Do you need to play down to other's level so they will play with you?

[genomachino]

Hi there,

I had one girlfriend that I almost married. Hi Laura if you read this. I would practice playing left handed when I played her. I got playing left handed pretty good but never good enough to use it when gambling big or in a tournament.

She just loved playing like that because she got to shoot. Not fun just holding the stick in your hand watching.

Sometimes i would shoot a shot that I wanted to try right handed and she didn't even notice the difference.

Pool isn't a very good spectator sport unless the girls are shooting. Or it's a final match in a big tournament or something.

Don't be too hard on your co-workers.................

 

[Jason Robichaud]

Play down??? I treat pool like sex, I go full-bore until I get a complaint, told to slow down or have them quit.

 

[JamisonNeu]

Start playing a harder game without telling them. That is what I do nowadays. I'll bank every third ball sometimes this seems to allow a guy at least one turn to the table on most games if I go out they are not to peaved cause you had to shoot three "hard" shots...They are on your team after that.

If I still win every time I start to play hook myself, and kick out from here...one time a game I'll play a safe on myself. This almost always gets them a shot, and I am still practicing my best pool...kinda. This will get them a ball in hand every time If I am shooting my best...

If this is still to much for them to handle I start adding a jump shot to the game...I hook myself into a jump shot and safe myself into a kick...Bank every third ball, and hit every shot like I am breaking...If they cant handle this I ask them to play darts.

 

[Cornerman]

I'm kinda pissed off. Do these guys not want to play me because they know I am going to win? .

Nope. You said there was nothing weird between you guys. And you said that they said they know how serious you get. They actually were respecting your time alone.

I'd chill out. It sounded like if the table was open, they'd bat them around until someone scratched on the 8-ball .If the table wasn't open, that would be okay too.

I think all of the suggestions for you to play down, handicapping, etc. are misplaced. They're good suggestions, if and only if the other players really wanted to play you. Sounds like they just wanted to walk in as I said and bat the balls around. They saw you, and left you to your devices out of respect and giving your space. There is absolutely nothing wrong with their choices as you've described.

Fred

 

[JoeW]

I normally work on some technical aspect of my stroke. That way, instead of concentrating on what I am doing, I am concentrating on how I am doing it. That usually brings my performance down a few balls (hopefully while at the same time helping my game in the long run)



Joe - what do you mean by having to make a tough posiional shot? Do you deliberately get bad shape on the nex ball? Or do you play to get on the next ball by a difficult route?

I Play a tough route to the next shot, two rails instead of one, exact postion between two balls, etc.

 

[GADawg]

Why not play lower level players with a fair spot? In fact, give up the nuts and try to chase it down. Talk about helping your game.

Steven

I agree. If I'm playing with friends who are lower level, I always to try to give a spot. I really want them to win so they will be excited and get more interested in the game.

 

[JimS]

When I play with my grandsons I just let'm bleed.

 

[CreeDo]

When one guy offers to play and the other refuses, it usually boils down to just a couple of possibilities.

1. The other guy has a specific friend he prefers to play, and is waiting for that friend (or a table) to be available.

2. Some people just will not play anyone they perceive as being better than they are. They aren't looking for a tough game. They prefer to club baby seals.

3. The guy asking puts out a vibe and the other guy doesn't like it.

Seems like 3 is out of the question if you're all friends, unless you seemed kinda grumpy or weirdly intense at the time? So either 1 or 2. You're A friend, but you're not THE friend the other guy prefers to play. Or it's what you're thinking... they don't want to play a better shooter.

I guess another option is it's just what the guy said; he doesn't want to interrupt you while you're doing drills. Maybe he thinks you want to practice and you're only offering to play out of politeness.

My advice is to not take any of these things personally. Some people go their whole lives playing mostly one other person. That's just where they're comfortable. Definitely don't play down to get people to play you. Though if you're desperate you can try a little creative coaxing. Can you shoot one handed and make a pretty good "BUK BUK BKAWWW" sound?

 

[GADawg]

Guys, when playing with friends who are not serious players, winning is not important. Having fun (for everyone) and comradarie trumps winning in these circumstances every time.

I was playing with a lady last weekend, and let her (helped her) repeat the same shot three times until she made it.

I was giving her three balls, shooting almost impossible banks and kicks on the 8 ball and she finally one one game of four. I was happy for her and she was ecstatic. What could be better thant that???

Lighten up a little and have fun. Play serious when the game is serious

 

[poscdr09]

Play down??? I treat pool like sex, I go full-bore until I get a complaint, told to slow down or have them quit.

Good stuff... LOL :killingme: :killingme:


I used to play left-handed, after about 6 months or so, I got pretty good lefty, to where I could run out from time to time. That pissed my brother off so I just switched over to shooting righthanded, and minimum 2 rail bank/3 rail kicks at the 8-ball. I get better at stupid shots, it makes for a good show, and he gets a chance to win almost every game...

Most of my buddies who play good like to play bank 8, last pocket anyway and all that practice made me a beast at that game... LOL