How about the guy that chalks by standing the cue upright on the floor between his feet, holding the cube against the tip, then spinning the cue by rubbing the side of his shoe back and forth against the butt kind of like starting a fire with a bow-drill technique?
Giveaway Signs of Beginner / Recreational Players
- Thread starter ChrisinNC
- Start date
Some of us learned stuff 50 - 60 years ago that is not cool now. Or we learned it from older players, playing for the cheese, and never thought about it until the fact that it did not make sense occurred to us when we were less impressionable. Then it's just an old habit dies hard thing. Like after using the cube, you are supposed to flick any loose chalk out (into the air onto the floor) and place it gently on the rail blue side down for the next player. Just common courtesy! Well it was, some places, long ago....
About them wussie safeties: before TV changed things, heads-up 9-ball was often played push-out option on every change of turn. Now that makes safety duel a real duel. When, exactly, did BIH rule become common for missing a safe ball, in 8 ball? I first picked up a cue in the back of country grocery stores as a pre-teen, then learned in bars, not pool halls, so maybe it was more prevalent. Though IIUC, 14.1 would have been the game in a pool hall at that time anyway?
Probably everyone who has played with a sneaky has a story or 2 to tell about some guy who was overly convinced by the subterfuge that it was a house stick.
I was the guilty party long long ago in Greenway. In all fairness there were no joint collars or any of the geegaws people put on a stick and still call it a sneaky now. The stick had been cut in half and the original butt and tip ends reused. The owner was watching closely when I picked it up off the table. He was also the builder and was proud to say it passed muster!
Hu
Pool Hand Luke
Well-known member
A long time ago when I played in bars with loud music, I would play "guitar" with my cue to BTO's Takin Care of Business.
Thought I was happenin.
Thought I was happenin.
This thread seems so politically incorrect that, Hire the handicapped
They are fun to watch
Comes to mind.
They are fun to watch
Comes to mind.
I was playing in a bar about seven years ago. They had two tables and one tended to be the more aggressive challenge table and the other was the weaker spill over / recreational table. At one point three of us all had Sneaky Pete’s in the rotation in the main table. Was kinda silly of us because nobody was gambling and nobody was holding back their speed. That realization made me stop shooting with it. No real advantage to it in that case. And you’re asking for it if someone picks it up to shoot thinking it’s a house cue since the idea is that it passably looks like one.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
I am certain I did all of the above and more. I hate to recall how badly I postured around a pool table-- and dear god forbid if there was a female anywhere near. Later, I would shake my head and marvel that I had ever behaved in such a manner. Truth is, if you are not shooting a game and not the room owner, a room full of idiots can provide endless entertainment. Thankfully, I ended up in a few pool halls where I observed and learned everything I needed to know about pool hall etiquette. Like so much else, it is a crying shame what is being lost with the passing of our schools of pool. Left to learn such lessons in a bar, there is little hope for our future cueists.
Intemperate use of talcum powder is my pet peeve.
Intemperate use of talcum powder is my pet peeve.
All these things I'm going to have to take out of my game -- there'll be nothing left. 
Except I do chalk good. 
Except I do chalk good. 1) If there’s 3 players they gravitate to cut-throat instead of leaving an odd man out each rack.
2) In that same group of 3, one of them will be the best player, but is at best the equivalent of an APA SL-3. This player will be arrogant to their core and will be seen giving bad advice to the other 2 players for the duration of the session.
3) You see group of 5 players arguing over made up bar rules. The player who wins the argument will be the one whose uncle has a warped MDF pool table in their basement.
4) The obvious “date night” where the guy is trying to show the girl what to do even though he struggles to run 2 balls, especially when this includes the “let me stand behind you and show you how to shoot” maneuver. Occasionally you get to see this blow up in his face when she’s something like an SL-5 type player in her own right, and can own him.
2) In that same group of 3, one of them will be the best player, but is at best the equivalent of an APA SL-3. This player will be arrogant to their core and will be seen giving bad advice to the other 2 players for the duration of the session.
3) You see group of 5 players arguing over made up bar rules. The player who wins the argument will be the one whose uncle has a warped MDF pool table in their basement.
4) The obvious “date night” where the guy is trying to show the girl what to do even though he struggles to run 2 balls, especially when this includes the “let me stand behind you and show you how to shoot” maneuver. Occasionally you get to see this blow up in his face when she’s something like an SL-5 type player in her own right, and can own him.
Seems like that deserves a title. A few years back you could be called a ChalkMaster with Master chalk!All these things I'm going to have to take out of my game -- there'll be nothing left.
Hu
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
people who take their cue to a bar table...
You get laughed at pretty hard for doing that here. But then I guess Americans have bar tournaments
Saig0n
New member
Here in the US, bars heavily out number pool halls. So the amount of bar tourneys will out number pool hall tourneys. However if you are at a pool bar, nobody will laugh at you. Now if are a hole in the wall bar with one bar box in the corner, yea you're going to get some funny looks if you bring your cue in. These are also the bars you do not want to gamble against the locals in. You won't get the money.people who take their cue to a bar table...
You get laughed at pretty hard for doing that here. But then I guess Americans have bar tournaments
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
I know the culture is very different. I didn't play pool the last time I was in America. Would love to play next time I visit
DeeDeeCues
Well-known member
Ooo, I've got one:
They're probably having more fun than the 'serious' players.
They're probably having more fun than the 'serious' players.
There’s some serious pool that gets played in bars in Texas. Have had several nights out with 4 figures on the line with randos in a bar, when I’m glad to have at least had my sneaky, or even better full case along in the car.people who take their cue to a bar table...
You get laughed at pretty hard for doing that here. But then I guess Americans have bar tournaments
Nobody around here blinks at a guy carrying a case into a one-table bar. But still I usually dip my toe in with a house cue when the time is right to minimize attention.
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
I would love to learn more about American pool culture.
My cue lives in my house, or at the hall in a locker. Wouldn't dream of leaving it in a car!
Here people like to gamble for small amounts for fun, or the light fee. I am sure they do gamble for big money, but I think that is slightly more serious and underground stuff than you'd see in the US (given that it's illegal to partake in any form of gambling here)
BlueRaider
Registered
Holding the cue near the butt cap while also making a bridge that's 6" long
Elevating the cue nearly 45 degrees for no reason
Very fast, erratic practice strokes (which tend to evolve to slower, more controlled, but still ridiculously long practice strokes in more developed beginners)
A wobbly, unorthodox bridge
No pre-shot routine whatsoever, no reliable indicator of when they are about to shoot
Staying in a crouched/hunched over position as they quickly go from shot to shot
Elevating the cue nearly 45 degrees for no reason
Very fast, erratic practice strokes (which tend to evolve to slower, more controlled, but still ridiculously long practice strokes in more developed beginners)
A wobbly, unorthodox bridge
No pre-shot routine whatsoever, no reliable indicator of when they are about to shoot
Staying in a crouched/hunched over position as they quickly go from shot to shot
The first pro pool I saw was on bar tables. Made a very strong impression and I actually like the congestion on the 7 footers to the degree that 9 ball on a 9 footer has lost the magic. My player is an Actionpeople who take their cue to a bar table...
You get laughed at pretty hard for doing that here. But then I guess Americans have bar tournaments
and retailed for under a C when I got it. Goes with me everywhere. (one of three bars these days) 
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
I guess besides the odd-game on YouTube I had watched before, my only experience of pool is here in China. Where the halls that are around are massive, and events are quite popular. There are bar leagues, but like I said, you wouldn't really bring your own cue unless you wanted people to laugh at you or think you were a 'try-hard'The first pro pool I saw was on bar tables. Made a very strong impression and I actually like the congestion on the 7 footers to the degree that 9 ball on a 9 footer has lost the magic. My player is an Action
As for 7-footers, cannot stand it! haha 9ft and 10ft tables are the ones for me. I don't mind a bit of English Pool now and again when I am at home. But don't really enjoy that.
As I mentioned before, I am really intrigued by American attitude to pool, and find it really fun with the hustle/gamble culture. I'd like to experience it first hand sometime!
I see it.
Are you in Taiwan or China? Does the mindset differ?
Toting a cue in a bar certainly depended on the bar. I kept a few old towels or something similar to wrap around or toss over my cue for insulation. I was generally running the AC wide open so the stick was well cooled and would take awhile to get hot. During my gambling years I mostly left the cue at home though. Some places it marked you as a player, some it didn't.
For awhile I practiced on a ratty old nine footer, the only one I knew of for many miles around. I had a special deal with the bar owner so I didn't think it fair to hog the table. A youngster came in with a case about 50% covered with decals and patches. The young man had APA and Tap insignia, a few more. He also had a half dozen or so break and run decals which I found funny.
I puttered around with him in social mode for an hour or so then he wanted to finish with a short set. It was obvious that the plan was to beat me and finish his session on a high note. Nope junior, if it is important to you it is important to me. I started gliding around the table dropping my bridge down and firing within a few seconds of the cue ball stopping. Sometimes I put my bridge down and waited for the cue ball to come to me. He quit me midset! I had to think that case advertised beginner, low intermediate player and it might be fun to get a bunch of decals to pimp out a case.
Hu
For awhile I practiced on a ratty old nine footer, the only one I knew of for many miles around. I had a special deal with the bar owner so I didn't think it fair to hog the table. A youngster came in with a case about 50% covered with decals and patches. The young man had APA and Tap insignia, a few more. He also had a half dozen or so break and run decals which I found funny.
I puttered around with him in social mode for an hour or so then he wanted to finish with a short set. It was obvious that the plan was to beat me and finish his session on a high note. Nope junior, if it is important to you it is important to me. I started gliding around the table dropping my bridge down and firing within a few seconds of the cue ball stopping. Sometimes I put my bridge down and waited for the cue ball to come to me. He quit me midset! I had to think that case advertised beginner, low intermediate player and it might be fun to get a bunch of decals to pimp out a case.
Hu
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