Stall, Stall, Stall

nyjoe14.1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ok so I was playing this guy the other night and he was unbelievably SLOW. He would walk around the table over and over, and when he picked a shot I kid you not it would take him at least 60 seconds to pull the trigger if not longer. I have come across this kind of thing in the past and have been able to over come it but this was too much. I don’t mind saying that he got me out of my game (which im SURE was his intention) and I tried to hurry things along so I lost. The worst part was I truly believe that im supposed to beat this guy 9 out of 10 times.

So my question is have any of you come across this before and if so how did you deal w/ it?

Joe
 
I hate playing people like this as well. It's a true test for me. Whether they are doing it intentionally(which has happened) or not. At first, it drove me batty and I would get fluttered, angry and start flipping out. Then of course lose.

If I know the person is doing it intentially to get in my head and I can't gain composure, I will try a couple things in return. I will play even slower then him and take longer. But I need to be hitting the balls well because I am ultimately falling back on my shot making skills. I will act like I am not paying attention to the game or match. I will walk around the bar or hall, drink, eat anything other then watch him play. Yet mentally I am. I will make him find me or remind me it's my shot. I will also talk outloud during my shots (not during his) and even go as far as verbally judge/question his style of play (while talking to myself), not so much insult his game, but get in his head and if I get him talking during my turn I know I did it and he will get flustered. I will make slight comments about how I thought I had time to enjoy another coffee or chat with friends or did you rush your shot again. LOL

If its not intentional and just the guy's style, (which I have seen) I will just try to focus on something else besides the game until its my turn at the table or enjoy a humerous conversion with a friend about how long this match is going to take. Anything to keep positive and in control.

ez
 
nyjoe14.1 said:
Ok so I was playing this guy the other night and he was unbelievably SLOW. He would walk around the table over and over, and when he picked a shot I kid you not it would take him at least 60 seconds to pull the trigger if not longer. I have come across this kind of thing in the past and have been able to over come it but this was too much. I don’t mind saying that he got me out of my game (which im SURE was his intention) and I tried to hurry things along so I lost. The worst part was I truly believe that im supposed to beat this guy 9 out of 10 times.

So my question is have any of you come across this before and if so how did you deal w/ it?

Joe
now i know how to get to ya!!!!! :eek:
 
nyjoe14.1 said:
Ok so I was playing this guy the other night and he was unbelievably SLOW. He would walk around the table over and over, and when he picked a shot I kid you not it would take him at least 60 seconds to pull the trigger if not longer. I have come across this kind of thing in the past and have been able to over come it but this was too much. I don’t mind saying that he got me out of my game (which im SURE was his intention) and I tried to hurry things along so I lost. The worst part was I truly believe that im supposed to beat this guy 9 out of 10 times.

So my question is have any of you come across this before and if so how did you deal w/ it?

Joe

When I'm playing a slow player I try to do two things:

1. I use the additional time in the chair to do breathing exercises. This helps to take my focus away from the inordinately slow play, it provides more oxygen to my brain and my muscles, and it calms me down.

2. I stick to my normal playing rhythm. The worse thing that you can do when playing a player faster or slower than yourself is to change your rhythm in response to your opponent's. Every player has his/her own rhythm that contributes to optimal performance. Stick to yours!
 
we got a guy in our league like this

ive seen a frame take 1 hour!!!

best thing to do is snooker him over and over till he gets anoyed and smashes them leaving u the finish
not only will he be anoyed with the snookers he will also be cross that u won after a nice finish after his smash

another approach is to do as said above - walk away
go to bar, toilet, outside
where ever make sure he knows ur not there and so will mess up his rythem
 
when playing a slow player. I always try to lock them up with safeties all the time. You will either get ball in hand or them very frustrated to where they shoot a bit faster. It seems to work for me.

Tony
 
Slow

If they are, by my definition, extra slow, I don't play them ..... period. I quit playing a couple of money players because they are too slow.

I quit playing league 2 1/2 years ago because of too many hassles, so the only time I might end up with one is in a tournament, or if one is on an opposing Scotch Double team for money.

Another aspect of SLOWNESS, is the player that after a break takes 5+ minutes or so looking over the table before he shoots the first shot, and some even miss that first shot .... lol
 
A few years ago, we had a player like this at our local room. I ended up facing him in a race to 7 eight ball tournament. I wound up winning, but the set took 3 hours and forty-five minutes.
I was still just a banger back then, so it never bothered me much.
Nowdays I'll simply tell the person to get it done, or I quit.
 
Yeah I do not think the answer is slowing YOUR game down to stick it to the man. "I can play slow too...HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES!!" You are only getting yourself out of your previously designed preshot routine, which also includes how much time you take between shots. This would lead to making mistakes.

I just sit there patiently looking at the balls at the table, not watching the person walking around the table 15 times before finally missing. Then you just get up and get right back into your routine. Don't get flustered, don't get anxious cause you are not at the table...sit back, calm your mind, and be focused when you get your shot at the table.
 
I hate playing this type of player in leagues during weeknights. I get up early, so I get frustrated and anxious. Usually costs me the match.

When I have the time (like on the weekends), I agree with Mystick Cue Fan with trying to play lockup safes at every opportunity in order to get BIH. Then the key is to play in rhythm.
 
I remember watching a TV pool match between Corey & Kid "D" and in one of the player interviews, Corey said playing him was like playing a turtle.
It was the one where Kid "D" hung his next to last ball in a hill/hill match and Corey took the title.:)
 
I have played slow players, but they haven't played so slow that it bother me yet.

If I do, I will just do like Earl Strickland, unscrew my cue and give him the match. I have better things to do than spend my time watching someone drinking water, chalk, aim, drink water again, towel the cue, chalk again, check if the balls are still at the same place as they were before you drank water, aim, load and shoot.

I'll rather go watch women's soccer, and that's boring!!!
 
nyjoe14.1 said:
Ok so I was playing this guy the other night and he was unbelievably SLOW. He would walk around the table over and over, and when he picked a shot I kid you not it would take him at least 60 seconds to pull the trigger if not longer.

So my question is have any of you come across this before and if so how did you deal w/ it?

Joe

I played against a guy once (and lost) in a tournament that wasn't overly slow about picking out his shot, but once he got over the cueball he took an incredible amount of time to pull the trigger. He would stand in his knee-bent stance, lining up the shot with no practice strokes for a good 45 seconds to a minute. Enough time to where I'd of over-thunk the shot TWICE in that span of time. I couldn't physically have stood in that position for that long without my legs wobbling. Come to find out by talking to his wife who was there, he had some mental issues due to some complications from a surgical procedure. It just took him that long to picture the shot. He was a fairly good player but I should have beat him. His slow play threw me off my game. I'm gonna try a different approach if I ever play someone this slow again. I guess in this instance, you can't fault the player for slow play.

Maniac
 
I play a guy who is notorious for being slow,it doesnt bother me anymore because i just have become very patient but the best thing i can think of is saying to myself is just play better,dont miss and the guy cant get to the table and shoot and play slow at all,then i dont have to get agitated.:D ;)
 
Here is one thing that MUST be considered when shooting a slow player;

A slow player may seem to have the illusion of control of the table because;

-Number one, he is at the table for an extended period of time

-Number two, you are in your chair, waiting for your chance to get back at the table, also for an extended period of time.


Sounds painfully obvious, but a lot of things mentally and physically can set in while waiting for your turn back at the table.

Sitting and basting and lamenting yourself after your last missed opportunity for extended periods of time can be too much to handle for some people.

Better to sit and be as productive as possible, look at the layout, look at potential safes, patters, what your opponent is faced with an may do, etc.

Do anything but let negative thoughts enter your head. Easier said than done.

Slow players piss me off.
 
Playing 'slow players'

Anyone that can't handle 'slow players' might want to re-evaluate why they are playing in the first place.

Sure, 'slow players' will 'upset' most players.

But I still wonder why? Do you have somewhere to be? in a hurry? Why is it so important that 'slow players' play at your expected 'speed'.

What makes players think they should play opponents that play pool at a speed that is comfortable to everyone?

If you defeat a 'slow player' do other players thank you for eliminating that 'slow player'?

I've always taken advantage of 'slow players' to relax, prepare for my next time at the table and know that I am not 'rushed' to execute my turn at the table. And, I will be ready.

But, I still would like to know what is going thru their brain.
 
Tom In Cincy said:
Anyone that can't handle 'slow players' might want to re-evaluate why they are playing in the first place.

Sure, 'slow players' will 'upset' most players.

But I still wonder why? Do you have somewhere to be? in a hurry? Why is it so important that 'slow players' play at your expected 'speed'.

What makes players think they should play opponents that play pool at a speed that is comfortable to everyone?

If you defeat a 'slow player' do other players thank you for eliminating that 'slow player'?

I've always taken advantage of 'slow players' to relax, prepare for my next time at the table and know that I am not 'rushed' to execute my turn at the table. And, I will be ready.

But, I still would like to know what is going thru their brain.

I agree, in an ideal situation, this would not be a problem.

The issue is that there is such a thing as rhythm, and pace. When you are away from the table for an extended period of time, it's like walking up to the table for the first time all over again.
 
nyjoe14.1 said:
Ok so I was playing this guy the other night and he was unbelievably SLOW. He would walk around the table over and over, and when he picked a shot I kid you not it would take him at least 60 seconds to pull the trigger if not longer. I have come across this kind of thing in the past and have been able to over come it but this was too much. I don’t mind saying that he got me out of my game (which im SURE was his intention) and I tried to hurry things along so I lost. The worst part was I truly believe that im supposed to beat this guy 9 out of 10 times.

So my question is have any of you come across this before and if so how did you deal w/ it?

Joe
I played a guy like this recently in a tournament. This guy was holding up the whole winners side and basically the whole tourney. I won the first game in a race to 3 in 8 ball. The second game I broke and made nothing. He ended up running out the rack as they were spread nice the only thing was it took him almost 15 minutes to hit 8 balls. I went up to rack and I said to him " wow I was just starting to fall asleep, that was brutal " he said what and then I said it again. After I said that he started to play faster and missed many shots that I think he normally would have made. I don't mind a guy taking his time but it must be reasonable and IMO 2 minutes per shot is not reasonable. I ended up beating him 3-1 and I am not sure if what I said threw him off his game or the fact he actually sped up but I have been lucky enough to not have to play him again. I am sure he will never forget me :) In all of the years I have been playing pool that is the first time I have ever had to say something to someone like that.
 
nyjoe14.1 said:
Ok so I was playing this guy the other night and he was unbelievably SLOW. He would walk around the table over and over, and when he picked a shot I kid you not it would take him at least 60 seconds to pull the trigger if not longer. I have come across this kind of thing in the past and have been able to over come it but this was too much. I don’t mind saying that he got me out of my game (which im SURE was his intention) and I tried to hurry things along so I lost. The worst part was I truly believe that im supposed to beat this guy 9 out of 10 times.

So my question is have any of you come across this before and if so how did you deal w/ it?

Joe

Just tell him your birthday is coming up in a couple weeks and you would like to be able to go to the party. LOL!!
 
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