Spread the Love Around

Zphix

Zphix

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I agree with Sam's latest thread on how pool seems to attract nothing but negativity. I think a lot of people forget why we play this game in the first place; because we love it. I certainly have forgotten that a few times in the recent past and it's made me feel horrible.

I also think that the negative people that stick around pool have impossible beliefs about pool and as a result see pool as failing and they simply cannot accept pool for what it is; a pleasurable game, pastime, a hobby, etc. How serious you are about the game will vary but the underlying reason we play is because we love pool for one reason or another.

We all want to be better than we are at it and that's another thrill of this game and we all have goals: some people want to run 50 in straight pool, become an A/AA/etc. player, some want to be pros, etc. For me, I want to be known as one of the best players in Chicago and I will make it there.

Spread the love for the game around guys.
 
This forum has the population of a small city....over fifty thousand.
I suspect they all like playing pool.

Many arguments arise from from passion for the game...and it can be fertile ground.

...and you'll never learn a thing from someone who agrees with you
 
Great post. #1 don't EVER EVER EVER stop someone from learning. Don't stifle curiosity. A new method comes along - encourage a 1000 people to try it because the crowd will then tell you if it's good, bad or needs work.

#2. bring a friend to pool. Take a non-pool player with you and try to get them to fall in love with the game.

#3. enjoy yourself, get lost in the infinite ways to make things happen on the table, study, learn, try, explore......you know how Florian Kohler learned so many amazing shots? By accident. By trying things and when a fluke happened he learned how to make it happen again on purpose. Every new shot you learn is a bit of joy you carry forever to be brought out at the right time and savored again.

#4. share your knowledge, don't hesitate to help other players learn methods and shots and strategies, even your regular opponents. As they get stronger they will push you to get stronger and everyone wins.
 
JB Cases said:
Great post. #1 don't EVER EVER EVER stop someone from learning. Don't stifle curiosity. A new method comes along - encourage a 1000 people to try it because the crowd will then tell you if it's good, bad or needs work.

#2. bring a friend to pool. Take a non-pool player with you and try to get them to fall in love with the game.

#3. enjoy yourself, get lost in the infinite ways to make things happen on the table, study, learn, try, explore......you know how Florian Kohler learned so many amazing shots? By accident. By trying things and when a fluke happened he learned how to make it happen again on purpose. Every new shot you learn is a bit of joy you carry forever to be brought out at the right time and savored again.

#4. share your knowledge, don't hesitate to help other players learn methods and shots and strategies, even your regular opponents. As they get stronger they will push you to get stronger and everyone wins.
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That's how I live never stop learning
I try at every attempt to expose pool players to billiards, most don't even notice the table has ZERO pockets when I text them a pic of mine
It's not for everyone I understand
But even pool room owners in Houston have never heard nor seen a picture of a billiard table
 
beneath_the_sur said:
I was gonna do it but I chickened out
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I don't like lamp....I punched it's lights out...:angry:

...but I've seen a few chandeliers that are quite attractive...:wub:

I was the guest of an exclusive club in Britain once for eight days....everybody spoiled me
rotten and threw money at me...but at night I would sneak out to the Kings Cross Snooker
Center, where you could go broke in action and argue about anything in the world...
...AZ reminds me more of this...like a good action room with a lot of regulars...
...so I wouldn't like AZ to get TOO civilized....this ain't no sewing circle
 
pt109 said:
I don't like lamp....I punched it's lights out...:angry:

...but I've seen a few chandeliers that are quite attractive...:wub:

I was the guest of an exclusive club in Britain once for eight days....everybody spoiled me
rotten and threw money at me...but at night I would sneak out to the Kings Cross Snooker
Center, where you could go broke in action and argue about anything in the world...
...AZ reminds me more of this...like a good action room with a lot of regulars...
...so I wouldn't like AZ to get TOO civilized....this ain't no sewing circle
Click to expand...


Yes and this thread is proof
Everyone loves to argue something
But come together to share mutual joy about the game?
Nah
 
Don't get me wrong - I'm all for debating. But debating is far different than arguing. Differences in opinions are sure to rise but I'd prefer to see the differences come out with respect to one another's view.
 
pt109 said:
I don't like lamp....I punched it's lights out...:angry:

...but I've seen a few chandeliers that are quite attractive...:wub:

I was the guest of an exclusive club in Britain once for eight days....everybody spoiled me
rotten and threw money at me...but at night I would sneak out to the Kings Cross Snooker
Center, where you could go broke in action and argue about anything in the world...
...AZ reminds me more of this...like a good action room with a lot of regulars...
...so I wouldn't like AZ to get TOO civilized....this ain't no sewing circle
Click to expand...
Agreed a good debate is fun. But some don't realize when they cross lines that they should not.

John - line crosser :-)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
 
I've always loved the game of pool, since I was eight yrs. old, it will always be in me no matter what, somewhere deep inside it will always be there... ;)
 
Sometimes, when we argue, fuss, and fight, I think back to a time in a small poolroom that once sat on Booneville Street hill, in my hometown. It had two Snooker tables and four pocket billiard tables. It was called Brunswick Billiards.
The floor was wood, the ceiling was high and clad with painted tin panels that were rusted and paint chipped, and a Warm Mourning gas heater stood silently in the back, in a corner. On that hot Summer day it was the only thing in the room that was cold.
A fan on a pedestal in the back of the room pushed a weak current of hot air around an already hot room, mixed with the smell of stale piss and cigarette smoke.
Joe, the owner, who everyone said had done a stretch at the state prison (but, no one knew exactly what for) was like a cat with a bell. He wore a nail apron full of nickles, dimes, and quarters around his waste, and when he walked across the floor he jingled.
One afternoon when I was supposed to be in school, but wasn't, Joe jingled over to the table where me and a couple of my friends were playing Cutthroat and asked if we needed anything. Since I was up fifty cents on the guys I played it like Mr. Rockefeller, and said, "What do you suggest, my good man?"
Joe just smiled and walked over to the counter, grabbed a nickle bag of peanuts, pulled an ice cold bottle (glass bottle, mind you) of Pepsi Cola out of the cooler, then came back to our table.
"Here you go. That'll be fifteen cents."
I said, "Wow, Joe. You really kicked you feet out on this one. What do I do with a sack of nuts and a bottle of pop?"
"Well, smart-ass." He replied. "You take a couple of slugs of soda, tear open the bag of peanuts, and pour them down the neck of the bottle. Ain't nothing better than nursing a cold Pepsi filled with salty peanuts, on a hot afternoon."
Damned if he wasn't right. :smile:
 
Should be fun!

I play pool because I enjoy it. I am an amateur and it is a hobby, I have no illusions about being a super star in any hobby. I have watched many become frustrated and angry over the game. I try to avoid them.

There is something about poking balls in a hole with a stick that is satisfying to my ego. It really makes no sense. But, neither does getting all excited about a fish pulling on my line. It is a part of me I hope never changes.
 
beneath_the_sur said:
But even pool room owners in Houston have never heard nor seen a picture of a billiard table
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Now this is sad... Billiards is a great game and any true pool fan owes it to him or herself to try it out. I used to be very afraid to even try billiards when I was just beginning to play pool. I only knew about three cushion and it was a low percentage for me to score at all. There were too many angles to try to figure out. Later on I realized that billiards (3c, balkline, etc) is the purest form of any billiard game, with or without pockets. It's also a very creative game. I try to bring pool players over to the billiard table as well, even though I don't know a whole lot. We play "point-per-rail", I think you can guess the rules. I know hardly anything about billiards, but I feel that it has helped in other pool games, especially one-pocket. I think that the aforementioned game and 72.1 balkline are the most approachable for new billiard players, as there are more chances to score.

Also wanted to say great post OP. Both AZBilliards, and the real world pool halls could always use some more friendliness.
 
galipeau said:
Now this is sad... Billiards is a great game and any true pool fan owes it to him or herself to try it out. I used to be very afraid to even try billiards when I was just beginning to play pool. I only knew about three cushion and it was a low percentage for me to score at all. There were too many angles to try to figure out. Later on I realized that billiards (3c, balkline, etc) is the purest form of any billiard game, with or without pockets. It's also a very creative game. I try to bring pool players over to the billiard table as well, even though I don't know a whole lot. We play "point-per-rail", I think you can guess the rules. I know hardly anything about billiards, but I feel that it has helped in other pool games, especially one-pocket. I think that the aforementioned game and 72.1 balkline are the most approachable for new billiard players, as there are more chances to score.

Also wanted to say great post OP. Both AZBilliards, and the real world pool halls could always use some more friendliness.
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Yes I start those who wish to try with straight rail
And 3c has taken my pool game to the next level for sure
I agree any pool enthusiast's owe it to them selves to give it a try at least
 
Why we play....

Camaraderie... because we like hanging with our peers.

It's OUR game... naw, it ain't cards, roulette, Vegas, posers... it's pool. Our game.

And all games... One Hole, Three cushion, 10 ball... try 'em all.. endless possibilities.

Sure, there's a negative element to pool, always has been.. it's up to us to bring the knowledge, IMO.

I saw Efren showing someone how to shoot the two ball One Pocket spot shot, front ball goes in your pocket... no charge. Proper.
 
Yep. Good thread. Been playing baseball for 45 consecutive years before blowing out my ACL last year at 52. Been coaching baseball for 20 years, kids leagues, amateur leagues, & High School.

And there is just so much more to learn, that by the time I figure it all out, I'll be too old to use it ;) But, why stop now. Every little thing learned today can be used tomorrow.

And just like in pool, not all baseball players do everything the same way, nor do they learn the same. And there are certain instincts that just CANNOT be taught in either sport.

So, the folks lacking instinct in either baseball or pool, need to find another way to improve, maybe not master it, but they can always improve on something they can't do instinctively.

So, keep trying to pick up any little tidbit you can on pool. And if you see someone that needs help, give them a tidbit if they want it. Some folks just don't want to admit they don't know it all, and might take offense to some help. But, all you can do is ask, and sometimes they will take it.
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Yep. Good thread. Been playing baseball for 45 consecutive years before blowing out my ACL last year at 52. Been coaching baseball for 20 years, kids leagues, amateur leagues, & High School.

And there is just so much more to learn, that by the time I figure it all out, I'll be too old to use it ;) But, why stop now. Every little thing learned today can be used tomorrow.

And just like in pool, not all baseball players do everything the same way, nor do they learn the same. And there are certain instincts that just CANNOT be taught in either sport.

So, the folks lacking instinct in either baseball or pool, need to find another way to improve, maybe not master it, but they can always improve on something they can't do instinctively.

So, keep trying to pick up any little tidbit you can on pool. And if you see someone that needs help, give them a tidbit if they want it. Some folks just don't want to admit they don't know it all, and might take offense to some help. But, all you can do is ask, and sometimes they will take it.
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I think natural talent is only necessary when you want to be a world-beater at a young age. Here's a funny story:

There was a teen whose family life wasn't too great. He was frequently in pool halls but never played, only watched until... a few road players became friends with him and took him around - adopted him into the lifestyle and became his mentor.

Now, this kid could not even hold the cue properly when he started out. He couldn't bridge, could not stroke straight, and could not pocket balls but... he had passion for the game, and a desire to learn. With hard work, mentoring, and patience - across the span of two years he became an A player.

He kept playing, gambling, and improving and today he is one of the greatest players in the world. He's semi-pro caliber and is in the top 30 on the USA FargoList, and in the top 100 of the World FargoList. This is a true story, and I know the guy very well.
 
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