How do you deal with slow players?
- Thread starter Flex
- Start date
I've made up my mind.DaveK said:
I'm taking a book to the pool hall.
Some don't do it on purpose. Some do it to pizz you off.
One guy slowed our match ( this Saturday ) then he would sulk in front of me while I was shooting.
No wonder a lot of people quit this sport.
We put up with too much crap.
Hmm, remember the Jimmy Reid vs Jim Rempe match that lasted TWO sessions?Barbara said:
It was written on BD years ago.
Jimmy Reid can get on your skin if you let him.
First time I saw him do a number was against Johnny Archer at Legends of 9-Ball back in '95.
Johnny won the first few games. JR took a timeout and went to the restroom.
When he came back, he started chatting with a few friends while Johnny was fuming in his seat waiting for him.
Then he slow played the whole set. One man next to me could no longer take it and he started talking to Jimmy Reid. He bluntly told Reid, " get your act together."
A very interesting question. I think every player should be able to vary his playing speed a little. I can remember playing guys that litterly flew around the table making balls.
Normally I play fairly fast also, but for these fellows I would slow down and play an inordinate amount of safeties. It would disturb their normal routine, they would miss more, and I got the cash. So some players are playing slow by design. Understand that possibility, and find a way to keep it from messing your game up. How, would depend on the person, and why, you are playing. In a tournament, propriety is first. Do like Earl, take nap, close your eyes or read a book as suggested. Do not overindulge the game, it will affect your normal instinctive play.
If its a money game, non cordial type, I would consider some passive agression. One place I played had TV's around the room. When this slow player situation came up, I would just turn, perhaps putting my feet up, and watch the game and talk about it with one of my friends, with one eye on the table. Then perhaps ask "Is the TV too loud" or "Is our talking bothering you". I know how that sounds, but that is how it was, playing for cash with irritating slow players. Now that I'm old(er), I just go somewhere else mentally, and deal with the table as its left to me.
Normally I play fairly fast also, but for these fellows I would slow down and play an inordinate amount of safeties. It would disturb their normal routine, they would miss more, and I got the cash. So some players are playing slow by design. Understand that possibility, and find a way to keep it from messing your game up. How, would depend on the person, and why, you are playing. In a tournament, propriety is first. Do like Earl, take nap, close your eyes or read a book as suggested. Do not overindulge the game, it will affect your normal instinctive play.
If its a money game, non cordial type, I would consider some passive agression. One place I played had TV's around the room. When this slow player situation came up, I would just turn, perhaps putting my feet up, and watch the game and talk about it with one of my friends, with one eye on the table. Then perhaps ask "Is the TV too loud" or "Is our talking bothering you". I know how that sounds, but that is how it was, playing for cash with irritating slow players. Now that I'm old(er), I just go somewhere else mentally, and deal with the table as its left to me.
Sharking
Sharking shouldn't matter. All that means is that you don't have a strong mental game..
ScottW said:What do you call sharking, then?
Sharking shouldn't matter. All that means is that you don't have a strong mental game..
Flex said:
The "coma" comment sounds to me like a cheap shot from a sore loser anyway.
Personally, in any competition, the last thing I would want to do is to give any indication that anything the other player is doing is distracting me negatively in any way. I just try to stay on game.
Socially, I'd keep it light, maybe say something like "Keep playing slow and you're gonna be lonely. ( I would do my best to sound like Chris Rock on the word "lonely" )
I know I don't run around the table, but there are some guys out there that just play S-L-O-W. When you all figure out how to deal with them, let me in on the secret. I've begun just not watching them go through their whole routine of getting up, getting down, getting up, chalking the cue, double checking the angle, getting down, stroking the cue ... ooops ... not quite ready, getting up, more chalking, getting back down, 8 strokes later and ...
It's hard to keep your eyes away from the table for so long though without being totally obvious that you're trying to ignore them.
Gah. I'm making myself sick just thinking about it right now.
It's hard to keep your eyes away from the table for so long though without being totally obvious that you're trying to ignore them.
Gah. I'm making myself sick just thinking about it right now.
I heard when you played Arturo at Hard Times, Bellflower, you had a beard like his after your match was over.Jimmy M. said:
JoeyInCali said:I heard when you played Arturo at Hard Times, Bellflower, you had a beard like his after your match was over.
For some reason, Arturo's slowness doesn't bother me all that much. The guy just moves slow, but his pace, albeit slow, is at least constant. It's the guys who are all over the place around the table before actually shooting the shot that drive me nuts. Like I said, they get up, they get down, they look like they're going to hit it, no! Wait! They're back up again! They're checking the angle again ... etc. That crap just makes want to fling pool balls at their heads.
PoolSleuth
Banned
I have been know to say to a "Slow Player", are you going to shoot before my birthday in March Next YEAR..
It doesn't matter if the player is playing slow on purpose or if it is hi/her style---if it bothers you, you have to change something.
PLAN AHEAD. If you are just matching up with someone make sure there is a table next to you. Reserve that table for you to practice/keep in stroke while the slow player is taking his time at the game table. If he wants to use the practice table while you are shooting, it is up to YOU to let him or not. If you don't want him to use it just set up a shot that you don't want distubed while you are at the game table. It is then his time to sit and get out of stroke. You may have to pay a little extra table time--- but so what. I have not seen a rule against this in a tournament so it may work there also if a table is available.
During a tournament---read a pool book or the USA Today. Try not to move around when he is shooting so he can complain to the TD. This will make the dead time go fast for you and he will not be able to take his mind off of you. He will be just waiting for you to shark him.
Let me know how this works.
PLAN AHEAD. If you are just matching up with someone make sure there is a table next to you. Reserve that table for you to practice/keep in stroke while the slow player is taking his time at the game table. If he wants to use the practice table while you are shooting, it is up to YOU to let him or not. If you don't want him to use it just set up a shot that you don't want distubed while you are at the game table. It is then his time to sit and get out of stroke. You may have to pay a little extra table time--- but so what. I have not seen a rule against this in a tournament so it may work there also if a table is available.
During a tournament---read a pool book or the USA Today. Try not to move around when he is shooting so he can complain to the TD. This will make the dead time go fast for you and he will not be able to take his mind off of you. He will be just waiting for you to shark him.
Let me know how this works.
Either I had a Deja Vu, or there was another thread about this and I think someone suggested to put the Jeopardy theme song on your phone and play it.
Well, I figured it must be available on the web somewhere, and HERE it is!
I guess that could be considered un-sportsman-like, but it would be really funny, IMO.
Well, I figured it must be available on the web somewhere, and HERE it is!
I guess that could be considered un-sportsman-like, but it would be really funny, IMO.
Well theres not a whole lot you can do while in your chair unfortunately (besides tripping him). But even if I know exactly what I want to do, when I get up I take my full 30-45 seconds on the first shot, to plot out the table any problem areas, everything.
This keeps me from shooting before I am ready, I know how I want to play out the table so I can get into my rythm from there.
This keeps me from shooting before I am ready, I know how I want to play out the table so I can get into my rythm from there.
Flex said:
I read the thread.
And, this is not a nice thing to do, but...
1) Offer shot selections, in the first person. (murmuring to yourself)
2) Get fidigity, juggling measles cue balls one handed.
3) Tilt your head back and take a nap.
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I'm not promoting this type of behavior, only showing that it happens. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
I agree with CaptJR. be patient
Spend your time to watch and learn what your oponent is having trouble figuring out. Capitalize on that knowledge. You'll win every game (initially) if you do that.
Slow play is nothing more than two things:
1) Trying to break the opponent's will
2) Put in the mental catagory of (Seen as) an Idiot, On Drugs, or an Alzheimer
[I know that sounds harsh, I apologies]
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Bottom line - Ignore it, deal with it, learn from it. Your choice.