effects of alcohol on one's actual level of play

Does your actual level of play improve with one or two drinks or beers?

  • yes

    Votes: 54 40.0%

  • no

    Votes: 81 60.0%
  • Total voters
    135
dr_dave

dr_dave

Instructional Author
Gold Member
Silver Member
I recently wrote an article for BD entitled "Beer Goggle Effects." It discusses the effects of alcohol on one's perceived and actual levels of play. If you haven't seen the article yet, you can read it here:

Also, somebody just e-mailed me about a T-shirt he got for his birthday. It read:
"Pool - The only sport you play better drunk"​

My article wasn't the result of a rigorous scientific study ... it was just from my experience and observations over the years. But lately I've been curious about how many people think one or two drinks helps them play better.

I look forward to seeing the poll results and your comments.

Regards,
Dave
 
from my personal experience there are two extremes with bad play coming in the middle


good play Buzzed- 3-4 beers and you're loose, confident and ready to play

bad play lit- 7-10 beers, you've lost a lot of motor skills and can't concentrate

good play Drunken Master- 12-16 beers, this stage doesn't work for every one however most outside noises and distractions are blocked out you're using the table to keep you from falling, and your concentration is actually above what it is when sober
 
For the intermediate player, I think nervousness is often the biggest factor in reducing their playing ability.

For those people, if they are used to playing after a few drinks, they'll likely perform better if they're a bit 'lubricated' as we say in Australia.

For me, in local league, I often enjoy a drink, but in serious tournaments I'll never drink during play as it affects decision making considerably.

I think a good player plays better sober with a touch of nerves than he does lubricated and fearless. The main difference is decision making.

Colin
 
I did know one guy, Pat Welch in Modesto who played better lit than sober. It possible I suppose but not for me, I rarely drink and when I do its not enough to feel the alochol. See that I cant even spell it right
 
Yes, but only one drink (Crown and Coke), two at most. It seems like it kinda takes the edge off, kinda soothes what "butterflies" I may have. And.....it tastes good too!!!

Maniac
 
I am less nervous after one drink.

I notice a decline in my judgment/decision making skills after 2 drinks.

I don't notice a decline in my shotmaking ability (sloppy play) until after 4.

After 6 drinks I have no business playing anyone. I won't stop playing until I win or go broke (usually the latter).
 
I call it alignment fluid.

I have A.D.D and I am hyperactive/high strung by nature. I definetely play better after a few.
 
I quit drinking about 15 years ago (for good reason). As I recall it gave me the illusion that I was playing better, while actually hurting my playing. As a now sober player, I see it every week in league. Our league is setup weird so you don't play a match one game after another, but one team member plays one game, then the next and so on in rotation. So the time from game one to game five can be a couple of hours, a guy that gave me a tough game in game one often sucks in game five.
 
I play much worse when drinking, especially if im going to be playing for any extended period of time, I cant seem to focus.
 
perception vs. reality

bigskyjake said:
from my personal experience there are two extremes with bad play coming in the middle

good play Buzzed- 3-4 beers and you're loose, confident and ready to play

bad play lit- 7-10 beers, you've lost a lot of motor skills and can't concentrate

good play Drunken Master- 12-16 beers, this stage doesn't work for every one however most outside noises and distractions are blocked out you're using the table to keep you from falling, and your concentration is actually above what it is when sober
Click to expand...
Do you think your actual level of play is better after 10 beers, or do you think just your perceived level of play is better? I discuss this in the article, as it relates to different types of drinkers.

Regards,
Dave
 
depends

For most, I'd say drinking hurts actual play. However, I started playing pool at the same time I started drinking hard and my skills developed drunk and sober. Much like playing on different equipment, I learned how to play both drunk and sober. My game was distinctly different but the equal drunk. More than one road warrior discovered that a well lubricated Hu wasn't an easier target than a sober one.

When I worked very hard, climbing iron, rough necking, or busting knuckles turning wrenches, I did play better after a few beers. When I came through the door I was a little stiff and sore. A few beers and a few games banging balls around and I was ready to roll.

Fine motor skills, reflexes, and judgment are all affected by alcohol. However reflexes aren't required for pool, judgment is based on years of experience and is pretty much engrained, and some play with a softer smoother stroke well lubricated.

At a guess, I'd say that drinking hurts over 90% of people's game. I am a nondrinker now and am sure that drinking would destroy what little game I have. On the other hand, assuming that someone's game is weakened because they have had a few beers or are even intoxicated can be a fallacy. I knew an old man that could play for days not eating or drinking anything but a few bottles of Old Crow. He remains one of the top ten toughest players I ever faced.

Hu
 
Colin Colenso said:
For the intermediate player, I think nervousness is often the biggest factor in reducing their playing ability.

For those people, if they are used to playing after a few drinks, they'll likely perform better if they're a bit 'lubricated' as we say in Australia.

For me, in local league, I often enjoy a drink, but in serious tournaments I'll never drink during play as it affects decision making considerably.

I think a good player plays better sober with a touch of nerves than he does lubricated and fearless. The main difference is decision making.

Colin
Click to expand...
Well stated. There might be exceptions, but I think your statements are true in general.

Regards,
Dave
 
I don't think beer, I only do shots and most of the time it's either jagerbombs or carbombs. I have had a jagerbomb before playing and I didn't really see any difference. I very seldom get nervous anymore and I feel as if I play better sober, I have played drunk and I still play good but my speed on the table is about 4 times as fast as i normally would and thats not good.

I played another 7 in apa 8ball league last week and we were the last match of the night. By that time he was drunk. He usually gives me a good game and is good competition but I guess he doesn't play good drunk either cause I won 5-1. But I have people on my team (usually the lower handicaps) that have to drink before and during play, so whatever works!
 
perception vs. reality

Steve Ellis said:
I quit drinking about 15 years ago (for good reason). As I recall it gave me the illusion that I was playing better, while actually hurting my playing. As a now sober player, I see it every week in league. Our league is setup weird so you don't play a match one game after another, but one team member plays one game, then the next and so on in rotation. So the time from game one to game five can be a couple of hours, a guy that gave me a tough game in game one often sucks in game five.
Click to expand...
I think curves A and C in Diagram 1 of the article back up your story.

Regards,
Dave
 
dr_dave said:
Do you think your actual level of play is better after 10 beers, or do you think just your perceived level of play is better? I discuss this in the article, as it relates to different types of drinkers.

Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...


I've personally witnessed it in one of my friends on far too many occasions for it to be a coincidence
However, once you've passed the Drunken Master stage ( and it is very easy to pass ) you pretty much become a sweetly retarded chimp
 
Wow, do I have a story to relay, but I'll have to save it for later when I can write it out a little better on this thread. I want to make sure I select my words wisely when I express my opinion. :wink:

JAM
 
lubrication helps perceived wisdom

JAM said:
Wow, do I have a story to relay, but I'll have to save it for later when I can write it out a little better on this thread. I want to make sure I select my words wisely when I express my opinion. :wink:
Click to expand...
Your perceived level of wisdom might be higher if you lubricate a little first (in the Australian sense). Have a few and get back to us. ;)

Dave
 
dr_dave said:
I recently wrote an article for BD entitled "Beer Goggle Effects." It discusses the effects of alcohol on one's perceived and actual levels of play. If you haven't seen the article yet, you can read it here:

Also, somebody just e-mailed me about a T-shirt he got for his birthday. It read:
"Pool - The only sport you play better drunk"​

My article wasn't the result of a rigorous scientific study ... it was just from my experience and observations over the years. But lately I've been curious about how many people think one or two drinks helps them play better.

I look forward to seeing the poll results and your comments.

Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...

If you keep writing these types of articles, we may just have to ask you to go to NPR. j/k
JoeyA
 
dr_dave said:
I recently wrote an article for BD entitled "Beer Goggle Effects." It discusses the effects of alcohol on one's perceived and actual levels of play. If you haven't seen the article yet, you can read it here:

Also, somebody just e-mailed me about a T-shirt he got for his birthday. It read:
"Pool - The only sport you play better drunk"​

My article wasn't the result of a rigorous scientific study ... it was just from my experience and observations over the years. But lately I've been curious about how many people think one or two drinks helps them play better.

I look forward to seeing the poll results and your comments.

Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...

Dave:

I think every person is totally different. I'm not even sure you can use the word "perceived" as a blanket statement for everyone. Forget a scientific study--- there's no doubt alcohol (and some people, drugs) improves some people's game.

If it doesn't improve your game (or even come close), it's easy to say it's all in someone's head. Was it Lassiter (or someone of that same legend status) who couldn't make a ball unless he had some whiskey in him?

This discussion keeps getting brought up and the answer is obvious. There's zero doubt there's such thing as "mixture" -- be it alcohol or drugs. I've been on the receiving end of a few "bathroom trips" that tore into me like machine gun fire (I'm sure many reading this have, as well). One second, someone is dogging to death. 5 mins later, they can't miss for 20-30 mins.

Alcohol has similar affects on a few people. Not everyone, just some. It's not perceived, it's fact. I've seen it. Not calling anyone out, but I'd bet Keither plays a ball or two better after a Budweiser or two.

Dave
 
JAM said:
Wow, do I have a story to relay, but I'll have to save it for later when I can write it out a little better on this thread. I want to make sure I select my words wisely when I express my opinion. :wink:

JAM
Click to expand...
What is this ???? A teaser???? Film at 11.
 
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