Who hates slow players?

Well if I share what I like to rub against the tip of my instrument and then stare at the balls again I might get banned.
 
Your right, this is a tuff one!

Slow players don't bother me much anymore as long as they're playing. What really grinds my gears is when I'm playing someone and they shoot a ball or two, then strike up a conversation with me or a rail bird and stop shooting...or walk across the room and talk to someone in the middle of our game, or go outside for 5 minutes or so in the middle of a rack.......FOR WHAT!?! Stop it!

I practice with a guy regularly who plays my speed and does all of the aforementioned things. It really pisses me off, but that's a weakness on my part. If I allow it to get to me, I start playing bad and have no chance of winning. It's good training for me, I feel.

I play a couple of guys that do the same thing so I have started wearing headphones when I play them, so far so good.

As far as slow players..., learn to play One Pocket and they wont get to you as much because your opponent has to study the table if you do the right things to them!
 
Slow Players

I dont like slow players because they take the ehjoyment away from the game. I want to win as much as the next guy but I am not totally brain dead. If you are fairly new to the game, take all the time you need because you dont see the table that quickly. At the same token if you have played this game 5 years or more, there is no excuse for not seeing the table pretty correctly. Its either a stun shot or bottom right draw, center follow thru or a touch of inside (running) to get from point a to point b. We have a gentleman who is a retired space engineer, he is about the slowest thing ever. He is not brain dead, he just wants to over analyze everything. For heavens sake man, just shoot. My practice partner and myself normally take 10-12 seconds between shots. After 15 years of shooting , its the same shots over and over. You want to play slow go play chess or checkers. Slow players take all the enjoyment out of playing. Did I say I dislike slow players. Bastards
 
All league and tournament matches should be played with a timer. They've got chess clock web pages that would work fine on a phone. Set it for a minute or 45 sec, tap the screen to avoid the beep, and that starts it for the next player. If it beeps before you shoot, you lose your turn. It would go a long way toward making pool more enjoyable for players and spectators.
 
Frustrates me. I generally avoid them if possible. Sorry, I have little patience complete indecisiveness and lack of regard for opponents and those waiting to play.

I am talking sloooooooow play - not true methodical with a true purpose thoughtful then drop and shoot play as mentioned.

Have a good weekend,
 
We used to have a guy like that ...up,down,up,down, lean over, check the angle, up,down,up,down,
....then stop. He always had great equipment, but couldn't play DEAD
 
Lack of common sense."Common sense is the ability to make the right decision,QUICKLY" !!!

Another component of common sense (which is surprisingly *uncommon*), is the ability to recognize that the behavior of someone else is rarely analyzed effectively in terms of ones *own* behavior.

You have made the logical error of assuming that it is the decision making component of the pre shot period that is slowing down all slow players. This is definitely false in at least one case (myself), and I'm sure in many other cases. For me, I sometimes just can't see the shot correctly. In other words, I've already made my decision and am in the process of lining up on the shot and getting down to shoot. However, I simply cannot see if I am aimed correctly or not. Sometimes it is effortless and automatic. Sometimes it isn't. When I can't see the ball going in, I get up and try again. Sometimes it takes a few tries. I badly wish this wasn't how it is for me. But it is. And I'm going to shoot the shot when I think I'm going to make it, not rush the shot because of someone else's impatience. I don't really care how long my opponent takes to shoot. Some people simply lack patience. Lack self control. Lack composure. Perhaps they rely on various substances to regulate their level of anxiety. Smoking cigarettes, for example, may be one of the most popular options. Nothing more hilarious than watching someone fidget in their chair, can't sit still, growing impatient that I want to take more than 10 seconds to do my shot...they may even complain I'm playing slow (when in reality it is their *perception* that is off because of their baseline anxiety). The funniest of all is when they then have to go take a 10 minute smoke break in the middle of the match.

In any case, my point is that things may work differently for different people. In the gambling world, this is easy to deal with: DON'T PLAY with people you don't enjoy playing with, and shut the F up with the complaints if you choose to take on a match. If you don't know who you are dealing with, then that is a risk you are taking on as a gentleman: you may have to be irritated by your opponent without saying anything until the end of the set. In a tourney, there is a director. If you feel creating an issue out of something is necessary, then go tell the TD on your opponent. OR, you could learn to manage your own impatience and anxiety, and simply be ready to play when it is your turn.

My Master's teammate is the slowest player I know. I *like* playing against him, because I know it will be a well fought match, with no one pissing away shots because of lack of effort. Whoever wins played better, as it should be. We have each beat the other to win a trip to Vegas for singles. I like that kind of thing. And trust me...this guy plays SLOW!

KMRUNOUT
 
Yep. I hear you. The only game I'm really interested in playing with him is one pocket. It's his best game. One pocket tests my patience to begin with, but combined with his antics it's really tough for me to fade. Like I said though, my temper is a weakness and playing him is a good way for me to work on that. If I can keep it together, the games are usually really close...lots of good moving and not many mistakes by either of us. If I start getting pissed, the scores get really lopsided in his favor.

I very much respect your attitude here. I believe many players, even really great ones, could learn something from what you are saying.

KMRUNOUT
 
We used to have a guy like that ...up,down,up,down, lean over, check the angle, up,down,up,down,
....then stop. He always had great equipment, but couldn't play DEAD

Sounds like a guy who would be late for his own funeral. :eek:
 
I dont like slow players because they take the ehjoyment away from the game. I want to win as much as the next guy but I am not totally brain dead. If you are fairly new to the game, take all the time you need because you dont see the table that quickly. At the same token if you have played this game 5 years or more, there is no excuse for not seeing the table pretty correctly. Its either a stun shot or bottom right draw, center follow thru or a touch of inside (running) to get from point a to point b. We have a gentleman who is a retired space engineer, he is about the slowest thing ever. He is not brain dead, he just wants to over analyze everything. For heavens sake man, just shoot. My practice partner and myself normally take 10-12 seconds between shots. After 15 years of shooting , its the same shots over and over. You want to play slow go play chess or checkers. Slow players take all the enjoyment out of playing. Did I say I dislike slow players. Bastards

Sounds like you have some issues here. Patience (or lack thereof) is the most obvious. You've also made the same mistake as a previous poster in thinking that things work the same for all people. They don't. I love the term "over analyzing". Is it too much analysis for *the other guy*? Or is it just too much for you? With all due respect, you are not qualified to know what amount of analysis is appropriate for another person, and in a wide variety of situations. Assuming that the amount that makes you *believe* that you are successful (which may or may not be true) is appropriate for everyone is highly shortsighted.

More to the point, it sounds like your lack of patience is the reason you lose enjoyment when playing a slow player. This is a basic respect thing. You play pool with other people. They are all different. Some are slow, some are fast. As long as my opponent is ready to go to the table when its his turn to shoot, goes about his process of shooting or choosing what to shoot, and then sits down, sits still, and quietly waits for me to do the same...I really can't see having a problem with that. At least, I can't see *justifiably* having a problem with it.

KMRUNOUT
 
Only if they can beat me, otherwise they can do what they want, I have nowhere to be.
 
Ugghhhh

I hate it when we match in the tournament. even other players come to me saying that guy shooting needs a shot clock. damn. the next game he had was next to my table and he was playing a 50year old guy. the 50 year old guy slept on his chair. waiting for his shot. funny. LOL.
 
Slow players don't bother me in the least. They have as much right to play the way they want to just like I do. Everybody does it different. For example would you want to have to play at your opponents pace if he played really fast. A guy I know takes one stroke and fires and runs out like the runs. What if everyone was forced to play like him.
 
However I was watching a tournament match one time when one guy was taking forever to shot a tough shot on the 7 ball (playing 9 Ball). His opponent finally said " I going to be in the nursing home before you ever shoot". I know this was out of line but it was funny.
 
Sounds like you have some issues here. Patience (or lack thereof) is the most obvious. You've also made the same mistake as a previous poster in thinking that things work the same for all people. They don't. I love the term "over analyzing". Is it too much analysis for *the other guy*? Or is it just too much for you? With all due respect, you are not qualified to know what amount of analysis is appropriate for another person, and in a wide variety of situations. Assuming that the amount that makes you *believe* that you are successful (which may or may not be true) is appropriate for everyone is highly shortsighted.

More to the point, it sounds like your lack of patience is the reason you lose enjoyment when playing a slow player. This is a basic respect thing. You play pool with other people. They are all different. Some are slow, some are fast. As long as my opponent is ready to go to the table when its his turn to shoot, goes about his process of shooting or choosing what to shoot, and then sits down, sits still, and quietly waits for me to do the same...I really can't see having a problem with that. At least, I can't see *justifiably* having a problem with it.

KMRUNOUT

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)
 
More to the point, it sounds like your lack of patience is the reason you lose enjoyment when playing a slow player. This is a basic respect thing.
KMRUNOUT

You are being ridiculous with your accusations. His "lack of patience" has nothing to do with respect for the opponent or the game itself.

Probably while he's sitting there waiting for someone to pull the trigger on a simple shot he entertains himself by calculating in his mind the probable number of years, months, days, hours, minutes and seconds left in his life and realized not a single one of them is reserved to watch a moron pace and triangulate the table like he's doing a land survey of the ocean bottom.

When something you are doing for entertainment ceases to be fun a SELF respecting person will stop doing it.

IT'S NO GOD DAMNED FUN TO PLAY POOL WITH A SLOW ASS PLAYER!!!

Defeating them is no fun and losing to them is even less fun. They simply suck and should do themselves and the pool playing public a favor and stick to gardening.

Nothing more and nothing less. It's really that simple.

JC
 
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I think that shot clocks should be mandatory in pool. If a 30 second shot clock is too fast for you on most of your shots, you are slow! I'd be willing to listen to people arguing for 40 seconds, but not a second more! Of course I think an optional extra minute on 1 shot per rack is reasonable. That way you won't get rushed on the one critical shot that might come up.

Playing rotation pool I think most experienced players are capable of playing their best in much shorter time than 30 seconds, however most are using time to shark their opponent and getting him out of stroke. Straight pool and 8 ball are the same. One pocket is by nature a slow game, for geezers who drag their oxygen tanks around;). It's a completely different game so different rules should apply. Still if some guy is taking 3 minutes per shot, there is no way I'm playing him.
 
I take my time but I don't get up and down ten times lol I would say I'm about 30 seconds between shots on average unless it's a tuff situation I'm looking at.

I can tell you honestly I don't give a flying f what you do at the table. Slow or fast it won't change me running the 9 up your a$$ hahaha seriously it doesn't affect me one bit.
 
It doesn't bother me, I have no control over what my opponent does at the table other than the situations that I place him in safety wise.

If you really want to play this game to your full potential you cannot allow things you cannot control to bring you up out of yourself. Learn to meditate in the chair.
 
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