Little Motivation to Compete

CrownCityCorey

CrownCityCorey

Sock it to 'em!
Silver Member
I was watching a little of the live stream for Turning Stone, and had that feeling, as usual, that I wish I were there competing. And then, I saw Matt Krah standing watching Liz Ford rack the balls, and that reminded me of a primary reason I have little motivation to travel out there and compete.

The Rack!

I can not even count the number of tournaments/matches where the rack and issues related to it just fu** the whole match up. It is the dumbest thing ever!

Like hell am I going to stand over someone as they rack the balls, like their fu** quality control officer, and worse yet have someone doing that to me. I have told more than a handful of opponents to "step back!" Go ahead and check my rack, but get the hell away from me while I am racking 'em.

It is no longer about playing, it's about rack management, and keeping your cool with that B.S. Maybe all sports are like that at the top level (?).

Anyway that was just one of the gripes I have, and as I saw it happen, I missed being out there competing a little less.

Some other gripes (if anyone cares):

Short races: anything less than a race to 11 (nine-ball) really is not worth a cross state trip, much less cross-country - IMO.

The money: Edit - I scratched the $$$ issue, because really $$$ has never been my motivation anyway. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Ref's or lack thereof: last year I literally walked the halls and the tournament floor of the US Open for 10 minutes looking for a ref. "Hello" this is the US Open!"

Just thought I'd share ;)
 
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Hey Corey, have Tiger develop the perfect rack. It seems that no one has because if they did then everyone would be using. :)
 
I have always been a proponent for neutral rackers. Can you imagine bowlers racking up their own pins in the bowling championships?

Unfortunately, it is not cost effective for pool tournaments to have neutral rackers, except maybe in the semis and finals.

Damn rack mechanics.

As far as the money goes in pool, therein lies the rub. It is difficult in today's economic times to play pool full time and hold down a job. It is also difficult to support one's self playing pool professionally. The expenses, as I know you know, eat up the profits. So it's like you got one tire in the sand all the time.

In sum, following the footsteps of Allen Hopkins and -- and -- and...

I'm trying to think of professional player who was successful in pool business-wise. Can you think of any? It's kind of tough to get rich playing pool professionally, but if you have passion for the pool and can find your niche and be successful, like Hopkins, then that's a good thing. You've got the best of both worlds! :)
 
I had a guy doing that to me in a tournament even though he was kicking my butt. On the last rack, I got some chalk in my nose and sneezed on his hand that was on the rail. I didn't know a sneeze could win 2 games for me :). Over all I lost but was quite happy with myself :)
 
You know you still wish you were there.....

CrownCityCorey said:
I was watching a little of the live stream for Turning Stone, and had that feeling, as usual, that I wish I were there competing. And then, I saw Matt Krah standing watching Liz Ford rack the balls, and that reminded me of a primary reason I have little motivation to travel out there and compete.

The Rack!

I can not even count the number of tournaments/matches where the rack and issues related to it just fu** the whole match up. It is the dumbest thing ever!

Like hell am I going to stand over someone as they rack the balls, like their fu** quality control officer, and worse yet have someone doing that to me. I have told more than a handful of opponents to "step back!" Go ahead and check my rack, but get the hell away from me while I am racking 'em.

It is no longer about playing, it's about rack management, and keeping your cool with that B.S. Maybe all sports are like that at the top level (?).

Anyway that was just one of the gripes I have, and as I saw it happen, I missed being out there competing a little less.

Some other gripes (if anyone cares):

Short races: anything less than a race to 11 (nine-ball) really is not worth a cross state trip, much less cross-country - IMO.

The money: Edit - I scratched the $$$ issue, because really $$$ has never been my motivation anyway. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Ref's or lack thereof: last year I literally walked the halls and the tournament floor of the US Open for 10 minutes looking for a ref. "Hello" this is the US Open!"

Just thought I'd share ;)
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Sounds like you're just having a bad day Corey. Remember back to when you first learned the game and started getting proficient. Think about the things you LOVE about the game. Don't let situations you can not control steal your JOY. Aw c'mon....if you could blink your eyes....be at Turning Stone right now and start a match.........I know you'd do it buddy!!
 
CrownCityCorey said:
I was watching a little of the live stream for Turning Stone, and had that feeling, as usual, that I wish I were there competing. And then, I saw Matt Krah standing watching Liz Ford rack the balls, and that reminded me of a primary reason I have little motivation to travel out there and compete.

The Rack!

I can not even count the number of tournaments/matches where the rack and issues related to it just fu** the whole match up. It is the dumbest thing ever!

Like hell am I going to stand over someone as they rack the balls, like their fu** quality control officer, and worse yet have someone doing that to me. I have told more than a handful of opponents to "step back!" Go ahead and check my rack, but get the hell away from me while I am racking 'em.

It is no longer about playing, it's about rack management, and keeping your cool with that B.S. Maybe all sports are like that at the top level (?).

Anyway that was just one of the gripes I have, and as I saw it happen, I missed being out there competing a little less.
Click to expand...

Amen. Even at my low level of play, the rack takes most of the fun out of competing for me, with certain opponents.

Let me guess, the rule for this tournament was "rack-for-each-other"? :rolleyes:
 
Cuebacca said:
Amen. Even at my low level of play, the rack takes most of the fun out of competing for me, with certain opponents.

Let me guess, the rule for this tournament was "rack-for-each-other"? :rolleyes:
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Your not alone, but goes with our territory until the game gets to where it needs to be. I used to carry my own rack for years, why, too many places had inferior racks and I wasn't willing to travel and then give my opponent a loose rack for many reasons. One time in Ohio my opponent wanted to use my rack, I refused, he was surprised, my response, would you let me use your break cue, that quickly ended that discussion. Your just going through what all of us have gone through for years. Good luck.
 
Island Drive said:
Your not alone, but goes with our territory until the game gets to where it needs to be. I used to carry my own rack for years, why, too many places had inferior racks and I wasn't willing to travel and then give my opponent a loose rack for many reasons. One time in Ohio my opponent wanted to use my rack, I refused, he was surprised, my response, would you let me use your break cue, that quickly ended that discussion. Your just going through what all of us have gone through for years. Good luck.
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Yeah, I think rack-for-each-other may be based on what is probably the biggest logic flaw in all of sports, that your opponent is going to bust his back to give you a good rack so that he can increase your chances of beating him. LOL. I feel like I must be taking crazy pills because apparently a huge segment of the pool world doesn't see this.
 
So, if it wasn't for the geography and the low prize money and if there were;

-a neutral racker

-a referee present

-races to 11

Then you would quit your job and practice more and compete?
 
Tom In Cincy said:
So, if it wasn't for the geography and the low prize money and if there were;

-a neutral racker

-a referee present

-races to 11

Then you would quit your job and practice more and compete?
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LOL! Not quit working! I'm not crazy, and got bills to pay, but compete more - you bet your ass! :thumbup:
 
Tom In Cincy said:
So, if it wasn't for the geography and the low prize money and if there were;

-a neutral racker

-a referee present

-races to 11

Then you would quit your job and practice more and compete?
Click to expand...

Personally, I think if there was more money in professional pool, it would attract more aspiring professional players. As it sits today, the payouts are the same as they were several decades ago. Yet, as we all know, the cost of living has probably tripled.

As far as leagues, weekend competitions, and weekly $20-entry-fee events, those are where it's at today. You don't have large expenditures, and nobody gets hurt. It's a good way to recreate, socialize, make new friends, and enjoy a competitive spirit. And most of all, they're a whole lot of fun!

I had the most fun in pool when I used to play on the leagues. Involvement in professional pool, though it can be very exciting, is a drain financially, physically, and emotionally, especially going to two, three, and four tournaments every single month.

Joss' $25,000-added Turning Stone biannual events, DCC, and U.S. Open are my faves.
 
CrownCityCorey said:
Like hell am I going to stand over someone as they rack the balls, like their fu** quality control officer, and worse yet have someone doing that to me. I have told more than a handful of opponents to "step back!" Go ahead and check my rack, but get the hell away from me while I am racking 'em.
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Well said. MAN I hate it when guys are so close to me while I rack, I can smell their breath. Get away... and then check it.

They should pay 5 year old kids to rack for everyone. Mush rack or not who cares... they'd be the same mush for everyone and would be a lot less predictable.
 
Eric. said:
Well, Corey, you ARE a recreational player. You only play when you want to, now :wink:


Eric
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I always thought that was like a social player - which I certainly am not.

I'm either competing, or not playing (riding my bike).

Been riding my bike... :grin-square:

Edit: Last tourney for me was 6 months ago, race to 8 - ugh! But it was in my backyard so I had to.
 
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'hovering' is annoying

:sorry::angry:Is that why it's done? I agree-wait till I'm done-then nitpick the rack.

Actually I have very few problems-I try to give a 'waterproof' (tighter than a frog's ass) every time. Usually after the first 2-3 inspections they don't spend much time looking at it. If a ball won't freeze' I tell them that the 'xx' ball is off by .004-.006 or so -they look- say OK and then break.

I get a little annoyed by the 'tilted' rack or the 'forward' or 'behind' the spot rack or THE SLUG RACK when I KNOW the rack will get tight ON the spot.

Like JAM said-'damn rack mechanics'. I prefer to see the balls pushed tight in the rack from the bottom rather than have the tops of them massaged and squeezed or pressed whereby the racker recoils like they just came out of a pizza oven or like the racker has just miraculously 'healed' the rack of a fatal disease at an evangelical tent meeting, with that final release of the balls as though the rack is about to explode.

SORRY COREY You got me thinking about little things that bug me too. I will sometimes ask if we can get the front 3 at least to touch each other.

But I have learned to look at the rack on the hill-hill game. Took me a while though.

3railkick

No cure for stupid-that's why I'm a slow learner
 
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Corey-that last tournament-was that

Edit: Last tourney for me was 6 months ago, race to 8 - ugh! But it was in my backyard so I had to.[/QUOTE]




the SWANNEE (sp?) at Hollywood billiards?

3railkick

I don't know you but have seen you play. You sir, play well.:thumbup:
 
CrownCityCorey said:
I always thought that was like a social player - which I certainly am not.

I'm either competing, or not playing (riding my bike).

Been riding my bike... :grin-square:

Edit: Last tourney for me was 6 months ago, race to 8 - ugh! But it was in my backyard so I had to.
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Well, since you and guys like, for example, Alex Lely are now recreational players, you two should put a team together for BCA Vegas :p


Eric
 
3RAILKICK
"Actually I have very few problems-I try to give a 'waterproof' (tighter than a frog's ass) every time. Usually after the first 2-3 inspections they don't spend much time looking at it. If a ball won't freeze' I tell them that the 'xx' ball is off by .004-.006 or so -they look- say OK and then break."

I try to do the same thing. If I'm stuck on a table with a bad spot I'll pull a new one out of my case and offer to replace it or tell them to rack their own if they can do better.
As far as someone standing so close that I can smell their breath, P.U., I'll ask them if the want a kiss. If the ask why I'll explain I always get a kiss while being fugded. I have other lines as well. That usually ends the up close and personal.
 
14.1

Corey, I have the solution for you. Take up straight pool. No arguments over racking. You'll get to use your head more. And the better player usually wins.

No money in it, but there's hardly any money anyway.
 
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