Slow One Pocket - Shot Clock Time?

Samiel

Samiel

Sea Player
Silver Member
We've all seen those slow 8-ball and slow 9-ball players, but the game of 1-pocket is generally considered a more relaxed, slower game requiring a little more patience.

At the pro level, they have instituted a 30 second shot clock in many tournaments for 9-ball. If they instituted a shot clock for 1-pocket, how much time would be fair? Would 1 minute be enough? 2 minutes?

I played in a 1-pocket tournament this weekend (AZ link). In one of my matches, it seemed that my opponent took at least 3-5 minutes for each shot. Now maybe he was going through all of his options, but it got to the point where I dreaded playing the rest of the game and the rest of the match, just because it was getting so painful. I started shooting at balls I shouldn't have shot at, just because I wanted to hurry the game along. Plain and simple, I lost patience.

In any case, I probably should have kept my cool and/or said something to the TD. Even my next opponent commented on how slow my previous opponent was. This got me thinking on how long a shot clock for 1-pocket should be. Some may disagree that a shot clock is needed at all, but when you're playing in a tournament with time-limited games, I think it wouldn't be a bad idea. Besides, super-slow play seems to be borderline sharking to me.

I think 90 seconds would be more than enough time for most shots. Even a minute seems pretty long to me, but maybe I'm a faster player (though I'm sure I'm not). Perhaps with 2 extensions?
 
There should not be a shot clock for 1P. Taking enough time to think about your options is how you win.
 
I think it is good idea to have a shot clock in tournaments. You can choose people you practice with. Nothing better than winning against a super slow player in a tournament, real quick like.
 
Time Goes By So Slowly..... Or, QUICKLY

What's the penalty if you haven't shot in the designated time period ? Do you owe a ball. Lose your turn ? Does the opponent shoot from where the cueball is ?
Is the penalty the same each time that you take too long or does the penalty increase up to loss of game and eventually, loss of match ?
Doug
 
By practicing pool every day for many years one must definitley encountered many varieties of patterns and these patterns/situations keep repeating themselves.After all that experience I do not find a reason to stand there looking at the table for minutes in a tournament match.usually I do not need more than 3 to 4 SECONDS to analyse the table with reasonable accuracy like Eagle flying in the sky sees it`s pray on the ground.
I follow the old addage `One time shame on you and two times shame on me`.Once I know the guy is a slow player I will never play with him again in my life.
 
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Why would you want to rush your opponent, isn't that YOUR time to do some thinking of your own? There is no mental down-time in 1P.
 
Smorgass Bored brings up a good point. Perhaps the penalty is you give up a ball and the incoming player gets to play the cueball where it lies... or maybe BIH in the kitchen.

seymore15074, when my opponent takes that long, I'm already done surveying the table. My opponent's action may change the layout of the table, so planning too much ahead may be detrimental if the conditions change.

Also, please note that this is in tournament conditions where the match is timed! In theory, we are given 45 minutes per game. If the guy I'm playing uses up 35 minutes of that time, shouldn't he be penalized if the game goes over the time limit? This is why the chess clock was invented for timing chess games. Each player gets a set amount of time to use.
 
Samiel said:
seymore15074, when my opponent takes that long, I'm already done surveying the table. My opponent's action may change the layout of the table, so planning too much ahead may be detrimental if the conditions change.
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Your opponent's actions WILL change the layout of the table but there is no reason not to anticipate it. Regardless, I suppose there has to be some sort of limit...but I feel as if time limits will alter the outcome. Some players shoot faster than others, and in a game like 1P that may make the better slow player rush into loosing to a less-skilled faster player. 1P just isn't cut out for tournaments.
 
I've never heard of a timed tournament match with a set limit the game itself rather than for individual shots. They might PLAN for 45 minutes but it's not like they're going to say "45 minutes is up. We're ending this match and whoever has more balls down wins". 1p can be slow or fast so there's not much point in trying to estimate when a match or set will be done.

It seems like most time limit restrictions are made with TV in mind, but this isn't a TV game. If someone wants to run a 1p tournament, they're just going to have to accept it's gonna be an all day affair. They shouldn't worry about who's being kept waiting... (even the players) because anyone who likes 1p should be a naturally patient person anyway. If they get fidgety waiting for the next match, maybe they'd be better off playing/sweating 9 ball.
 
Samiel, with due respect to those with differing opinions, YES.....YES....YES....there should be a shot clock in every tournament, especially one-pocket....30-45 seconds to see the shot and the leave is plenty of time IMHO.....3-5 minutes between shots is not something I'm willing to donate.....whether bad, good, or anywhere in-between, I have yet to play someone that has taken more than a minute between shots, and some defensive marathons still last 30 minutes....

Again, just my opinion, but I'd like shot clocks in leagues, tournies, and everywhere else.....some players are just rediculous in the time they take, almost to the point of sharking, and it's annoying......on my personal time, I can control the issue and choose not to play them....in tournies or leagues, chances are I gotta play the king of slow the next time around :mad:
 
seymore15074 said:
Your opponent's actions WILL change the layout of the table but there is no reason not to anticipate it. Regardless, I suppose there has to be some sort of limit...but I feel as if time limits will alter the outcome. Some players shoot faster than others, and in a game like 1P that may make the better slow player rush into loosing to a less-skilled faster player. 1P just isn't cut out for tournaments.
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It sounds like you're advocating letting the slow player win by boring their opponent's to death! :eek:

For those players who are particularly slow, a time clock might be just what the sport needs. :rolleyes:
 
Samiel said:
We've all seen those slow 8-ball and slow 9-ball players, but the game of 1-pocket is generally considered a more relaxed, slower game requiring a little more patience.

At the pro level, they have instituted a 30 second shot clock in many tournaments for 9-ball. If they instituted a shot clock for 1-pocket, how much time would be fair? Would 1 minute be enough? 2 minutes?

I played in a 1-pocket tournament this weekend (AZ link). In one of my matches, it seemed that my opponent took at least 3-5 minutes for each shot. Now maybe he was going through all of his options, but it got to the point where I dreaded playing the rest of the game and the rest of the match, just because it was getting so painful. I started shooting at balls I shouldn't have shot at, just because I wanted to hurry the game along. Plain and simple, I lost patience.

In any case, I probably should have kept my cool and/or said something to the TD. Even my next opponent commented on how slow my previous opponent was. This got me thinking on how long a shot clock for 1-pocket should be. Some may disagree that a shot clock is needed at all, but when you're playing in a tournament with time-limited games, I think it wouldn't be a bad idea. Besides, super-slow play seems to be borderline sharking to me.

I think 90 seconds would be more than enough time for most shots. Even a minute seems pretty long to me, but maybe I'm a faster player (though I'm sure I'm not). Perhaps with 2 extensions?
Click to expand...



Sounds like a shark move to me. It is a fairly common thing in some of the rooms I play in. I posted something similar to this a while back and the advice I got was great. The best thing that I found is to get up, move around, go to the bathroom, or anything to take your mind off “Father Time” over there.

I do think the shot clock is a good idea though, maybe a min. w/2 two min. extensions per rack.
 
I agree that one pocket should not generally be played with a shot clock, but again, I am talking about tournament conditions here.

I also don't think that if the match runs over its allocated time frame, the player with the most balls should win either. This could cause some players to try to delay play when they are up in balls.

A one pocket tournament I used to play in used to have the following rules...

1. Single Elimination format with 1 buy-back option if you lost your first match
2. Race to 1
3. One hour time limit per game... both players lost if the time limit was reached... warnings were given with 15, 10 and 5 minutes left

The tournament was always done in a reasonable amount of time and rarely did any matches reach an hour.
 
Samiel said:
I agree that one pocket should not generally be played with a shot clock, but again, I am talking about tournament conditions here.

I also don't think that if the match runs over its allocated time frame, the player with the most balls should win either. This could cause some players to try to delay play when they are up in balls.

A one pocket tournament I used to play in used to have the following rules...

1. Single Elimination format with 1 buy-back option if you lost your first match
2. Race to 1
3. One hour time limit per game... both players lost if the time limit was reached... warnings were given with 15, 10 and 5 minutes left

The tournament was always done in a reasonable amount of time and rarely did any matches reach an hour.
Click to expand...
The both lose the match rule would have me going elsewhere for a tourney...if my opponent was the slow player and I lost on account of their slow play I'd never come back...
 
I think the theory was that since both players knew they'd both lose if they went over the time limit, they wouldn't let that happen. It rarely occurred in the tournament and no one complained (well, not much) because they knew the rules before the tournament started. Without a shot clock, I don't think it's such a bad idea! :p
 
At least give the guys an extension or two >_<

Sometimes over a minute is perfectly legit in 1p, you really need to study a lot of options in certain situations.
 
A slow One Pocket match can be brutal and throw the whole tournament behind schedule. I'm in favor of a one minute shot clock if a match is taking too long. That's more than enough time to weigh your options.
 
jay helfert said:
A slow One Pocket match can be brutal and throw the whole tournament behind schedule. I'm in favor of a one minute shot clock if a match is taking too long. That's more than enough time to weigh your options.
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I saw Efren take about 3 minutes to decide on a shot last year at Derby City. I think it was against Bustamante, but not sure. It created so much tension and anticipation. I think it was really good for the atmosphere actually. He made an incredible safety after weighing all the options. One pocket is a thinking mans game so a shot clock makes me a little apprehensive. Watching two people that are horrible, one minute may be TOO long....lol.
 
I just finished running 4 one pocket tournaments in ONE night.

Started at 7 pm and finished at Midnight.

Format...

Race to 15 balls made in your pocket.
Single Elimination
8 player field

$25 entry fee, House added $50
First place $200 2nd $50

That's right.... 4 of these tournaments in one 5 hour period...

And here is a kicker... while the 4 One Pocket tournaments were being played... I also ran 3 NINE ball tournament ...

And I was only using 8 tables....

No Shot Clock.... no time limit...

If a second rack is needed, who ever was behind in Ball Count BREAKS.

Rafael Martinez was leading Tony Chohan 13-2 after the first rack and then lost... 15-13... this took all of 30 minutes.
 
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