Question regarding 8-Ball team play

Drawback

Drawback

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
There are four of us older gentlemen that meet at the Senior Center each weekday morning to play "Alabama 8-Ball". My team mate and I have become concerned with our opponents continually helping each other when it's their inning.

One of the opponents inevitably will get out of his chair and stand at the pool table and advise his team mate of every shot to make. My team mate and I think this is unsportsmanlike.

Any thoughts and comments will be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Sounds like all of you get along for some social play. If it bothers the two of you, why not talk to them about setting up some rules that you can agree on.

If it is social, why does it bother you so?

Maybe he gets out of his chair just to prove he can still do it at his age!! :D
 
I have played in both formats - coaching allowed and coaching not allowed. In a social setting, it's always been allowed, and a part of the game. You're not playing Scott Frost and Tommy Kennedy by any chance?
 
Silence I kill you...If your just playing for fun , I don't see the harm really.

I play with a few friends that enjoy silence while playing the set..and its for fun..

some one mentioned talking with them..keep it simple..say hey lets play with no ciaching while at the table..if your being beat most of the time do to this guys coaching you may want to listen to what he's telling his partner..or if it's just hog wash..put him on a 30 sec shot clock..its a game , not a lesson in pool. I'm sure you'll figure it out.

best of luck..remember any day you can play..is a good day.
 
Diamond69 said:
Sounds like all of you get along for some social play. If it bothers the two of you, why not talk to them about setting up some rules that you can agree on.

If it is social, why does it bother you so?

Maybe he gets out of his chair just to prove he can still do it at his age!! :D
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Actually, we all get along quite well for the amount of time we spend together (about 3.5 hours per day every day of the week).

I think what bothers us about it is that the one opponent who's receiving all the unsolicited "help" is actually a pretty good shooter in his own right but too nice to say anything to stop his opponent.

We're mostly in our 60's (my partner's in his 80's and gets around really well) and we all are in good shape.

I just thought this behavior might possibly be a lesser form of "sharking" and punishable by calling a foul, but couldn't find it in the rule book.
 
Drawback said:
Actually, we all get along quite well for the amount of time we spend together (about 3.5 hours per day every day of the week).

I think what bothers us about it is that the one opponent who's receiving all the unsolicited "help" is actually a pretty good shooter in his own right but too nice to say anything to stop his opponent.

We're mostly in our 60's (my partner's in his 80's and gets around really well) and we all are in good shape.

I just thought this behavior might possibly be a lesser form of "sharking" and punishable by calling a foul, but couldn't find it in the rule book.
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Well, IMO, friends don't pull out the rule book. But if you're trying to do it in order to help out the guy too nice to say anything, maybe just a discussion about your own rules between the 4 of you would help.

If the "coach" is that competitive and feels he's always got the right shot/position, maybe it's time to find a different 4th. Either way it's a tough situation.

Best of luck to you in finding a peaceful resolution. Sorry I don't have the absolute answer, only suggestions.
 
Diamond69 said:
Well, IMO, friends don't pull out the rule book. But if you're trying to do it in order to help out the guy too nice to say anything, maybe just a discussion about your own rules between the 4 of you would help.

If the "coach" is that competitive and feels he's always got the right shot/position, maybe it's time to find a different 4th. Either way it's a tough situation.

Best of luck to you in finding a peaceful resolution. Sorry I don't have the absolute answer, only suggestions.
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Thank you for your replies.
 
He even goes so far as to hold his finger on a rail to show his partner where to hit for a bank shot. He doesn't actually leave a chalk spot, but he does hold his finger in place for the shot.
 
Drawback said:
He even goes so far as to hold his finger on a rail to show his partner where to hit for a bank shot. He doesn't actually leave a chalk spot, but he does hold his finger in place for the shot.
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If I were Mr. nice guy, I would've opted for a different shot, play safe, anything but his suggestion, that's saying a lot without saying a word...
 
Drawback said:
He even goes so far as to hold his finger on a rail to show his partner where to hit for a bank shot. He doesn't actually leave a chalk spot, but he does hold his finger in place for the shot.
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Even though his partner is a nice guy, I can't believe he doesn't kindly reply "I got this". Or, before he can get up and coach, the nice guy ask him where he wants the cueball for his next shot (if it's scotch doubles).
 
Stop being so anal.

You're blessed to have all these friends to play with, quit being so anal about a finger on the rail, who cares, unless y'all are playing for money. I'm guessing that the guy trying to help is experienced and wants to share his knowledge, let him. The other guy still has to execute. I'm guessing they are beating you also, maybe it would be fair for y'all to use some coaching too, just to strategize...this way, y'all are gonna become better players...nobody is as smart as everyone.

Just relax and enjoy your friendships, sounds like you don't have dozens of years to enjoy them. Count everyday as a blessing. Imagine how much you'd miss that guy wih his finger on the rail!!!

It's petty. Just my .02
 
DoubleD said:
In my experience, the most helpful people in pool rarely know that much...if this guy is so experienced, he likely wouldn't be playing a team game for three hours a day.

If it were me, I would be more annoyed about the amount of time that coaching inevitably takes and slowing down the game.

I would never expect a team game to have one player so much stronger or weaker than the rest that coaching is needed or wanted.

I'm surprised that a man in his 60's is so timid that he won't say anything. How the hell do people get through life for that long without learning how to deal with small annoyances?

dld
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The "coach" is a pretty fair player (although he cannot back a ball up over a couple of inches). He is a good shot maker for the most part, though. His partner is also a good shot maker (and can't back a ball up at all).

The "coach" also is forever trying to meddle in me and my partner's shots, too, continually offering unsolicited advice when it's our turns. I have to remind him time after time that we all see the game differently, but her persists, chiefly I think because he has somehow appointed himself pool adviser to the world, or at least to the 2 pool tables at the Center.

We beat them as much as they beat us. Some days we're on and other days they're on.

His advice-giving does take a lot of time each game and yet he's the first one to complain and unscrew his cue if his opponents are in a conversation with others in the room and are ten seconds late to their shot.

It's an interesting situation, but we all still have fun. We're able to look past it but sometimes are more annoying than others.
 
8onthebreak said:
You're blessed to have all these friends to play with, quit being so anal about a finger on the rail, who cares, unless y'all are playing for money. I'm guessing that the guy trying to help is experienced and wants to share his knowledge, let him. The other guy still has to execute. I'm guessing they are beating you also, maybe it would be fair for y'all to use some coaching too, just to strategize...this way, y'all are gonna become better players...nobody is as smart as everyone.

Just relax and enjoy your friendships, sounds like you don't have dozens of years to enjoy them. Count everyday as a blessing. Imagine how much you'd miss that guy wih his finger on the rail!!!

It's petty. Just my .02
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I find it interesting that I post a question on here and you come at me calling me anal. Do me a favor, stay out of my posts.
 
Drawback said:
There are four of us older gentlemen that meet at the Senior Center each weekday morning to play "Alabama 8-Ball". My team mate and I have become concerned with our opponents continually helping each other when it's their inning.

One of the opponents inevitably will get out of his chair and stand at the pool table and advise his team mate of every shot to make. My team mate and I think this is unsportsmanlike.

Any thoughts and comments will be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I think that you are answering your own question...you ask for advice, then when someone gives you some, you say, stop calling me anal, lol.

DON'T ASK FOR ADVICE IF YOU DON'T WANT IT.

I can see why you aren't getting along with your friends ...no help here, you'd need to change your personality, and that's not likely.
 
Drawback said:
His advice-giving does take a lot of time each game and yet he's the first one to complain and unscrew his cue if his opponents are in a conversation with others in the room and are ten seconds late to their shot.
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There is the solution. Someone should be intentionally be late for their shot, he leaves and the three remaining players play 8 ball with the loser sitting out a game, golf, 9 ball or pill pool.
 
Advice or insult?

8onthebreak said:
I think that you are answering your own question...you ask for advice, then when someone gives you some, you say, stop calling me anal, lol.

DON'T ASK FOR ADVICE IF YOU DON'T WANT IT.

I can see why you aren't getting along with your friends ...no help here, you'd need to change your personality, and that's not likely.
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It doesn't require insults to give advice.
 
Whenever I've played doubles it's understood that coaching is part of the game, but that's just me.
I think it's less fun and sociable without.

Sounds to me like this is more a social issue than a rules problem.
You think one of the players is behaving like an ass, but don't want to just tell him that.
So you're hoping a rulebook can force him to stop being so tiresome.

Depending on how priсkly this guy is, you might be able to slip in a comment that says
"hey, your teammate is no slouch, let him do his thing" and not cause a big conflict.
A more subtle approach might be to privately talk to the teammate and say
"Doesn't it bug you when he's constantly telling you how to play, when you obviously already know?
You should tell him to pipe down and let you shoot."
 
Geezerville!

Drawback said:
There are four of us older gentlemen that meet at the Senior Center each weekday morning to play "Alabama 8-Ball". My team mate and I have become concerned with our opponents continually helping each other when it's their inning.

One of the opponents inevitably will get out of his chair and stand at the pool table and advise his team mate of every shot to make. My team mate and I think this is unsportsmanlike.

Any thoughts and comments will be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Walk softly in Geezerville! You can be banished quickly. I stopped going to my Senior Center because they only play one game. Scotch eight ball with one and fifteen going in opposite side pockets. No ball to a rail, pushing of course. Craziest rule was shooting your one or fifteen in a corner pocket with straight follow and spotting it up for a straight in for the correct pocket!! Who shoots now? It's your shot, no its his shot. Who shot last? Did you shoot? Another rule was not ever saying the word HARD, shots were difficult! Most couldn't remember the last time they were hard. And of course keep your eyes peeled for those little blue pills laying on the floor! It's Geezerville, roll with it!
 
It only takes one player to tell the know-it-all "I'd rather figure my shots out on my own, thanks. It's more fun for me that way."

It might take dozens of shots that you say it for it to sink in (old habits die hard).

After one player has established that he doesn't want any coaching, it becomes a lot easier for the other players to follow suit.
 
Donny Lutz said:
It doesn't require insults to give advice.
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Thank You very much.

I mentioned today that he spent at least as much time delaying the game by giving advice as some players do by having side-bar conversations and I think it hit home a little because he stayed in his seat a little more and let his partner do more shooting without so much unsolicited advice.

Who knows, there may be hope after all.
 
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