Some of our shooting events are giving out prize money for the top places. While it's not an "extreme" amount, it's not nuthin. Although this has always left a bad taste in my mouth, I'm not going to be a baby about it. It's there, it's a thing, we aren't going to unscrew that particular poodle.
So here's where I would like to see some opinions from other competitors: If there is prize money on the line, how do you want to see ties broken? To me, the obvious answer is a shoot off. A shoot off will make the cream rise to the top and is very entertaining for everyone present. I can't remember every match I've attended, but I can remember every shoot off that I've been in or watched. (Ask me some time about my extremely embarrassing shoot off at the Skeet Worlds a decade ago. It was bad, but still entertaining for everyone that wasn't me)
I get that sometimes you have a local match where 8 people show up and no one is interested in sticking around for a "bragging rights" shoot off. Sure, figure out who had the best standing lane score, or the first miss, or who is the tallest (my preferred non-shoot out tie breaker). But if there is money or a trophy or GP points on the line, I feel like a shoot off is the only fair way to break ties. Plus, we are all finishing around the same time. It's not like someone has to sit around for a couple of hours to see if they are in a shoot off.
The only person negatively impacted by a shoot off is the match director, but they should already know where they are going to have a shoot off if the need arises, so it's really not that big of a deal to set up.
Thoughts?
