POOL ETIQUETTE ... Everything You Need to Know

[GoldCrown]

I tried to encourage proper etiquette at my clubhouse years ago for obvious reasons.

Results : Everyone hates me. I hate everyone.

 

[dr_dave]

I tried to encourage proper etiquette at my clubhouse years ago for obvious reasons.

Results : Everyone hates me. I hate everyone.

It's not good etiquette to hate. :grin-square:

All you can do is try,
Dave

 

[Pete]

Thanks. I wanted to film this video with Samm Diep (who lives in Denver), but I thought it was best to maintain "social distancing."

When this nasty virus goes away, Samm and I should do a follow-up video together on "Male-Female Pool Etiquette." I think that could be fun and entertaining.

Regards,
Dave

Or you could dress both parts lol...

 

[Sealegs50]

Really good video that should be common knowledge, but sometimes is not practiced. I added a few specific comments.

You mentioned not offering unrequested advice. I would take it a step further and say never make any comments during a game either positive or negative about how your opponent is playing. “Wow, you’re playing much better today!” or “Interesting that you shoot well but you don’t draw your cue straight back.”

Don’t make a hard break shot when the person on the table next to you is down and ready to shoot.

Don’t make a commotion on an adjacent table when a player is shooting. There is a team in our league where one of their players will shout out “Time Out” and will walk around the table and offering coaching advice pretty loudly when I am ready to shoot at the 8-ball. I have come to expect it from this guy, but it is still out of line.

 

[dr_dave]

Thanks. I wanted to film this video with Samm Diep (who lives in Denver), but I thought it was best to maintain "social distancing."

When this nasty virus goes away, Samm and I should do a follow-up video together on "Male-Female Pool Etiquette." I think that could be fun and entertaining.

Or you could dress both parts lol...

I actually thought of doing that. It would be great with my hairy legs.

But Samm is much prettier.

Thanks for the encouragement though,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Really good video that should be common knowledge, but sometimes is not practiced. I added a few specific comments.

You mentioned not offering unrequested advice. I would take it a step further and say never make any comments during a game either positive or negative about how your opponent is playing. “Wow, you’re playing much better today!” or “Interesting that you shoot well but you don’t draw your cue straight back.”

Or "Good shot" when the shot was good but the shape sucks.

Don’t make a hard break shot when the person on the table next to you is down and ready to shoot.

Don’t make a commotion on an adjacent table when a player is shooting. There is a team in our league where one of their players will shout out “Time Out” and will walk around the table and offering coaching advice pretty loudly when I am ready to shoot at the 8-ball. I have come to expect it from this guy, but it is still out of line.

Good ones. With all of the additional ideas people have posted here and on Facebook and YouTube, I could have easily had 100 items of etiquette (instead of 50) in the video.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[fastone371]

Great video Dr. Dave!!!

How about a league specific rule, when it is your turn to play dont go run to the bathroom or head to the bar to order another drink or make your team mates go find you. If you were paying the slightest bit of attention to the match you should gain a pretty good idea when your game is up.

 

[logical]

Until this virus is a thing of the past, maybe don't use your spit to clean a mark off the cue ball.

I appreciate the effort but have found that sensible advice about attire just makes the saggy pants crowd dig their heels in deeper and cut the sleeves of another jeans jacket.

Sent from the future.

 

[dr_dave]

Great video Dr. Dave!!!

Thanks!!!

How about a league specific rule, when it is your turn to play dont go run to the bathroom or head to the bar to order another drink or make your team mates go find you. If you were paying the slightest bit of attention to the match you should gain a pretty good idea when your game is up.

I'm sorry I didn't think to include this. There's a guy on my team who has an uncanny ability to disappear just before it is his turn to play ... almost every time. He is either in the restroom, or getting quarters, or getting a drink, or all of the above. It pisses me off because I think it is so rude to make so many people wait for you like that.

Catch you later,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Until this virus is a thing of the past, maybe don't use your spit to clean a mark off the cue ball.

Good point. Sticking licked fingers in a shared peanut butter jar is also probably not a "best practice" in today's world.

I appreciate the effort but have found that sensible advice about attire just makes the saggy pants crowd dig their heels in deeper and cut the sleeves of another jeans jacket.

I hope I made the schtik look stupid enough for some people to actually think twice about it. I know ... I'm dreaming.

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

I just though of one I didn't include and nobody has mentioned yet:

"Don't pound or tap the table or rails while a ball is rolling, hoping it will slow down."

That ain't right,
Dave

 

[ChrisinNC]

I just though of one I didn't include and nobody has mentioned yet:

"Don't pound or tap the table or rails while a ball is rolling, hoping it will slow down."

That ain't right,
Dave

Did I miss it or did you mention the shooter not placing their hand anywhere near a pocket to catch a cue ball that you think might be on the verge of going in the pocket, and then pulling your hand away at the last second and claiming you didn't touch it when/if it doesn't fall? That should constitute an automatic foul in my book.

Also, how about avoiding a premature "nice shot" comment to your opponent (the shooter) before the ball even gets to get to the pocket, and then it doesn't even go in, or just as bad, the "nice shot" comment to the shooter before the cue ball stops rolling and the shooter ends up hooking themselves, or scratching.

 

[dr_dave]

Did I miss it or did you mention the shooter not placing their hand anywhere near a pocket to catch a cue ball that you think might be on the verge of going in the pocket, and then pulling your hand away at the last second and claiming you didn't touch it when/if it doesn't fall?

Nope ... wasn't included and nobody else has mentioned it.

It is amazing how many things are bad etiquette or annoying or sharking moves.

Keep them coming,
Dave

 

[ChrisinNC]

Nope ... wasn't included and nobody else has mentioned it.

It is amazing how many things are bad etiquette or annoying or sharking moves.

Keep them coming,
Dave

Dave, I added another one to my previous text, if you read it. We have an older player in our room that is guilty of doing it all the time - he just can't break the habit even when I constantly point it out to him.

 

[dr_dave]

Dave, I added another one to my previous text, if you read it. We have an older player in our room that is guilty of doing it all the time - he just can't break the habit even when I constantly point it out to him.

Yep. A couple of people have mentioned the passive aggressive “Nice shot” in YouTube and Facebook.

Thanks for the additions,,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Anybody else care to share a "pet peeve" that hasn't been demonstrated or mentioned yet?

FYI, I just posted a new video:

NV J.44 – POOL ETIQUETTE ... Everything You Need to Know​

The 50 topics in 10 categories covered (with linked time-stamps) include:

1. Table [0:09]
-- 1a. Don’t lean or sit
-- 1b. Don’t get on table
-- 1c. No food or drinks
-- 1d. Respect “house rules”
2. Balls [0:50]
-- 2a. Don’t dump balls
-- 2b. Don’t tap balls
-- 2c. Don’t slam balls
-- 2d. Don’t hit OBs
-- 2e. Scrape miscue marks
3. Cues [1:39]
-- 3a. Don’t slap balls
-- 3b. Don’t slam the table
-- 3c. Don’t be Tom Cruise
-- 3d. Don’t pull a cue while somebody is shooting
4. Chalk and Talc [2:26]
-- 4a. Don’t put the chalk face down
-- 4b. Don’t use excessive talc
-- 4c. Don’t chalk over the table
-- 4d. Don’t chalk after your shot
-- 4e. Don’t leave your chalk on the table
5. Rules [3:21]
-- 5a. Use the “official rules of pool”
-- 5b. Know the rules
-- 5c. Be clear about rules
6. Fouls [4:10]
-- 6a. Be honest
-- 6b. Use impartial bystander or smartphone video
7. Behavior [4:43]
-- 7a. Dress appropriately
-- 7b. Pay attention
-- 7c. Stay away from the table
-- 7d. Control your anger
-- 7e. Don’t eat while playing
-- 7f. Use your cue only
8. Interaction [6:05]
-- 8a. Be courteous
-- 8b. Don’t offer unwanted advice
-- 8c. Don’t linger
-- 8d. Be a gracious winner
-- 8e. Don’t be a sore loser
9. Sharking [7:19]
-- 9a. Sit
-- 9b. Be still
-- 9c. Be quiet
-- 9d. Don’t be a bully
-- 9e. Don’t play slow
-- 9f. Don’t take bad breaks.
-- 9g. Don’t break down your cue
-- 9h. Don’t start getting up
10. General [8:46]
-- 10a. Have sportsmanship
-- 10b. Respect other tables
-- 10c. Don’t stop if walking by
-- 10d. Play your best
-- 10e. Respect your surroundings
-- 10f. Treat women with respect
-- 10g. Leave everything the way you found it
-- 10h. Have fun

Please check it out and let me know what you think. As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, and questions.

Enjoy,
Dave

 

[fastone371]

Anybody else care to share a "pet peeve" that hasn't been demonstrated or mentioned yet?

I dont know what you would call it but it seems like its always the same people that send the cue ball flying off the table when breaking because they have the back of their cue jacked up.

 

[dr_dave]

I dont know what you would call it but it seems like its always the same people that send the cue ball flying off the table when breaking because they have the back of their cue jacked up.

... and they try to use more power than they can control. And some of them might be trying to create an artificial (and useless) "pop" break.

Good one,
Dave

 

[book collector]

FYI, I just posted a new video:

NV J.44 – POOL ETIQUETTE ... Everything You Need to Know​

The 50 topics in 10 categories covered (with linked time-stamps) include:

1. Table [0:09]
-- 1a. Don’t lean or sit
-- 1b. Don’t get on table
-- 1c. No food or drinks
-- 1d. Respect “house rules”
2. Balls [0:50]
-- 2a. Don’t dump balls
-- 2b. Don’t tap balls
-- 2c. Don’t slam balls
-- 2d. Don’t hit OBs
-- 2e. Scrape miscue marks
3. Cues [1:39]
-- 3a. Don’t slap balls
-- 3b. Don’t slam the table
-- 3c. Don’t be Tom Cruise
-- 3d. Don’t pull a cue while somebody is shooting
4. Chalk and Talc [2:26]
-- 4a. Don’t put the chalk face down
-- 4b. Don’t use excessive talc
-- 4c. Don’t chalk over the table
-- 4d. Don’t chalk after your shot
-- 4e. Don’t leave your chalk on the table
5. Rules [3:21]
-- 5a. Use the “official rules of pool”
-- 5b. Know the rules
-- 5c. Be clear about rules
6. Fouls [4:10]
-- 6a. Be honest
-- 6b. Use impartial bystander or smartphone video
7. Behavior [4:43]
-- 7a. Dress appropriately
-- 7b. Pay attention
-- 7c. Stay away from the table
-- 7d. Control your anger
-- 7e. Don’t eat while playing
-- 7f. Use your cue only
8. Interaction [6:05]
-- 8a. Be courteous
-- 8b. Don’t offer unwanted advice
-- 8c. Don’t linger
-- 8d. Be a gracious winner
-- 8e. Don’t be a sore loser
9. Sharking [7:19]
-- 9a. Sit
-- 9b. Be still
-- 9c. Be quiet
-- 9d. Don’t be a bully
-- 9e. Don’t play slow
-- 9f. Don’t take bad breaks.
-- 9g. Don’t break down your cue
-- 9h. Don’t start getting up
10. General [8:46]
-- 10a. Have sportsmanship
-- 10b. Respect other tables
-- 10c. Don’t stop if walking by
-- 10d. Play your best
-- 10e. Respect your surroundings
-- 10f. Treat women with respect
-- 10g. Leave everything the way you found it
-- 10h. Have fun

Please check it out and let me know what you think. As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, and questions.

Enjoy,
Dave

If only people could just do these things , there would be so many less hospital trips and orthodontics bills.

 

[Imotv8u]

Here’s another. Don’t break until the racker has had time to get out of the way.