Do average shot times increase as tournament progresses?

[GR8GUY]

Hi Does the overall average shot time increase as a tournament progresses? I would have thought that in the later rounds there would naturally be the better players and shots would be more carefully planned increasing time taken. I haven’t seen any stats for tournaments with average shot times per round. Is this something that’s captured? It’s to settle a debate as I thought the times would naturally increase but brother dismissed this theory. All thoughts welcome

[JimMalone]

Hi Does the overall average shot time increase as a tournament progresses? I would have thought that in the later rounds there would naturally be the better players and shots would be more carefully planned increasing time taken. I haven’t seen any stats for tournaments with average shot times per round. Is this something that’s captured? It’s to settle a debate as I thought the times would naturally increase but brother dismissed this theory. All thoughts welcome

Welcome on these boards!

I don't have any data for this, but it's an interesting thought.
I would say another factor is the higher stakes and bigger pressure in the latter rounds that could contribute to longer average shot times for the players - if they are actually increase.

[Starsky]

Personally I think shot times are linked to how your playing . Of course certain players style will make them faster or slower than others but if your playing well most players will naturally speed up their game, some more than others .

[vmax]

I've wondered if multiple escapes from a snooker due to the miss rule are actually counted as one shot therefore increasing the average shot time.

[DeanH]

I've wondered if multiple escapes from a snooker due to the miss rule are actually counted as one shot therefore increasing the average shot time.

no, they are individual strokes
Because the referee has to mark the foul and points and swap players back to offender to play again, this is taken by the scoreboard as individual strokes and hence time taken is noted

[Rane]

From what I have seen then yes. O?Sullivan usually plays a bit slower when he?s up against someone who gives him a match. Still one of the fastest though. From what I remember seeing Judd Trump has been below 20 seconds most of the time but in the finals he gets over. In the world final Selby and Murphy are both app. 3 seconds slower than their average. Given the occasion I find it quite natural.

[Mark187187]

I'd imagine it evens out over the longer matches. Selby must have been quicker in the final than his semi final, and the later stages of the final moved along quite steadily

[GR8GUY]

Thanks for all your input it’s difficult to prove conclusively without the stats. It just seems highly likely that play slows down in the later stages when the standard of opponents is higher coupled with added pressure and prize money. Brother isn’t conceding on this though. If you find anything please let me know

[Mark187187]

Cuetracker has average shot times. For example, Mark Selby was as follows from round 1 of the world championships to the final: 24.2, 25.5, 24.3, 28.6, 28.2. Murphy was: 23.1, 21.7, 22.5, 23.8, 24.6. Definitely slower at the end based on that small sample, but you can check out cuetracker for a larger sample, it has stats going back years for all tournaments

[GR8GUY]

That’s a great find I’ll need to check that out

[DeanH]

Cuetracker has average shot times. For example, Mark Selby was as follows from round 1 of the world championships to the final: 24.2, 25.5, 24.3, 28.6, 28.2. Murphy was: 23.1, 21.7, 22.5, 23.8, 24.6. Definitely slower at the end based on that small sample, but you can check out cuetracker for a larger sample, it has stats going back years for all tournaments

Note: CueTracker only has AST for a few years, after WST added it, as they did not have it till recently

OP - I do think that in average ASTs do become longer as an event progresses

[vmax]

Cuetracker has average shot times. For example, Mark Selby was as follows from round 1 of the world championships to the final: 24.2, 25.5, 24.3, 28.6, 28.2. Murphy was: 23.1, 21.7, 22.5, 23.8, 24.6. Definitely slower at the end based on that small sample, but you can check out cuetracker for a larger sample, it has stats going back years for all tournaments

Murphy slower at the end because he was playing Selby, I'm betting Binghams ast was faster until he played Selby, probably all players ast increase when playing Selby.

[Cue crafty]

Murphy slower at the end because he was playing Selby, I'm betting Binghams ast was faster until he played Selby, probably all players ast increase when playing Selby.

Along with their blood pressure.

[Odrl]

All of Selby's opponents had a higher AST against Selby than in any of their other matches. All of them also had a slower AST against Selby than their average AST was for the season.

[Cue crafty]

All of Selby's opponents had a higher AST against Selby than in any of their other matches. All of them also had a slower AST against Selby than their average AST was for the season.

Well, again has to be said that is a credit to Selby's brilliance as a tactician in that he can slow the pace of play to not only suit himself but hamper a charge from a faster opponent. Queens gambit not accepted!