Who hates slow players?

I contributed a modest amount of money to help a pro who came on this forum asking for funds to attend a championship level tournament. He is a nice guy, great player, but I can't watch him play because he is too slow.

I don't hate him but I can't watch him play pool.
 
Tournament I shot in last night. Race to 3 8ball on big table. Im waiting for the winner of a match that took an hour and a half. Was horrible.
 
A guy i played takes too long before any shot. 3-4 minutes. damn. he goes down in his shot and stands up. repeat and go around the table like a ballerina every shot. can we have shot clocks on tournaments/gambling please???????

Is his name Charlie by any chance?
 
Tournament I shot in last night. Race to 3 8ball on big table. Im waiting for the winner of a match that took an hour and a half. Was horrible.

Sometimes 8 ball can take a long time without either player shooting slowly. Its the nature of that game.

KMRUNOUT
 
Hate is big word, but I dislike watching slow players, like even if I pay for stream or something, if that specific slow player shows up, i will turn off the stream. And I've never watched a match for those slow players on youtube or anything. so yea I dislike watching them, they bore me to death.

Some of those slow players.

1- Ralf Souquet (Makes me yawn)
2- Neils Fejien (Makes me shrug as of how slow he thinks of routine stuff)
3- One asian guy that I forgot his name (He spins around the table 3 times before shooting one shot)
 
With all due respect.......God I hate when people say that. Anyways, It certainly CAN be justifiable having a problem with a slow player, especially a player that does it knowing it effects the majority of players they play against. I'm not talking about that one shot in a rack that needs extra attention, I'm talking players, and there's not many, that do it in a calculated fashion. I'd put a clock on a player if they are taking 3-4 minutes a shot. I've run into this before and there's no need to *wander* around and around and around the table analyzing a shot that is basic. I'm assuming this is what the OP is referring to. For the most part seeing the vast majority of your posts you seem to put yourself on a pedestal and talk down to other members, sniping them at every opportunity. If your game is half is good as your "knowledge" then I'll stay clear of you in the action pit... Actually, never mind... i'm willing to bet your bark is compensating for your bite. (before you say "i'm 6'11- 280lbs" save your breath big guy)

With all due respect....yes, a curious statement. I'm sure there have been times when that phrase is used in which the person it is said to actually is due very little respect.

Anyway...while I appreciate you taking the time to read all of my *1000's* of posts, which I'm sure you must have done to make a claim about the vast majority of them, I disagree with your assessment of them. And my posting on AZ really has nothing to do with my skill as a player, nor my fighting capabilities (not sure why you would take it there??). I post what I think about topics on the forum.

My belief, based on 22 years in pool rooms and a lifetime of carefully observing and studying human behavior, is that on average the ones who tend to complain about slow players tend to be anxious impatient people. You are under no obligation to agree with me, or to understand me, or to *try* and understand me through dialog. Most people tend to defend their own beliefs reflexively.

As for any pedestals, talking down...I speak plainly, honestly, and openly. That will come across to some, and probably seem irritating to others. I make a strong effort to be polite about it.

I do agree that some players take an *unusual* amount of time to shoot obvious shots. However, it may be (and often is) the case that what is obvious to me is not obvious to someone else. This is also the cause of much challenge in life ;-) My solution is to let them shoot their shot, then shoot my shot as I like, and let the tournament director sort it out if it causes an issue. It doesn't particularly bother me. I guess the title of this post "who hates slow players" may have put me on the defensive as well. I certainly don't *hate* impatience. But I don't much like it either. Sometimes you just have to accept things you don't like.

KMRUNOUT
 
It doesn't particularly bother me. I guess the title of this post "who hates slow players" may have put me on the defensive as well. KMRUNOUT

You're absolutely correct. Hate is not appropriate to describe how I feel about slow players.

Much stronger language is necessary.

They are to pool as a festering boil is to one's backside.

JC
 
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I hate sniveling cry-babies that can't make a ball unless they're in their "rhythm".
When I play someone that wants me to hurry-up, I slow down.

Nah, there's a difference between someone being in a rhythm and someone getting irritated by slow play. There are some slow players out there that will drive you nuts.
MULLY
 
My belief, based on 22 years in pool rooms and a lifetime of carefully observing and studying human behavior, is that on average the ones who tend to complain about slow players tend to be anxious impatient people.
KMRUNOUT

No, no, no. Hold up there for a second. Would you agree that there is a certain speed of play that would keep a comfortable ebb and flow of the game going? When one person is taking 3-4 minutes on each and every shot, you need to point your analysis at them, not the person wanting them to hurry up. They're the one's with the problem.
MULLY
 
I used to hate watching slow players. It drove me crazy. Then I heard Jamie Barracks explain it on some commentary on a stream. If you are not familiar with Jamie Barracks he will walk the table two three times, stand there, repeat, then get down on the shot and take 38 practice strokes, get up look around, and repeat. All on a barbox.

Someone mentioned this to him on stream and he explained that he admired people than can focus and execute quickly but that he was not able to do it. He said he gives every shot 100% and will not fire until he is 100% sure,focused and ready. After listening to him explain it I had a new respect for his dedication and mentality. After all he travels hundreds if not thousand miles to compete for the $$, He is going to give no less than 100%. Try betting on him, the great shot making, slow play, anticipation, drama of it all can make for a great sweat.
 
I was shooting with a friend who shot to fast...says no one in the hall! Why not? It is something that a player must do to evolve their game. If you shoot fast try a session while shooting slow, slow try running racks with a minimal time between shots. I really enjoy shooting slow, not really but I do if I know it can throw off the rhythm of my opponent. If they let me have that much control over their game by just playing slow I will embrace that control and drive them crazy. You really want to see crazy, play a slow player and force yourself to play slower...and have them complain! Yes that is me.
 
I used to hate watching slow players. It drove me crazy. Then I heard Jamie Barracks explain it on some commentary on a stream. If you are not familiar with Jamie Barracks he will walk the table two three times, stand there, repeat, then get down on the shot and take 38 practice strokes, get up look around, and repeat. All on a barbox.

Someone mentioned this to him on stream and he explained that he admired people than can focus and execute quickly but that he was not able to do it. He said he gives every shot 100% and will not fire until he is 100% sure,focused and ready. After listening to him explain it I had a new respect for his dedication and mentality. After all he travels hundreds if not thousand miles to compete for the $$, He is going to give no less than 100%. Try betting on him, the great shot making, slow play, anticipation, drama of it all can make for a great sweat.

What he should have said is that he admires people who can play pool with other people but unfortunately he's not one of them. He's most comfortable at home watching the tomatoes in his garden ripen.

I have never heard of Jamie Barracks so his 38 practice strokes have not lifted him to legendary status as a pool force. Probably his slow play is all he's really known for. Very sad.

Edit: I found a clip of Jamie playing and he not only isn't a slow player but he's not even particularly methodical.

JC
 
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There is this guy at my old poolroom who was secretly known as "the statue". He holds up every tournament he enters, even if he hardly ever gets to the table. I'd love to see how you so called "patient" people would react to this guy...He spends about 2 minutes thinking on many shots even straight in 2 diamond long stop shots. (2 minutes is longer than you might think, I actually timed him in secret). Then he goes down and stays down forever, gets back up etc...Sometimes he does a full set of practice strokes, then at the minute he should pull the trigger he gets up. That last thing is probably the most annoying thing ever. I mean many of us do this once in a great while, but several times a rack, sometimes on the same ball!? Of course he plays needless safeties as well.

Once I defeated this guy 6 to 3, breaking and running 3 racks quickly, still the match took forever. On one safety shot he took 5 minutes. I actually wished he or I would drop dead and I would have happily gone myself as long as that match could be over, but there was always the chance I'd go to hell and the game would still be going:D. I still have nightmares about leading 5-1 and coming up dry on the break against that guy....That is probably one of the worst things that's ever happened to me in pool. I'll give him this, though: Facing him I'm staying down and playing harder than I ever do with anyone else, he tends to bring out "the killer instinct" in everyone he faces.
 
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A year or two ago, I was playing in my country's national 8-ball event, final 8, race to 8, against a notorious slow player, a former billiard and snooker pro, who has held world records for the longest snooker matches in history, and many players believe he delays game outcomes as a deliberate strategy to put his opponents off their games.

I got the 1 minute clock on him after about 4 games. This didn't help. He'd take 45 seconds on the simplest of shots and cluster up balls and snooker at every opportunity, not to mention taking a couple of toilet breaks, during which it seemed he had time to take a shower and change.

After getting to a good early lead, I began to try to accelerate the games, perhaps taking on some higher risk shots than I otherwise would. After 2.5 hours, he crept to a 5-4 lead. All other games in the round had finished, some over an hour before.

This was not an experience I wanted to be a part of and I felt bad thinking players could be waiting on our game to finish for another 90 mins or so, some who had planes to catch that evening.

I quit the game then, not in anger, but for the reasons above, and in protest for the way in which my opponent plays outside the spirit of the game. There is generally a sigh of relief when he is knocked out of tournaments. I won't mention his name, because he is known to be litigious, and has successfully fought off attempts to have him banned from tournaments.
 
A year or two ago, I was playing in my country's national 8-ball event, final 8, race to 8, against a notorious slow player, a former billiard and snooker pro, who has held world records for the longest snooker matches in history, and many players believe he delays game outcomes as a deliberate strategy to put his opponents off their games.

I got the 1 minute clock on him after about 4 games. This didn't help. He'd take 45 seconds on the simplest of shots and cluster up balls and snooker at every opportunity, not to mention taking a couple of toilet breaks, during which it seemed he had time to take a shower and change.

After getting to a good early lead, I began to try to accelerate the games, perhaps taking on some higher risk shots than I otherwise would. After 2.5 hours, he crept to a 5-4 lead. All other games in the round had finished, some over an hour before.

This was not an experience I wanted to be a part of and I felt bad thinking players could be waiting on our game to finish for another 90 mins or so, some who had planes to catch that evening.

I quit the game then, not in anger, but for the reasons above, and in protest for the way in which my opponent plays outside the spirit of the game. There is generally a sigh of relief when he is knocked out of tournaments. I won't mention his name, because he is known to be litigious, and has successfully fought off attempts to have him banned from tournaments.

I'll say it for you, Colin.....Robbie Foldvari.
He, I think, still holds the high amateur English billiard record...600 and change...
....he has had 147s at snooker....
....you'd think he would understand the need for rhythm to play great.

When warned for slow play in the WPBSA, he showed up with a lawyer and bluffed them.

He's educated and intelligent, good company to have a meal with.......
...but I told him when I watch him play a match....I feel like throwing a chair at him.

Robbie makes Charlie Williams look like Speedy Gonzales

:boring:
 
Slow players are not intelligent. They don't understand the game and they have very little knowledge. IQ in the 80-100 range.
 
Slow players are not intelligent. They don't understand the game and they have very little knowledge. IQ in the 80-100 range.

I don't agree....many smart people are ' look before you leapers'....
....hesitating becomes a disease
 
No, no, no. Hold up there for a second. Would you agree that there is a certain speed of play that would keep a comfortable ebb and flow of the game going? When one person is taking 3-4 minutes on each and every shot, you need to point your analysis at them, not the person wanting them to hurry up. They're the one's with the problem.
MULLY

If it is literally 3-4 min per shot, then yeah. That's hard to justify. I mean, super tough position shot to get on the game ball to win a big tourney...ok maybe then. But every shot that long is too long. Thing is, many people while sitting in the chair genuinely believe sometimes that 92 seconds is 3 or 4 minutes. I've seen it many times. One team in our apa division accused our team of playing slow because the matches with us often ended late. So I timed every shot of every match, all breaks, and times to put up players. Turns out they averaged longer than us to shoot a shot, and overall they took more time. It's amazing what's facts can do to perceptions.

But yeah 3-4 minutes, if that is timed with a stopwatch and not just a feeling, is way too long. Maybe on some big shot at a big moment. But every shot? No I agree that's too long. Still, I doubt I'd say anything about it unless there was some danger of the match changing as a result.

Point taken,

KMRUNOUT
 
There is so much exageration with all of this it's hilarious. First of all the "slow players are not intelligent" remark is idiotic, and I don't believe anybody takes 4 minutes between every single shot or takes "38 practice strokes" before every single shot regardless of how slow they are. Look at your watch for 4 minutes straight and you will see how long that really is.
 
I do not like playing or watching slower players. Better things to do with time in general. I have never let it effect my game though, as I concentrate on playing the game, not the opponent. It just makes for a very boring experience in general.
 
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