Sharking in POOL

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I played the other night at my local pool hall in a local tournament. There was not a lot at stake. But, we all are pretty competitive for the little $20 weekly 9 ball tournament. The top purse is like $120. The guy I played was a newbie as I had never seen him before. But, he carried a pretty nice looking cue. I get up on him and all of a sudden during key shots he starts tapping the cue and twirling it in his hand. When your down on the ball you really can not help but see this stuff out of the corner of your eye. I thought it might just have been a fluke. Maybe just a little nervous energy as he could not be older than 20. It happened again and I really got pissed. So, I waited to catch him do it one more time in the act and went OFF!!! I was not rude about it but I sure brought it to his attention. When I said it he looked down at his hands and knew immediately and apologized. But, by then I was hosed on two games in a short set. I was curios how others handle these things? Maybe some notorious players or memoriable incidents and solutions?
 
Even though it was bad on his part, you were playing your opponent instead of playing the table.
What would you have done if it was a few kids on a nearby table just out having a good time?? You can't "go off" on them.
By the way, anyone with some spare bucks can carry a "nice cue".

Troy
King Kong said:
I played the other night at my local pool hall in a local tournament. There was not a lot at stake. But, we all are pretty competitive for the little $20 weekly 9 ball tournament. The top purse is like $120. The guy I played was a newbie as I had never seen him before. But, he carried a pretty nice looking cue. I get up on him and all of a sudden during key shots he starts tapping the cue and twirling it in his hand. When your down on the ball you really can not help but see this stuff out of the corner of your eye. I thought it might just have been a fluke. Maybe just a little nervous energy as he could not be older than 20. It happened again and I really got pissed. So, I waited to catch him do it one more time in the act and went OFF!!! I was not rude about it but I sure brought it to his attention. When I said it he looked down at his hands and knew immediately and apologized. But, by then I was hosed on two games in a short set. I was curios how others handle these things? Maybe some notorious players or memoriable incidents and solutions?
Click to expand...
 
I've always preferred to try diplomacy first. If a player is moving in my line of sight while I'm shooting or doing something that affects my concentration, even if they have a reputation for sharking, I'll happily play the fool and say:

"You probably don't even realize it, but you are not staying still while I shoot. I'd be appreciative if you were to remain in the chair and sit still while I shoot, and I'll be happy to do the same while you shoot."

It's amazing how often this prompts, or even shames, opponents into the right behavior. If it doesn't work, I go to the tournament director and, in opponent's presence, I say "my opponent is sharking me, and I brought it to his/her attention, yet they persist in their gamesmanship." More often than not, this will result in my opponent being lectured and a warning being issued by the tournament director, and a discontinuation of opponent's sharking.

If that doesn't work, at least I know I did everything I could to solve the problem. My experience, though, is that by this point, the problem is nearly always solved.
 
Troy said:
Even though it was bad on his part, you were playing your opponent instead of playing the table.
What would you have done if it was a few kids on a nearby table just out having a good time?? You can't "go off" on them.
By the way, anyone with some spare bucks can carry a "nice cue".

Troy
Click to expand...
Hi Troy,

Going off is not what happened I was kind and polite and calmly mentioned it. He realized he was doing it and it was end of story. I just did not know when to confront it and thought it would go away. He was just nervous energy. But, that was after 2 games!
 
To the OP:

What your oponent did you, in a bar room setting, is not of a gentelmanly fashion. Gentelman respect the game of pool; and the player.

EXCEPT for the camera man! Just blow it off, and think that you're pacticing for a major tournament, and the ASS thats pissing you off, is only the camera man.

Pretend you're in a Major Tournament, and the ASS is the camera man. You no longer have an oponent, just an annoyance, and that's all a camera man is.

No disrespect to the cameraman. He's just doing his job.
 
Troy said:
you were playing your opponent instead of playing the table.
Click to expand...

I like that quote every time i hear it, Pressure, its all about pressure of the game, if the game didn't have the pressure no one would play it, as in any other sport its what people love. But i can relate again here, there are some players at the youth center that try to curse the pocket you are going to shoot at, by X'ing it, or stand right in front of you, complaining, etc... and i learn how to deal with it. Also helped my game, but i would of did the same thing and asked him to stopped it. Cole 'TheConArtist'
 
If it is a tournament, I call them on it. I ask them to please not shark me while I'm shooting.

When they are pulling pre-game stuff. I ask them if they are sharking me.

I basically let them know, I know full well what they are attempting to do. They will deny it, but they typically don't do it again to me, but will continue with other players.

One old trick is just before playing someone, to make you think about a previous match you lost. [They of course were watching the entire match to see how well you were playing.] So they say "Have you played yet?" Then you say "yes", then they say "How did you do?" Then they get you thinking about that match you lost. Or may make some comment like "I guess you're not playing well tonight!" (after you tell them you lost.) Subtle sharking tactics.

So one night I lost a match and then was about to play one of these guys. He said "Have you played yet?" I said "No!". He got the funniest look on his face, and couldn't think of anything to say beyond that.
 
I've mentioned this before, but here goes again...This is the best thing to do to a sharker: Ask them why they are doing it. This put a mirror on the situation and then they become the problem, not the game or you. They, you, and everyone else now know that they aren't as good as you.

For example, simply say, "You're sharking me for a reason." And then wait for an answer before doing anything else, no matter how long it takes. This works great.

Another easy thing to do is find something to read and hand it to them and say, "Here, read this." By the time they're done, you're done, too.

Each of these methods keeps it fun for you and a bummer for them.

Jeff Livingston
 
He deliberately sharked you using his twirling maneuver. Next time you order that type of opponent to take a seat or otherwise they lose the game if not match.
 
This is where practice comes in and you have to use a "reverse sharking technique". Just as he's ready to take his forward stroke...you start cutting this squeaker of a fart that sounds like an old door being opened. Now the real trick and where practice comes in, is to "throw" it like a ventriloquist so that it seems to be coming from the other side of the room. It's kinda like blowing up a balloon and pinching the opening together and letting air out slowly. I don't know if it'll send him a message or not...all I'm saying is YOUR sharking technique will end up working a hell of a lot better than HIS cue twirling and pounding technique, so you'll still win the match.

The only thing I have to wonder is, with a name like King Kong would you be capable of a delicate technique such as this or would it be more like "King Kong A-Bombs Japan" in one of those Z type dubbed movies. BAAAAAAAROOOOOOOOOM!!
 
Billy_Bob said:
If it is a tournament, I call them on it. I ask them to please not shark me while I'm shooting.

When they are pulling pre-game stuff. I ask them if they are sharking me.

I basically let them know, I know full well what they are attempting to do. They will deny it, but they typically don't do it again to me, but will continue with other players.

One old trick is just before playing someone, to make you think about a previous match you lost. [They of course were watching the entire match to see how well you were playing.] So they say "Have you played yet?" Then you say "yes", then they say "How did you do?" Then they get you thinking about that match you lost. Or may make some comment like "I guess you're not playing well tonight!" (after you tell them you lost.) Subtle sharking tactics.

So one night I lost a match and then was about to play one of these guys. He said "Have you played yet?" I said "No!". He got the funniest look on his face, and couldn't think of anything to say beyond that.
Click to expand...

Why are you even aware that someone is sharking you? Why would you want to be aware? Get rid of all those antennas you are sprouting.
 
A Little Self Control Goes A Long Way

kokopuffs said:
He deliberately sharked you using his twirling maneuver. Next time you order that type of opponent to take a seat or otherwise they lose the game if not match.
Click to expand...

Why are you aware that someone is sharking you? Got all your antennas working full time? Get real. He cannot influence you if you are in control. Are you that thin-skinned? How can you become an accomplished player when you cannot control these impulses?
 
Sharking

chefjeff said:
I've mentioned this before, but here goes again...This is the best thing to do to a sharker: Ask them why they are doing it. This put a mirror on the situation and then they become the problem, not the game or you. They, you, and everyone else now know that they aren't as good as you.

For example, simply say, "You're sharking me for a reason." And then wait for an answer before doing anything else, no matter how long it takes. This works great.

Another easy thing to do is find something to read and hand it to them and say, "Here, read this." By the time they're done, you're done, too.

Each of these methods keeps it fun for you and a bummer for them.

Jeff Livingston
Click to expand...
The best thing to do is not even be aware that someone is sharking you. Ditch the sntennas.
 
Sharking in Pool, Golf & other games is going to happen. There are unscrupulous people wherever you go. They will do anything to win, just watch them.

I have NO RESPECT for any competitor, no matter they aren't competing against me, that sharks to win. I won't buddy with them or compete with them, unless it is in a tournament or league play. I don't associate with them in any manner.

I have played the game for 45 years, because I love it. I don't like folks that can't respect the game or their fellow man.
 
King Kong said:
I played the other night at my local pool hall in a local tournament. There was not a lot at stake. But, we all are pretty competitive for the little $20 weekly 9 ball tournament. The top purse is like $120. The guy I played was a newbie as I had never seen him before. But, he carried a pretty nice looking cue. I get up on him and all of a sudden during key shots he starts tapping the cue and twirling it in his hand. When your down on the ball you really can not help but see this stuff out of the corner of your eye. I thought it might just have been a fluke. Maybe just a little nervous energy as he could not be older than 20. It happened again and I really got pissed. So, I waited to catch him do it one more time in the act and went OFF!!! I was not rude about it but I sure brought it to his attention. When I said it he looked down at his hands and knew immediately and apologized. But, by then I was hosed on two games in a short set. I was curios how others handle these things? Maybe some notorious players or memoriable incidents and solutions?
Click to expand...

The Tournament Director where I play always makes this statement prior to the tournament " remember while you're playing in this event while your opponent is at the table the table and the space around the table belong to him/her your place is seated and quiet" it's good to get it out front . Things will certainly still happen but I believe it's good of the director to point out up front what kind of behavior is expected. This goes along way toward stifling bad behavior. Secondly if you play long enough your going to see just about any kind of move and I could spend hours here on some I've seen or had done to me , but the best way to stop it is to just run out -enough said
 
antennas

drivermaker said:
This is where practice comes in and you have to use a "reverse sharking technique". Just as he's ready to take his forward stroke...you start cutting this squeaker of a fart that sounds like an old door being opened. Now the real trick and where practice comes in, is to "throw" it like a ventriloquist so that it seems to be coming from the other side of the room. It's kinda like blowing up a balloon and pinching the opening together and letting air out slowly. I don't know if it'll send him a message or not...all I'm saying is YOUR sharking technique will end up working a hell of a lot better than HIS cue twirling and pounding technique, so you'll still win the match.

The only thing I have to wonder is, with a name like King Kong would you be capable of a delicate technique such as this or would it be more like "King Kong A-Bombs Japan" in one of those Z type dubbed movies. BAAAAAAAROOOOOOOOOM!!
Click to expand...

I vote to ditch all those antennas he is sprouting from his noggin.
 
I'm not a very good player, all of you guys could probably beat me, but possibly if you practiced in a less controlled envioronment that stuff wouldn't bother you as much.

I practice at a community center near my house which has a couple tables. There is always something crazy going on, especially this time of year when school is out. Last week I saw a kid literally climb up on the table next to me to make a shot. A couple days ago a thunderstorm came through and they emptied the outdoor swimming pool which put about 30 kids inside, most of them in the pool room. A couple fights broke out, the police showed up, I just kept shooting. The kids are constantly borrowing my chalk because they don't have any, they get in the way of your backstroke and don't move, etc. After a while you become immune to all that other stuff and focus on the table.
 
If you are in the zone or concentrating really well then you won't notice anything your opponent does short of dropping their stick during your stroke. And I have seen sharks do this on more then one occasion, but everyone will know you are being sharked.

If I'm not concentrating well and an opponent sharks me, I bring it to their attention immediately and step away from the shot and refocus.

I know I am not concentrating well if I notice slight sharking behaviour or the cute coctail girls walking in front of my shots.

If you are a serious player, work on your concentration skills. Tiger woods' father used to do all kinds of sharking moves during Tiger's practice to toughen him up and he is considered the most mentally tough player in the game of golf.
 
alstl said:
I'm not a very good player, all of you guys could probably beat me, but possibly if you practiced in a less controlled envioronment that stuff wouldn't bother you as much.

I practice at a community center near my house which has a couple tables. There is always something crazy going on, especially this time of year when school is out. Last week I saw a kid literally climb up on the table next to me to make a shot. A couple days ago a thunderstorm came through and they emptied the outdoor swimming pool which put about 30 kids inside, most of them in the pool room. A couple fights broke out, the police showed up, I just kept shooting. The kids are constantly borrowing my chalk because they don't have any, they get in the way of your backstroke and don't move, etc. After a while you become immune to all that other stuff and focus on the table.
Click to expand...

When I first started playing in bar room tournaments I had a hard time concentrating because of all activity going on and the loud music. I was used to playing in a quiet pool room and it took a few tournaments to acclimate to the bar room scene.
 
Despite suggestions to the contrary, the shark-proof player doens't exist. Some have a greater capacity than others to deal with potential annoyances that some like to call sharking. Those who suggest that you should do everything you can to learn how to deal wtih, even ignore, such annoyances are giving good advice, but you still retain the right to act when you feel your opponent's demeanor is unacceptable, and should exercise that right as you see fit.
 
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