Scooping the cue ball ...I should have said something.

inside_english

inside_english

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Last weekend I was practicing next to three kids (early 20s) who were trying to play cutthroat. At one point one of them complained that she did not know how to jump the ball and wished her boyfriend would show her.

You guessed it, she broke out the ice cream scoop and tried to lift the cue ball.

I wanted to politely go over and explain that not only is it an illegal shot, but it damages the felt, etc.

For some reason I stopped myself from saying anything at all, not sure why. Now I regret it a little because I know the owner and I know how much he cares about his equipment. Even if I didn't know the owner I should have said something.

These kids were by no means rough-looking or threatening, not that it would have been a deterrent anyway, but I am not sure why I chose to say nothing.

I won't make that mistake again. We are all trying too hard to keep rooms open with decent equipment, and with my recent return to the game I should jump in with both feet and not tiptoe around the edges.

What do you all think? Should I have politely advised them accordingly or should I have kept my mouth shut and let the owner/houseman worry about it?
 
Maybe the way to coolly handle it would have been to turn it into a lesson? "Hey, do you guys wanna see how the pros jump?"
 
RichSchultz said:
Maybe the way to coolly handle it would have been to turn it into a lesson? "Hey, do you guys wanna see how the pros jump?"
Click to expand...

Maybe show them a trick shot that they can make shooting the shot the right way:

Put the cue ball close to the cushion. Put a ball about 8 inches away straight towards a pocket. Put a ball in the jaws of that pocket. Put a ball on either side of the first ball and touching it. Remove the first ball. Shoot at the ball in the pocket with a firm stroke and some elevation.

And after one of them makes the shot say, "Technically, it's against the rules to scoop under the ball."
 
inside_english said:
What do you all think? Should I have politely advised them accordingly or should I have kept my mouth shut and let the owner/houseman worry about it?
Click to expand...
It is a judgment call but there is usually a way to let them know without ruffling feathers. You can explain the technical reason it is illegal is that it is a double hit. The practical reason is it can damage the cloth.
I usually try to find a way to tell them. I have let it pass as well, when I did not think it would help.
 
My own experience in a similar situation: I was in the Room practicing one Sunday evening and saw a young guy playing with this girl friend. Every time the guy broke (they were playing 8 ball) he knocked the cue ball off the table. After seeing this about 6 or 8 times, I went over and said "I can show you how to not do that." He looked at me and said, very seriously," I know how, I just don't want to." I stared at him for a few seconds, shrugged, and walked away. Very next break, cue ball off the table.:rolleyes:
 
That guy was a complete dumbass! I would have probably said, "Prove it. Break once without jumping the CB off the table." When he failed, I might have said, "Learn how to break correctly, or go to a different poolroom. We CARE about the equipment here!"

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Pushout said:
My own experience in a similar situation: I was in the Room practicing one Sunday evening and saw a young guy playing with this girl friend. Every time the guy broke (they were playing 8 ball) he knocked the cue ball off the table. After seeing this about 6 or 8 times, I went over and said "I can show you how to not do that." He looked at me and said, very seriously," I know how, I just don't want to." I stared at him for a few seconds, shrugged, and walked away. Very next break, cue ball off the table.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
 
inside_english said:
Last weekend I was practicing next to three kids (early 20s) who were trying to play cutthroat. At one point one of them complained that she did not know how to jump the ball and wished her boyfriend would show her.

You guessed it, she broke out the ice cream scoop and tried to lift the cue ball.

I wanted to politely go over and explain that not only is it an illegal shot, but it damages the felt, etc.

For some reason I stopped myself from saying anything at all, not sure why. Now I regret it a little because I know the owner and I know how much he cares about his equipment. Even if I didn't know the owner I should have said something.

These kids were by no means rough-looking or threatening, not that it would have been a deterrent anyway, but I am not sure why I chose to say nothing.

I won't make that mistake again. We are all trying too hard to keep rooms open with decent equipment, and with my recent return to the game I should jump in with both feet and not tiptoe around the edges.

What do you all think? Should I have politely advised them accordingly or should I have kept my mouth shut and let the owner/houseman worry about it?
Click to expand...
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=421660&highlight=Scoop

Just some added input from similar situations.
 
I wonder how many of those that scoop the ball would actually allow or listen to reason and give it a shot,

Scoopers smell of bangers, bangers know to much to learn
 
I think it depends on who the other person is. I help people on a regular basis but sometimes you are better off keeping your mouth shut.

About a month ago there was a couple in the room and the guy was teaching her how to play pool. He was bragging about how good he was and would set up a shot and then talk for twenty minutes about how to make the ball and then get shape on the next ball. In two hours I saw the gal take about five shots because he was talking and then trying to show her how to make the shot. And he would miss again and again. I figured this guy was so into himself that trying to say anything to the girl would be taken wrong.

Another time I was hitting balls and the couple on the next table made a few remarks about how easy I make it look, etc. So, we were talking back and forth, making jokes and at one point she asked me how I cut that ball down the rail almost backwards. First thing I said was, well, you are using a left handed cue and she said, maybe I am ambidextrous. Damn good answer if you ask me but then I see the guy looking at his wall cue like he was wondering how to tell, right from left handed cue. I then thought, shit, if he finds out I am joking he could get mad for falling for it. I also figured out who had the brains in that couple.

About six months ago two guys and a pretty girl come in the room. I figured out that the two guys were brothers and the girl was a visiting cousin from Mexico. So, they figured they would teach the cousin how to play pool. One asked her if he should pick out a good cue from the wall for her and she said no. I noticed her checking weights and then looking at the tip, putting a couple of cues back on the wall. Then one starts to show her how to make a bridge and she says like this, and makes a perfect bridge. Wow, quick learner, hahaha. Then one guy breaks and its her shot. One guy offers a suggestion on how to make one of the balls and she says, ok, and fires it in. Then she just beat the living crap out them two guys.
 
I politely say something every time as I don't want them tearing up the equipment in the place I play. I do the same when people sit on them, throw balls or sticks on the table and put drinks on them. I have no issue calling the management over if they continue.

I simply tell that it is not a legal shot and it can lead to marks and tears in the cloth.
 
I speak up when house equipment is in danger of being damaged. Otherwise I shut up. The one exception is if a kid that really wants to learn asks me to show him something. Kids who like pool are rare. Kids who like pool and want to learn are even rarer. They should be encouraged and helped as much as possible!
 
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