On the Subject of Bangers.....

[highkarate]

Bangers come in all skill levels. I know a guy who recently moved to a 7 that I’d consider a banger. If your 8 ball strategy includes this thought on a regular basis...”I’ll just shoot the ball I know I can make and come back for this F’d up one later” even if that tied up ball is second to last on the table...

The guy does win a a lot of matches, often enough with shutouts lol. It’s amazing to watch sometimes how he just depends on others missing and they oblige. He has pretty bad form, literally jumps forward when he breaks, and thinks bank shots are luck...yet he has made it to an APA 7. (He also claimed straight pool had no defense in it a brotha thought you just racked and broke like 8 ball but could shoot anything)

Then you’ve got the “bar pool” type bangers who range in skill all over but the real difference I think between “banger” and player is someone who works on their game with intent. If you’ve spent time perfecting your fundamentals, if you have practiced stepping into the shot line, stroke in a bottle, wagon wheels, MOAD or whatever then you’re probably not banger material. But that’s just like...my opinion man.

APA is a weird beast, man. People really believe that their handicap is representative of their play. I started playing pool because someone asked me to join their APA team after casually playing with me at a bar and I caught the bug. I literally went from knowing nothing to being a 7 in like 3 years of play (albeit I was playing every day). I was like "wow I'm a 7 I must be pretty good." That was many years and many speeds ago, and I would have no problem calling my former self a banger to his face and then giving him the last 4 on a tight gold crown

 

[Black-Balled]

Banger? I hardly even know 'er

 

[DelawareDogs]

Every time you post a thread like this, I die a little inside.

:rotflmao1::rotflmao1::killingme::killingme:

"Do you really expect new members to sign up, get talked to like they're stupid for starting threads, lurk on here for a few years trying to earn some forum cred in silence somehow; and still want to be a part of it all?"

justinb did it...... except for the lurking in silence part.

My friend, no one is stopping you from posting threads.

Conversely, no one said the only way to get forum cred is posting threads.

 

[hang-the-9]

I hear you... I've been called a troll since day one. You get used to it over time. But for me this forum is still interesting and entertaining, so they can't just run me off

Regarding your question about bangers, well, it depends on how exactly you define a banger. If a banger is someone who literally bangs balls around without any level of strategy, then there's not really a way to rank those. Sure, some of them can be more accurate than others, but that's about it.

In case you consider a banger to be someone with potentially decent shotmaking skills, who can choose their shots with actual sense, but with poor position play, then you can surely rank those. Not really in a formal way though. But an "experienced" banger of that type can in truth be a dangerous opponent if they're accurate enough and get somewhat lucky with position.

The third definition of bangers you can use would be casual pool players who primarily play on barboxes, usually by bar rules. These can vary in their skill and capabilities the most. In addition to becoming formidable shotmakers with enough experience, they can actually know a thing or two about position, and can have developed complex strategies, especially suited to the set of bar rules they play by. Some of them can also be considered "serious" pool players (sort of), despite being casuals, in a way that they play several times a week and are completely focused and dedicated to the game while playing. They also love pool and consider it a part of their lives, not just a random game they can play while drinking here and there. However, it should be noted that a number of those players are less like bangers and more like advanced players who would do well in a pool hall, but either can't find one in their area, or they prefer the atmosphere and company in a bar.

You would be a banger from reading your posts.

A banger is someone that plays pool but does not really know much about the game past there are balls and a cue involved. Also someone that does not try to get any better or learn things. The worst kind of bangers are those that know there is more to the game, but refuse to learn. I call those people "deliberately stupid or ignorant", which is really a bad thing to be as a human, to know the right way to do something or to know something, but ignore it and pick ignorance.

I don't use the term banger as an insult or something to look down on, just someone that has poor ability or knowledge. A guy that played for 30 years and can pocket balls but has no idea about real rules or how to maintain his cue or tip or how to play proper position and does not know anything past the APA would be a banger to me. A D player that is learning to play and works on his/her stance, looks up instructional videos, knows how to chalk, has a ferrule that is not blue, cue in good condition, they can be a bad player, but not be a banger.

Good way to spot a banger, they roll the cue on a table but never look at the tip, they slide the rack to the opposite side of where the rack hook is, they loudly tell their friends about the rules that are wrong (which is how the random non rules that people call "bar rules" are transferred form person to person, like a disease), the put drinks on the table, they crowd around the table and get in the way of other tables, every 4th shot goes in and is followed by an approving holler no matter what pocket it falls in.

 

[SlickRick_PCS]

Well,....

I didn't offer up an opinion. I asked "you", in general of the forum membership. I thought maybe I could garner some nuggets of wisdom from the grey haired sages on this forum?

I am aware that Bangers is a condescending label applied to low skill pool players. You know, those people feeding quarters into barbox tables, all over America every weekend......helping to keep the retail industry afloat.

I've been participating on internet forums across a broad range of topics, for 17 1/2 years now; and this billiards forum adventure has been a unique experience amongst all the forums I've frequented. It's almost as though the old guard here doesn't want new members to post anything at all, unless they just chime in to say WOW, that sure was cool man!!! and polish someone's sack.

Do you really expect new members to sign up, get talked to like they're stupid for starting threads, lurk on here for a few years trying to earn some forum cred in silence somehow; and still want to be a part of it all?

Shit, this is.....a sure formula to kill off an internet forum.

This reply isn't solely directed toward your post, as much as it is several different posts on several different threads I've started or posted on. It's like from day one, it's just a constant effort to run a new member off.

Yea, you kill me.

Let's be honest here: Are you a talkative alter-ego of Travis Trotter? Are you Bernie Friend? I'd really like to know!!

 

[9 Ball Fan]

I can see you understand why this forum is only a shadow of its former self.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I haven't mentioned it until now; but I read a post similar to yours, prior to joining the forum.

 

[SlickRick_PCS]

I can see you understand why this forum is only a shadow of its former self.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

So why are you even here, Klink?

You're contradicting yourself.

 

[9 Ball Fan]

"Any player weaker than myself." - Pool Snob

Bangers don't bother me. Their money is just as green and if it helps keep the doors open, by all means, bang away.

That's right. Their money is green too.

 

[9 Ball Fan]

Banger? I hardly even know 'er

"I think I recognize the top of her head."

 

[9 Ball Fan]

Bangers and casual players help keep my favorite poolhalls in business. They're the ones who don't blink an eye paying table time for 6 people on a table and $200 bar tab.

That's right. Their money is green too.

 

[pt109]

Th nk you. We w ll be r ght ba k thump thump, feedback sound, is th s wo ki g?

Would you like to buy some vowels?
...I can get you a weekend rate if you’re just renting...

 

[9 Ball Fan]

So let me stroke my condescending ego a little bit, with REAL 20 years of billiard experience answer your question with few words:

"Do you lump all Bangers together, or do you recognize different skill levels amongst Bangers?"

Bangers are bangers... period. There's no ratings on them, they just bang balls without any thought.... and that just sounds gay.

"At what point do you consider someone to have made the jump from casual Banger, to serious Player?"

When the player can make shots with cue technique, but couldn't control whitey, then their shotmakers. If a shotmaker can control whitey, then they're players. When a player has committed passion to play for runs, then they're serious.


MIC... DROP....

Hey, that's actually a pretty good answer......

 

[9 Ball Fan]

I hear you... I've been called a troll since day one. You get used to it over time. But for me this forum is still interesting and entertaining, so they can't just run me off

Regarding your question about bangers, well, it depends on how exactly you define a banger. If a banger is someone who literally bangs balls around without any level of strategy, then there's not really a way to rank those. Sure, some of them can be more accurate than others, but that's about it.

In case you consider a banger to be someone with potentially decent shotmaking skills, who can choose their shots with actual sense, but with poor position play, then you can surely rank those. Not really in a formal way though. But an "experienced" banger of that type can in truth be a dangerous opponent if they're accurate enough and get somewhat lucky with position.

The third definition of bangers you can use would be casual pool players who primarily play on barboxes, usually by bar rules. These can vary in their skill and capabilities the most. In addition to becoming formidable shotmakers with enough experience, they can actually know a thing or two about position, and can have developed complex strategies, especially suited to the set of bar rules they play by. Some of them can also be considered "serious" pool players (sort of), despite being casuals, in a way that they play several times a week and are completely focused and dedicated to the game while playing. They also love pool and consider it a part of their lives, not just a random game they can play while drinking here and there. However, it should be noted that a number of those players are less like bangers and more like advanced players who would do well in a pool hall, but either can't find one in their area, or they prefer the atmosphere and company in a bar.

Hey, that's an honest, logical answer!!! Thanks for contributing to the thread.

 

[Push&Pool]

You would be a banger from reading your posts.

A banger is someone that plays pool but does not really know much about the game past there are balls and a cue involved. Also someone that does not try to get any better or learn things. The worst kind of bangers are those that know there is more to the game, but refuse to learn. I call those people "deliberately stupid or ignorant", which is really a bad thing to be as a human, to know the right way to do something or to know something, but ignore it and pick ignorance.

I don't use the term banger as an insult or something to look down on, just someone that has poor ability or knowledge. A guy that played for 30 years and can pocket balls but has no idea about real rules or how to maintain his cue or tip or how to play proper position and does not know anything past the APA would be a banger to me. A D player that is learning to play and works on his/her stance, looks up instructional videos, knows how to chalk, has a ferrule that is not blue, cue in good condition, they can be a bad player, but not be a banger.

Good way to spot a banger, they roll the cue on a table but never look at the tip, they slide the rack to the opposite side of where the rack hook is, they loudly tell their friends about the rules that are wrong (which is how the random non rules that people call "bar rules" are transferred form person to person, like a disease), the put drinks on the table, they crowd around the table and get in the way of other tables, every 4th shot goes in and is followed by an approving holler no matter what pocket it falls in.

I literally have the word "banger" in my description, so I think it's pretty obvious I am one. But I wouldn't say I haven't learned and improved my game over time. And yes, some of those clues you mentioned can be used to spot bangers, but really bad ones. There are much better bangers out there which make our community proud

Hey, that's an honest, logical answer!!! Thanks for contributing to the thread.

No problem! I'm an expert on the subject

 

[9 Ball Fan]

Banger are the foul police that dont know what apa and bca are
Always combative
Dont know a thing about competition play
All they know is the rules they heard there uncle say once when they were a kid that time at the bar
And have rule sets your supposed to already know that are tucked away in thier own minds and dont mention a thing till you crossed them

You make a good point. People need to clearly agree what the rules are, before the opening break.

 

[9 Ball Fan]

Bangers come in all skill levels. I know a guy who recently moved to a 7 that I’d consider a banger. If your 8 ball strategy includes this thought on a regular basis...”I’ll just shoot the ball I know I can make and come back for this F’d up one later” even if that tied up ball is second to last on the table...

The guy does win a a lot of matches, often enough with shutouts lol. It’s amazing to watch sometimes how he just depends on others missing and they oblige. He has pretty bad form, literally jumps forward when he breaks, and thinks bank shots are luck...yet he has made it to an APA 7. (He also claimed straight pool had no defense in it a brotha thought you just racked and broke like 8 ball but could shoot anything)

Then you’ve got the “bar pool” type bangers who range in skill all over but the real difference I think between “banger” and player is someone who works on their game with intent. If you’ve spent time perfecting your fundamentals, if you have practiced stepping into the shot line, stroke in a bottle, wagon wheels, MOAD or whatever then you’re probably not banger material. But that’s just like...my opinion man.

It does change the way you approach things, when you are pretty certain that your opponent won't run out on you. You are more tempted to take chances, if you are reasonably certain that you are going to get another turn at the table.

 

[9 Ball Fan]

You would be a banger from reading your posts.

A banger is someone that plays pool but does not really know much about the game past there are balls and a cue involved. Also someone that does not try to get any better or learn things. The worst kind of bangers are those that know there is more to the game, but refuse to learn. I call those people "deliberately stupid or ignorant", which is really a bad thing to be as a human, to know the right way to do something or to know something, but ignore it and pick ignorance.

I don't use the term banger as an insult or something to look down on, just someone that has poor ability or knowledge. A guy that played for 30 years and can pocket balls but has no idea about real rules or how to maintain his cue or tip or how to play proper position and does not know anything past the APA would be a banger to me. A D player that is learning to play and works on his/her stance, looks up instructional videos, knows how to chalk, has a ferrule that is not blue, cue in good condition, they can be a bad player, but not be a banger.

Good way to spot a banger, they roll the cue on a table but never look at the tip, they slide the rack to the opposite side of where the rack hook is, they loudly tell their friends about the rules that are wrong (which is how the random non rules that people call "bar rules" are transferred form person to person, like a disease), the put drinks on the table, they crowd around the table and get in the way of other tables, every 4th shot goes in and is followed by an approving holler no matter what pocket it falls in.

There is some good content in your post. Thanks for that. But you chose to insult me, without knowing me. Why?

 

[megatron69]

Well darn, looky there, I guess I'm not a banger. I was going to get a T-shirt too . . .

 

[gogg]

You would be a banger from reading your posts.

A banger is someone that plays pool but does not really know much about the game past there are balls and a cue involved. Also someone that does not try to get any better or learn things. The worst kind of bangers are those that know there is more to the game, but refuse to learn. I call those people "deliberately stupid or ignorant", which is really a bad thing to be as a human, to know the right way to do something or to know something, but ignore it and pick ignorance.

I don't use the term banger as an insult or something to look down on, just someone that has poor ability or knowledge. A guy that played for 30 years and can pocket balls but has no idea about real rules or how to maintain his cue or tip or how to play proper position and does not know anything past the APA would be a banger to me. A D player that is learning to play and works on his/her stance, looks up instructional videos, knows how to chalk, has a ferrule that is not blue, cue in good condition, they can be a bad player, but not be a banger.

Good way to spot a banger, they roll the cue on a table but never look at the tip, they slide the rack to the opposite side of where the rack hook is, they loudly tell their friends about the rules that are wrong (which is how the random non rules that people call "bar rules" are transferred form person to person, like a disease), the put drinks on the table, they crowd around the table and get in the way of other tables, every 4th shot goes in and is followed by an approving holler no matter what pocket it falls in.

Probably the most “spot-on” of all responses so far!

The triumphant Holler is a dead ass giveaway

 

[hang-the-9]

There is some good content in your post. Thanks for that. But you chose to insult me, without knowing me. Why?

You should read who the reply was to. No idea if you are a banger. Maybe half a banger? Or would that mean that someone is only half as good as a banger, which would be really bad. But double the banger also sounds bad.