I was recently working for CSI at the US Open in Vegas. The sets were race to 9, winner break, 10-ball. All sets were 2 hours long, with the exception of the final race, which was to 13.
95% of the sets finished on time, with the odd match running over the 2 hour mark. To compensate, they made a rule where beads were automatically added to the wire to speed up slower sets. There was some controversy over this, but I won't get into it since it's irrelevant to my post. What it does mean however, is that 2 hours is insufficient time for a race to 9 in 10-ball when slower players are at the table.
Now the WPC is currently going on, and the same race to 9 is being given 3 hours per match. From what I can tell, none of the matches are taking nearly this long. With 11 tables and a large field, some players aren't even getting one set in during the course of a full day.
What I'm getting at, is why is it always 2 or 3 hours even for a match? 2 hours seems too short since a small number of matches take too long, while 3 hours is an hour too long in most cases.
So wouldn't the logical thing be to make the sets 2.5 hours long? Most matches will finish before the 2 hour mark, and the extra half hour gives the slower sets time to finish up. There aren't enough tables for everyone to play at once, so players will still get a 2.5 hour break even if they're playing more matches on the losers side.
Or am I missing something here? Maybe Jay can clarify this for me.
PS. And yes, I realize that 2 hour matches were made to get more done in a day, however when pool starts at 11am or noon, it seems silly. Why can't this sport be like every other sport and start at normal times?
95% of the sets finished on time, with the odd match running over the 2 hour mark. To compensate, they made a rule where beads were automatically added to the wire to speed up slower sets. There was some controversy over this, but I won't get into it since it's irrelevant to my post. What it does mean however, is that 2 hours is insufficient time for a race to 9 in 10-ball when slower players are at the table.
Now the WPC is currently going on, and the same race to 9 is being given 3 hours per match. From what I can tell, none of the matches are taking nearly this long. With 11 tables and a large field, some players aren't even getting one set in during the course of a full day.
What I'm getting at, is why is it always 2 or 3 hours even for a match? 2 hours seems too short since a small number of matches take too long, while 3 hours is an hour too long in most cases.
So wouldn't the logical thing be to make the sets 2.5 hours long? Most matches will finish before the 2 hour mark, and the extra half hour gives the slower sets time to finish up. There aren't enough tables for everyone to play at once, so players will still get a 2.5 hour break even if they're playing more matches on the losers side.
Or am I missing something here? Maybe Jay can clarify this for me.
PS. And yes, I realize that 2 hour matches were made to get more done in a day, however when pool starts at 11am or noon, it seems silly. Why can't this sport be like every other sport and start at normal times?
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