Headphones

Flakeandrun

Flakeandrun

Well-known member
Touched on this previously in another thread, but want to approach with a little more curiousity.

I personally play very often (90% of the time at least) with headphones in; casual, tournament and petty gambling (in the couple of times I've played for bigger money, I have not, and that was because I was told not to by the person who set up the games - played three games that are more than pocket money now. Not pursuing them, but still feel happy to take or leave what comes at me. Didn't affect my comfort as much as it has in other times, and I attribute that to the extra adrenaline and just generally 'having bigger fish to fry')

Part of the original reason was language barrier, and it just became habit. I can play without them, but more often than not it is more comfortable to stick Spotify on shuffle and have at it. Are there any well known players who prefer to compete with headphones in? I guess it's not illegal in tournament play (given that SVB can turn off his hearing aids, or Earl can wear earmuffs lol). or is it something that is illegal in tournament play, and exceptions made at the discretion of TDs?

More importantly in this thread. What are the jams that have you feeling like you could clean the table?

I've a couple of songs that have found their way onto both my practice and matchplay playlists:

* The Kills - Future starts slow
* Seb - Fuck it I'm the man
* PawPaw Rod - Hit em' where it hurts
* Tom T. Hall - Faster Horses
* Dinosaur Jr. - The Wagon
* Billy Fury - Wondrous place
* Rain radio/block noise - 079
* Hyphen - 3 pound pints

Do you play with headphones in? In what environment? What gets you off?
 
I practice with earphones on 80%+ of the time, and usually use them in tournaments if they are allowed. Helps me stay focused and be more relaxed. Never had anyone have any issues with me using them, although I'm not at the level where I am playing in major tournaments for thousands of dollars, where I imagine there might be tighter rules.
 
Oikawa said:
I practice with earphones on 80%+ of the time, and usually use them in tournaments if they are allowed. Helps me stay focused and be more relaxed. Never had anyone have any issues with me using them, although I'm not at the level where I am playing in major tournaments for thousands of dollars, where I imagine there might be tighter rules.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm similar, It's just become something I am comfortable with. I was just curious if there was any specific ruling against them in bigger events (MR, DCC, WPA stuff etc)
What tunes are you clearing the table to?
 
Flakeandrun said:
Touched on this previously in another thread, but want to approach with a little more curiousity.

I personally play very often (90% of the time at least) with headphones in; casual, tournament and petty gambling (in the couple of times I've played for bigger money, I have not, and that was because I was told not to by the person who set up the games - played three games that are more than pocket money now. Not pursuing them, but still feel happy to take or leave what comes at me. Didn't affect my comfort as much as it has in other times, and I attribute that to the extra adrenaline and just generally 'having bigger fish to fry')

Part of the original reason was language barrier, and it just became habit. I can play without them, but more often than not it is more comfortable to stick Spotify on shuffle and have at it. Are there any well known players who prefer to compete with headphones in? I guess it's not illegal in tournament play (given that SVB can turn off his hearing aids, or Earl can wear earmuffs lol). or is it something that is illegal in tournament play, and exceptions made at the discretion of TDs?

More importantly in this thread. What are the jams that have you feeling like you could clean the table?

I've a couple of songs that have found their way onto both my practice and matchplay playlists:

* The Kills - Future starts slow
* Seb - Fuck it I'm the man
* PawPaw Rod - Hit em' where it hurts
* Tom T. Hall - Faster Horses
* Dinosaur Jr. - The Wagon
* Billy Fury - Wondrous place
* Rain radio/block noise - 079
* Hyphen - 3 pound pints

Do you play with headphones in? In what environment? What gets you off?
Click to expand...
Man where you gambling at , I might wanna play you some
 
I always figure if someone has headphones in they don’t want to be bothered. I wouldn’t expect someone to wear them when we played, but I’m not gonna make a deal out of it.

Man you have some eclectic tastes. Thanks for the tunes; be sure to check them out.

Depends on my mood. I’ve always been a little bit of a spaz, so I have to be careful not to get to amped up.

If I don’t care aboot that:

Clutch: Subtle Hustle
Alex Bevan: Skinny
Parliament Funkadelic: Bop Gun or Super Stupid
Killswitch Engage: Unleashed
Violent Femmes: Kiss Off (gotta be the live one)
Fire from the Gods: Excuse Me
Ekoostik Hookah: Lady Vanilla (gotta be the live one from Sharp in the Flats)
Pantera: Shedding Skin
Nothing More: Fade in Fade out
Thin Lizzy: The Emerald
Bob Marley: Redemption Song
Greensky Bkuegrass: Past my Prime
Hugo’s version of: 99 Problems
Cypress Hill: Spark Another ‘Owl
The Music Man play: Trouble in River City
Anything by Bloodhound Gang

If I’m trying to zone out or wind down:

Neil Young: Cortez the Killer
Tool: Eulogy
Funkadelic: Maggot Brain
Robin Trower: Bridge of Sighs
Blue Oyster Cult: I Love the Night
Allman Brothers: Little Martha
Steeldrivers: Where Rainbows Never Die
Pink Floyd: Lost for Words or Is there Anybody Out There
Pantera or Black Sabbath: Planet Caravan
Andy McKee: For my Father
Uncle Lucius: Keep the Wolves Away
Aaron Lewis: Everybody Talks to God
Alice In Chains: Nutshell
Corey Smith: 21
Clapton’s version of: Malted Milk
Sports talk radio
 
Last edited:
bpeacock said:
I have never played with headphones in... But I grew up playing in bars so there is a type of music that I listen to when I play pool. My brother in law and I created this playlist.

open.spotify.com

Shooting pool

Playlist · Williambpeacock · 141 items · 6 saves
open.spotify.com open.spotify.com
Click to expand...
Oh, hell yeah! My oldest just got us a family membership to Spotify for Christmas. I’ll be jamming to that. Thanks!
 
VarmintKong said:
I always figure if someone has headphones in they don’t want to be bothered. I wouldn’t expect someone to wear them when we played, but I’m not gonna make a deal out of it.
Click to expand...
It did take me a while to get over feeling rude, but when the language barrier is involved (and taking into account general cultural differences on politeness and the perception of it), I'm fine with it now. If someone is yelling across the room through your shot, or generally behaving in ways that are not 'sharking' but just accepted. I'm going to do my own thing too. I take them out to chat, I don't have them glued in through the set. Just more time with them in than out.
VarmintKong said:
Man you have some eclectic tastes. Thanks for the tunes; be sure to check them out.
Click to expand...
Grew up lucky enough to obtain a love for any and all music I fancied. Spent a lot of time grounded, pretending to be a radio DJ in my room lol
VarmintKong said:
If I don’t care aboot that:

Clutch: Subtle Hustle
Alex Bevan: Skinny
Parliament Funkadelic: Bop Gun or Super Stupid
Killswitch Engage: Unleashed
Violent Femmes: Kiss Off (gotta be the live one)
Fire from the Gods: Excuse Me
Ekoostik Hookah: Lady Vanilla (gotta be the live one from Sharp in the Flats)
Pantera: Shedding Skin
Nothing More: Fade in Fade out
Thin Lizzy: The Emerald
Bob Marley: Redemption Song
Greensky Bkuegrass: Past my Prime
Hugo’s version of: 99 Problems
Cypress Hill: Spark Another ‘Owl
The Music Man play: Trouble in River City
Anything by Bloodhound Gang

If I’m trying to zone out or wind down:

Neil Young: Cortez the Killer
Tool: Eulogy
Funkadelic: Maggot Brain
Robin Trower: Bridge of Sighs
Blue Oyster Cult: I Love the Night
Allman Brothers: Little Martha
Steeldrivers: Where Rainbows Never Die
Pink Floyd: Lost for Words or Is there Anybody Out There
Pantera or Black Sabbath: Planet Caravan
Andy McKee: For my Father
Uncle Lucius: Keep the Wolves Away
Aaron Lewis: Everybody Talks to God
Alice In Chains: Nutshell
Corey Smith: 21
Clapton’s version of: Malted Milk
Sports talk radio
Click to expand...
There's some bangers in this list! That's what I'm talking about. Thanks for the share!
 
Last edited:
bpeacock said:
I have never played with headphones in... But I grew up playing in bars so there is a type of music that I listen to when I play pool. My brother in law and I created this playlist.

open.spotify.com

Shooting pool

Playlist · Williambpeacock · 141 items · 6 saves
open.spotify.com open.spotify.com
Click to expand...
Will give this a listen when I am not in an office full of people! Thanks for sharing, looks like some great jams on there.
 
Flakeandrun said:
Yeah, I'm similar, It's just become something I am comfortable with. I was just curious if there was any specific ruling against them in bigger events (MR, DCC, WPA stuff etc)
What tunes are you clearing the table to?
Click to expand...

headphones are not allowed in the big time events. the reason i think is due to the risk for coaching. i think some have looser rules, maybe DCC allow them
 
I like wearing headphones as well, and do so when I practice alone. I know in the states they are banned in most leagues and tournaments because of the potential for coaching.

In netherlands its considered an antisocial and dick move, no one will stop you from doing it, but everyone will look down on you, and people are usually told so at some point, (love the dutch directness)and then stop wearing them. The general attitude is none of us are pros, it's a social thing at the end of the day and headphones take away from that.

When I practice it's usually Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nick cave, Leonard Cohen, maybe some Pogues.

If I want to be a bit more amped up switch it to crass, subhumans, krs1, or any other old school punk or hiphop.

I use bone conducting headphones tho, as I don't like to not hear my surroundings
 
I haven’t tried it before but I’ve been tempted lately. I play in a Monday night 8 ball league and I’ve been noticing how much the music selection can effect me. Not so much negatively, I can tune out what I don’t like okay, but when something comes on that I like and is particularly mellow it chills me out on a great way.

This week they had some Otis Redding going at one point and that just put me in a really nice calm frame of mind when I stepped to the table.
 
Never wear them and I live for the moments wherein I get to enjoy watching someone suffer a loss or BIH because of their use. Earphones are the fidget spinner for the pool players.
 
bpeacock said:
I have never played with headphones in... But I grew up playing in bars so there is a type of music that I listen to when I play pool. My brother in law and I created this playlist.

open.spotify.com

Shooting pool

Playlist · Williambpeacock · 141 items · 6 saves
open.spotify.com open.spotify.com
Click to expand...
Great list! I added it to my library - thank you.
 
I played someone in a tournament who had them in. I called 2 fouls 3 times and then when I got the third and started re racking, he said I hadn’t told him.
So I would play with just 1 in, to have your own music but also be fully interacted with the opponent.
 
Monti said:
I played someone in a tournament who had them in. I called 2 fouls 3 times and then when I got the third and started re racking, he said I hadn’t told him.
So I would play with just 1 in, to have your own music but also be fully interacted with the opponent.
Click to expand...
...and it's these situations that drive me nuts when it comes to ear phones. Yes, it's the responsibility of the opponent to inform the other player that they are on 2 fouls before they shoot. However that shouldn't mean I need to do jumping jacks in their face to get their attention to do so.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top