What do you guys consider slow play?

Caromsoft

Caromsoft

"Your Break...Big Brain!"
Silver Member
I have been following the thread about annoying aspects of the game and I see a lot of people complain about slow play. I have been trying to take my time lately before getting down on the ball to study the table and choose my shot. I take about the same time as Allison Fisher or Karen Corr before they shoot, just as an example. That is not slow play, right? I assume slow play is much, much longer than that.
 
Caromsoft said:
I have been following the thread about annoying aspects of the game and I see a lot of people complain about slow play. I have been trying to take my time lately before getting down on the ball to study the table and choose my shot. I take about the same time as Allison Fisher or Karen Corr before they shoot, just as an example. That is not slow play, right? I assume slow play is much, much longer than that.
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keep doing it. as you get better with reading patterns and seeing angles (karooms, break outs and what not) you will likely shorten your time. people who don't take their time often get screwed on the out or won't see the dead safety, or get shit lucky w/o even realizing it. good players see patterns easier (by having gone through taking time) i.e, playing shortstop at least
 
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Caromsoft,

If you are only taking as much time as the pros on TV, than that is not too slow...at all. They are on a shot clock.

I have seen some league players take an average of 3 minutes per shot. Technically, they are is time guideline, but if it takes my opponent a long time to shoot, then so be it. I would rather my opponent play their best, than to rush them to shoot. But that is just me. I have come across other players that won't stand for it. I can understand taking a long time on a difficult shot, but if there is an easy out....it shouldn't take very long to shoot. For me, when I am playing a very slow player, I just think to myself how happy I am to be at the pool hall, and not at work.

I had a guy in league that took forever to shoot. My first 8 ball match race to 5 took about 1 hour and 45 minutes, and that was with me beating him 5 to 3. After the match, he was recalling shots that I didn't even remember. Shots that I hooked him real good on, and shots that I made that impressed him. I found out later why it takes him so long to shoot. Apparently, there is something wrong with his eyes, and he can't shoot straight shots without using somekind of side english. Really weird...but I guess he has a lot of little adjustments for each shot. I don't mind playing him because he is one of the best players in our league.

Some people are patient, and some are impatient. That's just the way it is. I think 30 seconds per shot is a reasonable amount of time. For difficult shots, maybe 60-90 seconds....depending on the difficulty.
-my 2 cents
 
Fast Lenny said:
But why may i ask do you break the rules?Dont you know you have to rack the 1 ball in front for 9 ball and some other games?You a league player? :confused: :cool:
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9-ball? who plays 9-ball anymore

I play an 8-ball league the only racking requirements are 8 ball in the middle and a stripe on one bottom corner and a solid on the other.

but you... I'll play you 9 ball all day long as long as I can place whatever ball I want on the headspot .... the fact that you jumped at this tells me that the one minor variation could be worth as much as two balls in my favor.

lets play
 
okinawa77 said:
So if I complain about you shooting too fast....will you start shooting faster?;)
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no :D if you complain about me shooting to fast I will drop down to evolution speed and use a whole chalk on every shot :D

that will shut you up :D
 
softshot said:
no :D if you complain about me shooting to fast I will drop down to evolution speed and use a whole chalk on every shot :D

that will shut you up :D
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I think I would like to play you. You seem like you would be very entertaining.:)
 
softshot said:
9-ball? who plays 9-ball anymore

I play an 8-ball league the only racking requirements are 8 ball in the middle and a stripe on one bottom corner and a solid on the other.

but you... I'll play you 9 ball all day long as long as I can place whatever ball I want on the headspot .... the fact that you jumped at this tells me that the one minor variation could be worth as much as two balls in my favor.

lets play
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I knew that you had to be a league player,i fortunately am not.There is a reason in nine ball that the one is racked in front so you can control your break and make a ball and get out,also the reason the 9 ball is in the middle so it doesnt go in on the snap.Yeah i jumped at your unsportsmanlike behavior,sure we can play 9 ball and you can rack them anyway you like and we will play rack your own.This game will never come off as we arent even in the same state but thanks for barking. :rolleyes:
 
okinawa77 said:
I here what you saying about playing your speed. I agree with that 100%, but playing in a spiteful way...IMHO....is not what this game should be about.
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Sometimes it depends on what venue you're playing and what stakes are involved. If one is seeking that competitive edge, your version of spiteful is another person's version of competitive. As has already been stated be careful not to let your quirks be what wins the game. And don't expect everyone to abide by your quirks. Or else, you're gonna have to be much more selective in who you play.

If someone else is being excessive, then it depends on the venue that you play. If it's tournaments or leagues then their should be guidelines on play. General timeline of less than some range of 45-60 seconds per shot should be sufficient on most average shots. With some allowance for more time for some difficult or highly key shots that may or may not come up.

But if you're just playing casually for fun, then I agree with you that playing in a spiteful way is not what the game should be about...
 
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Another example of reasons for patience...

I know at least 1 guy who evidently used to be a strong player, but had a stroke. As a result his time per shot far exceeds 1 minute. But given that he's not intentionally being spiteful, he just loves to play the game like everyone else... and considering that everyone's just regular players, superstars only in their own minds... It's overall usually no big deal. A good tournament director should usually be able to accomodate such players without excessive delay and thus make the game accessible for a wider range of players.
 
Slow play has always drove me up a wall. There are three kinds of slow players in my book. The one I won't play again is the one who does it to shark you. Number two is the guy that is unsure of what to do when he gets to the table. He walks around the table twice, gets down on the shot, only to get back up and walk around the table again. It's like he knows he's going to miss and is affraid to pull the trigger. I want to yell out "it's a straight in shot, shoot it in and your right there for the nine for gods sake". The third type has the same long pre-shot routine weather it's a hanger or a three rail kick for the game. In 9-ball I would make a 35 sec. clock with one extenion a game. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
Slow play has always drove me up a wall. There are three kinds of slow players in my book. The one I won't play again is the one who does it to shark you. Number two is the guy that is unsure of what to do when he gets to the table. He walks around the table twice, gets down on the shot, only to get back up and walk around the table again. It's like he knows he's going to miss and is affraid to pull the trigger. I want to yell out "it's a straight in shot, shoot it in and your right there for the nine for gods sake". The third type has the same long pre-shot routine weather it's a hanger or a three rail kick for the game. In 9-ball I would make a 35 sec. clock with one extenion a game. Johnnyt
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Good representation of the 3 variations...

35 sec with 1 extension per game might be considered a bit extreme, even for some pro events. Personally, I always hate to see 2 pros battle it out in a great back and forth competitive event. Only to have it upstaged and decided by a boneheaded act due to the time clock.

This especially rears it's ugly head when a key safety battle ensues, whereby both players use their single extensions to execute an intricate safety play. Then the next player is unable to consider any alternative options and thus is relegated to shooting at it like any C level player or worse.

As opposed to the alternative, where the 2 pros can follow 1 great safety with another... creating a chain of awesome shots... Simply by allowing the two pros ample time to think, plan, and execute in those rare instances where it's needed. Especially when it's a match critical situation i.e. hill/hill.

Without taking things to the extreme, of course. There has to be a good balance.

At hill/hill, personally I'd prefer to see each player continually have an extension for every safety play shot, allowing the true master to be the victor... Knowing that when it's a normal offensive shot, the pros are well trained to maintain a rhythm under (30-60) seconds per shot.
 
those that can...

softshot said:
9-ball? who plays 9-ball anymore

I play an 8-ball league the only racking requirements are 8 ball in the middle and a stripe on one bottom corner and a solid on the other.

but you... I'll play you 9 ball all day long as long as I can place whatever ball I want on the headspot .... the fact that you jumped at this tells me that the one minor variation could be worth as much as two balls in my favor.

lets play
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Usually, those that choose 8 ball over 9 ball do so because they aren't very good at 9 ball. They don't have the stroke/shots required to play good 9 ball/10ball.
 
One of my pool friends is very experienced and very quick to see the layout and the next move.... I am neither. It takes me a while to figure out the pattern and the next move. I get criticized frequently, by him, for being "slow". My usual response is a sincere F you.

I shoot as soon as I've figured out my next shot. If playing pool with me is upsetting to you then don't play pool with me... ADIOS!
 
Just a small quote from WONDERBOYS...

"...He still took his time, though, and once, after a break shot, he was staring at the table, his hands on the top of his cue, his chin resting in his hands. His eyes closed. I had to ask him if he was sleeping. He said no, he was thinking."

This happened to me in real life...the man was running some balls...slow as molasses...made a break shot...and fell asleep!! I swear.

Mike
 
If you want to see slow play, you should have watched Karen Core play One Pocket at the DCC. I finally had to go find another match to watch. I am amazed that she can keep that frown on her face for that length of time.
 
Mike...thats some pretty funny shayt right there lol.

Back we first started league play (many moons) we were in the finals to go to the cities for the first time.The other team was as new as we were (all players on both teams given this situation) so we were deliberate and focused,as were they.

But it still moved just a little bit slower the regular play,which was fine.

Then it got to match 4.Holy freakin bejebus was this guy hammered.Ruined,toast,spent,smashed and through.,,,But damit,he was focused lol.

I'd say each shot took about two minutes...some maybe longer.really....it was paint drying times 3.

We don't do much complianing,never have and never will...but after about an hour we started "approaching" the other team and asking ...after a while "pleading".... that this dude at least pick it up some.They understood and even talked to him about...many times.Nothin...hell,best I can tell it slowed him down lol.

We won match number 5 to win it all 3/2 (super slow motion,ultra hammered guy won number 4 btw),but to keep this in pespective the teams started at 7 pm and finished at 230 am.

We have played 5 matches many times on any given league night that would fit inside this one guys match for the night.
It was unbearably slow.
 
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