Does anyone actually believe GAMBLING will

Its nice to have a little something on the game, it makes it more meaningfull, however, you should not bet too much that if you lose you will feel bad. Money is just the way to keep score. I have just as much fun, even more, playing for $5 a game then when others bet much, much more. I can afford to bet anything I want, but I am not doing it for the money. If I win, I usually buy a dinner or drinks anyway.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Make you a better Pool Player.:sorry: I hear this song and dance all the time, and I believe the answer is NO.

If you believe differently.......JUSTIFY WHY YOU THINK NOT :eek:
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LOL. Go play for some cash, even cheap and find out for yourself!
 
It will ice up your nerves and hopefully give you perspective on shot selection.
Paul
PS
I don't gamble regularly because I get too angry when I screw up so I play for fun mostly.
 
gambling is one way to put pressure on yourself

Gambling is one way to put pressure on yourself. I played a game of bar table eight ball for $80K once, pretty much my entire net worth at the time. However I have competed at many things without gambling and I love horse racing, with or without a bet on it. Simply put the gamble is a side thing, it isn't the only way for me to learn to handle myself under pressure and it isn't a necessary part of playing pool. Put me in the box with a champion and I am going to play my butt off and focus mightily even if I don't have a nickel bet.

Heart and pride don't necessarily have a price tag attached.

Hu
 
I think all the posts make the same point Cocobolo was going for, gambling won't make you a better player. It may help you win more, but technically won't get you any more skill. I know people who play for money but would loose to many who don't just because they don't know as much. Gambling without practice and/or instruction is a waste. Any type of pressure you put on yourself to win will affect you the same way, it's a matter or wanting to do your best in a given situation. If you don't want to do your best when there is no money on the line, that's your problem.
 
crawfish said:
You just made my point for me. You're putting up the money and already "I'll probably lose, but I'm gonna go down shooting"? To me, mentally, you've already lost. You're only hoping he plays a safe on you to show you some respect. Oh well, you might be the exception 1-1000 that gambling won't help. Best of luck. Didn't you see the scene in the Hustler where Newman tells Fats that "even if I lose, I'm still the best."? In his mind, he'd already lost, that's why George C. Scott said, "Stay with this kid, he's a loser." It's that mentality that gambling DOES help with.
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I'm not giving up. There's a huge difference in the level of play between me and Rodney Morris. He's a world class player. I'm going to give him everything I got but you gotta face reality sometimes. Hey, if he leaves me an opening I'm going to crucify him. But in a race to 7 I don't see me coming out on top. You never know though. I took Buddy to the hill. I took Takahashi to the hill. I took Rudolfo Luat to 5 in a race to 7. Hell, I beat Karen Corr straight up. I'm not saying I don't have a chance, but c'mon, let's be realistic about this. No amount of gambling with punters around the local pool hall is going to make me raise me up to the level of Rodney Morris.
MULLY
 
I believe gambling will make you better. No I don't believe its the only way to improve. I do think it lends itself to the most speedy improvement in ones game along with "good" practice. Reason being you learn to lean out silly mistakes and bad habits due to you get penalized for them. It will teach you to have heart. There isn't much more boosting to one's game than to comeback from behind and beat someone out of their cash.
Many don't like gambling simple because they don't like to be beat. You feel each loss when you get beat gambling and it will grow you in your game, seasoning. Its not hard to play "your" game in a 500 added tournament when you have played for more than first place is worth.
I have gambled almost since I could run 3 balls. It might not have been for much but I still did. I believe it made me more driven to win than your just everyday player. Actually I'm sure it did. If someone beats you, you look for a way to beat them.
Tournament play is also good for making you a better player. But its hard to stay in action as a tournament player. Keeping pressure on yourself will help your game.IMO
 
turbo said:
...
where i grew up, the only way for beginners to learn anything on the pool table was to play and bet against much much better players, because they wouldnt teach.
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IMO, this is the fundamental reason why Bruces question even gets asked .... there are few/no alternatives to learn the game. A proper development program would be a much better way (faster and more efficient) to learn the game, but alas, we have none.

Dave
 
gpeezy said:
I believe gambling will make you better. No I don't believe its the only way to improve. I do think it lends itself to the most speedy improvement in ones game along with "good" practice. Reason being you learn to lean out silly mistakes and bad habits due to you get penalized for them. It will teach you to have heart. There isn't much more boosting to one's game than to comeback from behind and beat someone out of their cash.
Many don't like gambling simple because they don't like to be beat. You feel each loss when you get beat gambling and it will grow you in your game, seasoning. Its not hard to play "your" game in a 500 added tournament when you have played for more than first place is worth.
I have gambled almost since I could run 3 balls. It might not have been for much but I still did. I believe it made me more driven to win than your just everyday player. Actually I'm sure it did. If someone beats you, you look for a way to beat them.
Tournament play is also good for making you a better player. But its hard to stay in action as a tournament player. Keeping pressure on yourself will help your game.IMO
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Nice, real nice. Kind of hard from going from $200 a set (where you get paid right then after each one) to a $25 dollar tourney that you have to win eitght matches to cash $185 after expenses. And, to play the bigger entry fee tourneys, better hit'em good, get some good rolls, and be mentally strong for at least two days.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Make you a better Pool Player.:sorry: I hear this song and dance all the time, and I believe the answer is NO.

If you believe differently.......JUSTIFY WHY YOU THINK NOT :eek:
Click to expand...
Even Willie Mosconi -- who was about as adamant a spokesperson against hustling as he was a great player -- even he was quoted as saying something to the effect that the pressure of gambling helped establish the hardened nerves necessary to become a champion. But what did he know :D

On another angle, gambling aside, I am DEAD CERTAIN that playing better players makes you a better player yourself over time, and the fact is, without any kind of gambling, you might find precious little opportunity outside of tournaments to match up regularly against better players without some kind of gambling involved. If you can entice better players to the table to practice with you for fun, more power to you, you lucky man...

That said, there is a big difference between nose-bleed gambling and low stakes wagering.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Make you a better Pool Player.:sorry: I hear this song and dance all the time, and I believe the answer is NO.

If you believe differently.......JUSTIFY WHY YOU THINK NOT :eek:
Click to expand...
if you can't afford it don't. if you can get busy. it will eleminate silly shots
if you have something at risk.
that's how they forge steel, put it in fire !
 
The only times I don't gamble are when I am playing against my girl, or when one of us has already been busted, and we play a few games for fun. I did play my girl for $5 on friday because she insisted, and the chick ran out four on me, including a nice shot on the nine from across the table.
I was proud of her though, because I taught her how to play. I guess gambling made her a better player. Next time we will play for a twenty spot, and I will show her NO mercy.:eek:
 
Fast Lenny said:
To me gambling is a way to stay sharp for tournaments,I like to joke to people when they tell me they dont gamble and only play tourneys,I tell them just to think like its me and them in the finals. :grin:
I do believe it is a good substitute for the pressure of tourneys and keeping you sharp.I do have some sparring partners who will play hard with nothing on the line as will I but is there pressure,not really true pressure when there is your money on it. :wink:
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You would need to re-phrase that with me to say "It me and you in the first round match"...since I never make it to the finals...I would not know what thats like......;)
 
HI2AZ said:
I think it depends on the individual. For some, they don't need the gamble to concentrate and give their best. Others, they require that added incentive to step it up some.
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How true, how true.

Another professional who does not gamble but still has NO problem concentrating is Tommy Kennedy.
 
Roger Long said:
How true, how true.

Another professional who does not gamble but still has NO problem concentrating is Tommy Kennedy.
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But, he got to where he is today by gambling. I remember the "old Tommy." Just sit and talk with him about his wilder days.
 
crawfish said:
But, he got to where he is today by gambling. I remember the "old Tommy." Just sit and talk with him about his wilder days.
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Wrong. Tommy didn't win a single tournament of any significance until after he had stopped gambling altogether. I know that for a fact; I was there. And Tommy is the one who told me that I was never going to really learn anything significant about this game until I stopped gambling. He was right.
 
Roger Long said:
Wrong. Tommy didn't win a single tournament of any significance until after he had stopped gambling altogether. I know that for a fact; I was there. And Tommy is the one who told me that I was never going to really learn anything significant about this game until I stopped gambling. He was right.
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So, you don't think his gambling had any thing to do with when he did win tournaments? Come on. The reasons are many that he didn't knock off a tourney until he did. If you were there, you know them. We don't even have to mention them. I am glad Tommy found the Lord. It probably saved him.

Hey, different scenarios for everyone. Efren gamble? Johnny? Earl? Jose? Cliff? Grady? CJ? Tony? Ralph Malph? Potsie? THey all did and do to an extent. Have they won anything? They gamble and do you think they "were never going to really learn anything about this game until they stop?"
 
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ShootingArts said:
Gambling is one way to put pressure on yourself. I played a game of bar table eight ball for $80K once, pretty much my entire net worth at the time. However I have competed at many things without gambling and I love horse racing, with or without a bet on it. Simply put the gamble is a side thing, it isn't the only way for me to learn to handle myself under pressure and it isn't a necessary part of playing pool. Put me in the box with a champion and I am going to play my butt off and focus mightily even if I don't have a nickel bet.

Heart and pride don't necessarily have a price tag attached.

Hu
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Did you win?
 
To win, all it takes is a certain level of talent and knowledge and whole lot of heart and desire. The talent and knowledge should only cost you table time. Drills and instructors. If it takes winning money to bring out your heart and desire, then gamble. But I dont think its necessary.

I dont think Tony Robles gambles either.... and I hear he is pretty good.
 
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