Your Best Speed

JoeyA

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
I'm talking about your speed of play; how long you take to shoot:

I have always admired (and hated :) ) the guys who get down on a shot and stroke and adjust and look and adjust and stroke and well you know those guys, the ones who seldom miss if they gear down really slow.

I was wondering if any of you are able to play consistently well by taking enormous amounts of time to shoot a shot.

Would you be willing to share some insights about how and what you are doing when you take SO MUCH TIME TO SHOOT? Seriously, if you take enormous amounts of time to shoot a shot and you seldom ever miss when you take that extra time, I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this.

What exactly is going through your mind when you are down on a ball?

I've seen Archer, Moore, Basavich, Varner, Stoney (from FL I think) and a host of other top players gear down and take so much time to shoot that even as a spectator I want to tell them to speed it up and shoot but when they make EVERY SINGLE SHOT, one after the other, all is forgiven.

I have tried to slow down, really slow but have been inconsistent with my shot making and shape making.

If any of you that are able to play that slow and consistently make virtually every shot, I would love to hear how you do it and what you are thinking about or what you are doing when you are down on a shot for such a long time.

Thanks,
JoeyA
 
I feel like I have a specific pace that I shoot best at, and if I deviate from that my results are often inconsistent. I feel if I shoot slow I play more inconsistent. My 2 cents.
 
When I'm a hittin' em, I might only take two practice swings. Put it this way, if I'm running around the table like Luc Salvas, I'm drilling somebody. If I take "think time" and don't just let it rip, I can't beat a drum. I am in decent shape for my age, and when I start to sweat, I play my best. That slow "tournament style" just isn't for me. Maybe that's why I can't play well in tourneys. I just don't enjoy it. Tourneys are just a gathering place for action in my eyes. I have very little interest in winning ten matches to make $35 bucks. Maybe I should play in larger events? Nah. I'll pick my own battles.
 
My speeds range from "good" to "hurry the f*** up shoot shoot quick!".

Three guesses which one works best for me. :D

That's one of my biggest problems - is unlearning the old habit I picked up when I first started playing (and was a typical banger-type for a long time) - being a spaz, essentially. Get down, stroke once, shoot! Because time's a-wastin'!

I've slowed my shots down a LOT in recent years - but when I get on a roll and start running balls, I have a tendency to start devolving - every shot in the run starts getting a bit faster, a bit more like my old habits, until I goof up and curse myself. I've borked up I dunno how many runouts that way. It's a mental discipline thing I'm still working on.
 
JoeyA said:
I'm talking about your speed of play; how long you take to shoot:

I have always admired (and hated :) ) the guys who get down on a shot and stroke and adjust and look and adjust and stroke and well you know those guys, the ones who seldom miss if they gear down really slow.

I was wondering if any of you are able to play consistently well by taking enormous amounts of time to shoot a shot.

Would you be willing to share some insights about how and what you are doing when you take SO MUCH TIME TO SHOOT? Seriously, if you take enormous amounts of time to shoot a shot and you seldom ever miss when you take that extra time, I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this.

What exactly is going through your mind when you are down on a ball?

I've seen Archer, Moore, Basavich, Varner, Stoney (from FL I think) and a host of other top players gear down and take so much time to shoot that even as a spectator I want to tell them to speed it up and shoot but when they make EVERY SINGLE SHOT, one after the other, all is forgiven.

I have tried to slow down, really slow but have been inconsistent with my shot making and shape making.

If any of you that are able to play that slow and consistently make virtually every shot, I would love to hear how you do it and what you are thinking about or what you are doing when you are down on a shot for such a long time.

Thanks,
JoeyA
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Joey if you are slowing down to just slow down you are fighting a losing battle. I think whatever pace you are comfortable with is right for you. all champions play at their own speed so obviously pool can be played quickly or slowly depends on the person. Just make sure you have made a final decision on your course of action before you get down and hit the ball. The main thing is to be confident in what you are about to execute. Once you get down play at your own pace. IMO
 
I'm pretty quick, I usually know what I'm going to shoot next immediately after pocketing a ball. Like crawfish, if I'm starting to sweat then things are going real good. Last night I was hitting a bunch of practice shots and had to stop myself from jogging around the table from shot to shot.
 
just about a said:
Joey if you are slowing down to just slow down you are fighting a losing battle. I think whatever pace you are comfortable with is right for you. all champions play at their own speed so obviously pool can be played quickly or slowly depends on the person. Just make sure you have made a final decision on your course of action before you get down and hit the ball. The main thing is to be confident in what you are about to execute. Once you get down play at your own pace. IMO
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Some players play at a relatively quick pace and also at times, a snail's pace and they seem to play at least as well at the snail's pace. I want to know how they do it and what they are thinking about.

Is there anyone on AZB that can play at that really, really, slow pace and play consistently well?
Thanks,
JoeyA
 
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justin.powell said:
I feel like I have a specific pace that I shoot best at, and if I deviate from that my results are often inconsistent. I feel if I shoot slow I play more inconsistent. My 2 cents.
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I'm the same way. When I was younger I was a huge Earl Strickland fan, still am actually, but at that time I tried to copy everything he did (stance, bridge, grip) Hell, I even bought the white Cuetec. Anyway, after doing that for so long I basically programmed myself to play at a high pace. When I'm shooting really good I can 2 stroke everything and finish a set in a very short amount of time. Slow play drives me up a wall but I've lost so many matches by getting irritated by it that I've taught myself to be patient and just wait my turn. Doesn't bother me much anymore.
MULLY
I don't try to copy Earl anymore though
 
JoeyA said:
Some players play at a relatively quick pace and also at times, a snail's pace and they seem to play at least as well at the snail's pace. I want to know how they do it and what they are thinking about.

Is there anyone on AZB that can play at that really, really, slow pace and play consistently sell?
Thanks,
JoeyA
Click to expand...

I believe if you "think" about slowing down, it will give you bad results. You're thinking about something other then what you're doing (shooting). I range from slow to a decent pace. I normally play slower in tournaments because I'm checking angles for leaves and what not that I would normally just assume and shoot the shot. But when I'm playing slow, I'm not thinking that I'm shooting slow. I'm just making sure I'm seeing everything I need to see. This probably doesn't make any sense, but thought I would throw it out there.
 
I have been trying to put a new routine into my game and it has slowed me down. I am playing better, but still fight the urge to shoot shoot and shoot. I have found taking my time has helped and I believe has made me focus more on the "moment". Lapses of concentration are my downfall and that is what tends to happen when I play fast. But I hate slow play.
 
I usually play just at the right speed (above average or good speed). I lose my consistency once I play tentative.

when I shot slow is due to:

1. someone from behind poked me accidentally. re-align my shot and compose my rhythm.
2. tell people from the opposite table to move their arse out of my way.
I hate it when people at the opposite table would stand around waiting for their turn doing nothing, not looking if somebody from the opposite table is taking a shot or not. complete disregard for other people and pure selfish play. I mean why can't they just sit there arses while waiting for their turn or go and park like a lamppost somewhere where they don't serve as a hindrance. usually I lose my smooth rhythm due to these 2 scenarios.

3. got hooked and need time to measure the angles (not more than 15 sec.)

4. order a drink or somethin to eat.

5.take a drink or eat somethin.

6. chit-chat. a friend comes in and says hello and other types of pleasantries.

7. call of nature.
 
I try to stay away from these guys
 

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The slower I shoot the better. I start with establishing the shot and then get down over it. I factor in everything I can think of and adjust accordingly, and then I begin the mental side. Every stroke has to be identical to the real stroke in everything except actually hitting the CB. I take maybe 7 or 8 of these to establish the right stroke for the shot, and then I count down from 5 to build up my confidence before actually shooting. If I feel something is wrong with my shot (instinct) I reset :)
 
Ronnie O'Sullivan....

Is an excellent example of the topic of this thread.

Check out his vids from the 90's to early 2000's. He is practically running around the table. He has made great pains to slow his game down, which I think has done wonders for him. He has never been so consistently awsome as he is now. He still moves pretty quick, but he takes his time when he needs to.

As for me, I've been trying to slow down. But only for purpose of plotting out the run, other than that I don't take any time pocket balls.

I'm a believer in the philosophy that, after a certain point you have to just let your self do what you've been trained to do. But of course don't do it before you know what you want to do. If that makes any sense.
 
Do any of the following players have the ability to play consistently well at the super slow, snail's pace?

1-pocket-player, 9BallPaul, bagofpaper, Blackjack, CrownCityCorey, gpeezy, jamesroberts, Joe T, JustPlay, karma, kryptonite9, miramachine,
n10spool, Nick B, Nine Ball, Poke N Hope, RunoutalloverU,

Thanks,
JoeyA
 
I reckon I take more time to study the table than when I'm down for my shot....But then again its not that much time........Im more of a Rythym player..........Fall into a rythym and jsut go which I shouldnt do!!

But staying down stroking the cue for 2 minutes then pullin the trigger can be irritatin to see
 
JoeyA said:
Do any of the following players have the ability to play consistently well at the super slow, snail's pace?

1-pocket-player, 9BallPaul, bagofpaper, Blackjack, CrownCityCorey, gpeezy, jamesroberts, Joe T, JustPlay, karma, kryptonite9, miramachine,
n10spool, Nick B, Nine Ball, Poke N Hope, RunoutalloverU,

Thanks,
JoeyA
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I wouldn't expect you to know this, but at least two of the players you questioned are Banned from AZB and unable to respond (possibly more than 2).

Doug
(helping Joey to 'keep up') :)
 
I hate to admit it, but I am a slow player.

I've been warned in several tourmanments to speed up.

It's not that I take 2 minutes between shots, moreso because I almost always take 45 seconds and rarely move quickly between shots. I think the slow precise steady movement hyponotizes players and referees. Having an emotionless face adds to the agony.

I don't do it to purposely delay the game, it is just my speed and the way I like to take time to assess every shot and the coming shots. Even in practice I am slow and precise.

It's one reason I prefer to practice alone, I tend to rush when practising with friends, for fear that I may annoy them.

Colin
 
I play

at a faster than normal clip, but do slow down some in important final matches.

I was just trying to figure out a pro the other day which I would say plays at what I would call an 'average speed' (fastness of play), and I decided that Bustamante plays at an average speed around the table. He is careful when looking over shots and kicks, but does not take too long, and plays at about a clip what I would call average fastness.
 
mullyman said:
I'm the same way. When I was younger I was a huge Earl Strickland fan, still am actually, but at that time I tried to copy everything he did (stance, bridge, grip) Hell, I even bought the white Cuetec. Anyway, after doing that for so long I basically programmed myself to play at a high pace. When I'm shooting really good I can 2 stroke everything and finish a set in a very short amount of time. Slow play drives me up a wall but I've lost so many matches by getting irritated by it that I've taught myself to be patient and just wait my turn. Doesn't bother me much anymore.
MULLY
I don't try to copy Earl anymore though
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You had a "white Cuetec" ?:rotflmao1: :D
So whatever made you start using these pieces of crap ?
Cues: James White, Paul Mottey x 4, Tim Scruggs, SouthWest:D
You've come a long ways
 
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