If u don't know then u don't know. It's indescribable. Pool is my therapy
What is it about playing pool that makes it so addictive?
- Thread starter PoolSharkAllen
- Start date
Brake a rack of ball and what you are left with is never the same. Playing indoors when it is 115 degrees out side. Kids, and old people can play, like one gent were i live who will be 98 this month.
Addictive personalities
I have actually thought about this topic often and the only conclusion I can come to is addictive personalities.
I am not referring to the casual player or the professional player.
I'm talking about the players who are playing and "in action" the majority of their waking hours (slightly exagerated - but not as much as you might think). No life balance. When working (if working) - thinking about pool. Planning vacations based upon tournaments. (Myself included).
In my opinion, you will probably find that the majority of addicted pool players (my definition from above) also have or have had other addictions - be them positive or negative. Ex: workaholic, alcohol, golf, etc...
I have actually thought about this topic often and the only conclusion I can come to is addictive personalities.
I am not referring to the casual player or the professional player.
I'm talking about the players who are playing and "in action" the majority of their waking hours (slightly exagerated - but not as much as you might think). No life balance. When working (if working) - thinking about pool. Planning vacations based upon tournaments. (Myself included).
In my opinion, you will probably find that the majority of addicted pool players (my definition from above) also have or have had other addictions - be them positive or negative. Ex: workaholic, alcohol, golf, etc...
I certainly consider myself to have an addictive personality. I avoid excessive drinking, I don't gamble, and I don't play World of Warcraft. If I gambled and/or played WoW, I would probably be divorced.
a couple of years ago...
I was laid off for about a month and a half and I lost 35 pounds....
My wife literally had to come into the garage and remind me to eat...
Jaden
I was laid off for about a month and a half and I lost 35 pounds....
My wife literally had to come into the garage and remind me to eat...
Jaden
AS far as WHY it's addictive???
I really don't know. I'm not really an addictive personality. I gave up both smoking and drinking cold turkey without any issues.
When I find myself unable to stop playing it's usually because of one of two reasons. Either I'm in dead punch stroke and am experiencing the best feeling of my life or I'm out of stroke and can't stop until I get back in stroke...:wink:
Jaden
I really don't know. I'm not really an addictive personality. I gave up both smoking and drinking cold turkey without any issues.
When I find myself unable to stop playing it's usually because of one of two reasons. Either I'm in dead punch stroke and am experiencing the best feeling of my life or I'm out of stroke and can't stop until I get back in stroke...:wink:
Jaden
MEN
_______________________
1.) Albert Einstein
2.) Leonardo da Vinci
3.) Galileo Galilei
4.) Isaac Newton
5.) Confucius
6.) Socrates
7.) Aristotle
8.) Archimedes
9.) Wilbur and Orville Wright
10.) Nikola Tesla
11.) Thomas Edison
12.) Robert Oppenheimer
13.) George Washington
14.) Alexander the Great
15.) Julius Caesar
16.) Abraham Lincoln
17.) Louis Pasteur
18.) Thomas Edison
19.) Efren <---- Not a real scientist
20.) Edwin Hubble
21.) Alexander Graham Bell
WOMEN
_________________________
1.) Betsy Ross
2.) Betty Crocker <---- Not a real person
3.) ???
4.)
There definitely is something addictive about pool. I definitely have an addictive personality for somethings. I would consider myself in the obsessive compulsive category. Their are a lot of good theories here, but I'm still not sure why it is addictive. I think it could be different for different people. I have gambled my fair share, but I don't think that was ever the reason I liked to play.
I think THAT is the main reason. Once you get there you don't want to let go, and if you're not there you want to visit.
I think it's the same in a lot of sports though.... that once you've experienced 'the zone' you'll forever be trying to get back there!!!
We're ALL "Pavlov's Dogs".
td
women didn't have the same opportunity of the men had in the past.Humm, Higher functioning beings?
A historical short list of great thinkers, inventors, scientists etc.
MEN
_______________________
1.) Albert Einstein
2.) Leonardo da Vinci
3.) Galileo Galilei
4.) Isaac Newton
5.) Confucius
6.) Socrates
7.) Aristotle
8.) Archimedes
9.) Wilbur and Orville Wright
10.) Nikola Tesla
11.) Thomas Edison
12.) Robert Oppenheimer
13.) George Washington
14.) Alexander the Great
15.) Julius Caesar
16.) Abraham Lincoln
17.) Louis Pasteur
18.) Thomas Edison
19.) Efren
20.) Edwin Hubble
21.) Alexander Graham Bell
WOMEN
_________________________
1.) Betsy Ross
2.) Betty Crocker
3.) ???
4.)
Go ahead ladies and flame away!
I think pool is so addictive because is very complex. You must have a lot of knowledge but you must have the skill in executing the shot. And many other things like the sound of the the balls when you hit them, or when you hit a pocket hard or you break. The satisfaction when you make a tough shot or a nice safety. And so on.
In !987 I walked downstairs for the first time into the fragrant semi-darkness of the old Hollywood Billiards on Western and Hollywood.
I stood watching some action for awhile.
From the pit, right in front of the kitchen counter where the seasoned railbirds held court, an old guy asked me, "Do you play pool?".
I answered, "Yes, I have that disease."
The wizened old railbirds cackled and nodded like a pen of turkeys at feeding time.
I stood watching some action for awhile.
From the pit, right in front of the kitchen counter where the seasoned railbirds held court, an old guy asked me, "Do you play pool?".
I answered, "Yes, I have that disease."
The wizened old railbirds cackled and nodded like a pen of turkeys at feeding time.
YEs....
Unfortunately, playing pool is a communicable disease... It's communicable via eyesight which is the worse kind.
When you watch someone play excellent pool, it becomes addictive to want to be able to do that. Then as you get a taste of that ability, you crave it all the more. Then once you've gotten there( not that I"ve gotten more than a taste of it mind you), you see it in the eyes of those who are now watching you with that awe that you once held and you it is the greatest feeling in the world making you crave it all the more.
The most addictive feeling in the world as far as I'm concerned.
Jaden
Unfortunately, playing pool is a communicable disease... It's communicable via eyesight which is the worse kind.
When you watch someone play excellent pool, it becomes addictive to want to be able to do that. Then as you get a taste of that ability, you crave it all the more. Then once you've gotten there( not that I"ve gotten more than a taste of it mind you), you see it in the eyes of those who are now watching you with that awe that you once held and you it is the greatest feeling in the world making you crave it all the more.
The most addictive feeling in the world as far as I'm concerned.
Jaden
For a bunch of pool players....this is heavy:wink::grin:
:groucho: '' Behind every good man is a good woman, and behind her is my wife''
First off, let me just say, G-R-E-A-T thread!!!
Gonna go off of what others said, excuse the lack of quotes.
Like it's been said, I love the sound of a good break. It's like crack for my ears. I'm also mesmerized when I'm down for my shot and I execute. I like the feeling I get as I watch the cueball strike the object ball, then watch it roll directly toward the pocket, and BAM it falls and dissapears.
Lately I've become addicted to learning the game. Making a shot isn't too hard once you understand a few things. Breaking and running is a whole 'nother thing tho. As a newer person to the game I haven't done much of that but it's very satisfying when you get a good layout and leave somebody with 5+ balls on the table.
It's satisfying when my results start to show and get noticed by others. Playing some players I played when I started or haven't played in a minute. Having them say,"You've gotten better"
This is very true. I sort of relate it to fame and knowing why some stars are addicted to it. When you're on the table having a good little run, you notice people gathering around.
Being on the spectator side of this I remember when I first saw the best player I've know personally. He had a great shot, good cue ball and speed control. I was in awe watching him. Luckily he's a friendly guy. I found out by chatting with him that he's won a few tourneys locally and out in Vegas in the last few months. I befriended him and he's offered to teach me how to play. Just gotta make some damn time. He can get us a table at a pool hall for $5 bucks for the whole night.
Don't mean to side-track but I remember that thread about PROS keeping secrets and it reminded me of him and I. Not saying he's a pro, but he did see in me the desire to learn and get better and offered to help. I thought that was cool of him. He certainly doesn't have to go out of his way but I plan to make the best of it.\
Getting back on track, I think pool appeals to our masculinity. The ritual of death/defeat or the feeling of accomplishment/winning.
Gonna go off of what others said, excuse the lack of quotes.
Like it's been said, I love the sound of a good break. It's like crack for my ears. I'm also mesmerized when I'm down for my shot and I execute. I like the feeling I get as I watch the cueball strike the object ball, then watch it roll directly toward the pocket, and BAM it falls and dissapears.
Lately I've become addicted to learning the game. Making a shot isn't too hard once you understand a few things. Breaking and running is a whole 'nother thing tho. As a newer person to the game I haven't done much of that but it's very satisfying when you get a good layout and leave somebody with 5+ balls on the table.
It's satisfying when my results start to show and get noticed by others. Playing some players I played when I started or haven't played in a minute. Having them say,"You've gotten better"
This is very true. I sort of relate it to fame and knowing why some stars are addicted to it. When you're on the table having a good little run, you notice people gathering around.
Being on the spectator side of this I remember when I first saw the best player I've know personally. He had a great shot, good cue ball and speed control. I was in awe watching him. Luckily he's a friendly guy. I found out by chatting with him that he's won a few tourneys locally and out in Vegas in the last few months. I befriended him and he's offered to teach me how to play. Just gotta make some damn time. He can get us a table at a pool hall for $5 bucks for the whole night.
Don't mean to side-track but I remember that thread about PROS keeping secrets and it reminded me of him and I. Not saying he's a pro, but he did see in me the desire to learn and get better and offered to help. I thought that was cool of him. He certainly doesn't have to go out of his way but I plan to make the best of it.\
Getting back on track, I think pool appeals to our masculinity. The ritual of death/defeat or the feeling of accomplishment/winning.
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TheThaiger
Banned
Instant gratification that is never ending.
Reminds me of the time when my wife said, "You know, I think playing pool is better than sex." I just wish we had been playing pool at the time, instead of... well...
When I started 20 years ago I asked a guy why? He said no 2 games are ever the same.
I don't go to bars to drink, I go to play pool, I do drink, I just have a love for the game.......
BL