SHAUN MURPHY wants four major rules changes in snooker.
The 42-year-old was crowned Masters champion in January and he has since started a YouTube channel teaching skills to snooker enthusiasts.
He has also been busy coming up with new ideas to transform the sport, some of which could make it more entertaining.
Murphy has not been quiet on the aspects of snooker he thinks hold it back, and he has proposed four changes over the last few months.
Spotted ball
Murphy has been using a spotted ball in his YouTube sessions and he believes the World Snooker Tour should follow suit.
The spotted ball allows his viewers to see exactly where he is hitting the cue ball, helping them to learn and improve their skills.
Murphy wants to bring that to a wider audience, saying: “You guys are loving seeing the spin, how the spin manipulates the cue ball and what it’s actually doing.
“It’s great that you can see it with one of these. You know what? I actually think we should be using one of these in tournament play.
“I think that you should be able to see this when we’re playing. Think about this, snooker, currently, is the only table sport and cue sport that doesn’t use one of these.
“They are using it in billiards, they’re using it in nine-ball, they are using it in everything. Maybe it’s time that snooker moved on, just so you guys can see what’s happening.”
Foul and a miss rule
Murphy wants to get rid of the rule that allows players to foul and miss when trying to get out of snookers.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Shaun Murphy swipes at snooker gamesmanship tactic that is ‘blight on our sport’ ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6368299337112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]He believes it hands the opponent an unfair advantage as players are given the chance to get a sighter in when they are snookered.
He said: “I just find it so weird that we have a rule in the game that allows players to have a sighter.
“In my opinion, the miss rule needs to be taken out of the game altogether. I don’t like the rule at all.”
Back in 2020, Murphy suggested an alternative on social media, proposing: “Instead, I’d give ball in hand after any foul.”
Shot clock
The Magician has expressed his desire to see a shot clock brought in down the years.
Murphy has also been critical of the slow tempo of some of his fellow pros, clashing with Mark Allen in December over the issue.
The change could make snooker a bit more easy on the eye, and prevent matches being dragged out.
The world No10 shared his thoughts on the issue, saying: “I’d bring in a shot clock. And I’ve been saying this for 20 years, so I’m super-consistent on this.”
Toilet break times
Murphy has also complained about his colleagues taking lengthy toilet breaks.
He slammed the practice as “ridiculous” and labelled it an “epidemic”.
The former world champion said: “Toilet breaks. We have to talk about the epidemic of toilet breaks that are spoiling snooker action.
“It is now getting ridiculous, guys. It is getting totally out of hand. It is ridiculous how many times players are leaving the arena to go to the loo.
“And here’s where it gets spicy because most of these exits from the arena have got nothing to do with players needing to go for a wee. It’s good old-fashioned gamesmanship.
“My opponent last week went to the toilet after the first frame of the match, then after the fifth frame after the interval. You’ve had 20-odd minutes to be ready to play. What’s going on? It’s getting ridiculous. It’s a joke.”
