Shot Clock - What's the point?

[skor]

What's the point of having a shot clock only on the TV table?
This favor the top pros who get more TV table time, and does nothing for the game.
I get that on TV we want to see fast action and make it less boring but conditions should be equal to all during a turnament.

 

[Ģüśţāṿ]

What's the point of having a shot clock only on the TV table?
This favor the top pros who get more TV table time, and does nothing for the game.
I get that on TV we want to see fast action and make it less boring but conditions should be equal to all during a turnament.

The point is exactly what you said, to make it more exciting for the viewer.

 

[skogstokig]

well the answer to why all tables don't have it is obvious and financial related.

my position is this, if you want to be a top player, work on your rhythm so you don't get caught out by the tv table / shot clock. fedor did this consciously, adapted his game to it. and he got the "MR major" monkey of his back (to say the least). he has talked about this in his practice sessions.

 

[garczar]

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.

 

[Xdecemberguy]

I think every table/game should use a clock for time...So many players in league take forever to decide...and then miss the shot..I'm talking about 2 to 3 minutes sometimes..

 

[jnwilliams]

honestly would be torturous to watch (imo) with players walking around the table 4 or 5 times before each shot. Shot clock makes it much more entertaining.

 

[slide13]

Yeah, if I was playing in those kind of tournaments I'd be practicing with a shot clock all the time to get used to it. I'm sure there is an app one could find for their phone that would work to give auditory cues during a practice session.

I'm probably biased because I'm naturally a quick player but I love the shot clock and really wish it could be implemented more....like in my weekly league, haha.

 

[Zerksies]

I think every table/game should use a clock for time...So many players in league take forever to decide...and then miss the shot..I'm talking about 2 to 3 minutes sometimes..

It should never be that way. Most tables are pretty self explantory. I mean i don't see an issues if it's a difficult situation figuring out a safety. But going from the 2 to 3 ball should not be that way.

 

[Bob Jewett]

What's the point of having a shot clock only on the TV table? ...

The first Matchroom US Open did have timekeeping on every table. I think the person was also the score keeper. It was a huge logistics nightmare. There were lots of no-shows.

 

[jbart65]

The point of a shot clock is obvious, of course. The only question is how do pool organizers make it available on every table.

Seems like the only cost effective solution is some AI-related technology that can tell when a shot ends and starts a clock automatically. Prolly does not exist yet. and who is going to spend the money to develop it?

Whatever the case, all players know there is a shot clock on the TV tables. Yes, the top pros will be favored since they play on TV tables a lot, but so what. The best players who earn their high rankings should have some kind of "home field" advantage.

Up to the other players to practice with a shot clock on their own.

 

[iusedtoberich]

Conditions should not be fair for every player in a tournament. Rather, conditions should be fast for the matches the viewers see. That's all that matters to grow the game. Fan support, not player fairness. If it was up to the players, they'd get rid of the shot clock entirely, and make every set a race to 30. Hell no.

 

[ctyhntr]

The first Matchroom US Open did have timekeeping on every table. I think the person was also the score keeper. It was a huge logistics nightmare. There were lots of no-shows.

Did you witness it, or hearsay?
Every table had a score keeper. We were shown how to rack. As scorekeepers, we're not trained to make calls, and get a referee. Here is a picture of me at the first Matchroom US Open in Atlantic City with fellow scorekeepers and some of the referees. It was very well organized, and Nigel along with most of the referees were very approachable.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Did you witness it, or hearsay?
Every table had a score keeper. We were shown how to rack. As scorekeepers, we're not trained to make calls, and get a referee. Here is a picture of me at the first Matchroom US Open in Atlantic City with fellow scorekeepers and some of the referees. It was very well organized, and Nigel along with most of the referees were very approachable.

I may have been remembering the first US Open in Atlantic City. At least one of the Matchroom events did have timers and I think the scorekeepers did the timing.

 

[jbart65]

I suppose Matchroom could try volunteers. Get free attendance to a big event and lunch and dinner on us. But if one of them screws up ...

 

[ctyhntr]

I may have been remembering the first US Open in Atlantic City. At least one of the Matchroom events did have timers and I think the scorekeepers did the timing.

I was scorekeeper at that US Open in Atlantic City. We had stop watches.

 

[fuggles]

How do you enforce a shot clock on dozens of tables?

 

[Bob Jewett]

How do you enforce a shot clock on dozens of tables?

You can have timekeepers on each table, as mentioned above for the first Atlantic City US Open, or you can use chess clocks. You could probably also do it with a camera and the right software -- where are the balls, when do they stop moving, when do they start moving again?

 

[Bavafongoul]

Slow play in pool is the most annoying thing and is just as aggravating when encountered playing golf.
No shot in pool is so difficult you require more than 30 seconds to evaluate how to play it or what to do.
If you do rarely encounter a situation requiring more time, take a timeout. There should be 1 T/O per game.

 

[InsertCleverNameHere]

Just going to speak to the comments about having shot clocks in leagues. IMPOSSIBLE. Tables are too close together, players have to wait on other players constantly. And a clock is only as good as the person operating it, who's going to operate it for league night? Sorry, just not feasible.

 

[trob]

Slow play in pool is the most annoying thing and is just as aggravating when encountered playing golf.
No shot in pool is so difficult you require more than 30 seconds to evaluate how to play it or what to do.
If you do rarely encounter a situation requiring more time, take a timeout. There should be 1 T/O per game.

Your not playing to pay your bills.. your playing for fun. While most shots in 9 ball are straight forward when you are in a difficult situation or safty battle and making the right decision could be the difference in eating and paying your rent it changes your perspective.

Just going to speak to the comments about having shot clocks in leagues. IMPOSSIBLE. Tables are too close together, players have to wait on other players constantly. And a clock is only as good as the person operating it, who's going to operate it for league night? Sorry, just not feasible.

Our league operator was on the phone with someone that was complaining that a team was playing so slow that every week you don’t get done apa 8 ball until after 1 a.m. they wanted to put them on shot clocks and the operator didn’t think it was necessary and it wasn’t a big deal lol I said dude maybe you get to sleep in to the ass crack of noon but most of the rest of us work. No way we should be there after 1 for short races at leagues. That’s a problem lol