Feeling bad for playing safe in a bar

[JoeyInCali]

I used to go to a bar on Tuesday nites.
They had a great tournament.
$5 to get in and first place was $100.
Getting on the money was piece of cake.
But, along the way you had to put up with idiots.
You know, those who scoop the ball, change the rules while you were playing, and all.
I had to take a bca rule sheet b/c there was always a rule dispute even if you were playing under BCA RULES. Not BAR RULES.

I had to miss on purpose instead of playing safe b/c it was considered "cheat pool".
I quit going there. Not worth it.

 

[bfdlad]

I used to go to a bar on Tuesday nites.
They had a great tournament.
$5 to get in and first place was $100.
Getting on the money was piece of cake.
But, along the way you had to put up with idiots.
You know, those who scoop the ball, change the rules while you were playing, and all.
I had to take a bca rule sheet b/c there was always a rule dispute even if you were playing under BCA RULES. Not BAR RULES.

I had to miss on purpose instead of playing safe b/c it was considered "cheat pool".
I quit going there. Not worth it.

Thats exactly the kind of thing that bugs me. I was thinking more about how I should have handled this but I had no idea that he was going to take me playing safe as an insult. I should has just said "what? do you just want me to let you win?" Like other have said I should know what I am up against if i play under those conditions and take it as fun.

 

[AZE]

[ ] stop playing safe
[x] fake like you were really going for a shot
[x] collect money

 

[bfdlad]

[ ] stop playing safe
[x] fake like you were really going for a shot
[x] collect money

This idea was pointed out earlier and it's a good way to go but I wasn't trying to hussle the guy. In my mind I probably thought that he would admire the shot that I played since he is "a really good player"

 

[JoeyInCali]

[ ] stop playing safe
[x] fake like you were really going for a shot
[x] collect money

Yeah.
Try shooting a ball to a pocket and call it safe.
The other guy complains.
Err, hello. I could have called the other pocket and made that ball on this pocket, it'd be the same.

Bars are haven for idiots. And some of them want to win even if they had not pocketed a ball. Don't laugh. They invent rules. Like, scratch on the break is a loss. IF you miss the 8, they win. You don't make the 8 after 3 shots, they win.
I could go on.

 

[AZE]

This idea was pointed out earlier and it's a good way to go but I wasn't trying to hussle the guy. In my mind I probably thought that he would admire the shot that I played since he is "a really good player"

[ ] people who often play pool in bars appreciate good pool
[x] hustling people who often play pool in bars is fun
[x] ask him if he wants to play one-pocket and laugh at the reaction

 

[bfdlad]

[ ] people who often play pool in bars appreciate good pool
[x] hustling people who often play pool in bars is fun
[x] ask him if he wants to play one-pocket and laugh at the reaction

"WHhat one pocket??? we don't have a table round here with only one pocket son"

 

[alstl]

Read the book The Pleasure of small motions. It's a pool book that talks about the real mental game. One of the things that he states in the book is that you need to play based on the situation. I've come to adopt this philosophy just so I don't take myself too serious. Basically he says that you should take certain opportunities to have fun. It shouldn't always be about winning. Sometimes it's about comraderie, sometimes about learning and other times about pure fun. I have found that if I go into the firehall I shoot out of just to have fun shooting we have a good time. But if I get serious and win every game, next thing I know, no one's putting their name on the board. I think in any situation it really depends on how you want to be perceived. Personally in those types of situations I use them to practice shots that I would never take in a game.
Who cares if you lose if there's nothing on the line.

I haven't read that book but it sounds like good advice. On the other hand, if you are playing for money is a situation like that you need to find a way to "accidentally" leave the guy safe. It requires a little creativity.

 

[our_auctionguy]

Reality for me ... NEVER play in bars... unless you are running it.

DELEVERANCE ON A POOL TABLE---YOUR GOING TO GET SCRE**edGET OUT AND GET GONE!!!!

I have been in only two actual fights in my life and both were with some A-Hole over a pool game IN A BAR. One was because I ran the rack out on the guy and that pissed my 230 lb opponent off and the other because the guy was a total jerk and cut in line just looking for a fight when he was way down on a written waiting list to play. When I started to explain to him it was my turn at the table I was sucker punched and the night became one of some extreme violence from there.

He woke up the next day in the hospital after face emergency surgery for a broken nose , broken jaw, and missing teeth wondering what freight train hit him.

I didn't drink then and I don't drink now. I only went into bars to play pool. Since that night, I have played 1000's of hours in only pool rooms in several states and never had a serious altercation since. My rule. Bars are for drinking and fighting. Poolrooms are for playing pool.

 

[Snapshot9]

Lol

I was playing in a bar (with 4 bar tables) playing someone in a weekly tournament for the winner's bracket by bar room rules. I had 1 ball left, he had 5 balls left. He thought he had the nuts, and kept leaving me hooked.

He made a mistake, and I got out. I love guys that grow their game up in bars instead Pool rooms.

 

[Johnnyt]

I hustled bars for years and the number one problem in most was they thought safe was cheating, and causing a fight. It's got a lot better now but you still find bars that have a problem with anyone playing safe. You just have to be good at pretending to go for the pocket/bank/ or combo, but really play safe. Can you say two-way shot? Johnnyt

 

[Billy_Bob]

Well there is BCA rules play with good players and all safeties are allowed and complimented on by the opposing player as a good shot.

Then there is "bar rules" play which means there are no rules and obvious safeties are not allowed. Actually any sort of obvious "thinking" or "strategy" is a no no!

But if you have a shot, you have 6 pockets to choose from! So instead of the obvious cut into the corner, call a bank shot back over here and that will allow you to leave the cue ball at the far end of the table (a safety play where you miss your shot and leave the cue ball in a nasty spot). As a matter of fact, you can call the shot back in that corner over there and have the object ball not come anywhere near that pocket (hit OB more full on or less full on to get CB to go to where you want it after hitting the OB).

Then say out loud "DARN! I was sure off on that shot!" (Of course you did exactly what you were trying to do and that was to leave the cue ball in that nasty spot.)

So good players can play obvious safeties and say they are doing so or pretend to pocket a ball and shoot a safety just as good. The "no safety" rule does nothing to stop a good player from playing a safety. So I think no safety rules are silly.

Another thing you can do when playing bar rules is an intentional miscue. There is no ball-in-hand penalty, so miscue and send the cue ball to a nasty spot. Then say "Darn! I need to get this tip fixed!"

Also if all your opponent's balls are in the kitchen, you can shoot an intentional scratch. Of course you try to make it look like you were going for a shot.

It is easy to get away with bank or kick shots which are way off when playing bar rules. The other players are so terrible, they don't see anything out of the normal if you are way off on your shots as well.

And if you have an easy cut shot but go for a bank shot instead, they don't see anything wrong with this as they many times bank shots they could have easily cut.

So look at where you need to hit your ball to get the cue ball to go where you want for a safety, then figure out were the OB will go when hitting it there, then say you are going for that pocket. Then when the OB misses the pocket by 5 inches, say "I almost had it!"

 

[cmsmith9]

Listen, I don't care who I am playing or where...I am playing my game...What you do in practice is what you do in the game....

Little story: Had a hot date the other night...she's wearing a skirt, tight shirt.....after dinner, we go to a nice pool room and we play a little...I put her on two fouls then safed her out....then took her home and will never call her again. Who wants a girl that can't kick?

Christian

 

[Johnnyt]

Listen, I don't care who I am playing or where...I am playing my game...What you do in practice is what you do in the game....

Little story: Had a hot date the other night...she's wearing a skirt, tight shirt.....after dinner, we go to a nice pool room and we play a little...I put her on two fouls then safed her out....then took her home and will never call her again. Who wants a girl that can't kick?

Christian

Yeah but could she....? Johnnyt

 

[bfdlad]

Well there is BCA rules play with good players and all safeties are allowed and complimented on by the opposing player as a good shot.

Then there is "bar rules" play which means there are no rules and obvious safeties are not allowed. Actually any sort of obvious "thinking" or "strategy" is a no no!

But if you have a shot, you have 6 pockets to choose from! So instead of the obvious cut into the corner, call a bank shot back over here and that will allow you to leave the cue ball at the far end of the table (a safety play where you miss your shot and leave the cue ball in a nasty spot). As a matter of fact, you can call the shot back in that corner over there and have the object ball not come anywhere near that pocket (hit OB more full on or less full on to get CB to go to where you want it after hitting the OB).

Then say out loud "DARN! I was sure off on that shot!" (Of course you did exactly what you were trying to do and that was to leave the cue ball in that nasty spot.)

So good players can play obvious safeties and say they are doing so or pretend to pocket a ball and shoot a safety just as good. The "no safety" rule does nothing to stop a good player from playing a safety. So I think no safety rules are silly.

Another thing you can do when playing bar rules is an intentional miscue. There is no ball-in-hand penalty, so miscue and send the cue ball to a nasty spot. Then say "Darn! I need to get this tip fixed!"

Also if all your opponent's balls are in the kitchen, you can shoot an intentional scratch. Of course you try to make it look like you were going for a shot.

It is easy to get away with bank or kick shots which are way off when playing bar rules. The other players are so terrible, they don't see anything out of the normal if you are way off on your shots as well.

And if you have an easy cut shot but go for a bank shot instead, they don't see anything wrong with this as they many times bank shots they could have easily cut.

So look at where you need to hit your ball to get the cue ball to go where you want for a safety, then figure out were the OB will go when hitting it there, then say you are going for that pocket. Then when the OB misses the pocket by 5 inches, say "I almost had it!"

I agree with everything you said. I just didn't know that it was something that was going to piss him off. I was told he was a really good player and as such I thought he would understand the position I was in and also admire the shot I made. I only played the one game but if I play again there (doubtful) I will make sure I remember and see if he tries to play me safe.

 

[Billy_Bob]

I agree with everything you said. I just didn't know that it was something that was going to piss him off. I was told he was a really good player and as such I thought he would understand the position I was in and also admire the shot I made. I only played the one game but if I play again there (doubtful) I will make sure I remember and see if he tries to play me safe.

Well just ignore this if it happens again. If someone starts informing you of the rules and you are playing bar rules (no rules), say "Where does it say that? Let me see this rule! I would like to read this rule!" (Of course there is no written rule anywhere for any of this stuff. People just make up the rules as they go along and as they see fit...)

Also never let these people know you are bothered by what they are saying. Just ignore them and walk away. Don't say anything back. Keep playing. They are being rude, cheating, and sharking, so no need for a reply is my thinking.

 

[Gregg]

When in Rome,...

It's the players fault, IMO, for not knowing the laws of the land, written or unwritten.

And if your not sure, sit and observe. Ask, even if you may not like the response you may get. There really are things you can do to prevent situations like this from occurring.

I said before, the very best thing about league nights are that everyone can just focus on the game, without a lot of concern about the rules, written or unwritten, that may change from region to region, bar to bar, or even player to player in the same bar.

 

[bfdlad]

Well just ignore this if it happens again. If someone starts informing you of the rules and you are playing bar rules (no rules), say "Where does it say that? Let me see this rule! I would like to read this rule!" (Of course there is no written rule anywhere for any of this stuff. People just make up the rules as they go along and as they see fit...)

Also never let these people know you are bothered by what they are saying. Just ignore them and walk away. Don't say anything back. Keep playing. They are being rude, cheating, and sharking, so no need for a reply is my thinking.

To a point, that is what I did. I just told him I had no other shot. I thought he would understand but didn't so I left it. Played one and went home to play on my 9ft real table at home where my 10 year old some appreciates a good saftey shot. Thats a thought, it's a shame that my 10 yr old gets it and the grown up does not??? mmm My son played Johnny Archer at my house and had the ball,s to try and snooker him.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... I would love to hear your opinions.

You got off easy.

Bob Byrne tells the story of a local player who was at a 3-cushion tournament and had a little spare time so he went across the street to a bar to play a few racks of eight ball. He played a safe, and POW the guy punched him in the nose sending him to the floor. "We don't do that around here." I don't know if he won the game or not.

In the same area, the league had the rule, "No safes." It was amusing to watch the clever old codgers take shots that were obviously safes but looked sort of like tries. They still couldn't win.

 

[Pushout]

Personally, I don't need nor want that kind of aggrevation. If you play a lot of pool in bars, you can expect this type of behavior, eventually. You can ignore it, pretend to be playing a shot when really playing safe like has been suggested, claim ignorance of the house rules, etc. If it were me, and I played said idiot again, I'd make damn sure he had lots of shots that he would have to go for.
I know some people won't agree with this, but I don't play pool to lose, I play to win. Always have.