Zamboni....Not Zamboti

Island Drive

Island Drive

Otto/Dads College Roommate/Cleveland Browns
Silver Member
I learned this mannerism from twenty + years ago as I was forced into it, and just reapplied it this past weekend, still works. When your playing an opponent that basically ices you on EVERY shot, even a two or three ball run, taking approx. 70 seconds per shot, it's time to turn the tables and resurface their thinking. Those that know hockey or speed skating understand what a Zamboni does to ice, it completely changes the conditions. In pool....Walk away turn your back, go to somewhere else, talk to your friends and ignore the match, if ya don't trust your opponents integrity (I did both times) get the TD to watch, anywho. It worked the first time on Henry Grannis years ago, to the point he complained to the TD, but the TD said....''there's NO rule saying your opponent has to watch, or even be at the table''. The person I did this too had me frozen/cold, but I Zamboni'ed em, and reiced the moment for a win6/5. To me, that was not pool or FUN, it was something else....sad to say.
 
Time limits

Island Drive said:
I learned this mannerism from twenty + years ago as I was forced into it, and just reapplied it this past weekend, still works. When your playing an opponent that basically ices you on EVERY shot, even a two or three ball run, taking approx. 70 seconds per shot, it's time to turn the tables and resurface their thinking. Those that know hockey or speed skating understand what a Zamboni does to ice, it completely changes the conditions. In pool....Walk away turn your back, go to somewhere else, talk to your friends and ignore the match, if ya don't trust your opponents integrity (I did both times) get the TD to watch, anywho. It worked the first time on Henry Grannis years ago, to the point he complained to the TD, but the TD said....''there's NO rule saying your opponent has to watch, or even be at the table''. The person I did this too had me frozen/cold, but I Zamboni'ed em, and reiced the moment for a win6/5. To me, that was not pool or FUN, it was something else....sad to say.
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Leagues that I used to run had an "unofficial" time limit of 30 seconds. When that time was passed, the opponent could ask, "Do you want a time out?" If they said no, they were required to shoot or be considered as committing a delay of game foul. It never happened. The time outs were limited to one minute in the same manner. We had few problems.
 
alphadog said:
Slow play meeds to be eliminated.PERIOD
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Indeed. A 30 second shot clock is more than enough for most shots.

For tournaments, there should at least be a rule to give an opponent a time warning for taking too long.
For league play, timeouts should be eliminated.
 
I agree make it part of league.
Always needs to be addressed in trnmnt rules.
Matching up- I am for some understanding.Win or lose I dont need slow action.I
have gambled with slow players,usually they don't want to play me again either!
 
Timeouts

DAVE_M said:
Indeed. A 30 second shot clock is more than enough for most shots.

For tournaments, there should at least be a rule to give an opponent a time warning for taking too long.
For league play, timeouts should be eliminated.
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"Timeouts" are one of the things that make team play different from individual competition. It makes winning a cooperative effort.

It also helps weaker players who might have no chance against a top player, and it's also a part of learning.

My leagues also had a limit on timeouts.

By the way, in my leagues the team captains served like a board of directors, who had to approve of the league format, rules, fees, pay-out, changes, etc.
 
I'm just giving you all the needed ammo if/when this situation if ever comes up, it's very effective and I hope nobody ever has to use this tactic,. I did twice in twenty years, just wanted to add this to your arsenal, as I know it will happen to another somewhere/sometime.
 
BCA rule 1.45 "You must not commit any act that is unsportsmanlike in nature." Slow players are part of the game. Like them or not. Your inability to deal with it is your problem. There was no shot clock used in this tournament. There was a match time in effect. Why was the match not stopped once that time expired? Walking away two or three tables from your match ignoring your opponent when he is shooting, dropping your stick on the floor, whining to the tournament officials twice I call that sharking or putting a stall on or unsportsmanlike in nature. If I was on the clock and behind I would be ready to shoot not relying on T.D to make my calls. This is not something I would be proud of. I thought you were a better player than that!
 
dacold8 said:
BCA rule 1.45 "You must not commit any act that is unsportsmanlike in nature." Slow players are part of the game. Like them or not. Your inability to deal with it is your problem. There was no shot clock used in this tournament. Ther?e was a match time in effect. Why was the match not stopped once that time expired? Walking away two or three tables from your match ignoring your opponent when he is shooting, dropping your stick on the floor, whining to the tournament officials twice I call that sharking or putting a stall on or unsportsmanlike in nature. If I was on the clock and behind I would be ready to shoot not relying on T.D to make my calls. This is not something I would be proud of. I thought you were a better player than that!
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You dont believe slow play is unsporstmanlike?
That is my contention.
 
Bill
You act like a 12 year old ...
Throwing your cue and walking out of the playing area ...
This is pure SHARKING and you know it ...
 
Bud Winger said:
Bill
You act like a 12 year old ...
Throwing your cue and walking out of the playing area ...
This is pure SHARKING and you know it ...
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No, I acted like a twelve year old thru frustration because of his passive aggressive play....

I apologized to him for my actions, he tho didn't Did anyone ask him WHY?....I was wrong and that's why I told him right after that incident. I aplogized. If you had been up eighteen hours and still playing and your were being slow played the frustration of someones lack of concern for the game and their opponent is what got me. I have grown to have too much respect for the game thru time, the actions of another showing disrespect of the game drove me to this point. If I didn't care about the sport I would of never showed any emotion, but I cared too much and lost my temper, and Remember "I apologized to him''. Walking out of the playing area was my only defense. What rule says I have to watch.... If he cared he would of not averaged seventy seconds per shot. The TD and crew were worn out and watching the pros, all other matches ended about an hour before ours and that's why they did not say something, and I couldn't blame em, as our match didn't effect anyone. Henry Granas was barred because of Slow play, hell I remember playing him on a Wednesday night/now Thursday at four thirty AM at FFC in the finals, boy that was Fun. The disrespect and lack of concern for others is what drove me. Anyone ask him why he did this? I really don't care. I didn't hear anyone complain about Hatch after he missed a shot against Vadal, and then During match play with Mark waiting on the rail Dennis started practicing the shot More than twice. I've Never seen or heard of that in match play Ever, and when I mentioned it, no one thought it was a big deal, I did. I've never seen a PGA golfer miss a putt in a pro event and then hold up play of others so he could practice the putt a few more times. My problem is, I care toooo much, and distain disrespect of the sport, which most think is ''just a game''....to me its not, it's life. If you've weathered and supported three pro events during your life time, only to be again and again be led around by false hope and pipe dreams, it too might have an effect on you if you cared about the game, I tire of its OLD ways soooooooooooo Much. I've been trying to just walk away for good and I don't mean Playing, but I can't, saving/helping the game is too important for me.
Time for bed....:D
 
Island Drive said:
I learned this mannerism from twenty + years ago as I was forced into it, and just reapplied it this past weekend, still works. When your playing an opponent that basically ices you on EVERY shot, even a two or three ball run, taking approx. 70 seconds per shot, it's time to turn the tables and resurface their thinking. Those that know hockey or speed skating understand what a Zamboni does to ice, it completely changes the conditions. In pool....Walk away turn your back, go to somewhere else, talk to your friends and ignore the match, if ya don't trust your opponents integrity (I did both times) get the TD to watch, anywho. It worked the first time on Henry Grannis years ago, to the point he complained to the TD, but the TD said....''there's NO rule saying your opponent has to watch, or even be at the table''. The person I did this too had me frozen/cold, but I Zamboni'ed em, and reiced the moment for a win6/5. To me, that was not pool or FUN, it was something else....sad to say.
Click to expand...

I'd say you "Zamboner-ed" him, and good !
 
If you're a rhythm player, some opponents will attack that with a deliberate slow style. If you're all about being fair and playing man to man, some will argue the rack or an issue about the score...anything to divert you from your game. They're just moves to get in your head.

I like the OP's decision to disengage. Let the other guy know he should save his sharking for someone else. You want to add drama to the match...talk to the chair.

I watched a notable pro player use mental tactics to his advantage against a stronger opponent. He complained about the rack over and over and eventually the other guy lost his focus and the match turned. In his next match, that same pro tried the move on Andam who just acted like he didn't understand English...the player making the shark move got red faced that his opponent didn't understand the (false) objection he was raising...it was great. He called out Andam for putting the rack on him over and over but Andam just smiled and reracked em like nothing happened. The shark got sharked by his own move and went down in flames.
 
Island Drive said:
I learned this mannerism from twenty + years ago as I was forced into it, and just reapplied it this past weekend, still works. When your playing an opponent that basically ices you on EVERY shot, even a two or three ball run, taking approx. 70 seconds per shot, it's time to turn the tables and resurface their thinking. Those that know hockey or speed skating understand what a Zamboni does to ice, it completely changes the conditions. In pool....Walk away turn your back, go to somewhere else, talk to your friends and ignore the match, if ya don't trust your opponents integrity (I did both times) get the TD to watch, anywho. It worked the first time on Henry Grannis years ago, to the point he complained to the TD, but the TD said....''there's NO rule saying your opponent has to watch, or even be at the table''. The person I did this too had me frozen/cold, but I Zamboni'ed em, and reiced the moment for a win6/5. To me, that was not pool or FUN, it was something else....sad to say.
Click to expand...

Do you find yourself being irritated frequently by other people?
 
Bill,
You are like RKC ...
It is the other person fault ...
Get real
You don't care about the game you only care about Bill...
 
Island Drive said:
I learned this mannerism from twenty + years ago as I was forced into it, and just reapplied it this past weekend, still works. When your playing an opponent that basically ices you on EVERY shot, even a two or three ball run, taking approx. 70 seconds per shot, it's time to turn the tables and resurface their thinking. Those that know hockey or speed skating understand what a Zamboni does to ice, it completely changes the conditions. In pool....Walk away turn your back, go to somewhere else, talk to your friends and ignore the match, if ya don't trust your opponents integrity (I did both times) get the TD to watch, anywho. It worked the first time on Henry Grannis years ago, to the point he complained to the TD, but the TD said....''there's NO rule saying your opponent has to watch, or even be at the table''. The person I did this too had me frozen/cold, but I Zamboni'ed em, and reiced the moment for a win6/5. To me, that was not pool or FUN, it was something else....sad to say.
Click to expand...
I had to do this yesterday. I washed my hands once. Got an ice cream another time. Checked the score in my buddies match. I won't sit and watch a guy run 5 balls in 8 minutes. Just shoot.

I also shoot real fast when I come back. Plus I will 3 foul them a lot. Funny to see a slow play unravel when you bury the cue ball and he's on 2. I could have pizza delivered before they shoot.
 
alphadog said:
Slow play meeds to be eliminated.PERIOD
Click to expand...

Some people need more time...we aren't robots.
I'm willing to give it to them unless I think it's being used as a shark.

Playing for money, I would not play a slow player for small $.

I like how Bill handled it.
 
depends

When I know somebody is normally a faster player and is playing games off the table I'll wander off and say as I'm leaving, "call me when it is my shot." I can watch what they are doing from the bar or counter where they can't tell if I am watching or not.

However, some people play slowly. An old player possibly in his eighties owned me when I was a youngster. He could take five minutes walking around the table and still had run out skills. He shot so slowly that every ball never left the bevel going in a pocket either. Chinese water torture had nothing on watching this gentleman.(he was a true gentleman) After sitting on my stool until I was getting butt sore I would leap up and shoot too fast, missing or missing shape and the torture began again.

Joe owned me for months. I finally learned to adopt the attitude of a mildly interested observer sitting on my stool. I watched him like watching something on TV mostly to kill time. Joe never beat me again and I literally made thousands in the years to come from what he taught me, be passive when it is not your time at the table. This shifting gears is huge in long sessions too, I'm resting in the chair instead of on the edge of my seat waiting to jump up and shoot.

Usually best not to get into a sharking battle with the other player unless you think you can't beat them on the table. If that is the case and they are sharking, well, I know sharking moves I have never seen not get in the other player's head. As Bill said though, that isn't fun and it isn't pool. I may not ever play the other player again but when the money is on the light and they are sharking I'll fight fire with fire to take down the cheese if I need to.

Hu
 
All of us have that certain personality, that clashes with our personality, and it doesn't have to be slow play. What's helped me in the past is this. I will intentionally play someone I can't stand to play with because of all their quirks. But if you learn to not let this ''distract'' your play, your on you way to being a much better player, and life efren, keep the monkey (yourself) off your back.
 
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