Sharking

Nice little update here... The guy tried the same thing to a friend of mine who was not as chill about it as I was. It went down the exact same way, except when my friend picked up his chalk and found it soaked, he lost it. "You like to wreck peoples things?" - he then picked up the guys towel, chalk and mobile phone, walked to the restroom and dropped it in the urinal 🤣 they threw some expletives at each other for a minute before the guy fished them out. They did the whole stand-off 'please punch me first' thing, before the manager calms them down. They did not finish their game.
Me and another friend were egging each other to go and use the urinal lol

Karma is a real thing.
 
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Most common shark I been on receiving end of was the guy who 'has money on the game' and just watches the TV while I'm at the table. Of course, any time I'm down on a big shot something happens in the game that he just has to wildly react to, ideally in my backswing.

The worst one I ever pulled was against a guy I beat like 90% of the time, on his birthday. The game had all the hallmarks of one of those 10% lost games....I wasn't playing well and he was playing remarkably well for him, running out racks and splitting pockets with regularity. As his lead grew he just played better and better filling with confidence. He said something up 6-2 in a race to 9 and I snapped back, "Oh we talking shit now? Here I was being nice for your birthday. Now Ima whack you". I got to the table that rack knowing that if I get out, he'll crumble and will be full of doubt if any of the set has been real to this point. I managed to get out and he fell apart. Completely lost his focus and couldn't make a ball. Final score 9-6. Happy birthday lol. It was over 20 years ago and I still feel a little dirty about it. I mean, it ain't calling bs non-foul fouls on a guy, but that level of mind fuckery feels wrong.
 
The sharking that steams me more than anything is when it's my opponent's turn at the table and they just keep on talking to their friends or staring at their bleeping phone. Most of the time it's not even intentional, but it's still annoying as hell.

When it's your shot, get up and shoot. You can always talk or surf your phone later.
 
Taxi said:
The sharking that steams me more than anything is when it's my opponent's turn at the table and they just keep on talking to their friends or staring at their bleeping phone. Most of the time it's not even intentional, but it's still annoying as hell.

When it's your shot, get up and shoot. You can always talk or surf your phone later.
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I forget I am in the middle of a game when people do that more than once in a game or match. Once I will forgive as an accident. Twice or more I will wander off and talk to the counterman awhile or buy a beer, soft drink these days, and sit there sipping on it for a few minutes when it is my shot. Eventually even the dimmest bulbs get the message or when they come over to see what is up I tell them they didn't seem to be in any rush to finish the game so I was just taking my time too.

Fighting fire with fire is my usual technique, if possible. Watching the game at another table awhile when it is my shot works well too.

Hu
 
WobblyStroke said:
Most common shark I been on receiving end of was the guy who 'has money on the game' and just watches the TV while I'm at the table. Of course, any time I'm down on a big shot something happens in the game that he just has to wildly react to, ideally in my backswing.

The worst one I ever pulled was against a guy I beat like 90% of the time, on his birthday. The game had all the hallmarks of one of those 10% lost games....I wasn't playing well and he was playing remarkably well for him, running out racks and splitting pockets with regularity. As his lead grew he just played better and better filling with confidence. He said something up 6-2 in a race to 9 and I snapped back, "Oh we talking shit now? Here I was being nice for your birthday. Now Ima whack you". I got to the table that rack knowing that if I get out, he'll crumble and will be full of doubt if any of the set has been real to this point. I managed to get out and he fell apart. Completely lost his focus and couldn't make a ball. Final score 9-6. Happy birthday lol. It was over 20 years ago and I still feel a little dirty about it. I mean, it ain't calling bs non-foul fouls on a guy, but that level of mind fuckery feels wrong.
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I only called non fouls on one guy out of a 1000 guys I’ve gambled with. It just was too easy and I really needed the $$$ at the time. I wasn’t sticking up 7-11’s

That was the worst thing I ever did to anyone I played.

I had a guy take the stake $$$ off the light one night and he ran out the front door on me.

Shit happened back then

God I miss those days…..
 
mikemosconi said:
My greatest enjoyment of this game has always been playing straight pool alone for several hours - nothing more relaxing for me at the table than this exercise.
Competition is always welcome and can be very enjoyable as well - but I have zero tolerance for playing a game if it is even remotely more irritating than being enjoyable.
Managing one’s own life so that you always have choices provides great options for happiness .
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My nerve pill dude.👍🏻
 
Mensabum said:
You don't need all that bluster to shark a guy. Those who are best at it employ subtle techniques you wouldn't even notice until the damage is done.
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I had mentored a guy that was a semi-pro or pro tennis player on how to shoot a pistol in competition. After six months or a year he had picked it up pretty well. He laid down a pretty run in a match one day. As soon as the run was over with the pistol still in front of him I asked him, "Do you always cant the gun like that when you shoot?" He looked at me, he looked at the pistol, he looked at me, he looked at the pistol, then he looked at me and burst out laughing.

The playful sharking was something the top shooters did to each other to add to the entertainment and because we knew each other could handle it. I didn't jack with K until the run was over but it was still an announcement he had arrived.

Hu
 
Shark.jpg


Any questions?
 
Flakeandrun said:
Been victim to the odd bit of verbal, movement and whatever else. But last night was the first time anyone has ever done something physically to impact the game while I am playing (and that I am aware of lol).

Not even playing for anything worth mentioning, but I am 5-1 up in a race to 10. He wins the last rack, and we agree on a toilet break. Come back, and it's his break. Doesn't make a ball. Pick up my chalk to chalk my cue, and it's soaking wet. Then he tells me I did it... doesn't realize every table is on camera 🤣 If he apologized, I'd have made a joke about him pissing on his hands and been less likely to accuse him outright of sharking.

Was pretty close to quitting on him... Instead, I made him wait 20+ minutes while I cleaned the chalk of the tips of my cues, and used a spare chalk.
Made sure to hammer him even harder.

Just curious, what experiences you have had, good/funny, bad and ugly with sharking. Sure there's some good stories to be shared on the topic.
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That's nothing! I played in bars where you might get bumped into accidentally or people sitting next to the table might have a loud conversation, including yelling when it's your shot. Of course there were always threats on your life if you win. Now that's what I call sharking!
 
ShootingArts said:
I had mentored a guy that was a semi-pro or pro tennis player on how to shoot a pistol in competition. After six months or a year he had picked it up pretty well. He laid down a pretty run in a match one day. As soon as the run was over with the pistol still in front of him I asked him, "Do you always cant the gun like that when you shoot?" He looked at me, he looked at the pistol, he looked at me, he looked at the pistol, then he looked at me and burst out laughing.

The playful sharking was something the top shooters did to each other to add to the entertainment and because we knew each other could handle it. I didn't jack with K until the run was over but it was still an announcement he had arrived.

Hu
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The pool equivalent of this is when an opponent asks you innocently enough, "Do you look at the cue ball last or the object ball?"
 
jay helfert said:
That's nothing! I played in bars where you might get bumped into accidentally or people sitting next to the table might have a loud conversation, including yelling when it's your shot. Of course there were always threats on your life if you win. Now that's what I call sharking!
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I'd expect as much at bars. Been on the end of the odd bump (thankfully never in a serious game). But in a huge pool hall, and one where players are usually pretty serious, I was pretty taken aback. Messing with someone else's stuff like that. Glad karma came a-calling. Haven't seen either dude since their little spat.
 
That would
jay helfert said:
The pool equivalent of this is when an opponent asks you innocently enough, "Do you look at the cue ball last or the object ball?"
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That would be my second choice. As it can prompt an almost Political exchange.
The uh oh classified leak is, ask about the breath. A simple innocent question that is 🤷‍♂️
 
jay helfert said:
That's nothing! I played in bars where you might get bumped into accidentally or people sitting next to the table might have a loud conversation, including yelling when it's your shot. Of course there were always threats on your life if you win. Now that's what I call sharking!
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Yeah, flashing a gun is definitely next level sharking too! I considered getting one of those big Buck folders to wear on my belt for awhile. Main reason I didn't do it was that I knew a few idiots that wanted to prove themselves in a cutting and one psycho that got in a cutting every week or two. So many people carrying pistols now that he wouldn't last long! Probably what happened to him or maybe somebody did more than slash people up like he liked to do.

Hu
 
ShootingArts said:
I had mentored a guy that was a semi-pro or pro tennis player on how to shoot a pistol in competition. After six months or a year he had picked it up pretty well. He laid down a pretty run in a match one day. As soon as the run was over with the pistol still in front of him I asked him, "Do you always cant the gun like that when you shoot?" He looked at me, he looked at the pistol, he looked at me, he looked at the pistol, then he looked at me and burst out laughing.

The playful sharking was something the top shooters did to each other to add to the entertainment and because we knew each other could handle it. I didn't jack with K until the run was over but it was still an announcement he had arrived.

Hu
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Shooting arts and billiards have much in common when it comes to doggin' the other guy.
The hall I spend most of my time at is brutal. Bring your big boy pants and if you're not quick on the draw or uptake and comeback, you'll get eaten alive.😂 These guys are masters!! If you've never experienced it, I highly recommend. After all, it is a dying art form, that special kind of comradery.
Don't misconstrue. It's all done to put a smile on your face. No mean intent, but Thin Skins need not apply. There be 'Sharks' swimming these waters.
 
jay helfert said:
That's nothing! I played in bars where you might get bumped into accidentally or people sitting next to the table might have a loud conversation, including yelling when it's your shot. Of course there were always threats on your life if you win. Now that's what I call sharking!
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C'mon Jay. That's just a normal day at the office!!😂
 
ShootingArts said:
Yeah, flashing a gun is definitely next level sharking too! I considered getting one of those big Buck folders to wear on my belt for awhile. Main reason I didn't do it was that I knew a few idiots that wanted to prove themselves in a cutting and one psycho that got in a cutting every week or two. So many people carrying pistols now that he wouldn't last long! Probably what happened to him or maybe somebody did more than slash people up like he liked to do.

Hu
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It's funny how certain areas had too many blades and others guns.
We all know the old adage,
'Don't bring a knife to a gunfight,' but most of those knife wielders were under 21.
Except for a well known DC player who had that Ivory Razor on standby at all times. Usually tucked in one of those funky hats. To his credit, he got me out of a place that I wouldn't have made it out of bcuz I'd won considerable coin that night and you could see the little conversations going on about who gets to roll this fool. No attempt to disguise their actions.
He walked me out to the car and I hauled ass all the way Virginney.😂
 
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