Shot Clock - What's the point?
- Thread starter skor
- Start date
Its just logistics, otherwise it would.
At the Florida Open, I peaked at the TV table setup. There is a dedicated ref (in addition to the regular ref for calling fouls, etc), that is sitting at a table near one of the cameras. He has a dedicated laptop with a touch screen. It has about 6 big boxes on the screen that all have to do with keeping the time. He touches one of the boxes at the end of every shot. It looked quite tedious to me, and requires him to focus the whole match. I wouldn't wish that job on anyone.
AI/Cameras/Motion detection built into the lights is the only way this will become mainstream on every table of an event.
If you watch other events, the referee hold some kind of timer and he holds his hand up every time he reset it. There is mo need for two people
if you can see that, it's on a stream table with a dedicated ref / time keeper.. the other 20 tables you don't see and only have area ref. so you still need more people if you want to make it equal
the real shot clock is also superior to the guy with the timer shouting "ten" and "five", sometimes out of sync..
The problem is that there is not even one official at the table for the 256-player events. There are area referees that have to cover several tables. At the European Open, it was typically four tables. They came when called over and racked the balls.
Of course you’ll need more people but one per table and not two.
They don’t even have to be an official referee, just time keepers. Could be juniors or seniors.
Time keeping doesn’t even have to be dead accurate, it’s just a way to pace the game. A second here and there missed at starting the time is not a big deal, so maybe a chess clock is not a bad idea.
Shouting “10 seconds “ take about 1.5 seconds that will leave you with about 3 seconds to shout “5 seconds” so it just seems to you out of sync.
See my above reply
Trob……I am playing for personal enjoyment……but I am paying for my time on the pool table. There is a cash exchange. I am buying my time on the pool table even when playing in a league, tournament ot just casual play.
I am entitled to expect that the pace of play will be performed with some alacrity of mind and body and that the
game will be played without undue delay by any participant. And when it does not occur, to express criticism.
Pool is not difficult except when you first start learning the game when it seems complicated and confusing. But
aside from someone new to the game, taking more time than 30-40 seconds per shot is just absurdly long.
You can be removed from a golf course for slow play. It is expected and required to not dawdle, refrain from taking
too long on your next shot and be prepared to play when it is your turn without delay. Pool should be played the same.
If you don’t want to see that in socially competitive leagues, fine. And you’ll know that when you sign up to join. But in
tournaments, a faster pace of play should be enforced and only a shot clock will cause that to take place with players.
I am entitled to expect that the pace of play will be performed with some alacrity of mind and body and that the
game will be played without undue delay by any participant. And when it does not occur, to express criticism.
Pool is not difficult except when you first start learning the game when it seems complicated and confusing. But
aside from someone new to the game, taking more time than 30-40 seconds per shot is just absurdly long.
You can be removed from a golf course for slow play. It is expected and required to not dawdle, refrain from taking
too long on your next shot and be prepared to play when it is your turn without delay. Pool should be played the same.
If you don’t want to see that in socially competitive leagues, fine. And you’ll know that when you sign up to join. But in
tournaments, a faster pace of play should be enforced and only a shot clock will cause that to take place with players.
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I hate slow players as much as anyone but its real easy to chew up 30 seconds on shots, especially non rotation pool. By the time you decide which ball to shoot, maybe walk halfway around the table and back to check for desired position, then get down on a shot and it doesn't feel right and stand back up suddenly you bumping up against that 30 seconds. On the other hand there is absolutely no reason to stand at the table staring at the balls for 45 seconds like a statue. I once timed someone who took 3 minutes between shots, there is no justifiable excuse in the world for that.
While that may work for some of the women players, there will be others who are immune.I say get a low-voltage 'gonad zapper' and when they go over time limit they get their nuts lit up. Talk about a crowd pleeeeeeeeeeeeezer.
However, in 8 and 9 ball there is no uncertainty on what ball you have to shoot at next. The only question is which pocket or play safety. Position play is obvious for your next couple of shots if you pocket the OB. In those games, 30 seconds is more than ample amount of time. 8 ball also clearly distinguishes what your 7 object balls are but opponent’s balls do complicate the table map. But 30 seconds is more than enuf for me because I am watching the table while my opponent plays. I am thinking about what I have to do if given the opportunity. So in 8 ball I’d even concede another 15 secs. and 45 seconds would be more than sufficient for any pool game including 3 cushion, one pocket, rotation and 14.1. Like you, I can recall ludicrous examples of slow play without the player being penalized.
Somehow when playing 8 ball no matter how well I plan my objectives while in the chair my opponent has rearranged the table so well that none of it matters when I get to the table. The only decision I have to make is asking myself how my opponent manages to play such great lock up safes without even trying.
I agree- I have to get up a 5:30 AM. I play in a Tuesday night league which sometimes runs to midnight. I used to be able to handle it well when I was young, but now I am 50- can't handle sleep deprivation as well. It is definitely annoying when games take so long. We also have a rule that each player can call one timeout per game to confer with a teammate- there is supposed to be a time limit of 1 minute for each timeout, but it isn't really enforced. I've seen people confer over a shot for 3-4 minutes. It gets to the point where you want to forfeit and just move on.