When Exactly Does "The Game" Begin?

[Mr. Bond]

Does The Game begin as soon as you begin your break shot?

~ OR ~

Does The Game actually begin at some point prior to the break?

Consider for a moment, the wording of the following rule:

This ^ is from a Hoyle book published in 1817.

The first thing that struck me was how far back the tradition of "the lag" goes. I would not have expected it to be 196 years (or more). That's very interesting.

The second thing that caught my attention, and the reason for my question, is the fact that the rule states, on purpose or not, that "the game begins" before the first "stroke" is actually shot by either player.

It got me thinking - about how true that 'rule' really is. The lag is indeed an overlooked part of The Game, and taken one step further, one might say that The Game begins even before the lag...

Does it not begin as soon as you "know" or become aware that you are about to play someone? You begin sizing them up, thinking about their strengths and/or weakness, you begin considering your strategy for beating them, perhaps even engage in some psych tactics by trying to get into your opponents head....you doubt yourself, or encourage yourself...you imagine and focus on what you will do to win...

When does your Game begin?

 

[bobforest]

no offence, but why does it matter?

i'd say when you shake hands with your opponent... assuming you are all gentleman (or ladies) and do this before a game

Bob

 

[Johnnyt]

The game begins and ends with the matching most of the time. Johnnyt

 

[Mr. Bond]

no offence, but why does it matter?

i'd say when you shake hands with your opponent... assuming you are all gentleman (or ladies) and do this before a game

Bob

None taken.
Why does anything matter Bob?

Its a question of hypothetical integrity. A question of reflecting on ones thoughts and actions.

At what point does one put their "head in the game"?
Or is it never out of the game?
Is your opponent playing you, before you ever reach the table?
Are you playing your opponent before he or she ever reaches the table?
Are you defeating yourself before you ever reach the table?
At what point do the rules of life end, and the rules of the game begin?
Am I playing you already?

Your answer isn't as important to me as it is to you.

 

[MitchAlsup]

I alway though the game (i.e. match) begins when you shake hands.

 

[bobforest]

I alway though the game (i.e. match) begins when you shake hands.

ok... gotcha - you're looking at it from a psychological perspective, whereas I was thinking about it from a 'rules' point of view i.e. when do the rules come into effect? some rules such as 'no coaching' or 'no practicing' could theoretically be broken before a ball is struck.. or not?

to answer your question then, my GAME starts when I want it to start. Usually after a cigarette and Jameson

Bob

 

[Mr. Bond]

I alway though the game (i.e. match) begins when you shake hands.

Right. And I get that.

But I think that there is more to a game than what begins at the handshake.

How much more is the question.

 

[logical]

The game begins at conception.

 

[Dunnn51]

someone verry close to me told me this just once:

"There are 2 ways to lose in pool,.......On the table,........and off the table"

I had to ponder that many times before I fully understood it.

 

[poolguy4u]

My game begins when the cueball hits the rack of balls. If someone miscues and misses the rack, I let them break again.


I do this in tournaments too.



I play a friendly game.:thumbup:

 

[jimmyg]

This is actually a much more complicated and deeper question than most people are giving it credit for being, especially at the top championship levels. Go beneath the surface, think.

A couple of examples to ponder: Ivan Lendl, the great tennis player of the seventies and eighties, was never out of the game. His entire demeanor of toughness and intimidation was center stage all the time, he was never out of character. If you were at the net as his opponent he would try and "nail" you with a 100+ mph shot to your chest, or maybe your head. Asked a rival if he gave his opponent a point, the response was "Are you kidding?, 10 plus years on the pro circuit with him and he never gave you a "hello".

Jimmy Conners is another example, on the Johnny Carson show years ago he was talking tennis with Johnny who asked if he had a court at his house, the answer "yes", then whether Jimmy's young son liked playing and whether they played together often, answer "yes", next question was whether he let the kid win a few games, answer "NO". The competitiveness was never allowed to recede...never. Harsh examples, of course, but it's a really complicated question with an individual answer originating from whom you ask and what they are trying to accomplish.

J

 

[RRfireblade]

Well, the lag is generally the first shot of the Match so all romantic drama and artistic embellishment aside....

I'm going with that...

Sorry to over simplify but nothing else matters till that exact point.

 

[MitchAlsup]

ok... gotcha - you're looking at it from a psychological perspective, whereas I was thinking about it from a 'rules' point of view i.e. when do the rules come into effect?

At the moment you shake hands, you have had to display your equipment and allowed the other party to examine it for legality. Thus the game has started and you are operating under the rules.

 

[Steve Dickey]

In my mind there are several aspects to "the game". As an example, last week prior to league matches I was practicing and a player from the opposing team asked if he could join me. I felt there was a good chance we would be matched up later, so for me, at that point, "the game" was on.

 

[1ab]

I've certainly lost the right to break in a VNEA state tournament after my opponent made the case to the ref that I had "bumped" the cue ball in my practice strokes prior to breaking. So I suppose your question is relative. In one sense the breaker had been determined establishing the sequence of events to take place yet it could be argued play hadn't begun because the cue ball was still in the kitchen. Good question.

 

[Tin Man]

game on

You can easily make the argument that you're always playing the game.

Of course you are playing when you're cue stick is actually contacting the cue ball.
And when you are taking practice strokes, even though you're not shooting.
And when you're walking around the table, sizing up the layout.
What about when you're opponent is at the table and you're awaiting your turn? The set is still going on and how you channel your thoughts still makes an impact.
What about in between matches at a tournament? You still have to manage your energy levels and stay prepared for your next match.
What about a multi day tournament, first day after all matches are completed? Are you still competing since the tournament is going on?
If so, couldn't you say that you're always in between tournaments and matches, and that your practice/preparation for the next tournament, on and off the table, is continuous?

It's hard to draw a clean line as to when you're not in competition. That's what after reflecting I agree with the poster that asks why it matters. As George Carlin says: Some people see what is and ask 'why'? Some people see what isn't and ask 'why not'? And some people have to work and don't have time for this *&^...

 

[CantEverWin]

You can go back until the start of time to denote when an event "started."
Philosophically speaking I would say "the game" started when you made the decision that you were going to compete. Whether that was when you woke up in the morning, or if it was a last second thought to go play. At that moment you started preparing to compete. That's when "the game" starts.
However, that can be wrong. If your opposition decided to compete before you did, then it started then. Whoever was first.

You could take it back much farther. When you first saw a cue, or when you were born. When your mother was born. However those conversations usually end up a religious conversation.

 

[JMW]

Not sure what the answer is... but your mental game better start when you screw your stick together or you are in trouble.

 

[Ralph Kramden]

Not sure what the answer is... but your mental game better start when you screw your stick together or you are in trouble.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, your opinion, man...... And I agree with you.

 

[Mr. Bond]

This is actually a much more complicated and deeper question than most people are giving it credit for being, especially at the top championship levels.

This is true - thanks for noticing.

Sorry to over simplify but nothing else matters till that exact point.

I respectfully disagree.
And I suspect that many people think, or do, something, prior to that point, directly related to 'playing the game'.

At the moment you shake hands, you have had to display your equipment and allowed the other party to examine it for legality. Thus the game has started and you are operating under the rules.

You've also already had a chance to wear your opponent's least favorite color. You've had a chance to investigate their speed by watching them, or by looking into their win/loss records and shooting stats. You've had a chance to talk smack - or simply plant ideas - by saying certain things within earshot of your opponent. You've had a chance to give them "looks". You've had a chance to place bets and to plant fake bets. You've had a chance to put unknown spectators in the audience for seemingly "random" distractions. You've had a chance to mislead people watching you, by intentionally missing shots or using bad form. You've had a chance to perform your favorite pre-game ritual, bring out your favorite lucky charm, or psych yourself up for the win...or in some cases psych yourself out. And the list goes on and on...

In my mind there are several aspects to "the game". As an example, last week prior to league matches I was practicing and a player from the opposing team asked if he could join me. I felt there was a good chance we would be matched up later, so for me, at that point, "the game" was on.

Exactly....

You can easily make the argument that you're always playing the game.

Of course you are playing when you're cue stick is actually contacting the cue ball.
And when you are taking practice strokes, even though you're not shooting.
And when you're walking around the table, sizing up the layout.
What about when you're opponent is at the table and you're awaiting your turn? The set is still going on and how you channel your thoughts still makes an impact.
What about in between matches at a tournament? You still have to manage your energy levels and stay prepared for your next match.
What about a multi day tournament, first day after all matches are completed? Are you still competing since the tournament is going on?
If so, couldn't you say that you're always in between tournaments and matches, and that your practice/preparation for the next tournament, on and off the table, is continuous?

It's hard to draw a clean line as to when you're not in competition...

Exactly....

You can go back until the start of time to denote when an event "started."
Philosophically speaking I would say "the game" started when you made the decision that you were going to compete. Whether that was when you woke up in the morning, or if it was a last second thought to go play. At that moment you started preparing to compete. That's when "the game" starts.

However, that can be wrong. If your opposition decided to compete before you did, then it started then. Whoever was first.....

Exactly...