The Fast Players - Do they win or just contend?

[Snapshot9]

There have been comments over the past eras and on the internet in regards to fast players and their skill. There are questions regarding whether their pace helps or hinders them. They can appear to be unstoppable at times, and mistake ridden at other times.

From Machine Gun Lou to Earl (border line) to Luc Salvas to Rodney Morris, these swiftly moving players mow down the shots as easy as
eating warm Cherry Pie on a Sunday afternoon.

Some seem they have to shoot this way, others that they just like to.

What are your thoughts regarding these players?

Will these players be able to go ALL THE WAY to victory in major tournaments?

Is there style sustaining over the long run?

Will one of these players win a major IPT event?

Does their style cause mistakes that lose matches for them?

How entertaining do you find these players?

Lets cuss and discuss these players that have 28 seconds left on the shot clock after they are done ... lol

 

[StevenPWaldon]

I have no idea how anyone can question Earl Strickland's pace of play, given his numerous world championships and FIVE US Open 9-ball Championships. He's a BCA Hall of Famer, and earned his namname as the Million Dollar Man.

Same goes for Rodney Morris. 3rd place WPC finish this past year, multiple-time Mosconi Cup member (including being undefeated two years ago and receiving the MVP award), an past US Open Champion over Efren Reyes in the finals.

I don't think it's the pace of the player, I still think it's the talent. There are talented fast players (Rodney, Earl) and talented slow players (Ralf, Archer). They find a way to make it work.

 

[vagabond]

There are questions regarding whether their pace helps or hinders them
Lets cuss and discuss these players that have 28 seconds left on the shot clock after they are done ... lol

Any hindrance to their fast pace will definitely hinder a fast player.Fast pace will never hinder them.
I can play one pocket with anybody except Tony Chohan with 4 second shot clock.As a fast player I can tell that I do not miss the shot because of fast approach to the table or lack of the so called pre shot routines or warming up strokes and I miss it because of poor allignment which are from other causes that are nothing to do with my speed of approach.I can think of reasonably accurate defencive moves in 2 seconds but may not execute them properly because of lack of skills in the execution of the shot.Even if I have 60 seconds still I may not be able to execute it well.

On the contrary fast paced play will definitely hinder a slow player.
Cheers

 

[Rude Dog]

With my game, if I don't see the shot in the first few seconds, then I'm just not going to. When I play my game, which is fast for being a big guy, I play good. When I start thinking too much, I lose "it". Study long, study wrong.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Wille Mosconi played fast. Efren is pretty quick too.

I guess it depends upon the player. Guys like Strickland and Morris are fast but not ridiculously so, they just walk up to each shot and shoot it, rarely spending any time to contemplate anything.

Luc Salvas on the other hand is almost ridiculous. He plays great but sometimes I wonder if it is almost too quick. I remember he told me he plays better when he plays quicker, but I think it is probably just a mental thing. Nevertheless he does pretty well for himself so I wouldn't wan't him to make any changes.

 

[sicbinature]

I personally think pace has little to do with your skill level and what you can do, whether it is three sec. or two minutes between shots, as long as you are able to keep your pace. Look at C.J. Wiley, very few people have ever played as fast and he was a monster.

 

[Solartje]

hiya scott, being a fast player (now im slow just to see how the differences are, and see if it suites mygame better) ill tell u my own experience.

the reason why i play fast is: A: if i take to long once im down on the shot, doubt starts to enter my mind, and i change my alignment very slitly. my first aligment ALWAYS is the right one, no matter what my subconsious or my eyes tell me. once im down, i should shoot after 1 adressing stroke.

now im trying different options:
FAST preshotroutine, FAST shots
SLOW preshotroutine, FAST shots
FAST preshotroutine, SLOW shots
SLOW preshotroutine, SLOW shots.

cant tell u yet with exactitude wich is the right one. each has its own down and upsides. i SHOOT the best when both are fast, but i PLAY the best/smartest with the second option. but ive only been swapping in between them for a month or two. so way not enough. Also when im playing fast, i feel im not getting the table time i should to keep me in high gear. i feel more confident potting 3 balls in 10 minuts, then 3 balls in 10 seconds.
ALSO, i run ALOT more racks when both are fast, but i win more matches with the second option. (sounds contradictory, but a slow preshot just makes me shoot way more safety's.)

i think u can win any championship with both fast, as anyone can win a championship with both slow. if u are in the zone, then ull win with fast, and a slower player gets 'colder' easyer, and needs more stamina to stay focused. if u are just playing your normal game, then a slow preshot and fast shot should be the best option (in my case it is at least). if im playing a more experience player, i play both slow, but its not working very well for me. i get VERY VERY easy distracted, and the slower i shoot, the more chance there is something will distract me.

sorry if im hijacking this post with my next question, but its a very interesting post: should i always play with the same speed of routine and shots, or should i adept it, on how im playing and vs who im playing?

personal note: whats worst? play worse while playing slower due to distraction, or play the wrong shot because of to fast playing? both make me lose alot of matches. what would u advice me?

 

[sjm]

Two time defending women's World Champion Ga Young Kim is probably the fastest player in WPBA history.

The questioned posed in this thread is really all about what too fast means. To me, any pace at which one can no longer make thoughtful, well-considered decisions and then produce a repeatable stroke is too fast. There are and always will be those that can play very fast and still manage to do so.

 

[wayne]

Two time defending women's World Champion Ga Young Kim is probably the fastest player in WPBA history.

The questioned posed in this thread is really all about what too fast means. To me, any pace at which one can no longer make thoughtful, well-considered decisions and then produce a repeatable stroke is too fast. There are and always will be those that can play very fast and still manage to do so.

Also Ronnie O'Sullivan has the record for the fastest 147 ever in snooker and he had to run out faster than a race car on an English TV show and he outraced the race car. (someone posted both of these videos a few weeks back).