Pool Hall Question

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offaxis

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Im a lowly APA 3 with a passing interest in pool. When i visit the local Pool Hall for practice maybe twice a week. I am sometimes approached and pleaded with to play a game. Its almost always the same 4 or 5 people. Im assuming sometimes with the intent on betting.Although this is never actually mentioned and most of the time they say for fun. Yes I am aware of the "activities" of the Pool Hall. I have explained multiple times that I am not a good player and playing me would be a waste of time. However at times they still plead. Lately most of these guys have understood and where ok but always one of two persist. What is the best way to deal with such a circumstance. One guy even told me that he knows I can play and simply laughed and said no I really cant....
 
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play

My advice is to play and to stick to your guns about not playing for money. Most people will lose interest in playing you after a time or two but you may meet a new friend or practice partner.

Gaff bets are a different story. No matter what a person comes up wanting to bet me I assure them that I think they are right. Like the old saying goes, if a man bets you that the jack of spades will jump out of a deck of cards and spit in your ear, get ready to clean your ear if you bet him!

Hu
 
It never hurts to play people. Especially when they are better than you. Worst that could happen is they loose interest. Best that could happen is you meet someone willing to help you out!
 
hdgis1 said:
It never hurts to play people. Especially when they are better than you. Worst that could happen is they loose interest. Best that could happen is you meet someone willing to help you out!
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Im a little reluctant on this for this reason. I was playing someone for fun when where done we went up to pay. Tha attendant wasnt at front and this guy took off....Guess what I got stuck paying for the table fees for both...But yes I do agree playing someone that is better(which is everyone at the Pool Hall) will help. But at first I was so "Raw" I choose not to play people.
 
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When you go to the pool hall, are you alone or with some friends? If you're alone, accept the offer to play but make it clear you are not interested in gambling. As others have said, if they are only interesting in hustling you, they will lose interest shortly and you'll probably never be bothered by them again.

On the other hand, like others have said, you might meet a pool partner and have some fun. You might learn something more that if you practiced by yourself. Your opponent might be willing to show you some things if yo ask...'hey, how'd you do that?'

Don't be too stand0offish, but hold you ground on your desires. If you only want to play by yourself, then do that.

Good luck with you endeavors...Ken
 
offaxis said:
Im a lowly APA 3 with a passing interest in pool. When i visit the local Pool Hall for practice maybe twice a week. I am sometimes approached and pleaded with to play a game. Its almost always the same 4 or 5 people. Im assuming sometimes with the intent on betting.Although this is never actually mentioned and most of the time they say for fun. Yes I am aware of the "activities" of the Pool Hall. I have explained multiple times that I am not a good player and playing me would be a waste of time. However at times they still plead. Lately most of these guys have understood and where ok but always one of two persist. What is the best way to deal with such a circumstance. One guy even told me that he knows I can play and simply laughed and said no I really cant....
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if you play better players you'll get better. if you don't want to improve keep turning them down
 
If I make it very clear to someone that I don't want to play with them, and they continue to bother me, I tell them to "F*ck off". I am a nice guy to everyone, but like Patrick Swayze said in Road House "Be nice, until it's time NOT to be nice."
 
I think you are right in assuming that they want to empty your pockets. Most guys hang around a pool hall because there is nothing else to do, but they don't have the money to do that either. Some don't have the money for table time but do little jobs around the ph to get some. So most are looking to get some free table time if nothing else.

Until I am known in a PH I will always get approached by someone.

One night I walked into my home PH for our league play. There was a young hot shot sitting at the bar trying to impress some chick sitting with him He asked if I wanted to play for some money. I asked how much? He said $5. I looked at him in disgust and said "I thought you wanted to play for some money not chump change. When you can afford at least $100 look me up." He backed down and said he was just messing around and wouldn't play because I am probably too good for him.

The best thing is to not play anyone during your practice session. Go in with some practice goals and take some lessons from a instructor. Get the Pro Skill Drills and how to practice DVD.

After your practice session have a little fun and play one of them for some small stakes but get a spot.


Good Luck
 
When It come's to money play one thing I've found out is to lurk around and see who's playing so you can't see what kind of player they are , I played a money came a couple weeks ago with a friend of mine and we kept it not really known and as soon as we finished this guy came out of know where and said that he'd play me for some money and I said no because I didn't know this guy ass from adam .

So After about five minutes of him going on I finally said ok lets play for a little , so we played for a drink and I told him I don't drink and so he said if I win that he'd pay me for what a drink would cost , so I said Ok and so I racked up 8-ball and go sit down , this guy breaks and get's the 8 on the snap so my reaction was like WTF and OMG and next think I know this Guy's about 2 inch's away from my face demanding the money so I kindly said here yah go .

So my advice also is play better player's or even enter some local tournaments .
 
offaxis said:
Im a little reluctant on this for this reason. I was playing someone for fun when where done we went up to pay. Tha attendant wasnt at front and this guy took off....Guess what I got stuck paying for the table fees for both...But yes I do agree playing someone that is better(which is everyone at the Pool Hall) will help. But at first I was so "Raw" I choose not to play people.
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So now you know that trick. Shouldn't happen again! Don't be scared and don't bet your wheels! have fun
 
easy-e said:
If I make it very clear to someone that I don't want to play with them, and they continue to bother me, I tell them to "F*ck off". I am a nice guy to everyone, but like Patrick Swayze said in Road House "Be nice, until it's time NOT to be nice."
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I agree here. It REALLY pisses me off when I see the same clowns harrassing s/l 3s all day long and when I walk in the room, they're busy. They lecture you on how playing better people will improve your game until it comes time for them to "improve". Then they want to play videogames. Not even for a minute should you believe they're thinking of your well-being. They want to play, keep it to table-time and/or cheap sets ($10 race to 7). It is good to play better people on a regular basis but don't go broke (or make someone rich) in the process.
 
It's always the same guys hanging out in the same pool halls most of the time. They are trying to sucker you in to playing for money. They want to play you for fun, let you win a couple. They'll hang a couple of balls up in the corner at the end of the game so you'll think maybe i can take this guy. Then they'll get you for 20 or so, you'll leave thinking how can I be so stupid. Just stay away from them. That's not from personal experience, but I've seen it done many times. Sometimes when I not playing I just sit and observe people and all the scams that are pulled in pool rooms. Some of these guys are very smart, they have not lived their lives like they are, but they are.
 
Great post and info...I am not the betting type of person and do not really like to Gamble...I dont mind playing for fun...but as another person has mentioned most people dont have your well been in interest...I think now that these people know who I am they dont approach me...Some even come up to me and say Hi in a respectful manner....Im sure some have seen me practice and said Yeah he really cant play...lol....Great Feedback and much appreciated...
 
offaxis said:
Im a little reluctant on this for this reason. I was playing someone for fun when where done we went up to pay. Tha attendant wasnt at front and this guy took off....Guess what I got stuck paying for the table fees for both...But yes I do agree playing someone that is better(which is everyone at the Pool Hall) will help. But at first I was so "Raw" I choose not to play people.
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That's terrible on the pool hall's part. You should have paid for your own portion of the table time, and told them that if they want the rest of the money, they'll need to track down the guy they just allowed to walk out on the check.

But anyway, sure most of them are trying to take your money. But you're in control of the situation; they can't win what you don't bet. So you really might as well play.

-Andrew
 
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