So my colleague and I tried sever different ways to use this app:
Ways to record the data:
1. Ideally, the best way would be to have a third party record both players shots. This could be your teammate, if you're in a league, or it could be a friend that you drag along to record your games for you. This is the best solution as it doesn't interfere with the game and keeps the momentum going. If you can find a way
2. In league play, the next player(s) to the table can record the games of the current players at the table. This is equivalent to 1. as it is a third party, but just another option on a third party way.
3. If there are only two of you shooting and no extra person to record the game data for you, I would suggest the player not shooting record the shooter's shots and vice versa. We tried this method and my colleague thought it was okay, but did say it distracted him. He is a momentum shooter and a speed shooter and prefers to not have to do intermediate work while playing the game of pool. There is another alternative which is the one my colleague and I have adopted and it seems to work well for us.
4. I found this method to be the best, beside having a third party record the games. In this option, I record both my shots and my opponent's shots. The way I go about this is as follows. When it is my turn, I walk around the table to size up my shots, but with a caveat, I have my phone in my hand. When I decide on the shot I want to take, I set the parameters in the app, set the phone down somewhere on the rail, take my shot, then select the remaining options, if any, and submit the shot. Once you are familiar with the interface this process will take a minimum of 4 seconds to achieve. While it looks like you are busy with the app the whole time, that's just the perception of the opponent. It really doesn't take that long to do so long as you are proficient with the interface. When it is my opponent's turn to shoot, I size up what he is looking at for a shot, and try to select the shot in the app as he begins to line-up. Afterwards, is a simple click when he finishes the shot.
I'm a thinker, and my pace at the game of pool is on average 11 seconds slower than my colleagues, around 20 seconds per sound. I have personally found that using the app, though it does get a little tiresome the longer we play, has slowed my game down to a level that I have found I like, not ultra slow, but a medium pace. My colleague is the opposite. It's all in how you function as a player.
Process of recording the data
First check the settings to make sure the settings are correct for the type or rules you are playing.
The first thing I do before anything is start the timer, except on the break. We don't record time to shoot on the break. Don't worry if you forget to do this, as the average time to shoot calculation only averages non-zero times. It will happen from time to time that you forget to start the timer; but, it does happen less often the more data you record.
After starting the timer, I search for my shot, and once I find it, I set the following two parameters:
Shot Probability
Shot Type
Shot Probability can be a subjective decision. Some shots may be easy for you, but a medium to low probability for your opponent, and certainly it differs for professional players. Our guide to you is try to be as objective as possible. Some shots are hard or easy for everyone, and so you should have a general knowledge of what to look for when selecting shot probability levels. If you can see the shots ahead of time, try to factor into the shot difficulty how easy or hard it is for cue ball positioning after the shot. This can be tricky, but will lead to better data for everyone.
Once I select those two parameters, if a ball is pocketed, select either made, miss, defense or foul depending on what occurred. You can make a ball, but still miss the shot. You can also make a ball on defense and on a foul. So keep that in mind. There are also two-way shots, where by default, you are playing defense, but the defensive play may also lead to making a shot. In this case, if the shot is made, select made, otherwise select defense. Safety play is an important part of the games, and many games are won in safety battles.
In the case of a scratch, select the cue ball icon and click any other balls that were made and then select foul. As scratching constitutes a foul.
I think that about sums up how to go about using the app. Feel free to ask us anything, or share with us how you use the app or anything pertinent to the way the app affects your game.
Enjoy!
