This sober “nice guy” talks to his buddy nonstop every time I’m at the table. Discusses the game and what he should have done. I can hear him clearly. Feels unintentional. Occasionally moves his head right before I shoot the key ball. Friend of a bud and feels unintentional, hard to tell if it’s his thing. Both him & his friend stayed in the chair. He’s 640 and this was a short race to 7. He talked the entire set almost nonstop.
How do you handle light sharking?
- Thread starter Mustardeer
- Start date
If he's truly a "nice guy," then politely explaining your concerns should accomplish your mission. If he's not, then find some folks to play with, who have some idea of etiquette, or continue playing with these folks, and "lightly" shark in return..
Either way, good luck.
Some people are so good at sharking I can never tell if it’s intentional
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
"You run your mouth, I run the table. We are not the same."
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
Do it right back at him, just a little louder.
To me, there is no such thing as 'light sharking'. Sharking is sharking.
If my opponent can't win then I'll let it roll if it's a heads up match for $.
If it's a tournament, I'll get a ref.
If it's a sucker, I'll never argue.
Or
I might get up off the shot (not if it's a drunk), look at my opponent and say.
With a Smile.
Is it ok for me to do the same thing to you when your shooting?
Their response will determine my next move, gambling and match play are completely different when this occurs.
So giving the OP a click on which one I'd choose, is similar to wondering what your 6 yr old will do when you tell em, don't do it.
If it's a tournament, I'll get a ref.
If it's a sucker, I'll never argue.
Or
I might get up off the shot (not if it's a drunk), look at my opponent and say.
With a Smile.
Is it ok for me to do the same thing to you when your shooting?
Their response will determine my next move, gambling and match play are completely different when this occurs.
So giving the OP a click on which one I'd choose, is similar to wondering what your 6 yr old will do when you tell em, don't do it.
Agreed. Nothing wrong with a bit of light banter between friends having fun in a recreational setting. But, in a competitive environment IMO it should be a gentleman's game.
Ah yes back in my younger days. Mirror their behavior and have fun messing with them.
These days I've had a change of pace. I don't say much when playing (either shooting or sitting the chair) except for pleasantries at the beginning and end of a match. Basically, when it's my turn, I want to plan what I want to do and then turn off my speech center in my brain while I'm shooting. And, talking to someone (or thinking about what they are saying) turns my speech center back on.
Since there's no shot clock, I just stand at the table and stop playing if someone is constantly trying to shark me while I'm shooting. Especially if it my competitor's friend(s). Then the person trying to shark me will eventually ask, "WTF, why isn't this guy shooting?" I'll just wait in silence until someone else tells them, "He's waiting for YOU to STFU!" Works good.
Back when dinosaurs roamed the planet, you were exposed to sharking, intentional and unintentional? constantly. I'm glad I was able to develop a thick skin towards this early, as I can play under an air raid siren today. Wouldn't want to, but could is all I'm saying. I'm complimentary towards my opponent. Always have been, as I realize the difficulties in playing this game at a certain level.
Unconsciously I have a habit of coming off w 'good shot', or tapping my cue butt on the floor to show my respect for my opponent and the shot I just saw him make. Gonna be harder for me to change this than you to simply accept it. Besides, who doesn't want an 'Atta Boy" after, if they're honest w themselves.
*I've woven compliments into my sharking game over the years and polished this to a fine luster. You leave them thinking your just a nice guy who got lucky that day and got all the rolls.
If you want to be invited back, that is.
Pool halls ain't libraries sports fans.
Get ear buds and turn up the volume. Or ear plugs.
If he's discussing his last shot walk over and join the conversation, but friendly. "Did it look like you could go two rails?"
Explain you're short on sleep and having a hard time concentrating and could they please keep it down when you are down on the shot. "Just when I’m down on the shot."
Scream "Shut the f%×! up!" a few times and get a rep as "touchy" and possibly dangerous.
If he's a young person, play Sinatra and Louis Armstrong on the jukebox. Sing along during his inning.
If he's discussing his last shot walk over and join the conversation, but friendly. "Did it look like you could go two rails?"
Explain you're short on sleep and having a hard time concentrating and could they please keep it down when you are down on the shot. "Just when I’m down on the shot."
Scream "Shut the f%×! up!" a few times and get a rep as "touchy" and possibly dangerous.
If he's a young person, play Sinatra and Louis Armstrong on the jukebox. Sing along during his inning.
''If he's a young person, play Sinatra and Louis Armstrong on the jukebox. Sing along during his inning.''
I like this one, thx bob for the laugh.
bm
I like this one, thx bob for the laugh.
bm
Here's how Uncle Gov handles it.
With heavy sharking.
I try to tell myself it's my problem. Clear my head and go to work. Take the emotion out of it.
There is such a spectrum of distraction tactics that I have no one answer. Other than deal with it in a straight forward and direct manner. By taking it head on I succeed in raising My adrenaline. Guarantee my best shot after the meet.
My latest attempt came at leagues and was so obscene but too early...I had broke and run to the 8 but left myself a very thin cut on the 8. It went to the corner where my opponent sat. He thought he had me timed off my first 7 balls. He didn't know that on a tough thin cut I take a little longer with the fine finger control at the stroke. His hand flew up as though he was hailing a cab. I stood up, looked him in the eye and asked if he was waving at me.
After the appropriate pause to his empty response, I cut the 8 in. My adrenaline was so elevated that after winning the second of the 2 game set, I declined his offered handshake. Only because I didn't remember that was 2 games. Of course he must have assumed. As soon as I was reminded that the set was indeed over I offered my hand and explanation.
My latest attempt came at leagues and was so obscene but too early...I had broke and run to the 8 but left myself a very thin cut on the 8. It went to the corner where my opponent sat. He thought he had me timed off my first 7 balls. He didn't know that on a tough thin cut I take a little longer with the fine finger control at the stroke. His hand flew up as though he was hailing a cab. I stood up, looked him in the eye and asked if he was waving at me.
After the appropriate pause to his empty response, I cut the 8 in. My adrenaline was so elevated that after winning the second of the 2 game set, I declined his offered handshake. Only because I didn't remember that was 2 games. Of course he must have assumed. As soon as I was reminded that the set was indeed over I offered my hand and explanation.