Was I wrong for not telling my opponent he's shooting the wrong ball?!?!

In league pool or small entry-fee local tournament, I'd have said something.

For a money match, I ain't helping nobody take money out of my own wallet.

If he would have said the things to me that he said to you, I would have asked him if he wanted to step outside and finish the argument (but, you may not be a big as me, or you may be more tolerant of people gettin' in your face).

If it happens again, let your opponent be the one to have his/her blood boiling, not you. Remain calm, laugh it off and remind them that you're in your chair being quiet and still (like you're supposed to be) and that he's responsible for anything that happens on the table while he's at the table.

You weren't wrong, imo!!!

Maniac
 
Yep,It's not your duty to try to help him beat you. Yeah if playing your grandma,maybe,I said maybe too,LOL.Good lesson for him.I'll bet he pays more attention next time,If it hurt enough.Lots of good answers here.I did the same thing in one of my first big 9ball tournys.Boy did I feel stupid and I have not done that again.This year at the DCC I remember one game to where I stood up and looked the table over again just to make sure I was shooting the right ball.No bodys fault but his.Tell him to suck it up and bet more.Maybe he'll pay more attention next time.John B.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
There is no right answer to your question.
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There is no "right answer" to MANY questions on this forum, but people still like to chime in and give their opinions, which is what the OP asked for. If we didn't have threads like this one, it would be a very dull forum on most days!!!

Why not just state YOUR opinion on the matter and be done with it? You could have done so in as many or fewer words that you used in your post.

Maniac
 
Rotation.

fearless said:
I really just need to vent about this. Tonight after league, i'm backing my friend against another league player i'm acquaintances with. My friend is giving him the 6 out in a race to 11 for $100 in 9 ball. I just wanted to see some good playing and apparently the spot was too heavy for my friend and ended up losing 7-11. So, I ask to adjust and maybe try the 7 out or something and the guy doesn't want to and says he'll play me with the 8 in a race to 9 for $100. I agree and am a little upset at this point because I just wanted to see a fair game with good playing but he won't adjust anything. So we start play and I take a 4-1 lead. Then he starts creeping up and I end up getting to the hill first at 8-5. I break, make 3 ball, and have a shot on the one. I make it then miss the 2 ball and he proceeds to his turn.

As he is shooting he makes 2 and continues to shoot the 5 ball and does not see the 4. After he hits the five, I tell him foul, and he goes, "Why?!". I tell him the 4 is on the table and then he starts saying that i'm a piece of shit because I didn't tell him. That if really didn't care about the money I would have told him, and just won't stop. Needless to say, this just pissed me off and I let it get to me and I can't shoot worth a dime anymore. We end up going hill hill and we end up quitting. In my 9 years of playing pool, I have never ever told someone they're shooting the wrong ball unless it's practice or if they are a beginner in a tournament. I would just like people's take on this. I rarely post about things, but this just irked me so bad. Thanks all for listening.
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Simple solution. Whoa Bob, you shot out of rotation, I didn't notice till you shot the five, but the four is still on the table! If I had seen it I would have told you! Sorry man. Playing for fun or practice I would stop the guy. For money he would be educated, but still be using the same Whoa Bob, I think you shot the wrong ball, guess we both need to pay attention. I sure hate to win like that pal. Also depends on how good of a (customer) he is. If you in general take his money, then stop him or he may take his action elsewhere. It is a personal decision. Stopping people from making mistakes is not your responsibility. You make mistakes, you pay for your mistakes.
 
Appears the the other guy was the one concerned about the money and he hustled you right out of it. :sorry:

People have different values and you only have to live with yours. Since this bothers you, maybe you should have told him.

The only right answer is the one you already feel within yourself. ( you know, if you have to ask....) Remember, on that day, you will be judged for what you did and didn't do, not what some else did. :wink:
 
Fearless, you did the right thing by calling a foul after.

Sounds like you can both learn from this, tho. He may pay more attention, and hopefully you wont let him get to you again.

Further, I think he overreacted because (1) he was embarrassed he shot out of turn b/c it caught him off guard he did that, and so he reacted badly from that emotion and (2) he thought he was about to run out and instead, you now have an open table and are on the hill. He sees the money leaving his pockets.

The whole thing was unfortunate, but it was his bad reaction to the situation that caused this issue. And in a gambling match, you're there to win. (both of you)
 
Happened to me in a small local tournament, I was playing against one of the better players in our league and I told him. I wanted to win but I wanted to win without some fluke. I did win, so there was no "well if you didn't get that foul you might not have won". Would I do it if I was gambling (very unlikely) or in a tournament against someone I didn't know, probably not.

Where I play daily it does happen occasionally, no money involved just a bunch of old timers playing pool, we do watch for it and will always say something. Actually we are pretty loose on calling any fouls, like I said just playing a game.
 
Mr. Wiggles said:
Simple solution. Whoa Bob, you shot out of rotation, I didn't notice till you shot the five, but the four is still on the table! If I had seen it I would have told you! Sorry man. Playing for fun or practice I would stop the guy. For money he would be educated, but still be using the same Whoa Bob, I think you shot the wrong ball, guess we both need to pay attention. I sure hate to win like that pal. Also depends on how good of a (customer) he is. If you in general take his money, then stop him or he may take his action elsewhere. It is a personal decision. Stopping people from making mistakes is not your responsibility. You make mistakes, you pay for your mistakes.
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I like this response because it doesn't come off as though you were waiting to pounce on ball-in-hand for your opponent shooting. But in the end, it's not your responsibility to tell him which ball to shoot. If he's big enough to play, he's big enough to pay.

My initial response when somebody gets pissed off about thier own self screwing up is usually something to the tune of, "It's not my job to hold your hand". After reading this thread, though, if this situation should happen to me again, and my opponent tries to unload on me, then every time afterwards that he shoots, I'll loudly let him know what ball to shoot next.

"FIVE BALL !!!!" " NOW THE SIX BALL !!!!"

After a few shots, I'm sure he'll get the hint...

P.S.: I like threads like this. I'm sure many of us have either been or will soon be in a situation(s) similar to this. Reading threads like these helps give someone else a prepared response.
 
It stopped being fun when the money hit the light, if the idiot wanted to play for cash, he should learn to pay attention. A Nascar driver dont go to the other team during a race and say hey change them tires so you can beat me...its there problem to keep track, take the money and say see yah........OTB
 
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I've had this sort of thing called on me numerous times. Doesn't matter. I would have told him. Makes me sleep better at night. :cool:
 
If you see your opponent making a strategic mistake in a game such as going for a shot instead of a safety would you say something to them? It's a mistake on their part and not your responsibility. If I shoot the wrong ball, it's on me and I wouldn't blame my opponent for my mistake.
 
I wouldn't have told him. not when playing for money. Heck I won't even do it in a match unless the match means nothing to me. I would have just told him to stop being a cry baby. Then of course his attitude would have pissed me off and he'd not have gotten another shot.
 
I tell them they are about to shoot the wrong ball every time and I don't think twice about it...

I don't expect them to write memorials about how great a guy I am, or how gentlemanly I am or anything else...

In fact, I don't care one iota how they feel about it...

Because I don't do it for them...

I do it because it satisfies some inner notion I have about my own sportsmanship...

If my opponent thinks I am the greatest guy in the world and wants to name his male heirs after me, great...

If he thinks I am the biggest sucker who ever lived and plans to dance the Dougie on my grave, equally great...

I tell them, and I don't care about the afternath...
 
i think everyone is right in 1 way or another but i would not wanna win on my opponent shooting the wrong ball an me not saying anything i feel that even tho i am up 8-5 an i am giving the 8 to someone

what if u told him that he was shooting the wrong ball an you still win that game or even the match its being honest an your being a professional about it by telling him hes shooting the wrong ball shows your the better player not only by telling him hes shooting the wrong ball but showing your an honest person an you don.t need his mistakes by shooting the wrong ball to win
Just Sayin

AZHorse
 
Funsies... Yes
League... Yes
Tournament... Depends on the situation.
Gambling... that's his own dumb fault.
 
The Chinchilla said:
As all the psychologists will tell you, you know the answer to this question. As a player in the chair, not doing anything is exactly what you are supposed to be doing. Dont let anybody tell you differently either. If somebody wants to tell the guy hes hitting the wrong ball (ie, they dont like their money), fine. But dont let anybody tell you that you are wrong for this. I hate it when other people think everybody should act as stupidly as them.
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'Chillin'.....I knew this was going to happen.

We're on the same page on this issue.:wave3::bow-down::yeah:
 
Gamble

You were gambling, right?

Where is it code to tell your opponent
he is about to commit a Foul?

It's sportman like, really?

It's competition.

You do not have to be a passive person and hand it over. You also do not have to be a cutthroat a-hole trying to through your opponent off his every move.

Thank you, for sharing this. It's obvious this bothered you. I hope you learn to diffuse the situation in the future, and definitely do not let someone get your goat, per se. :angry:
Easier said then done sometimes. :sorry:
 
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