John/Jane Q. Public and Pool

mchnhed said:
Why does it have to be "he" that wants or needs to......
Maybe since he is the new person, he feels intimidated by "those real pool players".
Maybe since he's the new one, someone who is a regular (you) should be the one to approach him.
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I was responding to your question, "How does he approach "Those Real Players" over there and ask for a game & suggestions to help him improve?"

And on a personal level, I do recall sending you a an "If you'd like to meet and spar some, just send me a PM" PM, since you're a SoCal player. In case "he" == you. LOL
 
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bral said:
I was responding to your question, "How does he approach "Those Real Players" over there and ask for a game & suggestions to help him improve?"
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Sorry bral to judge & jump so quickly.
You are correct that the new person can take a chance and approach the regulars.
But I still feel that Real Pool Players should be more supportive towards beginners.
 
mchnhed said:
Sorry bral to judge & jump so quickly.
You are correct that the new person can take a chance and approach the regulars.
But I still feel that Real Pool Players should be more supportive towards beginners.
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All the new guy has to do is offer to pay money for lessons to the one he thinks is the best in the pool room. Pool players respond quickly to offers of ca$h.
When I was 16, my dad paid a state champion to give me lessons on Saturday mornings and I was taught every trap, hustle, and scheme, pool players ever dreamed up.
In addition to learning a straight consistent stroke and how to play most position using high, low, and center hits on the cueball without any spin.
That was a very good start.
Keep on truckin'
:thumbup:
 
Maybe you should stop telling everyone how they should be?

Let the friggin guy hit some damn balls. He knew what he was comin thru the door for...ad is wasnt to be hased by a poolchump.

mchnhed said:
***Maybe the Regulars in the Pool Room should get past their feelings of superiority to beginners and approach the new person in the room.

The Noob doen't feel entitled he feels intimidated.

If we can ever find the answers to these questions Pool might have a chance to grow and survive.
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I believe this is possibly another poolchump alias...

Low500 said:
All the new guy has to do is offer to pay money for lessons to the one he thinks is the best in the pool room. Pool players respond quickly to offers of ca$h.
When I was 16, my dad paid a state champion to give me lessons on Saturday mornings and I was taught every trap, hustle, and scheme, pool players ever dreamed up.
In addition to learning a straight consistent stroke and how to play most position using high, low, and center hits on the cueball without any spin.
That was a very good start.
Keep on truckin'
:thumbup:
Click to expand...
 
mchnhed said:
***Maybe the Regulars in the Pool Room should get past their feelings of superiority to beginners and approach the new person in the room.

The Noob doen't feel entitled he feels intimidated.

If we can ever find the answers to these questions Pool might have a chance to grow and survive.
Click to expand...

I would certainly be known as a regular. However, I go in 1-2 times a week and if I'm there it's because I'm playing league, matching up, or working on something I need practice on. So, no I wouldn't ask them to play because in all likelihood I wouldn't even notice them because I'm working on my own shit.

The idea that everyone is paying attention to this noob (or average player or pro) and sees what he/she is doing is awfully arrogant.

If you want to play then ask someone to play.
 
When I was "that guy", plenty of people came out of the woodwork to show me the ropes.

Very thankful for that.
 
I sorta was that guy 10 years ago. Only not that old and not a total noob.

I was in the hall 3-4 times a week when I didn't have a month long pass, when I did have the pass I was in there almost every day.

I played by myself alternating between drills and 8 ball. A few ppl came up and offered to play, I politely refused. Had a few ppl come up and warn me about hustling techniques.

I went there to practice, period. My game progressed well.
 
mchnhed said:
But he's been coming there for almost a year!


He seems like a likeable guy.
Older, maybe early 60's.
Kinda serious about practice.
The waitresses like him.
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Based on your description of the guy, I'd offer to hit some with him, get to know him. No money or hint of gambling involved. I'd only do this if the place wasn't crowded. I mean, the last thing you'd want is your regular customers crying for freebie/fun matches after seeing this. Last weekend I played some one hole with a guy I hadnt seen in a few years. He's a very good player, used to have to spot me 9-6 back then. I'll call him P. Anyhow, before we could play he said he had to finish this 9ball race to 10. The kid he was playing was probably a low C player at best. They were on a 9ft Diamond, score was 6-6. I asked what sort of spot the kid was getting and P didn't answer.

The kid had to be getting at least the last 5 in order to have any chance. At first I thought it was a waste of time, Pete playing this kid for nothing (based on their comments and composure). But as I watched, I decided it was pretty cool of him to be giving this kid a game. P would explain certain shots to the kid, why he did this or that, etc... The kid was asking a lot of questions. P got him 10-6 and the kid drops a ten dollar bill on the table and thanks P for the his time. $10! Lol. Very cheap lesson he'd have never given to me 15 years ago! I thought it was cool. That kid got a sample taste of what an A player can do on the table, minus some obvious go-for-it shots that P would try for the hell of it.

So yeah.. ..I'd offer to play the noobie, and afterwords I'd point him to the players more suited for his game.
 
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Hell, I don't even like going to a new spot and I play a little bit. You never know who

you are going to meet. One of my favorite things is to see who is clocking me when I am

just banging away in a new town on vacation. I am sure people new to the room are just

as awkward asking for help, as they are suspicious of help being offered. So it is a hard

situation to overcome. I play regularly with one 'kid', and it is a up hill battle for him to

understand some things, being he 'know's' more than I, being he learned on Utube...

not 30 years shooting pool...
 
Very nice of you BC2.
Great story.
I would love to have that happen to me, I mean the OP.

NoMoreSchon,
Yeah it's hard for people to be social to each other in a new environment.
I think that's was the OP's intent......
To make Regulars in a Pool Room welcome and support new players.
At the minimum the Room Owner/Manager should be pressing the flesh!
 
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mchnhed said:


He practices shooting just straight shots at a table way far off from everyone else.

Do YOU welcome him and offer to play a game?
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The answer is, you leave him alone. He is not your concern, nor is he any of your business.

The fact that he is practicing far away should tell you he doesn't want your attention.

A lot of people like to practice alone. You don't have any obligation or priviledge to interfere. If he wants a game, he'll ask. Leave it at that.

All the best,
WW
 
WildWing said:
The answer is, you leave him alone. He is not your concern, nor is he any of your business.

The fact that he is practicing far away should tell you he doesn't want your attention.

A lot of people like to practice alone. You don't have any obligation or priviledge to interfere. If he wants a game, he'll ask. Leave it at that.

All the best,
WW
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Thank you for injecting obvious common sense into a thread whose very premise seemed to be based on the lack thereof.
 
WildWing said:
The answer is, you leave him alone. He is not your concern, nor is he any of your business.
The fact that he is practicing far away should tell you he doesn't want your attention.
A lot of people like to practice alone. You don't have any obligation or priviledge to interfere. If he wants a game, he'll ask. Leave it at that.
All the best,
WW
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You are absolutely 100% correct.
Keep on truckin'
:thumbup:
 
Gosh guys.
You're reading that person all wrong.

He wants to be a "regular" at YOUR Pool Room.
He wants to learn from YOU, the better players.
He is off by himself because he is embarrassed by his skills.
He is afraid of getting ridiculed in the Pool Room the same way he is ridiculed on AzB.

No wonder Pool has an image problem with John/Jane Q. Public.

Low500 said:
You are absolutely 100% correct.
Keep on truckin'
:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Sweatin' said:
Thank you for injecting obvious common sense into a thread whose very premise seemed to be based on the lack thereof.
Click to expand...

WildWing said:
The answer is, you leave him alone. He is not your concern, nor is he any of your business.
The fact that he is practicing far away should tell you he doesn't want your attention.
A lot of people like to practice alone. You don't have any obligation or priviledge to interfere. If he wants a game, he'll ask. Leave it at that.
All the best,
WW
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mchnhed said:
John/Jane Q. Public gets the urge learn Pool.

Imagine a True Pool Hall.
Maybe you frequent one.
In walks a person who only plays at a Level 1 or "D".
Noob, but knows and respects Pool Room Etiquette and the Basic Rules.
Learned at the Boys Club.
He practices shooting just straight shots at a table way far off from everyone else.

Do YOU welcome him and offer to play a game?
or
Do you scoff at his awkwardness, scarecrow stance and swooping stroke?

How does he approach "Those Real Players" over there and ask for a game & suggestions to help him improve?

Does he just continue to practice by himself 2 times a week for months?

On a positive note: He is getting better with his stroke and follow-thru.
Click to expand...
 
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mchnhed said:
Gosh guys.
You're reading that person all wrong.

He wants to be a "regular" at YOUR Pool Room.
He wants to learn from YOU, the better players.
He is off by himself because he is embarrassed by his skills.
He is afraid of getting ridiculed in the Pool Room the same way he is ridiculed on AzB.

No wonder Pool has an image problem with John/Jane Q. Public.



If you been going there for months, you ARE a regular!

Learn by not whining and start paying attention,

Embarrassed? Know one cares about someone else's ability

Scared of ridiculed? afraid of someone talking crap, wanting to bet? Blow it off! We all look stupid or act stupid to somebody!

Just because one practices or wants to learn doesn't mean a thing! I know ppl who can't make 3balls in a row and they're pool room favorites because of how much fun they are to be around!



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mchnhed said:
John/Jane Q. Public gets the urge learn Pool.

Imagine a True Pool Hall.
Maybe you frequent one.
In walks a person who only plays at a Level 1 or "D".
Noob, but knows and respects Pool Room Etiquette and the Basic Rules.
Learned at the Boys Club.
He practices shooting just straight shots at a table way far off from everyone else.

Do YOU welcome him and offer to play a game?
or
Do you scoff at his awkwardness, scarecrow stance and swooping stroke?

How does he approach "Those Real Players" over there and ask for a game & suggestions to help him improve?

Does he just continue to practice by himself 2 times a week for months?

On a positive note: He is getting better with his stroke and follow-thru.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
mchnhed said:
Gosh guys.
You're reading that person all wrong.

He wants to be a "regular" at YOUR Pool Room.
He wants to learn from YOU, the better players.
He is off by himself because he is embarrassed by his skills.
He is afraid of getting ridiculed in the Pool Room the same way he is ridiculed on AzB.

No wonder Pool has an image problem with John/Jane Q. Public.


If he is shy, that's his problem. However if I see someone that is turning into somewhat a regular I will make eye contact and nod to them. If they nod back I might say something.
My home poolroom has an unusual set up. The houseman's desk, the hub of the poolroom, is in an elevated area with seating that looks down on 5 of the 18 tables.
The owner encourages spectators. The better players tend to congregate around these 5 tables .Usually a newbee will eventually make their way to that seating area and watch.
Click to expand...
 
you spent a lot of time on the playground wishing you were doing something else.

mchnhed said:
Gosh guys.
You're reading that person all wrong.

He wants to be a "regular" at YOUR Pool Room.
He wants to learn from YOU, the better players.
He is off by himself because he is embarrassed by his skills.
He is afraid of getting ridiculed in the Pool Room the same way he is ridiculed on AzB.

No wonder Pool has an image problem with John/Jane Q. Public.






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mchnhed said:
John/Jane Q. Public gets the urge learn Pool.

Imagine a True Pool Hall.
Maybe you frequent one.
In walks a person who only plays at a Level 1 or "D".
Noob, but knows and respects Pool Room Etiquette and the Basic Rules.
Learned at the Boys Club.
He practices shooting just straight shots at a table way far off from everyone else.

Do YOU welcome him and offer to play a game?
or
Do you scoff at his awkwardness, scarecrow stance and swooping stroke?

How does he approach "Those Real Players" over there and ask for a game & suggestions to help him improve?

Does he just continue to practice by himself 2 times a week for months?

On a positive note: He is getting better with his stroke and follow-thru.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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