Why is it that average players always feel like they should instruct you.

[bud green]

Billiard players are easily the worst at this. Every geezer with a 30 year old cue and a subscription to Popular Mechanics wants to tell you his system or tell you "a little more english next time"., "Should of gone five rails..."

Who cares if they can't stroke a ball at all, lose to nine ballers who learned the game last week, average 0.300.

I've found that asking shitty players to gamble almost always shuts them up. Especially 3-C players. I hardly ever play for $$ but something about clowns who can't play and never even come close to beating me trying to act like they know more about the game than me just irks me.

 

[sixpack]

Before you flip out AZ don't get me wrong I'll learn something from anyone no matter what their speed is, I've always enjoyed a productive conversation. Its just that I don't get the player that I beat for 3 or 4 hours straight but still insists on critiquing my game and advising me on each shot while cursing out each and every mistake they make. Not just good advice its simple no brainer novice advice....I don't need a coach for every shot.

Is this some Y2K half assed attempt at sharking?

You know the type...Mr. Excuse Maker. For some reason the pool world is full of people that go above and beyond friendly advice. They want to instruct your every move but then simply can't play the game well themselves. I'm no stud myself but I'm at least tactful and respectful of my opponent.

Anyway Here's to you Mr. Excuse Maker Instructor Guy. Teaching the world at any given drunken moment. Thanks for everything.

Back in the days when I hustled, I would take advantage of this.

I had a girl I went with and she played good, better than most guys you find in bars. We would play partners and she would play good, I would play bad. Then INVARIABLY one guy on the other team would start trying to teach her. Even though she plays WAY better than he does.

I would watch this and act a little teensy bit jealous. Wait until he thinks he's set the hook and then hit him with a drunken "WHADDARYOU TELLING HER HOW TO PLAY FOR, SHE PLAYS BETTER THAN YOU, IN FACT...I THINK I PLAY BETTER THAN YOU!"

To which he would always say "BET!" and it was on. The more nervous I acted the more he wanted to play for. It wasn't uncommon to get $100 last pocket 8-ball games this way. Keep in mind these guys were helpless slugs that deserved all they got (lost) for trying to steal my girl

Some of you are going to call me a dirty hustler...and the rest of you will be trying this tomorrow night

Cheers,
RC

 

[Squishy]

You utter bastard!

Yeah, I'll probably try this sometime

 

[trustyrusty]

Billiard players are easily the worst at this. Every geezer with a 30 year old cue and a subscription to Popular Mechanics wants to tell you his system or tell you "a little more english next time"., "Should of gone five rails...".

You obviously haven't spent much time at a (golf) driving range. I'll have guys come over and watch me hit driver (the sound catches their attn.), and ooh and ahh a bit, and next thing ya know...."you know, you have a very flat swing; you should be able to gain a few yards if you'd go a bit more upright." This while I'm pounding them out there at least 50 yards farther, and WAY straighter than they ever could. I've said to a couple, that my swingspeed on a launch monitor is in the 120's, and at my home course driver is too much club on most of the par 4s as it is....I don't know if I could use the extra yardage

BTW, if you think the "average" pool player is bad...you should see what is considered the "average" golfer.

 

[SCCues]

Most of the people who are always trying to show you something are trying to improve their image in pool because of a lack of playing ability.

 

[WesleyW]

I think that there are a couple of things going on here. First a joke:
Those who can do.
Those who can't, teach.
Those who can't teach, teach teachers.

I am a Professor (really) and the joke is not true. Only a few people who are really good at what they do can also teach well. There are far more teachers who can do something but cannot teach well.

Good teaching is about sharing. Good teachers want to show others new and exciting things for them to try. Good teachers revel in watching you grow, that is why they teach. It is a profession unto itself.

The guy with all the advice may be a budding teacher, he may be a jerk. It is true that some people have the ability to teach a skill but do not have excellent (pro) abilities in the use of that skill. These would be people who study everything, instead of playing, and they know about all of the nuances. Jack Kohler for instance.

So when I meet the guy with all the advise I first try to figure out if he is sharing or if its ego. If its ego I ignore but you can learn good things in the strangest places.

We are all ignorant ? we are just ignorant about different things.

Here is a sign from the department where I went to graduate school. It took us (the grad students) years to figure out this key to knowledge.

The ability to withstand ambiguity is a sign of creativity.

Well said. Why do professional sportsmen have coaches? Should the coaches always be a better player than the sportsmen himself? Ofcourse not! Teaching is about knowing techniques. But the ability to use those techniques is someting else.

 

[Scott Lee]

Good teaching is about sharing. Good teachers want to show others new and exciting things for them to try. Good teachers revel in watching you grow, that is why they teach. It is a profession unto itself.

Joe...Great information, and definitely true!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[Rod]

Funny, got to be a shark move. But I learned from a master that it's more effective and devious to simply COMPLIMENT the opponent. Just say something like: "I really like the way you stay down and finish on those kinds of shots." They'll start thinking themselves right out of the zone, lol.

Not that I would ever do that. But when it was done to me on the tennis court, I tell ya, my topspin backhand started finding the net in a hurry.

Actually this usually works very well. Seldom have I used it but it works. Last guy, only because of his constant jabbering (not coaching me) I told him what a straight shooter he was. You'd be amazed how many more balls rattled or missed the pocket. LOL

Two conditions exist. If your a good player usually no one is stupid enough to offer advice.

If your a good player just ask them to gamble. Why not take their money if you have to listen to their BS.

Rod

 

[Bishop]

Back in the days when I hustled, I would take advantage of this.

I had a girl I went with and she played good, better than most guys you find in bars. We would play partners and she would play good, I would play bad. Then INVARIABLY one guy on the other team would start trying to teach her. Even though she plays WAY better than he does.

I would watch this and act a little teensy bit jealous. Wait until he thinks he's set the hook and then hit him with a drunken "WHADDARYOU TELLING HER HOW TO PLAY FOR, SHE PLAYS BETTER THAN YOU, IN FACT...I THINK I PLAY BETTER THAN YOU!"

To which he would always say "BET!" and it was on. The more nervous I acted the more he wanted to play for. It wasn't uncommon to get $100 last pocket 8-ball games this way. Keep in mind these guys were helpless slugs that deserved all they got (lost) for trying to steal my girl

Some of you are going to call me a dirty hustler...and the rest of you will be trying this tomorrow night

Cheers,
RC

Hahahaha great post.

There is a difference in someone wanting to share knowledge and be helpful from someone thats just annoying as hell and even more arrogant to boot.

 

[gpeezy]

You will learn from every pool player

I've learned things from people I was spotting the 6 8 and the breaks.I will listen to what ever anyone wants to say about the game.You cn take your own good and bad.People will ask me why i do something,if i didn't know I was doing it,I just got some help.Some of the best things I have been told came from people I could beat.

 

[Ken_4fun]

Well count me as one of them....

Well I really have to bite my tongue alot as I watch players play who could use a little help.

No, I am no champion, no Im not the best in my town, but I love pool and I love improving. I am 43 years old and have been playing (omg can I say it) for 22 years or so.

But I have learned a few things, I ask as non threating as possible, would you like me to show you a couple things that might help? If their response is no, I move along.

If they say "Sure", I preface by saying, Im no expert, but I have been told/ or taught this.

My game has improved, not only from practice but from getting advice, and I take it from almost anyone, secondly I have learned that I ask, ask, ask.

But take it from me, It isnt ego for me, I enjoy seeing people improve and being from the Midwest, where if you get a wrong number you still talk to them for 10 minutes or so, its tough not trying to help.

Just my thoughts....

Ken

 

[JoeW]

Ken said, "being from the Midwest, where if you get a wrong number you still talk to them for 10 minutes or so, its tough not trying to help."

Yep, and lots of city folk don't understand that. Course its all in how its done.

If your in the country and you meet a fool, you probably brought him with you -- I like that one.

 

[Pushout]

I'm quickly reminded of two situations. 1. After playing safe on the 7 in a bar table tournament, this guy asks why I didn't kick at the 7. I tell him, because it's the wrong shot. He proceeds to tell and show me why I should have kicked at it. He made it the second or third time.
2. Practicing in the local room one Sunday night, a young guy with his gf a few tables away. Playing 8 ball and sending the cue ball off the table every time he breaks. After about a half hour of watching this, I go over and offer to show him how to stop jumping the cue ball off the table. With a straight face he tells me, "I know how, I just don't want to." I returned to my table. Pool is such an ego trip for some people.

 

[Matt90]

Sometimes you can....

Learn from an idiot I play at a huge room and we do have
alot of good players and some i would like to buy for what they
are worth and sell for what they think.....that was mean God
forgive me .It does seem that everyone wants to help but few
really can .I am very selective about who I listen to .I have been
in NA (12 step recovery) for 17 years and we have a saying .
Take what you need and leave the rest !!!

 

[jay helfert]

My observation is that every guy wants to automatically coach a woman playing alone. They think it is their solemn duty to help her. The funniest one I remember is when Robin was practicing for a Sunday tournament at Hard Times years ago. Some goof ball who was maybe a B player at best walks over to her and tries to "fix" her stance. She looks at this idiot and is smiling and listening patiently. I'm sitting nearby getting a kick out of this whole scenario.

Robin lets him rap on for a few minutes, says thank you and gets right back down in her normal stance. The goof has a puzzled look on his face (priceless) like "why wasn't she paying attention to all my sound advice". I wanted to tell him that she could spot him the 7,8 and 9 and bomb him but I refrained. He finally walked away with a "some people are hopeless" look on his face.

Do you know Efren used to sit and watch bangers hit balls? He would just watch the way the balls interacted and sometimes learn something that way, kind of by accident.

 

[third_i]

One thing I normally do is offer or ask permission for any input on shots or shot selection(after the game). If you're nice and they know that you know what you're doing they will listen. I've done this for guys that I've beaten in tournaments. It's a much better time talking to someone and helping them out(and possibly making a friend) instead of sitting, watching and waiting to play your next match. Normally, they really do appreciate the help.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... Do you know Efren used to sit and watch bangers hit balls? He would just watch the way the balls interacted and sometimes learn something that way, kind of by accident.

I think Sayginer has said he does the same thing. If you just watch pretty good players all the time, you will just see the standard shots missed or made in the standard ways.

 

[DaveK]

You obviously haven't spent much time at a (golf) driving range.

I was about to mention the plethora of golf tips donated by people who don't have a swing.

I'll have guys come over and watch me hit driver (the sound catches their attn.), and ooh and ahh a bit, and next thing ya know...."you know, you have a very flat swing; you should be able to gain a few yards if you'd go a bit more upright." This while I'm pounding them out there at least 50 yards farther, and WAY straighter than they ever could. I've said to a couple, that my swingspeed on a launch monitor is in the 120's, and at my home course driver is too much club on most of the par 4s as it is....I don't know if I could use the extra yardage

Ah yes, I see you that are a golfer.

Dave