Slow Players and the Shot Clock at Regional Events

[GG11]

FOURTY-FIVE MINUTES? That's ridiculous. If they're shooting at an acceptable pace, that would mean there were nearly 100 innings. 9 pocketed shots and "most of it was safety after safety"? Even if the majority of the remaining innings are safeties, that still would leave dozens of missed. I'm sorry but for the sake of the field's sanity, I would have disqualified both of them and moved on. No tournament needs that.

Actually I played a rack once that took 35 mins. The layout was terrible and neither of us wanted to try the run out which involved breaking open clusters, long difficult positions, combos, etc. So a safety battle ensued as each of us tried to get the other on 3 fouls. It went back and forth throughout most of the set. One player would get the other on 2 fouls and then a good hit was made and then the safety battle continued. Since neither of us could get the other on three, eventually the safeties we played started to push the balls into more favorable run out situations, but it took a long time for us to do that! We'd pocket a ball or two, then play safe. You get the picture.

This is an uncommon situation but in these circumstances, the slow play is simply a battle of wits, rather than intentional slow play and it's controversial whether THAT cause should result in a shot clock.

 

[pool4u]

Barbara says she was witness to a 45 minute game. I think you were beaten to a pulp.

Dang it.

<-- officially pulped

 

[pool4u]

This is an uncommon situation but in these circumstances, the slow play is simply a battle of wits, rather than intentional slow play and it's controversial whether THAT cause should result in a shot clock.

I understand. And I don't have the answer.

I'm assuming you're saying during that game your and/or the other player took longer than 45 seconds to shoot at one time or another?

 

[GG11]

I understand. And I don't have the answer.

I'm assuming you're saying during that game your and/or the other player took longer than 45 seconds to shoot at one time or another?

Oh I wouldn't doubt there were a couple of times that we took longer, but for the most part, I'd say we stayed withing the 30 sec range.

 

[Barbara]

Dang it.

<-- officially pulped

And I'm not exaggerating. The room owner can attest to this. He was ready to kill both players and was the one clocking the match, but that was back in 1997. No shot clocks back then. The match ended up being about 2 1/2-3 hours. It was painful, to say the least.

Barbara

 

[Barbara]

Dang it.

<-- officially pulped

And I'm not exaggerating. The room owner can attest to this. He was ready to kill both players and was the one clocking the match, but that was back in 1996 or 7. No shot clocks back then. The match ended up being about 2 1/2-3 hours. It was painful, to say the least.

Barbara

 

[SmoothStroke]

No such thing as a perfect boat

Beginners are either usually slow or very quick. Either way they miss a lot of shots and a rack can take forevor.Clock them?

Average players are about the same just a notch better on shot making, racks still take a long time. Clock them?

Above average to high level. 30 seconds is plenty, 45 seconds is more then enough. What are you doing? The game tells you how to play it.
It's multiple choice at that point and most times choices at best are option
A,B,C...Sometimes it's just A ( one option ) pick one and execute.
You always have a Billy Crystal ( Let me Analeyes This) who looks for Options
A-Z and in the end still finds only one option 3 hours later and you grew a beard waiting while they confused his or her tiny little brain.
There is no doubt this level of play should have a shot clock or some type of time restrictions.Now you are messing with a players rhythm, never seemed to bother Archer
Change of format is a good way, otherwise put the clock in from the beginning and it's the same for everyone.

There is no such thing as a perfect boat

 

[9 Ball Girl]

Scotch doubles, 8-ball, race to 5. One match lasted over 2 1/2 hours. Beat that!

8 ball, Race to 4, took about 2.75 hours--and I was in 4 inch heels no less! I was ready to kill myself especially since I found myself speeding up my normal pace because I felt like I had to make up for lost time (I wound up winning and I didn't even feel like playing my next match!) Said player is notorious for his slow play and that's just how he plays, I don't think it's meant to shark. I know he plays on the Predator tour and other tournaments and he has been complained about. C'est la vie I guess.

 

[9balllvr]

I haven't read all of the posts, but was going to mention asking Barbara as she always kept us hopping. I'm for the shot clock all the way, but I am a faster shooter. IMO, if the tournament/tour director specifies the number of games in a specific time frame that must be met at the beginning of the event and it is not happening what whatever reason, shot clock em. There have been many instances on the women's regional tours where the ladies used the slow play or break times as a sharking technique.