Managing sharks and sharking

[allanpsand]

Howdy folks,

I've just completed a massive research project on sharking over the last 14 months. I've documented 80+ major sharks and compiled them into a book named "The Psychology of Losing - Tricks, Traps and Sharks". It's available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Scribd.

I also started a discussion group that is exclusively about gamesmanship for all sports at: http://gamesmanship99.forumcircle.com
The "In-turn sports" forum is for pool.

If you have a problem with a shark or sharker, post it here and I can provide one or more solutions.

 

[3RAILKICK]

Accidental move

10 ball tournament-rack your own. I rack for myself (apparently, 1ball rolled off after racking), I try to break hard-miss the rack completely.

Opponent breaks-rack doesn't come apart. I had unknowingly slugged myself, and therefor-him.

Hmmmm?

Moral? always check the rack?

It was accidental-but could be a move if one is so inclined.

 

[allanpsand]

Opponent management Rule #1:
Never trust your opponent.

When you meticulously check the rack, you are also applying a subtle shark - 1) I don't trust you, 2) delaying the game (however slightly), 3) I don't trust you.

And this doesn't count the request to re-rack as another distraction.

 

[bigdaddy58]

Sharking (dogging) the opponent

Growing up in a pool hall in the early sixties I got to witness the masters at "sharking" or what we used to call "dogging" your opponent. Dealing with pool players is quite a bit different than in most sports, but Sharking is evident in all of them.

My son is a golfer and being brought up the way I was I felt it important to convey to him some of the "theories of practice" when playing tournaments. When out playing with him I would give him examples that may get his opponent thinking about other things such as "Last time I played this hole I hit it in the water.....made double." Now the guy wasn't thinking about hitting it (duck hook) in the water, but he is now. Another is your sitting on the 9th tee box, your opponent is having a good first 9 and you say "Damn, you par this and you'll shoot it even." Watch the bogey or double bogey arise. He actually used this in a tournament in New Orleans.....opponent makes double. It's not "obvious" dogging, but it works. 9-ball? Easy. "Man, you get out from here and you'll be on the hill." It's easy to get that mind a wondering. rw

 

[backplaying]

I used to think i was sharkproof. After coming back after a long layoff and trying to get back playing,i can say there is one person that can make most play the 8,or maybe the 7 under their speed.Most refuse to play him even though they may be a bid favorite.I would say many know who i'm talking about and you should have had him as a consultant!

 

[JB Cases]

I have only read the preview pages so far but I wonder if you have the most insidious shark of all in your book? What is this you may ask?

Presence.

In one of the Challenge of Champions matches Earl Strickland was playing Ralf Souquet and the chair was about ten feet or more from the table.

Earl was facing a shot and he was facing 180 degrees away from Ralf. Earl's back was to Ralf.

From the down position Earl is addressing the ball and he says, "quit moving Ralf".

Now, anyone who knows Ralf Souquet knows that he sits like a statue when it's not his turn. So apparently Earl was just bothered that Ralf was there and breathing.

I always get a kick out of this.

- now having read through some of your book I am ashamed to admit that I have done a lot of those things and also succumbed to a lot of them.

One thing that I want to say though, at least in MY DEFENSE, is that rarely if ever was this a deliberate act of sharking on my part. However it was sharking nonetheless and reading your book has made me want to focus on being sure to be a courteous opponent when I play.

 

[Gerry]

Opponent management Rule #1:
Never trust your opponent.

When you meticulously check the rack, you are also applying a subtle shark - 1) I don't trust you, 2) delaying the game (however slightly), 3) I don't trust you.

And this doesn't count the request to re-rack as another distraction.

Why should I trust my opponent? and delay of game is a non-issue IMO.

knowing there is no such thing as a perfect rack you MUST,....as a smart player check the rack...even when racking your own. How else are you going to know where to break from? The gaps in the rack determine the break location!

It also stops slug racking when the other player knows you will be checking.

Are you telling me you never check the rack?.......that is a HUGE disadvanage to give away, and when other players know this, it will be used against you........its a big nasty world out there, you gotta take advantage of every factor under your control.

G.

 

[NewStroke]

Hey Allan,

What about using VUVUZELA horns during a match? This is the official instrument of my country and would be unfair to ban them.

Wouldn't that be great, 2,500 people blowing this horn while trying to shoot 9-ball?

Thanks

Dan

 

[pwd72s]

I AM sharkproof. Repeat after me, and you can be sharkproof too:

"I'm sorry, I don't play for money." :grin:

 

[Mt. Cheverest]

Rack checking

Checking the rack is part of the game, especially if you are racking for your opponent. However, I was playing a guy a few weeks ago rack your own 9-ball and out of nowhere, in the middle of the set, he starts to check my racks. I find if you are checking your opponent's rack when racking your own then it is for not other use then to shark, and knowing this guy, that's all it was for. I called him out on it too and he's telling me that "the rack still needs to be tight." I don't need someone telling me that MY rack is tight enough.

Anyone agree? Disagree? I could care less if you loose rack yourself The only time it could be sketch is if the 9 ball is flying in the corner every rack but this was not that case. In the race to 20 that we played the 9 went one time.

 

[shinobi]

Checking the rack is part of the game, especially if you are racking for your opponent. However, I was playing a guy a few weeks ago rack your own 9-ball and out of nowhere, in the middle of the set, he starts to check my racks. I find if you are checking your opponent's rack when racking your own then it is for not other use then to shark, and knowing this guy, that's all it was for. I called him out on it too and he's telling me that "the rack still needs to be tight." I don't need someone telling me that MY rack is tight enough.

Anyone agree? Disagree? I could care less if you loose rack yourself The only time it could be sketch is if the 9 ball is flying in the corner every rack but this was not that case. In the race to 20 that we played the 9 went one time.

I disagree. In rack your own, the opponent should definitely be permitted to check your rack, particularly to ensure you are freezing the bottom 3 balls (below the 9). But that takes only 2 seconds to do. If he's taking longer than that or scrutinizing the rest of your rack, it seems pointless.

 

[Mt. Cheverest]

I disagree. In rack your own, the opponent should definitely be permitted to check your rack, particularly to ensure you are freezing the bottom 3 balls (below the 9). But that takes only 2 seconds to do. If he's taking longer than that or scrutinizing the rest of your rack, it seems pointless.

Good point. I agree on checking the bottom 3 balls. As I mentioned, if the 9 ball is flying in all the time it is worth checking. My opponent was checking pretty much the whole rack, commenting on a wing ball not touching the top ball or some random nonsense. When I rack my own, I generally only care about the top 3 being frozen, maybe the wing balls too but not usually.

What got me was we were doing a long set (race to 20) and he didn't check once (nor did I), thorughout 2/3 of the set but all of the sudden he start to check my racks.(as I was coming back to beat him nontheless)

 

[allanpsand]

I AM sharkproof. Repeat after me, and you can be sharkproof too:

"I'm sorry, I don't play for money." :grin:

The "I don't play for money" is no protection. When playing in a relaxed frame of mind, everyone becomes very susceptible to the conversational sharks.

The vast majority of sharks that go on around pool tables are unconscious - that is, the person doing the sharking is not aware that he is sharking. (And if you said anything - he would be offended.)

This is in the eye of the beholder. If you think your opponent's actions (conversation, movement, etc.) is a shark, it is a shark. And, if you don't think that it is a shark, it isn't a shark. (Whether your opponent was doing it intentionally or not.)

It is your reaction this is important. Ever since I wrote the book, I have almost immunized myself from all shark attempts. However, I am hyper-sensitive to what others do and the intention behind their actions. If not intentional, I accept it with amused tolerance - which doesn't affect may game in the least.

I never need to get mad because of someone's ill intentions. To me it's an insight into his mindset, which I can manipulate to my advantage. If any opponent reveals any kind of upset for any reason, he just handed puppet strings to me.

If intentional, I pull out my library of gamesmanship tools and proceed to manage his emotions and table opportunities. I don't have to do anything crass or uncourteous or noticeable (none of that coin jingling or movement crap). All of my efforts are psychological and without him knowing it. (I still can still lose, but I make it very painful.)

In other words, leave the juvenile kiddy tricks to juvenile kids. Leave the trash talk to the idiots who can't form a proper sentence. Learn how to recognize the more sophisticated mind games and how to counter them. That is the best protection.