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.
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.
