Sharking Moves

TrxR said:
Putting your cue down is different than putting your cue away.

Your saying I have to have my cue in my hand at all times during the game?

I always set my cue beside me when sitting while my opponent is playing.
Click to expand...
Whether or not you have conceded a game is determined
solely by the referee’s judgment.
Another thing that is up to the judgment of the referee is unsportsmanlike. Referee can pick penalties for unsportsmanlike. Could be a quit it warning or expulsion from tournament.
Trying to game the rules could come under his or her discretion for unsportsmanlike.
The timing of the movement or placement of the cue is often the distraction. Expect a warning if it is done for a distraction. If it's extremely flagrant or repeated the penalties get bigger.
If I am playing a player that has a history of any kind of distraction tactics, I might give the referee a heads up to expedite the warning as soon as the stuff is started.
 
I've noticed that on the nights when I'm not on my game, those nights when the shots do not feel easy and effortless, those are the nights that I notice all these little things. I can hear the whispered conversations about which ball should be next, or whether playing draw or follow was a good idea. I's a "chicken or the egg" deal, not sure if it happens because I'm struggling, or if I struggle because I notice it, but it's just the opposite on those times when I'm in dead stroke, I am in my own little bubble then.

And for those guys that get fired up and accuse me of sharking them, that almost always happens after they miss. I remember once while playing a decent shooter and he was struggling, I put down my cue in the little weighted cue holder thing and picked up my beer just as this guy missed a long straight shot at the 8. He got all sorts of pissed, but then turned it towards me when the 8 rolled up right in front of the side pocket. I was not anywhere near his shot line either. You know the type, believes that any miss was obviously due to some outside influence. I just let it go, sank the 8, and went on to win that match. Those kinds always believe everyone is jealous of their skills and is out to get them. They usually have custom shirts and the latest/greatest equipment too.
 
When does slow play become sharking? I played an old guy in league last night and he was slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. I was about to tell him that if he doesn't know how to shoot that shot by now, he'll never learn. Or if he dies before the end of the game, I get the win. He did play well but I've played three games of one pocket in the time it took to play one game of 8 ball.
 
I play a guy pretty regularly that is autistic . He talks non stop ....to me ,to others and even himself . He cant sit still , really has no idea of how to act .When he shoots it is a min of 40 sec a shot ,no matter how easy . He always explains how he intends to run the table but has no cb control at all . He is usually so far ought of line by his 3rd shot he is done . I have tried many times to show him a few very basic things but none of it takes . I think being able to block out his antics I should not be sharked by anything short of gun fire .
Chuck
 
Around 20 years ago, I played against this one young dude several times at Shooters in Olathe KS. He had some obvious mental and/or physical issues, so nobody got mad about this, but he would drool so bad at the table it would run down off his chin, onto his cue, then onto the table — all in one long strand. After the shot he’d wipe it off with his hand. The hand he used to handle the balls.

He would shake uncontrollably walking around the table and standing, but as soon as he got over the shot, he would freeze like a statue — except for the saliva slowly running down — and shoot lights out.

That was the best unintentional sharking I’ve ever seen. Every time I touched the cue ball or a rail, I thought about his drool. Pretty sure he beat me every match.
 
Last edited:
I am surprised nobody brought up the "self shark"...and I would bet good money that everyone has done it at one time or another....I am guilty in both golf and pool.

Two major kinds...

#1 Out of your "comfort zone" shark.

I have done this in golf.....could get 2,3,4 under but could never seem to go deep without some kind of implosion.......was told the answer was I was out of my "comfort zone" and basically was sharking myself....I was basically telling myself I was not "supposed" to be doing this and was in essence sharking myself.

Same kind of thing happens in pool when you find that "mystery" gear and run a couple racks....all of a sudden you have some kind of convulsion over the ball and you hit a WTF shot

#2 Playing that "top dog" shark.

Instead of playing the table....you are looking at your opponent being Earl or Efren..(or perhaps just the top (ranked) player in the tournament) and basically sharking yourself by thinking about beating such a big name.

I have also done this...(more than once)........I went to play in a tournament in Cali (Hardtimes) and was hoping for the chance to draw a big name....Got my wish and drew Francisco Bustamante.......Of all things you don't want to do...I got in a safety battle in the first rack.....I actually won the battle and got the first shot and ran the table all the way down to a very easy 9-ball.....In front of overly packed bleachers......My thoughts as I was getting down on such an easy shot was..."I just outplayed and am about to win a (real) game against a world beater"....Of course I rattled it....and never got out of my chair again until I was down 6-0 (in a race to 7)........and dogged my brains out in that game as well.
 
Here's a subtle sharking move:
Playing 9 ball, my opponent one a game within a match so it was my turn to rack. I just rack up the set and get the rack about 4 inches off the table and he slams the cue ball into the rack right in my face. I didn't let it upset me, but everybody jumped on his case about it even his own teammates. I proceeded to beat him in the match.
 
Flakeandrun said:
You're right, I couldn't care if you own the place, don't stand in my shot. I'll tell you once sincerely. The second time I'll call you some choice names. Utterly ridiculous.


Agree with you here, again, I'll tell them to talk on their own time once. A second time, I might do as you suggest. Rack 'em up!

This is obviously during Money or Tournament play - not fun, or petty gambles for light or whatever. Couldn't care too much then (still bothers me, but gotta live a little right and unclench the buttcheeks sometimes. Right?)


After the game, and irrelevant. It would simply affect my approach to them in the next game. If there ever was one...
Click to expand...
Do you get up and move out of someone shot line? The room I learned to play, the etiquette was to sit in your chair, even if the shot was aimed at you, but that you stayed still. Also you didn't get out of your chair until they were back in theirs.

I've since played in some rooms where people expect you to move out of your seat because it's in their shot line, which is just odd, because when you go to tournaments there will always be people in your shot line, it's fucking crowded.
 
First things first.......when we talk about sharking moves we have first to talk about if it is intentional sharking or is it unknowingly acts from other persons that "sharks" you.

Second thing, you need two sides for sharking. The one side that tries to shark somebody and the person who is affected by sharking.
If you are not affected by sharking, sharking is obsolute.

I have training sessions with my best pals and team members, where we shark the hell out of each other. In every single shot. I tell you, you will learn from that especially to eliminate the direct environment.
 
I am guilty of the there you go myself when I miss and leave the table wide open. This I've said only when playing my wife or friends and I never thought of it as sharking. I have also complimented opponents, and had opponents compliment me on a nice shot or run and never thought of it as sharking.
You must have a very thin skin to let comments like that bother you.
 
DeadStick said:
Around 20 years ago, I played against this one young dude several times at Shooters in Olathe KS. He had some obvious mental and/or physical issues, so nobody got mad about this, but he would drool so bad at the table it would run down off his chin, onto his cue, then onto the table — all in one long strand. After the shot he’d wipe it off with his hand. The hand he used to handle the balls.

He would shake uncontrollably walking around the table and standing, but as soon as he got over the shot, he would freeze like a statue — except for the saliva slowly running down — and shoot lights out.

That was the best unintentional sharking I’ve ever seen. Every time I touched the cue ball or a rail, I thought about his drool. Pretty sure he beat me every match.
Click to expand...
kinda disgusting
 
SeniorTom said:
Here's a subtle sharking move:
Playing 9 ball, my opponent one a game within a match so it was my turn to rack. I just rack up the set and get the rack about 4 inches off the table and he slams the cue ball into the rack right in my face. I didn't let it upset me, but everybody jumped on his case about it even his own teammates. I proceeded to beat him in the match.
Click to expand...
I had an asshat break when I was hanging up the rack and and it rung my ears. I started laying my cue on the table after that when racking .
 
brigeton said:
I am guilty of the there you go myself when I miss and leave the table wide open. This I've said only when playing my wife or friends and I never thought of it as sharking. I have also complimented opponents, and had opponents compliment me on a nice shot or run and never thought of it as sharking.
You must have a very thin skin to let comments like that bother you.
Click to expand...
If you miss and say that to me, it’s a concession. There’s no other reason to say it. Your opponent knows when their turn is and they don’t need your permission, so it’s clearly a concession
 
zetetikos said:
Do you get up and move out of someone shot line? The room I learned to play, the etiquette was to sit in your chair, even if the shot was aimed at you, but that you stayed still. Also you didn't get out of your chair until they were back in theirs.

I've since played in some rooms where people expect you to move out of your seat because it's in their shot line, which is just odd, because when you go to tournaments there will always be people in your shot line, it's fucking crowded.
Click to expand...
I'd move if asked, otherwise I'd sit still. It depends on the room and scenario. The point is, leaning behind a shot, when you could and should be back in your seat or a point away from table, is just gutless and says a lot about the person you are playing.

A crowd is a crowd, If a person was in the line of my shot in the crowd, and they weren't sitting tight in their chair, I'd class that as disrespectful to the game, not just to me or my shot. People are aware of their surroundings, but when movement behind the shot comes up, it's a choice of whether they are ignorant or devious... Both need addressing.
 
tomatoshooter said:
When does slow play become sharking? I played an old guy in league last night and he was slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. I was about to tell him that if he doesn't know how to shoot that shot by now, he'll never learn. Or if he dies before the end of the game, I get the win. He did play well but I've played three games of one pocket in the time it took to play one game of 8 ball.
Click to expand...
Played a race with a snooker player the other day that was pure torture. The guy loves playing with fast flowy players. Says he loves their rhythm around the table and it's fun to watch and play against. Meanwhile he had a break and run in 9ball that was closer to 10min than 5min. I was dying. It was obvious he was out from the break. Now I don't expect him to be Earl and clear up in 1min, but I doubt even 2 of his shots would fall within a standard 30s shot clock. Worst part was that it wasn't even tricky. he'd make a ball, get perfect, and then grind and walk around and check angles at a pace you sneak into your kids' room to give em their tooth fairy money in the middle of the night.

Intentional sharking or not....it worked lol. I managed to get out in the next rack when he broke dry and it was basically a Luc Salvas impression but sloppy. I had to make a bank and a tricky rail first shot on what should have been a fairly straight forward runout. I dunno what happened really. The other guy's pace usually doesn't bother me but this was next level.
 
23DenaliBDE said:
If you miss and say that to me, it’s a concession. There’s no other reason to say it. Your opponent knows when their turn is and they don’t need your permission, so it’s clearly a concession
Click to expand...
It's not a concession, I have only said it among friends, meaning they have a good opportunity but they still have to finish it. And I have never given it a thought as far as shaking just friendly conversation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top