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slow playing opponent at the SBE
- Thread starter philly
- Start date
If you're playing in a tournament, you have an obligation to finish your match within a reasonable period of time. Yes, sometimes matches run a little late, but that's not always due to slow play. There may be a lot of safe shots or even a lot of missed shots.
But slow play should never be tolerated, intentional or not. There is no excuse for hogging time in organized competition. It throws off the tournament schedule in a big way. If your opponent is playing slow, you have an obligation to tell the ref or TD about it to get your match monitored. Don't think of it as something to be endured. It has nothing to do with your ability to ignore it or the challenge of not letting it get to you. It's about the rest of the people who have to play on that table after you and it's also about your rights as an opponent.
But slow play should never be tolerated, intentional or not. There is no excuse for hogging time in organized competition. It throws off the tournament schedule in a big way. If your opponent is playing slow, you have an obligation to tell the ref or TD about it to get your match monitored. Don't think of it as something to be endured. It has nothing to do with your ability to ignore it or the challenge of not letting it get to you. It's about the rest of the people who have to play on that table after you and it's also about your rights as an opponent.
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Brandon Ashcraft was playing Mike Wong and was upset that Mike was playing too slow... it was hill hill in the 3rd set and Brandon tried to joke around and played incredibly slow, about 2min a shot but was obviously just trying to piss Mike off. Blew up in his face when he didn't get out and Mike won the set. Was actually pretty funny.
Side note. I don't think Mike's slow play is a move. He practices slow too.
100% right Fran
Your 100% right Fran You have an obligation to finish your match in a reasonable amount of time.
I have seen this 2 years in a row where a ref had to be called because of slow play.
Once with Gail Robles last year & this year with Carmine Lombardo.
All I can say is BOTH slow players lost so i think they should practice a little faster
Your 100% right Fran You have an obligation to finish your match in a reasonable amount of time.
I have seen this 2 years in a row where a ref had to be called because of slow play.
Once with Gail Robles last year & this year with Carmine Lombardo.
All I can say is BOTH slow players lost so i think they should practice a little faster
If you are worried about it being considered "bad form," I wouldn't. I mean, the ref/TD is only going to get involved if the person is violating the rules, so any "bad form" would be on them, no?
I'm a golfer and slow play is a big problem in that sport, too. It ruins my whole round playing w/a slow player. I feel like I have to rush to make up for the slow player in our group and keep us in our proper spot on the course. You worry about possibly offending the nice guy that was slow playing in your tourney? You might just find that you make more friends by drawing attention to his (and others) slow play as I assure you that you are not alone in objecting to slow play.
I'm a golfer and slow play is a big problem in that sport, too. It ruins my whole round playing w/a slow player. I feel like I have to rush to make up for the slow player in our group and keep us in our proper spot on the course. You worry about possibly offending the nice guy that was slow playing in your tourney? You might just find that you make more friends by drawing attention to his (and others) slow play as I assure you that you are not alone in objecting to slow play.
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Won't there also be a fine line between playing slow and playing slower than me?
Can't it also be possible that a person who is just taking longer than you would of but still shooting within a realistic timly manner be called a slow player?
And it the OP, it obviously bothered you you regardless of your "body language" showing it or not and as you've learnt showing pity for your opponent yield the obvious consequence in your case.
From the lag to the last ball being dropped he/she is not your friend, if you are out to make friends stick to local bar leagues. Lesson learnt is my .02 cents
Can't it also be possible that a person who is just taking longer than you would of but still shooting within a realistic timly manner be called a slow player?
And it the OP, it obviously bothered you you regardless of your "body language" showing it or not and as you've learnt showing pity for your opponent yield the obvious consequence in your case.
From the lag to the last ball being dropped he/she is not your friend, if you are out to make friends stick to local bar leagues. Lesson learnt is my .02 cents
From the comments in this thread it is apparent that players are hesitant to complain to a ref or TD about slow play. That's natural; no one wants to be a "complainer."
It seems like a ref or TD could do a walk-around when the allotted match time is about 1/3 complete...and take note of number of racks played. If the number of racks is really low, put the players on the clock immediately. If the number of racks is just low (but not in danger -- yet -- of slowing down the tournament), warn the players to speed up or else they'll be put on the clock.
No reason for the "normal-paced" player to be the heavy and complain about a slow opponent. It's the TD's responsibility to make sure the tournament keeps to the schedule.
If you explain how the refs and TD will handle slow play (walk-around and put slow matches on the clock) at the Player's Meeting, you'll solve more than half the problems before they arise.
It seems like a ref or TD could do a walk-around when the allotted match time is about 1/3 complete...and take note of number of racks played. If the number of racks is really low, put the players on the clock immediately. If the number of racks is just low (but not in danger -- yet -- of slowing down the tournament), warn the players to speed up or else they'll be put on the clock.
No reason for the "normal-paced" player to be the heavy and complain about a slow opponent. It's the TD's responsibility to make sure the tournament keeps to the schedule.
If you explain how the refs and TD will handle slow play (walk-around and put slow matches on the clock) at the Player's Meeting, you'll solve more than half the problems before they arise.
Can't remember who it was, but somebody was telling me he was there when randy and Comstock had a few days of action. Told me he ate a whole burger before randy shot twice.
That's crazy, as well aS he plays.
You're right, but it rarely happens that way. Tournaments are always short-staffed, mostly because of the little pay or no pay, so the players have to step up if they want the event to keep moving.
The other option is for players who are ready to play to have to sit on the sidelines for hours waiting for the matches to catch-up.
Yes lesson learned. Just trying to get some opinions. Everything in life is just a test. Hindsight is 20/20 and in hindsight I should have told my opponent "I believe you are playing overly slow and if you do not step up your play I will request a referee to monitor our match." Believe me when I am in a match I am not looking for my opponent to be my friend but there is such a thing as good taste. Sorry I was raised that way.
I don't recommend telling your opponent directly. You could be accused of sharking. I would go straight to an official.
Fran, don't mind being accused of sharking even thought it wouldn't be. One guy standing behind our table said "You could watch a feature film between this guys shots." It took almost two hours to play 12 games of 9 ball, on a bar box yet!
It's not your job to warn your opponent. At that point it's just a matter of opinion. You need an official to make a final determination regarding slow play, regardless of how obvious it may seem to you and people around you.
The final score of your match was 5-1, 5-1?
Final score: 5-4 5-4