Why would you want a spot?

CaptainJR

CaptainJR

Shiver me timbers.
Silver Member
A lot of talk about spots on here lately so here is what I think.

You've all seen a couple of my posts by now and know that I've played a lot of pool. But I’m wondering if I’m missing out on something here.

I can only think of 2 or 3 players in S. Central Pa. that would spot me anything. I’ve never ask for a spot from anyone. I think this has been good for me up to this point, in that I’ve never had a spot help me out. Anytime I’ve won, I did it on my own, beat the guy, no spot, I beat him. Not that I’m a great player, but I can play even up with many very good players in the area. Certainly only a couple would even consider giving me a spot.

However, I do lose a lot. Many close matches. I win sometimes also, but I lose more than I win. So here is the problem. I’m to proud to ask for a spot and if a player isn’t at least almost good enough to give me one, than I’m not much interested in playing them. Am I a gluten for punishment? I guess you could put it that way.

That’s how I got good, paying the money to the better players.

If you want cheaper lessons we can play for less, but don’t be asking me to give you anything.

JR
 
But how many pool gamblers even live in S. Central PA? Not too many. If you go to Eastern PA and have any desire to gamble much, you might be quick to change your thoughts on being spotted.
 
CaptainJR said:
However, I do lose a lot. Many close matches. I win sometimes also, but I lose more than I win. So here is the problem. I’m to proud to ask for a spot and if a player isn’t at least almost good enough to give me one, than I’m not much interested in playing them. Am I a gluten for punishment? I guess you could put it that way.
JR
Click to expand...


You said that you lose a lot, more than you win. Maybe you've underestimated the play of your competition and overestimated your own. I think ego comes into play for everyone to a degree. But a real money player loses the ego part and always downplays his abilities, even if he's the best player in the next 5 counties. If you want the cash, lose the ego for a few weeks just to test your salesmanship skills and start asking for the 5. You can always negotiate up from there and should still have the winner. Ask everyone, even your priest.
 
You say you only like to play better players, who maybe should give you a spot?

I'd guess that's why you're losing.

It could be that their ability just tips the balance of a close game in their favour, or it's possible they may keep you close as a means to keep you gambling.
Obviously I don't know the situation and have never seen you play, so I can't really do more than suggest possibilities.


Perhaps through playing better players, you've developed a skill for keeing your head in a game, but haven't had such an opportunity to develop a knack for taking control and securing a win?

If so, why not play more with people of similar (or lesser) ability, and make it your goal to dominate them?

So long as you set high targets for yourself, be realistic about the success you expect, and work hard, I think you can improve parts of your game whoever you play.
 
CaptainJR said:
A lot of talk about spots on here lately so here is what I think.

You've all seen a couple of my posts by now and know that I've played a lot of pool. But I’m wondering if I’m missing out on something here.

I can only think of 2 or 3 players in S. Central Pa. that would spot me anything. I’ve never ask for a spot from anyone. I think this has been good for me up to this point, in that I’ve never had a spot help me out. Anytime I’ve won, I did it on my own, beat the guy, no spot, I beat him. Not that I’m a great player, but I can play even up with many very good players in the area. Certainly only a couple would even consider giving me a spot.

However, I do lose a lot. Many close matches. I win sometimes also, but I lose more than I win. So here is the problem. I’m to proud to ask for a spot and if a player isn’t at least almost good enough to give me one, than I’m not much interested in playing them. Am I a gluten for punishment? I guess you could put it that way.

That’s how I got good, paying the money to the better players.

If you want cheaper lessons we can play for less, but don’t be asking me to give you anything.

JR
Click to expand...

Captain, we are from different schools of thought here. I either give or take a spot in most games of pool I play, and that's whether I'm gambling or not.
I never bet big, so all my games are more for the thrill of it than for the money.

I remember I used to play practice matches against a friend (with whom I do not gamble) who is a strong open player and we played without a spot. I reckoned he should have beat me by an average of about 11 - 7. The sets, on average, were much closer than that, more like 11 - 9, and I started to wonder whether this guy was giving me his best game. So I asked him for the eight, and he complied. Wouldn't you know it, he was still beating me about 11 - 9 on average. So I asked him for the seven, and that, it turns out, is the fairest game between us. Now we each win about half the sets. Now, I get his best game, and he freely admits than until he started spotting me, he wasn't giving me his best game, for the plain and obvious reason that he didn't need to do so to win.

I know there are more than a few exceptions, but most players play just well enough to win. If you play a better player and you want their best game, ask for a spot. It's a much better learning expereince for you and will help the stronger player to reach their highest level.

As for spots in big gambling matches, that's another subject entirely, one which I will not address.
 
CaptainJR said:
A lot of talk about spots on here lately so here is what I think.

You've all seen a couple of my posts by now and know that I've played a lot of pool. But I’m wondering if I’m missing out on something here.

I can only think of 2 or 3 players in S. Central Pa. that would spot me anything. I’ve never ask for a spot from anyone. I think this has been good for me up to this point, in that I’ve never had a spot help me out. Anytime I’ve won, I did it on my own, beat the guy, no spot, I beat him. Not that I’m a great player, but I can play even up with many very good players in the area. Certainly only a couple would even consider giving me a spot.

However, I do lose a lot. Many close matches. I win sometimes also, but I lose more than I win. So here is the problem. I’m to proud to ask for a spot and if a player isn’t at least almost good enough to give me one, than I’m not much interested in playing them. Am I a gluten for punishment? I guess you could put it that way.

That’s how I got good, paying the money to the better players.

If you want cheaper lessons we can play for less, but don’t be asking me to give you anything.

JR
Click to expand...
JR Calvert?
 
If you're playing a better player, there are two choices:

-if you want to practise your performance: getting the best game from you, play him/her even. Then you know that you need to step up a gear to beat him/her. And, that's the case in non-handicapped tournaments.
-if you want to gamble, ask for a spot which should give an equal chance for both to win and collect the money.

If you want to gamble and play even, you'll end up poor.

As the first choice goes, I've done it over the years. Playing better players without any weight, and gradually I become more skilled and know how to beat my better opponent. Nowadays, there are hardly any players around you would give me weight, instead I have to give weight...
 
BackPocket9Ball said:
JR Calvert is in his 30s (not the guy in the picture) and lives outside Pittsburgh (not S. Central PA).
Click to expand...

I know JR Calvert personally and that is not JR in the picture.
 
Thank you all for the responses. This was just sort of thinking out load here. I think more so than a question it was something I just wanted to discuss. So I think I'll respond to your responses.

BackPocktet9Ball
You are correct, there aren't as many pool gamblers around here as there seems to be in some other areas. But, there are enough. I don't have to go to Phili to play a great player. I play Dick Magaro now and again, if your from Pa. you should certainly know the name and he's not afraid to play anyone. I learn something every time he kicks my butt. One of the last times we played after he beat me 6-2, he offered me a 3 game spot. I didn't have time to play anymore, but I said, 'Thank you, but when I finally beat you, it will be without a spot.' He laughed.


drivermaker, Pin, sjm and mjantti
I said I lose, but I didn't mention that I don't lose much money. I'm not a big gambler although I do like play for a little something just to keep everyone a least a little on there toes. Race to 5 or 6 for $20 or $30. A little bit of a question here is, are they letting me get close just to keep me coming back? Maybe, maybe that's why I win sometimes. But I do think playing the better players keeps me trying hard. I know that there are numerous players around that won't play me without a spot, because they have heard me say again and again, 'I don't ask for a spot, I don't give a spot'. Maybe it would be just as helpful and keep me just as sharp if I started giving a spot to some of these guys. Might as well give them a shot at that little bit of $ I give away. LOL One thing I just thought of is, I think it would make a big difference on whether I accepted a spot if I played for an amount of $ that meant more. If I play a guy (no offence meant to the gals, just there are no gals around here that will play me) and lose 3 outa 5 sets I'm only down an insignificant amount of $. That is not likely to change though, guess I'm not a gambler. In other words, I play to win. If I've won while getting a spot, then I didn't really win.


thebigdog
hmmm, are you asking me if my last name is 'Calvert'? No, John Roberts (CaptJR)

while typing this poste I think I hit on something I can work on. That would be getting rid of the second half of the statement 'I don't ask for a spot, I don't give a spot' If I start being willing to give a spot then I can play some other player and still feel good about the outcome knowing that I didn't just win, I won while giving a spot.

Thank again
JR
 
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I've never heard of Dick Magaro, and I have been through many of PA's rooms. The best player I know of in that area is Nick Mannino (I think he's from Shippensburg, but I could be mistaken). There are also a couple of good players in Altoona, but that's not really south central PA. I have never really run across any strong players from Harrisburg, although there could be a several.
 
CaptainJR said:
A lot of talk about spots on here lately so here is what I think.

You've all seen a couple of my posts by now and know that I've played a lot of pool. But I’m wondering if I’m missing out on something here.

However, I do lose a lot. Many close matches. I win sometimes also, but I lose more than I win. So here is the problem. I’m to proud to ask for a spot and if a player isn’t at least almost good enough to give me one, than I’m not much interested in playing them. Am I a gluten for punishment? I guess you could put it that way.

That’s how I got good, paying the money to the better players.

If you want cheaper lessons we can play for less, but don’t be asking me to give you anything.

JR
Click to expand...

Why play someone you know you are going to pay money to? Are you rich or something? Maybe you should put me in your will. :rolleyes:

Laura
 
Bluewolf said:
Why play someone you know you are going to pay money to? Are you rich or something? Maybe you should put me in your will. :rolleyes:

Laura
Click to expand...


Laura,

You would not play Allison or Efren some $20 sets just for the experience and
chance to learn from playing them??
 
Bluewolf said:
Why play someone you know you are going to pay money to? Are you rich or something? Maybe you should put me in your will. :rolleyes:

Laura
Click to expand...
Because it improves your game.
Just make sure it doesn't cost you a lot.
 
frankncali said:
Laura,

You would not play Allison or Efren some $20 sets just for the experience and
chance to learn from playing them??
Click to expand...


I'd pay more than $20, but I would also be very observant. Hell, maybe I wouldn't. I might just be awe struck and not see a thing. There are a lot of guys in pool rooms across the nation that lose $20-30 sets on a regular basis and that's what feeds the one's higher up on the food chain. The only thing the the loser's are learning is that they need to buy some cold cream to rub on their ass to soften the big callous being developed from dragging their wallet in and out of their back pocket so often.
 
Joseph Cues said:
Because it improves your game.
Just make sure it doesn't cost you a lot.
Click to expand...

When u get a spot when u playing for the cash and u can win that makes the guy play harder and u smarter.I'll ask for a spot if the game is not going my way..Nothing crazy but fair..I don't have money to burn.But there is money to earn..If the other play gives it then u should take it ..The other day i was jokein with a guy in my room to give up the 5 and the breaks and i'll play him for 20 a game 3 hrs later he was down 300 .Now he should know he can't give me that game .but a fool and his money soon part. And thay did ..Just cause he broke even witha a road player.He felt he could win .NOPE NOT Me .
And yes i did rob him But it was all fun at first when it got real.and i don't feel bad at all.So get a spot if need one to win... ;)
 
I've been playing the same guy here in my town for almost a year now and he refuses to take a spot from me. We play races to 7 for 20 bucks and in the year that we've been playing, he's won maybe 5 sets. Only once did I talk him into taking a spot and it's because I told him I wouldn't play anymore if he didn't take it. We started off even, then to the 8, then the 7, then the 6, then the 5, and then back and forth from the 4 to the 5. We played like that for 2 days then he said he couldn't take it anymore, so now we play even again. I'm not complaining at all because with my income, those $20 sets buy me lotsa Big Macs. :D However, in the past, when I was still learning the basics about the game, I wasn't afraid to ask for a spot. I knew that in the very near future, those same guys would be asking me for a spot, and that's exactly what happened. Learning to play with a spot or giving up a spot is very different than playing even. All of those "Hero" shots get thrown out the window. Safeties seem to be the best shot at those particular times. LOL. Anyway, just thought I'd share a little experience with those that care to read what I've got to say.
 
frankncali said:
Laura,

You would not play Allison or Efren some $20 sets just for the experience and
chance to learn from playing them??
Click to expand...

Nope. I would play someone slightly better, not somone THAT much better. If I play someone only slightly better, I still have a chance to win if I play smart and why would I play several sets against someone I have no prayer against, when I could pay 45, play in a tournament against some slightly better, some lots better, but no Allison Fisher, and I still get to play 2 sets, even if I do not win. Then, if I do draw a weaker player and win a match, I get 3 matches for the same money and experience of tournament competition.

Laura
 
frankncali said:
Laura,

You would not play Allison or Efren some $20 sets just for the experience and
chance to learn from playing them??
Click to expand...


Laura
To the contrary, I normally don't play for more than 20 or so, but I assure you I'd play for much more than that to get the experience of playing a top pro.

JR
 
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