Would You Really Be a Road Player?

C

cuetechasaurus

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Lets say your game magically improves, and you start playing as good as Efren. If you had a large bankroll, would you really go on the road, travelling with just a friend or two for a few months? This is taking into account that in many rooms, you will encounter alot of hostility, especially if you beat someone for a large sum. Then also taking into account that you can't really trust anyone, since mostly everyone is a stranger except for your road buddies.

When I first got hooked on pool almost a decade ago, I dreamed of one day playing like Efren, and then going on the road, being almost unbeatable. But in my limited pool travelling experience, I've seen so much hostility and other problems that arise when I see people gamble for high stakes. Especially if you are a hustler.

Now adays, it's well known that most pool players have wisened up quite a bit, and they can spot a hustler easily. The internet helps in getting a line on somebody alot also. For me personally, if somehow I were to play like Efren or Archer or someone like that, I don't think I could deal with all the crap that comes with being a hustler, and never really feeling quite safe when you go into poolhalls with bad regulars.

There is not one pro player that I have talked to, that had a good experience going on the road. And I've talked to alot of them. I know that some of you have been on the road before, and it would be great to hear what the experience was like for you.
 
If I played Efrens speed, and had no family to worry about...... definately.
Me and my 2 friends Smith & Wesson would clean out the midwest...... :eek:
But seriously, pool is one of those things that people who show a fair amount of skill tend to overestimate themselves. So when the roadie comes in and runs over them, they get pissed at themselves, they get pissed at the roadie, they get pissed at their own mother for giving birth to them........ Its not a pleasant situation. People who bet big are not doing it to throw their money away. And the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
When you hear about the old timers, rolling into a town and cleaning out some pockets.... usually they left everyone there with a smile on their face. The talent to playing the road or hustling (in the sense of doing what it takes to get the game you want, then capitalizing) is more than how you handle a cue, its about how you handle the people you are playing. So you take a roadie with a big ego, who likes to showboat, throw them against a shortstop with a bigger ego....... sparks will fly, its pretty much inevitable.
Chuck
 
In my experience working in pool rooms, we were happy to see road dogs come in. We had players strong enough to play about anyone out there. Rarely, if ever, did a guy roll in and catch anyone by surprise. I fell for it once, but losing $50 in 2 hours to one of the strongest unknowns at the time is OK with me. Was I being played off?.....uhh, yea!:D

I've been lucky enough to see the "pre" and "post" computer pool scene. Back in the day rooms would call each other for info on an unknown player. Now all you need is your camera phone, and you can know just about anything you want.

I think to be a road player today you better be unknown from the start, or just go into a room and play the best player all out. I guess you could also never show any speed and play lesser players:rolleyes:

I don't think people throw money around like they did years ago, and everyone is cautious of any player they don't know....

Gerry
 
I've always wondered how a stranger/new face is treated when entering a new pool room. I picked up the game here in Japan, and have played only twice in the states. Eventually, I will move back someday, and I've always wondered what to expect when I first walk into a new room. Me being the stranger, how should I act, and what should I expect? I don't want to come across as being some kind of a roadie, but at the same time, I don't want to knock balls around for hours without being approached. Not interested in playing for huge amounts, but at the same time, not afraid to try the best stick in the place. I know lot's of this would depend on my speed as a player, but in general, how is a new face expected to act when entering unfamiliar territory not necessarily looking for action, but at the same time......open to action?
dave
 
had the chance

Back before I had any responsibilities and when I was young and dumb and rough as a cob when things hit the fan I had a road player try to talk me into going on the road with him. Even then I had spent eight or ten years in the pool halls and I wasn't impressed with the great life of a road player.

Cars aren't as big as they once were so sleeping in cars has even less appeal than it did twenty-five years ago and I like to eat reasonably well so eating on a few dollars a day or not at all has little appeal too. Finally, I got to experience the joy of a road player trying to get out the door in one piece fairly often just going into places a few miles from my usual haunts.

As someone else mentioned, taking the cash and leaving folks happy is the real trick. Aside from being friendly and outgoing, setting up more action for the next day before blowing town is a good idea sometimes. That makes people think that they will have another shot at getting their money back. Of course when you show up six months later you are likely to get a warm reception.

Often there is no leaving people happy and getting out the door is a trick. For years I really did park with my vehicle facing out. To make matters worse, I have gotten into as serious of situations playing for small stakes as larger ones. Ego has a lot to do with it. Trample people's pride and you can be in deep trouble playing for pennies.

After letting people know I was leaving soon I often lost a few bets before leaving while making things seem close. This lets people claim they could have won if I had stayed and some even believe it setting things up nicely for your next pass through if you didn't use the "see you tomorrow" gag.

About traveling with a "friend": Even the "friend" on the road isn't to be trusted too far unless you go back to before pool playing days. A road player hasn't got a friend in the world with money involved. Also you need a companion that will stick with you when things get really hairy. Contrary to loud talk and brag, such people are few and far between.

I would go on the road, road warrior style if I was good enough. "Here I am, bring me your best." You will still get into scrapes but not nearly as many. I would not go on the road hustling. Life is too short and now you not only risk the violence, you also run much more risk with the law. When there is an issue, even without a small herd of witnesses against you, the stranger is presumed to be in the wrong. That is real world law enforcement.

Hu

cuetechasaurus said:
Lets say your game magically improves, and you start playing as good as Efren. If you had a large bankroll, would you really go on the road, travelling with just a friend or two for a few months? This is taking into account that in many rooms, you will encounter alot of hostility, especially if you beat someone for a large sum. Then also taking into account that you can't really trust anyone, since mostly everyone is a stranger except for your road buddies.
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my 2 cent

if you were to start playing like the world beaters,you wouldn't be a hustler.i consider a hustler as a nickel and dimer.usually small stakes .the champions i have seen usually play for bigger money and play other top players.now ,you might sneak up on a top player who makes a bad game but that won't last for long.1 pocket is the only game where you can hide your speed long enough.9 ball you have to get out at certain times.one pocket you can stall.and yes like the others stated,no family,i'd be in a car in a minute.i did it 18 years ago but a wife and family change the way you think.that is more important ,to me.i do respect the guys that have done it for years on end as it is a grind and a grueling way to live,but the memories,priceless.we were in canada once and almost got brike,and i mean broke,i remember sweating the money to pay the toll,but thats another story,sounds like fun though ehh.
 
I don't know if this would be concidered 'on the road' but I did take a pile of money, 15K, and say to it "I am going to go out and match up until you are gone.". I didn't know how long it would last but I was going to have a good time. I had just gotten out of the bar/restaurant business( 10 yrs of very hard work) and I thought I needed a fun break.
Why did I even think this would be fun? I had re-entered the pool sub-culture in the year previous to leaving my business and I was enjoying the game, plus I had learned how to match up by handicapping. I also could play a fearless game of 9ball...LOL
I knew the local pool scene(Portland Ore> early 80's). The scene was pretty much barbox tavern pool with a couple action central spots. There were two open golf games going on in the city, 24 hr type. Not serious money but tough action. You could get morning/early afternoon action on the open golf tables. If you played good and got some luck you could be a 100 dollar winner before 3pm. In the same respect you could play perfect and never get a sniff.....golf is a great social game and a great way to start a day of non-stop pool. Coming from a high energy business I was used to long days and open ended nights. Starting on a 6x12 in the morning and going to a 7' barbox at night is not a bad plan...:) I can assure you that no shot on a barbox looks tough after six hours of golf on a 'big bertha'.
I should add that I was single with not a care in the world...nice!!!
My normal day was golf action by 10am>thru 3pm, later if the game was good (good being 5 or 6 players>$10&$2>$5 bad hits> dumper pays double/dumper pays time). On a rare occasion a heads up golf game would be woofed up for the larger dollars between two pissed off ring golfers.....I loved heads up golf. Some of the most amazing shots are an hourly accurance. Six and out, hey, no problem, bump the two hole with the spot open and your toast...gotta love it when you know you have a long shift on the barboxes coming before you rest your head. Oh, the barbox. I had to ease my way into the night of barbox 9ball. One can appear to be out of your mind because everything goes and at warp speed.
How did I stay in action on the barboxes? Simple, I was good action. I had more money than the guys who were regularly gambling at the game. I mentioned the culture of pool but I should have said sub-culture of pool. I knew virtually everybody in the 'sub' division, those guys that matched up for the cash and I knew their approx speeds so making a good game was a no brainer. I was the fish, that guy in the restaurant business, the guy that will shoot at anything, and the guy with the cash so the action was lined up for me in those first months. Little did they know that I was now a full time player and getting sharper, smarter, and more confident on a weekly bases. I had been mentored well in how to get the money. I knew that most of the guys taking a shot at my bankroll where on short bullets. If they had c-note burning a hole in their pockets they were fat...LOL I knew that if I kept the bet out of their comfort zone but in my comfort zone it was just a matter of time before 'big mo' would bless my team and I would close them out with just one good break and run set of five or six games in a row. I'm not saying "six pack" here I'm saying controlling the table for a set of games long enough to make them fold on their short bullets. There is a body langue thing that happens and just like a puppy dog they expose their bellys...LOL...or something like that....:) Anyway in those first six months I was having an absolute blast staying in action. I was also paying all of my normal bills and not denying myself the good life...Life was Good.
Sure there were times when one of the short bullets guys would get in my pocket for a couple hundred but if they didn't let me jack the bet for a chance to get even they lost my action. Like I said I was the best action around and I didn't hesitate to tell them my action was lost if they didn't give me a swing at the money. Some choice to lose my action but most didn't. I wasn't greedy I was just trying to win a hundred or two a day, back then that was good money.
This is getting long and boring so I will end it by saying that it was two an half years before the 15k was gone......all the problems, close calls, the travel, the laughs, and the great people I meant made it some of the best years of my life....enough said.....:)
 
id like to go on the road after college, not really to look to make money, but just to travel around for a while and match up at different pool halls untill i run out of money. id probably just stick to the west coast and treat it as a vacation of sorts.
 
That was a GREAT story, not long and boring

I really enjoyed that long story about the road, and would love
to hear more like it. I'm considering doing it, I am at best
a B player, so I'm still practicing. Any advice is welcome, and
I may have to try it without wheels (train? bus?) since all
I have is a motorbike :(
 
I posted a road story but by now it is buried in the forums.

Do a user search on u12armresl

Good luck on the road, too many people that play B speed now, it is totally gambling and not near as much stealing or sneaking.
 
It wasn't all that easy to hustle in the 60's. U J Puckett tried hustling me when I was about 18 in Phoenix and he had to disguise himself so he wasn't recognized!! Fred aka Cornerman wrote the story in an article about me that appeared in InsidePOOL magazine. If you want to read it, it is at www.johnmaddencues.com, click on About Us, click on InsidePOOL magazine article, page two and three. And Jay H you are in it too! What a life for the "on the road" hustlers.
 
I think once you hit that level, the "hustle" aspect of the roadie goes away.

Most recently, I think of Darren Appleton in the US and the Fils "on the road." He was traveling looking for high-stakes action but he didn't try and stall to up the bet. Sounds like he wanted to play the best in the room for as much money as possible.

If I were Efren-caliber, I'd do exactly that in a heartbeat. I'd stay away from nickel-and-diming low-lifes in seedy pool halls, and instead go after the high-stakes gamblers who aren't afraid to post it up. And the best thing about being that good? I'd have a backer with me the entire time... =)
 
Nope, not a chance. If I was really good, and had used up all the local talent, I'd probably make pre-arranged trips to find matches that were interesting; but "go on the road" and try to make a living gambling, no way in hell. The one caveat is if I'd no other way to make a living I would.
 
No. Playing against players far below my speed would ruin my game. I'd only match up against the very best pro players. If I had Efren's game, that is...
 
Jack Madden said:
It wasn't all that easy to hustle in the 60's. U J Puckett tried hustling me when I was about 18 in Phoenix and he had to disguise himself so he wasn't recognized!! Fred aka Cornerman wrote the story in an article about me that appeared in InsidePOOL magazine. If you want to read it, it is at www.johnmaddencues.com, click on About Us, click on InsidePOOL magazine article, page two and three. And Jay H you are in it too! What a life for the "on the road" hustlers.
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Disguising, Uttley J. Puckett would be next to impossible, Jack. He, like myself, was 6'5" and weighed in at about 270. As I'm sure you know, he was called Ugly Puckett at times and though I never wore the hat I was once dubbed, Ugly Jr., LOL. This was early 70s and the man did lay it down so smooth and taught a bunch of um to lay it down as well. You might remember one of his students, "Bird". Died young of cancer.
 
To hustle pool definition

To lure less skilled players into competing against oneself for money.

I never had a problem doing that. 95% of them were trying to hustle me at the start.

I was in no way a bigtime hustler or even a medium time hustler.(B+ on a good day,but a little better on a barbox) I just wanted to make enough to party and just work part time. Over the years I bought over a 100 Racing Greyhounds at over $3000 a pop and a few between $15000 and $25000 with a partner with money made on a pool table. Johnnyt
 
hemicudas said:
Disguising, Uttley J. Puckett would be next to impossible, Jack. He, like myself, was 6'5" and weighed in at about 270. As I'm sure you know, he was called Ugly Puckett at times and though I never wore the hat I was once dubbed, Ugly Jr., LOL. This was early 70s and the man did lay it down so smooth and taught a bunch of um to lay it down as well. You might remember one of his students, "Bird". Died young of cancer.
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Bill
I was a little guy at the time - maybe 130 lbs and 5'9". He was a big man and HE WAS SMOOTH!! He acted like a drunk construction worker (house painter) with no pool game (saw plenty of those characters in the pool room). He had all the local every day hustlers (we had a few in Phoenix - San Jose Dick, Pete Glenn, etc) fooled. You could smell the liqour on him 10 feet away (it sure wasn't in him!). He had me a little embarrassed so I looked down - and there were those $400 shoes. All the rest of his clothes were covered with paint. And he had a wad of money - tens of thousands!!! He didn't hustle me that day, but he walked out of the room richer after playing a few older-should-have-known-better players (they had no clue who they were playing). 25 years later, I saw him and to my amazement he remembered me, the year and the place. He said he remembered any player he didn't beat (I had some of his money - sure wish it was more of those thousands).
 
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