tips for playing in a new room?

[scottycoyote]

for the gamblers out there, how do you guys go about getting into sync when you walk into a strange poolroom. Happened to me last night, a buddy and I head out of town, walk into a strange room and my buddy ends up going $10 a game in 8ball. A few racks and the guy changes over to 9. Im watching and the guy is holding back at first but he starts bringing a better game and my friend quits him. I play better than my friend by a couple balls and I feel like im better than this guy so he asks me in and i get my stick. I realise it was bad for me to jump in cold but I did, i end up playing him 20 a game and i have to pull up because the table was killing me, way faster than im used to and we had been drinking. Im sure I violated probably 10 rules last night lol, 1) should have warmed up 2)maybe should have changed the game right off to throw this guy out of rhythm, etc. Just wondering how you guys who go to new places play......especially if you dont have alot of time to get used to the equipment. Do you just not play? Or are there things you do to cut down the %'s, play super conservative? what?

 

[Black-Balled]

Shoulda told him your buddy plays better than you and that you really shouldn't play coz you been drinking, but if he wants to give up a decent spot, you're probably dumb enough to play him (for 2x what they were betting- no sense in just winning your buddy's $).

 

[Gerry]

I hava a few 2 and 3 rail stroke shots I like to hit on a new table that tell me pretty quickly how fast the table is playing, and how short/long the rails play. It's a habbit I got from an old teacher, who did the road for a while.

If you have to jump in cold, you better be damn sure you have the nutts or you will be struggling. I usually rate my game 2 balls below my normal speed in a new room, just to be double sure when making a game. Don't fortget, the other guy probably plays there every day, and knows the tables well, which is worth at least a ball IMO.

Anyway, it was $10 or $20 a game, so you were'nt going to lose your inheritance, but it's great you guys were out there doing it! Nothing will make you a stronger player quicker than getting out there and putting your game on the line.....Have fun.....Gerry

 

[mikepage]

for the gamblers out there, how do you guys go about getting into sync when you walk into a strange poolroom. Happened to me last night, a buddy and I head out of town, walk into a strange room and my buddy ends up going $10 a game in 8ball. A few racks and the guy changes over to 9. Im watching and the guy is holding back at first but he starts bringing a better game and my friend quits him. I play better than my friend by a couple balls and I feel like im better than this guy so he asks me in and i get my stick. I realise it was bad for me to jump in cold but I did, i end up playing him 20 a game and i have to pull up because the table was killing me, way faster than im used to and we had been drinking. Im sure I violated probably 10 rules last night lol, 1) should have warmed up 2)maybe should have changed the game right off to throw this guy out of rhythm, etc. Just wondering how you guys who go to new places play......especially if you dont have alot of time to get used to the equipment. Do you just not play? Or are there things you do to cut down the %'s, play super conservative? what?

If you were Drinking with a capital D, then you probably shouldn't have played. The last think you need in a situation like this is the judgment of a cowboy.

Other than that, I think it was fine--that's just the way it goes sometimes. I suppose you could have started at $10 a game instead of $20.

Some people don't show their full speed at first when they're playing someone new. I don't do that. But I note that starting out cold has the same effect. So sometimes it could end up being an advantage.

mike page
fargo

 

[TheConArtist]

I love to play for the frog skins and it takes me a game or so to adjust to the table as all tables ain't the same. But going in cold and adding ten extra bucks on then what your friends was playing for wasn't a good idea there, but if it were me i would of play race to three or something like that for twenty. But for your question i would play not just sit there and watch, and yes i would play conservative. Playing for cash for me personally speaking gives me that edge as there is more pressure then playing for fun, when i first picked up a cue and didn't know nothing about the game i lost nearly a hundred dollars that night. So i know how to handle my own when playing for money and pressure but don't get me wrong im not like playing for thousands of dollars here lol, and if that was the option i would fold up like like skrinkage on a very cold night hehee. But when playing for cash i always slow down my game, try to get comfortable loose the nerves, always play the smart shot even if i am ahead, and take no mercy.