ESPN Match - Clapping ever shot?

"CaliRed".

"CaliRed".

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I"m watching a ESPN WPBA match 2009 US Open in Norman, OK.

The audience claps on EVERY shot! A 1 ft. straight in stop shot, CLAPPING. It bothered me the whole match. (Hey, what can I say, sometimes little things bother me:grin:)
I had read on another thread that someone said the production crew encouraged clapping, but on EVERY shot?

How could someone not feel like a puppet, clapping on every shot?

On a side note, why do the feminine women players all dress in black? I can see why Jennette Lee does it, but why does everyone else?

Just some observations I noticed, and I figured all the smart posters here would be able to enlighten me:grin:
 
"CaliRed". said:
I"m watching a ESPN WPBA match 2009 US Open in Norman, OK.

The audience claps on EVERY shot! A 1 ft. straight in stop shot, CLAPPING. It bothered me the whole match. (Hey, what can I say, sometimes little things bother me:grin:)
I had read on another thread that someone said the production crew encouraged clapping, but on EVERY shot?

How could someone not feel like a puppet, clapping on every shot?

On a side note, why do the feminine women players all dress in black? I can see why Jennette Lee does it, but why does everyone else?

Just some observations I noticed, and I figured all the smart posters here would be able to enlighten me:grin:
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Yep, the people do not know what they are watching.

As for the women, it's obvious. After Labor Day they don't wear white, so they all wear black. Also, the new line of pool clothing has not been released yet :)
 
"CaliRed". said:
I"m watching a ESPN WPBA match 2009 US Open in Norman, OK.

The audience claps on EVERY shot! A 1 ft. straight in stop shot, CLAPPING. It bothered me the whole match. (Hey, what can I say, sometimes little things bother me:grin:)
I had read on another thread that someone said the production crew encouraged clapping, but on EVERY shot?
Click to expand...

That's what I've been told. They may not do it for non-filmed matches but they do for all the ones I've seen on tv.
 
I fail to see why this is a problem. To the trained eye yes this could be annoying as they realize the simplicity of some of the shots, but for the untrained eye who we are desperately trying to get to watch and invest in pool wouldnt it be better to see a crowd cheering at the skill finesse and grace of the ladies and the power and speed of the men ?

I mean if i was to show a panel of people a pro billiards match up where no one clapped and then one where people clapped which one do you think they would rather see. I also know that when I play in a match up when I make a shot and if there is a crowd big or small when they cheer for me or clap or even a nice shot is called out I know I get pumped up and I would think it would carry the same effect over to the pros. I mean I know people like Ralf and Thorsten try not to show their emotions but as a human you cant tell me there is no momentum gained or confidence by people cheering for you.

Just my 2 cents.
 
I can only say is i remember when there was a big money match going on everybody kept quiet so as not to shark the players.
But i guess thats show biz !
 
I quit watching the ESPN telecast because of the clapping after every single shot...........

I know that it's silly on my part but I find it very annoying.
 
mmwtdh said:
I quit watching the ESPN telecast because of the clapping after every single shot...........

I know that it's silly on my part but I find it very annoying.
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I still watch, but with the volume turned off. Music is much better background noise.

When a player makes an easy ball- i mean, ESPECIALLY when the opponent ran the whole rack and hung the 9 and then the next person gets up there and makes it and the audience applauds... OR when the player makes a ball and totally freaking hooks himself... and the crowd claps... I just want to slap everybody. Everybody.
 
ForumGhost516 said:
I fail to see why this is a problem. To the trained eye yes this could be annoying as they realize the simplicity of some of the shots, but for the untrained eye who we are desperately trying to get to watch and invest in pool wouldnt it be better to see a crowd cheering at the skill finesse and grace of the ladies and the power and speed of the men ?
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No, it is disingenuous and the audience knows it. It is the pool equivalent of laugh track television comedies that have a laugh track blast out a huge reaction at something not funny in the slightest.

What this clapping after every shot does it REMOVE true emotional response from the game. When someone now does something truly impressive the response is... more clapping, there is little distinction, might be abit louder clapping. The whole audience is not giving a true emotional response most of the time, they instead feel like a puppet, clapping at each meaningless little thing. It is most definately NOT good for the live audience, I cannot stand it when they ask the audience to do that and I will more often then not avoid attending live pool if they are doing that crap.
 
Celtic said:
No, it is disingenuous and the audience knows it. It is the pool equivalent of laugh track television comedies that have a laugh track blast out a huge reaction at something not funny in the slightest.

What this clapping after every shot does it REMOVE true emotional response from the game.
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Exactly right.
 
"CaliRed". said:
The audience claps on EVERY shot! A 1 ft. straight in stop shot, CLAPPING.
Click to expand...

I refuse to watch a pool match with the audience clapping on every shot. It shows how knowledgeable the audience is about pool..........

James
 
ESPN did the same thing with bowling. Now they have lanes set up outside and they wear shorts and sunglasses? It's more of a circus now and I stopped watching. Kind of like golf now where someone in the crowd shouts "in the hole", when Tiger tees off on a par 5.
 
No, I don't believe anyone has ever been shot for clapping, although I could be wrong.
 
I watched Jeanette Lee play in a local $money$ game, and she asked the onlookers to clap when she made a shot. I found this a bit unusual....1) because she was playing a local, and 2) they were playing an ahead set of 9ball on a barbox......

Could it be that she has gotten used to it, or is it something much more sinister??!! :eek: :confused: :sorry:
 
the puppet master

The man behind the annoying clapping is Mr. WPBA Tournament Director, Steve Tipton. I've gone to the Great Lakes Classic for the past few years, and every year it's the same song and dance from him. God help you if you actually went just to watch pool and not "help support the ladies tour." And by that he means clap on every shot (for the TV matches) and buy raffle tickets for whatever hideous Cuetec he's pawning off.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for acknowledging the nice shot, but the clapping on every shot brings the game down a notch IMO. And I also clap any time the balls are frozen on the first try racking. Cuz that's more rare than a break & run on those tables they play on!!!

Mike
 
I remember once when Earl made a decent shot....not extremely difficult....but nevertheless a fine shot..... and a couple of the audience members clapped.......

Earl turned in the direction and sneered......"This ain't the women you know!" and then shook his head and continued to run out a difficult rack.

What I think more than anything is that .....it can break your concentration...

But it doesn't seem to have that effect on Karen Corr and Allison and some of the others.

Personally though....I think it's quite unnecessary......especially on every shot.:rolleyes:
 
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