Why is gambling so popular in pool?

[pt109]

We have jumped the gun

Ivica....you've been slinging this expression all over AZ lately.

'Jumping the gun' probably owes its origin to racing...which were often started from
firing a pistol.
If someone started too soon, it was called 'jumping the gun' and he was either disqualified or a restart was called.

So now...this thread is about gambling....and I like to bet on races.
Where and when is this race being held?.......
....and who is booking it?

I got a bankroll that would choke a horse and I like action...:happydance:

 

[1pocket]

Nobody wants to "gamble" they all want a lock. If somebody is asking they're pretty sure they have the best of it. All the people on here saying it keeps it interesting wouldn't bet a dime against a stronger player. (EXCEPT BARTON AND BARTRUM) Sorry to group you two together

Not true -- you come across like a thief that naturally thinks everyone else is stealing

 

[jasonlaus]

Not true -- you come across like a thief that naturally thinks everyone else is stealing

Lol. I may have "stolen" my fair share from the unsuspecting. Also have been called a nit for not gambling with somebody a ball or 3 better than me.

 

[cueman]

I don't know why people gamble on pool so much more than many other games. It may be because it is usually not able to be played for free like checkers or chess. It cost to play pool at most places. I have seen many players who once loved to play pool start finding pool boring once they start gambling. The love of money is indeed the root of all kinds of evil. Unless there is money on it they don't even want to play. They no longer love pool, but love the action. I still hit balls on my table by myself a few times a week, just because I enjoy playing. I quit gambling as a teenager and have kept my love for the game for another 36 years so far.

 

[Keith Jawahir]

I skipped all the other posts, so forgive me if I repeat something that's already been said. I personally try to stay away from gambling. You seem to enjoy practice as much as I do, all that's left is to find a good, competitive league. I think there are BCAPL branches in Canada, you'll have to look for yourself. Another good thing is tournament play. Practice and competitive play go hand in hand. If you compete without practice, you won't progress very fast. If you practice without competing, You won't develop your mental game to keep it together under pressure. Within the league, you'll probably find a couple of good sparring partners as well who share your passion for the game. At least, that's what I've been lucky enough to have. My situation might be unique, though.

 

[markgw]

I have been wondering about this for a while, it seems gambling is a major part in pool. I've heard it's common for Filipinos to not even play if there's no money on the table. "Hustling pool" seems to be very common. I've had some offers to play for $$$ when practicing at some places. It seems very prevalent!

I can't find many comparisons, but I don't think betting 50$ on a set is common in table tennis, or tennis itself. Or playing chess, or checkers.

I might be wrong, I don't know much about the sports/games I listed, but I'd bet p) gambling is not as common in them as it is for pool.

Why is it like that? Is it because it's most often played in bars and such?

It is also common in golf. I think in pool golf or whatever when you add a wager into the mix you experience who plays the best under pressure. Some play great under extreme pressure and some don't. I believe it's more about the challenge of who can take the heat than the actual money itself

 

[macguy]

It is also common in golf. I think in pool golf or whatever when you add a wager into the mix you experience who plays the best under pressure. Some play great under extreme pressure and some don't. I believe it's more about the challenge of who can take the heat than the actual money itself

What is the source of this pressure or extreme pressure you describe?
Not rally the money. You can spend a few hundred on dinner. The actual money doesn't really make a lot of difference to anyone. Few are playing for life changing amounts of money.

The pressure players feel is something other then and more important to them then the money. It is far more personal and is the same reason many don't play in tournaments. The money doesn't mean anything, the fear is not performing well when it counts, in other words, being labeled a "Dog". Losing face.

A small bet makes it harder to make excuses you were not really trying or don't care they lost. We know it is not true since there was a bet involved. It just makes it more real. Few people would ever just throw away even small amounts money by not really trying.

 

[Island Drive]

He Quit Gambling/Just the Opposite

Mark, here's a perspective of Mark Wilson that caught my attention years ago, and he was the only player I knew at that time that chose to walk away.
Before pool....I grew up playing sports for trophies and medals and the intangibles one gets in those arenas.
During my early college years and later, Mark and Jeff Carter and I and Louie Lemke, Joey Gold, Tommy Spencer and that herd, we were all within a ball of each other give or take, but all of a sudden, Woosh Wilson quit playing/gambling as he'd once done....you'd see em out there playing in tournaments once in awhile.
As a young man I quite never understood why he did that, he had such great skill. Mark realized long ago, money was not his driving factor when it came to pool.
As I aged I understood and realized why he chose his course. When the pure gambling aspect of the game is removed, and all the other stuff comes to surface, that's when the beauty of our game will be realized by the masses. PGA they NEVER talk about the MONEY, tv announcers are not allowed to talk about the Tournament money payouts for golf on live TV.

 

[(((Satori)))]

What is the source of this pressure or extreme pressure you describe?
Not rally the money. You can spend a few hundred on dinner. The actual money doesn't really make a lot of difference to anyone. Few are playing for life changing amounts of money.

The pressure players feel is something other then and more important to them then the money. It is far more personal and is the same reason many don't play in tournaments. The money doesn't mean anything, the fear is not performing well when it counts, in other words, being labeled a "Dog". Losing face.

A small bet makes it harder to make excuses you were not really trying or don't care they lost. We know it is not true since there was a bet involved. It just makes it more real. Few people would ever just throw away even small amounts money by not really trying.

I agree that the pressure you described could certainly be one source of pressure but pressure can come from a variety of sources and they will differ from player to player. The importance of the performance is one other source of pressure. When money is on the line the game is more important and not just because you are worried about what others think.

 

[336Robin]

What I think is the main reason is...

Back in the day it was a measure of manliness but I think its deeper than even that.

You can bang balls around for a long time and when it gets to not meaning so much to you and you aren't getting any higher in skill level because you aren't paying attention to what you are doing....sometimes you need a wake up and shooting with you money hanging in the balance will tune in your inattention.

I was having some trouble with One Pocket once and this fixed my ill attention to detail over a few things I was doing. I don't really enjoy gambling but for this one thing I was able to fix what was wrong in my game because the guy I picked to do it with was a road hustler and he took my money but he knew to keep me on the hook he had to give up his reasoning and advice. I gave him 60 a week for about 300 worth until he moved on. I looked at it as lessons and they were well worth it. I turned the corner in my game and went well beyond the corner I turned.

It is a negative I turned into a positive helping me find my feet before going on with things. I don't recommend just giving money away unless there is a real reason for it because even if its lessons it hurts the same when someone handles you like you aren't even there but it will sure teach you something.

I have been wondering about this for a while, it seems gambling is a major part in pool. I've heard it's common for Filipinos to not even play if there's no money on the table. "Hustling pool" seems to be very common. I've had some offers to play for $$$ when practicing at some places. It seems very prevalent!

I can't find many comparisons, but I don't think betting 50$ on a set is common in table tennis, or tennis itself. Or playing chess, or checkers.

I might be wrong, I don't know much about the sports/games I listed, but I'd bet p) gambling is not as common in them as it is for pool.

Why is it like that? Is it because it's most often played in bars and such?

 

[markgw]

What is the source of this pressure or extreme pressure you describe?
Not rally the money. You can spend a few hundred on dinner. The actual money doesn't really make a lot of difference to anyone. Few are playing for life changing amounts of money.

The pressure players feel is something other then and more important to them then the money. It is far more personal and is the same reason many don't play in tournaments. The money doesn't mean anything, the fear is not performing well when it counts, in other words, being labeled a "Dog". Losing face.

A small bet makes it harder to make excuses you were not really trying or don't care they lost. We know it is not true since there was a bet involved. It just makes it more real. Few people would ever just throw away even small amounts money by not really trying.

Then there's that

 

[iusedtoberich]

Dear OP,

May I suggest a few topics for you to start future new threads on:

1. What is wrong with pool?
2. My idea of how to fix pool
3. Is Bonus Ball back?
4. Why did the IPT fail?
5. Why is there no legalized gambling and odds making on pool?
6. Did Mackey ruin pool?
7. Why is pool not an Olympic sport?
8. What is the point of the WPA?
9. Does Charlie Williams control the ABP?
10. Why does Brunswick Billiards no longer do anything for pool?

 

[SamLambert]

Dear OP,



May I suggest a few topics for you to start future new threads on:



1. What is wrong with pool?

2. My idea of how to fix pool

3. Is Bonus Ball back?

4. Why did the IPT fail?

5. Why is there no legalized gambling and odds making on pool?

6. Did Mackey ruin pool?

7. Why is pool not an Olympic sport?

8. What is the point of the WPA?

9. Does Charlie Williams control the ABP?

10. Why does Brunswick Billiards no longer do anything for pool?

Thanks for the great ideas!

 

[BRussell]

What is the source of this pressure or extreme pressure you describe?
Not rally the money. You can spend a few hundred on dinner. The actual money doesn't really make a lot of difference to anyone. Few are playing for life changing amounts of money.

The pressure players feel is something other then and more important to them then the money. It is far more personal and is the same reason many don't play in tournaments. The money doesn't mean anything, the fear is not performing well when it counts, in other words, being labeled a "Dog". Losing face.

A small bet makes it harder to make excuses you were not really trying or don't care they lost. We know it is not true since there was a bet involved. It just makes it more real. Few people would ever just throw away even small amounts money by not really trying.

Interesting points. Two things: Pool pros and semi-pros famously make very little, and pool leagues and local tourneys are well-known to be played by lower-income people, compared to, say, golf. Maybe winning or losing a couple hundred isn't much to you, but I don't think it's nothing to everyone.

Also, I would think if you were betting a small amount that didn't really mean anything, it would have the opposite effect from what you're saying. It's much easier to lose a few bucks than to lose your pride. See: The overjustification effect.

 

[Banks]

What is the source of this pressure or extreme pressure you describe?
Not rally the money. You can spend a few hundred on dinner. The actual money doesn't really make a lot of difference to anyone. Few are playing for life changing amounts of money.

The pressure players feel is something other then and more important to them then the money. It is far more personal and is the same reason many don't play in tournaments. The money doesn't mean anything, the fear is not performing well when it counts, in other words, being labeled a "Dog". Losing face.

A small bet makes it harder to make excuses you were not really trying or don't care they lost. We know it is not true since there was a bet involved. It just makes it more real. Few people would ever just throw away even small amounts money by not really trying.

Not sure abouts others, but a few hundred will be a lot of dinners for me and mine. Comparing that to not caring about a pocket change game/set doesn't make sense to me. For a few bucks, my brain just doesn't get the same gear. For more, I'm playing differently. Perhaps if it could be a night of $5 games that the opponent can run away with, sure, but if it can go back and forth without digging deep, that's what will probably happen. Either that or catch a funsy gear.

I joke with my friends..

"If you want to play for $5, we can do an apa race and I'll give you a one skill level spot. If you want to play for $10, I'll give you two!"

:thumbup:

 

[336Robin]

Positive Effects of Pressure

Not sure abouts others, but a few hundred will be a lot of dinners for me and mine. Comparing that to not caring about a pocket change game/set doesn't make sense to me. For a few bucks, my brain just doesn't get the same gear. For more, I'm playing differently. Perhaps if it could be a night of $5 games that the opponent can run away with, sure, but if it can go back and forth without digging deep, that's what will probably happen. Either that or catch a funsy gear.

I joke with my friends..

"If you want to play for $5, we can do an apa race and I'll give you a one skill level spot. If you want to play for $10, I'll give you two!"

:thumbup:

A lot of people don't understand how focus is the main ingredient but it is.

 

[Runner]

Still the best...

Mano e Mano... two guys going head to head. That will always exist.

Bragging rights. Having a rep for playing well.

"Money won is twice as sweet as money earned"

"Even if you beat me, I'm still the best"

Poker, cards, two on two B-ball, chess... you can find a money game on any of those.

Golf? I've seen guys on the practice green playing $100 a putt... and 18 holes?.. I've heard about guys losing big $$ or cars.

You're betting on your own skill -vs- a spin of the wheel or a pull of the arm... tilting the odds in your favor with your skill level.

 

[ceebee]

We had a great gambling base here in Tulsa, OK at the Billiard Palace. They came from far & wide to gamble here.

Then the Casino came in & the players left for easier money.

Very soon, they lost their cues, their cars, their wife & their house. They didn't come back to playing Pool either, they had nothing left.

 

[markgw]

What is the source of this pressure or extreme pressure you describe?
Not rally the money. You can spend a few hundred on dinner. The actual money doesn't really make a lot of difference to anyone. Few are playing for life changing amounts of money.

The pressure players feel is something other then and more important to them then the money. It is far more personal and is the same reason many don't play in tournaments. The money doesn't mean anything, the fear is not performing well when it counts, in other words, being labeled a "Dog". Losing face.

A small bet makes it harder to make excuses you were not really trying or don't care they lost. We know it is not true since there was a bet involved. It just makes it more real. Few people would ever just throw away even small amounts money by not really trying.

Ok so let me see if I understand. Say you match up with someone in a big set for like say $5000. Do you play better for $5? Some choke on a shot for $5000 that they could make easily for $5. I believe the money does effect some players more than others. The guy that holds it together the most and can keep his fundamentals in order is probably gonna win.

 

[macguy]

Ok so let me see if I understand. Say you match up with someone in a big set for like say $5000. Do you play better for $5? Some choke on a shot for $5000 that they could make easily for $5. I believe the money does effect some players more than others. The guy that holds it together the most and can keep his fundamentals in order is probably gonna win.

I would assume someone playing for $5000. is a $5000. player and has a bankroll that can support that kind of play. Also a person with big bankrolls who gambles it are also not playing for the money. It is all relative. You are projecting what you may do for a $5000. bet, not a high roller who it may mean very little to.