pool room etiquette

L

lorider

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
last night i went to play in my apa scotch doubles league. we use 2 tables since we play both 8 and 9 ball. we also get free time after league for an hour or so...some times till the place closes if its not too busy.

well last night the place was hopping with league players and a bunch of occasional players. almost every table was taken. we have 18 -9 footers and 13 bar tables iirc. even had robb saez giving a lesson to a regular on a 9' ...which btw i am gonna be taking a lesson from soon.

any way we just got through with 8 ball and was still playing 9 ball doubles on one of the tables. i happened to go up to the counter to get a drink refilled and there was 2 couples together wanting a bar table. the counter girl told them she only had 1- 9' available.

they started to take it but i mentioned we had just got through with 1 bar table if they wanted it. they said they would gladly take it and the counter girl asked if i would unlock it for them since she was snowed under...i said sure.

so the group followed me back to the table...as i was unlocking it i told them we were in the middle of a match and i would appreciate it if they were carefull not to disturb the match in progress.

although they were obviously new to pool they were very carefull not to disturb our match in progress even though they had to wait several times for one of the league players to make a shot. these tables are damn near on top of each other.

gotta say i was pleased with those new peoples etiquette.
 
That's an awesome story! Thanks for taking the time to share some "positive"! :)
 
Person A shooting at a table, next to a table full of prestigious league players:
Person B "Don't you know i'm in the APA shooting a league match?"
Person A "Oh ok let me hold my game up for you, where are my manners?"
 
lorider said:
last night i went to play in my apa scotch doubles league. we use 2 tables since we play both 8 and 9 ball. we also get free time after league for an hour or so...some times till the place closes if its not too busy.

well last night the place was hopping with league players and a bunch of occasional players. almost every table was taken. we have 18 -9 footers and 13 bar tables iirc. even had robb saez giving a lesson to a regular on a 9' ...which btw i am gonna be taking a lesson from soon.

any way we just got through with 8 ball and was still playing 9 ball doubles on one of the tables. i happened to go up to the counter to get a drink refilled and there was 2 couples together wanting a bar table. the counter girl told them she only had 1- 9' available.

they started to take it but i mentioned we had just got through with 1 bar table if they wanted it. they said they would gladly take it and the counter girl asked if i would unlock it for them since she was snowed under...i said sure.

so the group followed me back to the table...as i was unlocking it i told them we were in the middle of a match and i would appreciate it if they were carefull not to disturb the match in progress.

although they were obviously new to pool they were very carefull not to disturb our match in progress even though they had to wait several times for one of the league players to make a shot. these tables are damn near on top of each other.

gotta say i was pleased with those new peoples etiquette.
Click to expand...

Sometimes just saying something up front is all it takes. In my opinion, it is the responsibility of the pool hall, room, etc. to make these things clear to the customers, especially if they know they are not regulars. I can't tell you how many times I wish someone had said "Hey guys we have a tournament in progress so please be very aware of people shooting."

Good story.

KMRUNOUT
 
KMRUNOUT said:
Sometimes just saying something up front is all it takes. In my opinion, it is the responsibility of the pool hall, room, etc. to make these things clear to the customers, especially if they know they are not regulars. I can't tell you how many times I wish someone had said "Hey guys we have a tournament in progress so please be very aware of people shooting."

Good story.

KMRUNOUT
Click to expand...

Totally, I wish someone where I play would tell the APA'ers (who come in exactly 1 time a week and don't tip) to stay out of the way of the regulars (like me, 4-6 times a week).

Before you get all pissy about me bashing APA, I'm not...I'm bashing the APA players for not policing themselves, for sitting on the tables next to the ones they are playing on, for not getting out of the way of non-league players, for generally acting like they own the place because they grace it with their presence one time a week.

I guess I am bashing the APA, they don't tell their people to not $hit on every other patron of the places they play.
 
ElCorazonFrio said:
Totally, I wish someone where I play would tell the APA'ers (who come in exactly 1 time a week and don't tip) to stay out of the way of the regulars (like me, 4-6 times a week).

Before you get all pissy about me bashing APA, I'm not...I'm bashing the APA players for not policing themselves, for sitting on the tables next to the ones they are playing on, for not getting out of the way of non-league players, for generally acting like they own the place because they grace it with their presence one time a week.

I guess I am bashing the APA, they don't tell their people to not $hit on every other patron of the places they play.
Click to expand...

You know, I absolutely see your point...and agree that respect should be expressed on BOTH sides. :)
 
Thats cool! But obviously expectations are set so low for AVERAGE leauge players when someone shows common courtesy we all are AMAZED!!! Good job though¡
 
Dave-Kat said:
I could go on, and on, and on. But I won't. It's useless.

-Kat
Click to expand...
Well we all know league players ARE NOT pool players! But wait they are! Theyre whats keeping our sport alive. But they suck! But they are now " pool" wtf???? Who knows i guess right?
 
Dave-Kat said:
I could go on, and on, and on. But I won't. It's useless.

-Kat
Click to expand...

what's useless is *****in and moanin about clueless or thoughtless players instead of educating them.

BmoreMoney said:
Well we all know league players ARE NOT pool players! But wait they are! Theyre whats keeping our sport alive. But they suck! But they are now " pool" wtf???? Who knows i guess right?
Click to expand...

it takes every one who picks up a cue to keep the sport alive

ElCorazonFrio said:
Totally, I wish someone where I play would tell the APA'ers (who come in exactly 1 time a week and don't tip) to stay out of the way of the regulars (like me, 4-6 times a week).

Before you get all pissy about me bashing APA, I'm not...I'm bashing the APA players for not policing themselves, for sitting on the tables next to the ones they are playing on, for not getting out of the way of non-league players, for generally acting like they own the place because they grace it with their presence one time a week.

I guess I am bashing the APA, they don't tell their people to not $hit on every other patron of the places they play.
Click to expand...

why not be that some one ? as for 1 night a week . i play 5. i know of at least 40 apa players that play 2-3 and more nights a week.

billiardthought said:
Person A shooting at a table, next to a table full of prestigious league players:
Person B "Don't you know i'm in the APA shooting a league match?"
Person A "Oh ok let me hold my game up for you, where are my manners?"
Click to expand...

it goes both ways.

i started this thread in response to a couple of posts i had read in other threads regarding lack of eitiquite by new or social players.

in my op i happened to mention i was playing league during my encounter with new players. as par for the course on this forum the word league in general and apa in particular drew a number of negative responses that have nothing to do with the thread title.

i am sure most of you have every right to feel the way you do about leagues based on your encounters with league members. with a quarter of a million members in apa i am sure there are quite a number of drunks.... nits.... selfish...and outright assholes in that organization.

the thing is ...there are quite a few members like me also.

i know i am not the only one who treats people like i want to be treated.

i know i am not the only one who is serious about pool.

i know i am not the only one who has taken lessons or bought instructional material.

i know i am not the only one who has spent more money on cues and cases than they really needed to.

as for me personally....

i play 5 nights a week , my g/f plays 2. we spend on average 100.00 a week on food...drinks and table time. during playoffs.. tri cups ...etc its not unusual for our tab to run 100.00 from fri to sun.

for every negative league instance you remark i can counter with a positive.

for every positive non league instance you state i can reply with a negative.

having known personally a room owner and hung out there quite frequently that relied strictly on non league players i know full well what big spenders they are.

upon hearing he was about to go under my apa lo decided to help him out and hold a 9 ball tri cup there. the room owner said he made more money from fri night to sunday than he made in 3 months relying on his regular customers.

my g/f also worked there and said most would come in and play 2-3 hours without so much as buying a single drink. she said she averaged 10.00 a day in tips. she now works part time at another pool hall that caters to leagues and the younger crowd and averages 65.00 a day in tips.

wanna tell me again what big spenders you non league players are ?
 
My experience has been pretty positive when encountering new players or unaware players concerning pool etiquette. A gentle mention of what they did or should do is all it usually takes. They also see that I give them the same in return. I have a number of new players thank me for making them aware. That being said, I have some horror stories.

Al
 
lorider said:
why not be that some one ? as for 1 night a week . i play 5. i know of at least 40 apa players that play 2-3 and more nights a week.
Click to expand...

I have been that someone, it hasn't worked.

On more than one occasion the APA have complained about me being on the table next to them (when the place was completely filled and I had nowhere else to play). One time when they complained the manager made a big show of taking care of the problem by moving me to a private room that is only ever opened to catered parties of 30+. The time they complained to one of the owners (nobody knows he's an owner unless they have been there a lot), he laughed at them.

These people will literally sit and stand right next to the ends of the table next to them when they have a counter, four tables and three booths that are slightly further away. They stand like statues and won't move unless asked. They are either completely unaware of their surroundings or they suffer from herd mentality.

I am friends with all the staff at this place...and it's a huge place ~25 servers, 10 bartenders, full kitchen staff, always 3 bouncers on duty. I'm doing something right, they are happy to see me, know me by name, bring new staff over to introduce them...this happens for maybe three customers.

I am the only patron at this place that never gets charged for pool. I know this for a fact. I've never asked for it and know that the owner is behind it. The owner has told me that he makes more money from having me there playing when nobody else is (early afternoon/evening) because non-pool players feel more comfortable if at least one table is being used, but don't like being there alone.

Oh, I also don't drink, but I spend more in there than many people because I tip the staff generously.

I've said it before, the APA attracts people who have never played outside of a saturday night at the bar. These people don't know pool etiquette. The APA should educate them, but they don't.
 
Thanks for the positive story lorider, it's too bad it's being ruined with the usual rabid APA bashing (which has nothing to do with the thread) Perhaps we need an APA Bashing sub-forum to collect it all in one place.
 
lorider said:
wanna tell me again what big spenders you non league players are ?
Click to expand...

You should not even have bothered to respond to billiardthought. Though you put him in his place quite well, his arrogance which he displayed is the reason some have issues to begin with.
 
ElCorazonFrio said:
I guess I am bashing the APA, they don't tell their people to not $hit on every other patron of the places they play.
Click to expand...

Do you have to be told to do such everywhere you go and if not find it OK to do it? You don't, then what makes you think the APA should have to tell their members the same?

As you clearly demonstrated with your comment - no matter where you go or what you do you will find disrespectful morons. Their affiliation to a league, group or club is not relevant. You displayed just as much disrespect in your comment toward the APA and all their members you generalized based on an experience I am one 100% confident you exaggerate about.
 
First off, I never post on the forums just to avoid the inevitable negativity that usually comes in every thread, that being said, is it not up to all of us who love this game to ensure people who are just beginning know how to handle themselves? Does someone being ignorant of etiquette make them an idiot? While the APA is structured, isn't it safe to say that is where a lot of new players begin, that is where they start to learn the intricacies of our sport? It is all of our responsibility to ensure that beginners know the rules and feel comfortable so that they can progress and keep the game we all love alive. Not bash them for being part of a league system that may be the only avenue they have to get into something competitive and progress thier game.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Skippy27 said:
Do you have to be told to do such everywhere you go and if not find it OK to do it? You don't, then what makes you think the APA should have to tell their members the same?

As you clearly demonstrated with your comment - no matter where you go or what you do you will find disrespectful morons. Their affiliation to a league, group or club is not relevant. You displayed just as much disrespect in your comment toward the APA and all their members you generalized based on an experience I am one 100% confident you exaggerate about.
Click to expand...

I have not exaggerated about it. In fact, I've left several things out--like the guy who spilled a beer on my $150 fedora and then broke my ray-bans by sitting on them when they were on a table. Or maybe the woman who started screaming at me for not wanting to play her for warm-up games...she was telling me that it was her 'right' to play against me so she could warm up. When I explained that I wasn't in her APA league, she scoffed and glared at me.

I know enough about human nature to know a few things: A single person rarely needs to be told how to act. When you get a group of people together and they aren't told how to act, they generally act, as a group, like the lowest common denominator.

Look it up, it is called 'groupthink'. I know the APA tells it's members how to act toward each other. They shouldn't need to do this, according to you...yet they do. Why is that?

I don't have these problems with the 90% of the population that plays in my room who aren't APA. I don't have this problem with non-players at bars when I play tourrneys. APA may not be the cause, but it is a commonality.
 
I'd say it's up to the owner of the hall to ensure the proper etiquette many of you are dreaming about. In a perfect world people will be considerate, but it's not and they're not, so it's also unrealistic to expect every APA player to behave accordingly, or to admonish the whole lot for whatever uncomfortable encounters you've had with a few in the past.

The owners should notice league players "sitting on tables" or disturbing regulars. For the record, my LO (USAPL) and our bar are in constant communication with the players and there is a strict system in place that favors normal customers over league players, as it should.

But regulars should get over things and not moan about "one night [such and such] happened, and it really ruined my mellow man! You don't get it! MY FEDORA!!!!"

I mean, come the hell on. :grin:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top