Buzzing Strategy
- AlphaQuizBowler
- Tidus
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Buzzing Strategy
At tournaments I have noticed that some teams (including Dorman) buzz by somehow sliding their finger across the buzzer, depressing it and releasing it. This creates an audible popping noise whenever the player buzzes. Is this strategy actually faster than simply pushing the buzzer with a finger?
- the return of AHAN
- Auron
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Sliding? I don't get how that's faster, nor how a popping sound is produced. I've heard of priming the buzzer, but not sliding it.
Jeff Price
Barrington High School Coach (2021 & 2023 HSNCT Champions, 2023 PACE Champions, 2023 Illinois Masonic Bowl Class 3A State Champions)
Barrington Station Middle School Coach (2013 MSNCT Champions, 2013 & 2017 Illinois Class AA State Champions)
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Barrington High School Coach (2021 & 2023 HSNCT Champions, 2023 PACE Champions, 2023 Illinois Masonic Bowl Class 3A State Champions)
Barrington Station Middle School Coach (2013 MSNCT Champions, 2013 & 2017 Illinois Class AA State Champions)
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- AlphaQuizBowler
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Even if it is faster, I can't imagine that it's significantly fast enough that it would make that much of a difference except to the truly elite players. This reminds me of a story about Eddie Van Halen I heard once and how he couldn't play a replica of his famous red and white Kramer someone made him until they went over the neck with a micrometer and found out how he'd worn the thing down. Once they replicated that, it was fine.
Who are the Eddie Van Halens of quiz bowl? And where have all the cowboys gone?
Who are the Eddie Van Halens of quiz bowl? And where have all the cowboys gone?
- TheCzarMan
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
May I ask what exactly entails priming a buzzer? I don't think I've seen this done and have never tried myself.
Nick Petrilli
Bloomfield High School 2009
Freelance/Mercenary Moderator, TD, Player, and Reader
Bloomfield High School 2009
Freelance/Mercenary Moderator, TD, Player, and Reader
Re: Buzzing Strategy
Holding the button partially down so that you can react more quickly. Usually, you have to test the buzzer before the game begins so that you can figure out how far it can be primed. I find that it helps a little bit in speed formats.
Ian Eppler from Brown University
Re: Buzzing Strategy
As does consuming an energy drink beforehand.
Adam Marshall,
Walt Whitman '08
Colby '12
Walt Whitman '08
Colby '12
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
You have to limit yourself with these, though. I distinctly remember an incident last year where a teammate of mine drank 3 in the space of twenty minutes, and crashed about half an hour afterward.Stat Boy wrote:As does consuming an energy drink beforehand.
Henry Gorman, Wilmington Charter '09, Rice '13, PhD History Vanderbilt '1X
- the return of AHAN
- Auron
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
Don't know how useful it is, but I DO know that a team of mine worked on priming the buzzer, our OWN buzzer system, over the course of several practices leading up to an important match we were hosting. When the opponents arrived to find my kids practicing questions with the system, They innocently asked if they could sit down too and play around. Of course, my kids obliged and it was all I could do to not freak out when I returned to the room and saw them effectively letting their rivals get used to the buzzers, too!Chase the Ace wrote:Holding the button partially down so that you can react more quickly. Usually, you have to test the buzzer before the game begins so that you can figure out how far it can be primed. I find that it helps a little bit in speed formats.
(sigh)
And yes, we got taken to the woodshed. Probably would've happened anyway, but I had to make my kids believe they had some sort of edge, real or imagined.
Jeff Price
Barrington High School Coach (2021 & 2023 HSNCT Champions, 2023 PACE Champions, 2023 Illinois Masonic Bowl Class 3A State Champions)
Barrington Station Middle School Coach (2013 MSNCT Champions, 2013 & 2017 Illinois Class AA State Champions)
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Barrington High School Coach (2021 & 2023 HSNCT Champions, 2023 PACE Champions, 2023 Illinois Masonic Bowl Class 3A State Champions)
Barrington Station Middle School Coach (2013 MSNCT Champions, 2013 & 2017 Illinois Class AA State Champions)
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- Warbourne
- Lulu
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
I've never heard of this sliding thing. I just slam the buzzer as hard and quick as I can to answer, so I really can't discern whether that actually makes a difference. But as for our team's buzzing strategy, it's just what most of you have already said, which is just getting used to our own system. But seeing as our San Diego county rules provide for the same buzzer system for every school, I'm assuming it doesn't really matter.
- Blackboard Monitor Vimes
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
Our new buzzer set is the same one as Dorman's, and the popping noise is created by a slide, but we've yet to determine whether that's faster. I personally don't see why it would be...but then I fail at science.
Sam L,
Maggie L. Walker Governor's School 2010 / UVA 2014 / VCU School of Education 2016
PACE
Maggie L. Walker Governor's School 2010 / UVA 2014 / VCU School of Education 2016
PACE
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
I have a buzzing strategy recommendation. I push the button when I think I know an answer.
Charlie Dees, North Kansas City HS '08
"I won't say more because I know some of you parse everything I say." - Jeremy Gibbs
"At one TJ tournament the neg prize was the Hampshire College ultimate frisbee team (nude) calender featuring one Evan Silberman. In retrospect that could have been a disaster." - Harry White
"I won't say more because I know some of you parse everything I say." - Jeremy Gibbs
"At one TJ tournament the neg prize was the Hampshire College ultimate frisbee team (nude) calender featuring one Evan Silberman. In retrospect that could have been a disaster." - Harry White
- Blackboard Monitor Vimes
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
That helps.Athena Starwoman wrote:I have a buzzing strategy recommendation. I push the button when I think I know an answer.
Sam L,
Maggie L. Walker Governor's School 2010 / UVA 2014 / VCU School of Education 2016
PACE
Maggie L. Walker Governor's School 2010 / UVA 2014 / VCU School of Education 2016
PACE
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- Tidus
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
This reminds me of a classic pep talk that Austin Zheng gave when I was a freshman: "If you know the answer, buzz in. If you don't know the answer, don't buzz in."Athena Starwoman wrote:I have a buzzing strategy recommendation. I push the button when I think I know an answer.
Henry Gorman, Wilmington Charter '09, Rice '13, PhD History Vanderbilt '1X
- Khalil Khayyam
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
The pop noise is generally used to intimidate... I think. It happens when you prime it then slide quickly off (on the stick type).
Oh, come with old Khayyam, and leave the Wise
To talk; one thing is certain, that Life flies;
One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies;
The Flower that once has blown for ever dies.
- Rubaiyyat
FitzGerald's first edition (1859)
To talk; one thing is certain, that Life flies;
One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies;
The Flower that once has blown for ever dies.
- Rubaiyyat
FitzGerald's first edition (1859)
Re: Buzzing Strategy
My version: "If you think you know the answer, buzz in."SwissBoy wrote:This reminds me of a classic pep talk that Austin Zheng gave when I was a freshman: "If you know the answer, buzz in. If you don't know the answer, don't buzz in."Athena Starwoman wrote:I have a buzzing strategy recommendation. I push the button when I think I know an answer.
Watson Ladd
BCA '09
UChicago '13
BCA '09
UChicago '13
- Ondes Martenot
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
Sadly Watson, your strategy is more like buzz when you vaguely have some kind of clue about the tossup.
p.s. Add a signature. Unless you enjoy tempbans.
p.s. Add a signature. Unless you enjoy tempbans.
Aaron Cohen, Bergen County Academies '08, RPI '12, NYU-???, NAQT writer, HSAPQ writer, PACE writer
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
well, I hold my arm straight up in the air, make strained facial expressions, gesticulate violently, stand up on the table, wave my other hand around, bite it, then give a loud "BYAAAAAAAAAW" when I buzz. No I seriously do that last one.
Quint Carr
Maggie Walker A
GSAC XV Question Editor
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Maggie Walker A
GSAC XV Question Editor
GSAC XVI Chief Promoter/Celebrity
- Blackboard Monitor Vimes
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Re: Buzzing Strategy
I have seen Quint do almost all of these things (no biting). I do not recommend any of them.wowitsquinthaha wrote:well, I hold my arm straight up in the air, make strained facial expressions, gesticulate violently, stand up on the table, wave my other hand around, bite it, then give a loud "BYAAAAAAAAAW" when I buzz. No I seriously do that last one.
Sam L,
Maggie L. Walker Governor's School 2010 / UVA 2014 / VCU School of Education 2016
PACE
Maggie L. Walker Governor's School 2010 / UVA 2014 / VCU School of Education 2016
PACE