How do you deal with undesirable people?

B

bulldogpool

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When I go practice to my local pool hall, I like to be left alone as I work through very basic drill exercises. So far I noticed the following characters on a more or less regular basis:

  • Someone who claims I'm good and wants to play against me for money (let's call him a hustler)
  • Someone who tells me that my drill approach is stupid and I should instead be doing something else
  • Someone who wants to teach me instead of let me practice on my own (I already have an instructor I pay for lessons)
  • Someone who wants to freeload table time and tries to interrupt my practice to play games against me
  • Someone who will ask me about my experience. And inevitably criticize some aspect of my approach ("oh you bought a way too expensive cue", or "oh you are practicing too few times a week", or "you should play with a house cue", or "oh you should practice breaking".

Basically, I'm never left the hell alone when I go practicing. And some of the characters are, well, colorful and more "intimidating" than my usual crowd. I've been trying to be polite, and I understand that some of these actually have good intentions.

Is this normal? So far I've been trying to be patient and say "thanks, but no thanks" but some of these are persistent and start to hang out while I practice, talking to me and distracting me. It's pretty annoying.

Any suggestions?
 
bulldogpool said:
When I go practice to my local pool hall, I like to be left alone as I work through very basic drill exercises. So far I noticed the following characters on a more or less regular basis:

  • Someone who claims I'm good and wants to play against me for money (let's call him a hustler)
  • Someone who tells me that my drill approach is stupid and I should instead be doing something else
  • Someone who wants to teach me instead of let me practice on my own (I already have an instructor I pay for lessons)
  • Someone who wants to freeload table time and tries to interrupt my practice to play games against me
  • Someone who will ask me about my experience. And inevitably criticize some aspect of my approach ("oh you bought a way too expensive cue", or "oh you are practicing too few times a week", or "you should play with a house cue", or "oh you should practice breaking".

Basically, I'm never left the hell alone when I go practicing. And some of the characters are, well, colorful and more "intimidating" than my usual crowd. I've been trying to be polite, and I understand that some of these actually have good intentions.

Is this normal? So far I've been trying to be patient and say "thanks, but no thanks" but some of these are persistent and start to hang out while I practice, talking to me and distracting me. It's pretty annoying.

Any suggestions?
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Yeah, Buy your own table and don't go to the pool rooms. Don't you know that pool players are nothing but trouble? :)
 
bulldogpool said:
When I go practice to my local pool hall, I like to be left alone as I work through very basic drill exercises. So far I noticed the following characters on a more or less regular basis:

  • Someone who claims I'm good and wants to play against me for money (let's call him a hustler)
  • Someone who tells me that my drill approach is stupid and I should instead be doing something else
  • Someone who wants to teach me instead of let me practice on my own (I already have an instructor I pay for lessons)
  • Someone who wants to freeload table time and tries to interrupt my practice to play games against me
  • Someone who will ask me about my experience. And inevitably criticize some aspect of my approach ("oh you bought a way too expensive cue", or "oh you are practicing too few times a week", or "you should play with a house cue", or "oh you should practice breaking".

Basically, I'm never left the hell alone when I go practicing. And some of the characters are, well, colorful and more "intimidating" than my usual crowd. I've been trying to be polite, and I understand that some of these actually have good intentions.

Is this normal? So far I've been trying to be patient and say "thanks, but no thanks" but some of these are persistent and start to hang out while I practice, talking to me and distracting me. It's pretty annoying.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

My best line was, iam broke!

That what i would tell a pool player that wanted to gamble with me, if i didnt want to fool with him.

Just saying i dont want to play or just NO, never works with some people, tell them you are broke and watch how fast they leave you alone!
 
Start asking all of them if you can "hold$20"

bulldogpool said:
When I go practice to my local pool hall, I like to be left alone as I work through very basic drill exercises. So far I noticed the following characters on a more or less regular basis:

  • Someone who claims I'm good and wants to play against me for money (let's call him a hustler)
  • Someone who tells me that my drill approach is stupid and I should instead be doing something else
  • Someone who wants to teach me instead of let me practice on my own (I already have an instructor I pay for lessons)
  • Someone who wants to freeload table time and tries to interrupt my practice to play games against me
  • Someone who will ask me about my experience. And inevitably criticize some aspect of my approach ("oh you bought a way too expensive cue", or "oh you are practicing too few times a week", or "you should play with a house cue", or "oh you should practice breaking".

Basically, I'm never left the hell alone when I go practicing. And some of the characters are, well, colorful and more "intimidating" than my usual crowd. I've been trying to be polite, and I understand that some of these actually have good intentions.

Is this normal? So far I've been trying to be patient and say "thanks, but no thanks" but some of these are persistent and start to hang out while I practice, talking to me and distracting me. It's pretty annoying.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Start asking all of them if you can "hold$20":thumbup:....before long your "problem people" will seem to vanish. ;)
 
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Tell them you will only play if you get the 1-9 and the break. See what nut job goes for that bet.
 
bulldogpool said:
When I go practice to my local pool hall, I like to be left alone as I work through very basic drill exercises. So far I noticed the following characters on a more or less regular basis:

  • Someone who claims I'm good and wants to play against me for money (let's call him a hustler)
  • Someone who tells me that my drill approach is stupid and I should instead be doing something else
  • Someone who wants to teach me instead of let me practice on my own (I already have an instructor I pay for lessons)
  • Someone who wants to freeload table time and tries to interrupt my practice to play games against me
  • Someone who will ask me about my experience. And inevitably criticize some aspect of my approach ("oh you bought a way too expensive cue", or "oh you are practicing too few times a week", or "you should play with a house cue", or "oh you should practice breaking".

Basically, I'm never left the hell alone when I go practicing. And some of the characters are, well, colorful and more "intimidating" than my usual crowd. I've been trying to be polite, and I understand that some of these actually have good intentions.

Is this normal? So far I've been trying to be patient and say "thanks, but no thanks" but some of these are persistent and start to hang out while I practice, talking to me and distracting me. It's pretty annoying.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...





Is this normal? So far I've been trying to be patient and say "thanks, but no thanks" but some of these are persistent and start to hang out while I practice, talking to me and distracting me. It's pretty annoying.


Yes , seems normal but more of a problem in the daytime . At least in the past . Usually not a problem if you are a good player. If there is an upscale poolroom , at least more up than your current room go there , may be worth the extra money . Just a thought , but many bars and taverns have little used bar tables , maybe you can find one where you can work a little in peace on a smaller scale .
 
bulldogpool said:
When I go practice to my local pool hall, I like to be left alone as I work through very basic drill exercises. So far I noticed the following characters on a more or less regular basis:

  • Someone who claims I'm good and wants to play against me for money (let's call him a hustler)
  • Someone who tells me that my drill approach is stupid and I should instead be doing something else
  • Someone who wants to teach me instead of let me practice on my own (I already have an instructor I pay for lessons)
  • Someone who wants to freeload table time and tries to interrupt my practice to play games against me
  • Someone who will ask me about my experience. And inevitably criticize some aspect of my approach ("oh you bought a way too expensive cue", or "oh you are practicing too few times a week", or "you should play with a house cue", or "oh you should practice breaking".

Basically, I'm never left the hell alone when I go practicing. And some of the characters are, well, colorful and more "intimidating" than my usual crowd. I've been trying to be polite, and I understand that some of these actually have good intentions.

Is this normal? So far I've been trying to be patient and say "thanks, but no thanks" but some of these are persistent and start to hang out while I practice, talking to me and distracting me. It's pretty annoying.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Man,
Where did you say you play pool at? I would like to visit your pool hall.

Oh, I have an answer for you on this problem! It is so simple, just ask them what they are giving up. Tel them you need the 5 and the break to play them. End of the crowd hanging around. Also tell them that you are getting in stroke to play Scott Icey Lock Frost even!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Va pretty much has it covered.

For the Hang Arounds. Get up off your shot, look around and say: "Anything else?" Then wait for them to get the hint and leave.
 
Headphones work sometimes. If people are looking to gamble I just tell them I'm way to out of stroke to gamble.

Do not let anybody if your getting lesson s stick with it , don't let those turds stop you from how you are practicing
 
The hustler guy is sometimes a problem even if you're shooting with a buddy.
Criticising your drills or approach or cue seems inane... I'd never want to discourage anyone who is obviously
trying to improve their game.

If someone offers to teach you, you may want to listen.
They could honestly have something to offer you, and the reason they singled you out to share it...
is because they see you're someone who is serious and dedicated to improvement.
Don't let pride get in the way of an opportunity to improve. There will always be hours to run drills.

You should also think about easing up on the 'freeloaders'.
Many times I've gone to a pool hall and been bored, wishing there were someone hitting balls alone
who I could ask them for a game. If I do ask, it's not for free time, it's because I want to play some racks
and not just sit there hitting balls alone. They may even think you wish for the same thing and you're
only practicing because nobody's available to shoot.

All of this is pretty normal in some places, but there are other places where someone can shoot alone for hours
without being approached. Tends to be in the more serious places with good equipment. I also find fewer people
approach me during the daytime and on weekdays, which is when they have cheap table time specials.
 
Creedo, makes some very good points, very different perspective, yes you want to be left to practice what you are working on with your instructor. A large part of improving in pool is knowledge above and beyond the mechanics. As you progress with your game, when people offer their input you will be able to filter others ideas and suggestions down to things that are helpful and things to dismiss.
 
The poolroom generally isn't the place to get any pats on the back for working hard or really trying to improve your game so you will always find people who are going to try to get in your head or discourage you from improving. It will all either help thicken your skin or drive you out of the poolroom completely. Sooner or later you will figure out what you are comfortable with in regards to handling those people who bug on you.

If you can develp good repertoire with some of the good players and avoid the superiority attitude that too many people get when they decide they want to improve, get lessons, new equipment, etc. then you could be fine in the end. Just remember that there are a lot of different types of people, especially the odd types, that frequent poolrooms so taking care with how you brush someone off could be important.
 
These don't happen to me, except that I get challenges sometimes and the people can be loud and distracting.
To avoid this I go to the pool hall earlier in the morning when there aren't any people. After an hour or two they only start to show up. If I get an unwanted challenge I just say: "Sorry, I'm practicing.".
 
RRfireblade said:
Two words.

Well....an anacronym and a word....plural (perhaps).

MP3 & Headphones.
Click to expand...

+1. This is the easiest way to avoid anyone bothering you...unless they're REALLY determined to annoy you. Frankly, I'm rarely bothered when practicing. If someone approaches me to match up, I just tell them I don't gamble--shuts them right down. If you want action, then you need to practice somewhere else...no sense in giving the World a scouting report on you.
 
Same thing happens to me.

I can usually get maybe 20 minutes in if I hurry before I start getting pestered. I only have time to do it on one weekend day and certainly can't do it on league night.

They don't approach me to gamble, they just want to play.

Short of hanging "Do Not Disturb" signs on the table and around my neck, I'm at the point where I am just going to be rude.

I will admit that yesterday was a little different since one of my league teammates joined me. I knew he would be there at some point so I didn't mind getting in that 20 minutes and then settle into playing.
 
I don't have a problem with someone asking for a match at a pool hall. Many times I go there just for that ,,and I think others do this also.

If you have everyone in the place coming up and chit chatting with you,,,then maybe you are sending out some body lingo inviting it!!! lol

Avoid eye contact if you want to be left alone. It has nothing to do with a pool hall or pool. Just humane nature possibly. Does this happen everywhere you go? Your just too likeable?? lol

On the other hand I have had some similar things happen at a pool hall. But ,,,not often,,you just have to get over it.

I had a guy once come up and start talking to me like we were long lost buds!! I didn't know him from Adam. Since he was there I asked if he wanted to play a few games.
Big mistake!! He took forever on each shot and wouldn't quit telling me stories about how great his "close" friend ,champion players are. Started dropping names from all over the country. LMAO,,,it was humorous for about a minute!!
I ended telling him to go away and I wanted to practice by myself.
IT happens.
 
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