Playing vs One Handed Players

ShanksMcShankly

ShanksMcShankly

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I understand that a lot of top players are able to play one handed quite well because they end up having to give weight to lesser players to the point of having to play them one handed. I get that and I can respect that. I have to do it sometimes too with some of my buddies. Also we'll play one handed games just to mess around sometimes.

Now what I really want to ask AZB about is players who always shoot one handed.

I go to my local dive almost every night to play. There's not really any competion there, maybe one or two real players sometimes, but a lot of my friends frequent the place and I know everybody that works there.

So it's just a small bar with a couple decent Valley tables in back. I've run into a couple of players there sometimes that shoot pretty good. Capable of running 4 regularly and I've seen them running out whole racks. The thing about it is they insist on shooting everything while holding a drink in what should be their bridge hand.

These are 2 seperate characters that don't seem to know each other and I've never seen them there together. They are playing regular bar bangers who are lucky to run 3 hangers. I see no reason for them to play one handed other than to look cool.

Now I know this has to do with my pride but when I end up playing these guys I can't allow myself to play with both hands. I figure if he's playing one handed, I will too. I don't mind losing but I'll be damed to lose to this guy while playing with both hands. If this was agreed upon weight that I needed and asked for before the game, that's one thing but this almost feels insulting to have this guy play me one handed like I'm just any chump.

Have you run into characters like these?
What do you think of these kinds of players?
Would you play them one handed or not?
 
I used to do it all the time. Right handed and left handed. I did it because the games I was in were no challenge and playing one handed improves your stroke. People really didn't like it. I stopped doing it because it can be viewed as disrespectful.
 
IMO, destroy them. Then tell them to put down the drink and pick up the cue and play like someone who gives a damn. If they still won't, then beat them again. Why do you care how they want to play? If I wanted to play with my penis hanging out, would you walk around the table with your hog hanging in the air because you thought it was "fair"? Just beat your opponent for the money and if they want to keep playing you with one hand on the cue and both eyes closed as their handicap ... just keep doubling the bet!!!
 
If they do it on every game, there's nothing personally insulting there....I'd just find it annoying

I'd shoot them two handed, get them off the table and play the next guy in line :cool:
 
Tough to believe, but I just got back from the bar playing cheap sets with the local one handed player. 7 sets. He didn't stand a chance even as bad as I play. He switched from one to two and back. He must take off the regulars. As bad as I am, I'm not the regulars.

He can play however he wants. If he wants to play against ,me, I don't give a crap. I'll play him how I know how to play. His handicapping himself is just his own embarrassment.

Freddie <~~~ feels good
 
i don't even play my wife one handed. haha! the only exception is a shot that i cant reach that doesnt require great shape on the next ball. When I am playing someone and they shoot two handed and then start to shoot one handed i just think to myself that that is their excuse for losing. it makes it a win win for them. if you beat them, its because they were using one hand. if you lose, you lost to someone playing with one hand! I personally think it is a disrespectful move. I cant stand to play against someone who switches to one handed play. so the first chance i get i beat the hell out of them and move on. and if they dont move on they are sure to tighten up and start playing eventually.you can only stand to lose so much.
 
A friend of mine just died this week, and I will miss him. Yancy played one handed out of necessity. He was shot when he was a young man, and as a result, he didn't have the use of one arm and one leg. He would have been extremely offended, if you had offered to play him one handed. He was not shy about asking you for your best game. His attitude was that of a winner, and he leaves behind, a house full of trophies. Based on his accomplishments, I learned that playing one handed is definitely a handicap that can be mastered.
 
Cornerman said:
Tough to believe, but I just got back from the bar playing cheap sets with the local one handed player. 7 sets. He didn't stand a chance even as bad as I play. He switched from one to two and back. He must take off the regulars. As bad as I am, I'm not the regulars.

He can play however he wants. If he wants to play against ,me, I don't give a crap. I'll play him how I know how to play. His handicapping himself is just his own embarrassment.

Freddie <~~~ feels good
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Yep. Beat 'em flat.
 
ChopStick said:
I used to do it all the time. Right handed and left handed. I did it because the games I was in were no challenge and playing one handed improves your stroke. People really didn't like it. I stopped doing it because it can be viewed as disrespectful.
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Really? playing one handed improves your stroke? I so disagree with this statement, who taught you this?
 
please list the names and addresses of these bars,im sure someone here might have the time to go make a score
 
scttybee said:
please list the names and addresses of these bars,im sure someone here might have the time to go make a score
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LOL!!! I often wonder this myself and last night's score for me hadn't happen for 10 years. And it's in the same bar I've been going to for the past couple months. I never thought anyone played for anything let alone cheap short sets. Race to three bar rules 8-ball, 20 a set! Sometimes it is unbelievable.

For big action in a "dive bar'" however, The Flamingo" in St Pete is one of those legendary places that occasionally has the big dime sets. I won't be doing that any time soon.

Freddie <~~~ going back to retirement
 
Highmiles said:
A friend of mine just died this week, and I will miss him. Yancy played one handed out of necessity. He was shot when he was a young man, and as a result, he didn't have the use of one arm and one leg. He would have been extremely offended, if you had offered to play him one handed. He was not shy about asking you for your best game. His attitude was that of a winner, and he leaves behind, a house full of trophies. Based on his accomplishments, I learned that playing one handed is definitely a handicap that can be mastered.
Click to expand...

I had a friend growing up and his dad had some issues and played one handed. The guy was amazing and could do just about anything a two handed player could.
 
Cornerman said:
Tough to believe, but I just got back from the bar playing cheap sets with the local one handed player. 7 sets. He didn't stand a chance even as bad as I play. He switched from one to two and back. He must take off the regulars. As bad as I am, I'm not the regulars.

He can play however he wants. If he wants to play against ,me, I don't give a crap. I'll play him how I know how to play. His handicapping himself is just his own embarrassment.

Freddie <~~~ feels good
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If I'm playing for the cash, even cheap sets, I don't care if he uses the toes on his left foot for a bridge. I will shoot 2 handed and take the cash.
 
I used to play a guy that played so much one-handed he was at least as good that way than using both. It pissed me off him beating me one-handed while I played with two. So I figured I would use it to trap him.

I went to another place for a while and practiced my one-handed game. I went back in a couple months and offered to play one-handed myself getting the 7 out. He couldn't believe how bad I was beating him this way and he lost 17 games - probably the most he had ever lost at one time and the most games I had ever beaten anyone up to that point.

Note: just want to point out that I don't play that well, but a banger giving up wild balls playing one-handed is almost impossible.
 
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onepocketron said:
I had a friend growing up and his dad had some issues and played one handed. The guy was amazing and could do just about anything a two handed player could.
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When I was younger, I beat a guy for big money ($15 or three beers?). He only played one handed so I told him he had to shoot two handed. He was better one handed. He had no chance.

I played a guy who shot every shot with his grip hand on or over his head one handed. Leominster, MA. I'm sure some of my cohorts out there know who I'm talking about. I never saw him take a shot with two hands.

If it doesn't get in your head, you aren't human.

Freddie <~~~ got enough going on in my head
 
Highmiles said:
A friend of mine just died this week, and I will miss him. Yancy played one handed out of necessity. He was shot when he was a young man, and as a result, he didn't have the use of one arm and one leg. He would have been extremely offended, if you had offered to play him one handed. He was not shy about asking you for your best game. His attitude was that of a winner, and he leaves behind, a house full of trophies. Based on his accomplishments, I learned that playing one handed is definitely a handicap that can be mastered.
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I am very sorry to hear about your friend. May Yancy rest in peace.

I would never insist on handicapping myself to even up to someone with a seriously legitimate handicap. I highly respect the fact that a person can strive to overcome the difficulties of life that most of us have no idea about. I am all about the human spirit. I want to make clear I was only referring to people who are playing one handed voluntarily and unnecessarily to fulfill some arrogantly conceited self image.

Once again, I'm so sorry about your loss. RIP Yancy.
 
There used to be a player in Atlanta named Railroad John who would play anyone 8 ball on a bar table one handed. The first time I saw him doing it, he was playing for $200 a game and winning. I think the place was called Dudleys.
 
Cornerman said:
Tough to believe, but I just got back from the bar playing cheap sets with the local one handed player. 7 sets. He didn't stand a chance even as bad as I play. He switched from one to two and back. He must take off the regulars. As bad as I am, I'm not the regulars.

He can play however he wants. If he wants to play against ,me, I don't give a crap. I'll play him how I know how to play. His handicapping himself is just his own embarrassment.

Freddie <~~~ feels good
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I believe you Freddie. This little green thing says your reputation is beyond repute ;) Way to take the guy out for the gelt. You ain't just any chump now, are you :thumbup: I guess I had better get over this whole pride thing and up the bet...

iba7467 said:
I used to play a guy that played so much one-handed he was at least as good that way than using both. It pissed me off him beating me one-handed while I played with two. So I figured I would use it to trap him.

I went to another place for a while and practiced my one-handed game. I went back in a couple months and offered to play one-handed myself getting the 7 out. He couldn't believe how bad I was beating him this way and he lost 17 games - probably the most he had ever lost at one time and the most games I had ever beaten anyone up to that point.

Note: just want to point out that I don't play that well, but a banger giving up wild balls playing one-handed is almost impossible.
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I like this idea as well. I'm going to have to use this tactic to hit him a second time. My one handed stroke ain't bad, I just haven't really used it regularly in a while. Hopefully I can polish it up good enough for a real game.

17 games sounds like a nice score though. Good job brother :thumbup:


I want to thank everybody for contributing. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one to run in to such ridiculousness out there. Even better, it's good to have a group of intelligent and reasonable people who know, love and respect the game enough for me to be able to correspond with.

Thank You AZB!
 
There was a greyghost thread in 2010 about 1 handed play
I made posts there

One Handed post #9 and
One Handed Off the Rail post #8.

Playing one handed at a high proficiency level requires steady
practice. Just like maintaining the normal parts of your game.

Learning to play one handed both on the rail and jacked up can
indeed improve your stroke.

I recommend learning and playing at least occasionally to better
your game.


 
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