match length
We are buying several Diamond smart tables and lights. We currently have 6 bar boxes and two Diamond Professionals, 9 footers. We have enough space for 12 - nines and 10 smart tables. We have bought our building and are buying oure tables and lights now.
Question is what number would we need to be able to run tournaments of 65-85 players on the 9 footers. We were thinking 8 or would 10 be ideal.
We are in Boiling Springs, SC. We are opening in April. Having a small problem with zoning. Yes, we know a new room opened here with 8-8 foot tables.
Thanks CMB
For a field that big I suggest that you actually use start times for the matches. Yes, the tournament will take longer but the players will appreciate it tremendously. Be fair but firm on the tardiness and what happens if they are late to a match. There is NO good excuse for being late. Make sure you cover it at the players' meeting. I like using the loss of one game for 5 minutes late, loss of three total games for 10 minutes late and loss of match for 15 minutes late. Each player gets one 5 minute "bathroom" break during the match
You can adjust your match length by adjusting your race. If the matches last one hour or less, a 64 bracket can be completed in 20 hours on 8 tables. That means you could start the tournament Friday nite at 7p with the last matches called at 11p. Saturday, start @ 11a and go 10 hours, beyond that the play gets pretty sloppy. That leaves 6 hours for Sunday.
Add approximately 9 to 11 hours for every 32 more entrants.
I suggest using 8 because that fits in with brackets better. Brackets are divisible by 8. 10 tables throws the timing and brackets a little crazy but certainly is doable but you would only save 1 to 2 hours. Better to leave them open for practice or matching up or if a match goes beyond the one hour frame. Matches have a way of slowing down and exceeding the hour allotted toward the last 12 to 16 players. Be ready with a timer on some of them.
If you had 12 tables, that would save 2 to 3 hours. The time would be saved on the front end of the tournament as you can get through the early rounds faster. Possible to do that and then go down to 8 tables after 3 rounds out on the bracket.
Most races to 7 with average players playing 9-ball fit in that one hour frame. For 8-ball, the race should be to 5. 10-ball, race to 6. One pocket, anything goes.
To figure it out for yourself, just get a 64 or 128 bracket. Then put in the byes. If you want to figure 96 players, that equals 32 byes. Time it out. If you want to start @ 7p and use 12 tables, go down the bracket and put in the times. After putting down 12, 7p times, then put in 12, 8p times and continue through the entire bracket.
Depending on when you want to start and finish the tournament, you will probably have to adjust the length of daily play or the length of the matches.
Good luck on your endeavor.
Hope I wasn't too incoherent. LOL
