Your Biggest Pool Room Distraction?
- Thread starter lfigueroa
- Start date
I do NOT like crowds at a pool hall. In fact, I go on a slow night, just so I have a lot less people to deal with. But, when there are folks playing at the tables around mine and they don't seem to know or care to stay back, or to look for the other guy who might be making a shot... I just lose all the serious in my game and start punching the ball. I do not take the time to study and focus on my shot, because I KNOW the person behind me is going to bump me as they walk by and say, "Oh, I'm sorry," even though you can't get your shot over, when that happens.
In order to be more forgiving, I have decided I can't be serious about my game, anymore. If I get serious about my game, I get pissed off, too easily. So, instead of being serious, I just play the game for fun. It's better for my heart, anyway. :thumbup:
In order to be more forgiving, I have decided I can't be serious about my game, anymore. If I get serious about my game, I get pissed off, too easily. So, instead of being serious, I just play the game for fun. It's better for my heart, anyway. :thumbup:
Well, here was the scenario I had last night.......
The last three weeks I have been trying to buy my 16 y/o a car, taking my wife kayaking, taking dive lessons with her and putting in extra hours at work to pay for all of it. everything but playing pool.
Well, last night, I finally got to play. A little peace, quiet and 9-ball. Or so I thought. I got there early, met a friend of mine and we were the only ones on a table. Next thing you know a group of about 8 comes in to drink and play. Of course, the girls at the pool hall put them on the table right next to me, even though there were 7 or 8 other tables open (WTF???!!!).:angry:
After about two hours of asking dancing drunks to move,so I could shoot, I finally told a guy to get the @#$& out of the way! The trouble ensued. After a heated exchange, I finally told the guys/gals in the group that this wasn't a dance floor, it was a pool hall. I also told them that if you're not shooting, you shouldn't be anywhere near the table! Things calmed down somewhat, but I was so rattled that I just took my cues apart, wished my friend well and went home.:frown: Ruined my night. Now I won't get to play for another two weeks. Hopefully it will be a little better.
So, distractions for me are idiots dancing around the table and when people are put on tables right next to me when there are others open. IDK, maybe I'm weird.
The last three weeks I have been trying to buy my 16 y/o a car, taking my wife kayaking, taking dive lessons with her and putting in extra hours at work to pay for all of it. everything but playing pool.
Well, last night, I finally got to play. A little peace, quiet and 9-ball. Or so I thought. I got there early, met a friend of mine and we were the only ones on a table. Next thing you know a group of about 8 comes in to drink and play. Of course, the girls at the pool hall put them on the table right next to me, even though there were 7 or 8 other tables open (WTF???!!!).:angry:
After about two hours of asking dancing drunks to move,so I could shoot, I finally told a guy to get the @#$& out of the way! The trouble ensued. After a heated exchange, I finally told the guys/gals in the group that this wasn't a dance floor, it was a pool hall. I also told them that if you're not shooting, you shouldn't be anywhere near the table! Things calmed down somewhat, but I was so rattled that I just took my cues apart, wished my friend well and went home.:frown: Ruined my night. Now I won't get to play for another two weeks. Hopefully it will be a little better.
So, distractions for me are idiots dancing around the table and when people are put on tables right next to me when there are others open. IDK, maybe I'm weird.
Marissa should just keep one of those boat air horns near her table for all the gawkers.
You know, I tried music, way back when the Walkman was the rage. Couldn't do it.
Better to try and adjust.
Lou Figueroa
Last edited:
A serious response you want?Whistling has always been murder one me, that, and if someone brings in an infant.
Whistling is a total killer.
I used to play at a room where one of the locals -- a retired judge, it turns out -- used to whistle all the time. I turned to him one day, in the middle of me playing a $200 set of 1pocket, and said, "You know, there's a pool room in Alaska, where they ban whistling. And if you persist and want to stay, they make you wear a sign around your neck that says, "I am a whistler."
If he could have, he probably would have sentenced me 50 to life
Lou Figueroa
Last edited:
sluo
Electrical Engineer
My experience
I used to shoot in a hall, well I don't know if its a hall, but theres tables and a bar. Its more a place for people of latino/mexican/puertorican/etc. descent to hang out. I'm no longer shooting there. It's a place thats better suited to be a nightclub then a pool hall.
Things that bother me about this place;
1) Background music. Its turned all the way up that when its silent you hear speaker feedback. I have no interest in hearing hip hop/rap/reggaeton while I shoot. At least it drowns out the Nextel chirps and mp3 ringtones.
2) People who wear clothing that is torn or ragged. It can't be that hard to find a clean shirt, or at least one that's not torn down the middle.
3) The clientele and management there that insist on calling me 'Chino.' I take the time to learn their names, they don't choose to learn mine. I thought billiards was a gentleman's game.
4) People who bang cues on the table, shout, or whistle whenever a woman (customer or cocktail waitress) walks by.
5) Locals who never play pool except when they bring their dates and attempt masses and jump shots.
6) (Some) Ladies and Gentleman, Please DO NOT put your feet [drinks, food, etc.] on the tables.
7) Rail birds. There are other games besides 8 ball. People in this hall fail to realize this.
I used to shoot in a hall, well I don't know if its a hall, but theres tables and a bar. Its more a place for people of latino/mexican/puertorican/etc. descent to hang out. I'm no longer shooting there. It's a place thats better suited to be a nightclub then a pool hall.
Things that bother me about this place;
1) Background music. Its turned all the way up that when its silent you hear speaker feedback. I have no interest in hearing hip hop/rap/reggaeton while I shoot. At least it drowns out the Nextel chirps and mp3 ringtones.
2) People who wear clothing that is torn or ragged. It can't be that hard to find a clean shirt, or at least one that's not torn down the middle.
3) The clientele and management there that insist on calling me 'Chino.' I take the time to learn their names, they don't choose to learn mine. I thought billiards was a gentleman's game.
4) People who bang cues on the table, shout, or whistle whenever a woman (customer or cocktail waitress) walks by.
5) Locals who never play pool except when they bring their dates and attempt masses and jump shots.
6) (Some) Ladies and Gentleman, Please DO NOT put your feet [drinks, food, etc.] on the tables.
7) Rail birds. There are other games besides 8 ball. People in this hall fail to realize this.
Voodoo Daddy
One Pocket 101
Lou,
If this kid is anything like you, he'll be back in the minors in no time.
If this kid is anything like you, he'll be back in the minors in no time.
Voodoo Daddy
One Pocket 101
1] Gotta love the cue spinner, classic.
2] The guy that watches himself in mirror stroking.
3] The one guy that is CONSTANTLY dressing his tip with some contraption that makes noise, he is my favorite.
Nothing really bothers me but me...but here is distraction from hell;
I was in heated battle with one of my friends playing one pocket, it was a weekend night and some outta work kids found our sanctuary. Anyway one lil kid bout 16 sits in the players chair, which I didnt mind cause my bigazz didnt fit in it. I was finally going to put the daggar in my opponent when this kid has a seizure of some kind, RIGHT WHERE I NEED TO STAND TO SHOOT THE CASE BALL !!! 40 minutes later after F/R came and did their job...my friend sez "you need one, I need a Doctor". The seizure kid sharked me, I dogged it and my friend, who also was shaken by the whole flop on the floor routine we just witnessed ran out like tap water. I stood up and yelled for F/R to come back...the room busted out laughing.
2] The guy that watches himself in mirror stroking.
3] The one guy that is CONSTANTLY dressing his tip with some contraption that makes noise, he is my favorite.
Nothing really bothers me but me...but here is distraction from hell;
I was in heated battle with one of my friends playing one pocket, it was a weekend night and some outta work kids found our sanctuary. Anyway one lil kid bout 16 sits in the players chair, which I didnt mind cause my bigazz didnt fit in it. I was finally going to put the daggar in my opponent when this kid has a seizure of some kind, RIGHT WHERE I NEED TO STAND TO SHOOT THE CASE BALL !!! 40 minutes later after F/R came and did their job...my friend sez "you need one, I need a Doctor". The seizure kid sharked me, I dogged it and my friend, who also was shaken by the whole flop on the floor routine we just witnessed ran out like tap water. I stood up and yelled for F/R to come back...the room busted out laughing.
Lou,
I've given this thread topic some thought and of course many things can get under my skin but the ONE thing that will make me get up and leave is if the music is way too loud! About ten years ago I asked the bartender at a pool hall in San Antonio to turn down the music (it was noon and only two other patrons were in there) and she wouldn't turn it down. I finally walked out completely pissed off.
Nowadays, the pool room I go to in Fort Worth is awesome. But if the music is too loud, I just ask them if they can turn it down and they do. Of course, I can't focus until it gets turned down but that usually isn't more than 10 minutes. It doesn't happen very often, but that truly is my biggest distraction when I am practicing. I mean, if the music is louder than the ipod earbuds in my ears, then come on!
Other little distractions that might bother me have already been mentioned - people walking up to me when I have my ipod on and ask me to practice, people talking about my shots behind me, drunk players not respecting space, smokers using my table to smoke while I'm practicing, etc. But the one that would make me quit practicing and walk out is the loud music, that thankfully doesn't happen that often anymore.
I've given this thread topic some thought and of course many things can get under my skin but the ONE thing that will make me get up and leave is if the music is way too loud! About ten years ago I asked the bartender at a pool hall in San Antonio to turn down the music (it was noon and only two other patrons were in there) and she wouldn't turn it down. I finally walked out completely pissed off.
Nowadays, the pool room I go to in Fort Worth is awesome. But if the music is too loud, I just ask them if they can turn it down and they do. Of course, I can't focus until it gets turned down but that usually isn't more than 10 minutes. It doesn't happen very often, but that truly is my biggest distraction when I am practicing. I mean, if the music is louder than the ipod earbuds in my ears, then come on!
Other little distractions that might bother me have already been mentioned - people walking up to me when I have my ipod on and ask me to practice, people talking about my shots behind me, drunk players not respecting space, smokers using my table to smoke while I'm practicing, etc. But the one that would make me quit practicing and walk out is the loud music, that thankfully doesn't happen that often anymore.
Yeah, Trigger, I'm with you on that one. My home room has a speaker system that could double as wall-to-wall microwave.
BUT, I have a new one too: when you visit a new room and some nit starts taking your picture, or, as happen today, video of you playing. This last happen to me when I was visiting Florida a few months back and some guy started taking my picture with his cell phone. Today, I'm knocking them around in a room in LA and some dufus pool room detective starts shooting video.
I hate that.
Lou Figueroa
not tryiing to
sneak up on anyone
Last edited:
Poor Lou... so many distractions! And what a pain - like the paparazzi following you around again!
fyi...last night a friend of mine at the pool room showed me she was using earbud noise-canceling headphones for her ipod and they really worked for her. I might have to buy them but they are about $70-$100.
Good luck with the flashing bulbs in your eyes!