Stall, Stall, Stall

[breaktime2]

It happens to the best of them. Back in the late 80s/early 90s I watched a match between Fi Fi and Kim Davenport. It was a race to 15!! By the time it ended, Davenport swore up and down he would never again enter a tournament if Fi Fi was playing. Davenport won but it was something like 15-13. Took forever.

 

[Tin Man]

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

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

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

The United Pool Players Against Ridiculously Slow Play, or UPPARSP, has no problem with a deliberate pace. Two of my favorite players are Nick Varner and Ralph Soquet. I have even enjoyed a match with Mr. Basavich in the US Open and had no complaints with his pace.
The problem I have is that this game is played to be fun. If I have three hours to play, and my opponent spends three hours studying a kick shot, I lost my practice session. Obviously a player needs time to read the table, make a plan, and prepare to execute. Somewhere between three seconds and three hours there is a breaking point of what should be allowable.

As for what to do-
-if gambling, simply pull up and don't play anymore.
-if in a tournament, get the director (or whoever is managing the chart) and let them know.

In the end, if the only time that you have to suffer the three hour stall is in the occasional tournament when the director does nothing, it is just the price of playing pool. Just don't knowingly make a game with a staller.

Incidentally, I have a tape of Grady Mathews and Jimmy Fusco playing a straight pool game with a 30 SECOND TIME CLOCK. You know what? It never bothered either of them.


I

 

[Tin Man]

one more thing

Oh, my personal favorite (not quite the same topic) is when people play eight ball and free wheel around the table, one stroking balls and jumping up after every shot. Then they misplay their shape, hook themselves, and study the ensuing three rail kick shot for about five minutes. Makes you wonder.............

 

[Flex]

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.

Ah ha! That's the ticket!

Just know that when you come to the table after an extended time away, whether it be sitting in your chair, on a throne, after wolfing down a burger, or whatever, that all bets are off as to your consistency. That's a biggie right there. Sooooo, when that happens, once you've decided on your shot, and how you are going to play it, the stroke you'll employ, the speed of the cue ball, the english if any, factoring in all the factors that you normally do, and start actually practice stroking, know that those practice strokes need to feel right. You need to feel you can't miss the shot, or if you are going for a safe, that you'll execute it properly.

If something isn't right when you've done all this, stand back up, and start your routine again. You'll settle down. And shoot the shot, pot it, and get shape. Repeat... and repeat again...

You need to reestablish YOUR rhythm, your speed, your game.

At least this is how I try to do it.

Flex

 

[dmgwalsh]

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

Not too well. I played a notorious slow player last night in my straight pool league. One fellow came up early to offer me his condolences. I didn't realize what he was doing and said "for what?" "You're playing Noel tonight" was his reply. Others came by later in the night and said "first game?" with a little grin.

He'd get down on a shot stroke and stroke and stroke then get up look around the table, walk around, maybe get on another shot, ad infinitum. I couldn't bear to look. It was torture. We finished two straight pool matches to 90 in a little over 5 hours and in one, I only got to 25 so it shouldn't have taken that long.

I don't know the answer. I got up and walked away quite a bit.

 

[cheemagun]

We have a guy in our area that shoots sloooow. Basivich slow when he's into it. he would ask me to play for money and i would say no. lol. then one night 2 in the morning nobody was at he pool hall and me and him matched up. they dont play that slow when they dont get to shoot.

but i have one fis.. guy we play 100 $ sets races to 7, he plays normal speed... till i drop him in a coma then he gets scared to shoot and doggs the easiest shots.. but the thing is he is not trying to play slow but he ends up stroking at the cue ball for at least 2 minutes on the same stance and get down... then sometimes he would shoot and miss sometimes he would get back up just to do it again.. but in that case i would just sit there and laugh.

another dude i played, he would go off to the bar and have a 5 minute conversation then come back to shoot a rack and leave again. i swore i wont play him anymore.

 

[cdavis9771]

It happens to the best of them. Back in the late 80s/early 90s I watched a match between Fi Fi and Kim Davenport. It was a race to 15!! By the time it ended, Davenport swore up and down he would never again enter a tournament if Fi Fi was playing. Davenport won but it was something like 15-13. Took forever.

Was this match in Greensboro? If so i believe i watched the same one. I believe cliff joyner and canadian joe matched up and it went hill to hill and cliff jammed the 8 and joe cashed in.

 

[Flex]

Not too well. I played a notorious slow player last night in my straight pool league. One fellow came up early to offer me his condolences. I didn't realize what he was doing and said "for what?" "You're playing Noel tonight" was his reply. Others came by later in the night and said "first game?" with a little grin.

He'd get down on a shot stroke and stroke and stroke then get up look around the table, walk around, maybe get on another shot, ad infinitum. I couldn't bear to look. It was torture. We finished two straight pool matches to 90 in a little over 5 hours and in one, I only got to 25 so it shouldn't have taken that long.

I don't know the answer. I got up and walked away quite a bit.

Just wondering how George Fels compares in terms of pace versus the fellow you played last night... I see George back on table 8 at Chris's and he seems a bit slowpaced, but not as bad as your opponent was.

 

[seymore15074]

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

Breathing while you are in the chair is probably the best thing to keep your mind off of wanting to kill him. I play a guy similar to this in a tournament sometimes. Break huge and spread the balls, he probably doesn't have confidence in running out; he fears missing every shot. Out "run" him.

There is no way he can get down on a ball and practice stroke for a whole minute or more without starting to think about missing it, keep running balls and spreading them and he'll get to missing...show him you don't care how he shoots, because he most certainly will care how you shoot!

You have to let him make the mistakes, not you. If you cannot get out, ride the 9-ball early in the rack. Get him to doubt himself more and more until he cracks...

 

[Tom In Cincy]

"Ideal" and 'reality'... it's what you make of it.

If you think I have an 'Ideal' situation about handling 'slow players' thanks, I think so to, but that is just the way I handle the situation.

Would you rather wait 10 minutes for a 'slow player' to misss and give you an opportunity to win the game and match?

Or, would you rather wait 20 minutes and watch a player string 3 or 4 racks together and almost eliminate you from any chance of wining a game or the match?

Either way, your sitting and getting...cold and out ouf stroke... so what is the difference? Real or Ideal... which would you rather be facing?

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.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

I just get a newspaper and read it. I don't turn the pages or rattle the paper when he is shooting---I don't try to visually shark him. This helps me relax but is a killer for the guy shooting.

 

[Masayoshi]

if hes doing it on purpose ill turn my chair and watch another match making sure i can see my table in my peripheral. usually flusters the sharks when you look like you dont need to pay attention to them.

 

[Craig Fales]

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

Tell him he's a slow putz, put my cues away and go find someone with an IQ higher than a brick...
________

 

[dmgwalsh]

Just wondering how George Fels compares in terms of pace versus the fellow you played last night... I see George back on table 8 at Chris's and he seems a bit slowpaced, but not as bad as your opponent was.

George actually plays 14.1 at a very nice pace. Usually I haven't quite analyzed the table to know what's coming and he has already executed something with precision. Sometimes I guess right.

He's on a bit of a run as the Red Shoes 14.1 league is winding down. It's not over yet but he's won his last six matches and is in the driver's seat. I think he ran a 42 or more Monday. He gets to play slowpoke Noel in a makeup match soon. I'm sure he knows how to handle the slow play.

 

[breaktime2]

Was this match in Greensboro? If so i believe i watched the same one. I believe cliff joyner and canadian joe matched up and it went hill to hill and cliff jammed the 8 and joe cashed in.

Yes it was. At Cue n Spirits. I think it was also the tournament where Johnny Archer celebrated his 21st birthday!

 

[uwate]

One thing about slow play that I think has value is that if the player spends alot of time looking over his options before pulling the trigger, its seems to me that these types of players make fewer unforced errors. I often have seen players who lack in skills but make up for it in thorough determination and practice. Alot of the better tournament players I see play slow and again I see alot less times they miss seeing dead combinations/kiss offs or miss position because they didnt take the time to look where they needed to be, etc. Slow play seems to allow many players the ability to maximize the value of their shot attempt.

All that said I hate slow play.