Why women cant play pool. (Perception)

5

5aheadforpinks

Nit Picker
Silver Member
This is a discussion on the different perceptions people have of whats going on.

I should say, "why women cant play pool as well as men", but... I dont think we need to be sexist here, women cant play as good as eunics or multigendered people either. Here is why... (ok, ok, I'm JK ladies)

Women have a different perspective of reality, they cannot percieve the table or the balls as they are. In other words they dont see the "now". They are usually thinking about what COULD happen OR what HAS happened.
They also have a much harder time getting "In the zone". Women are constantly thinking, second guessing themselves, and looking for others approval. All of these deny them of "zoning in".

How many of you posters can get in the "zone"; in which you just have to stare at the object ball, never looking at the cue ball (besides from your peripheral vision); even when your setting up, and you dont have to KNOW anything you just have to go through the motions?
For me its like my peripheral vision expands to the edges of the table, so no matter what Im looking at on the table, I see all of the table. This allows me to fully understand the physics of a shot without thinking about anything.

Anyway, this post isnt just about bashing women (just a catchy title). I would be interested to know how everyone else here sees, or perceives the table when in dead stroke; do any of you notice a difference from when you start warming up, to the time your in dead stroke?.
I am the SOFA KING we Tod id man.
 
Is this why?

You are betting your girlfriend with your Handle? because
she can not play Pool as well as you? .... lol

Boy, you are in for it now ...
 
oh yeah...it's time
 

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5aheadforpinks said:
This allows me to fully understand the physics of a shot without thinking about anything.
Click to expand...

Please explain to me how seeing the full table helps you to "fully understand the physics of a shot"! I would venture to guess that the vast majority of pool players barely understand very basic physics, much less the physics going on in any given shot.
 
Karren Corr won a tournament last month that was comprised of mostly men. Ms. Corr dispatched Danny Basavich. Last time I checked Danny was a man, I guess it was the thick facial hair that led me to this conclusion.

The only clear advantage that men have in sports are when strength and endurance are a factor. Neither of these things play a role in pool.

It is a little known fact that women are better marksmen than men. One of the greatest shooters ever was Annie Oakley.

I do agree that women are more deliberate at the table but I do not believe that men have a natural edge.

I would like to see you and sweet marissa play a race to 11 for 1000 dollars. Maybe someone could pitch this idea to a promoter. :D
 
Here is the difference I could not put in words before.
The physics is the simplist part of pool.
Your on a flat hard surface; all the balls are the same size, weight, deminsion (or close enough). There is a limit on the english you can use (being the phisical dimension of the cueball + throw/deflection.) The balls are confined to the surface area between the rails of the table + the give in the rubber (jump shots do not defy this fact).
Apply a little elementry Newton... an object in motion tends to stay in motion... blah blah (I dont have the time to look for quotes; google: Sir Isaac Newton). What this means is the balls will react in a spicific and predictable way. The "Natural" path is actually the unadulterated physical reaction of an action (i.e. the angle the ball will deflect off another ball with no english and no friction).
Angle in = angle out +- speed/spin. I dont look at anything but the path of the cueball for kick shots (I dont measure or read diamonds).
Everything is confined and limited; and its not that big of a playing area that we have to guess about something we cannot see.
AND to top it all off... ITS STATIONARY! The balls are not rolling around aimlessly, you make them move. You create your future.

The only things that are not known are:
1. Dirt (cloth or balls)
2. Old rubber (and sometimes how tight the felt is pulled on the rails)
3. Felt (the friction of the felt is purely feel, you cannot have a "felt friction system") Sorry guys I know thats the next system you were going to disect.
4. Cue (the cue must be an extension of your body, and also a very precise instrument)

Now it comes down to: How you apply force to an object while controlling its friction on the felt to go where you wish it would. You must control both the friction of the cue ball and the friction of the OB from both the felt and the contact point.
Now its about percieving the easiest way to accomplish your tasks, which means playing for the correct angles to make your work as easy as possible.

My point is the only thing we are actually controlling is the friction. Everything else is predetermined (line of sight, how the ball bounces, ect.).

Now to get back on topic... someone was posting how Rodney Morris just gets a far off look in his eyes, and effortlessly glides from shot to shot in a rythm; just as God and physics intended. I dont see Allison Fisher or any of the other girls effortlessly pocket extreame shots. Im not saying they cant or dont EVER do this, but under the pressure of cameras, I bet they are thinking more about thier asses hanging out, and their mascara being smeared. Except for the hideously grotesque females..... nevermind, they are probably more self concious than their conterparts (and thats why they arent on TV as much).
But do you think Danny B. gives two rats about his appearence when hes playing pool? (No offense here Danny, Im just trying to make a point; your still my fav. pool player of all time.)
 
5aheadforpinks said:
Women have a different perspective of reality, they cannot percieve the table or the balls as they are. In other words they dont see the "now". They are usually thinking about what COULD happen OR what HAS happened.
They also have a much harder time getting "In the zone". Women are constantly thinking, second guessing themselves, and looking for others approval. All of these deny them of "zoning in".
Click to expand...

What kind of women are you hanging around with? Are they strong, confident women??? Not everyone is going to fit into that stereotypical description (I don't.) I know plenty of men that have no clue on how to get "into the zone". Some people can, some people can't. You're description of women's thinking is hilarious. And btw... I'm "in the moment" as I am typing this
- rotflmao!!!

As far as playing, I know a lot of women that can hold their own against the men in my area. Miyuki Sakai comes to mind, Ga Young Kim, Sarah Ellerby, etc. Two of those players live in my area, the other one is around here an aweful lot. I understand that as far as skill goes, they are the exceptions, not the rule. I was told a long time ago that if you're winning all the time, then you are playing the wrong people. I think that is the key to improving - play the better players and try to learn from your experiences.

Having said that - I will now drift back out of the now and return to being a clueless,constantly thinking, second guessing myself, and looking for others approval, sex object. rotflmao!!!!!

A VIDEO EXAMPLE OF MEN'S INTELLIGENCE
 
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5aheadforpinks said:
This is a discussion on the different perceptions people have of whats going on.

I,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Women have a different perspective of reality, they cannot percieve the table or the balls as they are. In other words they dont see the "now". They are usually thinking about what COULD happen OR what HAS happened.
They also have a much harder time getting "In the zone". Women are constantly thinking, second guessing themselves, and looking for others approval. All of these deny them of "zoning in".

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I am the SOFA KING we Tod id man.
Click to expand...


i'm neither here nor there on this, but it seems to me you're taking too many liberties in explaining what is going on in a woman's head. i shirk from the thought,,,it's like using a flashlight in outer space.
 
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straybullet said:
Miyuki Sakai comes to mind...
Click to expand...
First time I've heard of Miyuki Sakai. How long has she been in the US, and where in Japan is she from?
 
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I have at one time or another experienced all that you say you do when you address a table, see the balls, shoot long hard shots with inside like they are one foot straight in hangers. I know what it is like to have that far off, glassy look while you play and just not miss, even more so as of late. What you are saying is far to generalized to even be important, or at least noteworthy.

The only thing I feel that I lack that may be related to my gender is that I do not have as much of a killer instinct, win at all costs attitude as of yet. I talked to Shawn once about playing your friends in matches. I was having trouble not feeling bad for someone when they weren't playing their best, because they were my friend. As their friend, I want them to do well, beat me with their best if it were going to be that I was going to lose. I didnt like winning when it was handed to me from them. He told me that you play to make them never want to play again, to make them want to quit for your beating them so badly. Still having troubles with this, but working on it, not exactly like he advises.
 
5aheadforpinks said:
...The physics is the simplist part of pool...
Click to expand...

You're using physics principles to describe what is happening after your shot not using phyics in your shot. I guarantee that you're not doing any velocity, momentum, elasticity, friction, or vector analysis calculations to make any shot. The idea of angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection is light bouncing off a flat reflective surface, not a pool ball bouncing off the rail. There are times when this is close enough but you're not using physics to know how it's going to change when you hit the shot at different speeds or with a spinning cueball.

If on the other hand you do look at the table and think to yourself, "if I hit the cueball at 10 m/s with an angular velocity of 3000 rad/sec at 46 degrees from verticle and then take into account the elasticity of the balls and do the vector calculations then my bad. You're a genius with the most highly advance and most finely tuned motor skills on the planet. Otherwise, you're like the rest of us and your brain and muscle memory know how the balls and rails are going to react due to shooting shots thousands of times and observing the outcome.
 
The way I see it...men have a slight advantage only because they have been playing with a set of balls and a stick since birth...but that can be a disadvantage as well, cause ya'll tend to think it's all just the set of balls and the stick...all the time! :p

Seriously though. As a rule, I really rather prefer playing men, both in pool and in poker. We are, by most mens' admission, an unknown factor. Women are difficult to read, let alone understand. That can make us dangerous. I don't own enough digits on either hand or feet to count the number of men who have taken me for granted on the felt. I may not always win, but you're gonna work your ever-lovin' ass off for the game!! It is for that very reason that I have garnered the respect of many men locally for my ability. I'm no superstar...but I guarantee, I am going to make it fun...win or lose!

So don't tell me I can't play pool. In the future, you might try checking your cajones at the door! :rolleyes:

Lisa
 
5aheadforpinks said:
This is a discussion on the different perceptions people have of whats going on.

I should say, "why women cant play pool as well as men", but... I dont think we need to be sexist here, women cant play as good as eunics or multigendered people either. Here is why... (ok, ok, I'm JK ladies)

Women have a different perspective of reality, they cannot percieve the table or the balls as they are. In other words they dont see the "now". They are usually thinking about what COULD happen OR what HAS happened.
They also have a much harder time getting "In the zone". Women are constantly thinking, second guessing themselves, and looking for others approval. All of these deny them of "zoning in".

How many of you posters can get in the "zone"; in which you just have to stare at the object ball, never looking at the cue ball (besides from your peripheral vision); even when your setting up, and you dont have to KNOW anything you just have to go through the motions?
For me its like my peripheral vision expands to the edges of the table, so no matter what Im looking at on the table, I see all of the table. This allows me to fully understand the physics of a shot without thinking about anything.

Anyway, this post isnt just about bashing women (just a catchy title). I would be interested to know how everyone else here sees, or perceives the table when in dead stroke; do any of you notice a difference from when you start warming up, to the time your in dead stroke?.
I am the SOFA KING we Tod id man.
Click to expand...


[slaps 'pinks' hand with a ruler] "ABSOLUTE RUBBISH laddie! Now get on with your work!
 
There is one interesting physiological difference between the sexes that may be applicable to pool. Women and men differ in their ability to rotate 3-dimensional objects in their head, with men having an advantage. That could theoretically be a problem in picturing what is going to happen on a shot.
 
Pool is the great equalizer: old/young, fat/thin, rich/poor, male/female, ethnicity, height; conceivably we're all equal when it comes to pool potential.

While I enjoyed your sketch of women's thoughts, I think our problem is social. We're brought up to be nice girls who play nice and care for others' feelings. We don't want to hurt others and we are not instilled with that immediate, competitive killing thrill.

Women are cruel, creative, and ruthless. And we may actually play best when angry or confrontational. But we often need a reason first- we're not immediately those things over a fair, nice game.

Other women: do you agree with me that it's easier to compete against men than it is against other women? I mean, not only does "she" play so damned slowly, but we also have a distracting sense of how "she" feels?
 
I had a conversation w/Harvey Mason on the subject many years ago. There is a physical difference. If it takes a male 60 percent of his power to draw the cue 14 feet and two rails, it may take a woman or weaker player 75 percent. This would decrease accuracy and fatigue in the long run could be a factor.


So even on the simpler shots just imagine if every shot you took you needed to use 20 percent more strength.
 
I think its a simple answer. I think most of you guys hit the spot with upbringing and social standards but this game is one of the great equalizer challenges out there. It has a lot to do with the fact that men were around this game a lot longer AND in FAR greater numbers than women were. I believe the history of women's billiards is a lot shorter and naturally, the competition would not be as large nor as challenging. Therefore, it logical to assume that the evolution of this sport in the female side is still in its growing stages whereas with men, it has had a lot longer time to mature. Give it some time and in a few years or however long it takes for the female competition to mature, and ask this question again.

And the whole example of the guy and girl needing strength to draw a ball 14 feet and 2 rails is a little redundant seeing very few times anyone would EVER need to do something like that to get shape, unless you're in a trick shot exhibition. The endurance and strength between a man a woman really depends on the specific individual in question and shouldn't be generalized for the entire sex.
 
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