Playing for $$ make you a better player? Depends who yo are.

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
There are two trains of thought on AZ about if you need to gamble to get better at pool. This is just I. I have been gambling on things since I've been 10 years old…pool since I was 13. If I'm playing someone for a small amount of money or for a beer, or funnsies, I can't bare down with that killer thing. I shoot my best when I'm playing for an amount that matters to me if I loose. I was never comfortable playing for more than $20 a game or $200 to $300 a set with someone equal to me in talent.

I'm not saying that you have to gamble to be a very good player, there are players like Ralf, Jasmin, Allison, and others that prove that wrong. But for me I shoot at a higher level when I'm playing for a decent amount of money. Again, this is just me. Others might not need the pressure to play well.

I can't tell you how many times over the years I've seen a guy run many 100's in 14.1 or racks of 8-ball for time or nothing, and look like a champion doing it that couldn't beat a "B" player for the money. Johnnyt
 
I think everyone plays pool for different reasons and plays good for different reasons also. :smile:
 
Johnnyt said:
There are two trains of thought on AZ about if you need to gamble to get better at pool. This is just I. I have been gambling on things since I've been 10 years old…pool since I was 13. If I'm playing someone for a small amount of money or for a beer, or funnsies, I can't bare down with that killer thing. I shoot my best when I'm playing for an amount that matters to me if I loose. I was never comfortable playing for more than $20 a game or $200 to $300 a set with someone equal to me in talent.

I'm not saying that you have to gamble to be a very good player, there are players like Ralf, Jasmin, Allison, and others that prove that wrong. But for me I shoot at a higher level when I'm playing for a decent amount of money. Again, this is just me. Others might not need the pressure to play well.

I can't tell you how many times over the years I've seen a guy run many 100's in 14.1 or racks of 8-ball for time or nothing, and look like a champion doing it that couldn't beat a "B" player for the money. Johnnyt
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If you broke into this game like me playing for money it is very difficult to play for free. However, if you never gambled on the game and are a competitive person who hates to lose, playing for free could easily work.

Two people I know one just recently passed and the other has quit the game would literally run hundreds of balls everyday for icewater. If they bet just $10 dollars against someone who could play they were dead. Doesn't mean they can't play it just means they can't play for money.
 
I agree

I agree with you Johnny, it really depends on how you broke it. But everyone has a comfort zone. I'm a player who plays no matter what. Like a cheap set of race to 3 for 5 [which is basically a race for time] or a race to 7 for 150. It's entirely up to the player, though I have a question for you, and any other forum members who feel like laying an opinion out for me. [ I swear Im not high jacking. Got too much respect for jt] But i have a few buddies that are willing to practice with me, and they always always say win lose or draw that they would be running out for higher dollar amounts. Yet these guys on the practice side are getting beaten 7-2 or worse.

So do you really only 'play' or show your 'hand' in pool when you have too? Because I know one of these practice players in particular will give me the 8 on any day of the week due. He feels he can beat me out of it, and I've proven him wrong, that's actually how I got my predator 314-2. Anyway I digress. Is it really something people do, practice with friends or whatever and lay down so to speak? Trying to set the bait for an easy mark or is it just literally a mind set of "we're just practicing i'll f**k around and not try"??
 
n33njah said:
or is it just literally a mind set of "we're just practicing i'll f**k around and not try"??
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It depends on the person of course, but I think some people aren't motivated by practice games to bear down like they would in a serious game.
 
If I'm playing for 0$$$ or next to nothing and I have a long tough cut, I'm probably not going to give it my all unless I hate the guy I'm playing. That same shot for $10 or more a game I'm going all in to make it. I just can't bare down unless there is enough riding on it. But that's just me. Johnnyt
 
n33njah said:
I agree with you Johnny, it really depends on how you broke it. But everyone has a comfort zone. I'm a player who plays no matter what. Like a cheap set of race to 3 for 5 [which is basically a race for time] or a race to 7 for 150. It's entirely up to the player, though I have a question for you, and any other forum members who feel like laying an opinion out for me. [ I swear Im not high jacking. Got too much respect for jt] But i have a few buddies that are willing to practice with me, and they always always say win lose or draw that they would be running out for higher dollar amounts. Yet these guys on the practice side are getting beaten 7-2 or worse.

So do you really only 'play' or show your 'hand' in pool when you have too? Because I know one of these practice players in particular will give me the 8 on any day of the week due. He feels he can beat me out of it, and I've proven him wrong, that's actually how I got my predator 314-2. Anyway I digress. Is it really something people do, practice with friends or whatever and lay down so to speak? Trying to set the bait for an easy mark or is it just literally a mind set of "we're just practicing i'll f**k around and not try"??
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Once you hit a certain level, playing for "funsies" is just plain bad for your game. You'll fire at stuff you normally play safe on, because you "know" your guy can't get out. You go three rails instead of one, just to look amazing, knowing you shouldn't or wouldn't for the cash. Then, before you know it, you've developed some bad habits.

There has to be something out there to play for. Whether it's an extreme fu@#ing with you're gonna get by losing, or a little moolah, or tournament, or really trying to make the cheese. Something.
 
I rarely ............ very rarely .......... gamble in pool. But I know it does make me bear down and play a better game. Just as an example, I shoot over at a friends house fairly regularly and one guy who plays there often has a decent game, but not nearly as good as my own IMO. We were playing some games just for fun and I think we played 7 games and he had won 3 of the seven when we decided to play a race to 7 for a $5.00 to try and make us both play our best games. I won the race 7-1 mainly because my concentration level jumped up to the next level even though it was only for $5.00.
 
TX Poolnut said:
I don't think gambling my money away makes me play better.
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I agree, and if I gamble more than a Buck A SET, the MONEY BECOME a Major distraction, like someone tugging on my Belt loop as I am shooting.

I understand there are those who are so Stone Cold, the money at risk is never a distraction, or they are playing with a backers money so all they could loose is that backer if they loose..:cool:
 
These days, playing for money, doesn't mean as much as it used to. A very successful tournament player can survive out there, without gambling.

Growing up, the measuring stick, was how you played for money. If you wouldn't, or couldn't, play for money, you were looked down upon, by your peers. It was that simple.

Of course, there were people out there with backers, that would jump all over a player unwilling to put it on the line. What made them any better than the other guy?

I gambled quite a bit. I had two rules. I only played people that were willing to loose as much as I was. I also played with my own money. I tried backer's, early on in my life, and never felt comfortable playing with their money.
 
The most I will do is race to 5 for $5 or $10.

And I always approach playing for money the same way. I'm assuming the other guy is trying to hustle me. So I play the same no matter what. I may play a safety instead of going for a difficult shot, but no biggie. I figure they are missing on purpose. And to be honest I'd rather play someone who is actually better than I am or on the same level.

Most of the time I'm right. I had a guy down $20 to me, so I figured I'd see if he was going to play or what. Bet the whole $20, give him the break, and he puts a 3 pack together on 8 ball. Needless to say he won his $20 back.

But I left with the money I came in with.
 
No matter what, it just comes down to the person. If you just want to be the best pool player you can be, you take every shot serious. Most of my pool friends don't like to gamble or don't have the extra money to lose so we have no problem playing serious games of 1p and sets of 9 ball for free. They all play better than me, so I have the added pressure no matter what. I put the same amount of pressure on myself no matter what I'm playing for. A tounament, money or free. I just like to win and improve my game. Unless I'm out drinking with friends and just banging balls. Then, I don't care what happens.

I understand most players don't feel the same way, but that's just me.
 
Johnnyt said:
I can't tell you how many times over the years I've seen a guy run many 100's in 14.1 or racks of 8-ball for time or nothing, and look like a champion doing it that couldn't beat a "B" player for the money. Johnnyt
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You are exactly right. There is a world of difference between freewheeling for nothing and playing when it will cost you something if you miss. A player can say what they want but it is not the same. I may run a 100 like nothing because I will go for shots and extend a run I would never go for playing for real. That is just the way it is and applies to all other games in pool. Until you can do it when it counts, your skills are always suspect and there is a little less respect for the player who won't put up and take a real risk.

I have seen a zillion players lose in tournaments and as much as they wanted to will it is not the same as gambling your money. Another thing about gambling, you are the one who determines when it is time to quit, not so in a tournament. Gambling you often have to make the tough decision to maybe try to hang in there even against what looks like long odds to the railbirds. None of this matters in tournaments. Once the entry fee is put up you have no more decision making to do or added risk.
 
Just like I know fifty guys around here that might can hang in some fifty dollar sets. For five hundred? 2 or 3.
 
cleary said:
No matter what, it just comes down to the person. If you just want to be the best pool player you can be, you take every shot serious. Most of my pool friends don't like to gamble or don't have the extra money to lose so we have no problem playing serious games of 1p and sets of 9 ball for free. They all play better than me, so I have the added pressure no matter what. I put the same amount of pressure on myself no matter what I'm playing for. A tounament, money or free. I just like to win and improve my game. Unless I'm out drinking with friends and just banging balls. Then, I don't care what happens.

I understand most players don't feel the same way, but that's just me.
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You would think so but you will take shots and chances that may pay off giving the impression of a better level of play you would not do for your cash no matter what you say. The same with your opponent. He may make it easier then he would if it was going to cost him something as well. You will play more loose for nothing whether you know you are or not, that is just the way it is. Fun play is not a test of anything. If anything is is a false test of ones real skill. That is the reason gamblers have such little respect for fun players. Nothing means nothing unless there is something on the line.

I have to add this though. Tournament play will bring out the dog in most anybody and many times even a hardened money player. Money players actually find gambling to be a relaxing thing without a lot of added pressure. When you are gambling you are evaluating the game and often at a point even if you are behind know you will win, it is just a matter of time. That is a very comforting thing to know. Tournament play though is more like sudden death. You can lose to a guy you can give the 7 ball to and have to just suck it up and shake hands. If you were gambling with the same guy you would just say "Raise the bet".
 
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thanks

I appreciate the replies. I'm the type of player that plays because I love the game. I just love how every single time i take a night and play I learn a bunch of new things. Even though I've been seriously playing for about 2 and a half years. [ Serious meaning i went from a ball banger to studying english and playing every day for about 2 hours]

So for me playing for 'funsies' or fakesies doesnt hurt your game. It helps -IF- you are smart enough to realize that no matter what the bet, what the stakes, who the person the right shot......IS the right shot haha. I learned that the hard way. So I appreciate the answers in declaring that. Because alot of the guys in my area have the attitude of "Oh well practicing you beat me, but put 25 on the light i'll give you the 8" We do and I pull a good set from em like 9-6 9-7 and i'll admit some of those guys do beat me when giving weight. But yeah it's just weird trying to logically understand the 'New age hustle' mentality that these people employ.
 
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