I'm sorry but your not going to like what I am going to say.
Like someone has already said, they know exactly what you are doing, getting free practice time at their expense. That basically makes you a scrounger.
It doesn't make you 'amazing' that you can beat the average Joe. 90% of these players cue so badly that if they make any shot other than a duck, its a fluke. Do you want me to give you a clap?
These are just players that want to have a beer and shooting pool is nothing but a fun social game. They don't have aspirations to play pool at a very high level. You probably mistake it for envy and that they just can't handle being beaten. No that is not the case, they feel pissed (and rightfully so) that your being a killjoy, spoiling the fun, hogging the table, taking their money and feeding your ego at their expense.
I've actually come to despise people like yourself. People that do have a genuine interest but then put other people down like they are deficient, and not as talented. Playing pool for most people is not high on the list of life priorities. Clap, clap, bravo...
They deserve to play on those tables a lot more than you do. That is why bars have pool tables, to attract customers who pay for drinks. Your taking away that attraction away from them during peak time. Lets say that three people didn't come to the bar that night because they decided to go somewhere else that had a pool table. The bar is going to lose money because of you.
If you want to play pool at a more serious level then compete or get a practice partner and go to a pool hall. I would be totally behind you if it was a proper outlet and people sharked you.
Personally for me, I want tough competition. I want to play players that give me a challenge.. obviously you don't and are the type of person that just wants to feel like he's amazing because he can beat a few intoxicated people that can't cue straight.
Good post and very well thought out. I can see where you are coming from with your opinion. I disagree with some parts though, but that's just my opinion.
I'm sure a lot of us have went to the bar, put a dollar in the table and got their turn and played for most of the night on just that dollar and I'm sure they had a good time doing it. I wouldnt go so far as to call them a scrounger though.
When I play at a bar I'm not taking it serious. Im playing off the fire and firing at everything (since bar rules 8ball makes you do that anyway). Sure my position and shot making is gonna be better then Joe Bangers but that's not saying they are not gonna have a good time either. 99 percent of the racks they are going to get 1 or 2 hots and run some balls too since I'm not really trying as hard nor taking it serious.
One thing I have notcied though on the rare occasion that I do this is that a crowd will form and a line starts to get bigger, the ones you played want to play again. I think because I'm being so friendly with them as well and making jokes with them (not at them) and the other on lookers.
It's a guilty pleasure. It's fun. I cant do that shit all the time though, that would be just being an ass. It's rare that I actually go out to a bar and normally if I do it's to get shitfaced. It's even more rare that I get on the barbox and play the randoms, but if I do, I do what I can to make it fun for everyone and provide a level of entertainment as well.
Sure someone might get all butt-hurt over the situation at the bar, but part of being a pool player is being a "student of human moves" (to quote Fast Eddie). You should be able to spot this person a mile away and no to steer clear. You are in their environment and techincally they have a right to be pissed. They want you to get off the table and you think it might cause an issue, then oblige them. A pool table at a bar shouldnt have been your reason to go there anyway, it's normally just something to do while you are there.
To sum up... I say go to the bar for the bar... if they have a pool table, go have fun. Be friendly, entertaining, watchful, mindful. If you think things are gonna get ugly, throw the match. Makes the guy you played look like a hero at the same time. It's ok to showcase your talent on occasion because you should know that your opponent would more then likely be happy to kick your ass in Golden Tee that he pumps quarters into every night there. :grin-square: