Feeling bad for playing safe in a bar

[bfdlad]

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.

Playing safe is part of the game I think. If you take that away then you give the other player a chance. If thats the case there should be a rule that says If you get one in you have to miss the next one so your opponent has a chance. That may be far fetched but means the same thing to me. The rule bar or otherwise is stupid. But as others have said you know it going into the game and need to treat it like a fun thing and just bang it up.

 

[ScottW]

Heh, you guys are all making the same mistake -

Expecting your average bar player to a) think like you and/or b) be open to reason.

They don't, and they're not.

 

[hobokenapa]

When in bars on a Fri or Sat night, I'm always with friends and often we'll decide to have a few games and put our names up. But we are just there for a night out drinking. If we wanted a night out playing pool, we'd be in the pool hall! I've found the solution for playing too good in bars in simple; I always play opposite handed. None of the people in bar, my friends aside, know any different.

 

[Da Poet]

I start this from something someone had said in a different thread and didn't want to bust in on their point.
This has happened to me a few times now......


....I ran 3 and totally screwed myshot on the next ball. So I just left the CB on the rail and behind one of my balls. He looked at me as though I had said his kids were ugly. I looked at him and said "hey man I had nothing, it's all I could do" he said to the guy sat at the bar "this guy just snookered me" I repeated "sorry man I had nothing" heres the point he said "well we just go for everything around here" So what was I supposed to do even though it was for no money and just a knock around do I just play a stupid shot and leave the game open??? That mentality as I am sure you all know is common, I do not agree with it but it seems to upset people if you play safe in a bar. Am I being an ass and should lighten up or do I need to play that kind of game when in a bar? I would love to hear your opinions.

If this happened before, why didn't you just ask if you could play safe before you did it?

 

[sixpack]

Playing safe is part of the game I think. If you take that away then you give the other player a chance. If thats the case there should be a rule that says If you get one in you have to miss the next one so your opponent has a chance. That may be far fetched but means the same thing to me. The rule bar or otherwise is stupid. But as others have said you know it going into the game and need to treat it like a fun thing and just bang it up.

Usually, in that situation, I just don't play safe. I play by the spirit of their rules and enjoy myself. I can beat them by outrunning them as easily as trying to play safe anyway... and everyone has more fun. If they are good enough to outrun me (never has happened in a random bar) THEN they probably understand safes as well.

Of course it gives the other player a chance, that's the point.

Lighten up and have fun. You don't have to crush them like a bug every time you play, for fun especially. And I totally understand wanting to beat this guy, but beating him by playing safe is a hollow victory and he will probably think you either cheated or got lucky. So show off some of the pocketing skills and earn his (and everyone else's) respect and adoration. It feels good. It's a great confidence builder. It helps you get in a rhythm.

I played a guy in a local USPPA tourney. They guy was a duck, he literally couldn't make two balls in a row. Trouble was, he knew this and played accordingly. He would play a shot, then play safe. No matter how easy the out was. The problem against a good player, is you leave me 5 kick shots in a game of nine ball, odds are I'm going to kick in one or at least kick safe enough that I get ball in hand and screw you to the wall. It made for a very boring match and I don't think he enjoyed it at all. I think that guy needs to go to a bar and just play 8-ball and try to run out every single time at the table. Let his stroke out a little. His game would jump by leaps and bounds. Maybe it would help yours too.

When I've been in a slump, one thing I've done from time to time is go to a bar and play for quarters/drinks all night. Toast when you win, toast when you lose, smile all night and just enjoy the game. Remember how it feels to 'play' it like a banger. You'd be surprised how liberating it can be. By the end of the night, people will be building you a trophy wall and you'll have made several friends. Not a bad night's work.

~rc

 

[bfdlad]

If this happened before, why didn't you just ask if you could play safe before you did it?

Wasn't even thinking to be honest and it had been a while since I played in a bar setting. I kinda knew once I saw his face that sometimes it don't go down well.

 

[catscradle]

it's GI Joe and his buddy Duke proudly showing off their kill, a squirrel.

I have avatars shut off because of work, but I went to your public profile to see it. Very cool effect.

 

[HIRUN526]

I always ask wherever I am what are the rules before the game.

Usually in bars I never call a safe...always play a miss like a shot.

Most bar pool is real basic and when in Rome do as the Romans.

 

[Da Poet]

Wasn't even thinking to be honest and it had been a while since I played in a bar setting. I kinda knew once I saw his face that sometimes it don't go down well.

You were lucky there wasn't a huge line of players waiting to play as well.

Yeah, I learned this the hard way once too. No biggie.

7's in a bar, if the player didn't say anything before the break, I wouldn't even ask, I would assume no safeties. I mean it's just a bar. Who care's? Have fun, take ridiculous shots, get lucky. If they play safe fine, roll with it.

 

[Tom M]

I agree with you guys, I guess I was just wanting to knock this guy off his perch with a house stick. I figure they all think he is good because ge cam get a few balls in and not worry about being left safe or he complains. Like I said I can see your point and thats probably they way I should handle it in the future. However this guy was a little cockey.

It's pretty widely known that safeties are usually not a part of pickup bar pool, or part of any game where bangers are involved. This guy was not playing the same game, and if you really want to take him down a notch effectively, you need to do it playing his game. Even if you beat him with safeties, he and his buddies are just going to say you played "chicken-sh__". Shoot his lights out with no safeties and he has no excuse.

Tom

 

[RunoutalloverU]

Some good responses. I just think it has everything to do with the situation and personal safety. If im alone, in a bar, and I don't know anybody, and people are already getting aggitated that the local guys can't beat me, and im running out and beating people over and over again, im not going to play safe, because it isnt worth it, unless im with a couple of "friends" I bring along sometimes to play pool with you know the friends that are over 6'3'' and know martial arts Then again if im alone in a place I know (my bar orwhatever), ill do whatever it takes to win, don't like it, take it up with the bouncer. Other than that, you can ask before the match if its cool safties are played, if the guy gives you a weird look, thats a no. If not sell it! "Miss" and look really really pissed off. Its kind of like the Movie King Pin, the scence with Roger Clemens, and Clemens is about to kick the crap out of Randy Quiad's character, Roy steps in and causes an even bigger scene saving them from the ass kicking. And thats what I do, and even if its kind of an obvious safety if I act like im really upset I did whatever I did, ive never had a problem. Can't be mad at someone who is already pissed off at themselves.

 

[Tom M]

But most of the bangers safes are not even hitting a ball or a rail but just hitting it a few inches behing a ball. I just laugh and continue on. 95% of the time your going to beat them anyways.

Yeah, I LOVE that one. A banger has no shot and calls "Safety" and proceeds to shoot the cue ball to a safe location without hitting any ball or rail. Oh well, what can you do...

 

[ribdoner]

If you don't play safe in the bars around here your eligible to be bending pipes when you whizz within a couple days or worse....

 

[tom haney]

I start this from something someone had said in a different thread and didn't want to bust in on their point.
This has happened to me a few times now. I was in a bar that has a couple of 6fters, I sat by the table chatting with a guy I had just met and watching two guys play. I had no intention of playing and the conversation turned to pool, The guy I was talking to pointed out one of the players and said "he is really good" he told me this about 5 or 6 times. As I watched I saw the good player continue to win but miss some routine shots. I think I am getting worked now, the "good player" hear this other guy pumping him up and decided to join our conversation as he played. He asked if I would like to play. I told him I don't have my stick (although it is always in the car) He said "come on lets hit a couple" So I gave in. Again I'm not sure at this point if I am getting worked by these guys or if the "good player just wants another scalp and show his fans he is the man. Anyway I broke an saw right away that the rails were dead, we were playing 8 ball by the way. I ran 3 and totally screwed myshot on the next ball. So I just left the CB on the rail and behind one of my balls. He looked at me as though I had said his kids were ugly. I looked at him and said "hey man I had nothing, it's all I could do" he said to the guy sat at the bar "this guy just snookered me" I repeated "sorry man I had nothing" heres the point he said "well we just go for everything around here" So what was I supposed to do even though it was for no money and just a knock around do I just play a stupid shot and leave the game open??? That mentality as I am sure you all know is common, I do not agree with it but it seems to upset people if you play safe in a bar. Am I being an ass and should lighten up or do I need to play that kind of game when in a bar? I would love to hear your opinions.

I play in North Central West Virginia. If you deliberately snooker
a guy on a bar tableplaying 8 ball you will probably get
the crap beaten out of you.
At the very least, word will get out about you ( they use a racist term)
and nobody will play you again.
Our challenge is to play safe without it looking obvious.

 

[tom haney]

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

LOL! That describes bar pool in my area to a "T".

 

[tom haney]

Had another time where the guy said I didn't call a bank because the object ball skimmed the rail on the way into the pocket!

Had that happen to me in championship game of a bar table tourney
3 weeks ago. I told him they were soft pockets, and you'll have that.
I then went over and quickly got my money!

 

[Charlie Edwards]

You just need to be a little more creative. Play a safe that doesn't look like you are playing one. It usually isn't that hard to make a banger think you just got a lucky roll.

That's really the way to do it... NEVER let it be known in a bar that you're playing safe. Many bangers consider it "dirty pool". It's not worth an argument. FWIW, never argue over a pool game in a bar. Just quit.