What are the characteristics that distinguish a “banger” from a “real” pool player?

lorider said:
you quoted one sentence of my post and took it out of context. i was refering to the the posters on here who always bash the apa and call them bangers.

i thought i was a pretty staunch supporter of apa on here but you really went off when you took my post wrong. where were you when it seemed like me and just a dub were practically the only ones on here defending the apa in all those bashing threads ?

by the way i have played in the master league also. i have had a few opponents have a rackless night against me and i never banged my head over it , so i hardly think i would bang my head if i ever faced you.
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If I took your comment out of context, then I appologize. I to get very irritated when folks start bashing the APA. We all need to start supporting the sport and doing everything we can to help it grow.

I also find it irritating when I go to a local hole in the wall like I did last night and hear the locals say they don't want to play "APA" as they call it instead of "BIH" ball in hand rules because according to them it's too easy. So, is that the reason we've all been looking for, Hmmm I doubht it but anyway.

To all have a great shooters day.

Black Cat :cool:
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
The term banger has taken many forms to describe casual, drunk or rude players.

But at the core it's a guy who essentially has no, nor gives any thought to, cue ball control.
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Ding ding ding.

The banger is just making balls. Basically it denotes a certain attitude... someone who doesn't care to learn pool or improve. They'd rather hit a ball hard and hope to get lucky, than learn how to correctly hold the cue, stroke a ball, aim, and apply english.

If someone is a beginner, but trying to get better, I would never label them a banger.
 
I agree with CreedDo and DogsPlaying Pool. A banger does not care about cue ball control. He just bangs balls around.
 
Know what room owners call bangers-revenue, money in the bank, profits.

I bet there are more "bangers" going to pool rooms than players. Maybe it's those "bangers" keeping the place open for the "real" players.

The only bangers in pool are the ones in your head. They are pool players with just different idea and purpose playing pool and just because it is not your idea of what pool playing is about is no reason for name calling, making fun which is what bully's do.

Oh , I'm more than willing to show anyone how I play. All you got to do is show up and ask. Those where I play know what I can do, have great respect for my game and it's these opinions that matter and not some yahoo just trying to be a smartass.

Play me then you have a right to diss me.
 
"Banger" is a relative term.

To some middle of the road (in ability) league players might consider a "4" in the pool league, a banger.

By the same token, someone who plays at a higher level might consider the middle of the road league player a banger; and so it goes on and on.

JoeyA is a banger.
 
Black Cat 5791 said:
If I took your comment out of context, then I appologize. I to get very irritated when folks start bashing the APA. We all need to start supporting the sport and doing everything we can to help it grow.

I also find it irritating when I go to a local hole in the wall like I did last night and hear the locals say they don't want to play "APA" as they call it instead of "BIH" ball in hand rules because according to them it's too easy. So, is that the reason we've all been looking for, Hmmm I doubht it but anyway.

To all have a great shooters day.

Black Cat :cool:
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Good points. The APA is successful in SPITE of it's silly rules. Other aspects of it carry the load for the stupidity of marking the pocket on the eight ball and not nominating a pocket. Being unable to recognize things on the menu that don't sell and removing them isn't a strength of a business. But what can you do?

JC
 
I've always heard the term "banger" with the word "bar" in front of it. "Bar Banger" as in some chump, who thinks the world of himself, but only bangs em around at bars for chump change and beer.

If that would be the correct term definition, then I can point out a large group in my area.
 
duckie said:
Know what room owners call bangers-revenue, money in the bank, profits.

I bet there are more "bangers" going to pool rooms than players. Maybe it's those "bangers" keeping the place open for the "real" players.

The only bangers in pool are the ones in your head. They are pool players with just different idea and purpose playing pool and just because it is not your idea of what pool playing is about is no reason for name calling, making fun which is what bully's do.

Oh , I'm more than willing to show anyone how I play. All you got to do is show up and ask. Those where I play know what I can do, have great respect for my game and it's these opinions that matter and not some yahoo just trying to be a smartass.

Play me then you have a right to diss me.
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So, why do you, and others, look at the term "banger" as derogatory?? Is it because you look at those that can't play as well as you as less of a person??

AND, since you stated it, how about taking that "test" I offered to you in another thread?? Or, are you going to back down from your statement of actually showing others how you really do play??
 
Damn duckie, you're super defensive about that term.

You probably think it's used in the same way as "fish" or "scrub", but I don't hear it used exactly the same way.

Example: "johnny was shooting with his girlfriend earlier" ..."oh, does she shoot like him?" "naw she's just a banger, they were killing time before a movie."

In that case it's just someone who's not into pool. A casual player.

Obviously, if someone spends a lot of time practicing and they even gamble a little... then labelling them a "banger" is a calculated insult. But in that case there's a reason for it... like the banger talks big but doesn't know what he's doing. Or he complains about not getting better but won't listen to advice from better players. Or he is too lazy to learn positioning and just settles for a random outcome every time he hits the ball.
 

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Maniac said:
Yeah, right!!! C'mon Joey, your action on this forum is pretty much shot to pieces by now. Give it up.:grin:

Maniac (would need the 6 and the breaks from ya, buddy!!!)
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Look, if you believe everything you read on the Internet forums, I have some valuable real estate in southern Louisiana to sell you.

Right now, there are about 200 alligator licenses on the real estate but it is ready for some high dollar condo development, right after alligator season is over with. :grin:
 
Wow, Sam...really? If what you said is true then there are literally tens of millions of bangers, and only a few thousand "real" poolplayers. I have to disagree. In almost every sense of the word, banger is a derogatory term, generally used by, imo, people who have too high an opinion of themselves or their skill level at the table. BTW, I did not read post your post in this thread, but I'm certain it includes plenty of posts describing what I said. There are plenty of better ways to describe this kind of poolplayer.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

poolplayer2093 said:
if you can't run out an open rack (no clusters or problems but requires cb control not just making balls) you're a banger
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JC...So is the VNEA silly also? They require "marking the pocket" for the 8-ball too...even if the pocket is totally obvious. Want to hear a silly rule? In the VNEA, if the pocket marker covers even part of the diamond closest to the nominated pocket, it is a loss of game foul.* Now THAT'S a dumb rule (one that cost a student of mine a national title)! Whether you agree or not, or like it or not, the APA is still the largest organized amateur pool league on the planet...by FAR. They must be doing something right, or this would not be so. Keeping what works, according to their corporate philosophy is a strength, and a good business practice.

*Edit: I'm not sure, but the VNEA may have changed this rule. Seems to me I posted this a while back, and I think I remember somebody corrected me.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

JC said:
Good points. The APA is successful in SPITE of it's silly rules. Other aspects of it carry the load for the stupidity of marking the pocket on the eight ball and not nominating a pocket. Being unable to recognize things on the menu that don't sell and removing them isn't a strength of a business. But what can you do?

JC
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C.Milian said:
If you like jumpshots...you're prolly a banger.
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fo sho........

I just thought a banger was a person who hit the ball hard on everyshot. doesnt mean they can't play. I know a guy who gave me the 1 out if I gave him ball in hand after the breaks and all the breaks.

If I ever had a turn he would concede the game. We were gamblin and I only got up to rack the balls. We broke even. He's a pretty feared player here in Austin. I consider him a banger. But he can hustle some pool. And I won't play him even. Nobody wants to play him even. But he shoots like a banger. Thats just his style.
 
Scott Lee said:
Wow, Sam...really? If what you said is true then there are literally tens of millions of bangers, and only a few thousand "real" poolplayers. I have to disagree. In almost every sense of the word, banger is a derogatory term, generally used by, imo, people who have too high an opinion of themselves or their skill level at the table. BTW, I did not read post your post in this thread, but I'm certain it includes plenty of posts describing what I said. There are plenty of better ways to describe this kind of poolplayer.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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yeah i'm probably wrong. i'm big enough to admit it
 
OK my two cents........
To me, a "banger" hits 75 to 80% of their shots at break speed! Has little regard to where the cue ball ends up but inevitably makes 60% of the shots (lucky b#st@rds!!) I rarely hit a ball hard AFTER the break, to me hard = miss. Now, I am a lowly skill level 4 in APA which in itself probably qualifies me as a "banger", but, I take my time between shots, rarely hit above "lag" speed, look for safeties and opportunities to break clustered balls. As my team captain always reminds me to "play smart". All in all I guess a "banger" is another term for a lucky shooter with a skill level below yours who just won the match/game! You sore looser(s)!!!!
 
CreeDo said:
Damn duckie, you're super defensive about that term.

You probably think it's used in the same way as "fish" or "scrub", but I don't hear it used exactly the same way.

Example: "johnny was shooting with his girlfriend earlier" ..."oh, does she shoot like him?" "naw she's just a banger, they were killing time before a movie."

In that case it's just someone who's not into pool. A casual player.

Obviously, if someone spends a lot of time practicing and they even gamble a little... then labelling them a "banger" is a calculated insult. But in that case there's a reason for it... like the banger talks big but doesn't know what he's doing. Or he complains about not getting better but won't listen to advice from better players. Or he is too lazy to learn positioning and just settles for a random outcome every time he hits the ball.
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^^^^ That's it in a nutshell. Bangers don't know they are bangers, cause it is a term used by league/tourney players. But everytime I hear the word it is not used to insult, just assessing their skill level.

Just means some one who is less than proficeint about playing the game, and knowing the rules, they just like to "bang" balls against the rails cause they rarely make the shot.

I asked a guy if the pool room was crowed on Saturdays night, and he said, no, only a few bangers come in.....
 
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