Why do they take their cue when racking for opponent?

Possibly as a subtle deterrent to trash talking ???? Lol No seriously though I do no condone these antics at all but I have seen this used as a shark move. Sounds a little crazy if uve never seen it but even something as small as not moving for like 5 seconds after balls are racked and ready to go can totally throw off shooter's concentration enough to mess up his run, his break, and if Po's enough his whole game. Believe me I cant tell you how many times I've seen this happen and its immediately followed by a scratch or poor break and as I said depending how mad someone gets cam put them on tilt and effects up to the whole rest of set / match. Also I agree with all the earlier posts that main reason is just about always ensuring the racket def had the needed time to get out of the way of the break. What are yalls thoughts on my theory on the shark move aspect?
 
Besides the reasons mentioned already, it helps keep one in the mindset of playing pool. The cue is an extension of their arm, and automatically goes with them. Without their cue, their mind shifts off of the game to other things.
 
It's the little things...

bdorman said:
I see this all the time in professional tournaments...but for the life of me, don't understand it. Maybe the AZ-experts will be able to 'splain it to me.

When playing Winner breaks, Loser racks:
Player A is in the chair. Player B runs out. Player A comes to the table to rack and brings his cue with him and lays it on the table. When he's done racking, he picks up his cue and goes back to the chair.

Why the heck does he bring his cue with him? Does he think Player B might say "That's okay, you can break."? Is security at major tournaments so bad that someone will steal his cue while he's racking the balls? What am I missing?
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I haven't read all the replies yet, so I apologize for any re-hash.

I don't care if you are a pro or a newb with knobs on, you never ever leave your cue. Not for one second, not for one instant. It is either in your hand or in your field of vision at all times. There is no discussion about this.... it just is one of the central pillars of survival playing pool. BECAUSE... sooner or later, YoinK! SSSSSSSuckaaaahhh. And then the tears come, as a flood.

Also, I have personal knowledge that when I lay my cue diagonally across the table in front of the rack while I am racking, it generally says to my opponent "This is my side of the table... I own it, you are waiting on me." and I make a point of slowly dragging the tip of my cue across the table too. Really works peoples nerves if they are picky, finicky, prissy squeaky chalk, tip-tapping, 7x14 hand-tooled leather case with a kick-stand kinds of players that shoot looks of disgust at you for placing the chalk on the rail with the chalk side down. :::::insert jaws prowling music here::::: It's better than sweet sweet single-malt scotch sipping swinging in a hammock on an Elutheran pink sand beach. I drink their tears of rage.

Anyways, yeah. I bring my stick to the table too.

Lesh
 
LuckyStroke said:
I do this also. It's to keep from getting hit in the face. But here's something. I noticed a few pros (SVB comes to mind) that do this set the cue with the butt on the rail but the tip on the playing surface. Why do you think that is?
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was stated already, but your cue will pick up a lot of dust, the cleaner it is, the more it will attract, from what I notice.

I remember one time a guy (APA days, don't miss it) grabbed my cue off of the table while I was racking. He thought he was being helpful and getting it off the table. I fast broke on him (not with his face near the rack) next time he racked. Gave him a good tip on how to prevent it.
 
I actually lay me cue 45 degrees in front of the rack. I have had people break in my face and had a cue ball just miss my head.
 
Thanks for the interesting replies.

I've only played against two "fast-breakers." The first was just inexperienced and when I pointed it out to him he immediately began waiting until I was well clear of the table; he just didn't realize.

The other time I asked the guy to wait but he didn't. So for his next break I lifted the rack off the balls and immediately dropped it back on when he wound up for his break (mid-backstroke). He stopped soon enough to not hit the CB but stopping threw him off his rhythm so much he nearly fell over.

He was pissed, but I told him I wasn't done racking...I'd noticed a loose ball in the rack and wanted to fix it. I did it a couple more times and it was like a funny cat-and-mouse of ready-or-not. He was so pissed that he lost the match (against me, he should have easily won).

I guess I just can't imagine a pro doing that (fast-breaking) in a major tournament.
 
The Hulk said:
I do this also, my reasoning is if I lay my cue diagonally across the table. My opponent can't break until I'm ready for him to. This eliminates the possibility of getting my hands smashed or hit in the face with a cueball from my over anxious opponent!!!!
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I do the samething it also stops them from shooting the CB up and down the table while i rack.
 
IMO, it's a mental move showing control. The racking player puts his cue on the table and determines when the breaking player can break. It may be small and subtle, but shows you (raking player) are in control of the sequence of events.
 
All of the above replies are on point for
taking your cue to the table for racking.
If balls are still being collected at the
table when I put my cue down I roll it
up against a cushion, making sure the
shaft is under the cushion. This protects
the shaft from an accidental ding by a
loose ball. The butt never seems to suffer
damage from a ball rolling to it and giving
a slight tap. It also make the other guy a
little more attentive at the table next time.

If all the balls have been collected my cue
goes across in front of the rack. No breaking
occurs until we are both ready for it!

Joe
 
The Hulk said:
I do this also, my reasoning is if I lay my cue diagonally across the table. My opponent can't break until I'm ready for him to. This eliminates the possibility of getting my hands smashed or hit in the face with a cueball from my over anxious opponent!!!!
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I got hit square on the jaw once. I never had a chance to get away from the table after lifting up the rack. Knocked me silly for about an hour. I think my jaw would have broken if the cue ball had hit me on one side or the other. Because it hit me dead center I think the force was spread out evenly.Now laying the cue on the table is a habit of mine.
 
buckshotshoey said:
I used to think its the safest place. I was running a rack, made it o the 8, made the 8 but scratched. I was up 3 to 1 at that point. Whrn I put my stick on the table, and started collecting balls out of the return, my opponent walked up to table and started hitting balls right into my cue! His team mates practically tackled me before I could make it around the table! I heard later this guy does it to piss off opponents and get them out of their game. I turned him in to LO and he didn't even get suspended. Just a warning. He didn't hit them hard enough to do damage, it was a sharking technique. He ended up quitting apa the next session. Good riddance!

As for keeping opponent from speed breaking, if it happens once, from then on I get the cue ball and put it in my pocket. Ill roll it to him after I'm done racking.
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Wow, that guy was an ass.
 
I prefer a cue across the front of a rack rather than an exchange of bombastic prose. I play with a couple of inpatient players who just can't seem to wait. I always wait because I have hit the overhead light and once launched a CB onto table directly in line with my table after I hit the one ball.

Al
 
leto1776 said:
Wow, that guy was an ass.
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Yes....definitely. other people reported him for other sportsmanship violations. I just heard from a teammate he is back. Fortunately, I won't see him for a while...I'm not playing summer session. But I guarantee if he ever does it again, he will eat a billiard ball!
 
Once this guy broke really hard and then looked at me and blinked. I was thinking to myself what the #^&$% are you looking at you wacko. Then I realized he broke dry and he was waiting on me to shoot.
 
Cause if you don't often times after you finish racking and putting the rack down below they are slamming the balls when you head is right next to table. That's why I do it, no sharking move or hope I'll get to break. It's for hearing-preservation only.

<-----Has spent a good amount of time racking unfortunately.
 
ProZack said:
"THIS IS MY RIFEL THIS IS MY GUN, Many people have one but THIS ONE IS MINE, When you eat you will bring it, when you Sh#t you will bring it, WHEN YOU RACK you will bring it..."

This post reminded me of the ownership of my cue. You ever had someone pick your cue up and take it without your permission and start shooting with it? I don't know about you but I feel violated.

It probably their subconscious that makes them do it.
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I left my cue on an empty table next to the one I was playing on while I was racking and when I finished racking some guy had my cue in his hands and he and his buddies were examining it.

If you don't know why a guy would keep his cue with him in a pool hall you haven't been in the same pool halls I've been in. I take my cue to the toilet.
 
Neil said:
Besides the reasons mentioned already, it helps keep one in the mindset of playing pool. The cue is an extension of their arm, and automatically goes with them. Without their cue, their mind shifts off of the game to other things.
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This is the first thing that came to my mind when reading the question. I think Neil hit the nail on the head.
 
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