Slow play in one pocket and how to handle it.

Samiel said:
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).
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and for chicken.
 
Don't put yourself through the headache of playing guys that can't seem to play at a normal pace. It angers me and puts me on tilt when people play slow, so if I know they play slow enough to piss me off, it's gonna cost an extra ball in the handicap my way to get me to get up.
 
dardusm said:
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.
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Not playing with the 'Garden Lizzards' is part( one segment) of ostracization and alienation.:cool:
 
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
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I don't know JoeyA except from what I've read of his posts. Knowing that he plays in some of the high-powered tournaments, I can only surmise that Joey must be a good player.

IMHO, good players ALWAYS want to figure out how to win or what they could do different to have won. I think that one-pocket brings out the worst of the slow-mo players, but they are there in every game. Now days, most tournaments have a shot clock/slow play rule except for one hole. A good player wants to be prepared and have ways to handle the situation.

I dislike posts like that from Vagabond where he says, "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."

Why are you letting the possibility of slow players infringe on your tournament choice? Why don't you take it as a challenge to be conquered instead of just giving up?

I read all these posts about quitting, don't play the guy, etc...I don't think that is the point of the OP. To me, the point is, "What can I do to get me back on my game to be able to win in this situation?" It is more about trying to figure a way to win against a good, irritatingly slow player.

As pointed out by Black-Balled, "Dunno, but I can tell you what doesn't work: speeding yourself up to balance it out." That is oh so true.

Winston846 says, "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."

Those are easy words to say and difficult to put into action. I too, would be interested in how others "deal with it". I have my way and it works for me except when I can't justify playing a long session. What is the mindset used to "deal with it"? What is the mindset you use so it doesn't bother you?

In re-reading his OP, JoeyA did figure out a way to win/get even. It involved doubling the stakes. Joey, is that the only change you made? What else did you do to get back to even? How did your mindset change? When the money went up, did your concentration level go up?

Sorry if I've stepped on some toes here. I'm just not big on quitting or not playing. To me, that's just another excuse for losing. I hate losing more than I like winning.
 
what ever you do don't let the slow play have you shooting speed pool.......you sit down for awhile every time and your blood starts cooking and you just want to shoot shoot shoot...........

this ends up with shooting yourself in the foot........

one of my matches at caspers was like this........guy played so slow he ended up getting up on me 2-0 going to 4............

every time i got to the table it was like the idiot playing 8 ball and just picking the closest thing to him to shoot..........so it effectively got me nothing good in the first two games.......

i took a breath and realized i was cutting my own throat by grinding my teeth like that.........so i slowed it back down and stuck to my original plan to play MY GAME.......

and the result was 4-2 and I was winner......

I have played many slow players before in other games but this was the first very very slow player i've had a match with in one pocket........it was quite a learning experience.

Eventually maybe I'll tell you guys/gals about the 47min game of 9 ball i played.......BRUTAL!!!!!!!!! all i had to do was go to sleep and wait for him to miss on the 8 and i ran two in 10 sec lol..........crazy chit.
 
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Bob Jewett said:
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.
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Like Lou, I choose who I play with and for similar reasons. This was an exception.

Well, what prompted this thread was I got the text message from Buffalo Billiards owner. Something to the effect, "They're here! Come play!" Which means that he wants me to come to the pool room and play someone who is looking for action.

It turns out that I know the fellow and he is a pleasant sort although I had never seen him play one pocket before. He brought with him an entourage so it was good for the owner's business and the local crew enjoyed the sweat. I played for my maximum about 7 hours, losing for the firs few hours and managing to raise the bet and get even on the last few hours. He was pleasant to play with. No arguments. No talking. No sharking. It was just his terribly slow play that bothered me at first. I finally decided that I didn't like losing my money to him and decided I had better overlook his slow play because my being distrubed by it was costing me money. Luckily form me, he tired from the long session and let me win my money back.

I didn't want to seem like a jerk by complaining to the guy about his slow play (since this was his only fault besides playing better than me a the the time)although I did sigh a lot and stood from time to time just to make sure I still had circulation in my legs. Sitting still for long periods of time is no fun. My siging and standing from time to time didn't seem to bother him and I could swear that he slowed down even more. Nice guys don't do those kind of things do they?

JoeyA
 
vagabond said:
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.
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I don't want to be Mark's spokesmodel, but I do know he is concerned about slow play at the Open and a couple of guys holding things up. So I believe this will be an item he'll discuss with us at the player's meeting and my feeling is that he does or will have a plan to deal with it. IOW, I wouldn't worry about it.

And the 15 minute a shot guy -- he doesn't happen to live in Chicago does he, because there's a guy up there that should have a cattle prod issued to every opponent he draws and they should not only be allowed but encouraged to use it on him.

Lou Figueroa
 
Bob Jewett said:
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.
Click to expand...


I don't know, Bob -- in my experience the slow guys are just not going to speed up, or agree to a shot clock, or speed up rules.

Lou Figueroa
 
Bob Jewett said:
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.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't mind having a count-down clock. Maybe one that would go off like a siren if the time expired. It would be very evident to everyone who was playing slow.

The chess clocks are fine for people use to using them (chess players) but it takes a bit of getting used to, to use them effectively.

JoeyA
 
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
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When I want to play, I want to play and if a person is a very slow player and isn't otherwise a pain in the neck, I still want to learn how to accept the slow play and not let it hurt my game.

JoeyA
 
Wags said:
I don't know JoeyA except from what I've read of his posts. Knowing that he plays in some of the high-powered tournaments, I can only surmise that Joey must be a good player.

IMHO, good players ALWAYS want to figure out how to win or what they could do different to have won. I think that one-pocket brings out the worst of the slow-mo players, but they are there in every game. Now days, most tournaments have a shot clock/slow play rule except for one hole. A good player wants to be prepared and have ways to handle the situation.

I dislike posts like that from Vagabond where he says, "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."

Why are you letting the possibility of slow players infringe on your tournament choice? Why don't you take it as a challenge to be conquered instead of just giving up?

I read all these posts about quitting, don't play the guy, etc...I don't think that is the point of the OP. To me, the point is, "What can I do to get me back on my game to be able to win in this situation?" It is more about trying to figure a way to win against a good, irritatingly slow player.

As pointed out by Black-Balled, "Dunno, but I can tell you what doesn't work: speeding yourself up to balance it out." That is oh so true.

Winston846 says, "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."

Those are easy words to say and difficult to put into action. I too, would be interested in how others "deal with it". I have my way and it works for me except when I can't justify playing a long session. What is the mindset used to "deal with it"? What is the mindset you use so it doesn't bother you?

In re-reading his OP, JoeyA did figure out a way to win/get even. It involved doubling the stakes. Joey, is that the only change you made? What else did you do to get back to even? How did your mindset change? When the money went up, did your concentration level go up?

Sorry if I've stepped on some toes here. I'm just not big on quitting or not playing. To me, that's just another excuse for losing. I hate losing more than I like winning.
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I do have to say that tournament play is a bit different, and generally speaking, I don't care if a guy plays slow in a tournament because it's a one time deal and after all he has paid his entry. I played a guy in the Open a few years back that, near the end, just stopped shooting at his pocket and there wasn't much I could do. The TD came over and basically said the winner of the next game wins the match. Fortunately, it was my break and I was able to shut him out right off :-)

Lou Figueroa
 
JoeyA said:
Like Lou, I choose who I play with and for similar reasons. This was an exception.

Well, what prompted this thread was I got the text message from Buffalo Billiards owner. Something to the effect, "They're here! Come play!" Which means that he wants me to come to the pool room and play someone who is looking for action.

It turns out that I know the fellow and he is a pleasant sort although I had never seen him play one pocket before. He brought with him an entourage so it was good for the owner's business and the local crew enjoyed the sweat. I played for my maximum about 7 hours, losing for the firs few hours and managing to raise the bet and get even on the last few hours. He was pleasant to play with. No arguments. No talking. No sharking. It was just his terribly slow play that bothered me at first. I finally decided that I didn't like losing my money to him and decided I had better overlook his slow play because my being distrubed by it was costing me money. Luckily form me, he tired from the long session and let me win my money back.

I didn't want to seem like a jerk by complaining to the guy about his slow play (since this was his only fault besides playing better than me a the the time)although I did sigh a lot and stood from time to time just to make sure I still had circulation in my legs. Sitting still for long periods of time is no fun. My siging and standing from time to time didn't seem to bother him and I could swear that he slowed down even more. Nice guys don't do those kind of things do they?

JoeyA
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Soooo, would you play him again?

Lou Figueroa
 
JoeyA said:
When I want to play, I want to play and if a person is a very slow player and isn't otherwise a pain in the neck, I still want to learn how to accept the slow play and not let it hurt my game.

JoeyA
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Yeah, I have the same problem. I love to compete and sometimes will get into games that I shouldn't or even when I'm not playing well. I always figure a tough match will get me in stroke... sometimes that works for me, many times it dan't work out so good.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
Soooo, would you play him again?

Lou Figueroa
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Yeah, I would play him again, but I would have a heart-to-heart talk with him and tell him everything that I said here and what many of you also said.
JoeyA
 
Wags said:
....Why are you letting the possibility of slow players infringe on your tournament choice? Why don't you take it as a challenge to be conquered instead of just giving up?.
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Comment of that nature does not qualify to receive a response with explanation.:cool:
 
Joey, I'm just wonder if his slow playing would have bothered you as much if you were up four games instead of down four games after a few hours.

My experience tells me that a person only complains of slow play when they are losing.
 
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