Slow play in one pocket and how to handle it.

JoeyA

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
I'm just curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with your opponent playing extraordinarily slow. I played a match last night where my opponent almost put me to sleep. After five hours I was down 4 games and had to raise the bet in order to get even. We probably only played about ten games over SEVERAL hours.

My opponent seems like a very nice guy but his slow play put my game off. We were gambling so no referee and no touranment director.

How would you have handled this?

JoeyA
 
One of the conditions of the match is a 30 second shot clock.

Or, you could also put a time limit on a game. If it isn't played in less than an hour, you WIN.

How about for every time it takes more than 30 seconds for him to shot, you get $2 or More.

If he cannot win a game in less than an hour, it doesn't count.

$10 per game if less than an hour.

Only play One game with the above conditions, if not met, reschedule for another time.

Or, you can ask him to speed up his play or you will have to find someone else to match up with.

JoeyA said:
I'm just curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with your opponent playing extraordinarily slow. I played a match last night where my opponent almost put me to sleep. After five hours I was down 4 games and had to raise the bet in order to get even. We probably only played about ten games over SEVERAL hours.

My opponent seems like a very nice guy but his slow play put my game off. We were gambling so no referee and no touranment director.

How would you have handled this?

JoeyA
Click to expand...
 
JoeyA said:
I'm just curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with your opponent playing extraordinarily slow. I played a match last night where my opponent almost put me to sleep. After five hours I was down 4 games and had to raise the bet in order to get even. We probably only played about ten games over SEVERAL hours.

My opponent seems like a very nice guy but his slow play put my game off. We were gambling so no referee and no touranment director.

How would you have handled this?

JoeyA
Click to expand...



Joey.....I don't like playing real slow players either, but, that said....if it's gambling, and not a tournament, any player betting his $$$ has the right to play at whatever speed he likes and that he plays his best at....if certain guys play too slow for you, the answer is very simple - don't play them...

I can think of two guys over the years around my area that play/played super-slow, and that also were very tough games for me to win anyway - so I chose not to play them....but on the other hand, if a super-slow player who plays 9-8 under me wants to play me even - I'm more than happy to oblige him - while he takes his sweet time, I'll just relax, kick back in the chair and lazily watch the coin moving around the table in my favor...:)

- Ghost
 
JoeyA said:
I'm just curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with your opponent playing extraordinarily slow. I played a match last night where my opponent almost put me to sleep. After five hours I was down 4 games and had to raise the bet in order to get even. We probably only played about ten games over SEVERAL hours.

My opponent seems like a very nice guy but his slow play put my game off. We were gambling so no referee and no touranment director.

How would you have handled this?

JoeyA
Click to expand...

Bet higher!!! :thumbup:
 
Slow Play

I try to stay focused by playing absolutely pinpoint cueball , so they never have a shot.
I also don't take shots that can turn the game around if I miss.
I feel like the worst thing I can do, if they are slow playing me on purpose. is to let them win a game.
Then it never ends.
It has actually become the single worst thing an opponent can do to me, because I make up my mind, that I don't care if the game takes 10 hours, I am not going to lose it.
If I have done all the things above and they get lucky or make a great out on me, I am done for the day.
They will never win more than 1 game doing it.
 
I've certainly had my share of playing slow players and I have found only one thing that works on them, OUT-SLOW them.

I would first have to accept the fact I would be having a long session. Once that was done, I would never be in a hurry to get to the table. If I had anything to do, go to the bathroom, get a drink, candy bar, go smoke, etc., I would wait for my turn and then go do it, very leisurely. Sometimes, I would even engage in a conversation with a railbird and make the opponent wait while I finished. I wouldn't do a lot of table/ball management ideas from my chair. I would wait to do that once I got to the table.

Yes, slow players can be out-slowed and the roles can be reversed. :)

Hope it helps.
 
When matching up or even in almost all non-professional tournaments, there is no shot clock. Really slow players drive me crazy but it used to be worse. I'm learning how to handle it better. I asked Oscar Dominguez once how he handled a match I watched in a pro 10 Ball event in which his opponent was really, really slow. I couldn't handle it and I was just a spectator. Anyway, he said to me he just accepts that the reason his opponent is at the table is because he missed.

Anyway, I know it's a little different in 1 Hole but I suppose the concept is the same. I've just tried to adopt the attitude that it is a learning experience and a chance to practice patience that will help me the time comes that I face a slow player deep in a tournament.

As for matching up, life's too short. Since I don't enjoy playing a real slow player, I just don't.
 
JoeyA said:
I'm just curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with your opponent playing extraordinarily slow. I played a match last night where my opponent almost put me to sleep. After five hours I was down 4 games and had to raise the bet in order to get even. We probably only played about ten games over SEVERAL hours.

My opponent seems like a very nice guy but his slow play put my game off. We were gambling so no referee and no touranment director.

How would you have handled this?

JoeyA
Click to expand...

Bear down and play super tight,get him stuck early,that will speed him up!
 
JoeyA said:
I'm just curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with your opponent playing extraordinarily slow. I played a match last night where my opponent almost put me to sleep. After five hours I was down 4 games and had to raise the bet in order to get even. We probably only played about ten games over SEVERAL hours.

My opponent seems like a very nice guy but his slow play put my game off. We were gambling so no referee and no touranment director.

How would you have handled this?

JoeyA
Click to expand...

Let him read this thread:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=170446

Jeff Livingston
 
JoeyA said:
I'm just curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with your opponent playing extraordinarily slow. I played a match last night where my opponent almost put me to sleep. After five hours I was down 4 games and had to raise the bet in order to get even. We probably only played about ten games over SEVERAL hours.

My opponent seems like a very nice guy but his slow play put my game off. We were gambling so no referee and no touranment director.

How would you have handled this?

JoeyA
Click to expand...


You don't play them, end of story.

I play pool for enjoyment. If a particular player is slow, or likes to argue about good or bad hits, or just bee-at-ches a lot, or is trying to shark me all the time, I just pass. It's not a tournament and I don't need the money so why would I put myself in that position?

There is one guy I play on a regular basis who is at the outside limit of how much slow play I am willing to tolerate. But he's only doing it because he is a 9ball player trying to learn more about 1pocket and so he really studies the table. But he is a super nice guy, we never have an argument, he calls fouls on himself, and so it's OK and I usually just watch the big screen TV while he's figuring out what to do.

Lou Figueroa
 
Dunno, but I can tell you what doesn't work: speeding yourself up to balance it out.

Costed me quite a few sets, it did.:angry:

As said, each player gets to play his own game. And you don't have to play (again) either.
 
lfigueroa said:
You don't play them, end of story.

I play pool for enjoyment. If a particular player is slow, or likes to argue about good or bad hits, or just bee-at-ches a lot, or is trying to shark me all the time, I just pass. It's not a tournament and I don't need the money so why would I put myself in that position?

There is one guy I play on a regular basis who is at the outside limit of how much slow play I am willing to tolerate. But he's only doing it because he is a 9ball player trying to learn more about 1pocket and so he really studies the table. But he is a super nice guy, we never have an argument, he calls fouls on himself, and so it's OK and I usually just watch the big screen TV while he's figuring out what to do.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

Great post Lou. I gamble for the enjoyment and if I am not having fun, I won't play them.
 
xianmacx said:
Great post Lou. I gamble for the enjoyment and if I am not having fun, I won't play them.
Click to expand...


Thanks, and I think it's the correct solution. The money is just to bring a little heat and excitement and add to the experience. If it's not a pleasant experience, why put yourself through it unless you're gambling to eat? I tried playing a local guy here not too long ago and right off the bat we're in an argument over a foul. When he got to the point of hinting I was just outright lying I said fine and I just don't play him anymore. It's a very easy fix.

Lou Figueroa
 
JoeyA said:
I'm just curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with your opponent playing extraordinarily slow. I played a match last night where my opponent almost put me to sleep. After five hours I was down 4 games and had to raise the bet in order to get even. We probably only played about ten games over SEVERAL hours.

My opponent seems like a very nice guy but his slow play put my game off. We were gambling so no referee and no touranment director.

How would you have handled this?

JoeyA
Click to expand...

Just deal with it and don't let it bother you. If you're opponent knows it's getting to you, he'll probably play even slower. He is, after all trying to win your money, so he'll exploit any advantage he can find.
 
lfigueroa said:
You don't play them, end of story.

I play pool for enjoyment.



Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

I not only not play with them but also avoid any socialization with them.
There are still openings for US Open one pocket.I am not entering the tournament because there are no rules against the slow players.

I coined a name for the slow players that could be an addition to the pool lingo. It is: ' Garden Lizzards'. Garden lizzards are bigger than house lizzards but smaller than Iguanas and they make 'push ups' type of movements when they are in their natural habitat while studying the environment. There are varieties of slow play and one variety includes the players who after studying the table for 2-3 minutes bend down to take the shot take few aiming strokes then get up to study the table.That repeat this several times like lizzards in the desert.

There is another issue we need to be concerned about these 'garden lizzards and that is : causing inconvenience to the players on the next table.The game on the next table will be kept on hold because this'garden lizzard' occupied the limited space/narrow alley between the tables.These slow players are inconsiderate of the existence of other humans.That is why we need to socially ostracize/alienate these ' Garden Lizzards'.:cool:

PS: I know one guy who on occasions will take 15 minutes to shoot a ball.
 
Last edited:
JoeyA said:
I'm just curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with your opponent playing extraordinarily slow. I played a match last night where my opponent almost put me to sleep. After five hours I was down 4 games and had to raise the bet in order to get even. We probably only played about ten games over SEVERAL hours.

My opponent seems like a very nice guy but his slow play put my game off. We were gambling so no referee and no tournament director.

How would you have handled this?

JoeyA
Click to expand...
It's possible to use a chess clock. The modern electric ones allow you to set a "grace period" for every change of player, so you actually have enough time to play a single shot without the clock moving at all. You could even offer to spot your opponent 2:1 on the time.

While I usually agree with Lou on this -- just don't play -- sometimes the slow guy is the only game in the room and you want to play.

If you have a problem with all the balls moving up-table, there are ways to deal with that. The one I like is to note the score and rack all 15 and break again, starting from the score. Usually scoring goes faster at the start of the rack.
 
vagabond said:
There is another issue we need to be concerned about these 'garden lizzards and that is : causing inconvenience to the players on the next table.The game on the next table will be kept on hold because this'garden lizzard' occupied the limited space/narrow alley between the tables.These slow players are inconsiderate of the existence of other humans.That is why we need to socially ostracize/alienate these ' Garden Lizzards'.:cool:
Click to expand...

I'm with Lou on this one. Just don't play them. As far as playing next to a table with a slow player, I will "politely" ask to shoot if they are in the middle of a long thought process and holding up my game.
 
I once played a guy 6 games of one pocket in 4 hours. I quit because I ended just shooting at everything to get the game moving. I played him again a few years later and he still played slow, so I ended it quickly. I just decided it wasn't worth the time since I play for fun (and cheap).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top