Frustrated with my own slow play in 8 ball

N

newcuer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know I am slow player and I at times ask teammates if I as slow other players I am playing against who are driving me nuts with their slow play. And unfortunately the answer is yes (sometimes it's hard to objectively tell one's own pace of play).

Ugh. I don't want to be like them. Not sure what to do. If I play faster, I play worse (especially strategy wise and pattern wise).

Any advice?
 
skip100 said:
Play faster and worse so people stop hating you.
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Can't fault that as an answer.

I probably should have asked in my original post if there are methods/practice techniques one can do to practice speeding up the decision making process?
 
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You can't outrun incompetence. Instructors stress routines and drills to instill sound method.
About the only guess I can make about your tempo/impatience is don't waste time worrying and wondering if shit's gonna go or what. That's for the practice work.
 
Pattern play is a crucial part of the game, but it is easy to lose sight and think it is everything. I tell my students that the second best plan executed with confidence will always outperform the best plan executed tentatively.

I'm curious about one thing. When you are at your best, what speed do you play?
 
Tin Man said:
Pattern play is a crucial part of the game, but it is easy to lose sight and think it is everything. I tell my students that the second best plan executed with confidence will always outperform the best plan executed tentatively.

I'm curious about one thing. When you are at your best, what speed do you play?
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At a slow pace. Most importantly, where the shot I take I am 100% committed to. That's when I play my best. Unfortunately, for me, that is at a slow pace. This is particularly true for eight ball and it is not just limited to pattern play but also safety shots and strategic shots (I play on a 7 foot diamond). I try to play a very strategic game based on what I read from Givens and Capelle (starter shots, knowing when to give up on a run, setting up break out shots, etc.)

When I try to rush it up...then I take shots where I am not 100% committed to. I often botch these shots or shoot a shot that leads to nowhere.
 
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Paralysis by analysis. I'm guilty, as well, at times. I think it's simply a matter of trying to examine the table quicker and trusting your instincts more. You probably end up shooting your first choice most of the time.

There's a balance, of course. Rushing your shot process isn't going to help. But over-thinking isn't, either. My only suggestion is for you to try to pick up the pace a little at practice, and see if you can acclimate to that. More about the decision making portion, rather than the down-on-the-ball portion. That stuff needs to remain as consistent as possible.

Good luck. And good on you for at least recognizing that it affects others.
 
The funny thing is that the guy I was playing yesterday was slow and it was driving me crazy. Probably compounded by the fact I have been playing terrible as of late. So I asked my teammate if I shoot that slowly and he said yes, about the same. So then I was not only frustrated about my poor play, his slow play, but then also that I was as slow as him....lol. All three together were making me very frustrated.
 
Some things that helped me: pre shot routine. Not getting down until I know for sure what I'm going to do and then just execution without indecision.

Being very deliberate in practice about patterns. It takes forever sometimes to see the right shot or get comfortable with what I have to execute. When you do this for a few months ( timeframe will vary) the patterns come to you faster and your play will naturally speed up.

When playing don't worry about your pace of play. The time for that is when your putting in the work on the practice table.
 
couldnthinkof01 said:
Being very deliberate in practice about patterns. It takes forever sometimes to see the right shot or get comfortable with what I have to execute. When you do this for a few months ( timeframe will vary) the patterns come to you faster and your play will naturally speed up.

When playing don't worry about your pace of play. The time for that is when your putting in the work on the practice table.
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These are all vital steps for me as well to play better, but I don't understand how they help me to play faster?
 
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newcuer said:
I do play 9/10 ball faster than 8 ball. I am more concerned with 8 ball

These are all vital steps for me as well to play better, but I don't understand how they help me to play faster?
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you don't get it. nevermind.
 
newcuer said:
These are all vital steps for me as well to play better, but I don't understand how they help me to play faster?
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I don't know why you play slow or rather how you play slow.
Too many steps around the table?
Getting up and down?
8000 practice strokes?
Indecision?

For me, it was pattern recognition speed and getting down, being unsure sometimes and getting back up.

Videoing yourself playing a match or practicing can reveal many flaws you don't realize.
 
I agree with post eleven. If you want to change or improve any aspect of your game, work on it, at the practice table. Competition is for applying what you’ve learned. Take three balls, plus the cue ball and eight ball. Scatter them on the table. Make a decision. Commit, execute. Rinse and repeat. With success, add balls.
 
couldnthinkof01 said:
I don't know why you play slow or rather how you play slow.
Too many steps around the table?
Getting up and down?
8000 practice strokes?
Indecision?

For me, it was pattern recognition speed and getting down, being unsure sometimes and getting back up.

Videoing yourself playing a match or practicing can reveal many flaws you don't realize.
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Pretty much deciding what shot to take. I tend to try go through all possible options in my head. Either other people don't do this or they do it but much faster.
 
It's not on aiming or anything like that. Or using up a minute trying to do a Dr. Dave peace sign (I have seen this with others...I am not this badly off).
 
I tell people "don't be afraid to play worse". Don't intentionally play worse, but seeing patterns and defensive opportunities are skills that develop with practice/time and there's no shame in not making the perfect decision every time. Make timely decisions and commit to them - over time, they will get better and better, but they will remain timely. It's the same with any sport, and even more noticeable with sports like basketball where there's a shot clock. Speaking of which, a shot clock (say 1 minute) is a good way to practice the mental skills.
 
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