What would you do?

for the money...no (I dont expect my opponent to tell me if im shooting the wrong ball either)
for fun...yes
 
Why do you feel it's wrong not to tell him he's shooting the wrong ball, but it's not wrong to not tell him he's shooting a ball the wrong way??

I don't see it as being hard core, or not listening to that little voice of conscience. That has nothing to do with it. To me, it's no different than if you have a ref to watch a hit. If the ref sees that the way the guy is going to stroke it will result in a foul, he is not ALLOWED to say anything until AFTER the shot.

My job as an opponent is NOT to make sure my opponent shoots the right shot, but it IS my job to tell him when he fouls. Some of you are wanting to shift the blame to the opponent. That is a mistake in my opinion, and should not be happening. The mistake lies soley with the shooter, not the opponent!

Well Neil..here we are again..my least favorite topic.
We are definitely on the same page here.
If I ever start instructing my opponent on how to beat me...
..it's time to stop competing.

Once in my life I shot the wrong ball.I made the 3-ball and spun 4 rails..
..for shape on the 2-ball..:embarrassed2:
If my opponent had told me before I pulled the trigger...
..I only see two choices here...1-pay him and quit..
..2-give him ball-in-hand
Making a man pay for his own mistakes is not cheating.

Isn't it time for another 'what would' thread?
They're some of my favorites..I promise to disagree..:)
 
Why do you feel it's wrong not to tell him he's shooting the wrong ball, but it's not wrong to not tell him he's shooting a ball the wrong way??

I don't see it as being hard core, or not listening to that little voice of conscience. That has nothing to do with it. To me, it's no different than if you have a ref to watch a hit. If the ref sees that the way the guy is going to stroke it will result in a foul, he is not ALLOWED to say anything until AFTER the shot.

My job as an opponent is NOT to make sure my opponent shoots the right shot, but it IS my job to tell him when he fouls. Some of you are wanting to shift the blame to the opponent. That is a mistake in my opinion, and should not be happening. The mistake lies soley with the shooter, not the opponent!

I understand what you're saying Neil. I'm not judging anyone, and I don't necessarily disagree with you. I completely agree that it's not our "job" to help our opponent beat us, whether for a trophy, or your paycheck. I also understand the reasoning, and I admit that under many circumstances being the nice guy isn't the wisest or correct choice.

I certainly wouldn't tell my opponents at a poker table that I was bluffing, or that my midsection was sore during a prizefight, and probably not at hill-hill for something meaningful to me.

What I am saying is that we all have to listen to that voice of conscience within ourselves, and act accordingly. If a conflict becomes so strong that it becomes a problem, then maybe you shouldn't expose yourself to it.

J
 
The only time I didn'y say anything was in a Tourmanet and the guy gave me a slug rack.
I hit great and the cue flew off the table and the balls barely moved.
Knowing the guy, I knew it was intentional.
One good turn deseves another in this case, fo I let him shoot.
It cost him the match.
 
I would let them know...other wise I don't feel good about myself...if I get beat,I get beat.

Exactly, maybe somebody will return the favor someday.

I played a guy a race to 5 in bar box 8 ball once, just $20 a set, nothing serious. There were several people watching, all friends, very casual. He broke, then made a ball, then missed. I get to the table, lining up dead on a stipe, no more than a foot away and just out of a corner pocket. The guy lets me shoot it, then calls, "foul". He apparently had made a striped ball after the break. I reach into my pocket, hand him $20 and say that will be the last money you ever see from me. I've never played him since, his loss.
 
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I played a guy a race to 5 in bar box 8 ball once, just $20 a set, nothing serious. There were several people watching, all friends, very casual. He broke, then made a ball, then missed. I get to the table, lining up dead on a stipe, no more than a foot away and just out of a corner pocket. The guy lets me shoot it, then calls, "foul". He apparently had made a striped ball after the break. I reach into my pocket, hand him $20 and say that will be the last money you ever see from me. I've never played him since, his loss.

It sounds like you should have paid closer attention to what your opponent was doing, or if you were unsure, simply asked "am I solids or stripes?"
 
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If you are either playing nineball or ten ball, in a tourney or for money and you notice that you opponent if about to shoot the wrong ball in order. What do you do? Tell them or not?

It depends on the tournament honestly. In a local weekly tournament with $150 or so for first place where the players normally go for something to do I am for sure telling my opponent. If we are playing a set for $20 I will probably say something.

If I am playing in the finals of a tournament like the BCA Nationals? Nah, I am letting him shoot. In that type of tournament at that stage people are micromanaging everything, they are checking racks, they are calling refs for anything close to quesitonable, they are paying heaps of attention. At that stage of the game I assure you very few people when put into that situation would tell their opponent, it is part of the opponents game to actually be paying enough attention to what they are doing at that point.

I have watched a player win the finals of the BCA 8-ball open, worth about $10,000, and do WAY worse then not tell a player when they are about to shoot the wrong ball.
 
I always have told them and always will. I am also guilty of shooting the wrong ball from time to time and accept the consequences of that action as well. In pool, as in life, you must not only be present to win, but paying attention as well. However, as a fierce competitor, I refuse to lose due to a technicality or other minor infraction. I want to prevail having bested my opponent's top game.

Plus, it's no fun being a dick.
 
Generally, I'll let them shoot. That's how I learned to look at the table to make sure I'm not shooting the wrong ball. It's a mistake you only make a couple of times.
 
Pools a funny game Growing up I was taught to mark my score and to be aware. But with that being said if I notice it I would tell my opponent
bottom line is I want to win cause I earn it. Not because he failed to see the right object ball.
 
Feel-good-story time:

A couple years ago, i was playing in a tourney ($20 buy-in, but there were 48 players) and i was in the finals. The race was 11-6 (full ranking system). I was up 5-0 when the kid i was playing started a pretty nice run. He was on the six, but got down on the 7. I told him about it. He thanked me and finished the rack out. Turns out that was the first rack he ever ran from the break. I ended up winning 11-2 but afterwards, he came up to me and thanked me again. I shoot against him every now and again and he still comments about it. If it was for $10 or $1000, and even if i knew he wouldnt do the same for me, i would still tell them.
I have my morals and values and try to stick to them. If i wouldnt have told him, i wouldve felt like i cheated him.
 
when moneys on the line its every man for him self , dont look to me for help ,if were betting, or hope ill guide you along,
the only guiding ill be doing, is guiding your wallet contents to my wallet.:D
 
Tell them or not to tell them if they are going to foul :-)

depends on who my opponent is.

I would say most of the time I would tell them :-)

Besides i'm a (C) player so most of the time i will get another shot at the rack.

What ever goes around comes around. Nice guys don't always finish last in my book.

I have even shot the wrong ball & told my opponent I fouled. It really depends whom you are playing.

Remember be a sportsman, It will come around full circle (Most of the time) :-)
 
No, I would not tell him. For money, or for fun. The reason why not? The same reason I would not tell him not to go for that tough shot when there is an obvious safety he could play, or how to stroke the cue better, or a myriad of other things that would help his game. I'm not there to teach him how to play the game, just to play him. If he hasn't learned enough about pattern play to shoot the right balls in order, then maybe shooting the wrong ball will teach him to pay attention to that part of the game.

Yah. As opponents, you are defined by your goals...which happen to be perfect opposites. War, baybee!

Guy's lucky I don't steal the cue ball.
 
There's no rule in pool that requires you to teach your opponent how to count and/or recognize colors of balls still on the table.

My 3 year old can't play at all, but he knows his numbers and colors.

I say let 'em shoot it...unless I'm playing for fun with a friend.

What you said, it's not my job to show the other player how to beat me :thumbup:
 
Is $50 the official point where it matters if you be a gentleman or not? Some people would think that 50 bucks is the world ... others would drop 50 bucks out of their pocket and not even notice it.

For me, I always tell the other person if they are about to hit the wrong ball UNLESS they have been trying to shark me, been a loudmouth, tried to distract me in any way, etc. Basically, if they are nice, I am nice, and the amount of money doesn't matter at all.. if you are used to playing for 10k+ a set I'm pretty sure that the magic $50 mark doesn't apply, hehe.

Exactly my thoughts as well.
 
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