One of the many reasons I stopped shooting pool in bars

[George]

I was invited out by a friend the other night for a couple of beers and some pool down at the local watering hole. We`re hanging around shooting with some of the regulars for cheap money($5 bucks a game) and I was doing pretty well until I was accused of playing a dirty shot. This is what I was shooting, I had solids:

START(
%Aj3D4%Fn4H7%H`9D0%Nr2E5%OJ4D4%Ph9O9

)END

I called 6 in the corner and combo'd the 14 in the corner leaving me something like this:

START(
%Aj3D4%Fq9F4%H`9D0%OJ4D4%Pn2D1

)END

The guy I`m playing starts jumping up and down and telling me "that's a dirty shot, you`re a cheater, blah blah blah" I ask him what his problem is and he says I didn`t try to make the shot, that I intentionally shot his ball in and left him hooked. I say "Yeah, so?" He hangs his stick, mumbles something about how I`m a dirty player and he's done playing with me and he's not even finishing the game. To make it worse a bunch of the regulars were all in agreement with him. They all proceeded to quit playing acting like I was a freaking leper or something.
After a few minutes I go over and sit down next to the guy at the bar and try to explain what happened and he just goes on and on like a broken record. I gave up, he wouldn`t listen to why this is good strategy he just kept mumbling it`s a dirty shot(his main argument was that playing a safe shot is dirty pool). I bought him a drink and said have a good night and went back to the table, it was obvious that I was wasteing my time. Has anyone had a similar experience or does anyone care to explain to me a better way of handling it.
I know that different bars have their quirky little house rules and all that but this is ridiculous. I think if this guy had a gun and a couple more drinks in him I would have been in danger, he was that upset.

George<----remembers why he stopped going to bars

 

[Snapshot9]

Yes, I remember

I have had that happen to me, or some other dumbass house
rule that only exists there in all the world.

other reasons:

1) I don't play for free normally.
2) I don't care to play some 2 or 3 a game of pool It ends
up being embarrassing for both of us.
3) Drunks who think they can play.
4) Ball bangers that don't even know how to bridge a cue.
5) I quit drinking when I am out and about.
6) No decent looking women in bars anymore, except the
bars that cater to the early 20 crowd.
7) It just isn't worth the trouble.
8) I prefer to go where the Poolplayers are, Pool rooms.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Oh yes!

Many bar players consider anything which involves "thinking" to be off limits.

No strategies, safeties, etc.

And don't mention books, internet billiards advice, certified instructors, BCA rules, etc.

The idea is to play without any rules. Then when someone plays in a manner you do not like (wins the game), simply inform them that they are cheating. With no written rules, it is easy to come up with new rules and change them as the situation dictates.

If anyone beats you more than once, don't play them any more. They are obviously cheating.

The way to play is to hit each shot as hard as possible. The faster, the better player you are. Slam it in, and when you make a ball, walk around like you are the king! And if you make two balls in a row, well you are a shark!

Sometimes a "real" pool player will walk in and you can play and play all night. Does not matter if you win every game or not. They appreciate safety play and your skill at playing. These people are excellent players themselves. But this is rare in a bar.

 

[stolz2]

safe

I was invited out by a friend the other night for a couple of beers and some pool down at the local watering hole. We`re hanging around shooting with some of the regulars for cheap money($5 bucks a game) and I was doing pretty well until I was accused of playing a dirty shot. This is what I was shooting, I had solids:

START(
%Aj3D4%Fn4H7%H`9D0%Nr2E5%OJ4D4%Ph9O9

)END

I called 6 in the corner and combo'd the 14 in the corner leaving me something like this:

START(
%Aj3D4%Fq9F4%H`9D0%OJ4D4%Pn2D1

)END

The guy I`m playing starts jumping up and down and telling me "that's a dirty shot, you`re a cheater, blah blah blah" I ask him what his problem is and he says I didn`t try to make the shot, that I intentionally shot his ball in and left him hooked. I say "Yeah, so?" He hangs his stick, mumbles something about how I`m a dirty player and he's done playing with me and he's not even finishing the game. To make it worse a bunch of the regulars were all in agreement with him. They all proceeded to quit playing acting like I was a freaking leper or something.
After a few minutes I go over and sit down next to the guy at the bar and try to explain what happened and he just goes on and on like a broken record. I gave up, he wouldn`t listen to why this is good strategy he just kept mumbling it`s a dirty shot(his main argument was that playing a safe shot is dirty pool). I bought him a drink and said have a good night and went back to the table, it was obvious that I was wasteing my time. Has anyone had a similar experience or does anyone care to explain to me a better way of handling it.
I know that different bars have their quirky little house rules and all that but this is ridiculous. I think if this guy had a gun and a couple more drinks in him I would have been in danger, he was that upset.

George<----remembers why he stopped going to bars

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

 

[PoolSleuth]

Oh yes!

Many bar players consider anything which involves "thinking" to be off limits.

No strategies, safeties, etc.

And don't mention books, internet billiards advice, certified instructors, BCA rules, etc.

The idea is to play without any rules. Then when someone plays in a manner you do not like (wins the game), simply inform them that they are cheating. With no written rules, it is easy to come up with new rules and change them as the situation dictates.

This above is SAD BUT SO TRUE.

 

[Zims Rack]

BLAH! BLAH! BLAH! Bars, pool halls, billiard clubs!! A player is a player, no matter where he plays. A banger is a banger, no matter where he plays!

Zim

 

[cuejoey]

I was invited out by a friend the other night for a couple of beers and some pool down at the local watering hole. We`re hanging around shooting with some of the regulars for cheap money($5 bucks a game) and I was doing pretty well until I was accused of playing a dirty shot. This is what I was shooting, I had solids:

START(
%Aj3D4%Fn4H7%H`9D0%Nr2E5%OJ4D4%Ph9O9

)END

I called 6 in the corner and combo'd the 14 in the corner leaving me something like this:

START(
%Aj3D4%Fq9F4%H`9D0%OJ4D4%Pn2D1

)END

The guy I`m playing starts jumping up and down and telling me "that's a dirty shot, you`re a cheater, blah blah blah" I ask him what his problem is and he says I didn`t try to make the shot, that I intentionally shot his ball in and left him hooked. I say "Yeah, so?" He hangs his stick, mumbles something about how I`m a dirty player and he's done playing with me and he's not even finishing the game. To make it worse a bunch of the regulars were all in agreement with him. They all proceeded to quit playing acting like I was a freaking leper or something.
After a few minutes I go over and sit down next to the guy at the bar and try to explain what happened and he just goes on and on like a broken record. I gave up, he wouldn`t listen to why this is good strategy he just kept mumbling it`s a dirty shot(his main argument was that playing a safe shot is dirty pool). I bought him a drink and said have a good night and went back to the table, it was obvious that I was wasteing my time. Has anyone had a similar experience or does anyone care to explain to me a better way of handling it.
I know that different bars have their quirky little house rules and all that but this is ridiculous. I think if this guy had a gun and a couple more drinks in him I would have been in danger, he was that upset.

George<----remembers why he stopped going to bars

Your a real Gentleman George..you did great...sounds like some people need to play more and learn the rules !!!!

 

[scottycoyote]

yep thats why i dont play in bars either. When the cueball is against the rail, ive actually seen people put the butt of the cue down and move the ball out that distance from the rail, and say thats the rules lol. Like the others said, you better make safetys look accidental if its not a serious pool hall.

 

[Gregg]

Their bar, their rules.

You failed to do your homework before playing. You should have checked out the "scene" before playing. Most bar room shooters feel that safeties are cheating. You even agreed that all his buddies and patrons agreed with him!

Most people don't know what ball in hand means, who Johnny Archer is, or many other things associated with billiards. Words like straight pool or even nine ball are forigen to them.

You should know this, and plan your game accordingly, even if that means going for it on every low percentage shot.

Sometimes, it can be fun. You find yourself making shots you didn't think you could make!

 

[Str8PoolMan]

I was invited out by a friend the other night for a couple of beers and some pool down at the local watering hole. We`re hanging around shooting with some of the regulars for cheap money($5 bucks a game) and I was doing pretty well until I was accused of playing a dirty shot. This is what I was shooting, I had solids:

START(
%Aj3D4%Fn4H7%H`9D0%Nr2E5%OJ4D4%Ph9O9

)END

I called 6 in the corner and combo'd the 14 in the corner leaving me something like this:

START(
%Aj3D4%Fq9F4%H`9D0%OJ4D4%Pn2D1

)END

The guy I`m playing starts jumping up and down and telling me "that's a dirty shot, you`re a cheater, blah blah blah" I ask him what his problem is and he says I didn`t try to make the shot, that I intentionally shot his ball in and left him hooked. I say "Yeah, so?" He hangs his stick, mumbles something about how I`m a dirty player and he's done playing with me and he's not even finishing the game. To make it worse a bunch of the regulars were all in agreement with him. They all proceeded to quit playing acting like I was a freaking leper or something.
After a few minutes I go over and sit down next to the guy at the bar and try to explain what happened and he just goes on and on like a broken record. I gave up, he wouldn`t listen to why this is good strategy he just kept mumbling it`s a dirty shot(his main argument was that playing a safe shot is dirty pool). I bought him a drink and said have a good night and went back to the table, it was obvious that I was wasteing my time. Has anyone had a similar experience or does anyone care to explain to me a better way of handling it.
I know that different bars have their quirky little house rules and all that but this is ridiculous. I think if this guy had a gun and a couple more drinks in him I would have been in danger, he was that upset.

George<----remembers why he stopped going to bars

If you'll pardon the expression, this is what some of the racially insensitive people in the bars where I used to play would call, "N*gger pool". In most hick bars, it is assumed that anyone who plays a safety must be a hustler. If you pull it on the wrong guy, in the wrong bar, you can end up being "visited" in the parking lot on your way out.
But I liked the way you handled it; being non-confrontational and buying the guy a drink. A very gentlemanly way of handling a dispute.

I still play in bars occasionally (just can't help myself), but I never play for money anymore. That way, I just go along with whatever rules they want to make up and there's no hard feelings.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Gregg is right.

Every time I play people in a bar, I alway review the rules to avoid future disputes. Bar pool seems to be a completely different entity from the rest the world. Besides in terms of playing safe you can just leave them a table length shot, while making it look like you gave it an honest go. Most guys in a bar can't make long pots even on a 7 footer.

Another piece of advice be careful about running the table. Some of the regulars made me leave after I broke and ran out on them. I didn't even get my money those bastards.

regards

 

[jjinfla]

When I first moved here and started playing pool in 1999 the bars had a lot of different rules. But I figured I was going to their home so I played by their rules. If they came to my home I would expect them to play by my rules. So no problem for me. It was a night out. My next meal wasn't dependent on my winning a few bucks.

Lately I have noticed a change in the rules in the bars where more and more people are playing by actual BCA, APA or Texas Express Rules and safes are allowed and actually complimented.

I think that what happened is that more and more of the players have actually improved their game and realize the finese involved in it.

Oh, and I did spot a few of the better players who were hustling and actually did play in better tournaments with legit rules loved the no safe rules and all the complications. All of that just made it easier for them to win. Of course their safes looked like a miscue, or a missed shot. LOL.

Jake

 

[George]

yep thats why i dont play in bars either. When the cueball is against the rail, ive actually seen people put the butt of the cue down and move the ball out that distance from the rail, and say thats the rules lol.

I've seen that one before too, some of these bars have some pretty odd rules

Many bar players consider anything which involves "thinking" to be off limits.

No strategies, safeties, etc.

That`s a very sad but true statement and don`t make the mistake of trying to explain it to them. That pisses them of more than the safe that I played.

Their bar, their rules.

I agree but I asked about the rules and this is one they didn`t mention until it came up. I guess I should have known better though.

If you'll pardon the expression, this is what some of the racially insensitive people in the bars where I used to play would call, "N*gger pool".

Unfortunately I heard this phrase more than once that night and then somebody played "Dueling Banjos" on the juke and I decided to get out of there while the getting was good.

All in all I think it will be a long time before I go shooting in a local bar again.

George

 

[stick8]

shooting in bar

son take a old man advice, go to a bar to drink, and fight. go to a pool room to shoot pool. believe me i know, 68 yrs old dont know how i sorived a few of the pool games in a bar, drugs& achocle{spell} will make a pro -player in your mind and a hewywaight in fights, got a few scares to prove it. you cant shoot pool with a drunk, he is always right. STICK

 

[Cane]

son take a old man advice, go to a bar to drink, and fight. go to a pool room to shoot pool.

Stick8. Absolutely right! I'll play in a bar for FUN only and ONLY with people I know. You never know what kind of BS rules you're going to run into in a bar, and while I've seen one shooting and a few fights in pool rooms, I've seen a LOT more happen for a LOT less in bars.

Later,
Bob

 

[Snapshot9]

More than once

I have given someone .50 (at that time) to prevent a
fight between 2 guys because someone took their
quarters. And in the bars, you run into the 'intimidators',
they can't play, and when they see they are going to lose,
they try every trick in the book to shark or intimidate you,
and they don't want to pay you because you 'cheated', and
they are usually drunk (which puts up a yellow flag for me),
and you really don't know what they will do as they are being
totally irrational. I've had guys show knives, a gun a few
times telling me to lose. One time at Burkes Steak House
when I was playing an Oklahoma road player, and had him
stuck $400, his buddy walked right up behind me while I was
playing with about 30 people sitting around the table in
booths, and stuck the point of a knive against my back, and
told me that I had better lose the next couple of sets.
Luckily, Papa Burke always kept his eye on things, and Papa
stuck a little 25 in the guy with the knives back, and kicked
his butt out, and told him he could NEVER come back. The
road player quit then and there, which upset me because
I figured he was probably good for 3 more $200 sets.

 

[Gerry]

I never really played in alot of bars, except for a few years of pool leagues, so good play was expected. Funnt hing is, I was in a "REAL" pool room earlier this week and a big commotion broke out a few tables up. 4 guys were playing 8ball, and from what I could tell all betting on every game. So, one of them makes the 8 for the game, and the other one starts FREAKING out, "you hit da rail, you hit da rail" seems the 8 ball hit the POCKET FACING on the way in and the other guy called foul!! It got so bad, the manager came over to give a "ruling" then it was over........Thats why I quit 8ball every place has a new set of rules, and you NEVER find them out til you break one of them!

Gerry

 

[chefjeff]

I was invited out by a friend the other night for a couple of beers and some pool down at the local watering hole. We`re hanging around shooting with some of the regulars for cheap money($5 bucks a game) and I was doing pretty well until I was accused of playing a dirty shot. This is what I was shooting, I had solids:

START(
%Aj3D4%Fn4H7%H`9D0%Nr2E5%OJ4D4%Ph9O9

)END

I called 6 in the corner and combo'd the 14 in the corner leaving me something like this:

START(
%Aj3D4%Fq9F4%H`9D0%OJ4D4%Pn2D1

)END

The guy I`m playing starts jumping up and down and telling me "that's a dirty shot, you`re a cheater, blah blah blah" I ask him what his problem is and he says I didn`t try to make the shot, that I intentionally shot his ball in and left him hooked. I say "Yeah, so?" He hangs his stick, mumbles something about how I`m a dirty player and he's done playing with me and he's not even finishing the game. To make it worse a bunch of the regulars were all in agreement with him. They all proceeded to quit playing acting like I was a freaking leper or something.
After a few minutes I go over and sit down next to the guy at the bar and try to explain what happened and he just goes on and on like a broken record. I gave up, he wouldn`t listen to why this is good strategy he just kept mumbling it`s a dirty shot(his main argument was that playing a safe shot is dirty pool). I bought him a drink and said have a good night and went back to the table, it was obvious that I was wasteing my time. Has anyone had a similar experience or does anyone care to explain to me a better way of handling it.
I know that different bars have their quirky little house rules and all that but this is ridiculous. I think if this guy had a gun and a couple more drinks in him I would have been in danger, he was that upset.

George<----remembers why he stopped going to bars

Ask him one question: "What shot should I have taken so you would've been sure to win?" That puts the problem back on him where it belongs. Usually they'll say something like, "Well I don't want you to shoot so I win, I just want a gentleman's game," or some other lie like that.

You could even just shoot the 8-ball in (you tried to make something!) and be done with it. Those types hate it when you do that, as it exposes their stupidity for all to see.

Jeff Livingston

 

[CaptainHook]

Our Bar has allot of league player's. But when just playing they go by Bar rules, not there league rules. You can carom off the other guys ball if you call it. You can not use the 8 Ball for Combo shots. You can make a combo using there ball's if you hit yours first. You call bank shots. And God
help you if you have to bridge over the little plastic thingy that holds the Quarters in number order. I messed up the Quarters a few weeks ago and one
drunk made a really big deal of it. Just for that i let me speed out a bit and held there table all afternoon.

 

[TheBook]

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

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

I was shooting in a Moose Lodge. I had 2 balls left and one was tied up with the 8 ball close to a pocket. I shot my 2nd to last ball for a caroom off the 8. As soon as the ball went in the other player started yelling foul. He was claiming that you cannot play a shot involving the 8. I asked him how would I ever get my ball away from the 8 and he didn't have a answer except that I committed a foul and it was his shot. Naturally all of his drunk buddies backed him up. These guys frequent the lodge on Weds when the table is open and are always arguing about some shot. Whenever someone challenges the table they start to stalling. They start goofing around by trying to make 4 rail banks, kicks and etc just to tie up the table. They take all the fun out of playing