No, I am not that slow. I am just getting back in the game after a twenty year layoff. So I spend alot of time thinking of things I used to know cold. I have found that a short pause after making 4 or 5 balls helps me keep my mind in the game.
Larry
Pace of Play
- Thread starter Pangit
- Start date
No, I am not that slow. I am just getting back in the game after a twenty year layoff. So I spend alot of time thinking of things I used to know cold. I have found that a short pause after making 4 or 5 balls helps me keep my mind in the game.
Larry
The problem with being a rhythm player is that when you get out of your rhythm you suck. I shoot fast and can't stand playing slow players. The best advice anyone ever gave me was just to watch something else while they're shooting...the game at the next table, a skirt across the room... OTOH, I also recently developed a case of endballitis. I'd dog the 8 or the 9. Somebody told me to pause late in the rack and take a walk around the table. It helps. My 2¢.
I wouldn't be 'slow', but I try not to change my rhythm. I'd call it deliberate, or unhurried. Why?
1) My first shot in a turn is, on average, much worse than the following shots. Less precise aim, not as good shape, whatever. So I do better when I spend a few seconds making sure I am focused and ready for that first shot.
2) If I am not focused during the stroke, I can blow any shot. When I was trying to figure out why, I noticed I thought about all sorts of other stuff during easy shots. So I spend an extra couple seconds to remind myself to pay attention.
The only times fast players annoy me is when their pace verges on rudeness. Two things come to mind:
Don't break in my face. I gave you my best rack, now let me step away from the table before you put your Superman move on the cue ball. Break in my face, and you get my other rack (one of my best weapons, actually:grin
.
When it's now your shot, don't bump or push me in your rush to get to firing away. Let me step away from the table. You can't shoot them until they all stop rolling anyway.
Don't break in my face. I gave you my best rack, now let me step away from the table before you put your Superman move on the cue ball. Break in my face, and you get my other rack (one of my best weapons, actually:grin
.When it's now your shot, don't bump or push me in your rush to get to firing away. Let me step away from the table. You can't shoot them until they all stop rolling anyway.
In the name of clarity, I would like to say that I am fully in favor of methodical, well thought out play. I think there's a difference in that and slow play. I have to run through a few scenarios in my head from time to time before starting a (hopeful) run, but once the initial thinking is done, the shots from there should be somewhere in the ballpark of what you expected. If not, then what was the 2 minute meditation before the first shot accomplishing?
I recognize that some people play slow due to mobility problems, etc. That also doesn't bother me. I used to play an older gentleman who took ages to shoot simply because of the time it took to walk from shot to shot. No problem, still great to play.
I recognize that some people play slow due to mobility problems, etc. That also doesn't bother me. I used to play an older gentleman who took ages to shoot simply because of the time it took to walk from shot to shot. No problem, still great to play.
TheThaiger
Banned
The only times fast players annoy me is when their pace verges on rudeness. Two things come to mind:
Don't break in my face. I gave you my best rack, now let me step away from the table before you put your Superman move on the cue ball. Break in my face, and you get my other rack (one of my best weapons, actually:grin
When it's now your shot, don't bump or push me in your rush to get to firing away. Let me step away from the table. You can't shoot them until they all stop rolling anyway.
Ah, so you're one of those, are you? The ones who stay at the table for an age, in the way.
You miss, you move. Courtesy to your opponent, respect for the game.
TheThaiger
Banned
TWO minutes? Yikes. Let's drive this crap out of the game before it dies for good.
There is definitely a great deal of crap, of many types, to drive out of this game. Your responsibility to drive out crap ends at the borders of your own ass. I wonder what respectful techniques you use to "drive out this crap". You mention respecting your opponent. I would like to hear exactly how you do that.
KMRUNOUT
TheThaiger
Banned
I respect players that deserve respect. Those that respect the game deserve respect. Those that seek to win at all costs do not deserve respect.
I'm not fast or slow. Somewhere in between. I've played players so slow I could wash and wax my Chevy Suburban during league play; two man team. When everyone dreads playing this pair of slow players somethings wrong IMO.
Being deliberate and being slow to state the obvious are not the same.
Being deliberate and being slow to state the obvious are not the same.
Yes, indeed, it is. It's rude to the opponent. And, if it's done in a tournament, it's rude to all the other players in the event (as well as the tournament director and possibly the room owner and employees), possibly prolonging the event substantially and making others wait and wait and ...
What
you guys have failed to recognize, and I have played for 50 years, is that not all players THINK at the same rate of speed. Some players can instantly recognize a situation and what the answer to it is within 5 seconds, and for other players they may come to the same conclusion, but it takes them 2 minutes to figure it out.
Plus, you have many players, especially ones with not the confidence in their game, that second guess themselves when they evaluate a situation. This becomes a time consuming task as well.
I remember watching Dick Lane years and years ago shooting a match at the Shooters Thanksgiving tournament here in Wichita. As good as he is, I could not, for the life of me, figure out why it took him so long to shoot. For even the simpliest of shots, he seemed to take an inordinate amount of time to shoot it, but he was meticulous in his playing.
you guys have failed to recognize, and I have played for 50 years, is that not all players THINK at the same rate of speed. Some players can instantly recognize a situation and what the answer to it is within 5 seconds, and for other players they may come to the same conclusion, but it takes them 2 minutes to figure it out.
Plus, you have many players, especially ones with not the confidence in their game, that second guess themselves when they evaluate a situation. This becomes a time consuming task as well.
I remember watching Dick Lane years and years ago shooting a match at the Shooters Thanksgiving tournament here in Wichita. As good as he is, I could not, for the life of me, figure out why it took him so long to shoot. For even the simpliest of shots, he seemed to take an inordinate amount of time to shoot it, but he was meticulous in his playing.
:rotflmao1: Nicely put!
I do agree with Thaiger on one thing though: whatever pace you play at, when your inning is over, your job is to get out of the way!
Is the courtesy and respect you show to others here the same you show at the table? Just think about it, no need to answer, no need at all. I won't see it, because your post is reason to spelunk in my memories of Usenet for a certain forgotten term, and to find how to do the same thing in vbulletin:
AzBilliards Forums > User CP > Edit Ignore List. Enter "TheThaiger" in the box, click "OK".
Unfortunately the forum software still shows where your posts have been hidden, like leaving small signs marking each little ball in a long trail of rodent droppings across an otherwise clean floor.
FYI, the Urban Dictionary gives the definition of Thaiger as: "
or ( adj) An older Asian female on the prowl for younger men". You should be aware you won't attract many boys given your behavior here.*Plonk* - that's it, that's the word I was looking for.:wink:
Pangit
Banned
True..most rhythm players like me, don't like Slow Play. It's not my inning, no problem, 45 seconds is enough though. Up to me, I would "adopt" the NBA 24 second shot clock....great for TV. One extension per rack, 48 seconds immediately following the break. Nice flow. The sponsors would love it.
I've yet to meet a local pool playing populace acknowledged "Slow Player" that would self describe himself as anything but "Methodical".
That methodical "crutch" is wearing thin. Ralf Souquet has a nice, measured pace for most... But i still like Tony Drago and the Rocket.
TheThaiger
Banned
Is the courtesy and respect you show to others here the same you show at the table? Just think about it, no need to answer, no need at all. I won't see it, because your post is reason to spelunk in my memories of Usenet for a certain forgotten term, and to find how to do the same thing in vbulletin:
AzBilliards Forums > User CP > Edit Ignore List. Enter "TheThaiger" in the box, click "OK".
Unfortunately the forum software still shows where your posts have been hidden, like leaving small signs marking each little ball in a long trail of rodent droppings across an otherwise clean floor.
FYI, the Urban Dictionary gives the definition of Thaiger as: "
*Plonk* - that's it, that's the word I was looking for.:wink:
Gis kiss, Hermie. Rep sent.
Sounds reasonable to me, although I'd prefer 30 instead of 24. Some televised tournaments do something very similar. I'm not sure of the time amounts they typically use, but it seems to be in that range.
You could easily implement this with chess clocks for non-refereed matches - two timers with two buttons to mark end of turn (one for each opponent). One opponent stopping his clock automatically starts the other one.
Very well put. Nice to see people able to *respect* both sides of the issue.
KMRUNOUT