What is the right thing to do?

VIProfessor said:
I'll remember that when I come out to LA! How much are we playing for anyway, and how many balls are you gonna give me? :D

(Watch, you guys! I bet he comes back with the Grady Matthews reponse!:D )
Click to expand...

Hey, the day you need weight from me is the day you need to put your cue away and take up tiddlywinks. :D

(you know Grady's line, I think I'll let him keep it)
 
Last edited:
I would say something to my opponent. Then I would let them know that they're on their own for the rest of the set/match/session/tournament.

Barbara
 
Last edited:
if you act in this manner, you can also bet that the same thing will happen to you, it is just the law of averages.
Click to expand...

I'd expect to lose..without expecting a word from the other guy.
Why would I?
What i do at the table is ENTIRLY up to me.
I'm the dork and its solely my fault if I make this gaf.

And I'll concur..it has nothing to do with honesty.
 
Slider said:
I don't get it... if they are shooting the wrong ball as a courtesy, isn't it a little rude to reject that courtesy?

Ken
Click to expand...

I meant that I will tell them as a courtesy to them, not me. :p

...but I think you know what I meant... I hope! :p
 
Sportsmanship requires that you call fouls on yourself, not coach your opponent.

manwon said:
Long term you get what you give, if you act in this manner, you can also bet that the same thing will happen to you, it is just the law of averages.
Click to expand...

It has happened to me, probably 4 or 5 times over a 12 year period. It never occurred to me to blame anyone else for my carelessness.

And that's just 9-ball. You should see how many times I 've shot the wrong ball in the other games—particularly one pocket.

Ken
 
Alright, let's get really technical.

Now suppose he does shoot the nine ball in without noticing the hanging eight ball.

You call the foul. Your opponent looks at the table and says "Awww SOB!"

You grab the cue ball and get ready to break the next game.

He calls a foul on you for not spotting the nine ball and shooting the two ball out!

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL BEING HYPOTHETICAL!

:)
 
Pool Loft Dave said:
Alright, let's get really technical.

Now suppose he does shoot the nine ball in without noticing the hanging eight ball.

You call the foul. Your opponent looks at the table and says "Awww SOB!"

You grab the cue ball and get ready to break the next game.

He calls a foul on you for not spotting the nine ball and shooting the two ball out!
Click to expand...

I never consider a game over until the 9 ball drops or my opponent says "that's good" or rakes the cue ball/9ball.
 
TX Poolnut said:
There's nothing unethical about doing nothing in this situation.

I come to my matches as prepared as I can be. That includes being mentally prepped and pay attention to my table.

I'ts not my fault, nor does it impune my reputation by letting him/her play their shot.
Click to expand...

It really does depend, for me.

If it is not much money and we are friendly, I tell him.

If I am being staked or someone is side-betting, I don't tell him.

By the same token if I am the one who goofs, I get upset with me and me only.
 
What I've done in this type of circumstance is once I see them lining up wrong. I pretend to be busy doing something or that I'm distracted by something. Then after they have shot I wait a second...finish with my fake distraction then act surprised and go, "Hold on a second. Did you just shoot the 5?"

This way the guy is only mad at himself and not mad at you and himself.

Course I only play for money. At least $50 sets so maybe that's why I play harder to win than others here. I will never break any rules however.
 
I guess it would depend on your opponent. If he (or she) is one of these people that gets very upset and accuses you of sharking or unsportsmanlike behavior if you aren't sitting in your chair not moving a muscle while they are shooting then let them foul. Can't have it both ways.
 
Samiel said:
... However, let's say it's a professional match that's being refereed. Would the ref tell the other player? Probably not...
Click to expand...
Well, actually, far beyond "probably not." If a referee warns a player who is about to commit a foul, the referee should be removed from the tournament and reported to the organization that trained him, if any. The referee must not assist the players except in very limited ways.

As for "friendly" games without a ref, you might as well wait for the foul and then call it. The point of friendly games, or at least one point, is to learn how to play for when you are competing. Part of that is learning how to pay attention. And in the same vein, it's probably better to play all fouls, even (especially) in friendly games. Otherwise you learn to be lazy and careless.
 
I see it as being no different from missing, or playing a poor pattern. You don't say anything if they make a dumb choice. If there is nothing serious at stake, this is the best time to let them blow it; in the future they may do better when there is something on the line. A lesson learned for no cost...good. Like others have stated, you are responsible for your inning going as well as you can make it.
 
supergreenman said:
you know the right thing to do. why would you want to take a cheap win like that.
Click to expand...

Because a cheap win is better than a great loss?

I don't play for money and tournaments, so that means I only play friendly games with my friends. With that said, I usually them my opponent. Although sometimes I'll intentionally keep quiet just to see them go "omg I didn't see that one"
 
Never understood this. In all the time spent at the table, I've never shot the the wrong ball. Not even when I first started playing and had to physically pick up the OB just to read the number on it. Maybe it's just easy for me. Blue after yellow. Black after brown.
 
You don't need to tell your opponent that he is shooting the wrong ball. He's a grown-up and you ain't his father ! :D
 
Bob Jewett said:
Well, actually, far beyond "probably not." If a referee warns a player who is about to commit a foul, the referee should be removed from the tournament and reported to the organization that trained him, if any. The referee must not assist the players except in very limited ways.

As for "friendly" games without a ref, you might as well wait for the foul and then call it. The point of friendly games, or at least one point, is to learn how to play for when you are competing. Part of that is learning how to pay attention. And in the same vein, it's probably better to play all fouls, even (especially) in friendly games. Otherwise you learn to be lazy and careless.
Click to expand...

Bob,

How about when a referee tells a player how he can hit a shot? I saw this in Vegas at the BCA.
 
In the last world championships, one of the southeast asian players tried to refuse a shot and turn the table over to his opponent. Michaela asked him:

"Can you do that?'"
 
I think its all about you. Do you want to be known as the guy who wants his best game or do you want to be known as the guy who wants his money or the win? Over time, The way you handle these "ethical" decisions tells the world about you. Decisions like this are made again and again and like your stroke become automatic as you practice them.

I guess it partially depends on why you play. In Golf and pool it is a social game with physical competition and I much prefer his best game. I prefer to play with others who see it the same way. I "help" in any way I can that is "legal" and then beat you anyway if my game is better than yours. Some people are strict when it comes to rules, some are loose, some use them to every advantage, some to make the game better. Learning how the other guys plays by the rules tells me a lot about him.

Psychs are known for creating these crazy tests that tell much about another person and this would be a good psych test to determine the type of person with whom I am in competition. There is no "right" answer only your preferred answer. To some extent, your answer to questions like this may tell you about you and you may learn somethings about yourself that you did or did not know.

One of the guys I play with would never tell me aout the 8-ball hanger. He also racks a little loose, and he takes advantage whenever he can in other ways. That is OK with me as I know who I am playing with and would have to watch him like a hawk if money were involved -- with him money is never involved and he still asks why I won't put a little on a friendly game with him as I do with others. I woud rather not get serious as I would probably wind up angry though I am the better player. Little decisions we make at every turn add up over time.

I think that you could in fact use this as a "test." Pretend to shoot the 9-Ball for a minute or so and see what the other guy says. Then back up and say, "oops, I better shoot the 8-ball first." You will learn something about the other guy! Good tools are where you find them, use as needed.
 
Last edited:
If you are playing 1P and you see your opponent overlooking a straight in shot or a dead combination in favor of another shot, do you tell him, I don't think so, so why would you tell him in this situration? It is just a learning experience, maybe they will be more focused next time. However, if you are much the better player, and he is paying you to learn, then I would tell him, other wise I just take ball in hand after he fouls.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top