Drinking and Playing Pool

Jeff

Jeff

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I play in a bar league (APA). All the teams are from area bars.

I'm afraid I'm getting in the habit of having a few drinks before I play and I'm thinking about breaking that habit and not drinking until after my match.

I was wondering how many here drink before and while playing in a league or a tournament?

Do you think it affects your play for the worse/better or not at all?
 
I too play in bar leagues, and am guilty of tipping a few back during matches. I usually will have a brew before the match starts, and usually another during the last game I play.
If I am playing poorly after my first drink, then I back off and have coffee. Sometimes though, if I have another drink before the end of the match, I actually settle in and shoot better...go figure...maybe it's the relaxation factor of the alcohol.

Lately, however, I too have been stepping back from drinking...just because some of the bigger tournaments don't allow alcohol during play.

My biggest challenge isn't the drinking...it's the smoking. I like having a smoke when I play, but as of midnight tonight, smoking will no longer be allowed inside of, outside of, or within 25 ft of any establishment here in the state of WA. That includes the ferries and the holding lanes of said ferries. Because of the way the restrictions are written, you won't even be able to walk down the street and have a smoke. Basically, WA has just become a no smoking state, unless you are in your home.

Lisa
 
Gee ...

ridewiththewind said:
I too play in bar leagues, and am guilty of tipping a few back during matches. I usually will have a brew before the match starts, and usually another during the last game I play.
If I am playing poorly after my first drink, then I back off and have coffee. Sometimes though, if I have another drink before the end of the match, I actually settle in and shoot better...go figure...maybe it's the relaxation factor of the alcohol.

Lately, however, I too have been stepping back from drinking...just because some of the bigger tournaments don't allow alcohol during play.

My biggest challenge isn't the drinking...it's the smoking. I like having a smoke when I play, but as of midnight tonight, smoking will no longer be allowed inside of, outside of, or within 25 ft of any establishment here in the state of WA. That includes the ferries and the holding lanes of said ferries. Because of the way the restrictions are written, you won't even be able to walk down the street and have a smoke. Basically, WA has just become a no smoking state, unless you are in your home.

Lisa
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What are the Police gonna do now, hand out smoking tickets?
That goes hand in hand with jaywalking ... Sounds like Big Brother
to me.
 
Snapshot9 said:
What are the Police gonna do now, hand out smoking tickets?
That goes hand in hand with jaywalking ... Sounds like Big Brother
to me.
Click to expand...

Believe it or not, inside of any establishment that serves alcohol...the state Liquor Control Board will be responsible for issuing the 100.00 citation. Not only will you get the citation, but the establishment will also receive a fine, as well as the server on duty...the triple whammy!

BTW...private organizations such as the Elks, Eagles, and American Legions are subject to the same laws! The state is even making sure to plug any loopholes to allow for private smoking clubs....and they say this is all constitutional!! The ONLY places you will be allowed to light up will be at the indian casinos, as they are under federal mandates and not state. Alot of people are going to lose their jobs over this new law, as many establishments will take the hit as customers go to drink where they can smoke. Besides post-Katrina LA, WA already has the highest unemployment rates in the country, and it is fixing to get awhole lot worse.

I'm thinking of moving to Alaska! Is there good action in AK?

Lisa
 
I normally only drink soda on league nights. Alcohol will effect your game poorly whether you realize it or not. Only occasionally I will have a beer before I shoot my match, but that is a rare occurence. Sometimes I will have a few drinks after my match though.
 
I am a big supporter of drinking before, during, and after a big pool match. In fact, no important decisions should be made unless you are drunk.
 
Smoking has been banned in my city for about 6 months now. contrary to what people believe, there have been very few lost jobs, and some establishments have more business than they did when smoking was allowed.

James
 
In California...

I believe that in California if oyu get caught letting someone smoke inside a public establishment you can get a hefty fine and lose your liquor license.
 
supergreenman said:
Smoking has been banned in my city for about 6 months now. contrary to what people believe, there have been very few lost jobs, and some establishments have more business than they did when smoking was allowed.

James
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One of our counties here passed a similar ban about a year ago. The impact was immediate. Several businesses closed and people lost their jobs because everyone started to frequent the indian casinos instead. Remember, the people who work at these establisments are generally single moms just trying to make a living. They can ill-afford to lose their jobs. Hell, I was laid-off a few months ago, and even with my skills in medical coding, I can't find work here...it's very depressing. I am now hitting every money shoot I can just hoping to make a bit of cash here and there.

Not everyone, or even the majority, have high paying jobs. For every person employed here in a high-tech job, there are 5 more who are either under-employed or unemployed. WA is not a worker-friendly state!

I would have rather seen a law that was infinitely stricter on drinking and driving than a statewide smoking ban. Sorry, but second-smoke has got nothing on a drunk behind the wheel of vehicle!!

Lisa
 
I start my 1st adult beverage at the start of my match...as far as smoke in a public place IMHO I have more moral authority to piss in your Budweiser than you you do to pollute community air.

LWW
 
Jeff said:
I play in a bar league (APA). All the teams are from area bars.

I'm afraid I'm getting in the habit of having a few drinks before I play and I'm thinking about breaking that habit and not drinking until after my match.

I was wondering how many here drink before and while playing in a league or a tournament?

Do you think it affects your play for the worse/better or not at all?
Click to expand...
Hell yeah it effects your play. Sometimes I would drink some Southern Comfort and start woofing at everybody. Sometimes it would suck because someone would agree to play. I dont know about other people but I could barely see the balls when I would drink. I was loud and obnoxious screaming go cheddar! I sent the 9 ball almost every shot because I couldnt make any more than maybe a 5 ball run. I always won but it wasnt pretty at all.

My suggestion dont drink before you play. Definently dont drink liquor before playing. My game dropped about 2 balls at least. I dont know about everyone else though.
 
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Smoking in pool rooms.

When Cali first passed their law on against smoking I thought it was the best thing since buttered bread..... Then I went back to Virginia and tried to play. Man, I couldn't see sh%te. It took w good while to used to playing in a smoke filled room again. It didn't do me any good, because the US open was going on while I was there and they wouldn't let me play in the local Tournament at Q masters. They refunded my money and wouldn't let me play even though I said I would play at their highest rating. Kind of pissed me off cause I was only there for like another week and I didn't get another chance to play. I was only there going to a Navy "C" school.

I even showed the guy my military ID and he still didn't believe me. I think someone complained.

I had even bought a cue there to play in the tournament because I had left all of mine back in Cali.
 
LWW said:
I start my 1st adult beverage at the start of my match...as far as smoke in a public place IMHO I have more moral authority to piss in your Budweiser than you you do to pollute community air.

LWW
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Really?! Hmmmm. Have you ever seen the pics of a non-smoker's lung who lives in a major city as opposed to a pic of a smoker's lung? Believe it or not, the non-smoker's lungs are more severely damaged from the pollution being dumped into our air than the smoker's lung is from cigarette smoke.

I do understand the concern for second-hand smoke, and I am very concious to take other non-smokers into account before I light-up. But when you are in an establishment like a bar, the gloves are off, especially when there are already non-smoking resturants and bars for non-smokers to frequent. It's a prohibition, and it's unconstitutional. Especially when they will NOT allow for the provisions of a smoking club.

Lisa
 
Jeff:

One beer to relax after work and before leagues start is not going to change your performance that much and may actually improve your state of mind (thus making you shoot better). However, you will be forming a really tough habit to break if you indulge too much. It will also be difficult for you to improve and shoot consistently (see 'State Dependant Theory' of psycology). It states something along the lines of: If you are tipsy or drunk while you study... you need to be tipsy or drunk while you take the test... So, in the future... you may have a problem when you want to quit the drinking...

I think it is far worse to eat a big meal before leagues or a tournament match because you will get lackadaisical. I always try to play hungry when it is an important match. You will be surprised on how well you can shoot that way.
 
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I don't drink at all unless I start to get really frustrated. If I'm losing matches that I should have won but didn't because I'm getting too worked up, I'll have a beer or two. It usually calms me down enough. I also seem to never second guess my decisions when I've had a couple and therefore have a little more confidence which usually translates to better play. Go figure.
 
Lisa,

It is safe to say that you have now officially hijacked this thread. However, this is a great topic for a new thread! Why don't you repost in a new thread? Send me a PM if ya wanna. I'm pissed off pool playing smoker from WA too.

As for the topic at hand...

I have learned from day one how to play under the influence of alcohol, or "aimin' fluid" as I like to call it. I play in a local bar league and usually have a few on league nights. I find that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks to a certain point. Much of pool is confidence and alcohol is like liquid confidence. I really open up the stroke and lace 'em down after 1-3 beers, but anymore than that I find the positive effect begins to diminish. Confidence gradually becomes arrogance the drunker I get. Strategy is replaced by reckless abandon, and soon I'm just bangin' balls.

On the other hand, if I don't drink, sometimes I will never get things going in the first place. Trying to play too many safeties, being too conservative and a tentative approach will bring about my demise. So then a few beers sounds like a good idea.

The problem is that it is very difficult to maintain the right buzz for a long period of time. If you are playing in a big tourney, spanning a whole day, maintaining the same buzz throughout is very difficult. I always seem to get too drunk, or lay off to much, loose steam, and get tired.

If you are truly serious about winning the big tournies, it is best to stay sober. In fact, it is imperative. But, if you just wanna cream the other league bangers, then slam a Jäger Bomb, pound a beer and let 'em rip.
 
ridewiththewind said:
Really?! Hmmmm. Have you ever seen the pics of a non-smoker's lung who lives in a major city as opposed to a pic of a smoker's lung? Believe it or not, the non-smoker's lungs are more severely damaged from the pollution being dumped into our air than the smoker's lung is from cigarette smoke.
Lisa
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Lisa, that's amazing - so that means we should be seeing more non-smoking city-dwellers dying of lung disease than smokers who live in small towns?

Now I'll be paranoid about coughing up polluted lung chunks :(
 
Really?! Hmmmm. Have you ever seen the pics of a non-smoker's lung who lives in a major city as opposed to a pic of a smoker's lung? Believe it or not, the non-smoker's lungs are more severely damaged from the pollution being dumped into our air than the smoker's lung is from cigarette smoke.
Click to expand...
That's the first time I've ever heard of that...but even if correct it is community air and adding tobacco smoke to the mix isn't helping anyone.
I do understand the concern for second-hand smoke, and I am very concious to take other non-smokers into account before I light-up. But when you are in an establishment like a bar, the gloves are off, especially when there are already non-smoking resturants and bars for non-smokers to frequent. It's a prohibition, and it's unconstitutional. Especially when they will NOT allow for the provisions of a smoking club.
Click to expand...
And I don't agree with the gloves are off...in the Bud analogy, you can buy another Bud...I can't get a seperate air supply.

I support your contention that if an establishment desires to have a smoking only policy it should be allowed to.

LWW
 
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