Ever have someone that beats you regularly?

[Bic D]

There is a guy down the road at a bar that I will play with about every Friday and or Saturday. I usually go in and there about 7 or 8 people taking turns playing. He is usually on the table and I put my money on the table.

He is better than a banger and loves to play safety shots. He plays position for his next shot (nothing further) and often times I think to myself "why did he leave it there"? and he ends up having to bank it.

Whenever I play him, he wins maybe half the time and I don't understand. Not a humble brag but I am much better than him. The other night, I was at the table for 9 games playing really well. He walks in and beats me on his first game.

A couple games later, we play again and I leave him with 6 balls on the table. I win a few more games and he beats me again.

I wasn't playing bad against him but for whatever reason in this universe, the balls just rolled different for him when he didn't intend them to.

Anyway...Does anyone else have an arch-nemesis (for lack of a better word) that seems to get the best of you when there is no way it should happen?

 

[TX Poolnut]

Yup.

I played in a BCA league and crushed everyone. I won over 40 games in a row against league players. Truly the ruler of the roost.

That is until Alex would arrive. Alex was a crack addict and probably smelled white powder too. I don't know. What I do know is that he made me his little 9-ball b**** on more occasions than I care to remember. I knew him for several years and never could figure him out. His whole life was a train wreck except on the pool table. It was like a light switch that flipped on and he became a billiard savant. I tried to get him on our pool team but he usually was broke if he actually showed up.

 

[Bic D]

yes. ^^^ This. ^^

Except, the guy that beats me is not as good as the guy that beats you.

I can't figure it out. He is not in my head...he just gets the roll.

 

[michael4]

Anyway...Does anyone else have an arch-nemesis (for lack of a better word) that seems to get the best of you when there is no way it should happen?

when a weaker player is able to get some wins off you, you are generally relaxing and playing down to his level......

 

[jimmyco]

Whenever I play him, he wins maybe half the time and I don't understand. Not a humble brag but I am much better than him.

This must be that new math they're teaching the kids these days.

But yes. I play my girlfriend every chance I get, which sadly is only once or twice a month. She kicks my ass every time.

 

[spktur]

when a weaker player is able to get some wins off you, you are generally relaxing and playing down to his level......

Or you can't read speed very well and are playing someone who plays better than you and may be playing their game down when you win.

 

[Bic D]

when a weaker player is able to get some wins off you, you are generally relaxing and playing down to his level......

I'll tell ya...I feel like I don't play down to his level. He is ultra competitive, which is the reason he plays so many safeties, so I actually get satisfaction out of beating him. I don't take it easy on anyone because I feel like...as long as you allow someone to stick around, they have a better chance at getting lucky and beating me.

People beat him 2 and 3 times in a row and I wipe the table with those people.

It's just uncanny

 

[michael4]

I'll tell ya...I feel like I don't play down to his level. He is ultra competitive, which is the reason he plays so many safeties, so I actually get satisfaction out of beating him. I don't take it easy on anyone because I feel like...as long as you allow someone to stick around, they have a better chance at getting lucky and beating me.

well then you have a weakness in your game against people who play a lot of safeties....

 

[Bic D]

well then you have a weakness in your game against people who play a lot of safeties....

Maybe so. I would never tell him but if I'm not playing in a league or for money, I don't play safety. If I'm snookered, I use it as a chance to bank or kick to gain knowledge while he will safe it.

 

[Rickhem]

There is a guy in my league that I've played a number of times and only beat once. He's a good shooter, but plays strategically and will use safeties to stick me if I am not careful to leave balls to counter that. It makes me approach the games differently and that has benefited when I see other players doing that same style of play. He's a really good guy, and competitive, and I like him, and in the long run I know he is making me a better player, so I enjoy matching up against him.

 

[chefjeff]

I'll tell ya...I feel like I don't play down to his level. He is ultra competitive, which is the reason he plays so many safeties, so I actually get satisfaction out of beating him. I don't take it easy on anyone because I feel like...as long as you allow someone to stick around, they have a better chance at getting lucky and beating me.

People beat him 2 and 3 times in a row and I wipe the table with those people.

It's just uncanny

Are you talking 8-ball? There is a certain rhythm, if you will, in the game that allows certain types of players an advantage even if the players can't see it.

It's hard to explain, but those who have played years of 8-ball can sense it....and sometimes adjust to it, but sometimes not.


Jeff Livingston

 

[Bic D]

Are you talking 8-ball? There is a certain rhythm, if you will, in the game that allows certain types of players an advantage even if the players can't see it.

It's hard to explain, but those who have played years of 8-ball can sense it....and sometimes adjust to it, but sometimes not.


Jeff Livingston

Yeah, it's a coin op table and no one ever wants to play anything else.

 

[tim913]

Maybe so. I would never tell him but if I'm not playing in a league or for money, I don't play safety. If I'm snookered, I use it as a chance to bank or kick to gain knowledge while he will safe it.

Whether you like it or not you're going to have to get into a few safety battles with him. If you are the better player he will lose the safety war and you can go back on offense and win the game. Shouldn't be a problem if in fact you are the better player.

 

[yankee817299]

Yep, I play with a retired NFL defensive coach, and his whole career through high school to the pros has been defense. His motto, "I can't beat you, but I can stop you from winning", and believe me, he does. Safeties, safeties, safeties...

 

[$TAKE HOR$E]

I cant beat anyone that is annoying AF, its like kryptonite or something. I havent even played in a long time but theres a couple people I could never beat just because they was annoying...genuinely in life. It wasnt a move or a shark tactic on their part, just gods gift of annoyingness. Make you feel like Droopy the Dog whilst youre playing :thud:

 

[justabrake]

I get a regular beat down every time I meet up with this one lady but she says i'm a good looser LOL she's from the real pioneering woman of pool like Jean Balukas, Ewa Lawrence etc.