Official Pool Etiquette?

The list so far... (not including gambling etiquette)

- Don't stand at the table while the other person is shooting
- Don't chalk your stick at the table after missing a shot
- Don't talk to the opponent while they're shooting
- If the opponent can see you while shooting, stay as still as possible
- Don't touch the opponent's cue stick
- If you foul, don't throw the cue ball to the opponent
- Don't sit on the tables
- Don't place chalk on the table facing down
- Don't throw or bounce balls on the table
- Don't use excessive powder on your hands
- Wait until the game is over before posting quarters (bar tables)
- Do not put food/drinks on the table
- Do not dump the balls from the carrying tray onto the table all at once
- Don't mess up the cloth with dirty hands
- Never tap the balls in order to get them to freeze
- Refrain from making "that was lucky" remarks
- Stay out of other peoples games
- Learn how to win and lose graciously
- If you foul, dont look up at your opponent and hope he lets you shoot again.......thats cheating!
- If you hate losing, quit whining and making excuses, just practice more or take it like a man
- Never grab the rack while your opponent is shooting, no matter if you are conceding that game
- Treat the equipment as though you will get punched in the nose if you mess it up.
- Treat your opponent with the type of respect that will keep you from getting punched in the nose, no matter who you're playing
- Respect those around you so that you don't get punched in the nose.
- Rack unto others as you would have others rack unto you.
- Don't offer too much "advice". Whats that they say about opinions...
- Don't ask, "What did you do wrong?" after every time I miss.
- Don't tell me "Good shot" in an encouraging way after I miss. Doesn't make sense to me.
- Don't tell me to get my head out of my a..(just cause your half dead doesn't mean your my dad)
- Don't stay at the table after missing a shot
- Help retrieve the balls from the pockets after each game
- Hand the cue ball to your opponent after you scratch
- Help spotting balls in one pocket regardless of who is shooting
- Do not shark your opponent
- Use chalk that is compatible with the cloth color
- Pay attention to the game
- Leave the chalk at the table
- Do not get down to break while your opponent is still racking

(ongoing edit to add new stuff)

hope I didn't miss any
 
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One other one pocket rule that should probably go in this is to put your scratch markers close enough to your pocket that there is no doubt as to its purpose. I would say that within a few inches should do it. This is important if you keep a stack of markers on the center of the rail where you need to make this more readily apparent.

This happened in the Schmidt/Harriman one pocket challenge where John put his marker on the diamond next to his pocket and Danny moved it back to the center to get it out of his way while shooting not realizing that it was a legitimate marker and then both players forgot about it in the heat of battle.

Note to the nitpickers: I am NOT accusing John of doing this intentionally and I don't think anyone who watched this match would. It is just the way it happened and is why I thought I would bring it up.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Here it is:

1. Treat the equipment as though you will get punched in the nose if you mess it up.
2. Treat your opponent with the type of respect that will keep you from getting punched in the nose, no matter who you're playing
3. Respect those around you so that you don't get punched in the nose.


That's it.
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Jude has the perfect summary. "Respect" being the key word.

Will only add: Don't unnecessarily distract your opponent while he's shooting (in a jerk sorta way).
 
i've seen this done so don't make fun.

Don't bring your laptop to the pool hall and play music off it to avoid using the jukebox.

just reading this thread is agrivating me. everyone here has listed something that at one point or another has made me want to slap the hell out of someone.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
i've seen this done so don't make fun.

Don't bring your laptop to the pool hall and play music off it to avoid using the jukebox.

just reading this thread is agrivating me. everyone here has listed something that at one point or another has made me want to slap the hell out of someone.
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Damn i never even thought of that. Ive thought of trying to hack into their wireless jukebox from the parking lot, just to change the music. never thought of using the laptop to play my own though. I figured thats what ipods r for.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
i've seen this done so don't make fun.

Don't bring your laptop to the pool hall and play music off it to avoid using the jukebox.

just reading this thread is agrivating me. everyone here has listed something that at one point or another has made me want to slap the hell out of someone.
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LOL. I've seen a banger play music on his cell phone and place the cell phone on the rail... and if that's not bad enough, there was already music playing over the pool hall's stereo! LMAO. :rolleyes: :D :rolleyes:
 
Most of us

Jude Rosenstock said:
Here it is:

1. Treat the equipment as though you will get punched in the nose if you mess it up.
2. Treat your opponent with the type of respect that will keep you from getting punched in the nose, no matter who you're playing
3. Respect those around you so that you don't get punched in the nose.


That's it.
Click to expand...

Most of us nose that!! :rolleyes:
 
Potato Chips

Vinnie said:
- Don't stand at the table while the other person is shooting
- Don't chalk your stick at the table after missing a shot
- Don't talk to the opponent while they're shooting
- If the opponent can see you while shooting, stay as still as possible
- Don't touch the opponent's cue stick
- If you foul, don't throw the cue ball to the opponent
- Don't sit on the tables
- Don't place chalk on the table facing down
- Don't throw or bounce balls on the table
- Don't use excessive powder on your hands
- Wait until the game is over before posting quarters (bar tables)
- Do not put food/drinks on the table
- Do not dump the balls from the carrying tray onto the table all at once
- Don't mess up the cloth with dirty hands
- Never tap the balls in order to get them to freeze
- Refrain from making "that was lucky" remarks
- Stay out of other peoples games
- Learn how to win and lose graciously
- If you foul, dont look up at your opponent and hope he lets you shoot again.......thats cheating!
- If you hate losing, quit whining and making excuses, just practice more or take it like a man
- Never grab the rack while your opponent is shooting, no matter if you are conceding that game
- Treat the equipment as though you will get punched in the nose if you mess it up.
- Treat your opponent with the type of respect that will keep you from getting punched in the nose, no matter who you're playing
- Respect those around you so that you don't get punched in the nose.
- Rack unto others as you would have others rack unto you.
- Don't offer too much "advice". Whats that they say about opinions...
- Don't ask, "What did you do wrong?" after every time I miss.
- Don't tell me "Good shot" in an encouraging way after I miss. Doesn't make sense to me.
- Don't tell me to get my head out of my a..(just cause your half dead doesn't mean your my dad)
- Don't stay at the table after missing a shot
- Help retrieve the balls from the pockets after each game
- Hand the cue ball to your opponent after you scratch
- Help spotting balls in one pocket regardless of who is shooting

hope I didn't miss any
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Yes, just one. Don't crush you potato chip bag as I am letting go on a nine ball stroke for a substantial amount. Please refer to "the punch in the nose" post above. :D :eek:
 
catscradle said:
In the Striking Viking's book she said she puts it on it's side. That way it doesn't get on the rail and if somebody accidentally sits on it shooting they don't get their clothing chalky. Made sense to me, I've been doing that ever since.
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The chances of someone not seeing chalk in the spot they are about to sit is really low.

Most guys I see chalk with authority and slap the chalk back on the table with enough authority that if they were setting it on it's side the loose chalk dust would easily land on the table making more of a mess than if chalk face up.

Chalk face up is the only way to go.

I am very wary about chalk. When I am chalking I have the stick and my bridge hand positioned so that none of the calk dust will fall onto my bridge hand unlike Karen Corr who holds the stick with her bridge hand way up at the ferrule. I don't get that. It looks weak and you get chalk on your bridge hand.

Less chalk on the hands means less chalk on the balls which means less skid which means less frustration.
 
Luxury said:
Can we work together on pulling the balls out of the pockets when the game ends? How about you walk along that side of the table and I walk on this side of the table and we each get the balls out the pockets on our side? We both have a common goal of getting the next game started as soon as possible.
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Agreed. I hate faffing around looking for all the balls to rack them and my opponent is just standing there waiting for me to finish. PASS ME THE GOD DAMN BALLS!!!!!!

Also I have to say I don't think the very rare benefits of having the chalk awkwardly positioned sideways outweighs the convenience and cleanliness of having the chalk face up. If that sentence made any sense lol.
 
Da Poet said:
Is there a one page list somewhere that more or less describes fundamental pool etiquette? Gambling etiquette might be a little murky, so I'm looking for something that would only apply to the actual playing of the game. (Things like not taking the table chaulk with you at the end of your turn, moving around the table while your opponent is shooting, clearing away from their stance)

If not, maybe we should make one? Maybe consolidate a list of suggestions down to a top ten list or something? It would be handy for newer players, and maybe some not so new. lol


Thanks!
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After watching Drago at the predator finals I'm not sure there is any such thing as pool etiquette.
 
alstl said:
After watching Drago at the predator finals I'm not sure there is any such thing as pool etiquette.
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What did he do? Did he give Bustamante a bear hug?
 
1 pocket has a different set of rules IMO,Most players just kind of stand where they are after taking their shot unless they are standing where the incoming player needs to be or if you sell out several balls then you go sit down lol.Playing 1 pocket in a timely fashion often requires both players to be at the table much of the time.I even clear my opponents pocket while they are in the midst of a run and dont mind when they do so for me.
 
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trueblu8 said:
Oh man that is too funny, but not really. This guy comes over asking if he can use some talc, first thing he does is smear it all over the palms of his hands and start clapping them together, creating big clouds of dust! :eek: I then feel it is my duty to explain to him the proper technique to apply it. I learned it from this one filipino guy named Marlon, who just happens to be one hell of a monster, and one of the stronger veteran players at the local pool hall. He's also a nice humble guy, kind of like Efren. Anyhow, I was watching him one day, as he likes to use talc, and I wanted to see how he applied it. What he did was take the first two fingers, index, and middle of the hand he holds the pool cue with, then touch those two fingertips to the talc, and do 2 swipes, first over the index finger of his bridgehand, and then over the middle finger. That is all you need. This way it keeps it to a minimum, and doesn't get all over the place. The op of this thread, plays at my local hall. I won't reveal his identity because he might want to remain anonymous, but I'm wondering, just who was it buddy that was exhibiting this bad etiquette? :p
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Guy in my league last week kept powdering his hands for every shot. We had to brush the table after ever rack he played. he didnt get the hint though.

some people r morons
 
trueblu8 said:
What did he do? Did he give Bustamante a bear hug?
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Wasn't really a bear hug, more like he grabbed him and shook the living crap out of him in the middle of the match. Bustamante shook his head in disbelief and the referee did nothing.
 
alstl said:
Wasn't really a bear hug, more like he grabbed him and shook the living crap out of him in the middle of the match. Bustamante shook his head in disbelief and the referee did nothing.
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yeah Drago does that. I've seen Drago for years and he always does things like that. And like TheOne has said and many from the UK who've seen him too will agree he probably doesn't mean anything by it. He's a decent chap I think.

But still I don't think it's right to encrouch on player's personal space like that - he should be experienced enough to know that it puts players off. Banter is one thing, but too much patting player's shoulders, hugging lol is not really too professional.
 
alstl said:
Wasn't really a bear hug, more like he grabbed him and shook the living crap out of him in the middle of the match. Bustamante shook his head in disbelief and the referee did nothing.
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Coud you explain why and under what circumstances he hugged him? A bear hug from behind or did he just grab him and hug him close?
Why?
 
jjr183 said:
One other one pocket rule that should probably go in this is to put your scratch markers close enough to your pocket that there is no doubt as to its purpose. I would say that within a few inches should do it. This is important if you keep a stack of markers on the center of the rail where you need to make this more readily apparent.
Click to expand...

One move I've seen happen many times (both against me and other players) is quarters that are used as scratch markers tend to get changed into pennies by the end of the match. How strong is that?

eric
 
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