When Playing Family & Friends.........

Another way...

is to practice how close you can get to the pocket with the object ball. Either by practicing your speed or missing the pocket by just a fraction. I do this when playing 5 and 10 with some old men in the mornings at the pool room. The owner has put a 3 ball limit on me unless they are ridiculously easy outs.

The older guys hate to see me shoot until they get me as a partner. But playing this way with the limit and the social part of it messed me up when trying to play seriously later in the day. So I started shooting very difficult shots and missing some very easy ones when I realized I could be percieved as 'showing off'. By purposely missing (overcutting balls, practicing speed, etc.) it helped me stay sharper by already having my eyes adjusted to the light. Anyway, that's what I do to overcome the social bangers club.
 
Eh.. My wife never minded me beating her badly. Even when we were dating. I did try to make it even, though. First, I tried playing 8 ball, but where I banked the 8. That was no good, I kept running all the way out.

Then I tried playing last pocket 8 ball, banking the 8 ball into the last pocket. No good. I still kept running out. Then I played one handed, regular 8 ball. Ran out about 1/3 of the time, the rest of the time, two inning games.

Then, I found a game that worked.. I played one handed, bank the 8 ball, last pocket. That gave her about 4 to 5 innings per game. That, she was satisified with.

My secret was, that no matter what spot I gave, I tried my dead level hardest to still win the game. I tried real hard to get proper position in the one handed games, for the easiest shots. I tried real hard to play simple patterns. I made games with my future wife that were tough enough that she had a decent chance to win, but I was still a slight favorite, even with the vast skill level difference between us.

My wife has always enjoyed playing me, as well as watching me play someone else.

Russ
 
On the one hand you can try and play as well as you possibly can and maybe be able to run a 3 or 4 racks and really show them how you play. However they may be uninterested in playing with you again ever, because they don't want to just watch you play.

On the other hand you could end up trying so hard that you play poorly, and get frusterated with yourself because of it.

The vast majority of my friends are not pool players and neither are my family though most of them enjoy playing. When they go out it is just to have some fun so I treat the occassion as such. It's not an exhibition it's a time to hang out.

Generally we play doubles, if there enough people around, and I will choose the weakest player of the bunch as my partner. I don't spend much time at all analyzing the table or bothering to figure out problem areas I just shoot. I still maintain my routine and I don't miss much at all, I just play somewhat haphazard. If I manage the run out it's kind of entertaining for people to watch because there are plenty of exciting shots.

I typically play well enough to win, not much more though. If someone starts playing better than I anticipated, I'll push it up a gear. It keeps the games seeming competitive, they feel that they might be able to win one, and if they do, they go home even happier. If they do win, it doesn't bother me because I know that they can't win against my best game, it doesn't matter if they know.

There is a time to take this game deadly serious and there is a time to just have fun.
 
When I have had family or friends who dont play much, want to play with me.... its them wanting to hang out and spend time together doing something I like to do. Its no different then offering to go shopping with your wife, or play video games with your kids. It should be a nice, relaxing time spent together enjoying each others company. It should not be a competition to prove you are better, or you can give big handicaps and still win.
A few years ago, I was searching for something for my wife and I to do together. I figured darts would be good, neither of us had ever really played.... Well, I let a will to get good at darts ruin it for my wife. It wasnt about beating her, or even winning.... it was just wanting to be "good" at it. So after I tried to appologize to her, and offered a handicap as an equalizer, I got one of the biggest earfulls shes ever given me.... and she was 100% correct. It was meant to be a pastime for us, not a competition. People usually dont like to be patronized. ;)
So if family or friends want to play, take some time and play with them. But most importantly, spend the time together and enjoy their company. Thats what they want to hang out with you for!
Screwing around on the table here and there wont hurt your game, you wont pick up bad habits...... just enjoy the time with loved ones. It goes too quickly.
Chuck
PS as a sidenote..... I was ranked 35th in Alaska in ADO points for 2005...... :D
 
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