slow playing opponent at the SBE

philly

philly

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Lost my opening match at the SBE this year in two sets, though we did go hill hill, to an opponent that played incredibly slow. Half way through the second set the next matches were starting. My question is this: Has anyone on the forum ever called a ref over at the SBE to monitor the slow play of their opponent? I was considering this option but decided not to as I thought it might be bad form. Incidentally my opponent was a very nice guy. Please no advise on how to handle slow play as that has been covered in the forums many times.
 
If rules are in place that require each shot to be taken within a certain amount of time.....you are well within your rights as a player to call a ref over. Most of the time these "slow players" play slow purposely to irritate an opponent. After all the game is 80% mental. IMO ��
 
Thanks for your reply Ccarrol but the original questions was: Has anyone called a ref in to their match to monitor a slow playing opponent. I really wasn't looking for comments on the merits of slow play as it has been covered in these forums ad nauseum.
 
I get called a slow player often but have never personally had anyone called over on me for my slowness.

When I take my time I get out much much more often.

If I'm on a bar table I can do the whole fast and loose thing though and just get out when I'm feeling good.

On behalf of slow players everywhere who DON'T do it to annoy their opponents I would like to extend a sincere apology. I understand your concern. I do apologize.
 
Slow has to be defined by event rules, otherwise, an opponent has no business attempting to change the other's pace, no matter how bothersome it might be.

Place shoe on other foot: what if someone told you that your pace was inappropriate? Unless it violated the rule set, I'd tell em to piss off.
 
Black-Balled said:
Slow has to be defined by event rules, otherwise, an opponent has no business attempting to change the other's pace, no matter how bothersome it might be.



Place shoe on other foot: what if someone told you that your pace was inappropriate? Unless it violated the rule set, I'd tell em to piss off.
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I agree, you can't let things that you can't control take you out of your game or you might as well break down your cue. I just sit & meditate when someone like this is my opponent. YMMV.
 
philly said:
Lost my opening match at the SBE this year in two sets, though we did go hill hill, to an opponent that played incredibly slow. Half way through the second set the next matches were starting. My question is this: Has anyone on the forum ever called a ref over at the SBE to monitor the slow play of their opponent? I was considering this option but decided not to as I thought it might be bad form. Incidentally my opponent was a very nice guy. Please no advise on how to handle slow play as that has been covered in the forums many times.
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Yes. On the pro side. I took my break, went over to the TD and asked for the match to be monitored. We were eventually put on the clock which helped move things along.
 
Black-Balled said:
Slow has to be defined by event rules, otherwise, an opponent has no business attempting to change the other's pace, no matter how bothersome it might be.

Place shoe on other foot: what if someone told you that your pace was inappropriate? Unless it violated the rule set, I'd tell em to piss off.
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Lol. You obviously havent played Randy 1 hole!
ps
Playin a little slow, are we?...lol
 
FranCrimi said:
Yes. On the pro side. I took my break, went over to the TD and asked for the match to be monitored. We were eventually put on the clock which helped move things along.
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Thank you FranCrimi for an apropos response to the question I was asking. To be clear, in the players meeting at the SBE we were told to keep the pace up as the next round of players and the tournament director would like to start all matches at the posted time. Getting a ref to monitor a slow player was an option, stated by the tournament director in the players meeting and if the ref decided that a player was overly slow both players would be put on a 40 second clock which would have been fine with me. However my opponent was a very nice gentleman and I couldn't decide whether to excersize my right to get a ref to monitor my opponent. Point blank. Has anyone ever called in a referee other than FranCrimi to monitor a slow opponent?
 
Gunn_Slinger said:
Lol. You obviously havent played Randy 1 hole!
ps
Playin a little slow, are we?...lol
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This was not one hole. This was 9 ball. Once you make your ball and no other ball has moved do you really need a lot of time to look the table over?
 
philly said:
Point blank. Has anyone ever called in a referee other than FranCrimi to monitor a slow opponent?
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I have not and would not call a ref, (I would deal with it)

but my body language would give him the message......
 
BogeyFree said:
If you had won the match would you still have complained here about your opponent's slow play?
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Yes. Absolutely. And then would have clarified things with the tournament director instead of this forum.
 
philly said:
Lost my opening match at the SBE this year in two sets, though we did go hill hill, to an opponent that played incredibly slow. Half way through the second set the next matches were starting. My question is this: Has anyone on the forum ever called a ref over at the SBE to monitor the slow play of their opponent? I was considering this option but decided not to as I thought it might be bad form. Incidentally my opponent was a very nice guy. Please no advise on how to handle slow play as that has been covered in the forums many times.
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Never called the ref, though I have had the same thoughts run through me brain playing slooooow players -- the kinda guys that are so well known for their slow play that when standing in front of the tournament charts, everyone else in the tournament pats you on the back when they see who you've drawn and offer condolences like you've had a death in the family.

I think you made the right call by not calling the ref. If it's bad enough and starts holding up the whole tournament the tournament director or head ref should notice on their own and saunter over for a look see, which I have had happen.

Generally speaking, I think you just put it out of your mind and relax. It's just one match.

Lou Figueroa
 
michael4 said:
I have not and would not call a ref, (I would deal with it)

but my body language would give him the message......
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Why in the world would I let my opponent know I was upset through body language. I think that would give my opponent much joy. I'm now thinking the correct thing to do do was flat out let my opponent know I would call a ref to monitor his play if he does not speed up. Halfway throughout the second set they were announcing over the loudspeaker that the second matches of the day were about to begin which meant incoming players would be waiting for our table.
 
I have a lot of patience for slow play in 8 ball and I hate to admit it but I think I'm one of those slow players when it comes to that game. I just have a really hard time pulling the trigger before I've mentally worked my way through the entire rack.

9 Ball is another story. There really is no reason to play slow at that game.

Now have I ever called a ref -- no. However, in a team event we did complain to the other team's captain about one of their players that was taking FOREVER. If that match had gone any longer that would have been the first time ever I would have gone to a ref.

I usually just let it slide since it's only one match.
 
Fran is absolutely right.

Fran is 100% correct. As a guideline, take the total number of games possible, and divide by half. Are you at that point in the match at the halfway point of the time allowed for the match? If yes, play on. If no, call a referee, just like Fran said.
 
Philly.... I play against a guy in our senior league that takes about 15 slow strokes before he shoots. It's not right. I don't think he knows he's doing other than pissing everyone off.
There should be an unwritten or written rule about this.
Sorry you lost your match. See you next month. Look forward to hitting a few with you. Frank
 
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I didn't ask to be put on the clock, and wish I had after the match. Next time, I'll ask for the clock.

I've seen folks put on the clock quite a few times in pro events, and some amateur events as well. Some asked for it, others were put on it due to BOTH opponents being God awful slow. I got no problem with it, and don't see it as bad form.
 
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