dealing with bangers, drunks, etc playing next to you

[CaptiveBred]

(Dr. Cue's in the Seattle area).

I went there a year ago looking for action when I was in town. There was just teenagers shooting and no money. The teenage girl working the counter was my first clue it was not a serious pool hall... Maybe it has changed since I've been there...


Enzo

Not much you can do. What I did was practiced playing from one side of the table, exclusively. It gives me somethig tough to do and keeps me/them out of the way of eachother.


Buying my own table was the best thing I ever did for my pool game...

 

[Ronoh]

seriously, after years of putting up with people, i'd like to get some ideas as to how other people deal with this. if i'm just screwing around, it's no big deal. i'm talking about when i have set very serious practice goals for myself (eg high runs in strait pool) and feel it's other people not letting me stay focused long enough to realize them. i truly feel that some of my goals have not been realized because i never get "unadulterated" practice time for extended periods.

please don't tell me to get my own table, because i would have already if possible.

let me just state so people don't go crazy, i know these people have every right to be there. so, i'm not really criticizing these people at all.

My feeling is:

You're getting older, and you're starting to see that the time you allow yourself to play pool is getting less and less, and you want the time spent playing to be quality not quantity.

And, as you've gotten older, you're seeing how disrespectful you once where to others. I'm sure you've out grown that attitude.

Once you get past that (or frequent a new environment) you'll find what you're looking for out of your game.

Progress = progressive drills
Every Day = a new drill (doesn't have to relate to pool, but usually does)

 

[9BallBust-O]

Your Advantage

Sometimes when I practice I welcome distraction because I use it to my advantage. Its great practice learning to block people out and being focused. One guy I play with a lot - when we are practicing we sometimes during the whole session we try and shark each other just to learn how to block it out and not let it effect the game. When I do play for $ now I notice it really has helped when people do try and shark me, I dont let it bother me.