My idea for a proper "shot clock" in pool.

[Celtic]

This came up in the Bonus Ball thread but it is something I thought up more for 8-ball were it ever to go pro.

8-ball is a game where often times a person is shooting a pretty routine pattern and can shoot at a quick pace, other times important safeties take more time as do the moment after the break when you determine the balls to shoot and how to run them out and deal with problem balls.

Due to the varied nature of required time to make shots I think a "30 second for all shots" shot clock does not really make alot of sense for 8-ball.

What I propose would be best is a running average shotclock where you must shoot your last 10 shots in under 5 minutes, or 300 seconds (a 30 second average/shot).

The reason this came up in the Bonus Ball thread is because you would need a visible time clock that the players can see easily so they can keep track of where they stand. The time clock would show the players time/shot average for the last 10 shots, it would show the total time for the last NINE shots so that they know how much time they have on the tenth shot each time in order to stay under the 300 second limit, and it would show the current shot time for each shot.

All of this would be programmed easily into a score/timeboard that is in effect a large stopwatch that records some very easily programmed variables that are determined internally by computer, a time keeper need only hit one button at the start of each shot for each player.

What this allows is a player to have a game like this

Shot 1: 45 (seconds)
Shot 2: 20
Shot 3: 35
Shot 4: 15
Shot 5: 10
Shot 6: 60
Shot 7: 15
Shot 8: 20
Shot 9: 10
Shot 10: 15

Total over the last 10 shots: 245 seconds

On the next shot the 45 seconds for shot 1 is dropped off and the player is at 200 seconds + the time for shot 10 (that 200 seconds would be one of the times that the player sees, in effect it means they have no more then 60 seconds for their current shot not to foul).

What this would do is encourage fast play during the routine runouts and encourage time management for the players so that when they DO run into a tough situation where they need some time to think they have it due to their previous fast play. A player who continually plays slow on the routine things would end up with less time when they really need it.

Given their would be a large clearly visible shot clock board showing the time/shot average for the last 10 shots, the total time for the last 9 shots, and the current shots time ticking away there would be NO verbal or chime warnings for a time violation. It would be up to the player to glance up at the clock on occasion and assure their own time management. There is nothing more amature looking then a ref interupting a player in their backstroke and hearing a chime every time a player has 10 seconds left. The first thing you would hear if you lack the ability to watch your own time is the foul being called.

 

["CaliRed".]

You've got waaaaay to much time on your hands judging by your posts of late.

Do you actually ever have time to enjoy the actual physical game of pool?

 

[Celtic]

You've got waaaaay to much time on your hands judging by your posts of late.

Do you actually ever have time to enjoy the actual physical game of pool?

I used to play heaps of pool, I play very little these days because the competitive scene/tournament scene in my town is non-existent.

I don't find the game to be very interesting without an active tournament scene with alot of larger regional events and traveling around and playing on a "tour" type of thing. Without that type of pool scene I find the effort put in to keep my game sharp to be largely wasted.

Once upon a time in Calgary we had 3 pretty decent money added tournaments per a week with top competition playing in them, we had at least one tournament each month that brought in players from various provinces to a certain city with a $100+ entry fee and over $1000 added (the large ones up to $10,000 added). It is all gone, there is no avenue to competitive pool anymore for the amature ranks or pro ranks alike here, they both dried up. At 35 years old and having started playing competitive pool at about 15 years old I got to watch the fall of the game over the last 20 years and see how much we have lost.

That is mainly why I spend alot of time here trying to figure out ways pool can go somewhere, create some interest in the game at the pro level that then has the trickle down effect to all levels of the game, and ultimately recreates the pool scene that can spur my interest back into playing and competing and increasing my skills. I would absolutely love a reason to want to play this game again seriously.

 

[MitchAlsup]

I have been an advocate for something like this for years.

 

[AtLarge]

I like your idea!

Please say a bit more as to why you chose 10 shots for the running average, as opposed to fewer shots or more shots or the entire match.

 

[ctyhntr]

If there enough interest, perhaps fund this through kickstarter to hire a developer to create a smartphone or iPad app.

 

[WoodyJ]

... It would be up to the player to glance up at the clock on occasion and assure their own time management. There is nothing more amature looking then a ref interupting a player in their backstroke and hearing a chime every time a player has 10 seconds left. The first thing you would hear if you lack the ability to watch your own time is the foul being called.

Way too complicated. Who's going to build the device and try and sell it? Who's going try to understand it and use it?

Want to call a foul on a shot: Buy a cheap 3-minute egg timer. If someone is shooting slow enough to pi$$ people off in a tournament, put a three minute time limit on each shot. If someone runs out of time on a shot, call a foul.

Want to call a foul on a game: Buy a cheap chess clock. The each person hits the clock when their turn is done. You exceed the total time allowed for a game, the clock goes ding and you lost the game.

No warnings. Ding you loose your turn or the game. Easy to implement.

IMHO, the players can implement the above anywhere by themselves. Any viewers will understand.

 

[JMuck]

Well......I guess I will make myself vulnerable,again.

This is a compilation of some thoughts I shared with a couple of acquaintances within the last two years.Didn't get much feedback.I think the reason that a product like TAR doesn't flourish beyond what it does today is lack of exposure.Streaming to me is the end product without a bridge to reach it.

Roughly February 2010,
It seems to me the single biggest strength pool has going for it is the number of people that can be accessed over a given period of time in the places they play.Large square footage's with groups of people,sometimes large groups,congregating and participating in the game they love.Create a technological cool devise that is capable of accurate scoring and display,then network the devices.A by-product of the devise is to be able to then advertise.Advertising at this level now creates opportunities for products or businesses outside the billiard industry to access the captured audience.Create a completely separate revenue stream and a moderated distribution of that wealth,as in percentages provided for the house or possibly a dedicated slice to improve pro pool and its structure.Sponsorship from the ground up rather than holding out for some angel investor.The "Holy Grail",accurate and reproducible,real time scoring and display capable of accommodating all the various league systems. Gather data,organize the statistics in a compelling way and inform players.Advertise and BRAND,BRAND,BRAND.

When objectively looking at a pool room or bar,owners are basing how they function on available square feet of floor space.My assertion is that the space above the tables can be used more productively.The lighting system as used now seems antiquated.Introducing cameras for field registration and ball tracking would be a start.Things like break speed,a shot clock and maybe even foul recognition with replay and explanations may be possible.Or,who top pros are and where there from and mix in history blurbs just for fun.The whole idea is to make it functionally compelling,easy to use, provide instant feedback,increase interactivity,provide revenue and BRAND to all who enter the building weather they play or not.

Technologically this may seem like a lot to bite off and chew,but I believe this is a direction more people should be thinking towards.It doesn't have to be all encompassing at first but could be introduced and tweaked at a single location.Oh yea,don't underestimate the WOW factor.

Maybe the interface could be with a projection on the table rather than a piece of hardware like an iPad.

 

[Celtic]

Way too complicated. Who's going to build the device and try and sell it? Who's going try to understand it and use it?

This is REALLY simple in practice. The machine would litterly run off clicking either "player A" button, "player B" button, and would have a "pause" button for racking and breaks. A not particularily well trained monkey could run what I am talking about with minimal issues.

The machine itself has about the computing power of a basic calulator and a $10 stop watch, it would be simple to program and produce and fairly cheap.