Weight - getting it, giving it, not giving it up, etc

[TopShot]

I have a hard time with the issue of weight/handicap. I've given it, and received it, but recently am not too fond of it.

Whats the point of practicing, or striving to get better when everyone tries to equalize skill with weight?
I'm not a big gambler, and the complexities of matching up are what turns me off from it. It seems like everyone wants an 85% chance to win on their bet. I don't want to give up my advantage just because someone else doesn't play to my ability.

On the other side of the coin, there are people that I know shoot better than me, and I'd never think of going up to them and asking them to gamble, and then asking for a handicap. If I dont think i can beat them and dont have the money to lose, I dont play them. I've played a few guys that i know were a speed or so better than me - sometimes when i feel i want a challenge, have a few bucks to play with, or want to learn something. Most likely I'll lose, sometimes give em a good run for my money, other times pull of a minor upset. But thats the risk in the gamble.

What do you guys think? If you asked someone to matchup that played better than you, and you asked for weight and they said no - would you be upset?

 

[ShootingArts]

old school

I have a hard time with the issue of weight/handicap. I've given it, and received it, but recently am not too fond of it.

Whats the point of practicing, or striving to get better when everyone tries to equalize skill with weight?
I'm not a big gambler, and the complexities of matching up are what turns me off from it. It seems like everyone wants an 85% chance to win on their bet. I don't want to give up my advantage just because someone else doesn't play to my ability.

On the other side of the coin, there are people that I know shoot better than me, and I'd never think of going up to them and asking them to gamble, and then asking for a handicap. If I dont think i can beat them and dont have the money to lose, I dont play them. I've played a few guys that i know were a speed or so better than me - sometimes when i feel i want a challenge, have a few bucks to play with, or want to learn something. Most likely I'll lose, sometimes give em a good run for my money, other times pull of a minor upset. But thats the risk in the gamble.

What do you guys think? If you asked someone to matchup that played better than you, and you asked for weight and they said no - would you be upset?

Strangers never start off with a spot, either way. Money management and being able to rate other players rapidly meant I didn't have to spend two hours matching up for thirty minutes of play.

Interestingly I just read something on a poker forum that is the same way I gambled at pool. Consider each hand and each bet as part of one session, your entire lifetime of gambling at the game or sport. That is the way I looked at wagering on pool and realistically I never took a risk once I was tens of thousands of dollars ahead on the overall count. That sounds like a big number but pretty easy to do when you gamble every night.

Hu

 

[The Dster]

I have a hard time with the issue of weight/handicap. I've given it, and received it, but recently am not too fond of it.

Whats the point of practicing, or striving to get better when everyone tries to equalize skill with weight?
I'm not a big gambler, and the complexities of matching up are what turns me off from it. It seems like everyone wants an 85% chance to win on their bet. I don't want to give up my advantage just because someone else doesn't play to my ability.

On the other side of the coin, there are people that I know shoot better than me, and I'd never think of going up to them and asking them to gamble, and then asking for a handicap. If I dont think i can beat them and dont have the money to lose, I dont play them. I've played a few guys that i know were a speed or so better than me - sometimes when i feel i want a challenge, have a few bucks to play with, or want to learn something. Most likely I'll lose, sometimes give em a good run for my money, other times pull of a minor upset. But thats the risk in the gamble.

What do you guys think? If you asked someone to matchup that played better than you, and you asked for weight and they said no - would you be upset?

I for one don't see why anyone should get upset if someone asked or offered weight, the game is suppose to be fun and enjoyable.. If I want to match up with a player that I know is better than me I don't ask for weight, now if that same player comes to me and wants to play I do ask for what I think is fair and we bargin from there... I am of the mindset that if you want to play better players you should loose whatever money you are comfortable with just so you can challenge yourself.. Besides if they are better than you maybe you can pick something up from playing them.. If someone is getting upset cause they aren't getting the game they want I move on as I don't care to play with them.. JMO..

 

[ironman]

I have a hard time with the issue of weight/handicap. I've given it, and received it, but recently am not too fond of it.

Whats the point of practicing, or striving to get better when everyone tries to equalize skill with weight?
I'm not a big gambler, and the complexities of matching up are what turns me off from it. It seems like everyone wants an 85% chance to win on their bet. I don't want to give up my advantage just because someone else doesn't play to my ability.

On the other side of the coin, there are people that I know shoot better than me, and I'd never think of going up to them and asking them to gamble, and then asking for a handicap. If I dont think i can beat them and dont have the money to lose, I dont play them. I've played a few guys that i know were a speed or so better than me - sometimes when i feel i want a challenge, have a few bucks to play with, or want to learn something. Most likely I'll lose, sometimes give em a good run for my money, other times pull of a minor upset. But thats the risk in the gamble.

What do you guys think? If you asked someone to matchup that played better than you, and you asked for weight and they said no - would you be upset?

Well we all have the right to just say NO! I have exercised this right many many times. When I was younger I told no one no. Of course I was considered the biggest sucker in the pool room but I knew i was gathering much knowledge from this plan.
After many years of gathering knowledge and improving I was still known as the biggest sucker in the the pool room, but it took them longer to beat me.
Now I have gotten much older and much wiser. But there are two people here who have worn out new Michelin tires chasing me from pool room to pool room. They just don't realize how much smarter I am and how long it will take them to bust me.
What I am trying to say here is FIRST!!

 

[Big Perm]

It seems like everyone wants an 85% chance to win on their bet.

This statement of yours is why I no longer gamble and haven't for a long, long time...

The vast majority of people pitching me on a game are usually better and they come offering weight....I politely decline.....it's not in my best interest to play a game with 4:1 odds against me....

I do enjoy cheap stakes with friends, just a little something to make it interesting.....but always cheap, never enough to cause hard feelings...

 

[pt109]

Detroit - middle 60's

A lot of the action was at the Miscue in East Detroit.The Rack was the
sunday action room 'cause the Miscue closed on sundays.
A big impresive looking man came around a few times,would take his
Balabuska out of his case and say"I'll take the 5-6-7-8 from anybody
in the house for $100 game."Nobody saw him hit a ball.

Finally Cornbread said "You got it."
Amounts vary,but everyone agreed Red won over $25,000.

Therefore,it doesn't matter whether you're giving or taking or playing
even.

A good game is a good game - a bad game is a bad game

(unfortunately,Red spent the money unwisely...there were a few horses
he would have liked to have turned into hamburger)

 

[poolplayer2093]

I have a hard time with the issue of weight/handicap. I've given it, and received it, but recently am not too fond of it.

Whats the point of practicing, or striving to get better when everyone tries to equalize skill with weight?
I'm not a big gambler, and the complexities of matching up are what turns me off from it. It seems like everyone wants an 85% chance to win on their bet. I don't want to give up my advantage just because someone else doesn't play to my ability.

On the other side of the coin, there are people that I know shoot better than me, and I'd never think of going up to them and asking them to gamble, and then asking for a handicap. If I dont think i can beat them and dont have the money to lose, I dont play them. I've played a few guys that i know were a speed or so better than me - sometimes when i feel i want a challenge, have a few bucks to play with, or want to learn something. Most likely I'll lose, sometimes give em a good run for my money, other times pull of a minor upset. But thats the risk in the gamble.

What do you guys think? If you asked someone to matchup that played better than you, and you asked for weight and they said no - would you be upset?

There's nothing at all wrong with being the guy that only plays people even.

it might cost you some action but if that's not a big deal to you screw it.
that's actually the only problem with not adjusting. knowing exactly what you can give/get and win with can make or save you a lot of money.

i've thought about it before too. i work hard to play as well as i do. to be honest i don't play real well, i'm maybe a strong c player, but i've worked hard to get here and i don't like giving people the 8 because they don't want to work as hard as i have. those people are few and far between though. most people play even with me (if not better) and are constantly working on getting better

screw it bro only play people even! nothing in the world wrong with that

 

[poolplayer2093]

Strangers never start off with a spot, either way. Money management and being able to rate other players rapidly meant I didn't have to spend two hours matching up for thirty minutes of play.

Interestingly I just read something on a poker forum that is the same way I gambled at pool. Consider each hand and each bet as part of one session, your entire lifetime of gambling at the game or sport. That is the way I looked at wagering on pool and realistically I never took a risk once I was tens of thousands of dollars ahead on the overall count. That sounds like a big number but pretty easy to do when you gamble every night.

Hu

i always thought you were an older guy that's been playing for a long time. i'm a little surprised that you're only 10k ahead.

i figure i'm about 3-5k ahead realistically. i don't bet high or book a whole lot of losers and i mostly lose to the table (time)

 

[poolplayer2093]

A lot of the action was at the Miscue in East Detroit.The Rack was the
sunday action room 'cause the Miscue closed on sundays.
A big impresive looking man came around a few times,would take his
Balabuska out of his case and say"I'll take the 5-6-7-8 from anybody
in the house for $100 game."Nobody saw him hit a ball.

Finally Cornbread said "You got it."
Amounts vary,but everyone agreed Red won over $25,000.

Therefore,it doesn't matter whether you're giving or taking or playing
even.

A good game is a good game - a bad game is a bad game

(unfortunately,Red spent the money unwisely...there were a few horses
he would have liked to have turned into hamburger)

i think this line

"Therefore,it doesn't matter whether you're giving or taking or playing
even." only applies to champions. not all of us play well enough to outrun the nuts. i know for a fact i don't

 

[ShootingArts]

look again

i always thought you were an older guy that's been playing for a long time. i'm a little surprised that you're only 10k ahead.

i figure i'm about 3-5k ahead realistically. i don't bet high or book a whole lot of losers and i mostly lose to the table (time)

Look again, here is the cut and paste of what I actually said.

That is the way I looked at wagering on pool and realistically I never took a risk once I was tens of thousands of dollars ahead on the overall count.

If I were to post what I was actually ahead after ten years of gambling nightly it would fire up tons of doubters. There is more money and a lot less risk in small bet grinding. Many people were successful at it. Rumor has it some still are, and still are under the radar which many people claim is impossible now. If I had the cue ball control now that I had then I could easily stay under the radar another ten years. Not drinking now and having became allergic to cigarette smoke are the big catches. I can't blend in many of the places I once played anyway, add not drinking and I might as well wear a sign when I come in the door.

I was playing in my shop and took one of the three dollar Budweiser cues and put a new pin in the center of the butt, new black phenolic joint collar, and one of my shafts on it. Some of the paint was missing so I repaired it with a Sharpie. A little tape on the big tear in the vinyl case with "Budweiser" down the length of it and I was ready to go. I stepped through the door of a local pub near my old shop where I was relatively unknown and people crowded around to see my cue. An old fart that doesn't drink anything but Diet Coke and plays pool stands out like a sore thumb. I can play with house cues but the result is the same. I'm no longer good enough to win while hiding my speed, particularly when I can't blend into the crowd like I once did.

Hu

 

[jrt30004]

the only weight i've ever asked for or given has to been to make the game even. i don't want an 85% advantage over someone, to me that's not gambling. i get no rush from that. that's working. i do that everyday at my job. it's boring to me, and if i loose knowing i should have won it just puts me in full on rage. that being said, there are some guys who gamble for a living that want that huge edge because they are working. trying get enough money to live. that's the difference to me. i bet small and try to get my adrenaline fix in a cheap game. they are going to the office and conducting business. to me it's about point of view and the end goal when giving or getting wieght.

 

[D_Lewis]

I give everyone who needs weight a spot, I take one from everyone who I need one from and the people who I should play even with, wont play me. Figure that mess out!

 

[poolplayer2093]

Look again, here is the cut and paste of what I actually said.

That is the way I looked at wagering on pool and realistically I never took a risk once I was tens of thousands of dollars ahead on the overall count.

If I were to post what I was actually ahead after ten years of gambling nightly it would fire up tons of doubters. There is more money and a lot less risk in small bet grinding. Many people were successful at it. Rumor has it some still are, and still are under the radar which many people claim is impossible now. If I had the cue ball control now that I had then I could easily stay under the radar another ten years. Not drinking now and having became allergic to cigarette smoke are the big catches. I can't blend in many of the places I once played anyway, add not drinking and I might as well wear a sign when I come in the door.

I was playing in my shop and took one of the three dollar Budweiser cues and put a new pin in the center of the butt, new black phenolic joint collar, and one of my shafts on it. Some of the paint was missing so I repaired it with a Sharpie. A little tape on the big tear in the vinyl case with "Budweiser" down the length of it and I was ready to go. I stepped through the door of a local pub near my old shop where I was relatively unknown and people crowded around to see my cue. An old fart that doesn't drink anything but Diet Coke and plays pool stands out like a sore thumb. I can play with house cues but the result is the same. I'm no longer good enough to win while hiding my speed, particularly when I can't blend into the crowd like I once did.

Hu

no need to get snippy. all you had to say was that you made more

 

[ShootingArts]

no tone intended

no need to get snippy. all you had to say was that you made more

Honestly just pointing out that you misread, no tone intended. Cut and paste documentation is habit after years on political forums. I made low to mid ten-thousands every year in the seventies and early eighties from '73 on depending on how critical income from playing pool was. Most of the time it was a pleasant sideline. During some of the brutal recessions that south Louisiana goes through with the boom and bust petro-chem economy sometimes I was paying the mortgage on my home and my business, plus living off of the pool table. Fortunately the only mouths I was feeding besides mine had four feet and hair attached to them.

Hu

 

[TheBook]

I have always felt that giving or getting a spot was for suckers. The spot is to equalize or make the inferior player feel that they were getting the upper hand or lock. If someone can beat you they will be able to beat you all day long unless the spot is really ridiculous and that will not happen. Hustling is what it is. You make the inferior player think that they have a chance.