What is a good way for a low-level player to handle unwanted advice?

[Minnesota Phat]

I like playing pool, but I'm not good at it, and I get so much unsolicited advice from other players that it is starting to get on my nerves. Sometimes this happens even when I'm just practicing by myself - random strangers will come up and say I should do x, y, or z.

I know they're trying to be helpful, but sometimes I just want to bang balls around, and not be in school. I'm also suffering from information-overload, which has caused my play to suffer, as I am too aware of the 17,000 things I need to work on, and second-guessing a shot makes me miss and/or foul about 90% of the time.

And that's not to mention all of the bad or useless advice.

I also notice others giving their partner advice during doubles games, which almost invariably leads to the shooter missing, and sometimes leads to arguments between teammates. I call it "unintentional sharking."

I do appreciate that people are trying to be helpful, and that's nice, and sometimes I enjoy gleaning knowledge from better players, but I could use some advice about how to politely signal that I'm not in the mood for a pool lesson.

 

[Dead Money]

I like playing pool, but I'm not good at it, and I get so much unsolicited advice from other players that it is starting to get on my nerves. Sometimes this happens even when I'm just practicing by myself - random strangers will come up and say I should do x, y, or z.

I know they're trying to be helpful, but sometimes I just want to bang balls around, and not be in school. I'm also suffering from information-overload, which has caused my play to suffer, as I am too aware of the 17,000 things I need to work on, and second-guessing a shot makes me miss and/or foul about 90% of the time.

And that's not to mention all of the bad or useless advice.

I also notice others giving their partner advice during doubles games, which almost invariably leads to the shooter missing, and sometimes leads to arguments between teammates. I call it "unintentional sharking."

I do appreciate that people are trying to be helpful, and that's nice, and sometimes I enjoy gleaning knowledge from better players, but I could use some advice about how to politely signal that I'm not in the mood for a pool lesson.

Easy:

"Thank you for the suggestion. I will keep that in mind."

 

[Dead Money]

Don't let "a random" hi-jack your fun time away from your real world responsibilities in that moment. Do think about what they said later and consider trying it. Their motivation is almost always to be friendly and helpful. Don't be a jerk to them.

 

[pooldawg8]

Easy:

"Thank you for the suggestion. I will keep that in mind."

Bingo Everyone shoots & sees the table differently. Shoot your game & have fun, that`s what its all about anyways.
Just my thoughts
Jeff

 

[couldnthinkof01]

Smile and nod
People usually mean well

See also: headphones. They don't need to be on

 

[jimmyco]

Ask them if they would like to learn about Amway.

 

[MajorMiscue]

Give them your best Elvis: "Thank you, thank you very much" Gets people off the phone too, "Thanks for calling...."

 

[Chicagoplayer]

Easy:

"Thank you for the suggestion. I will keep that in mind."

Yup

 

[gregcantrall]

"Thank you for your input", was the coaching received in diplomatic training. It's so much better than saying, "F*** Off" plus it's funny to say the first when I am thinking the second.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Think some want to be instructors never get the hint you want to be left alone.

Invest in T-Shirt say in bold letters “I M HIV POSITIVE, YOUR WARNED”

 

[tim913]

Tell them you ‘identify’ as a banger and please use the proper pronouns when addressing you!

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Tell them you ‘identify’ as a banger and please use the proper pronouns when addressing you!

That is funny but I think it could work ok.

Then you have the guy who wants to learn, is the old dog who want to learn but physically can not.

Had guy ask the other day how come he could not see well, coming from bright outside, to dark pool room.

He has cataracts did not understand they deminish vision. After some discussion it was suggest he wear sunglasses more, and remove indoor to allow eye to adjust to low light faster.

 

[Korsakoff]

Back when I played BCA league, you had to ask for coaching, and there was a time out. Otherwise, people kept their mouth shut while you were at the table. Now, after you sat down, there may be some whispering in your ear, but generally it was more beneficial than hurtful.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Just thank the person early on in their startup discussion. Acknowledge that you are new to pool
and you are just starting lessons with someone later this month. So the last thing on your mind is
to fill it with tips and suggestions on what to do differently. You’d rather listen to your new coach’s
recommendations who warned you about listening to what other players tell you to change. Explain
this is why you rely on a solitary coach instead of a committee of players telling you what they think.

 

[pt109]

Just be honest

 

[book collector]

I would say , thank you , I 'm just relaxing today.

 

[Jack Fate]

many years ago I stopped at the pool players bar on the way home from work @ midnight.
While shooting by myself there’s 3 fellas in the corner talking & sorta playing. This one guy keeps telling the other 2 how to play.
Me not knowing if this guy is drunk or just a blowhard or?
Well one of the quiet guys says hay you should shoot this guy . That guy was Bucky Bell and to this day I haven’t seen ( in person) anyone shoot clusters better , or kicks
The other 2 guys turned into my best friends & always had some situations of how do you play this?
So needless to say sometimes unsolicited instruction is a very good thing

 

[JB Cases]

I like playing pool, but I'm not good at it, and I get so much unsolicited advice from other players that it is starting to get on my nerves. Sometimes this happens even when I'm just practicing by myself - random strangers will come up and say I should do x, y, or z.

I know they're trying to be helpful, but sometimes I just want to bang balls around, and not be in school. I'm also suffering from information-overload, which has caused my play to suffer, as I am too aware of the 17,000 things I need to work on, and second-guessing a shot makes me miss and/or foul about 90% of the time.

And that's not to mention all of the bad or useless advice.

I also notice others giving their partner advice during doubles games, which almost invariably leads to the shooter missing, and sometimes leads to arguments between teammates. I call it "unintentional sharking."

I do appreciate that people are trying to be helpful, and that's nice, and sometimes I enjoy gleaning knowledge from better players, but I could use some advice about how to politely signal that I'm not in the mood for a pool lesson.

Say, thanks for the advice but I am enjoying pool at my own pace. Not that I like to suck but I like to figure things out myself and ask for help when I want to.

 

[JB Cases]

many years ago I stopped at the pool players bar on the way home from work @ midnight.
While shooting by myself there’s 3 fellas in the corner talking & sorta playing. This one guy keeps telling the other 2 how to play.
Me not knowing if this guy is drunk or just a blowhard or?
Well one of the quiet guys says hay you should shoot this guy . That guy was Bucky Bell and to this day I haven’t seen ( in person) anyone shoot clusters better , or kicks
The other 2 guys turned into my best friends & always had some situations of how do you play this?
So needless to say sometimes unsolicited instruction is a very good thing

Sounds like a perfect hustle.

And giving the wrong advice makes it even better.

Just sit around tell people how to play until they get got enough to play you then unload. And when they lose tell them you tried to tell them how to play.

Kind of like a variation of the hoo-rah where you tell people you beat Efrem Days and willy macaroni and no one in the room can beat you..... Then they try it and lose and you say I told you that you couldn't win....

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Just be honest

So people would find that difficult as it could hurt feelings. Truth is truth.