Player that Won't Take a Spot - Steady Income

Get_A_Grip

Get_A_Grip

Truth Will Set You Free
Silver Member
I was just wondering how common this phenomenon is...

An ex-road player/hustler at a pool hall that I occasionally frequent has a regular one-pocket game with a guy that he has totally out-classed... The ex-road player is easily a few balls better than the other guy...but the guy just won't take a spot. From what I've seen, they've been playing for years.

Both guys are retired...and the ex-road player told me that he makes a solid and steady $200 a month from this guy. Because he's so much better, he usually makes a few balls...and then ducks and plays safe. I was there on the day where the ex-road player, after beating the guy again, asked him if he wanted a spot of a couple balls--and the other guy got totally ticked-off and cussed the guy for even suggesting that he needs a spot. The ex-roadie mentioned this to me also...and told me how guys like him is what allows him not to have to work (he also usually hustles younger guys by stalling and then finishing them off at the end). He also gambles at golf in the summer to add some additional income.

I guess for a hustler...this is a dream come true. A regular opponent that has cash, doesn't mind losing, has an ego, won't take a spot...and keeps coming back for more... Sweet deal for the ex-roadie, I guess... Anyone else have a regular "sweet deal" like this?
 
Some guys have too much pride.......lol The ex roadie has made a mistake though, if he really wanted to hustle in your area, HE should be asking for the spot........ :D
I used to play with a guy who played the Texas area in the 60s, he was pretty much the best guy in the room no matter where he was with a few exceptions. After he quit the road, people would still come looking for him, and he would whine and make excuses till he got them to spot him. It was hillarious. I had seen the guy string 7-8 racks or 9 ball together, 100 ball runs in straights came out his ears.... and he was getting spots from guys he should have been giving the last 4 or 5 to in 9 ball.
Chuck
 
Sometimes the guy that doesn't take the spot he needs is going to be the guy you're asking for a spot from in the future. Sometime losing money is a big enough motivation to pick up a persons game.
 
Just in the game...

I think this is a situation where the "mark" just wants to feel that he's "in the game" with the experienced ex-road player.

I also find it somewhat hard to believe that two regulars could play for years....and the MUCH better player would still be GETTING the spot... I guess it's possible...but more than likely....a good hustler can get the spot by only occassionally playing the "mark"...but it wouldn't likely happen if they were playing every week regularly for years...

I've found that some of the other regulars tend to get envious of the steady income...and will eventually, even if "jokingly", make statements to knock the good players action....so eventually, the "mark" will get wise to it over time...

EDIT: In this case, because the much better player already offered the guy a spot....there is no action to knock...
 
Get_A_Grip said:
I was just wondering how common this phenomenon is...
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Not very common. It's much more common for someone who doesn't need a spot to be asking for one.
 
Maybe the guy with the $200.00 to loose is hoping to be a winner someday, the $200.00 could be nothing to him but fun money, like what you put in the Slots in Sin City...
 
PoolSleuth said:
Maybe the guy with the $200.00 to loose is hoping to be a winner someday, the $200.00 could be nothing to him but fun money, like what you put in the Slots in Sin City...
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Could be. Maybe the joy of his week is just to play the "hustler" - I mean how many people playing get to have a really good player play them every week - he doesn't need to ask, match up, etc. Trade off is some $$ which might not mean that much to him.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
 
Jack Madden said:
Could be. Maybe the joy of his week is just to play the "hustler" - I mean how many people playing get to have a really good player play them every week - he doesn't need to ask, match up, etc. Trade off is some $$ which might not mean that much to him.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
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What else could it be?

I've been playing for a few years now, and my game is improving, but I will still kill to play some of the better players in my area for a length of time. How else can I really get better? Beating local stiffs is not going to elevate my game as quickly as I could hope for.
 
I don't take spots. Simply because I never gamble more money than I am prepared to lose. Also I don't like winning with spots, its a hollow victory. I'd rather lose and learn something.
 
How often do they play? How much is wagered?

If they play 20 times a month that's only $10 a day.

10 times a month is $20 a day.

Seems to me that the guy doing the hustling is the so called "loser" in this matchup. If he wanted lessons from this guy he might have to pay $30 to $50 an hour. Now he gets to play all day for basically peanuts.

Reminds me of the old couple who were seeing a sex therapist. After several sessions of going there and having sex the therapist asked why they came to see her, they didn't have any sex problems. They told her that when they go there Medicare pays the bill. It was a lot cheaper than going to a motel.

Jake
 
How much...

jjinfla said:
How often do they play? How much is wagered?

Seems to me that the guy doing the hustling is the so called "loser" in this matchup. If he wanted lessons from this guy he might have to pay $30 to $50 an hour. Now he gets to play all day for basically peanuts.

Jake
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I think that they are playing for $50 a set (edit: I think the set is first to win 2 games) -- and it seems like they play one or two sets each time they play (which I think is once per week).

Although fairly cheap....this is a case where the weaker player has no chance of ever learning enough to ever get better than the other player. At this point, it's not a issue with gaining the knowledge...but an issue where the weaker player just doesn't have the talent, skill, form, etc., to ever gain on the better player.... Remember, they are both older retired guys that probably won't be moving up drastically in the level of play anymore...
 
old school bs

I don't know this guy but maybe when he was younger everyone told him he had to play better people to get better and that weight would slow the learning process.Like most players after some time, in my case years you find out that that is bu####it!You learn by asking someone who knows and has no reason to lie to you about the game.As for the whole weight hurting your game if you ask for balls ie;last 4 or 5 that might hurt your learning process but getting enough games on the wire to make that roadie bear down is going to help your game!
 
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