One of the many reasons I stopped shooting pool in bars

[CamposCues]

Bar Pool

I mostly end up playing in bars for what ever reason and I see a lot of this. Each new person I play I just ask them if they want to play BCA or "bar rules". If they say bar rules I just call every kiss and bank. If I have to play a safety I just make it look like I tried the shot and try to look dissappointed that I didn't make it. It keeps everyone happy.

I did have a short rail bank in the corner on the 8 a few weeks ago that upset some jack@ss. I called the corner pocket and I banked it soft and about an inch before the pocket it hit the head rail and went in. I said good game and the guy starts telling me he won. He claimed I didn't call it two rails and so I lost. What I called cheating a pocket he called a two rail bank. Needless to say I told him to get some more change and get back in line.

 

[chefjeff]

Exactly. You need to be able to sandbag like they do in the handicap leagues.

I refuse to do this as it is a sacrifice of my integrity...all for some chump's make-believe rules? Nah...that trade-off isn't profitable for me.

It happened the other night at a bar. My friend and I had held the table for 5 or 6 games (playing partners) with no problems. I was running out again (what do I know?) and my 6th or 7th ball hit another ball on its way into a pocket. "Foul," cried one of the opponents, "You didn't call that kiss so it's slop and doesn't count." I said, "Are you serious?" And, with a really stoooooooopid look on his face, he says, "Yeah, its our turn." So now it was decision time for me...

So, I said, "OK, it's your turn," and let him have his shot. He STILL wouldn't speak to me after we beat them anyway. I gave him what he wanted and he still thought of me as a cheater. Amazing, ain't it?

My friendly, but ignorant, partner went over and actually tried to explain ball-in-hand rules to these guys. I thought he was probably wasting his time....I was right. Their eyes glazed over and they defended their "rules" with emotional bullcrap, sans rationality.

Cracks me up!!!

One other point....Perhaps the IPT will finally educate the public about 8-ball's ball-in-hand rules and this problem will disappear. League play has helped, but some never venture out of their mystical little bubbles...

Jeff Livingston

 

[Fast Lenny]

I started out playing in the bars,i would get into some good action so i wouldnt even drink,i dont drink when i play cards or pool,dont need no excuse for losing, thats for the drunk guy i am playing. I usually talk about the rules before im playing so its totally clear,i make the guy pay up after every game,i shoot safeties but i make them look good so i dont have to be called for playing dirty or ni**er pool.I have had some pretty bad confrontations in bars over games, its not a gentlemens game half the time there not like in the pool hall.I had a guy after i scratched on the break said it was a loss,thats the best one,or when you run out the table to the 8 ball and your setup straight in and the guy says "you know were playing bank,right?",if we were palying bank i would just set up for it but these things just magically happen and everyone has there own rules. The best thing to do is ask them if they play BCA or APA rules,most likely APA because its good drunk slop,but if they dont know any of these organizations then talk the rules out before hand,good idea if your going to be involved in some long after hours session.

Fast Lenny

 

[fred_in_hoboken]

you could even just shoot the 8-ball in

I did that once... My opponent, after losing 4 straight had just run 6 balls after my break (he hadn't run more than 2 all night). I bet him he wouldn't get to shoot again. He laughed, and bet everything in his wallet.

Fortunately he was a friend of mine, and only had 20 in his wallet.

 

[bud green]

The best thing is when they tell you can't go off a ball before the pocket, can't touch a rail going in or its a bank,etc...and then they do a scoop jump shot and think they're playing a legal shot that's real clever, a shot only true players can pull off.

Clowns. I don't get too worked up playing pool in bars. First thing I ask is "Do you play bar rules or real rules, like they use on TV?" They usually tell you if its call shot,call pocket,etc... and you have less arguments.

 

[lewdo26]

Who cares!

I usually avoid bar pool for the reasons mentioned above, but I'm not immune to it since I don't drink in the poolroom and ya gotta drink somewheres!

What I tell myself when shooting at a bar is that this isn't exactly pool. Similar, but not the same sport. So what I'll do is put my pool-player's hat aside and just try to run out everytime! And it could be fun even if you're taking wildly low percentage shots and the more beers I got in me!

The furthest I'll go is two-way shots and never above $15. Even playing 8 ball against sound strategic principles, I'll sometimes come out the winner for a good hour straight before someone is able to beat me such is the level of competition.

If I lose, so what? It ain't pool we're talking about! It's a shame though, because bar box 8 ball can be a very interesting game if played according to the rules and with a regulation size cueball. Hopefully one day, like Cheffjeff mentioned, we'll be able to say: "Bar rules or IPT rules?"

For now, I understand that the no-safeties allowed rules have their economic logic, and that is to keep those quarters sliding through the coin-slot as fast as possible.

 

[Craig Fales]

When playing bar rules, you have to make your safety play look like a accident. Bar rule players dont understand that a legal safetly is after the cue ball touches the object ball either the object ball or cue ball have to get a rail.
So bar rules are usually "no safety play"/Dirty shots. Next time play safe but making it look like you didnt mean to. I can feel your pain, its frustrating, when people dont understand how real pool is played.

Mack

That's a big reason I don't go to bars to play anymore, too many non-player bar hacks...
________