Warming up, but slyly...

M

mayamon

Struggling pool shark
Silver Member
Just a quick question, i'm wondering how most people warm up or get into stroke when you first arrive at a hall/bar. If i'm at home i'll play a couple racks or maybe a drill or too but that to me seems to be a dead give away that i've played a game or two. Especially at a bar i'd stick out like a sore thumb if i try to practice a little before playing people there. So if you want to warm up without attracting attention or have no table avaliable what can you do?:confused:
 
mayamon said:
Just a quick question, i'm wondering how most people warm up or get into stroke when you first arrive at a hall/bar. If i'm at home i'll play a couple racks or maybe a drill or too but that to me seems to be a dead give away that i've played a game or two. Especially at a bar i'd stick out like a sore thumb if i try to practice a little before playing people there. So if you want to warm up without attracting attention or have no table avaliable what can you do?:confused:
Click to expand...

That's a good one. I'm not at the point where I need to hide my speed, but if I was, I think I'd just work on loosening up my arm and not worry too much about where the balls go. You can always finish your "dial in" during the preliminary "cheap sets".

(Earn bonus hustler points by twirling your cue and pretending to stab small animals with it.)

Ken
 
Hello Mayamon

I am one of those people who believes in warming up.
I think the problem arises when you try to be sly.
If the tables are full, put up your quarters and take the same risk as everyone else. If not, hit a few balls on an open table...I have this feeling you'll still get played. I get lots of hits when I practice...I commonly have to ask them to be patient while I get my legs.
I have a buddy who plays very well...he uses this statement to set the hook..."I warn you, I play pretty good" and then "I don't want you to feel hustled when you're busted".
Gets him played every time.
No sense in trying to be sly...never works anyway.
Just my opinion, you be the judge.
 
One thing to do straight from the hustler's playbook:

Overplay your position. Try real hard to to play good position... But for one foot beyond where you normally would end up with the cueball for normally good position. This allows you to practice precise position play without the downside of running all your opponents off. Any good player watching you will think they can beat you because of your "bad position skilz", and it won't look fake, because you are bearing down and focusing.

Also, when practicing shotmaking, aim to hit beside the pocket, perhaps just an inch or two beside the pocket. Wherever you aim, try HARD to hit EXACTLY there. Also, practice banks a lot, but practice hitting the banks an inch short or long. Most good players automatically assume yer a hack if you practice banks on a bar table.

In my experience, those who ask this question usually aren't good enough to be the best in most rooms they walk into. though.. (No offense) If you are talking about mostly bar play, it doesn't really matter, as most players are not observant enough to be scared off.

If bar play is yer thing, just keep your runs to 4 balls or less. While practicing 8 ball, look for areas on the table where you can plan a realistic "miss" that will leave your opponent nothing and will hopefully make things easier for you when you get back to the table. Be warned, though. It takes practice to play off this way in a convincing fashion. You have to practice purposefully with this in mind.

I used to play against real good bar table 8 ball players who would do stuff like nudge my balls together to make my runout harder if I got back to the table. These are the things to look for when hustling, as it takes a GREAT player to even realize that you did it on purpose.

Good luck,

Russ
 
No offense taken, trust me i'll be the first to admit i'm not the best in the room. Mostly i play at a hall and very occasionally at a bar. I'm not trying to hustle people or hide my ability too much. I just want to avoid looking like i play everyday (which i do). I'm not trying to earn a living or leave someone broke, just don't wanna discourage someone from playing because they see me warming up that's all. I like the idea of playing position a foot to far though, i'll have to give it a try
 
agree completely

I spent a lot of time on bar tables and Russ's advice is spot on. Aim at corners of pockets, chalk, even a diamond if it appears to be a long tough shot to the pocket. Learning to play "accidental" safeties and nudging the other player's balls to their disadvantage is a big part of the bar hustle too. Russ covered pretty much all of the bases.

Hu



Russ Chewning said:
One thing to do straight from the hustler's playbook:

Overplay your position. Try real hard to to play good position... But for one foot beyond where you normally would end up with the cueball for normally good position. This allows you to practice precise position play without the downside of running all your opponents off. Any good player watching you will think they can beat you because of your "bad position skilz", and it won't look fake, because you are bearing down and focusing.

Also, when practicing shotmaking, aim to hit beside the pocket, perhaps just an inch or two beside the pocket. Wherever you aim, try HARD to hit EXACTLY there. Also, practice banks a lot, but practice hitting the banks an inch short or long. Most good players automatically assume yer a hack if you practice banks on a bar table.

In my experience, those who ask this question usually aren't good enough to be the best in most rooms they walk into. though.. (No offense) If you are talking about mostly bar play, it doesn't really matter, as most players are not observant enough to be scared off.

If bar play is yer thing, just keep your runs to 4 balls or less. While practicing 8 ball, look for areas on the table where you can plan a realistic "miss" that will leave your opponent nothing and will hopefully make things easier for you when you get back to the table. Be warned, though. It takes practice to play off this way in a convincing fashion. You have to practice purposefully with this in mind.

I used to play against real good bar table 8 ball players who would do stuff like nudge my balls together to make my runout harder if I got back to the table. These are the things to look for when hustling, as it takes a GREAT player to even realize that you did it on purpose.

Good luck,

Russ
Click to expand...
 
the best way for me to get warm'd up is to hit a few balls around. What i do is practice some straight in shots off the rail then do some cuts, just mainly off the rail if i can pocket them then i know i am purdy much warm'd up, as these shots are my toughest to make. I can purdy much get use to the tables fast or adjust i mean, so i don't really have to worry to much about finding the speed of the cloth. Just my way of warming up.
 
mayamon said:
Just a quick question, i'm wondering how most people warm up or get into stroke when you first arrive at a hall/bar. If i'm at home i'll play a couple racks or maybe a drill or too but that to me seems to be a dead give away that i've played a game or two. Especially at a bar i'd stick out like a sore thumb if i try to practice a little before playing people there. So if you want to warm up without attracting attention or have no table avaliable what can you do?:confused:
Click to expand...

Nobody is paying much attention to you when you are playing. Unless you are trying to hustles good (A speed) experianced players, no one is watching any of your runs from beginning to end. People may look over every once in a while but they will generally assume you have missed even if you haven't missed in an hour.
 
I think it's part mental, part physical. Call me the odd man out. This response is based on play in bars.

If I don't want people to think I am a ringer. Here are some things I won't do as I think it's a complete act, not just your stroke that can give it away.

1: Will roll a bunch of cues off the wall to see which is straightest. Now you would think this would give you away, but it doesn't. A ringer will grab any cue off the wall and from hitting a couple balls, know if he needs to grab another cue.
2: Do not, do not, do not chalk the cue like I typically do. If you see some chalk a cue in a consistant manner going across the tip in a shaving motion, they probably have played a game or too. I will chalk my tip by twisting the chalk on the cue. I won't use the best piece of chalk either. I won't chalk after every shot either.
3: I will not check my stance, grip or arm motion.
4: I may not even take my coat off.
5: Now once I start shooting or warm up, I may hit balls firmly into the rails just to see if they are dead or not. Banks as another member suggested.
6: I may just hit hit balls around and pay attention to how they roll.
7: If I pocket balls, they are straight in shots, hit fairly quick with no preshot routine and hit them sorta hard like a typical bar banger would. Getting or showing no english ability.
8: When finally playing someone, talk outloud, drink between shots, make jokes, anything that is out of the norm of a great player. Then, if you get them enjoying the game even if they are losing "ohh so closely" you can put a couple 3-4-5 ball runs together and they won't be so mad. "Everyone gets lucky once in 5 games."
9: If they are being good sports about your game, compliment them back. Even if they suck and truly show it. Compliment them. It will make them enjoy the game more and keep putting quarters up. Nobody likes to give money away, but if they are having a good time playing a good game, they will stay interested.
10: Lastly, you should know even if you are playing sloppy pool, when it's time to tighten your game, slowly back off much of the above and zero in your focus.

Never done any of this, read it in a book. ;)
ez
 
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