Any advice on how to deal with exceptionally slow opponents?

J

Jeff M

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I don't want to be rude and try to always have good sportsmanship. I know that some guys do it intentionally to screw up your rhythm.

I understand taking some time if it's a really hard shot, but this guy I played last week in a tourney would takes minutes for some of the most obvious shots where he hardly had to do anything with cue ball either.

Who's had experience with this and how have you learned to deal with it?
 
I have dealt with this many times, Try to occupy your time somehow, bring a book, draw pictures, ect... I also learned a good lesson a long time ago, never wait with your cue in your hand, always put it down or lean (i dont recommend) it against something. This will make you less antsy.

I also no longer shoot in tournaments, was tired of starting at 7 and ending at 2 in the morning because no one wanted a shot clock but everyone complained on how long they took??

Good luck.
 
This was an issue to me in the past - still is, but less so now. When it was finally my turn again my tendency was to actually play faster than my normal pace, almost as though I'm trying to make a point to my opponent, lol. What I do now is start my inning more deliberately, sort of warm up to being back at the table. Then I build back up to my normal pace over the first few shots. This keeps me from rushing.

The other thing that really helped me was watching how patient professionals behave when they are in their chair against slow opponents, who for the most part are very patient. I learned something very valuable from Oscar Dominguez. A few years ago at the 10 Ball event in Vegas I watched him play two particularly slow players in one day. He was extremely patient even while it was irritating me as just a spectator. He would just calmly sit there, occasionally looking around at other matches or the crowd.

After his last match I asked him how he is able to handle it so well and he said, "Simple really. I just accept the fact that the reason I'm stuck in my chair is because I missed." If you can adopt that attitude it will help.
 
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No big deal

Play more One Pocket...., You'll find yourself not paying any attention to what the guy does until its your turn at the table.
 
The way I see it. I want my opponent to bring their very best game. If they have to take 5 minutes on each shot, then I'm fine with that. It makes my victory all the more sweeter....knowing that I let my opponent do what ever they needed to do, to bring their A game. Sometimes, I watch them closely...like in Chess. You look to see where your opponent is looking, and figure out what they are thinking.
 
I has a guy play me that was so slow I had to shave 3 times.
It would mess up my game bad.
Someone gave me some good advice! Play slower than he does!
It worked. It pizzed him off. I loved it.
Try it! :smile:
 
Jeff M said:
I don't want to be rude and try to always have good sportsmanship. I know that some guys do it intentionally to screw up your rhythm.

I understand taking some time if it's a really hard shot, but this guy I played last week in a tourney would takes minutes for some of the most obvious shots where he hardly had to do anything with cue ball either.

Who's had experience with this and how have you learned to deal with it?
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Did you play 'Doug" from Denver? Sounds like him.
 
This used to be a huge issue for me. Huge. Enough to make me totally avoid certain players or entire tournaments because of it. This one recent event, though, makes me think I might be able to overcome slow play, now.

A few weeks ago I was in another town playing one of their little weeklies and I got a bye. Then I got to play Mr Slower than Molasses (StM). So not only did I drive over 75 miles away for this tourney (long story why), but apparently I did so just to play Mr StM. And to top it all off- he could really play! I could have got mad, but I had a car full of people and I wasn't going anywhere even if I wanted to.

I thought, well, if I already drove all this way, let's see why someone who can clearly run out is taking 5 freaking minutes per shot to do so. I rested my own cue down and watched his every move. He walked around the table, inspecting every ball and angle until he'd planned the entire roadmap. Took his time making sure he was aiming at the right place on the ob. And the exact right place on the cb. Many many practice strokes and readjustments. He shot. Came a little hard, and about four inches farther than perfect. This changes his whole roadmap, and now he has to start all over. Which he does.

I really, really watched, and I even felt the intensity he was putting himself through on each and every shot. When he finally missed or played safe, I still felt that intense desire to take and keep control with my own actions- like a clear, cold burn. I didn't shoot slower or faster than my normal speed, but I was absolutely deliberate and completely mindful. At least one of my runs was long, and I vaguely noticed that I was shooting at my normal, faster rhythm, but more than anything, I very deeply cared about where and how I hit, and exactly where the cb would end up.

We went hill- hill, and I did win. It took an ungodly amount of time. Thing is, I would normally have just quit, or I would have started changing my own pace- faster, slower, even some decisions would have changed- all in retaliation against Mr StM. Instead it was as if I had sucked out his intensity and made it mine.

So this is very recent, and it has only happened once- but it helped me, it may help me again, and it may help you.
 
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Yes play way way slower than they do, this will totally mess with their minds make them speed up and miss. Now you can run out on them and be done with it. OR as soon as they start to shoot head out the door and head to the nearest Dairy Queen get a cool twist cone and when you return tell them they have been D Qed... I hate slow players.....
 
let him run to the tournament director :-)

let him run to the tournament director :-) then maybe the tournament director will put both of you on a shot clock :-)

If that don't work, Don't play safe & just run out all the time :-)

If that don't work just SHOOT HIM LOL
 
Take twice as much time yourself........

Jeff M said:
I don't want to be rude and try to always have good sportsmanship. I know that some guys do it intentionally to screw up your rhythm.

I understand taking some time if it's a really hard shot, but this guy I played last week in a tourney would takes minutes for some of the most obvious shots where he hardly had to do anything with cue ball either.

Who's had experience with this and how have you learned to deal with it?
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I had a freind years back that played real slow. Just slow enough so everyone got irritated that played him. In fact this actually helped him win many matches I think.

One day I went to play him and I took twice as much time as he did. We played a race to 7 and it took almost 2 hours. He never complained to me but he did complain to a freind how slow I played that day.

Couple of days later I told him that I learned something from him. I was playing too fast. With me playing so slow I was more careful. Made less mistakes. He agreed and said playing slower definitely helps.

He never asked me to play again. I guess it was too slow for him?
 
Slow players

I don't tolerate it, especially in a tournament. I just go to the TD, and ask them to put my opponent on the clock, and I don't have a problem with a 30 second clock, I am a usually a faster player.

Now, some money matches I've had, I have had to tolerate some slower play, but usually just on the real tough shots, and not every shot.

Anyone ever seen Dick Lane play? He used to be from Dallas. I mean I could drive home 13 miles, feed my dog, and take a shower, and go back before he would ever shoot!!! It's like trying to listen to someone really drunk trying to talk, at some point you just wanna slap the shit out of them.
 
attitude adjustment

I have told this story often enough I should keep it handy to cut and paste. Back when I was just a lad, barely twenty-three, I found this great small stakes action spot. A place that looked like the next good wind would make it fall over, they only served beer, and there hadn't been a woman in the place in living memory. Horribly ratty table and covered with bugs most of the time. Nothing like broadsiding a june bug to screw up a shot. However there was cheap action in this place twenty-four seven. There was also old Joe.

Not too surprising, old Joe was old, surely seventies, maybe eighties, nineties weren't impossible. Joe was slow. He walked slow, he thought slow, he shot so slow I don't remember a single ball ever losing contact with the pocket bevel on the way in. If the balls had to roll an inch further they wouldn't have made it. The worst part of it was that Joe still had runout capability if you gave him an open table to work with. It's annoying to watch somebody older than Methusala run the table on you. It is pure chinese water torture style torture when they take ten or fifteen minutes to do it every time.

I was young and dumb and full of cu, um, frijoles so when Joe missed I would jump up from where I had been sitting on the edge of my chair and either miss by shooting too quickly or miss shape in my haste to get the game over. Joe owned me for months. I regularly beat better players in there but if they would have had ATM's back then I might as well have had ATM tatooed on my forehead when I played Joe. I wouldn't dodge him and couldn't beat him.

I tried the usual things without much success then finally I hit on a change of mindset. Instead of sitting there cue in hand on the edge of my seat I leaned the house cue against my chair or used it to hang a foot over and relax. Instead of keeping my engine revving at ten grand sitting in the chair I was just a mildly interested spectator.

The first night I shifted mental gears I beat old Joe. He never beat me again. What is more, the trick I learned playing him has stood me in good stead ever since then. It has certainly made me thousands, maybe tens of thousands. I owe a bunch to old Joe just for beating me like a rented mule until I smartened up. It was years before I thought to wonder if Joe had once been "somebody" and how good he had played in his prime. I suspect he suppplemented his retirement checks a thousand a month or more grinding in that old nameless bar. Not chump change for the day and time.

The best way to deal with slow play is to learn to shift mental gears when sitting in the chair. It is even very useful playing long sessions when the other player isn't a slow player. Rest when you are in the chair, physically and mentally.

Hu
 
Slow players

If it's just a slow , usualy much less experienced, opponent I don't let it interfere with my game. Why empower them in any way for being slow and inexperienced? For them I may look at the table layout for trouble spots while they are shooting and concerntrate on how I'd get on that tough ball or tieup and play safe from there. These players usually wilt halfway through a set, but yes they take longer. If you limit what they start with by playing strong safes or two way shots thay never make too many balls.

For good players who may be playing slower for intimidation sake, well don't give them the pleasure either. If they see it working, they'll just keep on.

In response to a good player who is slow playing, wheter it's on purpose or just their usual pace. I just do not watch their play much, it will only aggravate me. Sometimes I will shoot at a quicker pace to show them that slow play is not effective. Their losing to a player who plays at a quicker pace, one who appears carefree is the best answer for them. They will be intimidated often and remember that you can do it better and easier.

When I have seen top pros slow playing the other player usually is not even watching them until they miss. They just try to stay focused. Meditation really works for this, it has for me. Avoid negative thinking because it breeds negative results by changing your mental approach to a shot.
 
Regardless of what your opponent does, do your thing when you're at and away from the table. If your opponent is a great player, it may be worth watching, thinking along, learn something about how the equipment's reacting etc. If not, watch some other table, do or think of something else.

And stop whining, as well as expecting others to solve your problems! You're competing, in other words, you're a warrior, not a wimp! Remember, time, nor your impatience, has got nothing to do with how fast or slow your opponent is. If he runs a quick hundred in Straight Pool, you're nonetheless sitting for half an hour or more. A minute is a minute, regardless of what's happening. All that counts is what you are doing (ultimately: to yourself) during that minute, half hour, whatever. If you're getting worked up because of what someone else is doing, you're effectively turning their problem into yours. You're a much better player if you learn to conserve your energy, channel and put it where it belongs.

Be economical: solve your problems, let the others solve theirs. By the same token, don't sit there hoping for your opponent to solve your problems. Wait for your turn, then do your thing - ideally, of course, keeping your opponent in the chair. But don't adapt or change your ways to achieve this - you're not there to please or displease others, nor lecture, patronize or bully anyone. Don't give in to his way of doing things. Do your thing - do it for yourself. Enjoy being you!

(Edit: as to intimidation, don't even think about "shooting slower than your opponent" - intimidation only works on opponents of lesser skill and mental strength, in other words, someone you'll beat anyhow provided you don't waste your energy. If your opponent is slow as well as a great player, what makes you think you could intimidate him being childish, as well as, perhaps, falling into his trap? Better to run out and keep him in the chair. One of my favourite pool sayings is by the great Irving Crane: "The guy in the chair can't hurt you." That's true regardless of how good a player he is, how fast or slow he is, how intimidating he may be…)

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
 
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Al-po said:
I have dealt with this many times, Try to occupy your time somehow, bring a book, draw pictures, ect... I also learned a good lesson a long time ago, never wait with your cue in your hand, always put it down or lean (i dont recommend) it against something. This will make you less antsy.

I also no longer shoot in tournaments, was tired of starting at 7 and ending at 2 in the morning because no one wanted a shot clock but everyone complained on how long they took??

Good luck.
Click to expand...

How would you know if someone fouls if your not paying attention?
 
acousticsguru said:
Regardless of what your opponent does, do your thing when you're at and away from the table. If your opponent is a great player, it may be worth watching, thinking along, learn something about how the equipment's reacting etc. If not, watch some other table, do or think of something else.

And stop whining, as well as expecting others to solve your problems! You're competing, in other words, you're a warrior, not a wimp! Remember, time, nor your impatience, has got nothing to do with how fast or slow your opponent is. If he runs a quick hundred in Straight Pool, you're nonetheless sitting for half an hour or more. A minute is a minute, regardless of what's happening. All that counts is what you are doing (ultimately: to yourself) during that minute, half hour, whatever. If you're getting worked up because of what someone else is doing, you're effectively turning their problem into yours. You're a much better player if you learn to conserve your energy, channel and put it where it belongs.

Be economical: solve your problems, let the others solve theirs. By the same token, don't sit there hoping for your opponent to solve your problems. Wait for your turn, then do your thing - ideally, of course, keeping your opponent in the chair. But don't adapt or change your ways to achieve this - you're not there to please or displease others, nor lecture, patronize or bully anyone. Don't give in to his way of doing things. Do your thing - do it for yourself. Enjoy being you!

(Edit: as to intimidation, don't even think about "shooting slower than your opponent" - intimidation only works on opponents of lesser skill and mental strength, in other words, someone you'll beat anyhow provided you don't waste your energy. If your opponent is slow as well as a great player, what makes you think you could intimidate him being childish, as well as, perhaps, falling into his trap? Better to run out and keep him in the chair. One of my favourite pool saying's by the great Irving Crane: "The guy in the chair can't hurt you." That's true regardless of how good a player he is, how fast or slow he is, how intimidating he may be…)

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
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Its not his problem he's dealing with. Slow players bother everyone who is not a slow player themselfs. Its not good for pool in anyway. I also know a top 5 barbox player that will even refuse to let you rack the balls if he is losing. He will just run his stick through the rack. I have seen him do this everytime he is in a tough match. He will also shark in anyway he can. Slow play is a big problem and should be stopped in some way in the pool world. Its the reason they came up with texas express, to speed the game up. If possible, shot clocks should be used in all tournaments! I personally refuse to gamble anymore with a slow player.
 
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