Do you play Pity pool and how to shake it

7

7forlife

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Disclaimer: This is mostly geared towards stronger shooter but all are welcomed

This is different from when you're at a bar and just happen to play a game or go visit someone who happen to have a table in their house.

What I'm talking about is playing league and you're up against a weak female (no disrespect) or male, or perhaps a person that you know or feel can play better and just maybe having a bad day or slow start. Do you find yourself letting up on this person and maybe not driving the hammer home or tightening the screws as we say to demolish them.

I have come up with this problem and now can't shake it, not against stronger players (for the most part) but against weaker players or opponents that I may happen to like and be friendly with off the table. And I'm talking about when it matters now, maybe not for big bucks (to weaker less seasoned player) since this person is far more conditioned naturally. But let's throw them in the mix and say that this known gambler happens to be playing in some in-house league, does he feel pity "so to say" when he comes up agains this banger/noob, maybe not to lose but remember that moment when the game is over and your buddies go 'holy shit, you almost lost that one" I know we've all had that (most of us)

i.e.
I played someone who i have never played before in my life nor do i know. The game is 14.1 and the handicap is 147-75, I'm steamrolling this guy due to intimidation (kind of, not directly said but in his words) and a few mistake due to skill that he made and am up 27-0 (he got two balls during that time as he was actually -2) and looking at the table after my breakout, rather than lock him up in the stack (there are several loose balls but no clear shot for me so the safe should payout) I went for a rather simple bank to the side (short angle if you know what i mean), missed it and BAM! the game turns around. He get's 7 because of that and before i know it is less than or about 10 balls down from me. I kick myself in the nuts for about the next 50-60 balls, came back to my senses but lost 140-75.

Question:
Have or do you have this problem and how did you improve it or reduce it.
(and i know gambling, so we can prob hold off on those comments and deal with a more mental approach hopefully)
 
You're playing with "emotion" instead of percentages. I do let up on friends sometimes when we're just drinking and shooting for fun, but if it's a money game I tournament play, I try and turn that emotional pity off as soon as the coin flips. Hope this helps!
 
I have a hard time getting motivated for regular league matches because it have played in some huge tournaments and they just aren't the same when nothing is on the line.
 
when I play in my Wednesday night league I try my best to win regardless of my opponents skill level. I owe this to my team mates.
On Saturdays I play fun pool with a solid "A" player.
We play 10 ball races to 9.
If I bear down and play hard I usually win 9-2 or 9-3.
No fun for him.
So most of the time I play loose and go for shots that probably I should play safe on.
 
measureman said:
when I play in my Wednesday night league I try my best to win regardless of my opponents skill level. I owe this to my team mates.
On Saturdays I play fun pool with a solid "A" player.
We play 10 ball races to 9.
If I bear down and play hard I usually win 9-2 or 9-3.
No fun for him.
So most of the time I play loose and go for shots that probably I should play safe on.
Click to expand...

You play a solid A player and usually win 9-2 or 9-3 if you try a little? What is your speed sir?

Edit: Wait... does that mean you generally run like 5 packs? Who are you?
 
Last edited:
measureman said:
when I play in my Wednesday night league I try my best to win regardless of my opponents skill level. I owe this to my team mates.
On Saturdays I play fun pool with a solid "A" player.
We play 10 ball races to 9.
If I bear down and play hard I usually win 9-2 or 9-3.
No fun for him.
So most of the time I play loose and go for shots that probably I should play safe on.
Click to expand...

Dang...

You really need to work in your hustle!! Lol

Jk...

beat a solid A player that bad?? You play good...
 
against weaker opponents, no cash on the line-just for grins and giggles, I will intentionally handicap myself by intentionally getting out of line to a jump or kick, play shape for caroms/combos, play last pocket 8 ball, etc. playing one pocket i'll take intentional fouls or leave easy banks, etc.
 
zpele said:
You play a solid A player and usually win 9-2 or 9-3 if you try a little? What is your speed sir?

Edit: Wait... does that mean you generally run like 5 packs? Who are you?
Click to expand...

I'm using the rating system we have in Colorado.
Pro
AAA
AA
A
B
C
I have been described as a strong AA or a low AAA.
 
7forlife said:
Disclaimer: This is mostly geared towards stronger shooter but all are welcomed

This is different from when you're at a bar and just happen to play a game or go visit someone who happen to have a table in their house.

What I'm talking about is playing league and you're up against a weak female (no disrespect) or male, or perhaps a person that you know or feel can play better and just maybe having a bad day or slow start. Do you find yourself letting up on this person and maybe not driving the hammer home or tightening the screws as we say to demolish them.

I have come up with this problem and now can't shake it, not against stronger players (for the most part) but against weaker players or opponents that I may happen to like and be friendly with off the table. And I'm talking about when it matters now, maybe not for big bucks (to weaker less seasoned player) since this person is far more conditioned naturally. But let's throw them in the mix and say that this known gambler happens to be playing in some in-house league, does he feel pity "so to say" when he comes up agains this banger/noob, maybe not to lose but remember that moment when the game is over and your buddies go 'holy shit, you almost lost that one" I know we've all had that (most of us)

i.e.
I played someone who i have never played before in my life nor do i know. The game is 14.1 and the handicap is 147-75, I'm steamrolling this guy due to intimidation (kind of, not directly said but in his words) and a few mistake due to skill that he made and am up 27-0 (he got two balls during that time as he was actually -2) and looking at the table after my breakout, rather than lock him up in the stack (there are several loose balls but no clear shot for me so the safe should payout) I went for a rather simple bank to the side (short angle if you know what i mean), missed it and BAM! the game turns around. He get's 7 because of that and before i know it is less than or about 10 balls down from me. I kick myself in the nuts for about the next 50-60 balls, came back to my senses but lost 140-75.

Question:
Have or do you have this problem and how did you improve it or reduce it.
(and i know gambling, so we can prob hold off on those comments and deal with a more mental approach hopefully)
Click to expand...

If you're playing social pool then be friendly. If you're competing then play like you mean it. Giving up weight is competing otherwise don't give up weight.

The lesson you learned is don't let up.

I don't know Efren very well but one of the things that I seem to remember from one of his interviews is that he said he never plays down to an opponent and always tries as hard as he can. He said he practices like he plays.

I think for most of us it's a spectrum. We just adjust to the social situation. I played a guy the other day and just donked off $100 playing one hole trying stupid shots just to play around. Immediately afterward I was unhappy because there was no need to do that. I could have played harder and tried to bear down and make him work for it. But I was friendly and carrying on a conversation and just handing him $10 every five minutes. This is a stupid way to do it, even for low stakes. (and to be clear though, this wasn't a pity situation, the guy is a better player than me anyway)
 
I do this all the time with new players, especially in tournaments. If a new player comes in, gets killed because you run out the set on them, you may never see them in the pool hall again. Many of the people I see in the pool hall crawled out from playing pool with friends at a bar or their house table and trying to see how things are like out in the world.

They dip a toe in the river of real pool players, if they get washed away, usually their egos will keep them from going in again. If they can make a few balls, maybe win a game here and there, they are a lot more likely to come back, especially if a player shows them something to help afterwards or maybe even some adivice during a game for a beginner. Basically if they have to ask how to rack 9 ball or what the push out rule, I'm not going to try to run 3 racks on them.
 
Not as much the case here

I played this guy, and he is just hang-the-9 mentioned, total noob. But I really wanted to prove I could phase this spot and get the win, but I almost lost feeling bad for him also.
 

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Did the same thing here with a better player who was having a bad day. I can't help wanting the best out of someone regardless of skill difference and not wanting to send them home feeling like they should pick up another sport because they can't play up to the competition. Kind of the effect you get when you don't play well and end up in the slump.
 

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My friend's mantra is:

Always beat the chumps (amateurs, his word is chumps) and win at least 50/50 against the better players. If you can't beat the chumps, you'll never beat the better players either.

I don't know if that's true, but he lives by it.

Jeff Livingston
 
The No Pity Committee

7forlife said:
Question:
Have or do you have this problem and how did you improve it or reduce it.
(and i know gambling, so we can prob hold off on those comments and deal with a more mental approach hopefully)
Click to expand...

The simple solution would be to join the No Pity Committee. This means always, no matter the situation or opponent, you play your best game. This will not only help keep you from losing to players that you should win against, but also help ensure you always bring your best game with you when you play stronger players.

However, as you become a No Pity Committee member, be prepared for your social games to dry up. This includes friends and family.
 
I don't play pity pool lol but I will say when we have family over and there all playing pool I play hard for a few games but everyone knows I can play some but then I lay back. I don't bear down as hard.. I play off the cuff more. Look theres no reason to tear the wings of flys lol It's not gonna be any fun for them if they get one chance at the table and you run out. lol Now leagues, tournaments or for money then I don't give a shit what your speed is.. if you want to step up then I'm gonna play my ass off to knock you back down.
 
I don't intentionally.
I have noticed that many times after someone degrades themselves by whining , or having a pity party for themselves while still playing, that they seem to get every roll and if you do not fight it as hard as you can , soon , you are in a position of wtf happened and can't make a ball or do anything right.
I blame it on satan , he just captured another person.
You can blame it on whatever you like.
 
I used to have this problem. I'm not saying that I've completely kicked the habit, but I've gotten much better at playing the table and not my opponent. One thing that helps me is trying to maintain an average inning count. Now even when I'm playing a weaker player, my goal is usually to win the game in 2 innings or less (maybe 3 innings if my opponent hooks me).
 
I have a new take on things. Someone said to me after
"If winning wasn't everything they wouldn't keep score"

One of my problems now that I've started back playing (lol, if you can call once a week playing) is performing. I'm more interested in performing well rather than winning, if that makes sense. So you find that I execute things to see if I can do it rather than doing what is right for the situation.

"Not because a shot is makeable means that it should be taken" words I should live by
 
7forlife said:
I have a new take on things. Someone said to me after
"If winning wasn't everything they wouldn't keep score"

One of my problems now that I've started back playing (lol, if you can call once a week playing) is performing. I'm more interested in performing well rather than winning, if that makes sense. So you find that I execute things to see if I can do it rather than doing what is right for the situation.
"Not because a shot is makeable means that it should be taken" words I should live by
Click to expand...

I do that now and then just make it a little harder.
It takes the boredom out of a rather easy game.
 
If it's a friendly game, I tend to play more aggressive shots when I probably should play safe. I also am not always great at bearing down like I should, and do in a game that means something.

With regard to league, I try to pretend it means something, and play my hardest regardless of the competition. That said, league night is my one true "night out on the town". Therefore, I drink and smoke. Sometimes that does not have adverse effects on my game, other times it does. In the end, having a good time is the name of the game.
 
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