Giving advice to a dumb ass.

[CreeDo]

In those cases I like to say "nah, you're right, you're the better player" with a totally straight face. If the sarcasm doesn't register, I know this person is too dumb to teach.

Explaining stuff like kicks is nice because the physics make sense and you can demonstrate them on the spot... but where I get frustrated is trying to explain risk/reward and odds to people.

Because it's subjective, and every situation is different... you never can just "prove" you're right in a few minutes, they might need to play another year before they get it. Or they might never get it.

Just last week I told my teammate (APA 6, ~75% win rate) that he shouldn't be wasting his time trying length of the table banks, that he had better options in a game of 10ball, and he was selling out every time he tries them.

He argued the full table bank was "easy". I told him I'd pay him for every bank he made over 50%, and said "actually I'd be pretty impressed if you made 30% of them". We set up the same bank and he managed 3 out of 10. But he didn't seem convinced. I know the next time we play, he's gonna take that flyer again.

 

[jersey jer]

This guy should have been happy to have the tip put on in a few minutes instead of having to wait a whole day. Do you have an Hank's bottle water for sale?
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.

the place measureman is talking about was chock full of characters back then. Sadly its no longer in business.

 

[8onthebreak]

In those cases I like to say "nah, you're right, you're the better player" with a totally straight face. If the sarcasm doesn't register, I know this person is too dumb to teach.

Explaining stuff like kicks is nice because the physics make sense and you can demonstrate them on the spot... but where I get frustrated is trying to explain risk/reward and odds to people.

Because it's subjective, and every situation is different... you never can just "prove" you're right in a few minutes, they might need to play another year before they get it. Or they might never get it.

Just last week I told my teammate (APA 6, ~75% win rate) that he shouldn't be wasting his time trying length of the table banks, that he had better options in a game of 10ball, and he was selling out every time he tries them.

He argued the full table bank was "easy". I told him I'd pay him for every bank he made over 50%, and said "actually I'd be pretty impressed if you made 30% of them". We set up the same bank and he managed 3 out of 10. But he didn't seem convinced. I know the next time we play, he's gonna take that flyer again.

I have spent many a night setting up and making a player shoot it 10 to 100 times to prove my point. Everything is about the odds. Some people don't grasp that. They have no left brain. THey lack the anylitical side to weigh odds, risk, payoff and reward.

One time, 10 yrs ago, a team-mate was playing good, but very inconsistent, run 2 racks, then dog easy runout after easy runout...
When I tried to explain that he was consistently shooting at tough patterns, and that there were easy patterns available to him that wouldn't require him to be superman to get out...he explained to me that he is running racks, so he is obviously not wrong.

I then broke, and took the most ridiculous shots, the worst patterns I could find, and ran out on him. ....he smiled, and said, I get it.
Be patient, some people are hands on learners, they gotta see it and touch it to believe it...it's worth being patient, due to their nature, not many people can get thru to them...the ones that DO,...will be remembered by that person forever.

 

[FreeShot]

Best advice I can give a dumbass...

Watch this video below.

 

[Cracktherack]

A few weeks ago at APA Masters I escaped every safety i faced and either safed my opponent back or kicked the ball in. So afterwards a guy asked me some advice on kicks so I started showing him some 2 and 3 rails methods for hitting balls. So the whole time i am showing him this stuff he is standing there telling me why it won't work.

This guy isn't a high enough level to carry my cue case, asks my advice then tells me why it won't work. I wanted to punch him in the face but I resisted.
People are amazing.

I have players ask me to show them how I performed a certain kick or a difficult shot. I explain it and show them how, but the next day it's as if they went through shock therapy and don't remember a thing.

 

[Ghosst]

"When a foolish man hears of the Tao, he laughs out loud."

- Tao Teh Ching

 

[bdorman]

Getting my partner to play safe.

Any of the guys I play with will take a near-impossible shot, even when there's a 100% foolproof, easy safe available. It's like they can't conceive of a shot that doesn't involve a ball going into a pocket.

I tie them up all the time and my partners get BIH as a result. But they never even look for a safe.

 

[measureman]

the place measureman is talking about was chock full of characters back then. Sadly its no longer in business.

The Ball Room closed?
This place was a great room in Toms River NJ. 36 full size gold Crown tables,huge game room and food. It was inside a converted bowling alley and there was room for another 10 or so tables. It was always packed with several hundred people at night and the waiting time for a table was about an hour or more on most nights.
And it had the full range odd characters.
those were good times.

 

[Donny Lutz]

Douchebags

I don't think any league does..

Nor do any rooms..

Well, life in general, really..

Over the years I've seen a number of players banned (or temporarily suspended) for unsportsmanlike conduct, specifically starting arguments for fun and even fistfights.
Then again, I've had owners over-ride the league director and allow the offender to continue playing because they were "big spenders"...

 

[scratchs]

8onthebreak

yep..set the shot up an have them shoot it ten times..then
do it again..repeat unti they understand..some will never..
they're perfectly happy with shooting for chance an out
come.
If some one asks me how I do something..then wants to
debate how I do what I do..I just say..look..I don't know why
it works..or why Joe over there does it..I just know I aim through
there..hit the ob here..an the cue ball there with med speed.
if you don't agree thats okay..I don't know what else to say..
other then go see an instuctor..buy a few books an vids..
an this happens alot...guess I'll quit being so nice..naugh.

 

[3RAILKICK]

Over the years I've seen a number of players banned (or temporarily suspended) for unsportsmanlike conduct, specifically starting arguments for fun and even fistfights.
Then again, I've had owners over-ride the league director and allow the offender to continue playing because they were "big spenders"...

Sometimes a tough call...harmony or pay the rent.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

And they always ask when you are paying the table time...

 

[JuicyGirl]

A few weeks ago at APA Masters I escaped every safety i faced and either safed my opponent back or kicked the ball in. So afterwards a guy asked me some advice on kicks so I started showing him some 2 and 3 rails methods for hitting balls. So the whole time i am showing him this stuff he is standing there telling me why it won't work.

This guy isn't a high enough level to carry my cue case, asks my advice then tells me why it won't work. I wanted to punch him in the face but I resisted.
People are amazing.

Similarly to this, on our APA team we have a player whose an older gentleman, he started his first season last summer and in the matter of just a few weeks he was ranked as NO. 1 in our League. And it never fails, people ask him for coaching advise and then disagree with him. When in actuality it isn't a disagreement, these people are just wrong but don't understand why. I will admit that alternatively, I've met other coaches who are also confronted with this situation and then proceed with another option (with 100% disregard to what they suggested the first time). These are very special people who are very sensitive to what the person posing the question is asking and although they typically don't walk up to the coach and say I don't know what to do here, this is really how they feel and why they are asking you.

Therefore, my feeling is that instead of punching him you could say something like "Here is another option and this is what is going to happen when you do that. However, as the better player between the two of us, I'd suggest you go with this (a or b, a shot is a good shot for a Pro like yourself, however the b shot maybe the one for a lower skill player). Perhaps in not exactly those words, but something that conveys that feeling.

 

[bigshooter]

Similarly to this, on our APA team we have a player whose an older gentleman, he started his first season last summer and in the matter of just a few weeks he was ranked as NO. 1 in our League. And it never fails, people ask him for coaching advise and then disagree with him. When in actuality it isn't a disagreement, these people are just wrong but don't understand why. I will admit that alternatively, I've met other coaches who are also confronted with this situation and then proceed with another option (with 100% disregard to what they suggested the first time). These are very special people who are very sensitive to what the person posing the question is asking and although they typically don't walk up to the coach and say I don't know what to do here, this is really how they feel and why they are asking you.

Therefore, my feeling is that instead of punching him you could say something like "Here is another option and this is what is going to happen when you do that. However, as the better player between the two of us, I'd suggest you go with this (a or b, a shot is a good shot for a Pro like yourself, however the b shot maybe the one for a lower skill player). Perhaps in not exactly those words, but something that conveys that feeling.

I understand what you are saying and I was very kind to the guy even though he is highly annoying. I actually did try and offer him a few alternatives but he is simply unteachable in my opinion.

I will go the ends of the earth to help someone if they really want to learn. I recently kicked a guy up two speeds in a short time. He drives 60 miles to where I live once a week. I coached an APA 3 last night and I paid for the table time plus bought her a Pepsi. (my wife was with me so it's all good) :smile:

It just bothers me when you are trying to give someone solid gold information that took years to figure out and they reject it.

 

[Cdryden]

A few weeks ago at APA Masters I escaped every safety i faced and either safed my opponent back or kicked the ball in. So afterwards a guy asked me some advice on kicks so I started showing him some 2 and 3 rails methods for hitting balls. So the whole time i am showing him this stuff he is standing there telling me why it won't work.

This guy isn't a high enough level to carry my cue case, asks my advice then tells me why it won't work. I wanted to punch him in the face but I resisted.
People are amazing.

I used to work with a guy like this. I was a machinist for years and this guy came up to me one day asking how I make my drill bits last so long on the mill and drill press.

I explained to him that when a drill is ran at the correct speed and feed it optimizes the life of the drill bit. He told me I was wrong, it's how I sharpen my drill bits and that I just didn't want to show him. He said that I was being stingy with my knowledge to keep him beneath me.

So I showed him my "secret" technique for sharpening drill bits and he seemed satisfied, but for some reason he just kept burning them up! I just kept telling him he was sharpening them wrong.

Ignorance is bliss.