playing hardball

active adequate compelling competent direct efficient forceful impressive potent powerful practical successful useful valid

effectual efficacious

able big-wheel capable cogent convincing emphatic energetic forcible having lead in pencil live moving on the ball operative persuasive powerhouse producing resultant serviceable serving sound striking telling trenchant virtuous wicked yielding

helpless impotent inadequate incapable incompetent ineffective inefficient insufficient unable useless weak worthless

unproductive unsuccessful

fruitless inoperative