Hustling

[metallicane]

I remember a few years ago playing in a pool room downtown this guy approached my to play some cheap one pocket ($20 a rack). I don't usually gamble with people I don't know and I never play one pocket (at least then), but I could always bank. So I said sure we'll play a rack. Well, I won, but I knew he wasn't playing his true speed. He asked to go again, and I said sorry, but I gotta run. He was pissed.

 

[2rgrbn]

I spent 20 years on the road as a shutdown construction worker so we were in a different are about every 3 weeks, it was never necessary to hustle typically I would walk into a bar with cue in hand and someone would say Oh boy looks like we got a hustler, my comment was I'm not a hustler but I am a gambler what do you want to play for. This either led to a game or a phone call to get "the player" and a match. Thinking back it is amazing how many times this exact thing happened.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

What is your moral take on hustling? It's funny how some pool players frown on "knocking someone's action" when you might be trying to keep your friend from being hustled......as if you were doing something wrong......

Hustling in 2008 is a dangerous practice, as people seem not to value a HUMAN LIFE. A Neighbor has a Cosin who hustled the wrong group of people. He was found dead behind a Pool Room out WESt with One in his Heart, One in his Forehead, and a Dollar Bill in his mouth. Think they killer were trying to send a MESSAGE.

HUSTLER BEWARE.

 

[houmatroy]

Hustling in 2008 is a dangerous practice, as people seem not to value a HUMAN LIFE. A Neighbor has a Cosin who hustled the wrong group of people. He was found dead behind a Pool Room out WESt with One in his Heart, One in his Forehead, and a Dollar Bill in his mouth. Think they killer were trying to send a MESSAGE.

Since I no longer travel I will share how I use to do it & knock on wood..never had trouble leaving with the cash..After i would get a few names of potentials..."usually bookies or drug dealers" from a certain area I would bring a pool player/hustler that hasn't been to that area either & we would make camp for a few weeks...You go to the poolhall religiously the same time every night say..6:00pm and if asked you in area for a few weeks on business...They will always send their best player to you wanting to play cheap..$10,$20 a game..maybe $100 dollar sets...We always turn down the action even if it's stealing..once again never asking anyone to gamble but letting them know that you are a gambler & flashing the right people money like when you buying drinks..NEVER ALCOHOL.. you make sure they see you are carrying a large bankroll..in essence the "bait..After a few weeks we would come in way after our normal time...say 11ish and this time we order alcohol including rounds for your newfound friends..Now they are all over you wanting to part the drunks away from their money...like i said...never ever have we asked a single sole to gamble but by this time we have been propositioned plenty...So now they think you're obviously wasted and they are putting the full court press on you..same people that were pretending to be your friend for weeks..wanting to bet even higher..now switching from $100's to $1000's in propositions...Now you let your wingman/road player take a game that was offered & you finally give them action..Once parted with their money they can only blame themselves since we never asked to gamble in the 1st place..they can only blame themselves & their greed..oh & to take the flag off of being a stakehorse with a roadplayer I use to always let the player hold half the bankroll before we made a game..always looked better that we was pooling our resources rather than I staking my agent..Just the way we use to do it & never had any trouble...I have seen it done a thousand times simular to that by others...that was just my way...& we never had trouble leaving with the cash.

 

[swrooster]

Swrooster Non-hustler

Hustling in 2008 is a dangerous practice, as people seem not to value a HUMAN LIFE. A Neighbor has a Cosin who hustled the wrong group of people. He was found dead behind a Pool Room out WESt with One in his Heart, One in his Forehead, and a Dollar Bill in his mouth. Think they killer were trying to send a MESSAGE.

HUSTLER BEWARE.

There is no hustle in high stakes wagering. The only time the term hustler applies is for someone who has a speed in pool scrounging around for the 5 and occasional 10 dollar game from a novice. Much like pan handeling in the median with out the sign. I would take offense to being called a hustler or a con man. However; I hustle every day to work and as often as I can I hustle my butt to the room afterwards to engage the willing.

 

[ShootingArts]

yup, I always just hung the bait out there

I almost always just hung the bait out there. Sometimes I just got someone who genuinely wanted to play a little pool and bets were small if we bet at all. Often I got some would be hustler who cleverly kept raising the bet on poor little me while stalling his butt off. I could see the shift in gears when the bet got where they wanted it before they ever hit the next ball. That was when I started getting a lot of lucky rolls. Almost all couldn't decide if I was lucky or good. Kept the trouble down and the fish biting.

I ran a con hustle that an honest man could have fell for once or twice in my life back when I was very young. Those hustles still leave a bad taste in my mouth. Plucking the would be pluckers doesn't bother me a bit.

Hu

Hustling in 2008 is a dangerous practice, as people seem not to value a HUMAN LIFE. A Neighbor has a Cosin who hustled the wrong group of people. He was found dead behind a Pool Room out WESt with One in his Heart, One in his Forehead, and a Dollar Bill in his mouth. Think they killer were trying to send a MESSAGE.

Since I no longer travel I will share how I use to do it & knock on wood..never had trouble leaving with the cash..After i would get a few names of potentials..."usually bookies or drug dealers" from a certain area I would bring a pool player/hustler that hasn't been to that area either & we would make camp for a few weeks...You go to the poolhall religiously the same time every night say..6:00pm and if asked you in area for a few weeks on business...They will always send their best player to you wanting to play cheap..$10,$20 a game..maybe $100 dollar sets...We always turn down the action even if it's stealing..once again never asking anyone to gamble but letting them know that you are a gambler & flashing the right people money like when you buying drinks..NEVER ALCOHOL.. you make sure they see you are carrying a large bankroll..in essence the "bait..After a few weeks we would come in way after our normal time...say 11ish and this time we order alcohol including rounds for your newfound friends..Now they are all over you wanting to part the drunks away from their money...like i said...never ever have we asked a single sole to gamble but by this time we have been propositioned plenty...So now they think you're obviously wasted and they are putting the full court press on you..same people that were pretending to be your friend for weeks..wanting to bet even higher..now switching from $100's to $1000's in propositions...Now you let your wingman/road player take a game that was offered & you finally give them action..Once parted with their money they can only blame themselves since we never asked to gamble in the 1st place..they can only blame themselves & their greed..oh & to take the flag off of being a stakehorse with a roadplayer I use to always let the player hold half the bankroll before we made a game..always looked better that we was pooling our resources rather than I staking my agent..Just the way we use to do it & never had any trouble...I have seen it done a thousand times simular to that by others...that was just my way...& we never had trouble leaving with the cash.

 

[swrooster]

Flashbacks

Hustling in 2008 is a dangerous practice, as people seem not to value a HUMAN LIFE. A Neighbor has a Cosin who hustled the wrong group of people. He was found dead behind a Pool Room out WESt with One in his Heart, One in his Forehead, and a Dollar Bill in his mouth. Think they killer were trying to send a MESSAGE.

Since I no longer travel I will share how I use to do it & knock on wood..never had trouble leaving with the cash..After i would get a few names of potentials..."usually bookies or drug dealers" from a certain area I would bring a pool player/hustler that hasn't been to that area either & we would make camp for a few weeks...You go to the poolhall religiously the same time every night say..6:00pm and if asked you in area for a few weeks on business...They will always send their best player to you wanting to play cheap..$10,$20 a game..maybe $100 dollar sets...We always turn down the action even if it's stealing..once again never asking anyone to gamble but letting them know that you are a gambler & flashing the right people money like when you buying drinks..NEVER ALCOHOL.. you make sure they see you are carrying a large bankroll..in essence the "bait..After a few weeks we would come in way after our normal time...say 11ish and this time we order alcohol including rounds for your newfound friends..Now they are all over you wanting to part the drunks away from their money...like i said...never ever have we asked a single sole to gamble but by this time we have been propositioned plenty...So now they think you're obviously wasted and they are putting the full court press on you..same people that were pretending to be your friend for weeks..wanting to bet even higher..now switching from $100's to $1000's in propositions...Now you let your wingman/road player take a game that was offered & you finally give them action..Once parted with their money they can only blame themselves since we never asked to gamble in the 1st place..they can only blame themselves & their greed..oh & to take the flag off of being a stakehorse with a roadplayer I use to always let the player hold half the bankroll before we made a game..always looked better that we was pooling our resources rather than I staking my agent..Just the way we use to do it & never had any trouble...I have seen it done a thousand times simular to that by others...that was just my way...& we never had trouble leaving with the cash.

That's not hustlin'- That's making an honest wage for an honest days work.

 

[houmatroy]

I almost always just hung the bait out there. Sometimes I just got someone who genuinely wanted to play a little pool and bets were small if we bet at all. Often I got some would be hustler who cleverly kept raising the bet on poor little me while stalling his butt off. I could see the shift in gears when the bet got where they wanted it before they ever hit the next ball. That was when I started getting a lot of lucky rolls. Almost all couldn't decide if I was lucky or good. Kept the trouble down and the fish biting.


I find it hilarious & quite entertaining to watch 2 players when they both on the stall & they both start gradually having to let their stroke out till finally they both completely off the stall since the seemingly easy action just got tough as nails & both have to play jam up now to get the cash..lol...I know your story was a lil different Hu but it brought back fond memories..

 

[ShootingArts]

Happened pretty often

I find it hilarious & quite entertaining to watch 2 players when they both on the stall & they both start graudually having to let their stroke out till finally they both completely off the stall since the seemingly easy action just got tough as nails & both have to play jam up now to get the cash..lol...I know your story was a lil different Hu but it brought back fond memories..

Happened just that way many a time. Doing most of my gambling within a hundred mile loop of home, playing any better than I had to in able to win about 80%-85% of the time was a bad idea. However, I sometimes tangled with road players. We usually both started off on the stall and the gears just kept going up. People usually forgot after awhile but if a road player or stranger came into one of my usual haunts there was no question who was going to be the local hero to play him. With home field advantage I usually won.

Played a little around Houma/Thibodaux many years ago and a lot around Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and all over Acadiana. My running partner was originally from Saint Martinville so heading that way was pretty much a given from Friday evening to Sunday evening even before I was out of high school. I'm sure you know there was a lot more to appeal to a young man in that direction than pool, but pool financed the good times.

Hu

 

[metallicane]

I remember meeting this guy in Monterey and he was telling me how good he was and about his cue (Jerry McWorter's first pointed cue) etc... He tried getting me to play, but I declined. He said if I was going to be around for awhile, he had his usual Tuesday night mark coming in.

They would play a set of nine ball for a little change and he would either let the guy win or make it close. Then they would play straight pool to 200 for a lot more. He also said he would leave the table from time to time and get a drink and pretend to be hammered. The other guy always thought he had a chance and his opponent always got "lucky" to win.

I stayed that night and it came down exactly like he said. Amazing. He said he would win 200-400 bucks every Tuesday from the same guy.

 

[Scott Lee]

ironman...P.T. Barnum never said anything of the sort. What he did say was, "There's a sucker born every minute...and two to take him"!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Maybe as PT Barnum said, you can't hustle an honest man.

 

[houmatroy]

Best hustle ever !!!

Years ago when I use to travel I was always told that I had to go to Dalton,Ga & that the owner of Shaw industies..the big carpet empire...I think his name was Robert Shaw would donate 15k to 20k to pretty much all the road players...from what i understand he played a lil better than shortstop speed...so I was on the road with Gary A & decided to go after Mr Shaw...WE got there & was informed that Mr Shaw doesn't gamble anymore..cuz Jack cooney had just beat him out of $350,000 playing pool...seems that Jack had been there bout 4 months laying it down...Rented a spot next to the poolhall..even hired a $10 a hr secretary to answer a phone that never rang and played the part of a thriving business owner that loved to gamble...Got to give it to Jack..He was the best & there will never be another to come close to being able to make a small fortune off of others greed...Took Elephant balls to even invest that much money & time into such a plan when at any giving moment somebody coulda come chasing Mr Shaw & recognized Jack & it would have got knocked..so hats off to Jack even though it probally cost us a lil money..lol...then again...If I'd have went when I was 1st told months earlier then Gary & I would have got our piece of the pie as well..lol

 

[grindz]

What is the definition of "hustling".....

Seems like since the movie "The Hustler", hustling was accepted as a way to make money playing pool.... lots of people have said that the movie inspired them to become pool players, and the same for "TCOM".....but again the underlying theme was hustling.....

When I played pool, I am not proud to say I was somewhat of a small-time hustler.....that is, I knew my speed and how to match up for small stakes with a better than 50/50 chance of winning....

There was a time when I thought that many people accepted hustling as not an evil thing but just a way to make money, much like grifters were romanticized in "The Sting".....

Many pool players apparently have no problem trying to hustle people, but there are also those who frown upon it, and say it is stealing....

If you draw a parallel to how Poker is played, bluffing is kinda like hustling too, isn't it?

Seems the common thread is that deception is at play......

What is your moral take on hustling? It's funny how some pool players frown on "knocking someone's action" when you might be trying to keep your friend from being hustled......as if you were doing something wrong......

What my answer is depends on how you define it, but as a 'non-gambler' I find it kind of distasteful anytime someone tries to take advantage of another's lack of knowledge or experience.....

Most distasteful = hustler 'stealing' from a kid
distasteful = hustler robbing a drunk
distasteful = hustler robbing the mentally challenged or lacking
whatever = hustler 'hustling' aware banger that has no clue
Fun to watch = 'hustler' trying to hustle a hustler with eyes wide open

td

 

[grindz]

I can't rep you again yet Hu....

Happened just that way many a time. Doing most of my gambling within a hundred mile loop of home, playing any better than I had to in able to win about 80%-85% of the time was a bad idea. However, I sometimes tangled with road players. We usually both started off on the stall and the gears just kept going up. People usually forgot after awhile but if a road player or stranger came into one of my usual haunts there was no question who was going to be the local hero to play him. With home field advantage I usually won.

Played a little around Houma/Thibodaux many years ago and a lot around Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and all over Acadiana. My running partner was originally from Saint Martinville so heading that way was pretty much a given from Friday evening to Sunday evening even before I was out of high school. I'm sure you know there was a lot more to appeal to a young man in that direction than pool, but pool financed the good times.

Hu

tap, tap.....

but I think, that the stall and the gears story is the perfect fit to help TAR on Fatboy's thread!!! THAT would be fun to watch!!

td

 

[Fatboy]

Seems like since the movie "The Hustler", hustling was accepted as a way to make money playing pool.... lots of people have said that the movie inspired them to become pool players, and the same for "TCOM".....but again the underlying theme was hustling.....

When I played pool, I am not proud to say I was somewhat of a small-time hustler.....that is, I knew my speed and how to match up for small stakes with a better than 50/50 chance of winning....

There was a time when I thought that many people accepted hustling as not an evil thing but just a way to make money, much like grifters were romanticized in "The Sting".....

Many pool players apparently have no problem trying to hustle people, but there are also those who frown upon it, and say it is stealing....

If you draw a parallel to how Poker is played, bluffing is kinda like hustling too, isn't it?

Seems the common thread is that deception is at play......

What is your moral take on hustling? It's funny how some pool players frown on "knocking someone's action" when you might be trying to keep your friend from being hustled......as if you were doing something wrong......

Life is deception, all the PCers dont like it but they never complain about the $$ or where it comes from so long as they get it.

I hustled pool before I could play a lick, I dont anymore because its a waste of time, but I keep my fingers in it to keep sharp.

I love the art of a con, but I NEVER lie to friends, family, business partners its just short sited-never have never will, I also tell the truth about the past, future, how I am etc. I dont exaggerate anything.

When I set up a con its targets are people who I never met and never will. I dont set up harmful things anymore, but in pool its different cause they will take my $$ so I gladly take theirs and yes I have been trapped, it happens.

Gambling is a DIFFERENT topic...

 

[Fatboy]

If everybody followed the rule of NOT playing anyone for money they don't know, no one would get hustled. Most that get hustled are greedy and thinking they have the nuts. In other words they think they are the hustler.

People get hustled every day by car salesmen, auto mechanics, heating and AC, home improvement, and on and on. But when a pool player does it it's horrible. When ever I asked someone to play for a few bucks and they said they never gamble on pool...I don't get mad. I walk away with a little smile thinking, "now that guy is smart". Johnnyt

your right JT!!! but the PCers dont like to see things that way, they mince up a million words to soften the hard cold realitys of life. They explain away and justify things, actions, judgements in a way that makes them settled, better than us con artists and at the end of the day its them just fooling themselves. Look at this thread the old guys say "hell yeah its cool to hustle" and the young guys say "its just not right" i'm genralizing here and hey what ever works I aint mad at no one but I call it pure and sweet,

It will never walk into a pool room and say i'm the best ever, I cant play a lick, but I'd like to try...

 

[houmatroy]

Happened just that way many a time. Doing most of my gambling within a hundred mile loop of home, playing any better than I had to in able to win about 80%-85% of the time was a bad idea. However, I sometimes tangled with road players. We usually both started off on the stall and the gears just kept going up. People usually forgot after awhile but if a road player or stranger came into one of my usual haunts there was no question who was going to be the local hero to play him. With home field advantage I usually won.

Played a little around Houma/Thibodaux many years ago and a lot around Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and all over Acadiana. My running partner was originally from Saint Martinville so heading that way was pretty much a given from Friday evening to Sunday evening even before I was out of high school. I'm sure you know there was a lot more to appeal to a young man in that direction than pool, but pool financed the good times.

Hu

We probally ran into each other or probally gambled against each other in 1 way or another...my name gives it away that I'm from Houma & I've traveled them same roads with locals as well as out of towners..I was a lil smaller back then...that was before i got the fitness craz I reckon..I was 1 of the 1st to bring Jack Hynes around in those days...We made a ton of money but I always hated how he would have the whole poolroom wanting to kick his @ss..99% of the time I would have drag him out in which at the time seemed just in time..I'm sure we had to leave some on the table because of his antics...lol

 

[MRW1949]

Hustling????

I always thought you should play just good enough to win. Let the guy shoot a couple times before you win. It's not much fun for him to just sit and watch you make all the balls, and he will pull up before you get all his money....And then he will call his bubby who plays better than him, and you can get him money too!!!!!!! lol and then maybe he knows someone else...and so on....Till they get someone who can beat you, then you pull up.....WINNER.....

 

[Fatboy]

What my answer is depends on how you define it, but as a 'non-gambler' I find it kind of distasteful anytime someone tries to take advantage of another's lack of knowledge or experience.....

Most distasteful = hustler 'stealing' from a kid
distasteful = hustler robbing a drunk
distasteful = hustler robbing the mentally challenged or lacking
whatever = hustler 'hustling' aware banger that has no clue
Fun to watch = 'hustler' trying to hustle a hustler with eyes wide open

td

i never robbed kids, retards or old people, who couldnt handle themselfs, i have no sympathy for drunks,

I did go against my policy of robbing old people in telemarketing for 2 years and I hate myself for what I did, i talk about it openly and am triple nice to senior citizens, i cant un do the damage i caused but I do good for others now. I hate myself for a few specific things I did it was their greed that prompted them to sending the $$ in, but i tricked them into it and therefore take full responsibility for it.

 

[vagabond]

that I'm from Houma & I've traveled them same roads

Among all the waffle Houses accross USA from Virginia to Arizona and New Mexico waffle House in Houma has the clenest rest rooms.:thumbup: