skogstokig said:

i had forgot how slow bergman plays without a shotclock. but he's leading 6-5

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Like Alcaide is a racehorse?

nataddrho said:

The only solutions to this that I can think of are both ridiculous and brilliant.

1. A triangular template that is suspended by strings from the ceiling on top of the balls instead of under the balls. The gravity provides constant inward pressure and forces the rack tight. Not too heavy though. When a break shot occurs the strings are pulled up and the rack quickly rises back to the ceiling. Like a boxing match microphone.

2. 15 holes are drilled into the slate of the table in locations that are strategic to cause the balls to roll towards each other, exactly like a magic rack. The cloth is then placed over the holes. Rods are inserted into the holes from the bottom of the slate and attached to an actuator. When the actuator is engaged, the rods move upwards until flush with the top of the slate, causing the dimples underneath the cloth to disappear.

In both ideas, the template doesn't interfere with the rolling balls, but forces a tight rack.

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Ffs, mark the rack when the cloth is installed.

skogstokig said:

i had forgot how slow bergman plays without a shotclock. but he's leading 6-5

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he actually plays better when he plays faster- that's the ironic part

skogstokig said:

he gave archer the 7 playing afterhours yesterday. don't know if he won, or if he got paid if he won

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must be sad for Archer to have to ask for spots now that he would have given in his prime- and he still lost

I don’t have an issue with a good shot clock, but in my experience (especially in amateur 8b), matches get bogged down more often because of style of play.

There are certain players I can predict will have long matches, not because they take a long time to shoot, but because every game devolves into a one pocket-esque chess match. I mean it’s 8b so sometimes that is going to happen, but when it’s always the same guys, it’s a problem.

You should contact Dave about the issues with your cue.
He is well known for keeping his customers happy.
I plan on visiting his store next week as I am in the market for a break/bar cue, and a starting price of 145.00 is not a bad price for a Sneaky.

Zerksies said:

...pisses me off that she gave out my email address and i've been getting hit with spam email ever since.

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I don't think she's the reason there's spam in you inbox.

You know she's gonna take you out back and give you a whoopin if she reads these.posts, right?!

cuesterpat said:

You do not get any nicer or rarer than this 1970's Custom Shop box cue with 3 original shafts. Here is a link for the post for the cue: https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/very-rare-1970’s-paul-huebler-custom-shop-box-cue-with-3-original-shafts.586861/#post-8468513

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That is a very nice cue. Out of my price range though.

I am going to make a few of these, maybe 10 for starters. The plan is to have double as a shot clock and a score board.

The idea is that since I need the wireless hardware for the shot clock to work, I can use the same hardware to make a wireless scoreboard system.

Each players game that they need to win are broadcasted automatically from the command booth at the beginning of each match. Every game won is adjusted on the score board, and sent to the command booth wirelessly. When a match is over the tournament director can just see the scores on his computer or at least clearly across the room. Rather than people standing in line walking back and forth telling the final scores.

The only way to know if it is worth it is to make it and try it, and see what people say.

Bob Jewett said:

A few details:

Do you have a small "start of inning" increment on the clock, as in some chess formats?

If a player's time runs out, does the other player take over the table immediately, and does he take the balls in position?

If the catch-up player is shooting alone, does he ever shoot before the balls stop moving to break up clusters, or intentionally shoot some other foul shot to improve the layout?

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I think leaving balls, specifically the cue ball, as is invites someone to purposefully run out the clock.
They could intentionally leave the cue ball as is so even their opponent would have any shot blocked.
There needs to be punishment for a shot clock violation; the best incentive to comply would be BIH.

How about a 35 seconds timer that counts down with a digital display.
The incoming player starts the clock upon reaching the table after their
opponent misses the clock. At 30 seconds the timer beeps letting the
player know they have 5 secs. remaining to stroke the cue ball.

30 secs. Is plenty of time to analyze the table, choose the shot & execute.
If you need more time than that, don’t enter the tournament because you
are a slow paced player it’s that simple. Either pick up your pace of play or
sit in the stands with the other observers because you simply play too slow.

Now a player should have 15-20 seconds to reach the table when it is their
turn. If a player fails to activate their clock within 30 secs., then forfeit the
inning or else the referee or their opponent may activate their shot clock.

A player failing to execute their shot within the allotted time is a foul and
the opponent gets BIH. This will keep players on their toes and speed the
pace of play. If you can’t handle this tempo, you aren’t suited for tournaments.

Slow play is ruinous, boring, and totally unnecessary except for a beginner that
needs to learn to keep with the traffic flow of the tournament or else just watch.