Question on takin it too serious....

RoryHunt

RoryHunt

The King of "so close."
Silver Member
I have a league match tonight, and it is for first place in the league. Last game of the year tie-breaker type. Last time we played these guys at their house, they had one of those smaller cue balls, with the little red circle on it. It really drove me nuts while shooting.

They play on Valley tables, and I have one at home, so my question is, should I bring my cue ball with me? I believe the rules for our league is that the CB has to be the same size as the rest of the balls, but nobody wants to report them for that. I just don't know if bringing my own CB will look tacky, or that I am taking it too serious.
 
For what it's worth, coming from a beginner who isn't very good at this yet... I don't think you're taking this too seriously at all. I'm all about Leagues being fun, but there is a point to the thing, and that point is to try and win, even while having fun. If the cue ball size at that room is wrong and against the rules, then it doesn't seem fair that you should be penalized by having to use it.

Of course, I don't know any of the particulars, like who runs the League and how they will react to the question. Or if they are even available before your match. Or how the team you will be facing will react, and if that is important to you or not. Only you can answer that.

I don't think you're out of line to question it. What happens after that.... good luck.
 
RoryHunt said:
I have a league match tonight, and it is for first place in the league. Last game of the year tie-breaker type. Last time we played these guys at their house, they had one of those smaller cue balls, with the little red circle on it. It really drove me nuts while shooting.

They play on Valley tables, and I have one at home, so my question is, should I bring my cue ball with me? I believe the rules for our league is that the CB has to be the same size as the rest of the balls, but nobody wants to report them for that. I just don't know if bringing my own CB will look tacky, or that I am taking it too serious.
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What about the effect it would have on your teammates? :idea2:
That would be tacky for sure.
Or were you planning on throwing it out there just for your own games. :(
You are telling us that it is against the rules.
It is always tacky to cheat the rules.:slap:
Suggestion get a green logo valley magnetic for your home table.
Good Luck in your match.
 
Why in the world would you want to take a citizen's band radio to a match on league night. That beats all I ever...what? The CB isn't a radio? It's a cue ball? Never mind. :o
 
rackem said:
What about the effect it would have on your teammates? :idea2:
That would be tacky for sure.
Or were you planning on throwing it out there just for your own games. :(
You are telling us that it is against the rules.
It is always tacky to cheat the rules.:slap:
Suggestion get a green logo valley magnetic for your home table.
Good Luck in your match.
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Lets try this one more time.

I HAVE a regular sized cue ball.

The place that we will be playing at doesn't.

In the league rules it states that the cue ball has to be the same size as the rest of the balls.

One more time, the place at which we will be playing doesn't, their cue ball is smaller.

Should I bring my own?

It isn't a magical cue ball, it is an Aramith green logo ball. The only advantage I would have is that we ALL would be playing with the same sized cue ball, the way the rules are spelled out in the league.

Good luck with everything else....
 
Still confused

Are you trying to tell us that your bar has an over sized cue ball.
Or are you trying tell us you think that a red circle ball is smaller then all the other balls.
At any rate using the green logo ball on a barbox I feel is the best way to go.
 
If the balls are suppose to be the same size and one isn't, then tell who ever is running the leauge, bring it to there attention. Kobe bryant would let the referee know if the basketball was wnba sized wouldn't he??
 
rackem said:
Are you trying to tell us that your bar has an over sized cue ball.
Or are you trying tell us you think that a red circle ball is smaller then all the other balls.
At any rate using the green logo ball on a barbox I feel is the best way to go.
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Many red circle cue balls are in fact smaller than a normal ball. There seem to be real ones and knockoffs.
 
Honestly I don't think it should be a problem for people to play with that ball, and I wanna say it's on you to learn how to play with it. But the real question you seemed worried about is "is it okay to do this or will people think I'm taking it too seriously"

Don't ever let anyone tell you that you take pool too seriously. Usually when people say that, it's either A: they just saw you freak out and they're telling you not to get so angry over a game or B: they see you being a googan with specialized equipment and fussy demands and they think you're putting on a show, like "look, I'm so pro I know the difference between different cue balls and I prefer the blue dots".

If you truly know in your heart you're bringing it because the red dot really drives you nuts, and this will help you play better, then go ahead, and f*ck what anyone else thinks. But just be honest with yourself. Don't convince yourself that you overran your position or missed the ball because of the cue ball if you just screwed up.

There's an interesting bit on the red circle cue ball that I read here:
http://www.poolchat.net/modules/sections/index.php?op=viewarticle&artid=65

It did not take long for many to realize the red circle ball made by saluc out performed the blue circle that comes with the centennial set. Most of the pros and tournaments would advertise they were playing with a red circle and using centennials. Everyone knew the red circle was hotter and better nobody knew why. The blue circle is the same size and weight as the other balls in the set which is good and vitally important. Most pros feel the red circle is slightly smaller and lighter and it also wears down fast like the rock in the river so it gets smaller faster than the blue circle. Being lighter it simply draws better than the heavier blue circle. Saluc makes the red circles from a different carom phenolic resin which is hotter and faster than the pool blue circle which has the same finish as the object balls which is nuts. In short, the blue circle is a dog and toss it in the trash. The only pro I ever ran into who prefers it is Keith McCreedy.

Research into the 'red circle phenomenon' has shown that all 'red circle cue balls' are not the same. There are manufacturers other than Saluc selling red circle cue balls to the public. Those red circles are certainly not identical to the ones made by Saluc. There are also 'red dot' cue balls some made by generic manufacturers and 'red logo' cue balls made by Saluc - many of which are apparently being marketed to appeal to some degree to the unwary crowd followers who have bought into the ongoing 'red circle cue ball is best' mystique.
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The place I play at has really shitty valleys. The tables are dead. and they have the cheapest balls you can get on them.

I had a spare set of Super Aramith Pro's I took to league one night. I just wanted to see how much the balls contributed to the general bad play of the table.

People looked at me funny, but everyone loved playing with them and the general consensus was that they made a positive difference.

I sold that ball set, and the next week in league the same guys who were busting my chops about bringing in my ball set, were crying because I didn't bring them.

Bottom line. Bring it. If they complain keep it in your case and use what they have.

:cool:
 
Just don't be one of the guys that say, "I'm NOT playing with that ball."

I get that all the time from the other team when I bring out my Pro Cup ball. I tell them not to play then, it doens't bother me at all.

If you are respectful about it, they may actually agree with you.
 
Before we begin league play I just ask the other team if they care to use a different cue ball. Never had a team refuse yet.
 
DelaWho??? said:
The place I play at has really shitty valleys. The tables are dead. and they have the cheapest balls you can get on them.

I had a spare set of Super Aramith Pro's I took to league one night. I just wanted to see how much the balls contributed to the general bad play of the table.

People looked at me funny, but everyone loved playing with them and the general consensus was that they made a positive difference.

I sold that ball set, and the next week in league the same guys who were busting my chops about bringing in my ball set, were crying because I didn't bring them.

Bottom line. Bring it. If they complain keep it in your case and use what they have.

:cool:
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I did the same thing "once"! The table put nicks all over them. never again. thats what cheap balls are for.
 
My team members all carry good cue balls. When we play another good team they don't have a problem using one. When we play lesser teams they don't understand the advantage and think were just trying to cheat them.
 
Update...

Well, I brought it with me, but never had to use it, because a couple of guys on their team brought some in too. Or at least there was a plethora of cue balls to choose from. :smile:

Then, in a race to ten, we go into over time. Nothing left on the table but the 8 ball, and we drop it for the win. It was a fun night, and I had a sh!t eating grin on my face until about 1:00 am.
 
If indeed your league rules state that the cue ball must be the same size as the object balls, then it's up to you to prove it. Put the cue ball between two object balls and put a straight edge (e.g., ruler or level) over the balls (if the cue ball is noticibly smaller or larger it should be easy to determine). And, if you have a small portable scale, also weigh them.

If you can prove your case well in advance of play, fine bring up your concern.

Otherwise, in our league it's common courtesy to let the home team have the final say. We have no written rule and it's common for me to offer to let other places use one of my cue balls (Aramith magnetic tournament, red spotted ball, ...) that are in much better condition and get turned down.

Usually the home team prefers to use their (often very funky) ball because it's what they are used to and they don't want to change to something the away team is used to. There are only two places that use one of my cue balls because:

- The home cue ball was identical to my Aramith magnetic tournament cue ball and theirs was well used with a couple of chunks missing.

- The home cue ball was the same size as the object balls. Plus the object balls rolled true and the table was level. However, the house magnetic cue ball did not roll true (it always curved to the right -- probably had a chunk of metal in the middle that was off center).

Bottom line: If you want to ask them to use your cue ball instead, I suggest that you show up early and prove to yourself that the cue ball is smaller than the object balls. Then have your captain discuss your concerns with their captain and reach a decision well before the home team starts warming up.

In our league the home team warms up first for 1/2 hr. Then the away team warms up for 1/2 hr. before the start of play. Suggest that you DO NOT bring up any concerns after the home team has started warming up.
 
RoryHunt said:
Well, I brought it with me, but never had to use it, because a couple of guys on their team brought some in too. Or at least there was a plethora of cue balls to choose from. :smile:

Then, in a race to ten, we go into over time. Nothing left on the table but the 8 ball, and we drop it for the win. It was a fun night, and I had a sh!t eating grin on my face until about 1:00 am.
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Congrats on the win. Although it's after-the-fact, I don't think it's taking it too seriously to bring your own CB and ask if anyone objects to using it for the matches, since it complies with the rules more closely. I think the "too serious" line would only be crossed if you proceeded to have a big fight over which ball should be used.

-Andrew
 
I dont think bringing your own equiptment and wanted it to be fair and by the rules is taking it too serious at all!

I used to always insist on playing with clean balls, clean tables, the best cue, perfect tip, perfect rails, masters chalk only, etc, etc, etc...

That being said....

I noticed my game starting to climb as soon as I let go of all that outside stuff. It's all just excuses to lose! Bottom line, I'm a pool player! I'm a pool player on a barbox with a giant heavy cueball, warped cue, and dirty table, and I'm a pool player on a 9' Diamond with shimmed pockets and my cue!

The equipment matters, but it doesn't mater! It's still you vs the table! Your stroke should be the same no matter what, you should be able to make small adjustments to be able to win on any table using any equipment.

If the rails are dead, you know you're not banking...

If the cue ball is smaller, you know it wont follow as easy and it will draw too far and the contact point is different...

If the cue ball is bigger, you know it wont draw as easy as it follows, and rail shots are tough...

If the cue is warped.... he tip still goes to where YOU place it on the cue ball....

If the table isn't level, it will roll in favor of one direction, you cant "slow roll" a ball...

Inanimate objects cant make YOU a better player... Don't fall into needing special equipment. Everyone there is playing on/with the same equipment, good or bad... it is still fair for all!

Letting go, will help your game! Don't allow for any excuses!!! Ever! If you dont miss, you're opponent can't win, PERIOD!

JMHO!
 
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