The trend of conceding a match

mattkenefick

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member

It seems like the trend of conceding a match at the last ball has been picking up. I don't remember people doing that as often in the past. I'm not too big a fan of it. Aside from the fact that someone could miss a final ball... it seems like it takes away from the glory of really finishing it off. Like your opponent doesn't want you to have the satisfaction of eating the last bite.

I understand ordinarily it's supposed to come from a place of respect, but based on how often it happens now.. I feel like it's also coming from a state of giving up. "Whatever, I give up," which seems a bit disrespectful to me.

Am I alone in this?

 

JazzboxBlues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I played in the season ending tournament for the league I sub in. One of the matches my opponent did just this. I don't personally like it but it guaranteed the win. I could of missed and then he would have had a chance to get in the money.
 

Dave-Kat

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I think that 50% of the time it's out of respect and the other 50% it's not wanting opponent catch/feel the satisfaction perhaps gain confidence and momentum of 'finishing' proper with the win.

Just my take:groucho:

-Kat,
 

philly

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
It's a matter of respect. I have been given the last two balls in a match and I have seen it many times.
 

Colonel

Raised by Wolves in a Pool Hall
Silver Member
I ask for nothing & give nothing. You want my $? You're going to have to pot every ball.
 

michael4

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
a sign of respect.


football - the kneel down on the last three plays of the game

basketball - dribbling out the clock and not shooting with less than 24 seconds left

Chess - pros ALMOST NEVER play out the full game once its clear who will win.

tennis - oddly, pros never concede unless they are injured, but thats partially because a player always has a chance, even if down triple match point. Also because the audience paid a lot of money to watch the full match.
 

KRJ

Support UKRAINE
Silver Member
I ask for nothing & give nothing. You want my $? You're going to have to pot every ball.

I can respect that ;)

Though, when playing a strong player, I don't make them shoot the last shot on routine shots. I don't think they feel "robbed" of not playing it out, as I know when someone gives me an easy 8 ball, I don't feel robbed and appreciate the respect...

Lets rack'em and get to the next game.

However, on mid-level or below players, I never give them the game.. you never know, and also, cause they will take it as a shark move or something, but the strong players never do.

So, kind of delicate.

One time I was playing someone in league, decent player, known the guy for a few years... has kind of general pissy attitude, will call anything and everything, even stuff he's not sure of. Type of guy that plays a good safe and then "struts" away from the table like a proud peacock, a little much for my taste, but whatever.

So, he's got 2 balls left, gimmes, two easy stop shots, he's out. I told him he's good. I get the rack, and he starts to lean over to shoot. I said you're good, don't have to shoot.

So, of course, he says the rules say I have to shoot, blah, blah, blah.... I use my stick and rake the balls... I said what do the rules say about that. Yeah, I was a little pissed the guy could not even be respectful when showing a sign of respect.

I don't care what the rules say, if I concede the game you win.
 

Poolhall60561

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I say shoot all the balls but if you want to give me the game, I'll take it.
I've seen good players miss easy shots and if I'm playing I want every opportunity to win.
I'll respect my opponent by being a good sport and shake his hand after the match and pay up if I loose.
 

JC

Coos Cues
a sign of respect.


football - the kneel down on the last three plays of the game

basketball - dribbling out the clock and not shooting with less than 24 seconds left

Chess - pros ALMOST NEVER play out the full game once its clear who will win.

tennis - oddly, pros never concede unless they are injured, but thats partially because a player always has a chance, even if down triple match point. Also because the audience paid a lot of money to watch the full match.

Pool doesn't have a clock that makes it impossible for the tide to turn like basketball and football. Chess is just weird.

Would a baseball team concede the game with the winning run on third base because the count got to 3-0? Or would the team at bat give up and walk off the field because the count is 0-2?

I'm with the colonel on this one. Shoot the balls in, every one of them. Top pros have missed gimmes with the match in the balance. More than twice.

JC
 

Apocalypse2017

Welcome to the resistance
Silver Member
1. respect
2. don't want the opponent to gain momentum and confidence
3. ***** ass swipe of the ball(s) by a weak minded player
 

mattkenefick

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Pool doesn't have a clock that makes it impossible for the tide to turn like basketball and football. Chess is just weird.

Would a baseball team concede the game with the winning run on third base because the count got to 3-0? Or would the team at bat give up and walk off the field because the count is 0-2?

I'm with the colonel on this one. Shoot the balls in, every one of them. Top pros have missed gimmes with the match in the balance. More than twice.

JC


I was going to say this. Basketball and Football are physically impossible to win at a certain point. If there are 30 seconds left on the clock and you're down by 20... it's impossible to win.

I saw Jeremy Sossei accidentally scoop the cueball off the table while shooting the 6 ball at the Ginky Memorial this year. It was hill-hill against Mika and he just flubbed it. Mika was sure it was all but over, until that miracle happened. Then Mika finished it off and won. It happens.
 

john coloccia

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
"You going to make me shoot this?"

Yeah, you bet...every last ball. I hate conceding, and I think it should be done away with at the professional level.

re: chess
You'll rarely see a checkmate on the board except during blitz or some other situation where the checkmate's just missed and comes as a surprise. That said, you usually won't see a resignation from good players until the game really is completely lost. It may not look it from a casual bystander or weak player so that makes it confusing, but the better players can all see there's zero point in continuing on. It's less a show of respect and more that no one wants to sit there for 20 minutes suffering through the inevitable march to a checkmate.
 

Rin

頑張ります
Silver Member
I never give up. I've seen great players miss the last ball, so why would I give up if there's still a chance to win?;)
 

mattkenefick

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Speaking of which, I'm watching Johnny Archer vs James Georgiadis on ChalkySticks TV right now and Johnny just missed a straight in 9ball shot to clinch the set. It was 7-1, straight in, close, and he just missed it.

It happens.
 

Prince H

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Another aspect of this is what is defined as a "gimme" can be different from player to player. It can really get in your head when you are down on the last ball and wondering "this seems like it should be a gimme, is he gonna give it to me? Not this time? Well, guess i'll shoot"

This thought can sometimes be the catalyst for missing a shot that would not normally be missed if the player maintained focus.
 

macguy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member

It seems like the trend of conceding a match at the last ball has been picking up. I don't remember people doing that as often in the past. I'm not too big a fan of it. Aside from the fact that someone could miss a final ball... it seems like it takes away from the glory of really finishing it off. Like your opponent doesn't want you to have the satisfaction of eating the last bite.

I understand ordinarily it's supposed to come from a place of respect, but based on how often it happens now.. I feel like it's also coming from a state of giving up. "Whatever, I give up," which seems a bit disrespectful to me.

Am I alone in this?

I don't like it at all and resent being made to feel like a nit because I stay in the chair till the rack is over. It has gotten to where they start giving balls to themselves like you never have to shoot the last ball. They look at you like " You want me to shoot this"
 

AngryTurtle

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Another aspect of this is what is defined as a "gimme" can be different from player to player. It can really get in your head when you are down on the last ball and wondering "this seems like it should be a gimme, is he gonna give it to me? Not this time? Well, guess i'll shoot"

This thought can sometimes be the catalyst for missing a shot that would not normally be missed if the player maintained focus.

This is a well known sharking move in Golf, where conceding putts in certain types of games is common.

The shark goes like this: At the beginning of the round you concede a bunch of relatively long final putts. Then at critical moments, when your opponent expects you to concede the putt you make him putt it. This will be his first putt under pressure, he will not have had the earlier lesser pressure putts to prepare for it.
 
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