wincardona
Verified Member
I'm exhausted and not feeling well after three days of grueling play. Granted i'm 74 years old and not physically equipped to play pool for 17 hours which I did on the final day. Two years ago when I won the tournament I played 17 hours again on the final day but now at the age of 74 it was just too much for my body to handle. I don't agree with playing with a shot clock, nor changing the rules of the game to speed up the game, I enjoy playing and watching one pocket being played the way it's played.
Playing with pockets under 4-1/2" will slow up play considerably and will encourage the better players to play more of a moving game figuring that they will increase their chance of winning forcing the lesser player to earn the win. This is what I had noticed and followed suit by employing the same strategy myself. With 4-1/2" or 4-5/8" pockets the strategies employed would lend to a much quicker game, and that's what we're shooting for. I also agree that adding an extra day to the playing of the tournament will create a much more enjoyable tournament to play and watch being played. I arrived in Houston on the 24th. figuring the tournament was starting on the 25th. but it started on the 26th. We actually could have started on the 25th. and played a full round or possibly two rounds which would have allowed the final day to be more enjoyable and exciting as we watched a final match at a reasonable hour.
My suggestion would be to play with larger pockets and add another day of play to the format. After all, we are seniors that need easier equipment and rest to play and perform to our standards. Also, the additional rest will not be as damaging to our health.
Another option that would speed up the game would be to play winner breaks on the one loss side race to three. We could shorten the race to two and play rotate break on the one loss side as well.
Lets be real, when we start changing the rules of the game by either using a shot clock or by modifying the rules it's going to be an awkward transition. Regardless of what we do, there must be a compromise or we will go back and forth endlessly with what our options are. My two cents.
Dr. Bill
Playing with pockets under 4-1/2" will slow up play considerably and will encourage the better players to play more of a moving game figuring that they will increase their chance of winning forcing the lesser player to earn the win. This is what I had noticed and followed suit by employing the same strategy myself. With 4-1/2" or 4-5/8" pockets the strategies employed would lend to a much quicker game, and that's what we're shooting for. I also agree that adding an extra day to the playing of the tournament will create a much more enjoyable tournament to play and watch being played. I arrived in Houston on the 24th. figuring the tournament was starting on the 25th. but it started on the 26th. We actually could have started on the 25th. and played a full round or possibly two rounds which would have allowed the final day to be more enjoyable and exciting as we watched a final match at a reasonable hour.
My suggestion would be to play with larger pockets and add another day of play to the format. After all, we are seniors that need easier equipment and rest to play and perform to our standards. Also, the additional rest will not be as damaging to our health.
Another option that would speed up the game would be to play winner breaks on the one loss side race to three. We could shorten the race to two and play rotate break on the one loss side as well.
Lets be real, when we start changing the rules of the game by either using a shot clock or by modifying the rules it's going to be an awkward transition. Regardless of what we do, there must be a compromise or we will go back and forth endlessly with what our options are. My two cents.
Dr. Bill