Slow player blues.

P

pigsRflying

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So, once a week I play 8-ball with a friend of mine, who is an excruciatingly slow player. Studying the table at length after each shot and staying down on each shot a long time. I try not to let it bother me, but it does, and throws me off my game. I play moderately fast and just want to scream at him "just shoot the ball already". Does anyone on this forum have some kind of mental exercise or some other way that they use to keep focus on their game (and stay calm) in such a situation?

Would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks.
 
I walked off the golf course and tendered my resignation from the private club I was in because of slow play and because of the refusal of the club to marshal the course. On my last day of play, It was taking a foursome 20 minutes per green to putt out once the last ball came to a stop. I haven't hit a ball since that day over 8 years ago. I was hitting in the low 80's when I quit.

We are supposed to enjoy this game. Slow play will drain every once of joy out of a beautiful game like this. Please have consideration for those around you and make the changes necessary to speed up your play if you are a slow player.

BTW, what can you possibly be staring at for so long on every freaking shot?
 
Sounds like a social night with a buddy. Rather than agonize over how long he takes to shoot, enjoy the time you have together :)
 
pigsRflying said:
So, once a week I play 8-ball with a friend of mine, who is an excruciatingly slow player. Studying the table at length after each shot and staying down on each shot a long time. I try not to let it bother me, but it does, and throws me off my game. I play moderately fast and just want to scream at him "just shoot the ball already". Does anyone on this forum have some kind of mental exercise or some other way that they use to keep focus on their game (and stay calm) in such a situation?

Would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks.
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I would just quit playing him. And I would tell him the reason -- that you and he are just different in your approaches to the game and that his pace of play takes the enjoyment out of the sessions for you. If he is truly a friend of yours, this should not end the friendship and you can find other ways to spend time with him.
 
nateobot said:
Sounds like a social night with a buddy. Rather than agonize over how long he takes to shoot, enjoy the time you have together :)
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Although I get your point, it is not just a social night out. We are not gambling, but are there to play pool. I take pride in my game and always strive to play well. I am not a "win at all costs" type person, but I play to win. My friend is a good person and a decent player, just has a snail like approach to the game. We are both in our late fifties, so no chance of my "old dog" friend learning new tricks.

I guess maybe I started this thread just to get this off my chest mentally. There probably is no trick to deal with slow players, just grin and bear it.
 
chevybob20 said:
I walked off the golf course and tendered my resignation from the private club I was in because of slow play and because of the refusal of the club to marshal the course. On my last day of play, It was taking a foursome 20 minutes per green to putt out once the last ball came to a stop. I haven't hit a ball since that day over 8 years ago. I was hitting in the low 80's when I quit.

We are supposed to enjoy this game. Slow play will drain every once of joy out of a beautiful game like this. Please have consideration for those around you and make the changes necessary to speed up your play if you are a slow player.

BTW, what can you possibly be staring at for so long on every freaking shot?
Click to expand...


Good example. I play golf as well (not as well as I play pool) and have a friend who gets very irritated at slow golfers. He will drive the cart over to the offending group and have no qualms about letting his angst be known.
 
pigsRflying said:
Good example. I play golf as well (not as well as I play pool) and have a friend who gets very irritated at slow golfers. He will drive the cart over to the offending group and have no qualms about letting his angst be known.
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My hero. I'd buy him a beer.
 
AtLarge said:
I would just quit playing him. And I would tell him the reason -- that you and he are just different in your approaches to the game and that his pace of play takes the enjoyment out of the sessions for you. If he is truly a friend of yours, this should not end the friendship and you can find other ways to spend time with him.
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I suppose it may come to that eventually, As you say, it does lessen the enjoyment.
 
As a relatively slow player my self, when I play someone I consider slow... They're very slow. I tend to not watch them and think about other things. They could be pool related such as a past shot I nailed or they could be what is on tv tonight or what's for dinner. Just let your mind wander to pass the time. And what ever you do, play your own pace when you get to the table.
 
pigsRflying said:
Good example. I play golf as well (not as well as I play pool) and have a friend who gets very irritated at slow golfers. He will drive the cart over to the offending group and have no qualms about letting his angst be known.
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I would laugh at him and then play slower... If asked politely if he could play through I would gladly let him ... Being a jerk gets you no where lol in all seriosness honestly this wouldn't happen to me because I'm mindful if I have a new player or slow player with me and am quick to give good players the option if we're holding them up.

I'm glad I don't get bothered by stuff like this. Anything like this I look as a weakness I need to get better at managing and I do. To be that's how you become a more well rounded player. You don't quit... You attack and over come.
 
Take it as an opportunity to figure out how to play against a slow player. You may run up against others in competition and this would be excellent training. I've been told that I'm pretty methodical, not super slow but definitely take my time. I don't even realize I'm playing slow it's just part of my game and psr.

As far as playing a slow player, I usually will let my eyes wonder to other tables and watch matches but still keep an eye out for my opponent especially when they pull the trigger.
 
Your opponent might be slow if during his turn at the table, a spider weaves a web over the corner pocket while he's studying the angle approach to the hole.
What goes through his head is this; "Very soft hit....no slam it hard, no just a little left and medium speed, no this calls for inside spin, no just a little right hand top, yea that's it and jack the butt up in the air, no a level cue, no aim for center to edge, no center to center, no aim for the lip of the pocket, no lets duck instead. Now, where to bank this ball safe?"
 
chevybob20 said:
BTW, what can you possibly be staring at for so long on every freaking shot?
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I've heard rumors that they are waiting to see the dust particles settle.

Seriously, I've stepped up to the table and said" Yo, they stopped rolling about 4 minutes ago, yup....your good"

The problem with confronting them is, they will sometimes think it's upsetting you,(duh), then they slow down even more.

My suggestion, if you are in a pool hall, is to go over to the nearest TV, and just start watching.
Sometimes it helps to yell to the bartender " hey, can you turn on Dr. Phil".
 
One of my very favorite competitors used to play excruciatingly slow. Used to dread to play him. Decided one day to pay more attention to what he was doing. Damn if my 8 ball game didn't improve significantly. Now I don't study each shot to death but I at least want to see what the best route to my next shot might be. Where the open area is. Whats the best angle for the next ball.

Just started playing my fifty seventh year. Don't ever remember anyone ever accusing me of slow play. Quite the contrary, once I found a comfortable pace, the games went along quickly. Some of you on AZ have watched me play and I'm sure would agree. Last Saturday morning at 2 AM I won a match to move me further into the money at a regional tournament. Beat my opponent 4 - 0 in a one loss side match. Packed up and left for the night. Returned at 10 AM and was told my opponent had just slammed the balls around on his (infrequent) turn because I played way too slow! Now we're talking 9 ball. Too slow :shocked: ? Guess it takes all kinds.

Pigs, there are always lessons to be learned in the game we both love.

Lyn
 
Good points..,

dardusm said:
Take it as an opportunity to figure out how to play against a slow player. You may run up against others in competition and this would be excellent training. I've been told that I'm pretty methodical, not super slow but definitely take my time. I don't even realize I'm playing slow it's just part of my game and psr.

As far as playing a slow player, I usually will let my eyes wonder to other tables and watch matches but still keep an eye out for my opponent especially when they pull the trigger.
Click to expand...

Learn to play One Pocket and you wont care what your opponent does. In One Pocket if my man cant figure out what to do then I know I've shot a good shoot, he's in a trap, so the longer he takes the better I feel, especially if he takes the wrong shot next.

One Pocket, a great patients builder!
 
I found that, if you time them,many slooow players fall well within trnmnt shotclock times. That helped me with being a little
more patient.
 
You have to get to a point that your opponents speed of play has no effect on yours. When you are at this level of play, it's always gonna be a struggle.

Everyone has a optimal speed that works best for them and allows them to play their best game.

Food for thought, did you ever think that maybe your fast play effects him in the same way that his slow play effects you? From what I've seen a lot of slow players slow down even more when playing a fast paced player.
 
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