while when not working. I would go into the Jointed Cue, and there was this guy who was a big pain in the butt.
He always use to say lets play some 9 Ball for 5 Bucks a Game. I told him many times I don’t play pool for money. Than he would call me names and say things like I had no guts etc.
I knew his skill level was much great then mine, and to GABLE with him ws no gamble, as the out come was to be me loosing, and him winning 5 Bucks a Game off me as long as I had money to play.
One day he does his thing, and I say you like to gamble. He is a gamble for you. I product a wad of Money and tell him there is 500 Bucks there. All he needs to do is meet me at Discovery Park, and we will race bicycles up to the END of the Sacramento Bike Trail in Fulsome, and Back for 500.
The route is like 50 miles round trip, and I ride it several time a week. First thing he say is he has no bike, and I offer to find a friend who will loan him a Racing Bicycle for him to ride.
Than the tables turn, and he say something about it being an UN FAIR BET, because I am a Bicycles Rider, and am In Shape, etc.
I smile and return to hitting balls. Bicycle riding was my game, I used it to stay fit There was no desire by the 9 Ball Expert to Gamble on MY GAME.