How do you deal with slow players?!
- Thread starter PROG8R
- Start date
After further review and a days worth of thought on the subject, I have decided to 3-foul the BAJESUS out of them. Then at least the game will end sooner, and they may just get mad enough to quit when I never give them a shot. I like to do that anyway, I just try not to do it when I dont need to.
briandlau said:
ive tried that, but when im back at the table, its like im in the begining of the match at 0-0 again. I also found out, that smoking a cigaret in between only lowers my concentration.
taking your focus off the game , is something i wouldnt recommend to everyone
. My advice is to check on players like ralf souquet, and watch what he does when he has to sit out for 4 racks. His focus is not on the table, but it aint a tv, girls, or anything else. he is in his own mental cocoon, its like he is in some sort of sleepy standby mode. the danger in this, is that u overthink when you are in your cocoon. this is where the concentrating on breathing helps.
the only thing worse for your confidence then a slow player, is a emotionless player. Slow players are used that people start to get frustrated, and they usually even subconsciously suspect that you are going to say something about it or at least get a little bit irritated. Well, nothing better then to react completly emotionless to them. he will start to wonder, why you are the only player not getting frustrated, and he'll get nuts after a while. !! guaranteed. the solution is as simple as it can get. against a slower player: dont do ANYTHING, and it will work better then ANYTHING else.
i either:
- put myself in this sleepy standby mode (works better the more tired i am),
OR
-(and this also helps alot, but ofc cant be done vs any player) is to check the other player out and disect his basics. Finding flaws in other peoples game, really boosts my own confidence. i try to search for dropping elbows, bad body aligment, anything that i would suggest him to change if i was a coach.
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The fact is, there are only two persons in the entire world you can complain to: The Tournament Director and God. Since there's a good chance neither will listen to you, this is a problem you're going to have to solve with yourself.
You have to take responsibility for this - Don't look for the TD to make things comfortable for you. Don't use this issue as an excuse for poor play. You have to be impervious, no matter what the tactic.
Last week, I had a match with a player who recently gave birth. She had her baby right near the table. In the middle of the match and in the midst of my turn at the table, her baby needed feeding. She asked if it was alright for her to excuse herself from the table for a little bit. I said, "of course". I proceeded to lose every game after she returned.
What happened? I didn't play as well as she did and honestly, I didn't even think about the turn-of-events until it was pointed out to me afterward. The way I see it, 90% of my success and failure is dictated by my play and my play alone. If I'm playing well, there's simply nothing my opponent can do to stop me. NOTHING.
If I'm not playing well, what can I do? That's the nature of pool but I'm not going to look for excuses. I'm just going to try to learn from it and improve upon it.
You have to take responsibility for this - Don't look for the TD to make things comfortable for you. Don't use this issue as an excuse for poor play. You have to be impervious, no matter what the tactic.
Last week, I had a match with a player who recently gave birth. She had her baby right near the table. In the middle of the match and in the midst of my turn at the table, her baby needed feeding. She asked if it was alright for her to excuse herself from the table for a little bit. I said, "of course". I proceeded to lose every game after she returned.
What happened? I didn't play as well as she did and honestly, I didn't even think about the turn-of-events until it was pointed out to me afterward. The way I see it, 90% of my success and failure is dictated by my play and my play alone. If I'm playing well, there's simply nothing my opponent can do to stop me. NOTHING.
If I'm not playing well, what can I do? That's the nature of pool but I'm not going to look for excuses. I'm just going to try to learn from it and improve upon it.
I often shoot fast when I'm feeling good but when I'm sick and can't think I shoot like a snail taking 40 seconds or more on a shot. Some people just need thinking time... it doesn't bother me at all when people take a long time, it just reminds me that I could probably afford to take an extra 5 seconds to improve my committment to the shot.
gpeezy
for sale!
slow play
what i will do if i'm not to the point of self destruction because i hate it to.i will play each shot,by shot,by shot.interact with what he's doin.point out his mistakes to yourself.this will also help you capitolize when its your turn because you have been sitting there running out the whole time and he's being looking at a pool table and on every once in a while shooting.this i'm gonna say is best other than telling him to get his rear end in gear.
what i will do if i'm not to the point of self destruction because i hate it to.i will play each shot,by shot,by shot.interact with what he's doin.point out his mistakes to yourself.this will also help you capitolize when its your turn because you have been sitting there running out the whole time and he's being looking at a pool table and on every once in a while shooting.this i'm gonna say is best other than telling him to get his rear end in gear.
in a match where there is no shotclock, better bring yourself a companion to talk with, just in case you run into a slow player. it would be a lot nicer if it's a lady friend of yours. I saw some guys do these kind of solution just to keep themselves preoccupied for the moment. one even had his companion brought him a pillow, and tell his opponent that to remind him or wake him up when it's his turn to shoot. maybe he does it to amuse himself or to annoy his slow opponent. 
Also, it's a good thing to play slower than the guy playing you. I saw a certain video clip here of a kid who can't seem to make up his mind in taking a very simple shot and had to chalk up a lot of times with no sense at all, maybe just to annoy. if I were that guy's opponent, I would do the same thing, except that I would do it much more slower.
Also, it's a good thing to play slower than the guy playing you. I saw a certain video clip here of a kid who can't seem to make up his mind in taking a very simple shot and had to chalk up a lot of times with no sense at all, maybe just to annoy. if I were that guy's opponent, I would do the same thing, except that I would do it much more slower.
Jude Rosenstock said:
Right you are. Rep to you.
Not everyone has the quick thinking, sharp, intiuitive pool mind and God given stroke and physical talents of the fast players.
Those who do need to have patience with those who don't.
I play in a league against a guy sometimes who plays decent but not great and very fast. It is often obvious that he does not see the whole table and makes mistakes particularly in getting position.
This costs him games, but when he loses, he has every excuse in the world except his own ineptitude.
It happens...sometimes stupid slow...I've seen it and lived it( don't like it either).
BUT it has nothing to do with you....NOTHING.
Your shot,your turn,your run... its all on you,So is your rhythm.
When I play someone I sense "needs" to play fast...I hit low gear.
As far as dealing with it...put your cue down after every miss,safety whatever and focus elsewhere as mentioned.If you can't do that,its not the speed that beats you...its your need for it....big difference imo.
BUT it has nothing to do with you....NOTHING.
Your shot,your turn,your run... its all on you,So is your rhythm.
When I play someone I sense "needs" to play fast...I hit low gear.
As far as dealing with it...put your cue down after every miss,safety whatever and focus elsewhere as mentioned.If you can't do that,its not the speed that beats you...its your need for it....big difference imo.
Several things happen when an opponent's slow play bothers you. First, you notice it and then wonder if he/she is doing it on purpose. Second, your concentration on the slow play intensifies and charges your emotion. Third, you respond by speeding up your play and/or by doing other things that negatively affect your play. And guess what? It just gets worse. You think about it some more and guess what again? It gets worse again.
Remember the old definition of stupidity? Keep doing the same thing and expect different results.
Here is a suggestion for change. When the player slows his play, just get a newspaper and start to read. This will do several things. First, you will get your mind off of the slow play by reading articles. Second, your emotion will stay calm. Third, your opponent will notice your reading and will wonder if you are doing it to distract him. The distraction will be much greater if others are watching the match. Congratulations---you have just reversed the roles and will win.
There is one caveat: Do not move or rattle the paper and be extremely careful to act like you are not trying to shark the opponent. When he is ready to shoot just barely look over the paper to see the shot.
Before you try this, I'll make a bet with you that it will work. Just PM me.
Remember the old definition of stupidity? Keep doing the same thing and expect different results.
Here is a suggestion for change. When the player slows his play, just get a newspaper and start to read. This will do several things. First, you will get your mind off of the slow play by reading articles. Second, your emotion will stay calm. Third, your opponent will notice your reading and will wonder if you are doing it to distract him. The distraction will be much greater if others are watching the match. Congratulations---you have just reversed the roles and will win.
There is one caveat: Do not move or rattle the paper and be extremely careful to act like you are not trying to shark the opponent. When he is ready to shoot just barely look over the paper to see the shot.
Before you try this, I'll make a bet with you that it will work. Just PM me.
Our leagues all have a 60 sec time limit, and it's unusual for most players playing singles to go over 30sec. I get into a groove when playing well, and time wasters don't intrude on my composure.
I once saw an arguement in a pub in the Northern Territory about slow play (and other issues about sexual preferences) that ended in a cue being broken over one players head. No more slow play after that!!
Daniel
I once saw an arguement in a pub in the Northern Territory about slow play (and other issues about sexual preferences) that ended in a cue being broken over one players head. No more slow play after that!!
Daniel
PROG8R said:
Shoot 'em. That'll solve the problem.
GADawg said:
Another way to look at it - In baseball, not all pitchers have similar timing. Some get the ball from the catcher and are already in their wind-up. Others will get the ball back, look at their outfielders, check the count on the scoreboard, look for the sign, shake-off the sign, agree to the first sign they got, get into their stance, check the runner, throw to first-base, check the sign again, check the runner again and finally deliver a pitch.
Have you ever heard a hitter complain that the pitcher was taking his sweet time and that's why he didn't put it out of the park? I mean, any hitter who would make such an excuse would get laughed at! However, it does change things quite a bit. Pace is very important and being able to make adjustments is part of the challenge.
If I'm playing a slow player I'll never let on that it bothers me. I'll light a smoke, have a drink but I will always be watching him play. I'll try to figure out his plan to run out & see if it matches my own. I may look totally uninterested on the outside but I'm not!
Even if his slow play is bugging the hell out of me he'll never know it! Also, if he's at the table due to an error by me it gives me chance to get over it & prepare for my next shot.
Even if his slow play is bugging the hell out of me he'll never know it! Also, if he's at the table due to an error by me it gives me chance to get over it & prepare for my next shot.
Bathroom
I had a team mate that when he was breaking. He would be at his end of the table pactice strokes like he couldn't wait to break. As soon as the rack was ready he would put his stick down and go to the bathroom. Shark!!!! He won many games before anybody shot. He was in his opponents head. He could be a really big &ss sometimes but it worked for our purposes.
PROG8R said:
I had a team mate that when he was breaking. He would be at his end of the table pactice strokes like he couldn't wait to break. As soon as the rack was ready he would put his stick down and go to the bathroom. Shark!!!! He won many games before anybody shot. He was in his opponents head. He could be a really big &ss sometimes but it worked for our purposes.
I quietly sit there but every 30 seconds I make a loud HONKING sound and then I say TIMES UP!!!...then I laugh like I'm some kind of a nut case....very effective...
Jude Rosenstock said:
I'd say the batter is in control of the time between pitches...Imagine a batter that would spend at least 2 minutes between pitches fixing his gloves, tying his shoes, walking around the plate, testing the wind conditions, calculating the humidity, and changing bats. Then when he's finally ready he steps into the box and immediately steps out to go through his routine again. C'mon now...there's a difference between getting comfortable and being excessive. I have no problem with the guys that walk slowly and take their time to line up. It's the ones that walk around the table a hundred times and count diamonds for a straight in stop shot.
briandlau said:
This is very close to what I do (here's how I turn the tables), I go to my seat, turn it around and look at the crowd. Many slow players feed off you watching them. You might also annoy them by reading a book or magazine and tell them to let you know when its your turn or when they miss, and take your time when going back to the table....then resume your normal playing speed.