Once I saw a player in a tournament scratch then drop the cue ball to the table from about three feet in the air. He was playing one of the owners of the hall. I found this disturbing. If it had have been my table the guy would have woke up looking at the ceiling. Same tournament. Some players playing by the rules set forth. Some not. One player didn't seem to care for the magic rack or the four (IIRC) balls past mid table rule on the break. Used the standard rack and ignored the set forth rules on legal breaks. I was a spectator but it was kinda sad nobody called him on it. Especially since he was setting himself up with the racking of the balls. One bad apple.
Etiquette - A List for Beginners
- Thread starter JasonS
- Start date
PocketPoint
Banned
As Jimmy Mataya once said, "if we can't beat 'em we'll cheat 'em, what's the difference."
This is what I would have stated. I can deal with all other infringements, but it drives me crazy having to constantly ask someone to move, or walking around them. The worst is when they're in the way of the shot, they move but still not enough to get on the line of the shot. I asked people three times to move for a single shot.
Yeah but...what if you're playing call shots?
Here are a couple of things I would add:
- if the table doesn't have a return, always assist the other player with gathering the balls.
- if you scratch, pull the cue ball out and hand it to your opponent or set it on the table.
- shoot in a timely manner
- when things aren't going your way, be polite and patient anyway.
Chris
- if the table doesn't have a return, always assist the other player with gathering the balls.
- if you scratch, pull the cue ball out and hand it to your opponent or set it on the table.
- shoot in a timely manner
- when things aren't going your way, be polite and patient anyway.
Chris
Unless your opponent happens to be a very well endowed female, in which case that comment can result in severe pain!
:grin::grin:
Steve
It is impolite to laugh or be glad when your opponet loses a turn or the game by a foul, a scratch, or other mistake.
When it is not your turn you should be well away from the table sitting quietly until it is your turn.
It also considered rude to leave the area when you are not at the table. If you must leave tell your opponet when you will return.
Excessive movement such as playing with your cue stick, lighting smoking materials or in other ways doing things that would distract your opponent is not only rude it may be considered intentional sharking.
It is old fashioned but polite to tap the butt of your cue on the floor two or three times to indicate that your opponent or any player makes an uncommonly good shot.
If you lose when playing for money you should pay up as soon as the game is completed.
In some places it is polite to post all bets on the table lights or similar place. In other rooms no money should be displayed. Check the local conditions before betting on a game or match.
When it is not your turn you should be well away from the table sitting quietly until it is your turn.
It also considered rude to leave the area when you are not at the table. If you must leave tell your opponet when you will return.
Excessive movement such as playing with your cue stick, lighting smoking materials or in other ways doing things that would distract your opponent is not only rude it may be considered intentional sharking.
It is old fashioned but polite to tap the butt of your cue on the floor two or three times to indicate that your opponent or any player makes an uncommonly good shot.
If you lose when playing for money you should pay up as soon as the game is completed.
In some places it is polite to post all bets on the table lights or similar place. In other rooms no money should be displayed. Check the local conditions before betting on a game or match.
This is a good thread and it could be re-written by topic and then kept for new players to read. Local additions and modifications could be made. Nice idea -- thanks.
I have just come back from an activity day set of displays for our retirement community and now wish I had made this up as a set of suggested guidelines for new players.
It was interesting to find that several people indicated an interest in playing pool but seemed hesitant to get involved because they felt that they did not know enough about how pool is played. This set of guidelines would have been useful. It would make newbies feel more comfortable.
I have just come back from an activity day set of displays for our retirement community and now wish I had made this up as a set of suggested guidelines for new players.
It was interesting to find that several people indicated an interest in playing pool but seemed hesitant to get involved because they felt that they did not know enough about how pool is played. This set of guidelines would have been useful. It would make newbies feel more comfortable.
I've never seen anybody in my life, miscue sitting down while their opponent is at the table.
So if your opponent runs three racks on you, how many times do you think is acceptable to chalk up during HIS turns at the table?
Your intentions are in the right place, yet there are many players out there that think your sharking them, so watch yourself. Most players will accept a good compliment in match play in VERY SMALL doses.
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I agree that your list isn't going to achieve anything.
Even if your list was made into a poster and was pasted around every pool table up and down the country, it's still not going to achieve anything because if people want to be disagreeable, they will be disagreeable.
Yes, your idea had good intentions at heart and I would add that it was the only thing going for it. I think even you would admit that now the only thing your list is achieving is to label you as a pedant!
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So, how many of you shoot at bar-poolhalls where hardly any of this takes place? :raises hand:
About all you get at my place is for someone to not sit on the table WHILE you're shooting!
Smoking at and over the table while shooting.
Yapping, sharking, tapping, walking, standing, yelling, smack talkin'
Crappy flimsy racks with mismatched balls from 3 sets with a rock fm the bar table
Chalk abuse Hand Chalk messes
argh!
About all you get at my place is for someone to not sit on the table WHILE you're shooting!
Smoking at and over the table while shooting.
Yapping, sharking, tapping, walking, standing, yelling, smack talkin'
Crappy flimsy racks with mismatched balls from 3 sets with a rock fm the bar table
Chalk abuse Hand Chalk messes
argh!
I just wanted to share something regarding etiquette that I witnessed lately.
This past weekend I played in a New England 9-ball tour stop in New Hampshire. I have NEVER played in a tournament with that many friendly, well-mannered pool players in my life!
Of course there were a couple of exceptions, but for the most part, New England pool players have to be the nicest group I have ever been around. I play for fun, that is my first priority at the table. If I am gambling with a gentleman, playing in a tournament, or whatever, I make sure I am havin fun or I am out. It's easy to have fun up here.
Give yourselves a round of applause New England.
Hey, when you suck as bad as we do, you'd better be nice
Hmmm
THANK YOU... I knew I could not be the only one. What the heck,, it is only completely logical. I use my own chalk, but i will turn an upside down piece of chalk up right if it is in reach of me. Letting the other guy know the proper way. I won't look at him and I won't say word. I just do it everytime...
Now I can't shoot unless I do it !!!
THANK YOU... I knew I could not be the only one. What the heck,, it is only completely logical. I use my own chalk, but i will turn an upside down piece of chalk up right if it is in reach of me. Letting the other guy know the proper way. I won't look at him and I won't say word. I just do it everytime...
Now I can't shoot unless I do it !!!
have a seat until they sit down
I used to just go sit down until they figured out what they were doing wrong and then, if still neccesary I would tell them about it
highrun55
I used to just go sit down until they figured out what they were doing wrong and then, if still neccesary I would tell them about it
highrun55
Actually, I believe that a split hit goes in the shooters favor regardless. Even if someone is standing over it watching it there can still be a chance that it's not 100% clear. In that instance it goes in favor of the shooter.
MULLY
Atomic Playboy
Registered
Even though it is called a pool "table," it is not furniture. Don't set drinks, cigarettes, food or other stuff on it. I watched one player at a place I frequent literally set his beer IN THE POCKET while taking his shot (towards another pocket, thankfully). And he rocketed the ball around; if he had scratched in the side, there would have been broken glass and beer everywhere on that table. Another guy tried to start a fight with me when I asked him not to set his beer on the table while he racked. Some people...
Actually, that brings me to another good rule of ettiquette; if someone is unwilling to follow the basic rules of ettiquette, never play with them. They will make the game miserable for you, and it's not worth it.
A tip for beginners; even though "pool shark" and "hustler" are terms that are used to describe pool players, they aren't actually complimentary. A shark is someone who intentionally distracts his opponent to give themselves an advantage, and a hustler is someone who misrepresents their skill level to drive up a bet and win more money off an opponent. I'm flattered when people think I'm good at pool, but please don't show your appreciation by calling me a cheat or a liar.
One that I see frequently when I play in bars: If you're leaving a table with no intention to return, sweep the balls and put away the house cues you used. If people see a table with balls and cues on it, they will assume a game is still being played and the players are taking a brief break.
Actually, that brings me to another good rule of ettiquette; if someone is unwilling to follow the basic rules of ettiquette, never play with them. They will make the game miserable for you, and it's not worth it.
A tip for beginners; even though "pool shark" and "hustler" are terms that are used to describe pool players, they aren't actually complimentary. A shark is someone who intentionally distracts his opponent to give themselves an advantage, and a hustler is someone who misrepresents their skill level to drive up a bet and win more money off an opponent. I'm flattered when people think I'm good at pool, but please don't show your appreciation by calling me a cheat or a liar.
One that I see frequently when I play in bars: If you're leaving a table with no intention to return, sweep the balls and put away the house cues you used. If people see a table with balls and cues on it, they will assume a game is still being played and the players are taking a brief break.