First 6 pack and sharking help.

stolz2

stolz2

Kid Mack
Silver Member
Well i ran my first six pack last night, before then i could not seem to run more then 3 racks, this was on a bar box so not that impressive but a hurdle for me in my game. The guy that i was playing slowly starting sharking me, i was trying hard just play it off my laughing at everything he said, but is slowly started to annoy me, what was making me mad was that fact that i was letting it get to me. In my head i started thinking man i wish this idiot would just shut up, but i wanted to really use it to add fuel to my fire but was unable to do so. When i would get down to my last 4 balls he would out loud start saying how he thought I was going to run out.....

For instance " hit the 6 in the side draw around the 7 to coushins blah blah blah....

So today im asking my self how can i grow from this, should i tell him to be quiet or use his sharking to fuel my fire. I think i should use it to try and strengthen my mind set when im at the table what do you guys think? If this was tournament play i would ask him to please be quiet but where just at a pool hall. I refuse to shark him back, because i believe these tactics take away from the great things in pocket billiards. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Mack
 
stolz2 said:
Well i ran my first six pack last night, before then i could not seem to run more then 3 racks, this was on a bar box so not that impressive but a hurdle for me in my game. The guy that i was playing slowly starting sharking me, i was trying hard just play it off my laughing at everything he said, but is slowly started to annoy me, what was making me mad was that fact that i was letting it get to me. In my head i started thinking man i wish this idiot would just shut up, but i wanted to really use it to add fuel to my fire but was unable to do so. When i would get down to my last 4 balls he would out loud start saying how he thought I was going to run out.....

For instance " hit the 6 in the side draw around the 7 to coushins blah blah blah....

So today im asking my self how can i grow from this, should i tell him to be quiet or use his sharking to fuel my fire. I think i should use it to try and strengthen my mind set when im at the table what do you guys think? If this was tournament play i would ask him to please be quiet but where just at a pool hall. I refuse to shark him back, because i believe these tactics take away from the great things in pocket billiards. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Mack
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You know, that reminds me of a time when I was playing a guy for $20 a set and he ran a four-pack. I knew this was special for him and made a point to give him the best racks possible and to keep my mouth shut as he played. He won that set (of course) so I doubled up the bet and managed to get even!

Don't get me wrong, I like money but I also have a respect for the game. That sucks that you can run a six pack and have to deal with such low class!
 
Shit, I saw the title and thought you were talking my expertise, BEER and how to keep from falling off the boat and getting eaton by the sharks.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
You know, that reminds me of a time when I was playing a guy for $20 a set and he ran a four-pack. I knew this was special for him and made a point to give him the best racks possible and to keep my mouth shut as he played. He won that set (of course) so I doubled up the bet and managed to get even!

Don't get me wrong, I like money but I also have a respect for the game. That sucks that you can run a six pack and have to deal with such low class!
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Tap! Tap! Tap!

Well said!
 
stolz2 said:
Well i ran my first six pack last night, before then i could not seem to run more then 3 racks, this was on a bar box so not that impressive but a hurdle for me in my game. The guy that i was playing slowly starting sharking me, i was trying hard just play it off my laughing at everything he said, but is slowly started to annoy me, what was making me mad was that fact that i was letting it get to me. In my head i started thinking man i wish this idiot would just shut up, but i wanted to really use it to add fuel to my fire but was unable to do so. When i would get down to my last 4 balls he would out loud start saying how he thought I was going to run out.....

For instance " hit the 6 in the side draw around the 7 to coushins blah blah blah....

So today im asking my self how can i grow from this, should i tell him to be quiet or use his sharking to fuel my fire. I think i should use it to try and strengthen my mind set when im at the table what do you guys think? If this was tournament play i would ask him to please be quiet but where just at a pool hall. I refuse to shark him back, because i believe these tactics take away from the great things in pocket billiards. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Mack
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My first reply just popped out before I had even read the first paragraph. I don't know that it was appropriate to joke in this post but it is already there.

Very low class of this guy. I tend to talk a lot during matches, but only if I can tell that it is not bothering my opponent. So maybe be sure to let a guy like this know in some subtle way that you don't appriciate it.
 
Ok, i wouldnt call what i am doing sharking cuz i am not talking while someone is shooting. But like if someone slops a ball, or shits the 9, then i always give them the " UNFREAKING BELIEVEABLE " normally when i shoot, if i am playing badly or whatever, i normally do the same, yesterday i was playing a guy and couldnt make 2 balls in a row, and it was actually kinda sickning lol.

Now if someone is on a six pack or whatever, i dont say anything unless its one of those good slop shots that help him out in the run, but hey it happens, to EVERYONE, but i wont shark anyone, unless its a good friend lol.

dave
 
stolz2 said:
So today im asking my self how can i grow from this, should i tell him to be quiet or use his sharking to fuel my fire. I think i should use it to try and strengthen my mind set when im at the table what do you guys think? If this was tournament play i would ask him to please be quiet but where just at a pool hall. I refuse to shark him back, because i believe these tactics take away from the great things in pocket billiards. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Mack
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Mack,
Was this opponent a friend of yours, or a stranger??? If he's a friend, then you are stuck with it; use it. When I play ultra-competitive straight pool with one of my regular opponents (quite a bit below my level, handicapped matches, always tight); he sharks EXACTLY the same as you describe. Whenever I start to roll, getting into the second rack, he starts asking me questions as I'm shooting, getting up to rack the balls when there are still 2 or 3 on the table, etc. etc. I've told him its really bad behavior and that he should NEVER do this in public; and now I want him to do it EVERY time we play so I can learn to deal with it. We even have a fairly regular Monday night match with ALL SHARKING allowed. As long as its friendly it is great fun, and is a really good workout to help give you experience dealing with this crap. You might as well get good at dealing with it, unless you like to fight. If you really don't like it, and the opponent doesn't take the hint, just don't play him.

P.S. - let me add a little more practical advice that I use in tournaments when this occurs. Everytime my opponent says ANYTHING during my turn, I totally ignore him; don't look at him, laugh at him, talk to him, or acknowledge him in any way EXCEPT I stop what I'm doing, stand up, stare at him, and wait for him to finish (starting over my whole routine). The opponent almost always gets the hint (depends on your stare).
 
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stolz2 said:
Well i ran my first six pack last night, before then i could not seem to run more then 3 racks, this was on a bar box so not that impressive but a hurdle for me in my game. The guy that i was playing slowly starting sharking me, i was trying hard just play it off my laughing at everything he said, but is slowly started to annoy me, what was making me mad was that fact that i was letting it get to me. In my head i started thinking man i wish this idiot would just shut up, but i wanted to really use it to add fuel to my fire but was unable to do so. When i would get down to my last 4 balls he would out loud start saying how he thought I was going to run out.....

For instance " hit the 6 in the side draw around the 7 to coushins blah blah blah....

So today im asking my self how can i grow from this, should i tell him to be quiet or use his sharking to fuel my fire. I think i should use it to try and strengthen my mind set when im at the table what do you guys think? If this was tournament play i would ask him to please be quiet but where just at a pool hall. I refuse to shark him back, because i believe these tactics take away from the great things in pocket billiards. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Mack
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That is a difficult one. My first sixpack was a similar situation, I was down a bunch in a race to 7, he finally made a mistake, I won the game and put a six on him. He was so pissed about my 'luck' and all that I don't even know if he noticed it was six. He won the toss for the second set and it was pretty much the same. I put my second six on him to win. The only thing I remember about my thoughts at the time were thinking to myself. "That shit don't work on me." and "The sooner I win this set, the sooner he'll shut up." and then when I was over the shots, I was just thinking about making sure I had the right spot, and moving the cue straight.

Lately I've been struggling a bit and have been working hard to simplify my 'swing thoughts' to get back to the mental focus that I had at that time in my life.

I know one thing, getting pissed only helps if you turn it into something helpful via your internal dialogue. Thinking "I wish he'd shut up" puts him in control of the situation (in your mind) and takes power away from you. Thinking "If I keep beating him, then he'll shut up" puts the power back in your hands and gives you something constructive to DO to get the desired result instead of HOPE, which all you can do is worry about.

I don't know if that made sense, but congrats on the sixpack and good luck with getting another one soon.

Cheers,
Regas
 
sixpack said:
That is a difficult one. My first sixpack was a similar situation, I was down a bunch in a race to 7, he finally made a mistake, I won the game and put a six on him. He was so pissed about my 'luck' and all that I don't even know if he noticed it was six. He won the toss for the second set and it was pretty much the same. I put my second six on him to win. The only thing I remember about my thoughts at the time were thinking to myself. "That shit don't work on me." and "The sooner I win this set, the sooner he'll shut up." and then when I was over the shots, I was just thinking about making sure I had the right spot, and moving the cue straight.

Lately I've been struggling a bit and have been working hard to simplify my 'swing thoughts' to get back to the mental focus that I had at that time in my life.

I know one thing, getting pissed only helps if you turn it into something helpful via your internal dialogue. Thinking "I wish he'd shut up" puts him in control of the situation (in your mind) and takes power away from you. Thinking "If I keep beating him, then he'll shut up" puts the power back in your hands and gives you something constructive to DO to get the desired result instead of HOPE, which all you can do is worry about.

I don't know if that made sense, but congrats on the sixpack and good luck with getting another one soon.

Cheers,
Regas
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Wait, are you telling us you had two six-packs in one session? Please tell me we're in discussion with a touring professional! I'm serious, the only person who has ever run a six-pack on me was Mika Immonen and he's done it three times now and I've played opposite to some serious company.
 
i had a " buddy", years ago that mouthed a lot. we were in a small bar tourn and i was doin ok. i was commin up next and i asked if he noticed that i went out to my truck and exchanged my good cue for one of my OLDER ones. i then proceded to tell him.....that if he said ONE word to me , that i was just gonna bust this cue right over his head...PERIOD. seemed to work !!!


another time, same bar, i got beat out early. this same " bud" is in the final (?? )....game with a "girl".. he's on the 8....i'm watching intently....i musta got carried away, 'cause i "accidently" knocked a beer bottle off the table an on to a hard quarry tile floor......gee..he missed and the lady won the tourn....paybacks are hell aint they
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Wait, are you telling us you had two six-packs in one session? Please tell me we're in discussion with a touring professional! I'm serious, the only person who has ever run a six-pack on me was Mika Immonen and he's done it three times now and I've played opposite to some serious company.
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It was on a barbox. I ran two sixpacks in one session, back to back but for his break in the next set and subsequent shots/games until I won a game and got the break back. We were playing races to 7, 9-ball from about 10 p.m. until about 7 a.m. and we both got into some serious stroke.

Six is the most I've had and only 3 times. That was two. I'm not a touring pro and have never been, but I have won some open tournaments and placed in some regional events. Usually I'm inconsistent because I rely on offense too much and don't play defense enough.

I don't play that good anymore, but I can still do some damage here and there :)

Cheers,
Regas
 
stolz2 said:
So today im asking my self how can i grow from this, should i tell him to be quiet or use his sharking to fuel my fire. I think i should use it to try and strengthen my mind set when im at the table what do you guys think? If this was tournament play i would ask him to please be quiet but where just at a pool hall. I refuse to shark him back, because i believe these tactics take away from the great things in pocket billiards. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Mack
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If you ran two 6 packs, I don't see where it hurt you all THAT bad...c'mon.

Maybe you should have beat him to the punch after a while as he was doing his commentary, not while he was shooting...but while you were shooting. Maybe a little Grady Seasons banter...."It's like a nightmare, isn't it. It just keeps getting worse and worse". "Man, this is like taking candy from a baby, give that man his bottle to suck on". "This is so easy...it's unbelievable".
"I can't wait to play you again....you must be my lucky charm".

Then you could have called YOUR shots...six in the side, seven in the corner, before you even started a streak. I think you need to learn how to twirl your stick like a ninja also the way Tom Cruise did in TCOM.

I bet he would have shut up......
 
This is what I did to avoid people trying to shark me with talking. I would go to the pool hall with my wife!! She LOVES to talk and talk and talk. I told her I want you to just keep talking to me and at certain points yell scream do whatever to try to distract me! Well I couldnt make shit the first couple days but then I started getting use to it. Now I can talk and shoot at the same time. If a person trys to talk to me while I am shooting I carry on the conversation sometimes this pisses them off cause they think they are distracting you and its not working. I usually sing to myself ( I know makes me look looney but what he hell!) I also had her say rattle rattle or wobble wobble when I am shooting on the 9ball or 8ball whatever game we were playing. It was funny cause she would be quit then right as I get ready to hit the cue ball she would say rattle rattle and it wouldnt fail I would rattle the damn ball in the pocket. But with her doing that it increased my game because I dont get distracted by people talking or screaming or doing whatever! If you dont have a wife get a friend or someone.
 
RichardCranium said:
I like that...You just reminded me of a scene in "white men can't jump" where these two players were dominating the other two...and right after they dunked on them...They said...."TOO EASY"......"TOO EASY"..."I quit...I Don"t want to play no more"..."Too Easy" ...
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That was a GREAT movie...and also a great movie for the uninitiated to learn how to trash talk and bet at any game.
 
play with it.

I think i will play around with this, because i only play the guy one time a week. Next week maybe I will keith M the guy and out talk him. Then next week the more he talks the more i back off the table and every time he opens his mouth just stand up look at the shot again.. map my run out again.. and get back down on the shot, repeat this routine until he gets the picture.

Mack
 
Hand him an article or newspaper page and say, "Here, read this." By the time he's done, you are, too.

Or, if he doesn't stop after you've warned him, tell him that you'll follow him around the table while he shoots with your fist cocked above his head, and you just might hit him or you might not.

I've seen both ways work. btw Williebetmore had great advice, as usual.

Jeff Livingston
 
CaptainJR said:
I tend to talk a lot during matches, but only if I can tell that it is not bothering my opponent.
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You should never talk to an opponent during a match, even if they are too nice to call you on it.
 
Razor_Blade said:
You should never talk to an opponent during a match, even if they are too nice to call you on it.
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Sorry, I may not have made myself clear. I would never talk to them while they are shooting. I'll talk all I damn well please while I'm shooting.
 
CaptainJR said:
Sorry, I may not have made myself clear. I would never talk to them while they are shooting. I'll talk all I damn well please while I'm shooting.
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It is entirely possible that I misread your previous post, but I don`t recall reading anything about only talking when you are at the table.

It doesn`t really matter to me. I consider it rude if anyone ''talks a lot'' during a match, regardless of who is shooting at the time. Unless, banging balls on Friday night with friends is considered a match.

You are of course 100% entitled to conduct yourself in any manner you see fit.
 
I say if someone tries to shark on a regular basis, then use it, and make them pay for it over and over, eventually they will realize they have a better chance, if they let sleeping dogs lay, or however that goes.

You don't have to stoop to their level, Just use it to focus much like you would a strong player as opposed to a weak one. You always take the strong player more serious ,and focus harder against them. Yeah there are those I know well, and don't mind alittle friendly jawing back and forth, but for the most part, I would just put It on the table, and shake their hand afterwards regardless of the outcome.


Most of the players that beat me easily are humble, and just play good pool. They can Catch Me snoozing.

Be carefull though, keep in mind that some players will get something started just to feed off you, so It can backfire If you shark back. Good Luck
 
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