Proposed New Scoring for MPL 2013.

[zooma]

The revised MPL scoring system ( all cards scored inwards) has worked very well this season and has been a benefit for all of us as it has made the scoring easy and clear cut for everyone to understand.

The third season of the MPL will start in July 2013, and the only (possible) suggested change will be the kicker bonus - as discussed here on this thread.

The debate has been good and both sides of the subject has been well represented, so can I suggest that we do keep the kicker bonus (for all the good reasons that it was devised in the first place), but revise the points bonus to +3 points per card ?

I think we have enough experience with the MPL and the revised scoring system so far to know that we all want to keep the bonus system, but that it is regarded as being a little generous at +4 points per card (plus 16 points per round).

I would like to further suggest that if we make this change to plus 3 points per card ( plus 12 points per round) that it then becomes permanent and is not put up for revision again in the future as we do still need to encourage the use of "kickers" in this series and do not want anyone to think that the bonus system will continue to be eroded further in the future.

[tazzi]

shooting a recoiless pistol gives a vast advantage over a kicker, so im thinking the 4points is a fair amount.
or maybe only allow kickers so there is no advantages ,then no extra points will be necessery.

[Fat stig]

I agree with +3 per card Bob but on a few occasions in this series both me & Paul have scored over 50 points on one card with the +4, maybe a max of 50 per card would be an idea so there isn't a riot when Paul breaks the 200 points total you know how "heated" it can get on here I'm shooting my FWB 65 at the min but I'm looking out for another 45 it's just more fun with a kicker

[mikec4]

John, it depends on whether you add 3 per card or 12 per round score as to whether you apply a limit of 50 per card.

You need to ask "the man from Del Monte" his opinion as apparently, his word is FINAL

[Fat stig]

I would never argue with "da man" Mike but I think they are scored individually, so if all goes well on a card & you master the kick you still get marked up to a max of 50 just not above. The +3 would still be there as an insentive to use kickers for most people without giving to big an advantage to the ones that prefer them.
Most of the bonous point argument on here has been about the advantage being to much when for most new shooters it probably isn't enough, if you stick a gamo compact in a new shooters hand with a bit of training & practice groups will come quite quickly. Take that same new shooter & stick a kicker in their hand & it will take a lot longer & a lot more training to get the same result.

[mikec4]

I agree John that any new shooters will take time to achieve consistency and the incentive of bonus points is an encouragement to use a "kicker".

The separate argument is that Paul and yourself are working within the rules of the competition and if +3 gives you a score on the occasional card in excess of 50 then don't be embarrassed about it, you're still operating on a level playing field and your scores are relative. The only advantage you both enjoy is your individual skill in shooting a "kicker" consistently well.

It's like telling Dani Pedrosa "You only weigh 57kg , so we'll put 15 kg of lead on your bike to make it fair for the others" in Moto GP.

[Fat stig]

Make it 60kg & I've got a chance

[zooma]

I agree with +3 per card Bob but on a few occasions in this series both me & Paul have scored over 50 points on one card with the +4, maybe a max of 50 per card would be an idea so there isn't a riot when Paul breaks the 200 points total you know how "heated" it can get on here I'm shooting my FWB 65 at the min but I'm looking out for another 45 it's just more fun with a kicker

Thanks for that John - I think +3 could be the final adjustment to the kicker scoring bonus as it is still enough to encourage and reward the use of non-recoiless pistols by levelling things up a bit without going too far.

This does mean that anyone shooting a kicker could score a possible 53 per card, and I think if anyone is able to hit five tens with any kicker at 10 metres then that is a fair reward for an exceptional achievement, and I personally look forward to seeing the first "53" MPL card........along with the first possible "50" from a recoilless shooter with a classic MPL air pistol - both could be some time coming, and my guess is that the "53" will take the longest to achive - a real challenge - even for the man with the hat !

There is already some precedent in air pistol and rifle shooting of being able to score more than the figure printed on the card as the ISU award "bonus" points for the quality of the bulls-eye scored - as many confused TV viewers noticed when watching the Olympic Games 10 meters air pistol and air rifle finals.

Regular MPL competitors that are not "super-stars" (most of us), and choose to shoot a kicker will appreciate the help that the bonus points give by adding 12 points to their 4 card result each month, and I think this is the correct balance when combined with our new scoring system as we are only seeking parity between the two types of recoilless and recoiling pistol - a very tricky balancing act indeed.

I hope this proposal will help to stop the criticisms we have had that the continue to suggest that the +4 bonus points is too generous. We will never satisfy either extreme view of the kicker bonus debate, but I think we have made the effort to strike the right balance and from now onwards the choice will simply be to use a kicker if the bonus points are that "juicy"and irresistible, and to use a recoilless if the bonus is considered to be too "mean".

Personally I think if we can agree the 3 point bonus for the next MPL season to start in July 2013, both types have some sort of scoring parity with as good a compromise as we are likely to get........and that this will be the last time this subject requires a rule change ......although it is sure to continue to cause some good debate in the future (as it has always done! ).

[I. J.]

or maybe only allow kickers so there is no advantages ,.

And immediately loose 50+% of the competitors in the MPL.

[zooma]

The MPL is for all single shot spring powered and single stroke pistols.

Part of the appeal is the variety of types being used, and I think the efforts we have made to try and make a "level playing field" for everyone irrespective of the type of MPL legal pistol chosen makes it better than it would be without the kicker bonus.

Hopefully this latest proposal (+3 points per card) will be seen as better than what we have now (+ 4 points per card) and that we will never have to re-visit this bonus system again - I am hoping for a "final fix" with this one.