Give-away For A Road Player

JoeyA

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
In honor of hang-the-nine, I was wondering what the responses might be for quickly spotting a top player who is unknown.

One thing that is hard for top players (road players) to disguise is a good stroke.

The first thing that I look at is what the possible road player is looking at when he comes in the door or sits at the bar. That can tell you a lot about what the person's interest is.

Any other things that help you spot a road player?

JoeyA
 
Mr. Joey-----------
Just wanted to say thanks for your hospitality Thursday at Buffalo's. That is some nice Pool Hall and I really enjoyed playing with a player of your caliber. By the way 4 of my friends would like to thank you as I shared the reach shot that you taught me there.

cheers-----------------B.W. Hale
 
Numerous things:

First off, for most of us on the forum, it will take a Good player to knock us off anyway, so he'll have to show stroke. If he can keep it close without showing stroke and still beat me, shame on me. I should know these guys.

Cheap looking cue (or sneaky pete) with well manicured tip and ferrule.
Asking to play "cheap."
When asked the question, "What do you want to do?" the answer is "it's up to you."
Sucking up to the obvious pool detective.
Watching intently on the gambling tables.

A couple of other things that I'll have to keep secret due to promises we keep in the "undercover club."
 
shortman said:
Mr. Joey-----------
Just wanted to say thanks for your hospitality Thursday at Buffalo's. That is some nice Pool Hall and I really enjoyed playing with a player of your caliber. By the way 4 of my friends would like to thank you as I shared the reach shot that you taught me there.

cheers-----------------B.W. Hale
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It was nice to meet you too, B.W! It's always fun to hit some balls with another AZer. Jaden is coming to town soon and he and I will be knocking a few around, too.

Please visit again and you're welcome. :)
JoeyA

I wish I would have had a camera. B.W. at a short distance could easily be mistaken for the Gingergread Man (aka: Jay Helfert). In fact, when I walked into Buffalo's I stopped in my tracks as I was stunned to see what I thought was THE GINGERBREAD MAN in my pool hall knocking balls in the hole one after the other.
 
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the few road guys that have come in at my local poolhall recently always follow one of the below routes.

1.They come in and get a table right up front and bang balls around so they can be seen by everyone.

2. They get one of the tables in the back where it is easy to view all the other tables to look for a mark.

3. They come in walk right up to the counter and ask if anyone gambles here.

if they come in and ask if anyone gambles they always say they will only play $50 game 1p or $500 dollar sets 9b or higher.
 
I have seen a number of such players in my home country. They seem to share some common characteristics when they play, i.e.,

The "good miss" vs. the "bad miss".
I notice that they consistently pocket the object ball and position well for the next one. But then, the "occassional" misses happen. When such misses occur, the cue ball isn't positioned well for the next ball. It's such a bad miss - almost an impossible one to miss - that it is totally unbelievable for such a player with good stroke and position play.

More often than not, players with good stroke and good knowledge of position play will still have a good position on the next object ball after an unintentional miss.

And they often blabber something about the difficulty of shots and how unlucky they were. And they also seem to always credit Lady Luck for their exceptional game and win of a rack or a set.


In addition, they also up the ante (bet) when they lose the first set (or initial sets) of a match. He offers to raise the bet in the final set like there is no tomorrow (often happens in a series game, e.g., best of 3 or 5 matches). And sometimes, they will put forward bets for each game of a set in the final match.

Their weapons of choice? A single cue that costs below $50 packed in a cheap soft and zippered case. They don't carry a break cue or jump cue.

In our country, such players don't come to pool halls alone. They are usually accompanied by a buddy or two. And I kid you not! :)


.
 
the eyes, where he sets up shop . . .

As already mentioned, watching where someone's attention is when they come through the door, or watching a stranger scanning the room like he is looking for a friend are indeed clues. Also interesting to see where they set up shop, at the bar or which table.

However, what I really want to see is their actions on the table. What shots they choose, how they make balls, how they miss them, how they miss or make shape, most importantly, how they move around the table. They may not be making many balls or letting the cue ball stop where it needs to for shape but almost everyone shows their familiarity with a pool table and their skills even when trying to hide them. Another thing, how does someone's game flow? If the flow is inconsistent, odds are they are trying to conceal their speed.

Oh, one more thing, the guy that comes in and selects the worst stick on the wall . . .

Hu
 
Often will pull out a wad of hundreds when they are buying something small like a soda or cup of coffee. I've seen this move done a few times to try to get peoples interest.
 
Well just last week I was playing in our local hall, and had been shooting really badly. I had switched cues, and went from my LS universal to something else I had, because my Moorii is dead, and I havent had time to retip yet. :D

Anyway... Older gentalmen offers to play me. I've watched him play several times either in 9 Ball for $$, or in local Tourneys. He shoots good!!

maybe he hadn't seen me there to, but when he offered to play I jumped at the chance to get my ass kicked, because I figured I'd take lessons!

Not the way it happened! :confused:

we play a small race to 5 and I beat him by 3. (3 of which he GAVE TO ME!)

I learned 2nd game in that the 1st one I "won" was not because I was a good player. I had seen this guy play, and he was shooting the lights out! now he's missing EVERY 8 Ball shot, dead on, or scratching and allowing me to run out when the table looks right. I didnt get why he was dumping so bad? (keep in mind we WERE NOT PLAYING FOR ANY MONEY!) I had to be sure, so he leaves me an easy 8 out on my 5th game, so I reverse it and leave him the easy out. he "Misses" AGAIN ON THE 8, for this race! I figure he was going to do what he set out to do, and for some reason that was "Loose to me" and so I granted the wish, and left before money was brought into it!

so looking back on it, I think I came up with an answer!

Here's my guess: I'd been playing several hours. Not doing bad, but not runing them either.. he comes in sees this group of kids playing for cash, and figures they will give an old man who can't shoot a big spot right?

so he lays some "seed" with me, and at the same time lets them watch him play a bit and loose 2-5 in a race, missing all those easy shots, and scratching a lot! now he'll get some Major weight! :cool:

I left after I won, but he didnt Hustle me, I could see it coming from a mile away! :p Now I expect to be hit up for "Something Cheap" the next time were both playing in the same area again!
 
JoeyA said:
In honor of hang-the-nine, I was wondering what the responses might be for quickly spotting a top player who is unknown.

One thing that is hard for top players (road players) to disguise is a good stroke.

The first thing that I look at is what the possible road player is looking at when he comes in the door or sits at the bar. That can tell you a lot about what the person's interest is.

Any other things that help you spot a road player?

JoeyA
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In honor of me :-) I'm blushing :o

I tend to think people with money clips are gamblers, if not specifically road players. A high-quality but under the radar cue (Scruggs sneaky, plain Joss for example) that most people would mistake for something else. I know many players bellow B level tend to associate high-price or fancy cue with good playing, and a cheap looking stick would be a way to hide skill. Having a standard case, 1x1 of 1x2. No-one would come into a room with a $200 leather case and expect to get an easy game, unless they act like a doofus so people think they have more money than skill. You can tell what tables they are looking at, you can see the smile when they look at the group of bangers and watching for how good the "players" are. That's all I can think off, heading to shoot now ;) :)
 
usually when they talk about how much they love to "GAMBLE" even though they already know everyone within a 200 mile radius that they can't beat or need to stay away from...
 
the "No Whining" sign

The "No Whining" sign, that "hang" mentioned, where is it located? Is it 435 main st.?
 
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A lot of the things that have been said, are things I do when I go into a pool hall, but I am not a Road Player. And no where near Road Player skill level. Maybe that is why no one will play any games with me. They must think I am good.

Yesterday, I went to a place in Japan called Flannell. Naoyuki Oi was there, and he wouldn't approach me for the first 4 hours. We started talking and we played a few games. He said I was a good shooter, but I don't think I am. I think I am just an alright shooter. I don't know why, but for some reason people think I am better than I really am. I mean, I can make some really tough shots, but when it comes down to it....I usually don't win sets or matches as often as a high skill level player does.

I guess the fact that I have a cheap Adam cue that is falling apart which I carry in a cloth case, and I usually look around while I'm in the pool hall to see if anyone wants to play, and I usually pick the toughest table in the joint (tightest pockets/9 footers) which is usually the table up front, and I tend to miss the easy shots rather than the hard ones. And I have gotten compliments for having a good stroke. And I usually carry around a wad of hundreds, just in case someone wants to play for money...but I expect to lose money, not win any. I don't flash my money though, but I have a wallet that hold my bills in a money clip. So, whenever I open my wallet, people can see my bills.

So, I guess after reading these tell tale signs of a road player, I should probably do something different. Because after a while, it sucks playing pool by myself. I have gotten used to it, but sometimes it is nice to play a few games with someone. Maybe I should get a shirt that says, "I'm not a Hustler or Road Player, I just love to play pool"......or would that be something a Hustler or Road Player would do???
 
Say, You Aren't From Around Here, Are You /

In most of the rooms or bars/lounges that I made my home base, I (and most other regulars) knew everyone. Since many roadplayers traveled with someone (usually a shortstop) to share driving, expenses, action, etc., we always looked out for strangers coming in minutes apart.

We also kept an eye/ear out for out of state license plates and accents. Few roadplayers ever actually snuck up on us, as we were a very alert/wary group of players... imo :)
D.
 
Yeah seeing a rental car parked in the lot of your local Pool Hall/Bar could be a sign! especially one with lots of food garbage inside!
 
This is a funny story...about 5 years ago a couple of guys come into the poolroom in Athens, GA. nearing the end of an open tournament. The two guys were American and they had a friend of theirs that was Phillipino who was looking for action. A friend of mine asked the Phillipino guy where he was from, the guy answered, "Conn...ett..icut". My buddy said "spell Conneticut...." and the guy froze like a deer in headlights. Turned out, it was Ronnie Alcano....

Southpaw
 
Southpaw said:
...the guy answered, "Conn...ett..icut". My buddy said "spell Conneticut...." and the guy froze like a deer in headlights. Turned out, it was Ronnie Alcano....

Southpaw
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I would like to see Connecticut spelled correctly at least once in your post when you are making a joke about someone not being able to spell it correctly...LOL.. Just Kidding.
 
JDB said:
I would like to see Connecticut spelled correctly at least once in your post when you are making a joke about someone not being able to spell it correctly...LOL.. Just Kidding.
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You better be kidding, you missed it too! LOL. I'm not even going to try.:D
That is unless you do spell it Connecticut, them I'm the dummy and sorry.
 
Giveaway?

He bounces off the stool at the bar, darts for your table and asks, "Hey, wanna play some 9 ball?"

...


He says, I haven't played in three months...

but has this super smooth, thumb and forefinger grip, and lucks balls in, just barely...

Once he realizes you aren't falling for his ploy, let's it hang out, a bit...

BTW, this guy, a Honduran, once he knows there's no moolah headed his way, breaks and runs three racks of 9 ball, flawlessly, with a house cue......

Question for you all: how common are players like this guy?

Flex
 
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