OK, so my last post has me asking myself????

[NateSchoepf]

Why do so many pool players think it is OK or Part of the Game to Cheat, Shark, or do whatever it takes to win???

I see it in the rooms where I shoot and a lot of Bar Tournys as well, and after reading some of the replies on my last post I see there is a big gap between those of us who play pool honestly and those who think anything pretty much goes.

So I ask, if you are one of the ones who thinks sharking, cheating, not calling a foul when you know you did, drawing lines on the table, placing chalk to aid your shot, LOOSE RACKING, ect..., the list could go on and on is not only OK, but part of the game, please explain why you even play??? Thats like going golfing and saying you shot even par or better but you never add your penalty strokes on your score, or you miss a two footer and say oh, that was a gimmy, or you just right down a lower score than you got.

Doing this will never give you an idea of where your true skill level is at so why even play????

I am tired of hearing pool players talk about all there little tricks, tactics, and moves, these are all words for cheating as far as I am concerned, why not bring some self respect to the game.

 

[MrLucky]

The answer is simple...

Why do so many pool players think it is OK or Part of the Game to Cheat, Shark, or do whatever it takes to win???

I see it in the rooms where I shoot and a lot of Bar Tournys as well, and after reading some of the replies on my last post I see there is a big gap between those of us who play pool honestly and those who think anything pretty much goes.

So I ask, if you are one of the ones who thinks sharking, cheating, not calling a foul when you know you did, drawing lines on the table, placing chalk to aid your shot, LOOSE RACKING, ect..., the list could go on and on is not only OK, but part of the game, please explain why you even play??? Thats like going golfing and saying you shot even par or better but you never add your penalty strokes on your score, or you miss a two footer and say oh, that was a gimmy, or you just right down a lower score than you got.

Doing this will never give you an idea of where your true skill level is at so why even play????

I am tired of hearing pool players talk about all there little tricks, tactics, and moves, these are all words for cheating as far as I am concerned, why not bring some self respect to the game.

for some " players " the need to win is paramount! although I never understood why they think cheating is really a WIN ! To stop this behavior they will need the services of an Psychological therapist not a post! IMO!

 

[GADawg]

You are exactly right. Personal integrity is pretty far down on the list of important things to a lot of people.

In my opinion this is one of the reasons why the general public image of pool is not very good.

 

[ShootingArts]

have you ever watched pro football?

You are exactly right. Personal integrity is pretty far down on the list of important things to a lot of people.

In my opinion this is one of the reasons why the general public image of pool is not very good.

Have you ever watched pro football or college football either for that matter? Cheating is a "good play" if you don't get caught or it is better for your team even if you get caught. It doesn't seem to hurt their image any.

I'm not a fan of cheating and don't cheat in any way shape or form even if it isn't provable . . . until I catch the other person cheating. Then I am a "when in Rome" kind of guy. Calling fouls on myself is the same deal. If I see the other person ignoring their fouls I will do the same. Some rules say that you call your fouls, some say the opposing player should, and some say the ref should.

I think the high road is calling your own fouls but I usually play heads up pool, that includes not giving the other person spots by playing by a different set of rules or standards. The time is long past when I felt I could give a spot to over 90% of players and win.

Hu

 

[Thecoats]

I Believe Cheating is dicipline specific

Why do so many pool players think it is OK or Part of the Game to Cheat, Shark, or do whatever it takes to win???

I see it in the rooms where I shoot and a lot of Bar Tournys as well, and after reading some of the replies on my last post I see there is a big gap between those of us who play pool honestly and those who think anything pretty much goes.

So I ask, if you are one of the ones who thinks sharking, cheating, not calling a foul when you know you did, drawing lines on the table, placing chalk to aid your shot, LOOSE RACKING, ect..., the list could go on and on is not only OK, but part of the game, please explain why you even play??? Thats like going golfing and saying you shot even par or better but you never add your penalty strokes on your score, or you miss a two footer and say oh, that was a gimmy, or you just right down a lower score than you got.

Doing this will never give you an idea of where your true skill level is at so why even play????

I am tired of hearing pool players talk about all there little tricks, tactics, and moves, these are all words for cheating as far as I am concerned, why not bring some self respect to the game.

I mostly play one pocket and gamble in the 50 to 200 per game range and have been doing so for over 15 years and have seen very little cheating in this game. Over the years myself and my opponents have consistently called fouls on ourselves. When I catch an opponent in a act that looks like they intentionally did not call a foul on themselves I consider it motivation to punish that person by taking down a good score. Generally the more disdain I have for an opponent the better I play so I welcome the opponent that has to cleaverly place the chalk or draw a faint chalk mark at the contact point.

I have witnessed much more rack related activity in eight ball and nine over the years as the break is such a big part of those games.

-don

 

[ShootingArts]

one pocket players

Don,

As a general rule, one pocket players are long term players and because of the nature of one pocket, students of the game. I find that they usually play with a higher set of standards. Exceptions to this "rule" both in eight and nine ball players and one pocket players of course but this is one of the reasons I like one pocket. It seems to be more of a gentleman's game and some of the basic rules of all pool require the players to have personal integrity.

Hu

I mostly play one pocket and gamble in the 50 to 200 per game range and have been doing so for over 15 years and have seen very little cheating in this game. Over the years myself and my opponents have consistently called fouls on ourselves. When I catch an opponent in a act that looks like they intentionally did not call a foul on themselves I consider it motivation to punish that person by taking down a good score. Generally the more disdain I have for an opponent the better I play so I welcome the opponent that has to cleaverly place the chalk or draw a faint chalk mark at the contact point.

I have witnessed much more rack related activity in eight ball and nine over the years as the break is such a big part of those games.

-don

 

[3andstop]

My philosophy on distractions

I'll share this because for me it works, and perhaps it can work for some of you as well, even if in some modified form.

My first rule of thumb is that you can't change things around you, all you can do is change (from within yourself) how you view these things and how you let them affect your game.

Some good examples of these things are distractions from other people and distractions from our own inner voices. Both of these things have affected my game in a negative way when I first started playing seriously. But as you take the game more and more seriously, you develop your own way of overcoming these obstacles.

Overcoming the inner voices were easy for me. I trained myself to realize that the inner voice was in fact "ME" and in being so, by definition, it could not be a bad person! (crazy way to think of this but it works for me)

So, because it can't be a bad person, the voices are trying to help me in their own strange way. Rather than fighting to avoid listening to these voices that ARE NOT EVER going away so long as you are with yourself
I decided to make friends with them and even listen to them at times.

In becoming friends with them, they also realize that there is a time when they should let me be.

Now, as far as sharking, I made this little imaginary scenario up in my mind that this entire adventure of shooting pool against an opponent is no different than a pac-man game on computer. The part that works for me, strange as it is .... is that I started to consider sharking, moving, or any distractions in general to be "EXTRA HEARTS" extra lives as it were.

Now, these sharks, actually feed my ability to make shots and get out.

For me its about turning negatives into positives. Keeping in mind the first rule that you can't change the things around you, you can only adjust to them.

I love straight pool, and I had a friend ask me how I get through a rack and into another. He said the break shot intimidated him so much, that more often than not, this is where he stalled.

I asked him if when he shot a shot down the length of the long rail but not frozen to it, if he ever used the long rail as a kind of guide. His answer was yes. I told him he was turning that obstacle into a positive.

I told him to rethink how the rack affects his ability to make the break shot by considering more closely how the cue comes off the OB and hits a specific spot on the rack as he shoots. I told him now he can use the rack as a guide rather than an obstacle to aid the shot.

Now he's getting through racks ... LOL and I have to watch out for him.

I hope some of my backyard philosophy helps with these things we can't change.

 

[CaptainHook]

I mostly play one pocket and gamble in the 50 to 200 per game range and have been doing so for over 15 years and have seen very little cheating in this game. Over the years myself and my opponents have consistently called fouls on ourselves. When I catch an opponent in a act that looks like they intentionally did not call a foul on themselves I consider it motivation to punish that person by taking down a good score. Generally the more disdain I have for an opponent the better I play so I welcome the opponent that has to cleaverly place the chalk or draw a faint chalk mark at the contact point.

I have witnessed much more rack related activity in eight ball and nine over the years as the break is such a big part of those games.

-don

That is what happens here also, I always get a loose rack when playing 9Ball. On our table if all the balls are touching most breaks from the side rail
I can make the wing ball and get the whitey down table with the one ball
if the one does not go in the side.

I have also experienced loose racks on the bar box when playing 8Ball, if the balls are nice & tight, I always make something using the second ball break.

Then when you watch them rack it starts problems, "Oh you don't trust me" etc etc.....No I don't ass-hat.

As far as 1P, the local ass-hat racks up with all the dark color balls in the front of the rack. I always rack 1P with the one ball at the head then some striped balls behind. I also make sure the 9Ball & 8Ball racks are nice & tight, I don't need to cheat.

And it's always the same morons doing it, they never learn, they just want to cheat. I try to avoid these types.

 

[Thunderball]

For some people,the game around the game IS the game,ya know?

For some its not.I've noticed over the years that these camps are pretty far apart fwiw...but the campers always find the right camp for themselves.Some people are just much more comfortable putting shyatt in the game and they are more comfortable if you put some in there too.

I avoid the BS camp as well...but it sure can be entertaining to watch to BSers/sharkers/cheaters have a go at one another on the table.

 

[Big Perm]

I don't get it either

The funny thing is, it's not only happening in the large money games....I've seen people try to cheat in league matches, in cheap sets, and even in a match for table time I don't understand why anyone would sell out their integrity for table time Granted, no amount of money makes it OK to cheat....the funniest part is those people don't actually get it - they, basically, are a common theif and no better than someone who steals stereos out of cars

I guess the glorified versions on TV and film of stealing/cheating seem to make it alright as long as you don't get caught....at the same time, those same people will burn down an athlete that get's caught

 

[JCIN]

where is a rule on how you have to rack in 1P. ? Sounds like sour grapes to me.

Not sure it is a rule but there is a thing called etiquitte and courtesy.

If players as whole stop tolerating the boorish behavior and provide good examples to the younger and newer players, we may see a change in the "it's all in the game" BS excuse for poor sportsmanship. It will take awhile but it can be done.

We get the game we deserve.

 

[Thecoats]

That is what happens here also, I always get a loose rack when playing 9Ball. On our table if all the balls are touching most breaks from the side rail
I can make the wing ball and get the whitey down table with the one ball
if the one does not go in the side.

I have also experienced loose racks on the bar box when playing 8Ball, if the balls are nice & tight, I always make something using the second ball break.

Then when you watch them rack it starts problems, "Oh you don't trust me" etc etc.....No I don't ass-hat.

As far as 1P, the local ass-hat racks up with all the dark color balls in the front of the rack. I always rack 1P with the one ball at the head then some striped balls behind. I also make sure the 9Ball & 8Ball racks are nice & tight, I don't need to cheat.

And it's always the same morons doing it, they never learn, they just want to cheat. I try to avoid these types.

We play rack your own here so I like to rack the eight in front with other dark balls just to prove to my opponent that I could care less which damn balls are in the front of the rack . If I am racking for my opponent I rack light colored balls in front as a courtesy. If my opponent is racking for me and they place one dark ball in the front I request to them to place all the dark balls in the front since I could care less what balls are up there

PS - Nice Avatar Captain Hook

-don

 

[steev]

I'll add my vote to Hu's 'if they do it first' technique. I can be a real as$hole when playing one. If you're quiet, rack good, etc. I'm the perfect gentleman. If not, I tend to fight fire with fire. It's not what I would prefer, but it's either that or quit 'em for me...

I'd like to point out, I give folks the benefit of the doubt, but it has limits, especially in tourneys or cash games.

-s

 

[Bishop]

If you aren't cheating you aren't trying.

Remember money is lubrication for life.

Seriously it depends on the situation and circumstances. There are no clear cut rules that you can follow verbatim because we live in an ever changing world with a new set of circumstances everyday.

There is a difference between blatantly cheating your tail off and stretching the outer limits of the rules or an opponents tolerance. We don't live in an exacting world. Play it by ear.

 

[memikey]

If you aren't cheating you aren't trying.

Remember money is lubrication for life.

Seriously it depends on the situation and circumstances. There are no clear cut rules that you can follow verbatim because we live in an ever changing world with a new set of circumstances everyday.

There is a difference between blatantly cheating your tail off and stretching the outer limits of the rules or an opponents tolerance. We don't live in an exacting world. Play it by ear.

.......and there you have it......words which illustrate in a nutshell a few of the reasons for the attitude, culture and aura which surrounds pool and why most of the public, other than us pool obsessed lovers of the game, think that pool halls are generally inhabited by low-lifes who would sell their grandmother for an hours table time; words which illustrate some reasons why most parents don't want their sons anywhere near pool halls; words which illustrate some reasons why tournament pool as a sport is covered in black and blue bruises where upper echelon potential corporate sponsors have been repeatedly poking it with 10 foot poles

 

[Thecoats]

If you aren't cheating you aren't trying.

Remember money is lubrication for life.

Seriously it depends on the situation and circumstances. There are no clear cut rules that you can follow verbatim because we live in an ever changing world with a new set of circumstances everyday.

There is a difference between blatantly cheating your tail off and stretching the outer limits of the rules or an opponents tolerance. We don't live in an exacting world. Play it by ear.

Kind of sad words coming from a Bishop

 

[MrLucky]

Well.... he didn't say

Kind of sad words coming from a Bishop

"Bishop" of what

 

[cigardave]

"Bishop" of what

Doesn't the catholic church have bishops???... and aren't some of those perverts and child molesters??? lol

 

[Bishop]

.......and there you have it......words which illustrate in a nutshell a few of the reasons for the attitude, culture and aura which surrounds pool and why most of the public, other than us pool obsessed lovers of the game, think that pool halls are generally inhabited by low-lifes who would sell their grandmother for an hours table time; words which illustrate some reasons why most parents don't want their sons anywhere near pool halls; words which illustrate some reasons why tournament pool as a sport is covered in black and blue bruises where upper echelon potential corporate sponsors have been repeatedly poking it with 10 foot poles

Well its people like yourself that can't see through blatant sarcasm to my real point that truely dimish the intelligence of the general public.

I was exaggerating to make a statement, my god people are naive.

I don't know how many times I've seen people ever so slightly nudge a ball while on approach for their shot. They don't say anything and I don't make a big to do about it. I don't consider that cheating. Every situation is different and you can't expect today's society to live in a vacuum of false reality.

 

[JoeW]

I think it is the world we live in. Amazes me how many people will lie, cheat, and steal if there is a car accident or $5.00 on the sidewalk, Obnoxious people at ball games (any ball game) have driven many people away.

I think that we are a litigious society that has taught everyone to take any advantage whenever they can. Ever notice how the lowest common denominator sets the pace for most things in life. Long hair became scraggly hair, bra-less became obscene fat people letting it all hang out, and kids wear the worst jeans they can find to compliment their punk look.

It seems to me that many of the people who spend a great deal of time in pool rooms do not have the money or life style to afford a pool table. This too is a comment on their life style (or lack of one). Some rooms cater to these people and others who live in similar circumstances.

If you hang out in bars you are going to meet lots of drunks. Simple as that. The rest of us have to choose wisely where and with whom we play. It is not pool anymore than it is taverns. It is just that some places cater to a particular crowd. I know of one hall I would not walk into and another where I encourage all of my friends and their wives to come to the tournaments.

What comes around, goes around. So when I meet the low life I go away. We are whom we associate with and I pick very selectively.

I do not think that pool is in a down swing. I think that if anyone cared to look there are many, many tables in this country. Just yesterday I was looking at a real estate magazine with 1 - 10 million dollar homes and nearly every house had a “billiard room.” The game is there and the spectators are there. It is a matter of finding a way to appeal to the millions who do not lie, cheat, and steal at every turn.