Official Pool Etiquette?

[Jude Rosenstock]

What if your nose was previously broken, and you need someone to reset it for you?

You make a good point. Be polite. Play your game. Let the other guy be the jerk.

Well, there's another side to this. Sometimes I think it's important to be a jerk, too. If you're dealing with a nimrod, sometimes you have to call him out on it and make him look like an ass. In fact, I did this very thing just last night.

 

[trueblu8]

Always place chalk on the table facing up.

Amen. That one drives me nuts. MULLY

Good one Vinnie.

Here's some of mine:
- Don't stand at the table while the other person is shooting
- If the opponent can see you while shooting, stay as still as possible

These two seem to come up ALL the time. It was hill hill, and I was down on the 9 one time and this guy starts to grip his cue as if to break it down but waits for me to make the shot first. The whole time he's standing, not directly in front of the pocket I was shooting at, but right across from it. The worst part was that during the whole match he was real impatient, you know the type, they miss a shot then want you to hurry up so they can get back to the table again or something. You can actually "feel" them behind you. If you slow your game down a little bit, to let them know that you will not be rushed then it really pisses them off, and ends up throwing their game off, which is what they were doing to you in the first place.

Turbo that avatar is insane. Where'd you get it?

 

[Secaucus Fats]

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.

Oh sure. NOW YOU TELL US............

 

[turbo]

Good one Vinnie.



These two seem to come up ALL the time. It was hill hill, and I was down on the 9 one time and this guy starts to grip his cue as if to break it down but waits for me to make the shot first. The whole time he's standing, not directly in front of the pocket I was shooting at, but right across from it. The worst part was that during the whole match he was real impatient, you know the type, they miss a shot then want you to hurry up so they can get back to the table again or something. You can actually "feel" them behind you. If you slow your game down a little bit, to let them know that you will not be rushed then it really pisses them off, and ends up throwing their game off, which is what they were doing to you in the first place.

Turbo that avatar is insane. Where'd you get it?

I rreally wanna say right in my backyard, in the swimming pool, but I can't...

 

[DoubleA]

If you're not in action yourself, please don't sit on the rail(spectator) and critique every shot each of players make whether you think you could have done much better or not.

 

[mbippus]

I play with a guy, just for fun who, I call the maestro, Mr. Miagee, the professor. You know the type, about 60 years old, has read everybook, not afraid to share. Everything is ok in moderation but this guy is driving me nuts.

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)

Theres probably more.

 

[Fatboy]

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!

Be nice, post the $$$, pay after each game or set, if you go to the restroom-recount the $$$ on the light, if the house man holds and you win tip him. Again be nice to who you play, you get more with sugar than vinigar. Shoot your opponents nuts off, until he can stand it any longer, if you win $40 dollars split the time, if you win $400, pay his time and buy him a beer/coke etc. And let him know that you were just playing a bit better that night and encourage him to play you again. Never kiss ass but be nice, If you lose offer to split the time, if you blow $400 say to him "Thanks for getting the time", whats he gonna do tell no? after you beat him, if he dosent dont play him again, If he quits you with out warning when your stuck, he has to pay the time, pay him and never play him again. Be a gentalman and dont set the talk infront of his shot, when he is playing stay seated. If you do that you'll have your bases covered-unless i forgot something, in all the games I have been in around 1000 I have had trouble just a few times. never piss off your customer/fish you want him another day.

Not bad info from a C player hobbiest-so someone told that I was one. LOL let that guy who said that spot me what a C player would get. Ching.

 

[Luxury]

I know you are one of the big favorites to win the tournament here but you just missed a shot that we all know you shouldn't have but you don't need to stand there paralyzed like you are so above missing a shot like that so now you are in shock and not going anywhere.

I would like to grab the chalk and start analyzing the table and start shooting now. I've got the adrenaline right now and it is time for me to get to work. So please get out of the way because you are messing with my rhythm.

 

[Luxury]

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.

I want to say this but I have a hard time telling that to someone that has played decades longer than me.

-

 

[Luxury]

Always place chalk on the table facing up.

I have called several guys out on this one after they have made a complete mess of the table. Guess what. 100% of them have denied that they have made that mess or they denied that it is actually a problem. Or agreed not to do it and then when I let them know they just did it again they deny that they just did it.

 

[Southpaw]

Whenever I scratch, I usually get the cueball out of the pocket and hand it to my opponent.

Southpaw

 

[trueblu8]

Whenever I scratch, I usually get the cueball out of the pocket and hand it to my opponent.

Southpaw

Me too, unless they're closer to the ball return than I am, just good etiquette.

 

[Da Poet]

Obviously there is no easy list anywhere. This is going to take a bit of work to consolidate and prioritize all of this, but it certainly can be done.

I don't think there is any other non-contact sport on earth where you are in such close physical proximity to your opponent during the entirety of the match. If someone can think of one let me know. I think many of the annoyances and distractions that occur is can be attributed directly to this so it's even more important to have a clear understanding in pool than almost any other sport.

One of the reasons I asked the question is because I think it is becoming more and more apparent that it is almost impossible to have a such thing as "perfect" etiquette in pool.

The challenge is to distinguish between the reasonably avoidable and the reasonably unavoidable.

Thanks for the input and keep firing away. When I get a little more free time, I'd like to start by maybe drafting a top ten list and see where it goes.

Thanks!

 

[poohkiller]

It is a great idea to have such a list. I think that if a list that is accepted by the majority comes real, it should be made to be sticky as the etiquette is a major part of this game.

I'll ask this at my country's forum too and if anything else turns out I'll post it here.

 

[TXsouthpaw]

Its been posted before but it needs to be said again

For gods sake put the chalk right side up on the table and....

lay of the freakin powder, who the hell powders up there back hand anyways,

if i can see ur handprint on the table youve obviousely used to much powder.

 

[catscradle]

Always place chalk on the table facing up.

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.

 

[crawfish]

I like to sing Bob Seger's "Turn the page" at the top of my lungs while I am playing. Only if I'm winning, of course. If I am down a little, I switch to Prince's "You sexy Mother F#%$er."

 

[trueblu8]

Its been posted before but it needs to be said again
For gods sake put the chalk right side up on the table and....
lay off the freakin powder, who the hell powders up there back hand anyways,
if i can see ur handprint on the table youve obviousely used to much powder.

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! 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?

 

[jjr183]

One pocket etiquette...

Whenever I scratch, I usually get the cueball out of the pocket and hand it to my opponent.

Southpaw

When playing one pocket this should be extended to balls that go into neutral pockets. If the table has drop pockets then the one closest to the pocket that the ball went into will pull it out and the one closest to the spot will spot it. It doesn't matter whether you are the incoming or outgoing player and in some cases the same player will do both.

I don't think it is uncommon for a player to pull a ball out of a top corner pocket that they just pocketed and roll it to the incoming player for him to spot.

If the table has ball returns, then whoever is closest to the ball return tray should spot it.

 

[D_Lewis]

If you're playing for money, carry cash. Really, were you expecting to never lose?