MovieChat Forums > The Hustler (1961) Discussion > No Masse Shots Allowed

No Masse Shots Allowed


There was a sign on the wall at Ames' that said "No Masse Shots Allowed." What would be the reason behind this? Of course, there was also a sign that said "no gambling" that obviously wasn't taken seriously, but still, I'm just curious.

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Normally bar/poolhall owners don't want inexperienced shooters attempting masse shots because a certain degree of skill and control is required to curve the cue ball around the table without driving the cue into the felt and ripping or marking it. But if Fats or Felson came into your establishment you probably wouldn't worry and they would know to disregard the sign as it is directed only at the novice pool player.

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exactly right ^^

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thanks for the explanation, i was wondering myself

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what the above person said about the masse shot is correct.

Also i would like to add something about the no gambling sign. Playing a game for money isn't considered gambling. I think what they meant about the "no gambling" is that other people can't put side bets on who will when. You know,, the same way people bet on who will when a boxing match or football game.


The true worth of a race must be measured by the character of its woman!!!

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No Masse signs are still in pool halls today

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"i have not failed, ive just found ten thousand ways to be wrong"

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[deleted]

yeah, that's because no-talent hot shots still like to try to impress people with them... i walked into one pool hall that had a table in the back with a rip about a foot long. i saw that and had to laugh because it was the table closest to the "no masse" sign.

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Playing a game for money isn't considered gambling.
What dictionary did you pick this up from? Not even close!

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it's not "gambling"... it's just wagering money on a specific event in hopes of multiplying the money you've put in.

now, does that sound like gambling to you? i mean, really...

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Playing pool for money is not gambling because it involves skill. I've never known of anyone being busted in a poolroom or on a golf course. Tiger Woods hasn't been busted.

"gonna throw, my raincoat in the river...gonna toss, my umbrella in the sea"...Sammy Turner.

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yes and no, though... people bet on basketball and football games and that's gambling, even though they involve skill. plus, skill only takes you so far... crappy breaks, a goof here and there. all that can ruin you're game.

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Playing a game of skill for a payoff at the finale is legal. People who bet on sports (not participating) outside of a legal casino are breaking the law, although it's rarely enforced. Gambling is betting on someone or something that you have no control over. Card players will tell you that they win on skill, but they can make all the right moves and none of it matters if they don't get the cards.

"gonna throw, my raincoat in the river...gonna toss, my umbrella in the sea"...Sammy Turner.

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yeah, i suppose so. still, it's just a question of splitting hairs if you try to argue the differences.

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Jack, you are absolutely correct. It's futile to attempt to control gambling. 'Illegal' gambling in the USA is bigger than 'legal' gambling. Gambling over-all is bigger than the gross national product.

"gonna throw, my raincoat in the river...gonna toss, my umbrella in the sea"...Sammy Turner.

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Putting "your money" into a pot against the money of your opponent and the winner takes all is gambling. It's "I bet I can beat you" key word is bet. and if that's not betting then I guess the World Poker Tour isn't gambling either because they just put their money in and the winner takes all. Tiger Woods isn't putting thousands of dollars into a pot at the gold tournaments he plays in. it's just play and you win the purse. Put plan and simple, putting you money up with the hopes of increasing it with possibility of losing it based on an event is GAMBLING any way you slice it. Still not satisfied, Merriam-Webster's definition of Gambling -

1a : to play a game for money or property
1b : to bet on an uncertain outcome
2 : to stake something on a contingency : take a chance

Any Questions

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"No Gambling" means whatever the poster of the sign says it means. The owner can point to it to run riff-raff out of his establishment, or to support his claim of innocence if he's ever accused of violating whatever gambling/wagering laws may be in force.

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This.

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About side betting..I know that I heard Bert Gordon say that he made the price of his car twice over that night Eddie played Fats, I took that as there was side betting.

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I thought Bert was financing, or partnering, with Fats.

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In the hands of a tyro, a massé is:

a) A good way of at best badly marking and at worst ripping the baize
b) Apart from a wild and over-enthusiastic break, one of the best ways of launching the cue ball into the bar, into mirrors, customers' drinks, booze bottles, etc, etc...
c) A way for lucky smug gits to say, "Played for and got, mate!", thus precipitating punch-ups
d) A way for would-be smug gits to look like total prats, inviting mockery and thus precipitating punch-ups
e) A great way of having as little control as possible over where the cue ball ends up

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