Considered unsportsmanlike or "dirty" ?
- Thread starter cubc
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So..... he's getting a huge spot, plays the whole game until you break safe, gets mad when he doesn't have a hanger.cubc said:
Feel better?
Maybe he'll take previous turns at the table more serious. A lot of people wait for someone to GIVE them a win, instead of taking it. That is a huge difference between lower level players and good players. I actually view the win as already mine. My opponent is trying to take something that is mine. Look at it that way and you will play every round, or turn as it might be your last. Playing most of the guys I play, it very well is. Or, you might sit for four or five turns, or games, for that matter.
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Poolplaya9 said:
I agree 100% with this response. There has never been a rule written that says you are obligated to give your opponent a chance to beat you.
That's why I love funky rule sets, like "Bar Rules". You can make some nasty moves, but they are all within the rules. Many bangers make the same nasty moves, but not on purpose, they just miss and leave you junk at which to shoot. So, if I do it on purpose, is that not fair? Intentions don't change the rules. Your intent should always be to win (within the rules).
When you play a tough player the stroke changes thats all I am saying!ScottW said:
I play ok but I love to see the good players go at it, the sparks fly,
thats when pool is at its best for me!
How good are players ?
I get the 5+7 in 9ball and still get beat but when I play in tournaments guess what ,I do well!
I thank him for playing me!
My advice is to play better players and not be afraid to lose!
Don't feel bad because you did the SMART thing with your break. You did nothing wrong. You satisfied the break requirments in driving four balls to the rail.
A few years ago I was in a similuar situation. I had won the singles in Vegas the year before. The next year I was in a match with a very good player in a game of eight ball. I had just won the last game to tie the score at four apiece going to five. My opponent was an excellent player and I was breaking. I decided to not give the break full power and hoped to leave somewhat of a mess. If he was going to win this game he would have to beat me with eight ball skills.
We traded shots until I felt that it was time for me to attempt a run out. Which I did.
After the match he says to me. I can't believe you're the national champion and you don't go all out on the break. At this point his friend tells him " that's one of the reasons why he is the champion "
A few years ago I was in a similuar situation. I had won the singles in Vegas the year before. The next year I was in a match with a very good player in a game of eight ball. I had just won the last game to tie the score at four apiece going to five. My opponent was an excellent player and I was breaking. I decided to not give the break full power and hoped to leave somewhat of a mess. If he was going to win this game he would have to beat me with eight ball skills.
We traded shots until I felt that it was time for me to attempt a run out. Which I did.
After the match he says to me. I can't believe you're the national champion and you don't go all out on the break. At this point his friend tells him " that's one of the reasons why he is the champion "
I think this is a very interesting topic. So when you all are playing lowwer caliber players in league do you find your self doing things you generally wouldn't against higher level players, say such as low percentage shot attempts? Then what's your feelings on that? Do you feel this can hurt your game in the long run not shooting consistantly the same? What's your thoughts?
cubc said:
You can feel bad for the guy that it's not his night, but really you're describing the way to beat really good players: never give them a decent chance to turn things their way. It's not only the smart way to play, but it's the only way to play if you're going to become an elite player. It's appropriate and decent to feel bad for him, but you should feel good that you played so well.
-Andrew
I agree though hard at times and find myself lossing games here and there that I should win by not staying within myself and playing down to the other player's level. Instead thinking "give this shot a try you'll get another trip to the table" doesn't always happen. I guess one of the weak spots of my game I need to work on staying at high focus regardless of player I'm facing!
Remember in The Color of Money, when Steve Mizerak says: "I didn't deserve that!" and Eddie says: "Yes. You did!"
It was actually good for your opponent to lose that way. He should realize that he did not lose on one shot, but was outplayed over the course of the entire match. To see how he lost and have it punctuated with an ending like that will teach him a bunch about his game and how to win.
You actually helped your opponent's future pool ability by teaching him something he will never forget.
Did he deserve it? Yes. He did. He got himself into that posistion in the first place by not playing well enough.
It was actually good for your opponent to lose that way. He should realize that he did not lose on one shot, but was outplayed over the course of the entire match. To see how he lost and have it punctuated with an ending like that will teach him a bunch about his game and how to win.
You actually helped your opponent's future pool ability by teaching him something he will never forget.
Did he deserve it? Yes. He did. He got himself into that posistion in the first place by not playing well enough.
cubc said:
You didn't specify how hard you broke this rack. If you used as much power as possible with control, there is nothing wrong with this break. If you soft broke the rack for the sole purpose of playing safe with the break, I'd make you break the rack again.
It sounds like you soft broke since you specified you were attempting to get just four balls to a rail.
The APA team manual clearly states that safety or soft breaks are not allowed. It goes on to state that you must hit the rack as hard as you can with control. If you soft broke, you broke the rules.
I can understand that you need to accumulate as many points as possible, being you are the high rated player on the team. However, the rules apply to you no differently than any other skill level player.
what if you soft break playing shape on the 1 and making the wing ball. does it matter how soft it is if you make a ball? Technically that could be "as much power as possible with control" because thats as much power to make the wing ball with control to get shape on the 1 
cubc said:what if you soft break playing shape on the 1 and making the wing ball. does it matter how soft it is if you make a ball? Technically that could be "as much power as possible with control" because thats as much power to make the wing ball with control to get shape on the 1
The team manual does not state that you should soft break playing shape on the 1 and making the wing ball. It says to hit the rack with as much power as possible with control.
"Does it matter how soft it is if you make a ball?" Yes, it matters. There is nothing about the word "soft" that relates to the word "power".
