I have a good friend that I consistently play pool with, and we are both fairly new to the game and are about even in terms of skill. After shooting for awhile today, he decides that he would like to play better with his non-dominant hand, and proceeds to play an entire game left-handed (I was against him doing this from the start and even voiced my opinion a little). That game ended with me scratching on the 8, which made me feel extra crappy. That was the last game for the day and I kindly asked him afterward to not play an entire left handed game against me anymore because I feel insulted and that he is giving me an unnecessary handicap. He then tells me that hes only doing this to improve his left-handed game. Shooting an entire game left-handed seems really uncalled for seeing as to how little left-handed shots are needed, if at all. So, my question is, would you care if your good friend was doing this to you? Should I just play the table and ignore whatever he's doing?
Would you care?
- Thread starter kelvbin
- Start date
No, every time my friend does this I ask him if he wants to beat some. Or sometimes there will be a important hard shot and I tell him to shoot it left handed.
Huh? Left handed shots are rarely needed, if at all??
I shoot left handed, and just don't understand what you're trying to say, in this regard. I don't think the game of pool favors a particular handed-ness, right or left.
As far as play the table and not the man--I lost a little bit of cash the other day, to a lesser player, exactly because I didn't follow that bolded statement. I started gettin all twisted up about things he was doing that had absolutely no effect on the balls on the table, yet I ended up allowing his actions to affect my thought processes, and then THAT affected the balls on the table. So, yeah, mosta the time, imo, play the table.
Dennis
I know a guy in San Diego named mitch that used to play me 2 dollars a game left handed and beat me
was i insulted? not really. being able to switch hands instead of using the bridge is pretty strong.
you shouldn't be insulted. he's just working on a different part of his game than you are.
Him working on his left-handed game is a sign to you that he wants to improve and takes your playing serious.
I would suggest you do the same thing he's doing when your ready. Don't box yourself in by only learning certain things around the table. Learn it all! :smile:
I would suggest you do the same thing he's doing when your ready. Don't box yourself in by only learning certain things around the table. Learn it all! :smile:
Is this a joke? What do you care if he plays with his left hand? I could understand if you didn't want to play him while he holds the cue in his mouth and bridges with his feet but... the guy is trying to practice something legitimate, no reason to feel insulted.
On another note, you may be taking this a bit too seriously.
On another note, you may be taking this a bit too seriously.
A Bizarre Tale
Playing with both hands is a big help in Snooker since it reduces the need to use the lady's aid on that big table. Ronnie O'Sullivan was the first to make that point.
Alain Robidoux was once infamously beaten by 10-3 by Ronnie O'Sullivan, who played some shots left-handed (O'Sullivan is right-handed), much to Robidoux's annoyance, with Robidoux accusing O'Sullivan of disrespect.
O'Sullivan responded that he played better with his left hand than Robidoux could with his right.
The Snooker powers actually entertained Robidoux's complaint.
O'Sullivan later satisfied the World Snooker Association that he could play to a professional standard with both hands, by playing the former World Billiards champion Rex Williams over 3 frames left-handed and winning every frame. The disciplinary charges were dropped as a result.
Since then, other players have developed opposite hand skill.
So, kelvbin, in performances on the billiards stage, your friend is Ronnie O'Sullivan and you are Alain Robidoux.
Playing with both hands is a big help in Snooker since it reduces the need to use the lady's aid on that big table. Ronnie O'Sullivan was the first to make that point.
Alain Robidoux was once infamously beaten by 10-3 by Ronnie O'Sullivan, who played some shots left-handed (O'Sullivan is right-handed), much to Robidoux's annoyance, with Robidoux accusing O'Sullivan of disrespect.
O'Sullivan responded that he played better with his left hand than Robidoux could with his right.
The Snooker powers actually entertained Robidoux's complaint.
O'Sullivan later satisfied the World Snooker Association that he could play to a professional standard with both hands, by playing the former World Billiards champion Rex Williams over 3 frames left-handed and winning every frame. The disciplinary charges were dropped as a result.
Since then, other players have developed opposite hand skill.
So, kelvbin, in performances on the billiards stage, your friend is Ronnie O'Sullivan and you are Alain Robidoux.
everyone should practice playing with their opposite hand. like TX Poolnut said, its a sign of wanting to improve and try and move up a level.
would not bother me.
Accept this type of game, approach, and awareness as a part of the game you're learning. I've found that the more I let what the person is doing affect me, the more it takes away from my ability to focus on my next series of shots.
People can offer the world, but if you're not focused on the shot at hand and finding your way out from there, the spot does not apply. Hell, I know guys that'll play one handed and act like an ass, just because they know their man will go off like a rocket for sake of pride.
People can offer the world, but if you're not focused on the shot at hand and finding your way out from there, the spot does not apply. Hell, I know guys that'll play one handed and act like an ass, just because they know their man will go off like a rocket for sake of pride.
I agree. I did it for a whole week and now left handed shots are routine for me. Well, as routine as right handed, anyway.
The OP is upsetting himself, as the thread's title indicates. He cares. I don't. Each chooses his reaction.
Jeff Livingston
You're being too sensitive. If he's a good friend, odds are he didn't do it to say "F you" and make you feel bad. At worst he's showing off for someone's benefit, maybe yours. Or he's just having fun, and his definition of fun doesn't have to include playing to win.
Probably he's just doing exactly what he said. I bet he was hoping for praise about his ability to switch hands and instead you got all offended so now he's the one feeling extra crappy.
If he IS playing carelessly on purpose just to show off, he is only hurting his own pool game and you'll be spanking him consistently even when he uses his right hand. If you're serious about pool and he's not, the best cure is for you to play as serious as possible and beat him so often that he's forced to admit he needs to either play properly or forget about being able to win at the table. It's win/win because if it works, your friend won't show off against you again. If it doesn't, you at least improved your own game.
Probably he's just doing exactly what he said. I bet he was hoping for praise about his ability to switch hands and instead you got all offended so now he's the one feeling extra crappy.
If he IS playing carelessly on purpose just to show off, he is only hurting his own pool game and you'll be spanking him consistently even when he uses his right hand. If you're serious about pool and he's not, the best cure is for you to play as serious as possible and beat him so often that he's forced to admit he needs to either play properly or forget about being able to win at the table. It's win/win because if it works, your friend won't show off against you again. If it doesn't, you at least improved your own game.
Huh? Left handed shots are rarely needed, if at all??
I shoot left handed, and just don't understand what you're trying to say, in this regard. I don't think the game of pool favors a particular handed-ness, right or left.
I know the game doesn't favor anyone depending on whether you shoot left or right handed, but I was just saying that he is right hand dominate but shooting left handed.
You guys are right, I'm just being too sensitive and should just enjoy the game regardless of what my opponent is doing. Thanks for all the responses.
Huh? Left handed shots are rarely needed, if at all??
I shoot left handed, and just don't understand what you're trying to say, in this regard. I don't think the game of pool favors a particular handed-ness, right or left.
Dennis
I don't think he was bashing left handed players, he just meant left-handed shots in the respect that his friend is right handed and shooting opposite handed is not necessary for most shots.
If you're friend wants to shoot left-handed, let him... it's only going to make him better. He shouldn't shoot left-handed all the time if he is right-handed, but learning to shoot with both hands is a very good thing to do. You should try it as well.
If I am playing someone and I want his best game and am giving him my best game then I'd feel insulted if he decided to practice using his opposite hand. However if it were just friendly practice then I'd switch to my opposite hand as well.
I have played in handicap tournaments before with my opposite hand when they wouldn't let me play with my dominant one because I was too good. I have never won a tournament using my opposite hand but I have managed to win a few matches.
I think when people practice together then they should be in tune with each other. I doubt my practice partner would be happy if I said I was going to jump all the balls to practice my jumping in the middle of our session.
I have played in handicap tournaments before with my opposite hand when they wouldn't let me play with my dominant one because I was too good. I have never won a tournament using my opposite hand but I have managed to win a few matches.
I think when people practice together then they should be in tune with each other. I doubt my practice partner would be happy if I said I was going to jump all the balls to practice my jumping in the middle of our session.
Maybe whenever he does this, you should also start shooting left handed. Being ambidextrous in pool is almost like having the Swat team on your side when you get into a bar fight. Why are you offended by this, you would only know, as for you scratching on 8-ball, it happens to all of us, not just you, so it has nothing to do with your friend shooting left handed that caused this.
Another advice I would throw at you is, giving up like that is kind of unsportsman like. You should actually bite down and keep shooting, yea, you might get mad or what not because you are missing, but we all have days that the ball doesn't roll our way but once you fight through it, you will realize, dang, my game just got smoother and better.
Have fun bud, always make it fun.
Happy shooting!
Chino
Another advice I would throw at you is, giving up like that is kind of unsportsman like. You should actually bite down and keep shooting, yea, you might get mad or what not because you are missing, but we all have days that the ball doesn't roll our way but once you fight through it, you will realize, dang, my game just got smoother and better.
Have fun bud, always make it fun.
Happy shooting!
Chino
Playing with both hands is a big help in Snooker since it reduces the need to use the lady's aid on that big table. Ronnie O'Sullivan was the first to make that point.
Alain Robidoux was once infamously beaten by 10-3 by Ronnie O'Sullivan, who played some shots left-handed (O'Sullivan is right-handed), much to Robidoux's annoyance, with Robidoux accusing O'Sullivan of disrespect.
O'Sullivan responded that he played better with his left hand than Robidoux could with his right.
The Snooker powers actually entertained Robidoux's complaint.
O'Sullivan later satisfied the World Snooker Association that he could play to a professional standard with both hands, by playing the former World Billiards champion Rex Williams over 3 frames left-handed and winning every frame. The disciplinary charges were dropped as a result.
Since then, other players have developed opposite hand skill.
So, kelvbin, in performances on the billiards stage, your friend is Ronnie O'Sullivan and you are Alain Robidoux.
Exactly what I was thinking of.
Here the frame where Alain gets pouty.
EDIT: I forgot the video lol. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vNcliV4Bkc
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In my opinion, not only should you not care, you might want to follow suit in some manner. Playing with your opposite hand, one handed, with a bridge every shot, etc, is not only a sometimes fun break from the usual monotony, but can also be really, really good for your overall game. If the two of you truly play close, then you already know that in your heart, and shouldn't worry about losing a game. Plus, it is always nice to have a gaff in the old arsenal. Next time he does it, try something similar out. You might be surprised at how much it can help, and how much fun it might be.
I wouldn't care because my best friend is left handed and lost it in a industrial accident. He has a hook and uses it to grip the cue. He is a strong player but hasn't been able to shoot lately because of leg problems. I just wish that he would be able to play period.
Just be glad that you have a good friend to play with. I would suggest that if he wants to shoot with his left hand that you do the same. Even it up and don't take it as a insult.
I would be insulted if he shot one handed with his left hand because then he is just goofing off.
Just be glad that you have a good friend to play with. I would suggest that if he wants to shoot with his left hand that you do the same. Even it up and don't take it as a insult.
I would be insulted if he shot one handed with his left hand because then he is just goofing off.