New players?

[MitchAlsup]

I firmly believe that if someone walks in cold and says I am interested in playing regularly then that person will get pointed towards leagues and pointed towards instructors and pointed towards the pro shop.

This describes my situation. I had been playing at the local bar for 4 years, and had owned a table fro 2.5 years. Several players at the local bar were playing league at <some random local pool hall> on Thursday night.

So, after more than a little prodding from my wife, I showed up in mid Aug on Thursday night. I saw one of my bar buddies, and told him my wife wanted me on a pool team. He said his team was full, and grabbed the team leader right beside him and ask if her team needed players. She did.

At the end of the season, our team beat my friends team for that pool halls league championship after a titanic struggle 3-2 to become the winter league champs.

Playing in league makes playing at the bar significantly less fun and less involving.

 

[Joe T]

Thanks for all the input and stories, please keep'em coming as I would like to focus on this area of our game more and more. I want to make it easier for us to bring in and keep new players.

"Put your big boy pants on" i liked that one and I believe thats what most of us here did do. Now how to help others find their pants!

 

[Cdryden]

Thanks for all the input and stories, please keep'em coming as I would like to focus on this area of our game more and more. I want to make it easier for us to bring in and keep new players.

"Put your big boy pants on" i liked that one and I believe thats what most of us here did do. Now how to help others find their pants!

Well I know it sounded a little harsh but never the less it's true. I think the best thing we can do to bring new players into the game is to encourage new players by offering help and guidance instead of seeing them as somebody to beat up on. No one wants to be made a fool.

Another thing that would help is to have tournaments that cater to new players. There are plenty of open tournaments. How about more tournaments geared towards beginners only. They may be more willing to try if they feel they have a chance at winning.

Last, take a new player under your wing and help them out. Most of us that has been in the game awhile can attribute some of their success to someone that helped them out. Time to pay it forward.

 

[TheThaiger]

Well I know it sounded a little harsh but never the less it's true. I think the best thing we can do to bring new players into the game is to encourage new players by offering help and guidance instead of seeing them as somebody to beat up on. No one wants to be made a fool.

Another thing that would help is to have tournaments that cater to new players. There are plenty of open tournaments. How about more tournaments geared towards beginners only. They may be more willing to try if they feel they have a chance at winning.

Last, take a new player under your wing and help them out. Most of us that has been in the game awhile can attribute some of their success to someone that helped them out. Time to pay it forward.

Couldn't agree more. Selfishness of established players is one of my bugbears. Many kill off, rather than encourage, competition.

 

[JoeyA]

Thanks for all the input and stories, please keep'em coming as I would like to focus on this area of our game more and more. I want to make it easier for us to bring in and keep new players.

"Put your big boy pants on" i liked that one and I believe thats what most of us here did do. Now how to help others find their pants!

Not every one can wear those big boy pants.

I think pool room owners should actually have an ambassador of sorts, who can play a little, talk a little and their quasi-job is to do what they already know how to do, make small talk and be friendly to the newcomers.

ALSO, I receive many different invitations from people for all sorts of things and while I don't always accept, on occasion I do. The pool room should encourage their customers to recruit new customers and perhaps reward the recruiter with free pool time for the recruiter and the newbie.

I once was paid the highest compliment in a pool room ever, when a couple of nice guys who only play once a week, said, "You know why we come to this pool room? I told them I didn't. The younger fellow said, "Because of you". I try to be friendly to everyone and offer a pool tip whenever I think it is wanted or needed and it seems that people like to feel that they are appreicated. The pool room where I play, the owner is always acknowledging his customers, no matter what the description of the customer.

I know resouces are slim but having a pool school for under 18 year olds is a good thing. Marcus operates a school for high school kids in Houston if I am not mistaken and I think people who do that type of thing are saints.

I meant to add that invitations could even be sent out by the pool rooms to encourage prospective customers to visit. A few of them will accept and a few will become addicted.

 

[Cdryden]

Not every one can wear those big boy pants.

I think pool room owners should actually have an ambassador of sorts, who can play a little, talk a little and their quasi-job is to do what they already know how to do, make small talk and be friendly to the newcomers.

ALSO, I receive many different invitations from people for all sorts of things and while I don't always accept, on occasion I do. The pool room should encourage their customers to recruit new customers and perhaps reward the recruiter with free pool time for the recruiter and the newbie.

I once was paid the highest compliment in a pool room ever, when a couple of nice guys who only play once a week, said, "You know why we come to this pool room? I told them I didn't. The younger fellow said, "Because of you". I try to be friendly to everyone and offer a pool tip whenever I think it is wanted or needed and it seems that people like to feel that they are appreicated. The pool room where I play, the owner is always acknowledging his customers, no matter what the description of the customer.

I know resouces are slim but having a pool school for under 18 year olds is a good thing. Marcus operates a school for high school kids in Houston if I am not mistaken and I think people who do that type of thing are saints.

I meant to add that invitations could even be sent out by the pool rooms to encourage prospective customers to visit. A few of them will accept and a few will become addicted.

You got some great ideas there JoeyA, you sound like the kind of player that I would enjoy a game or 10 with!

 

[JoeyA]

You got some great ideas there JoeyA, you sound like the kind of player that I would enjoy a game or 10 with!

Chris,
I'm not sure I could give you much of a game. I've seen your videos.

You've got a great stroke. Heck, you've even got "Venom" the world's most entertaining (if not the best) trick shot artist paying you compliments.:yeah:

If I pass your way or you come by mine, be sure and mention this thread to me. Sometimes, the screen names kind of meld together, I forget which screen name is who.

Best regards,

 

[peteypooldude]

Okay so you're 30-60 yrs old, male or female, good job, bills paid, family maybe and you always liked pool but never got "involved" in it.
You don't have any friends that are regular players. You see there are some pool rooms in your area whats your plan? Do you take the leap or not. I say it like that cuz folks there are A LOT of people in this country that will not consider going into the local pool room.

What do you think its like for them, what should they do AND what do you think they are in for?

If they get on AZ they can find somebody in their town,I am in Myrtle Beach
If you know someone like that in this area, I will be glad to put them in a
comfortable playing atmosphere and introduce them to some people.
What else can you do?

 

[michael4]

This thread is about me. I'm just getting serious about pool after raising a family.

I'm not a social butterfly and would never go any pool room by myself. Why? because in my experience its not a friendly atmosphere and no one will talk to me, much less play with me. Everyone is already in their own groups.

I'm thinking of joining a local league, maybe that will be the answer, but even when I walked into a large well-known pool hall to watch a league match the other night, no one talked to me. I had no idea when, where or how to sign up.

Things seem to work out fine if you have a buddy that brings you into his "pool circle", but if you dont know such a person, its not easy to break in. Most people at the pool hall (in my limited experience) were tense, distant and cold (and to be honest a little rough around the edges).

I really dont know what the answer is.

 

[peteypooldude]

This thread is about me. I'm just getting serious about pool after raising a family.

I'm not a social butterfly and would never go any pool room by myself. Why? because in my experience its not a friendly atmosphere and no one will talk to me, much less play with me. Everyone is already in their own groups.

I'm thinking of joining a local league, maybe that will be the answer, but even when I walked into a large well-known pool hall to watch a league match the other night, no one talked to me. I had no idea when, where or how to sign up.

Things seem to work out fine if you have a buddy that brings you into his "pool circle", but if you dont know such a person, its not easy to break in. Most people at the pool hall (in my limited experience) were tense, distant and cold (and to be honest a little rough around the edges).

I really dont know what the answer is.

What town are you in? If your an AZer your already in a group

 

[JoeyA]

This thread is about me. I'm just getting serious about pool after raising a family.

I'm not a social butterfly and would never go any pool room by myself. Why? because in my experience its not a friendly atmosphere and no one will talk to me, much less play with me. Everyone is already in their own groups.

I'm thinking of joining a local league, maybe that will be the answer, but even when I walked into a large well-known pool hall to watch a league match the other night, no one talked to me. I had no idea when, where or how to sign up.

Things seem to work out fine if you have a buddy that brings you into his "pool circle", but if you dont know such a person, its not easy to break in. Most people at the pool hall (in my limited experience) were tense, distant and cold (and to be honest a little rough around the edges).

I really dont know what the answer is.

Michael,
You made me smile because I know that is how any pool room can be perceived by a new guy or girl.

One of your best resources is the bartender. Give the bartender a nice tip when you order your drink or pay for your pool time. Don't worry, he or she will remember you from then on. From there, it's just a matter of telling the bartender what you are looking for. The poolroom is so varied with different kinds of people it's hard to tell which clique you will fit in with best.

The truth is the game itself is the magnetics which make us brother and sisters.

It's true that a top player can go into any establishment and the pool detectives will be buzzing in no time at all.

The lesser player sometimes has to only hit a few balls when the hustlers come a callin'. If you don't gamble, just say so and the non-gamblers will soon know you are one of their own. That doesn't mean that the gamblers won't play pool with you.

Everyone has something to offer in the pool room and we come from all walks of life. It's kind of fun learning what each of these pool afficianados do for a living and then sometimes it's better not to know.

Yeah, the bartender is your best resource or like another poster mentioned. Start a thread on AZB's Main Forum about the city where you live and if there are any players on the forum.

Happy hunting for whatever is your game.