How helpful are HUDs?

so i've been running about 16 bb/100 while 4 tabling 50NL and then 100NL (full ring) for the past 10k hands or so, and i was wondering how much a HUD would help my game. I play on Full Tilt, mainly because it's the only mac compatible site that i've found and liked. Am i at a disadvantage by not having some sort of HUD? I don't have Pokertracker or pokeroffice, but i had my friend run my HH's through his version of pokeroffice to get a look at my stats. Do most players have some sort of heads up display? any thoughts would be great.

Meh, I would say more don't than do. If you're 4+tabling I think a HUD is a necessity. However, sounds like you're doing fine without it.

i also play on a mac. i play on pokerroom. i find the games easier. 16bigbets/100hands is massive! even though it's a smallish sample size.

macpoker pro is the PT or PO for mac. try it out. i used to hate it - but it works nicely with Full Tilt. it's not as good as PT or PO though. but nice for a mac. it doesnt have hud

I love my hud and I think it has helped my play only had it a couple of months

Tricky question IMO.

there isno doubt that a HUD helps you by adding a number of stats to you so that you can make decisions based on a little bit more information.
However, when you come to rely on these stats at times instead of understanding the action you see you are getting to a place where you need to consider if the HUD is damaging you play.
Fwiw, at small stakes i dont think you should be using them until you have played enough hands to know what the lines taken by typical hands are eg, sets, two pair etc.

For me, id never sit down at a lhe table without my HUD active, but i still dont sit down at NL tables with my HUD active simply because i feel watching the table and playing the old fashioned way is much more beneficial in the long run than a HUD will ever be.

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

Fwiw, at small stakes i dont think you should be using them until you have played enough hands to know what the lines taken by typical hands are eg, sets, two pair etc.

Agreed Everest isnt compatible with PAHUD yet but ive been able to play a much simplier game coz of it which has helped me get many basic concepts down. ie. im too new to ring to be able to exploit different opp effectively but since standard lines tend to be effective at lower stakes its not of huge importance

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

Fwiw, at small stakes i dont think you should be using them until you have played enough hands to know what the lines taken by typical hands are eg, sets, two pair etc.\

thanks for the advice guys.
i've become fairly comfortable with these common lines, and i've really had no trouble beating the game. My issue with getting an HUD (besides it not being compatible with me computer) has beenthat i don't want to become dependent on it. The only problem i was worried about was whether or not i was losing out on some sort of edge (which it seems like i am). Over the last few years ive been dabbling in some ring, but mostly playing MTTs. Recently i've decided to switch to cash games more or less exclusively and it seems to be working quite well. Ring isnt quite as exciting as MTT play, but the money seems to be coming in much more consistently, which is nice.

another question: do most of the high stakes players use HUDs? I know there is a pretty solid shift in gameplay above 200 or 400NL, so are HUDs more or less effective once these games are reached?

Originally Posted by beez

My issue with getting an HUD (besides it not being compatible with me computer) has beenthat i don't want to become dependent on it.

I actually thought about the same thing before getting myself a HUD, but I have no problems playing without it. Don't get me wrong, I would never not use it voluntarily since it helps so much when you're playing against a big player base. Ah well, I think PO was my best poker investment so far.