Now for some of you pool traditionalists, this may light a fire under some of you...or perhaps this is commonplace in leagues around North America...
I have joined our local recreational 9-ball league. Although I consider myself a fairly competent pool player, this league best suits my personal situation at the moment, plus a friend comparable in calibre also plays in this league. After league play, the tables are open to us and we can fit in an extra 9 to 47 games afterwards with no increase in cost...other than the bar tab.
Anyway....getting back to the issue at hand...the league is "recreational" and the majority of the players are either lower calibre players, beginners or people who don't really mind just banging balls around (like me). The unwritten rule...the league understanding is that regardless of the ball positioning, pocketing the 9-ball in combination or fluke, is generally frowned upon unless truely accidental. (this rule is what I figure should result in some comments).
Now...with that said there continue to be a few that target the combination...one is a very good player that directs the cue ball deflection into the 9 to "see where it goes" and the other is just an older player reknown for chasing the 9-ball combination. The second person, after being talked with by the convenor, has taken to "accidentally" sinking the combination.
My personal experience with this occurred last night. Being one of the better players in the league...I tend to try to position myself for harder shots when playing weaker players. In this instance, I sunk a ball off the break and called a push...but rather than just pushing...I went for the 3 bank shot and made a legit shot, but left a possible combo. I looked at the combination and determined that if my opponent was to try for the pocket there was no issue...easy shot and she would have to miss the pocket by more than a foot to hit the 9, let alone sink it.
She did it...looked me straight in the eye and said..."Ooops...no one is more surprised than me"......BULL$#@!!! I say...and finish off the next game showing no mercy...but not comboing the 9
My question is...why?
How do we correct this...most adhere to the unwritten rule and have plenty of fun. The direct approach is obviously not working...and I don't really want to turn into a Jacka$$. I am not out for trophies...don't care for recognition in this league...but no one likes losing that way. How is it fair (I know it sounds like I'm whining!!, I sound like my 7 year old) when I adhere to the rules (written and unwritten).
I think my biggest peeve is that she outright lied to me. The shot had to be deliberate to sink and I have watched her...she isn't that bad a shot. The worst is that the two people mentioned play together and I watched the good player "accidentally" combo the 9 on my weakest player.
Well now....I feel much better...think I'll go home and shoot a few racks...
Thanks for putting up with this rant...if you made it this far...
I have joined our local recreational 9-ball league. Although I consider myself a fairly competent pool player, this league best suits my personal situation at the moment, plus a friend comparable in calibre also plays in this league. After league play, the tables are open to us and we can fit in an extra 9 to 47 games afterwards with no increase in cost...other than the bar tab.
Anyway....getting back to the issue at hand...the league is "recreational" and the majority of the players are either lower calibre players, beginners or people who don't really mind just banging balls around (like me). The unwritten rule...the league understanding is that regardless of the ball positioning, pocketing the 9-ball in combination or fluke, is generally frowned upon unless truely accidental. (this rule is what I figure should result in some comments).
Now...with that said there continue to be a few that target the combination...one is a very good player that directs the cue ball deflection into the 9 to "see where it goes" and the other is just an older player reknown for chasing the 9-ball combination. The second person, after being talked with by the convenor, has taken to "accidentally" sinking the combination.
My personal experience with this occurred last night. Being one of the better players in the league...I tend to try to position myself for harder shots when playing weaker players. In this instance, I sunk a ball off the break and called a push...but rather than just pushing...I went for the 3 bank shot and made a legit shot, but left a possible combo. I looked at the combination and determined that if my opponent was to try for the pocket there was no issue...easy shot and she would have to miss the pocket by more than a foot to hit the 9, let alone sink it.
She did it...looked me straight in the eye and said..."Ooops...no one is more surprised than me"......BULL$#@!!! I say...and finish off the next game showing no mercy...but not comboing the 9
My question is...why?
How do we correct this...most adhere to the unwritten rule and have plenty of fun. The direct approach is obviously not working...and I don't really want to turn into a Jacka$$. I am not out for trophies...don't care for recognition in this league...but no one likes losing that way. How is it fair (I know it sounds like I'm whining!!, I sound like my 7 year old) when I adhere to the rules (written and unwritten).
I think my biggest peeve is that she outright lied to me. The shot had to be deliberate to sink and I have watched her...she isn't that bad a shot. The worst is that the two people mentioned play together and I watched the good player "accidentally" combo the 9 on my weakest player.
Well now....I feel much better...think I'll go home and shoot a few racks...
Thanks for putting up with this rant...if you made it this far...