You make good observations. And one that I question. When you state, there are three who you know that would smoke we who have posed, how would you know that. In the old days, that would be motivation to say, okay pony up, put your big boy pants on, and let's settle this on the pool table. And without knowing my and the others skill level here, it's a very broad brush to say one knows others would would smoke us. Just how would someone that without knowing our talent level compared to your friends level? And because the friends choose to respond is no point that they may, or may not be more talented.
All in good fun. If we all did not enjoy a challenge we would not likely play sports. The post reminded me of a hot shot who was full of himself with lots of bluster. He bragged about how good he was at pool and challenged me. When he said he wanted to play eight ball, I knew I had the advantage, and I did. Now, the first key is to ask someone what game they play. If they say eight ball. Then it's lights over. Eight ball is purely a recreational game. It's for playing to win a beer at a bar. It's for players who use quarters to play. It's for players who enjoy playing with a slightly enlarged cue ball so the ball returns when one scratches. If someone says nine ball, now that is usually a different story. If they say one-pocket then a high probability they are a player. If they say let's play straight pool, then that's usually the true player.
All is good when interesting posts come to a thread. No hijacking intent seen here.There have been some parallels mentioned between pool/billiards and TT. I've enjoyed the banter and soft lobs. And when the conversation flows at least folks share their sentiments, and that does have value. Did I mention the time ........
I'm saying TT due to the speed of the game and quick reflexes needed. And pool with the necessity to understand a static movement that then becomes motion. And the act of striking the cue ball to hit another ball for an outcome. Then with TT there's reading the ball, reacting to its movement and choosing an offensive or defensive action. The more I try to distinguish the two, the more the uniquenesses and similarities abound.
Agree 100%. I am glad that I pricked your ears with the thread. Another thought came into my mind with your comment. To we who attempted to become proficient in chess in our early teen years, that mental part of strategy also resembles more the strategy of pool/billiards. And as we age, the speed of the TT game, as our body changes (father time), creates another hurdle. The diminishing of the physical body reflexes. Something that neither pool/billiards or chess or other strategy, non-physical games can accomplish. But TT can extend that. Which is another tremendous reason to play. Lastly, my dad's pool hall was named "Town and Country Family Billiards". He thought the family mention would reduce the seedy perception of the pool hall. It helped, but I still learned to gamble and was exposed to some of the under belly of society.
