[NSRCA-discussion] Impression or precision judging?
Glen Watson
gwatson11 at houston.rr.com
Wed Oct 4 06:01:49 AKDT 2006
"I can't describe smoothness and grace, but I know it when I see it."
For a good example of S&G watch the reality show "Dancing with the Stars".
Emit Smith may be executing the dance steps correctly however not with the
S&G of his professionally trained partner.
Glen
_____
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Adrien L
Terrenoire
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 4:42 AM
To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Impression or precision judging?
To paraphrase a well known quote:
"I can't describe smoothness and grace, but I know it when I see it."
I agree with Keith's comments! He comes close to describing S&G.
When I am judging, I do use the "subtraction method" I assume the pilot has
a 10 for the upcoming maneuver. As he enters the maneuver I start deducting
points for errors I can observe. I don't think S&G comes much into play
except possibly in a neg way. Keith hit it in his comments by saying the the
pilot is exposing himself longer if he is doing larger, slower, more
graceful manuvers. That gives me more time to see and deduct for minor
burbles. On the other hand, if the maneuver is well done, and I have
deducted few points, I can rest assured that I have recorded an accurate
number for the maneuver.
Terry T.
On Tue, 3 Oct 2006 22:31:53 -0500 "Keith Black" <tkeithb at comcast.net>
writes:
Is the issue for those who are against scoring S&G that you don't feel S&G
should be rewarded, or is it that we have not adequately defined how the S&G
score should be applied?
I'm a logical guy and can't determine how S&G should be applied, this
bothers me.
HOWEVER, there's an innate sense in me that says if a pilot has enough
control over his plane to stretch a slow roll from horizon to horizon, or to
slowly and cleanly draw out his 4 of 8 in a Cuban Eight then that pilot
should prevail over one that does the minimum length slow roll and four
quick, jerky (but accurate) points in the Cuban.
Some pilots clearly have more control over their planes and open themselves
to more exposure by making nice slow rolls and radii and therefore if each
pilot flew a maneuver with 1/2 point geometry downgrade it seems to go
against what we're all striving for NOT to reward the one that demonstrated
more control (skill).
The problem is that we haven't defined specifically how this should be
applied. Perhaps that was intentional to allow flexibility in rewarding what
was inherently understand, I'm not sure.
Keith Black
----- Original Message -----
From: george w. kennie <mailto:geobet at gis.net>
To: NSRCA Mailing List <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 10:06 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Impression or precision judging?
Even if the S&G criteria were removed from the rulebook, it would remain in
the subconcious. There is just something in the depths of the human psyche
that cries out for a way to award the performance accomplished with polish
in a way that separates it from the one executed with mediocrity. That has
to be IMPRESSION guys..........I think.................
G.
----- Original Message -----
From: Lance Van <mailto:patterndude at comcast.net> Nostrand
To: NSRCA Mailing List <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 10:07 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Impression or precision judging?
I'm a ditto head to Dave on this one. I can't imagine a situation where
someone could fly perfect precision - I mean really perfect with all lines
straight, radiuses matched, etc that should not get scored all 10s. How
would the pattern be flown differently to introduct S&G and maintain 10s?
Should a very smooth and graceful sequence flown with a bunch of 9.5
precision scores (actual defects that cause a .5 point downgrade) be given
10s? If we were to eliminate S&G and have only downgrades for precision
errors then judges must interpret S&G critically in that S&G flair can hurt
but not help a manuver. truth is, pilots will use S&G to mask precision
errors, or to mask difficult timing and centering issues. I watch pilots
much better than me get away with murder but do it so purposefully and
smooth that judges don't seem to even see it.
Eliminating S&G from the judging criteria would not eliminate S&G from
flying nor from judging, but it would weaken it as a reason to downgrade.
If all you can say is that the manuver seemed technically correct but there
was "something" wrong, then what you are really saying is that it was not
technically correct and you saw the downgrade but you just can't put your
finger on it in your conscious mind. I would be OK with admitting that was
my limitation as a human judge and I will not penalize the pilot for it.
--Lance
----- Original Message -----
From: DaveL322 at comcast.net
To: NSRCA Mailing List <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 10:04 AM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Impression or precision judging?
Technically perfect is well understood and can be objectively assessed.
Specific judging criteria and downgrades are well defined/documented in our
judges guide. Yes, gray areas do exist in which it is difficult to extract
an exact point value downgrade from the rulebook, but guidance/basis is
there, and it is the job of a judge to make judgements (and in my experience
90% of the time the answer to the gray areas is apply 1 point per 15
degrees).
Smooth and graceful (S+G) is subjective, and to date has never had a point
value or downgrades associated with it. The S+G criteria allows an
impression judge to score a technically flawed maneuver higher than a
technically perfect maneuver.
Should a sequence that is flown technically perfect be awarded the highest
score?
Should it be possible to outscore a technically perfect sequence with a
technically flawed one that is "more smooth" or "more graceful"?
I don't think we should include (S+G) or pursue (Impression score) criteria
which are ill-defined or purely subjective - pattern is about precision
aerobatics which can be (is) well defined, and is a thing of beauty (to the
select few that appreciate it) without the need for S+G, style, or
impression points.
Regards,
Dave Lockhart
DaveL322 at comcast.net
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "White, Chris" <chris at ssd.fsi.com>
I'd love to hear some feedback to the following: (or maybe not, but it might
help my understanding of what we're trying to accomplish in our
judging/flying:-))
Question:
Isn't clinical precision flying the only way to attempt to remove impression
judging? Shouldn't the sequence itself if flown to precision "be" the art
form?
Example 1:
I saw one pilot fly the FAI sequence at our contest last June.. To me his
flying was clinically precise without any "Style" of his own. I mean that
very much as a compliment. The roll rates and radiuses and speeds to me
were very consistent..his timing and flight line control were very
"Clinically precise" It struck me at that if a computer GPS link could have
been flown with an autopilot laying out the perfectly executed sequence he
would have been close. The nearly perfect geometry of the sequence spoke
for itself.
Example 2:
An example of impression that I can think of would be some of the point
rolls that I used to see in the 70's..the ones that kind of slip & lock into
each point (exaggerated lock in), but I could not score them better than
points that merely stop where they are supposed to with minimum
fanfare...could I? (In fact since one could argue that the roll rate changes
to get that effect it could be downgraded more...) But I like it, its an
individual preference, but to the letter of the law its incorrect.
Maybe we should judge by technical merit and each judge give an overall
"Impression" rating someplace on the scoresheet???
(Wow I spent all this time trying to think of how to word this..Gee do I hit
the send button...?????? I hope this strikes a positive chord
somewhere.okay my motive is to learn so I'll send it.)
Chris White
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