Handicapping for friends/casual players: Need Advice

twilight

twilight

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have some friends and a girlfriend who really want to play pool with me. However it is no longer as much fun for them when I win. I need a handicapping system that will let me play my game and let them win games without making it too easy. In Nine ball, I can give them the 6 ball and still win 50% not because I'm great, but because they are still so new. I can run a rack occasionally but I say I average 5 ball runs. This however means my friends will get on the 6 and make one shot and win. They actually hate this. They don't think it's challenging for them to make one ball to win. In 8 ball, spotting them balls seems only to help me as the table gets cleared.
Again I'm looking to play my game too. As for now the only handicap that no one has trouble with is: I follow the foul rules normally (i.e. no rail or touch object ball with clothing) They take no fouls except for scratches and balls jumped off table.
 
You know, you don't have to play like $1000 is on the line every single game. You can just bang around and have fun. That is unless your friends want you to play your best game all the time.

Typically I will mess around when I am playing with friends. I chat while Im at the the table and even down the shot, I go for tough banks or ridiculous kick shots because it doesn't matter if I miss. However don't get me wrong, if they win too much I buckle down and play a little harder.

Since you are playing recreationally and you are not playing sets its hard to properly handicap 8 ball. The only thing I could think of is play something like 3 or 4 no count. If you run less than 3 or 4 you re-spot the balls you potted. The only way for your balls to stay down is if you run 3 or 4 or more.
 
Try playing left (or opposite) handed. You will return to the world of beginner while developing a new and useful skill. You can al so go one handed.

I play 1handed and hold the baby when I play me wife...she still has no chance, but I love her anyway!
 
When I play my GF,in 9-ball, she picks 3 balls during the rack that I have to bank to continue the run. In 8-ball, I'm only allowed 3 pockets.
 
When I play my wife 8 ball, I add these rules. These can be adjusted to allow anyone to win.

After the break (regardless of who has broken or if anything was made or who shoots next) she gets to pick which balls she wants.

I have to make my balls in rotation.

If I make two in a row, my turn is over.

I have to bank the 8 ball.
 
Having to bank or kick all your shots not only makes it a more balanced match, it also gives you the chance to work on a critical part of your game.
Steve
 
I think going lefty is good. Or how about you have to bank every ball. It seems to irritate my friends when I play them one handed. They take it like I'm trying to show off or something. Funny thing is if I don't play my normal game against them, they say I'm not trying and get pissed. Sometimes you just can't win with friends no matter what....lol Just have fun!


oops, didn't see someone already suggested banks....lol
 
You can play Rotation with a handicap. You play Rotation (15 balls, have to shoot in order, each ball is worth its number, play to 61 points) where the weaker player doesn't have to shoot them in order. At the beginning of the rack, you won't have a good shot most of the time, and when you do, it's a low-value ball, whereas they can be sinking the 15 or 14 on their first turn.

-Andrew
 
Black-Balled said:
Try playing left (or opposite) handed. You will return to the world of beginner while developing a new and useful skill. You can al so go one handed.

I play 1handed and hold the baby when I play me wife...she still has no chance, but I love her anyway!
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In a pool hall, one handed could be embarrasing for the people you're playing against, and it's not nearly as useful a skill as learning to shoot off-handed, so I'd go with the off hand.

You can also play "bank in, bank out" 8-ball: you have to bank your first and last ball (your ball before the 8 -- spot it if you slop it in). Or just play that you have to bank the 8; if you still win, then play 2+ rails on the 8.

Cory
 
You could give them 2 turns to your one. That would more than likely give them the advantage so you'd still get to play competative.
 
twilight said:
I have some friends and a girlfriend who really want to play pool with me. However it is no longer as much fun for them when I win. I need a handicapping system [...]
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If you play one-handed or left handed or blindfolded with a broomstick or whatever, then you insult your friends.

If you require yourself to make more balls to win, then your friends are watching you shoot more often than not.

I think you should try what someone else suggested--simply play 8-ball requiring that YOU pot your balls in rotation order. I'd just try that for a while and see what happens.

mike page
fargo
 
I play alot of visitors to my house this way:

We play nine ball with me playing regular and they get to play an 8ball version of nineball. Basically they get to shoot any ball in any order but they have to make the 9 last and cannot use the 9 in combinations. What I find is that its not about winning as much as my visitors are given alot more chances to shoot and make balls. I can still play all out to win. I also have played I bank all balls, or I play opposite handed or a bunch of other ways, but in the end I really want to play regular style and try to run out every time.

I disagree with the whole, you dont have to play like its for $1000 a game against house guests. If i cannot play hard and try to run out every time, I might as well not even play and just watch dvds with my houseguests instead.

There is a minimum level of skill I think your guests need to play against to even have fun when handicapping it. If I am playing someone who cant even hold a cue and is just as likely to miss the cueball entirely as make a hanger, to me I would rather not even play. Its no competition and the visitor to my house feels like they are getting beat up on.
 
Cameron Smith said:
You know, you don't have to play like $1000 is on the line every single game. You can just bang around and have fun. [...]
[...]
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Hmmm. I'm really not sure I can...

mike page
fargo
 
Black-Balled said:
Try playing left (or opposite) handed. You will return to the world of beginner while developing a new and useful skill. You can al so go one handed.
Click to expand...

I like to do this, although sometimes people find it is condescending. If I go to bars I play left handed from the start so no-one knows. The regulars know not say anything, and it makes it fun for me. It puts me back at APA SL5 speed, and on a par with social players.
 
uwate said:
I play alot of visitors to my house this way:

We play nine ball with me playing regular and they get to play an 8ball version of nineball. Basically they get to shoot any ball in any order but they have to make the 9 last and cannot use the 9 in combinations. [...]
Click to expand...

That's interesting. It brings to mind a whole family of spots.

---Play nine ball where the weaker player may shoot 1-8 in any order (like you do.

---Play nine ball where the weaker must shoot either at the lowest numbered ball or the next one. That is, if he's on the two, he may shoot either the two or the three.

---Play nine ball where one ball is "wild" for the weaker player--not wild to win, but just wild to hit. So if I get the five ball, I may always hit either the low-numbered ball or the five ball, etc. The "two ball" would be a relatively small spot, and the "eight ball" would be a relatively big spot.

mike page
fargo
 
When I play with friends that don't play often, I hold myself to bar rules (call every tiny detail of the shot) while allowing them to play by normal rules where only the ball and pocket need to be called. Sometimes I don't even make them call shots.
 
hobokenapa said:
I like to do this, although sometimes people find it is condescending. If I go to bars I play left handed from the start so no-one knows. The regulars know not say anything, and it makes it fun for me. It puts me back at APA SL5 speed, and on a par with social players.
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???

I don't think I've ever met a social player at APA SL5 speed, unless you and I have a very different definition of "social player" or "APA SL5". The best social players (people who don't play in leagues, tournaments, or for any amount of money more than a few dollars or a drink) I've seen are either string 3's or very weak 4's, in my estimation.

-Andrew
 
Black-Balled said:
Try playing left (or opposite) handed.
Click to expand...

When my girlfriend first started playing pool, I beat her pretty consistently. We're both very competitive, and she hates losing, but would have hated anything condescending even more (eg, me having to bank out, etc).

One solution she came up with was for *both* of us to play left handed. As she's ambidextrous, that was a severe handicap for me- but the games were much more even after that.

Of course now she's much more skilled, and beats me more often than I beat her. And I still can't shoot left handed.
 
Great advice guys I love the suggestions. I must say that it is very hard for me to not be competitive. The same can be said for my friends and girlfriend. I guess that's why we're all friends. Left handed wouldn't work as I have limited ambidexterity. I'm right handed but I can Kickbox and play basketball southpaw. The rotation options were great. I especially liked giving 2 shots to my one especially for on of my friends who is only 1 month into the game. Banking the last ball?!?! Why did I not think of that... genius! I could use help in banking.
 
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