What is a nice thing to say when you beat someone?

I try to play players who are BETTER than me. A couple of em play 9 Ball my favorite game.

They like to play “gentleman rules" meaning that you must not sink the Nine Ball as a result of say hitting another ball first.

I always say I am not gentleman,:eek: and need the combo shot edge as my advantage with a big smile.

No matter who wins the most games, and mostly it is not me, I thank them for playing with me. :cool:
 
This is scary, but I almost always say "Thanks for the game" in some form or another (see OHB's post), then I almost always say I enjoyed it (true 99% of the time). Then I almost always say I was lucky (with at least 1 example). Then I point out some great shot that they made. Of course this is usually in straight pool league play, familiar players, good sports, good sportsmen.

This would all sound trite or insincere; but I mean every word of it - and have a lot more friends as a result.
 
If it is a competitive tournament match I don't speak unless spoken too and then I just honestly reply to whatever they have said to me. Same at the end of the match unless I have lost and am out of the event then I may wish them luck in there next match, depends on how I think they conducted themselves during the match...sometimes it is very hard to wait until spoken too but useful information can be gotten about your opponent if you wait for them to speak first. It is not rude. Someone has to speak first. It is not a 50/50 proposition. Sounds cold but I'm there to get focused, stay focused, and win not be super nice.
 
rackmsuckr said:
Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I always shake hands after a match and try to beforehand, as well as an introduction if we have never met. I also sort of expect it of women on our tour as a form of etiquette that newbies should try to emulate. The Canadians even shake your hand and wish you luck when it is hill-hill, which was very disarming the first time I saw it. But they are so nice and proper. :p

Usually, I say the same thing..'Nice match', 'good or great shooting' depending on how it went, but this was prompted by some hard feelings on my opponent's part and I was trying to find ways to soften the blow, yet trying to be sincere. I will have to try out some of your suggestions. Just hope I don't get punched. lol.

Also, I have said <jokingly> "Take it easy on me" and they thought it was a shark move to lull them into getting sloppy. Sometimes you just can't win...with words. ;)
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Hi Linda,

I think emotions are so high after we beat someone, that no matter what nice intentions we may have our opponent may still get defensive. My new rule, based on the experiences from both sides, is to just shake hands at the end of a match and not say anything at all. Even with friends they take what I say wrong (or I do). I have won a match and out of habit said "good shooting" and they say sarcastically, "no I didn't." After enough of these defensive remarks and defensive emotions, I just try to keep my mouth shut at the end of matches.

At the beginning of the match I shake hands only if they initiate it and I don't say "good luck" anymore, I now say "good shooting" just because it puts me in a good frame of mind.

Hope this helps and let us know what to say/do in the future and how it's working for you.
Melinda
 
"enjoyed it"

Unless the play was really lopsided I will often say, "enjoyed it" when shaking hands, a pretty neutral comment. If it was a really lopsided match, the comment or lack of any comment will depend on how well I know the player and their body language. Sometimes it is best to just leave someone be until they get their emotions under control.

Hu
 
I've come to love, "Man, you really suck".
I hear it often and am waiting to actually win so I can use it.
 
I played this guy in a 1h tournament and he was a straight pool player. He won the set. I thought he shot very well and won because he was able to identify some shots in the pack due to his 14.1 experience. After the set he tells me that he played awful. I chuckled and told him, "Thanks. That says a lot about my game. I appreciate the compliment." He didn't get it because he was a moron. I believe that given time, I'd beat the guy more often but hey that's just speculation on my part. One thing about 1h, if you are able to make some shots out of the pack and break the balls in your favor, it can be a very short game.
 
On league nights (APA and TAP);

Shake hands before and after, introduce myself, if necessary. At the end, shake hands, and thank them for the games. Usually tell them it was fun, if it was.

Honestly, if they can't handle that much, and some cannot, as was stated before by others, then forget them. It's annoying when people don't want to win or lose "by the rules".

I don't play for money, so I don't know what to do in that case.
 
I say little usually, just shake hands. We're all big boys/girls and its all a formality. The sooner others realize you win some and loose some and let it go the better off they/we will be.

Pool players go through their growing pains and sure, sometimes you get comments not expected. Thats just people in general that are competitive. It may not be polite but that happens in most aspects of life. Lynda, I know it bothers you but unless you care to spend some time with that person (after you both cool down) just let it go. Its either one or another, What else can you do?

Rod
 
I've played in many different levels and I have to say that I don't remember any situation where my opponent wouldn't shake hands with me after the match. Maybe in some filthly bar tournament yes. Are poolplayers so friggin' egocentrics sob's in your neck of woods that they really refuse to shake hands after the match ? If the other guy got the rolls, so what ? It's not his fault he supposedly was lucky, should you be a moron and blame it all on him/her ? That's childish. If you consider yourself a player, be prepared to lose sometime, even to the player you never dreamt possible losing to. But don't be a d*ck over it when it happens. If you are a sore loser, learn how to bite your lip and shake hands after the match, you'll have plenty of time to hit yourself in the head and frown on your bad luck or whatever but don't put the blame on your opponent. If your opponent was disrespectful and did something you didn't like, just say so.

I hate when people see only their side of the story...

EDIT: I don't like "good luck" before the match either. Top players I've played against here in Europe, usually say "good match" before the match. It's a sign that neither wants to have too much luck involved, instead lotsa a good shooting.
 
Just a simple "good game" and handshake... I usually play with people I know and we trash talk eachother playin around though :D
 
OldHasBeen said:
I always say - "Thanks For The Game"! - No matter what.
There is a good player from here, Ricky who used to always say it and I really liked the way it sounded. If said sincerly, it says a lot.

TY & GL
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i think ohb has the winner! a simple "thanks for the game" and shake hands! no one could spin that in a bad way. :cool:
 
iconcue said:
no one could spin that in a bad way. :cool:
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You're always going to offend someone somewhere, with saying anything.. It's just about either minimizing how many people you offend or not caring. :D
 
OldHasBeen said:
I always say - "Thanks For The Game"! - No matter what.
There is a good player from here, Ricky who used to always say it and I really liked the way it sounded. If said sincerly, it says a lot.

TY & GL
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Tap Tap OHB. The pool world could learn a lot about the way Ricky treated his opponents & the sincerity he had afterwards.
 
clouderold said:
You're always going to offend someone somewhere, with saying anything.. It's just about either minimizing how many people you offend or not caring. :D
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i didnt say it wouldnt be possible to offend someone with the line.
i said they couldnt spin it to mean something offensive.
 
Linda:

I know how intense you are during tournaments and have seen first-hand how other women (and men!) react to you when you are in that mode... It is a difficult thing to find the right thing to say to open a match because people take pool personally... it is like a validation of themselves, win or lose.

I often said 'Good luck!' at the start of a match, but found that it rings untrue and sounded silly. So, instead of wishing them luck, I say something like: 'Ok, let's shoot a good match!' or 'Let's show our stuff!' or something like that. It is more of an acknowledgement of a shared effort.... a shared struggle to play our best games. I also try to introduce myself and get their name and maybe even a few details before the match, and certainly shake hands before and after.

I also expected the same level of sportmanship from my teammates during league nights and would remind them to shake hands if they 'forgot'.

If someone beats me, I say "Great shooting!" or something complimentary... In my mind, they beat a great player and deserve the praise... regardless of my performance.

If I win, I will often just shake hands or will say "I got the rolls..." or something like that.

I have been a poor sport in the past when I was getting my ass whipped... but I am not proud of those times and it will never happen again. Everyone needs to understand that complaining and poor sportsmanship is a sign of mental weakness, pure and simple.

My mission in billiards now is to roll out the red carpet for my opponents and then 'nicely' blow their asses off the green felt. If I happen to lose... I will take it like a GENTLEMAN.
 
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My favorite pre match quote was from a Texas woman I played in a mini tournament in Vegas She shook my hand and with her Texas twang said "Shoot em up!"

I usually say good luck and after I usually say 'good match' or 'nice shooting' whether I win or loose. If they are still in I always wish them luck in the rest of the tournament and might add, "Maybe will meet up again!" If it was an intense hill hill thing, I might talk more to my opponent after unless they were obviously peeved.

I like when a player says to me "Enjoyed it" and seems sincere, esp if they are a really good player.

There have been times when I have played really good players and a few have taken the time after the match to point out some things. When it is a player I respect I really appreciate this. I am also aware they may not have done that if I was not female, and I just think that is one of the perks ;-).
 
Let me add, when I play opponents (usually women but sometimes guys) that are much weaker and maybe new to tournament play and that I have just stomped. I try to be encouraging to them, compliment their stroke or tactics...tell them it just takes time and experience. But only after the match is over, I keep conversation during to a minimum.
 
Before the match, I'll tell the truth:
"Let's put on a show for everybody."

If I lose, I usually lie:
"Thanks for the lesson!"

If I win, I wait for them to come to me.
If they say something lame like 'good match', I
respond with a simple "thank you".
 
If the person is an a-hole, I'll ask, "you come in here every day?", if I like the person, , I'll tell them thanks for coming out- make it happen for you from here...
 
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