kaznj said:
That is very funny.:thumbup:
Does anyone actually believe GAMBLING will
- Thread starter CocoboloCowboy
- Start date
That is very funny.:thumbup:
Pushout said:
I worked with a guy one who had Pony Fever, we use to go to Santa Anita on the weekends, I occasionally would place a SHOW BET, not ever Race occasionally.
Cliff on the other had would HAVE to BET ever race, I would say he was in the RED from what I saw of his success.
I remember once betting a GRAY Horse in the Last Race once, and Cliff?s Nag did not finish in the Money, and the Gray did.
Cliff accused me of "JINXING HIS BET," because he thought my betting the Gay Horse what bad luck for him.
Our friendship ended on Friday when he ask to borrow $20.00 until Monday (payday) so Rose his wife would have money to buy groceries. I ask if he was going to the track that weekend, and Cliff replied YES.
I ask where his track money was coming from if he need money for groceries, and why he need a $20.00 Loan from me. He explained that he had money in his HORSE FUND for Santa Anita. I told he needed to put his family before the Horses.
I never went to Santa Anita again with Cliff, and our friendship end when I dropped him home, as I was his ride to work.
Cliff IMHO had put the Horses in from of his Wife, and Kids on his priority list..:angry:
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It really doesn't matter if you're new here or not. Let's not get all melodramatic. I was just pointing out that some of you were making up phantom arguments. Of course this is a discussion forum, but if you read some of the "discussions" on this thread, you'll clearly see that some of you guys wrote things like "anyone who says you need to gamble to get better... " etc....Roger Long said:
Well, that's not what was said, and that's not what was asked. The moment people start claiming other people said something they didn't, or they start answering questions that weren't asked, then the "discussion" becomes completey unrooted as always.
I think the original question and those who answered it were fine. And I think your answer of "no" is fine. The original poster wanted to know why you thought so. That is, the answer is "yes, because..." or "no, because..."
Now, as I said, if the question was "Is gambling required to get better...." that's a different question with its own set of answers. And I'm sure most of us whom some of you are "disagreeing" with actually would agree with you if that was the question. But it wasn't.
Fred
SJDinPHX said:
Are you always so pleasant? You can't have a conversation without getting snotty? Not once did I say all pool players that gamble are scumbags. I said there are a lot of scumbags that gamble. If you don't know any of those types, the ones that stain the game, then you don't really play pool.
MULLY
I do know quite a few. Actually have a few on speed dial (Not that it matters, I still have them from my "running around" days). They WILL tell you it does make you a better player. Remember, that Was the original question. Of course it's not mandatory.AngryPanda said:
True. True. But, there are guys that play like Zeus, then you put ANY kind of pressure (tournament, or a beer) and they'll shoot'em into the rails like there's no pockets. So, why all the practice if you're not gonna put it into play in some fashion? Oh well, different viewpoints.mullyman said:
AngryPanda said:
Thorsten may not gamble now. But has in the past.
I guess I look at it like this: getting shot isn't so bad when you're in a paintball fight; real bullets, however, have a way of inspiring people to become good at not getting shot. 
I also think there's a distinction to be made between gambling on horses and gambling at pool. I bet money on pool weekly, but I never go to a casino, or play cards, or bet on any sports, or really anything else. When I bet on pool, it's because I think I've found a game I can win... and I like money. If I don't win, it's either because I misjudged the skill of my opponent (my fault), failed to make the right game (my fault), or I didn't play the way I was supposed to (again, my fault). I think that's a lot different than betting on a basketball game or a horse race, competitions where you have absolutely no control over the outcome. JMHO.
Aaron (dodging real bullets since 1990
)
I also think there's a distinction to be made between gambling on horses and gambling at pool. I bet money on pool weekly, but I never go to a casino, or play cards, or bet on any sports, or really anything else. When I bet on pool, it's because I think I've found a game I can win... and I like money. If I don't win, it's either because I misjudged the skill of my opponent (my fault), failed to make the right game (my fault), or I didn't play the way I was supposed to (again, my fault). I think that's a lot different than betting on a basketball game or a horse race, competitions where you have absolutely no control over the outcome. JMHO.
Aaron (dodging real bullets since 1990
)
Let's say your opponent gets this shot against you and is these balls away from a 3 pack:
http://CueTable.com/P/?@3FYSa4GWra3HAmp4ICKM3PSfj@
Now, you are playing for fun. I can practically guarantee shooter banks the 6 in effort to stay at table.
Same scenario, hill-hill for the winner's side final @USOpen. I can practically guarantee shooter sticks whitey behing the 8/9.
Which one is 'harder' to beat? AKA the shooter shooting his 'smartest' pool?
:welcome:
http://CueTable.com/P/?@3FYSa4GWra3HAmp4ICKM3PSfj@
Now, you are playing for fun. I can practically guarantee shooter banks the 6 in effort to stay at table.
Same scenario, hill-hill for the winner's side final @USOpen. I can practically guarantee shooter sticks whitey behing the 8/9.
Which one is 'harder' to beat? AKA the shooter shooting his 'smartest' pool?
:welcome:
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
I think to a certain degree gambling will make you better. No, it is not the "Magic Solution" to make all players better. But gambling can be used as a "Tool" to help you. Overall, to me, what will make you better player is a combination of things: Practice, Gambling, Tournaments (Handicap and Open), Playing in different environments and equipment, playing different games(So not to be a one hit wonder), watching other players(Not just watching to see who wins but analyzing their game, run out patterns, moves, cue ball positions, etc..) and last and foremost you have to have a love for the game.
Gambling by itself? Nah.
Of course gambling won't make anyone a better pool player. If that were the case then betting the horses would improve my pool game.
It hasn't, nor will it for anyone else. Case closed.
It is just a method used to incite a heightened emotional state. There are many other means of doing that. As just one example, fear.
Say a sadistic maniac kidnapped both you and your opponent, improsined you, and implanted a capsule-sized bomb in each of your skulls.
Race to 5,000. As many months/years as it takes. Loser gets blown up. No gambling involved on either part, he'll just kill the loser.
One might argue that this is the ultimate gamble, but technically no one put up anything willingly, the situation was forced on them.
In this case it would be fear that was driving them. Fear alone won't make a player better at the game either. I've seen new players in APA
who are almost terrified of losing their match, but it does nothing to help their game.
I'd say it goes something like this:
Gambling -> Inspiration -> Practice -> Better
Fear ----------^
Pride ----------^
Various -------^
Definitely not:
Gambling -> Better
Fear ---------^
Pride ---------^
Various ------^
In the end if gambling inspires you, then it can lead to becoming a better pool player, but in and of itself, I have to say it does nothing.
Of course gambling won't make anyone a better pool player. If that were the case then betting the horses would improve my pool game.
It hasn't, nor will it for anyone else. Case closed.
It is just a method used to incite a heightened emotional state. There are many other means of doing that. As just one example, fear.
Say a sadistic maniac kidnapped both you and your opponent, improsined you, and implanted a capsule-sized bomb in each of your skulls.
Race to 5,000. As many months/years as it takes. Loser gets blown up. No gambling involved on either part, he'll just kill the loser.
One might argue that this is the ultimate gamble, but technically no one put up anything willingly, the situation was forced on them.
In this case it would be fear that was driving them. Fear alone won't make a player better at the game either. I've seen new players in APA
who are almost terrified of losing their match, but it does nothing to help their game.
I'd say it goes something like this:
Gambling -> Inspiration -> Practice -> Better
Fear ----------^
Pride ----------^
Various -------^
Definitely not:
Gambling -> Better
Fear ---------^
Pride ---------^
Various ------^
In the end if gambling inspires you, then it can lead to becoming a better pool player, but in and of itself, I have to say it does nothing.
crawfish said:
We have a couple here in Raleigh. One may not miss a ball in an hour as long as your playing for free. Bet 2$ a game or he plays in a tournament and he plays like an APA 2. The other always practices 3 and 4 rail banks and kickshots, makes a high percentage of these shots. Never plays anybody always practices by himself.
i think that gambling constantly puts pressure on you, and anyone who has ever gambled can tell you that makes you more comfortable when pressure situations arise.some poeple hold up under pressure, and others don't seem to be ble to handle it. i can't imagine anyone not used to pressure who could succeed in tournament situations. some people will never stand up to the heat , and without knowing the posters here, i tend to believe some of them fall in this catagory. try betting you case money, and see how you hold up. a few of these matches, and if it doesn't help you keep you composure in intense situations,then you may need to be one of adamant "non-gamblers" who post on here.
Here is the thing. Everyone who is saying gambling doesnt really matter are speaking in theory. Everyone who is saying that gambling does help a player compete better can point to either personal experience or a great player who told them their story. For any one top player who doesnt gamble I can name 30 that have or do. It is just part of the game. If you don't like that part of the game fine.
If someone chooses not to gamble, fine. No big deal. But don't tell me the sky is green because it simply isn't so.
If you are telling me that a guy who does nothing but practice by himself plays a guy of a similar skill level who plays money matches for whatever stakes under different conditions and situations will have the advantage you just don't know what you are talking about.
As far as comparing betting horses to playing pool, the last I checked you are not under pressure to perform anything on the rail of a track. It is comparing apples to hand grenades.
If someone chooses not to gamble, fine. No big deal. But don't tell me the sky is green because it simply isn't so.
If you are telling me that a guy who does nothing but practice by himself plays a guy of a similar skill level who plays money matches for whatever stakes under different conditions and situations will have the advantage you just don't know what you are talking about.
As far as comparing betting horses to playing pool, the last I checked you are not under pressure to perform anything on the rail of a track. It is comparing apples to hand grenades.
BigDaddyInc. said:
Not really. The test would be whatever you are playing to accomplish. For many that could be city championships, league playoffs or maybe just a local tourney. Winning money is just winning money. Few will know about that accomplishment.
Many an accomplished gambler fails when tested in these ways. If you blow a shot in a tourney you may be done. There is no going back and asking for another game to make up your losses. You go home knowing you failed. That's too much pressure for many a gambler.
I know one guy personally who is a phenominal gambler, yet fails miserably whenever he is tested in a tourney. He gambles all the time but that is the key. He practices "gambling" and so is very good at matching up and gambling. His pool game, however, does not improve much. ..just his gambling skills.
Gambling, like any form of playing, will no doubt improve your game, but not any more than playing regularly in as many good tourneys as possible. Competition is the real test. Any form of it, not just gambling. Even league play.
Ed