Gentlemen Moves

[12310bch]

1) no posing after you miss a shot. Drama not necessary.

2)Always thank a passerby who stops while you shoot. Even if they don't
stop in time.

3) Take your damned chalk with you when you leave the table! If your
opponent doesn't have any , give him some. Solves a lot of problems. Only leave your chalk on the table if you can balance it on one of it's corners.

 

[CarlB]

I like this thread a lot. I do use my own chalk so I agree with taking chalk with you when you leave. i will never ever do something to intentionally shark or distract my opponent.

One of my biggest peeves is that I spend a lot of time reading, learning, and knowing how to be respectful, what to do, what not to do. Nothing irritates me more than when I try to be a gentleman at the table or in a matchand my opponent is insistant on attempting to be as annoying as possible and shows no discipline or ettiquete at all.

- If I win the game, after I help retrieve the balls for the rack, I will grab a towel and wipe down the rails to get it free of chalk and dirt. This usually makes my opponent be a little careful about how they lay the chalk.

- I will clean the cue ball between racks if necessary.

- If I rack for my opponent, When I remove the rack, I offer them to inspect by saying "its your rack to inspect." I don't say they are tight, I dont say break em up, etc.

- I have played pool with guys from Uganda before and they tap the rail with their cue when you make a nice shot. While we think this would be distracting, it goes to show that different countries have different etiquettes. At the same time, here in Afghanistan, the locals find it perfectly acceptable to crowd around the table while you are shooting. They will hover over your called pocket, its just how they play.

So overall I would say to everyone...Display mild tolerance and do not be afraid to say something if something is distracting you or you feel something is in poor etiquette.

If a person is just blantently rude, don't play them anymore. If it is a tournament, get the director.

Keep this thread going, I love it.

Carl

 

[oldzilla]

I disagree with this one. It's more distracting when someone stops dead in the middle of your stroke.

Well it gets to the point of no return and then you are in the wrong if you stop or continue. It just shouldn't get to that point if you are aware of people playing in the room.

So in saying that, be curtious to the ones that are around you. Don't be disruptive to the entire room by being loud !

 

[MN Kid]

Hello fellas!

Been lurking here for a few weeks and this thread made finally make an account.

Been playing seriously for about 9-12 months now.

One of my pet peeves is when people get in the line of my sight or where I'm intend to sink the 8 ball.

I've tried explaining this to friends that play occasionally that it's a big no-no but they don't seem to understand the harm in it.

I'm reminded of a few months ago when I was playing at a local bar. I was down to the 8-ball and the other guy still had a few balls left. His buddy which knew how to play pool not only stood at my desired pocket but went as far as marking an "X" in front of the pocket with his fingers to jinx me. Not once, not twice, but atleast 3 times. The fourth time it was my turn to shoot, I purposely sank the cue ball straight into a pocket. I told him, if it means that much to you, you can have the damn game. In between that I went off on him and his girl friends told him to chill but he went back at it. I was f'n pissed! I didn't care that I lost the game but just the amount of disrespect that he displayed. He knew damn well what he was doing. If I was a fighter, I would've definitely started one.

I would have asked him to leave his finger there to better aid your aim and rocket the cue ball right into it. Either that or drop a chalk in his beer :grin:.

Welcome aboard,
RG

 

[larrynj1]

i'm surprised by the amount of chalk problems posted here. lmao!!

i think the most gentlemanly behavior one can exhibit is retrieving the cue ball for your opponent after you scratch.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

i'm surprised by the amount of chalk problems posted here. lmao!!

i think the most gentlemanly behavior one can exhibit is retrieving the cue ball for your opponent after you scratch.

I agree--very good post.

May I add to this? The breaker should get the balls out of 4 pockets and the racker gets the balls out of the 2 pockets near the rack.

 

[btoneill]

Funny that I mentioned yesterday about being a gracious loser. Watched the end of match last night on the table next to mine. It ended with a scratch on the 8-Ball. The winner went over to try to shake the hand of the opponent who was walking away. He refused to shake his hand....

*sigh*

 

[Bigtruck]

Woofing

A lot of players would like to match up in an action match with someone who is a gentlemen. A gentlemen woofer always has action.

You never hear the gentlemen woofer. You see him in discussions.
The gentlemen woofer is never attacked because of his offer to play.
The gentlemen woofer recognizes when someone doesn't have the cash to play and does not humiliate.
The gentlemen woofer is a pleasure to compete with and always thanks his opponent for the action. (win or lose)

Ray

 

[justadub]

i'm surprised by the amount of chalk problems posted here. lmao!!

i think the most gentlemanly behavior one can exhibit is retrieving the cue ball for your opponent after you scratch.

I agree, regarding the chalk problems. Maybe it's just cuz I'm a lowly league player, but I bought a pocket chalk holder and I have mine with me all the time. The stuff on the tables is for everyone else. If they don't bring their own, and there isn't any on the table for some reason, I'll offer mine to my opponent, but that usually just spurs on the search for the chalk that should have been on the table in the first place.

So far as retrieving the cue ball after a scratch, I agree as well. Guess we're pretty civilized around here, most folks do that, so long as it's not nearer their opponent in the first place.

This is a good thread, makes me think about how I handle myself in the pool room.

 

[Cdryden]

Funny that I mentioned yesterday about being a gracious loser. Watched the end of match last night on the table next to mine. It ended with a scratch on the 8-Ball. The winner went over to try to shake the hand of the opponent who was walking away. He refused to shake his hand....

*sigh*

It's a shame isn't it. I guess we need to lead by example. You cant make a person change their behavior, the best you can do is make them want to change for the better. When some of the younger crowd sees older folk being unsportsmanlike, they begin to feel that that behavior is acceptable.
I'm not saying its the older generations fault, I'm simply saying its up to the wiser players to guide the less experienced and set a good example.

Unfortunately, when money gets involved all of that fly's out the window for most..... young and old.

 

[3RAILKICK]

I agree--very good post.

May I add to this? The breaker should get the balls out of 4 pockets and the racker gets the balls out of the 2 pockets near the rack.[/QUOTE]

TJ-



Agreed,Yes, breaker should at least get balls out of one side and the two corners where he breaks. The racker gets the other side and the corners near the rack-at least that seems to work in our room.

Clarification please from a courtesy standpoint, if 'nice shot' spoken by the opponent after the shot is a shark, is cue tapping after the shot or finger snapping also a shark? If the railbirds do any of these after the shot is that more acceptable?

I have been known to acknowledge a particularly good shot, with 'good'shot'-after reading this thread, I will probably wait until after the game is over.

As for cue tapping, it is mostly the motion, not the sounds of tap, tap, tap-since most cues have rubber bumpers. I generally do this after a good shot, whether the opponent can or does see me do it. It is my non verbal acknowledgement of a fine shot-not intended as a shark move.

Not too much finger snaps seen in local rooms by players, but occaisonally.
More often from the rail. So then, a 'in living color' animated snap is most likely bad form?

Once had a young opponent stand at the table next to the intended pocket, constantly banging the edge of a nickel on the rail as I was shooting. I chose to say nothing-rather to consider it background noise focus training. After the match, I told the young man that in another circumstance-that behaviour could be frowned upon BIGTIME. He said he was not aware that he had been doing it. He said he got bored waiting for me to shoot.

 

[cookie man]

I hate on a coin op thats open I start getting the balls for the guy and he shoves the rack over for me to also put the balls in. Aren't I doing enough by getting the balls, must I put them in the rack also.

 

[the420trooper]

Weird...All this time I thought I was being a good sport by occasionally telling my opponent "good shot"...Guess I'll have to amend that policy.

Perhaps a scowl and a grunt would be more appropriate; I wouldn't want to upset anyone's delicate sensibilities.




(OY VEY)

 

[Bigtruck]

Weird...All this time I thought I was being a good sport by occasionally telling my opponent "good shot"...Guess I'll have to amend that policy.

Perhaps a scowl and a grunt would be more appropriate; I wouldn't want to upset anyone's delicate sensibilities.




(OY VEY)

The appropriate time to say "shot or good shot" is after the inning. During the players turn is used as an attempt to "get inside your head" by sharkers. It's just tacky.

One instance is when you make a tough shot but hook yourself or ruin the possibility of a run and your opponent say "good shot".

Ray

 

[Nine Miler]

This thread made me register.

Just as I wouldn't tee off if someone was putting out on an adjacent green, I wouldn't break until neighbors were between shots. I appreciate when neighbors do the same for me.

 

[Scott Lee]

Just FYI...this is old school...3 finger snaps doubles as a compliment, for tapping your cue on the floor. :grin:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Except as was previously mentioned, if the room has carpet, it doesn't work very well. Also, if you're playing in leagues, even with a hard floor, being able to hear that over the sounds of all the people on all the teams playing is pretty hard.

I myself save the "good shot" saying for when it was a really good shot, ie. something they normally wouldn't have made. I say it to my teammates especially to give them a confidence boost. They won't get that boost if they can't hear me tapping my cue on carpet while 20 people within hearing distance are all talking.

Brian

 

[the420trooper]

The appropriate time to say "shot or good shot" is after the inning. During the players turn is used as an attempt to "get inside your head" by sharkers. It's just tacky.

One instance is when you make a tough shot but hook yourself or ruin the possibility of a run and your opponent say "good shot".

Ray

OK, I get what you're saying, BUT...If an opponent telling you "good shot" is enough to actually get inside your head, then maybe you should learn to focus better.

Pool is not golf; distractions are part of the game, and the person who deals with them the best usually wins. I've played under conditions that would drive most people crazy...loud redneck bars are great for focus training. Learning to block out the BS and making the shot anyway is part of becoming a player.

It would be great if everyone shut up and stood still while I'm shooting, but it hasn't happened yet, and I don't expect it to, so I deal with it.

 

[enzo]

During the ever more common rack your own, I think it should just plain be required for the other player to stay in the chair while the winner is racking. I dont think the non racker should be talking to the racker either. To me its like the racker is "at the table" while racking, so the same etiquette should apply as while shooting. Oh, and yes I do think the other player should be allowed to check the rack, but only after the player finished racking. This isnt gentleman play from the past, hopefully it is from the future.

 

[enzo]

1) no posing after you miss a shot. Drama not necessary.

2)Always thank a passerby who stops while you shoot. Even if they don't
stop in time.

3) Take your damned chalk with you when you leave the table! If your
opponent doesn't have any , give him some. Solves a lot of problems. Only leave your chalk on the table if you can balance it on one of it's corners.

I know this is my own problem, but I cant stand it when somebody doesn't "stop in time" as you put it, and freezes there. It doesn't shark me or distract me in the least when somebody naturally walks by my shot, even if they are a foot from the object ball. Run for all i care. I HATE the "stopping". I simply just get up and refocus after this though.

Am I the only one??

 

[The Saw]

Here's a good one.... Don't blow smoke up my *ss telling me how its so great that I will bet high like you like to and how you have gamble like I do. After you pass when I say bet and then call around town to get staked and form a corporation to do so..... What ever happened to betting high and betting your own?

Cleary, show them my shirt.....