What's the best compliment you've ever received about your pool game?

[despotic931]

Staying after league night matches were over, a clearly intoxicated brunette with summer teeth, slightly overweight, and wearing cowboy boots with tight jeans in the North East region, came over and told me I looked good while shooting. I don't know if she meant my cue, clothes, or what, but it sure was nice hearing it from her, and I saved a pic of that special night on my cell phone;

WHAT!!! My girl was hitting on you! That's it, it's over, I'm breaking it off tonight!!!

 

[Flex]

That's quite a pic you snapped with your cellphone, Gregg. How'd you manage that photo studio background? They come in the phone? And just what are summer teeth?

 

[rackem]

Somer teeth

That's quite a pic you snapped with your cellphone, Gregg. How'd you manage that photo studio background? They come in the phone? And just what are summer teeth?

Some are over here some are over there.

 

[StormHotRod300]

I dont know if its a compliment or people are just scared of my game. But I get alot of guys who want to play me even up, gambling when they could give me the call 7 or 8ball.

expecially when a few months ago the same guys would have given me the wild 7 or 8.

 

[Tokyo-dave]

I played Charlie Williams in an exhibition/challenge match while he and Johnny Archer were here for the Tokyo 9-Ball. It was a race to 5, and it's basically supposed to be a show to give us wannabies a look at the big boys, so most of the time, Charlie was winning very easily, but playing risky and showing off. I had him down 4-2, and he caught a gear and I never got a look at a pocketable ball for the rest of the set. He ended up beating me 5-4 and after the match he came over to shake my hands and told me "I'm supposed to have fun with these kinds of matches...................but not that kind of fun! I don't think the organizers would have wanted me or Johnny to lose any matches tonight, so I had to turn it on for the last three racks..................sorry." Then asked me if I was entered in the Tokyo 9-Ball event. I took it all as a compliment.
dave

 

[Mike_Mason]

Boston Shorty...

I'm not sure this is a compliment but I liked this one so much I put it in WONDERBOYS just as it happened...

I beat Shorty the first time I played him in a tournament...straight pool...he packed up his cue and walked over to the tournament chart area where a bunch of spectators gave him the business about how could he lose to me...

Shorty said, "Hey these guys ain't helpless you know...they got pool cues in their hands."

 

[renard]

I really liked these posts the best. This is what I would like to be saying about the other player if I come out on the losing end. Not just to say it, but to mean it. Even if you are just a bystander compliments go further than all other talk.

Last year was my first year playing again after a 25 year layoff and I played in a weekly 8-Ball tournament for most of the year. The top dog in this tournament kinda of took a liking to me and we became friends, I won 1st place on the final week and had my name engraved on the trophy and he came in 3rd. He came over and pronounced me "Top Dog" while the other good players were kind of irritated that the new guy won.

We are a little more than half way through this years season for the same tournament and my "in the money percentage" is 77%, the next best percentage is 56%. I'm not the new guy anymore and they all know they have their hands full when they draw me on Sundays. It's a good feeling and the compliment from the old "Top Dog" was much appreciated when he said it to everyone. If and when another new guy comes in and knocks me off my perch I intend to be as gracious as my new friend was last year.

BK

Well not rising to the level of some of the previous posts this is my little story...
Playing a very good player, probably the best in the room we play in. He beat me pretty good, hardly gaving me a trip to the table. Afterward, I kind of jokingly said something about his not letting me play. His response was that I play too well and he wasn't going to take the chance. I took more pride in that loss than I would in beating up on some lesser player. Of course, in the end it was still a loss.
I'm always insulted when somebody I play takes the game too casually and visa-versa.

Someone once told me that they liked my game because I made it so easy for them! That's nice, right?

Then another time, this one guy said that he liked my money more than anyone else's and that's why he played me all the time. Didn't think much of it at first but in retrospect, that was really nice.

A young good player, who had been playing in what I call the "kiddie" poolrooms (no booze, lots of video games, etc.) where he was the big fish in the little pond, started coming in to the pool room where some of the better players in the city hang out.

His first time in our weekly tournament, I pull him the first round and spank him, 5-0. Apparently, he was not accustomed to losing and as he walked away from the table, he vocalized his view of the situation.

He said, "I can't believe I lost to an old fart like that.", loud enough for some of the other players to hear it.

One of the other players, who I really don't get along with, said, "Kid, let me tell you something about that old fart you just played. He's forgot more about pool than you'll ever know about it!"

Nice compliment, especially coming from someone I really don't get along with.

Since then, the kid and I have become pretty good friends and he jumps on me to practice now every time he sees me.

What a great thread, toot yer own horn, I love it !

First, chefjeff, you play with a tough crowd my man ! From the sounds of it you might not want to get an iPod as a distraction (not that you need it), I can just imagine what your opponents would think of that ! And pharoh, it might be time to lose some of that niceness Be mean for a change !

Two that I remember well ... I had just beat out one of our better players in a mini 9ball tournament, and my next opponent walked up to the table. The guy I beat says to the next guy "don't bother playing safe against him, he hits everything, best kicker I've seen". Another is when I came back from 7-2 to win 9-8 in league against a good player, a former room owner. He said to me "I noticed that you play the same way no matter what the score is, you don't let it bother you". I liked that one better than the kicking compliment.

Thanks for a great thread.

Dave

I was practicing on my own at a place that doesn't appear to get a lot of business in this area, at the table closest to the counter where they keep all the balls. The owner of the room was watching TV, but also watching me play. This was the first time I had been the the place.

After I'd been there about 2 hours, another guy walked in, watched me shoot a few shots, and asked me if I wanted to play some. When I said okay, the room owner said to the other guy, "boy, he'll beat you like a read-headed stepchild." We didn't play for anything, since I'm not a money player, but I did beat him something like 8 straight racks. I think that's the best compliment I've gotten from anyone who really knows the game.

The beginner players in my league give me some good ones every now and then. One guy said that of all the players in the room, I was the one he wanted to play like, which was interesting to me, because there are several players in there who are better than me. Another guy, at one point while I was in the middle of a run-out, said "Your cue-ball control amazes me."

-Andrew

The best one I got was recently when one of the better players in Richmond mentioned to me that he had rededicated himself to the game and was now spending far more time practicing. And that was due to the fact that I'd taken him out of the State 9 Ball championships the prior summer. He'd seen how much my game had stepped up and he wanted to do the same. That felt good!

I've taken to playing in a local 8 ball tournament here on Friday nights. I've shown up about half the time for the past 3 months. Several of the better players have said to me that they can't believe I haven't won the thing yet. It's good to get recognition from players that you perceive to be better. It also means, I'm getting into their heads. I like that!

Brian in VA - enjoying the journey!

> I was playing in the 2000 U.S. Open,a loser's side match against Hideaki Sakamura. I gave him everything I had,but lost 11-10. After the match,I was outside talking to some people when Jimmy Reid walked up and told me he had watched pretty much the whole match. He asked where I was from,and asked what kind of equipment I had been playing on. He said it looked to him like I was a little tight due to unfamiliarity with the tables. I told him that was probably the case,since it had been 6 months since I had hit a ball on a 9 foot table,and that I had only seen 3-4 Gold Crowns that tight EVER,even though I wasn't trying to use that as an excuse for losing. He asked what I had been playing on again,and who I had been playing against. I told him the tables in my local room were 8 foot Steepletons with very slow cloth and great big pockets,and had no competition other than my own expectations and standards. "Well,it's pretty obvious to me that you have talent,desire,and heart. Virtually no one gets to be your speed without serious help,and it sounds like you didn't have much over there,so you did all you could on your own,that is desire. Your stroke is as solid as 85% of the people here,and that is a manifestation of your talent. It takes heart to get up here,in the most difficult tournament in the world to compete in,and try to prove yourself on equipment that is so unfamiliar. As far as I can see,it's a pure miracle you even learned to play AT ALL under the conditions you describe". I've never felt as good after a tough loss as I did that day. Tommy D.

 

[NYC cue dude]

This is a great thread. It's fun to see how as people, receiving a compliment about the game we are all so passionate about, really can be so inspirational.

I think if someone plays pool long enough, someone that we respect will inevitably see a great shot and make a flattering compliment. I know that this has happened to me many times, by guys like robles, ginky, thorsten and archer.

but in the spirit of this thread, I don't think that a comment on one particular shot really fits.

I think the best compliment I ever got with regards to my game came from the Billiards digest writer Mike Geffner. After playing some 14.1 with him, he said to me, in front of the entire rail of about 15 at Amsterdam Billiards, NYC, that I read a stack (looking for dead balls, billiards and caroms), as well as ANY pro player he has ever seen.

I have a very creative side, and can see dead balls when most cannot. I have even been able to see, shoot and make INTERNAL balls. (this is when a ball is completely surrounded by other balls, and when a ball is struck, moves other balls out of the way to sink a ball that was formally obstructed).

Local open/pro players really respect this aspect of my game, and because of this uncanny ability, local top level player Jim Gautier nick-named me "the wow factor"

rg

 

[Cheez Dawg]

About my break- The balls say OUCH before you even hit them
About my stroke- You stroke the cue as smooth as butter
About my cueball control- When you play, the cueball moves around like it has eyeballs and a steering wheel!

I don't know about all that, but I know I can sink a ball or two.

 

[ez2h8]

Mine would be:
1: Before the late great Hall of Famer Billy Stover died, he said in front of a room full of people "This kid has one of the most natural strokes you will ever see watch and enjoy."

2: While playing in bars. I was offered membership to the Hell's Angel's MC for beating their best players in their bar all while not knowing this and keeping a cool head. YIKES...

3: Being offered a semi-pro sponsorship while living in Atlanta.

Great thread too.
ez

 

[sde]

The best compliment I ever received happened during a league match where the shooter has the final say regarding whether or not was a foul. My opponent committed a foul but claimed it was a good hit and was ready to continue shooting when captain said to my opponent, "If he says it was a foul it was a foul. He would never cheat you to win."
That meant a lot to me and I'll never forget it.

Steve

 

[ribdoner]

Mine would be:


2: While playing in bars. I was offered membership to the Hell's Angel's MC for beating their best players in their bar all while not knowing this and keeping a cool head. YIKES...


What chapter????

 

[ez2h8]

Mine would be:


2: While playing in bars. I was offered membership to the Hell's Angel's MC for beating their best players in their bar all while not knowing this and keeping a cool head. YIKES...


What chapter????

I don't recall the chapter, it was a local one. I was introduced via family via pool and meet some good guys in the end. Never took them up on the offer as I didn't have a motorcycle at the time(didn't matter actually, as it was explained to me) but felt proud of the way I handled the situation after finding out who everyone was. This was back in 96 before I went to Atlanta. Think I was ment to go to ATL Just goes to prove, you never know who you are really playing with/against.

ez

 

[JLW]

I don't recall the chapter, it was a local one. I was introduced via family via pool and meet some good guys in the end. Never took them up on the offer as I didn't have a motorcycle at the time(didn't matter actually, as it was explained to me) but felt proud of the way I handled the situation after finding out who everyone was. This was back in 96 before I went to Atlanta. Think I was ment to go to ATL Just goes to prove, you never know who you are really playing with/against.

ez

There are a lot of Grim Reapers in this area. In fact, my good friend from work just found out that he has a sister he'd never heard of who was married to one at one time. He said the guy was pretty cool and even extended an invitation for him and me (he told him he had a friend who also rode) to go out riding with them sometime. I've actually met some pretty decent guys who were bikers. They certainly aren't like they were when I was younger.

As far as compliments. I'd say the best compliment I've ever gotten is from a guy who used to frequent my poolroom. We were having a 9 ball tournament on the Snooker tables, and he was betting on me in my games against some of the better players there. Made me feel pretty good.

 

[Mystick Cue Fan]

A young good player, who had been playing in what I call the "kiddie" poolrooms (no booze, lots of video games, etc.) where he was the big fish in the little pond, started coming in to the pool room where some of the better players in the city hang out.

His first time in our weekly tournament, I pull him the first round and spank him, 5-0. Apparently, he was not accustomed to losing and as he walked away from the table, he vocalized his view of the situation.

He said, "I can't believe I lost to an old fart like that.", loud enough for some of the other players to hear it.

One of the other players, who I really don't get along with, said, "Kid, let me tell you something about that old fart you just played. He's forgot more about pool than you'll ever know about it!"

Nice compliment, especially coming from someone I really don't get along with.

Since then, the kid and I have become pretty good friends and he jumps on me to practice now every time he sees me.

Who would that be? If it's who I think it is....he's the type that thinks he's supposed to be out if he has a shot on the 1 ball right? That kid is a character. The score should be 5-0 every time.

Tony

 

[5ballcharlie]

I'm not referring to the "Hey, he's a champ, he's a hustler, watch out for him" type of comment, but the one coming from someone who you respect for their game or their gamble or their knowledge of pool.

Here are a few I've received:

* "Hey, you're old school..."

* "That stuff about him traveling is a bunch of bull. He's been taking lessons from some champion somewhere."

* "You're dangerous."

* "You're a student of the game."

* "He's an animal."

* "He just knocked so-and-so out of the tournament."

Each of those were said at different times. Not the kind of stuff to make somebody's head swell, no doubt about it, but subtle encouragement like that goes a long way.

How about you, what kind of compliments or comments have come your way that encouraged you?

"you cant win" makes me practice harder

 

[rackmsuckr]

This is a great thread. It's fun to see how as people, receiving a compliment about the game we are all so passionate about, really can be so inspirational.

I think if someone plays pool long enough, someone that we respect will inevitably see a great shot and make a flattering compliment. I know that this has happened to me many times, by guys like robles, ginky, thorsten and archer.

but in the spirit of this thread, I don't think that a comment on one particular shot really fits.

I think the best compliment I ever got with regards to my game came from the Billiards digest writer Mike Geffner. After playing some 14.1 with him, he said to me, in front of the entire rail of about 15 at Amsterdam Billiards, NYC, that I read a stack (looking for dead balls, billiards and caroms), as well as ANY pro player he has ever seen.

I have a very creative side, and can see dead balls when most cannot. I have even been able to see, shoot and make INTERNAL balls. (this is when a ball is completely surrounded by other balls, and when a ball is struck, moves other balls out of the way to sink a ball that was formally obstructed).

Local open/pro players really respect this aspect of my game, and because of this uncanny ability, local top level player Jim Gautier nick-named me "the wow factor"

rg

Randy, tell Carpet Jimmy 'hi' from Mike and me. Also hope to see some of that 'stack action' in person some day.

 

[trustyrusty]

stick to golf!!! just kidding. This being my first year playing in an APA league, and really playing any kinda pool other than the occasional casual game or two while at a bar; I'd hafta say, having other teams ask me if I'm available to play on other nights is my best psuedo-compliment. I beat up on a buncha 3s and 4s, and the other teams took notice. I'm not a very good player by any stretch, but I do find ways not to lose when I'm not pocketing a buncha balls. When I am shooting well though, I can come acrossed as better than I really am - if that makes any sense.

 

[cueandcushion]

my favorite comment

I was playing a local player and ran out on him in 9 ball. His response was..

"Damn, Craig! You don't suck at pool nearly as much as I thought!"

I chuckle to myself every time I think of that.

 

[TrickyRicky]

Oh---where to begin...

I think the biggest compliments to ANY pool player are the constant requests by opponents for "spots."

Another nice compliment is "I don't want to play you."

Most of my girlfriends say, "You have a WONDERFUL stick "

Rick P.