Snooker score board .

[denja]

A very basic question If you break first should you use the upper or lower numbers of the scoreboard is there any rule or tradition that dictates if the breaking player should add his score to the upper or lower numbers.

[fred.england]

I don't think there is any tradition......in our league, the home team on the night will always be top on the scoreboard.....but in our singles tournaments it is generally the first name drawn who will be on top..........

[DeanH]

in non-league games, I have always thought it to be the break-player on the top 0-20 (and left 20, 40,etc), second player on bottom and right, obviously this depends on the design of scoreboard but most modern boards this applies
But then when I play the wife, she is always on top for all the frames
As long as you and your playing partners agree, no problem

[gazza147]

Denja you are Correct if you Break 1st Normally you do go Top well everywhere I have played and in the Leagues they do that makes it alot easier for Referee aswell.

[The Statman]

Yes, I would agree mainly with the above.

It seems to be traditional in league fixtures that the home side takes the top.

In other games, it would be the player who breaks in the first frame who takes the top, for the whole match - no alternating of top and bottom for the same player because you're asking for confusion!

(Incidentally, I have a few regular playing partners where I always play top and my opponent always plays bottom. We found that, playing each other several times a week, it's just easier that way.)


Oh and by the way, I hope you only put the score up at the end of the break, and not on a shot-by-shot basis!

[steve clarke]

Oh and by the way, I hope you only put the score up at the end of the break, and not on a shot-by-shot basis!

My friend was scoring for me the other week - he put the scores up on a shot by shot basis.

Is this a no no?

[snookdevon]

My friend was scoring for me the other week - he put the scores up on a shot by shot basis.

Is this a no no?
Its not a no no Steve if thats your preference,though its poss open to confusion .

[steve clarke]

OK I can see that confusion could arise.

Cheers for that.

[The Statman]

My friend was scoring for me the other week - he put the scores up on a shot by shot basis.

Is this a no no?

Not exactly a no-no, but it will amplify any confusion that occurs. The recognised 'correct' procedure is to put all points on the board at the end of the visit to the table.

Firstly, it means that the board is only moved once, so that is one opportunity to make an error rather than 10 times in the course of a break. It also means that it is done while neither player is on shot, so both have a chance of spotting any error as it is made.

And when it is noticed, you are far more likely to be able to recall that, yes, it was on 39 and the break was definitley 17, so the currently shown figure of 55 must be wrong.

Another benefit is that your opponent does not need to go to the scoreboard between every shot, as well as respotting your colours.

[Souwester]

I agree wholeheartedly with both of Statman's posts.

[franksandellsnooker]

There are traditions in scoreboards that indicate that the breaker or the player playing spot white at billiards goes on top, You may notice that on boards with slider indicators there is a spot or indent on the slider which should always be on the top line. In modern billiards where yellow has replaced the spot white this player is always scored on top (or should be). F.

[The Statman]

There are traditions in scoreboards that indicate that the breaker or the player playing spot white at billiards goes on top, You may notice that on boards with slider indicators there is a spot or indent on the slider which should always be on the top line. In modern billiards where yellow has replaced the spot white this player is always scored on top (or should be). F.

Indeed.

Of course, a difference with billiards is that play is (or traditionally was) usually one continuous period, so there was not the issue as in snooker of alternate break-offs. Once the ball had been chosen, this was the same for the entire game.

In snooker, I would consider it undesirable that players alternate top/bottom of the scoreboard for every frame, because the break-off is alternated. Far better to establish once who uses which, and stick to it.

Of course, in professional play, there is the custom that the higher-ranked player sits yellow side and the lower-ranked green side. The scoreboards are arranged so that the sides agree with where the players are sat - higher-ranked player on the left for the tv scoreboard (facing viewers), and higher-ranked to the right for the arena scoreboard (facing the live audience).

[denja]

I asked this question hoping that it was not a silly one however it appears there is a lot of tradition behind the simple score board great feedback Guys. Any other strange facts that could be of interest.

[The Statman]

I asked this question hoping that it was not a silly one however it appears there is a lot of tradition behind the simple score board great feedback Guys. Any other strange facts that could be of interest.

Yes. Get into the habit of calling the scores aloud as your opponent goes through his break - or at least, after every colour.

If you currently are in the habit of putting the score up after every shot, and choose to wait until the end of turn on the basis of what you've read on this thread, the calling aloud will be very important. Othewise, you'd be surprised how often you, as the opponent, suddenly doubt yourself: "Oh is that the third red-black he's taken or the fourth?"

By calling scores aloud, this minimises the chances that a mistake will be made and, again, will give both players the opportunity to notice it if one is made.

It also has the side-effect that it gets players used to hearing the running scores. If they are going on to play even semi-serious amateur matches, they will start to play in refereed games. Also, for personal bests, you might like to know that your break is 47, say, and play the easier brown instead of the better pink if your highest break is 50 and you want to beat it! (And at the same time have that bit of pressure of knowing that the milestone is looming.)

[steve clarke]

Thanks Statman