MovieChat Forums > The Hustler (1961) Discussion > Lagging vs flipping a coin

Lagging vs flipping a coin

posted 12 years ago by ksparent1
5 replies | jump to latest

Something I've always wondered: why do Newman and Gleason lag for the first match but flip a coin for the rematch?

I remember the first time I watched this film. The two main players lagged for the break, but in the seedier pool room where Fast Eddie got his thumbs broke they flipped a coin. That made perfect sense; lagging is classier and entails talent while flipping a coin is dumb luck and hides talent. Plus a lot of casual players don't know what lagging is, so hustlers might well pretend not to know about it. But when they flipped the coin for the rematch I was confused.

Is there a reason for this, or is it just one of those thing?

[–] hrodnovar 10 years ago

It was acceptable and even mentioned in the book to flip a coin when the bet was changed. In this case, from $200 to $1000. When I took up pool seriously in 1973 I saw this in pool rooms a lot. In fact, I seldom saw anyone lag except in tournaments. I started playing after seeing the movie and was just a banger until I started playing in pool rooms in the '70s.

[–] wooody 9 years ago

FACINATINNGG

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] stevielanding 9 years ago

If I'm playing 8 or 9, I'll call the ball I intend to sink on the break. For straight pool, I'm happy to let you break because in a good game nobody is sinking nothing right off the bat and in a poor game, the guy who breaks is at a distinct disadvantage.

No, I don't make my call all the time. A lot depends on the rack, and the rest depends on a near perfect shot. Name your heroes. They can't do it consistently either. I do it for bragging rights. It impresses the chalk grinders.

Mairzy doats and dozy doats, but liddle lamzi nothing.

[–] hrodnovar 9 years ago

What does this have to do with flipping or lagging??