I suppose the pen is probably adequate, since solo practice might make your thumb quicker, but it won't really help you to get in sync with the board operator and Alex's voice.
What I hate about clicky pens is they don't react the way the buzzer would; the buzzer button always comes all the way back up each time. Pens go through a half up, all up, half up, all up, cycle.
Though this got me thinking, if I can find an equivalent buzzer (their handheld doesn't quite look right) I might just pick one up now...
I actually use a novelty oversize pen for my ring-in practice, I'm guessing it's roughly the same size as the in-studio one, but it's probably bigger. Here is a picture of me using it, so you can see it in my (admittedly, larger-than average) hands for comparison.
The "clicker" on it is actually broken from overuse, so it (usually) comes all the way back up each time.
"Jeopardy! is two parts luck and one part luck" - Me
"The way to win on Jeopardy is to be a rabidly curious, information-omnivorous person your entire life." - Ken Jennings
Volante wrote:What I hate about clicky pens is they don't react the way the buzzer would; the buzzer button always comes all the way back up each time. Pens go through a half up, all up, half up, all up, cycle.
What I used to practice, based on a suggestion someone made on the old board, was a car lighter phone charger... the size of the "clicker" was obviously not the same, but the feedback with the button coming all the way back up was similar.
If it makes you feel more confident to practice ringing in while you watch the show, go ahead. But I think your preparation time is better spent reading the many reference books recommended on this forum, than pressing your clicky pen over and over. Anyone who's been on the show knows there's a world of difference between playing along at home and doing it for real. Besides, I think the rush of adrenalin once you get on the set and hold the signalling device in your hand is enough to improve anyone's reaction time.
Judy5cents wrote: Besides, I think the rush of adrenalin once you get on the set and hold the signalling device in your hand is enough to improve anyone's reaction time.
Judy5cents wrote: Besides, I think the rush of adrenalin once you get on the set and hold the signalling device in your hand is enough to improve anyone's reaction time.
I'm going to disagree with a couple of people on here.
1. It's all about the buzzer.
2. The buzzer has nothing to do with speed or reflexes.
3. If you are a lifelong voracious reader, the marginal knowledge you will gain from studying lists is not enough to give you a meaningful edge over opponents studying the same lists and will more likely slow down your processing time as you run through a mental list. Jeopardy is a word-association game, not a trivia game. The advantage you can gain by coming into the studio with your buzzer timing down may be insurmountable for your opponents in the 20 minutes they have to catch up with you.
Volante wrote:What I hate about clicky pens is they don't react the way the buzzer would; the buzzer button always comes all the way back up each time. Pens go through a half up, all up, half up, all up, cycle.
What I used to practice, based on a suggestion someone made on the old board, was a car lighter phone charger... the size of the "clicker" was obviously not the same, but the feedback with the button coming all the way back up was similar.
That might very well have been me. And I'm still using mine.
It's still the best analog for the button behavior that I've managed to scavenge for free.
MDaunt wrote:Jeopardy is a word-association game, not a trivia game.
Agreed. That's why, if you have to study something, the Pavlov lists help with the word association part. That's also why people can, for example, say that they reduced a clue whose correct response is "What is the pancreas?" to "blah blah blah this insulin-producing organ blah blah blah". Being fluent in Jeopardese is key to success as well.
(And yes I know I have my .sig about being information-omnivorous, which contradicts MDaunt, but being information-omnivorous will get you to the Pavlovs needed.)
"Jeopardy! is two parts luck and one part luck" - Me
"The way to win on Jeopardy is to be a rabidly curious, information-omnivorous person your entire life." - Ken Jennings
dhkendall wrote:
(And yes I know I have my .sig about being information-omnivorous, which contradicts MDaunt, but being information-omnivorous will get you to the Pavlovs needed.)
How does that contradict me?
How to get on Jeopardy and win: Know everything and get the buzzer timing perfect.
dhkendall wrote:
(And yes I know I have my .sig about being information-omnivorous, which contradicts MDaunt, but being information-omnivorous will get you to the Pavlovs needed.)
How does that contradict me?
How to get on Jeopardy and win: Know everything and get the buzzer timing perfect.
dhkendall wrote:
(And yes I know I have my .sig about being information-omnivorous, which contradicts MDaunt, but being information-omnivorous will get you to the Pavlovs needed.)
How does that contradict me?
How to get on Jeopardy and win: Know everything and get the buzzer timing perfect.
MDaunt wrote:I'm going to disagree with a couple of people on here.
1. It's all about the buzzer.
2. The buzzer has nothing to do with speed or reflexes.
3. If you are a lifelong voracious reader, the marginal knowledge you will gain from studying lists is not enough to give you a meaningful edge over opponents studying the same lists and will more likely slow down your processing time as you run through a mental list. Jeopardy is a word-association game, not a trivia game. The advantage you can gain by coming into the studio with your buzzer timing down may be insurmountable for your opponents in the 20 minutes they have to catch up with you.
If it's not about speed or reflexes, but timing, how do you come into the studio with that down, since it is relying on synchronizing your timing with Alex and the buzzer operator, other than being the returning champion? Are you saying that there is no real advantage to worrying about it until you actually get in studio?
MDaunt wrote:I'm going to disagree with a couple of people on here.
1. It's all about the buzzer.
2. The buzzer has nothing to do with speed or reflexes.
3. If you are a lifelong voracious reader, the marginal knowledge you will gain from studying lists is not enough to give you a meaningful edge over opponents studying the same lists and will more likely slow down your processing time as you run through a mental list. Jeopardy is a word-association game, not a trivia game. The advantage you can gain by coming into the studio with your buzzer timing down may be insurmountable for your opponents in the 20 minutes they have to catch up with you.
If it's not about speed or reflexes, but timing, how do you come into the studio with that down, since it is relying on synchronizing your timing with Alex and the buzzer operator, other than being the returning champion? Are you saying that there is no real advantage to worrying about it until you actually get in studio?
No, I'm saying there's a massive advantage to practicing before you get in the studio (which also helps with the audition process).
For home viewers trying to practice, does the clue disappear from the screen at the same time the lights turn on for the contestants? If true, that could test your timing, but I don't know.
Come to think if it, I could test the theory by watching my recording of Eddie Timanus in the BoTD when they gave an audio tone synchronized with the lights.
cosmos wrote:For home viewers trying to practice, does the clue disappear from the screen at the same time the lights turn on for the contestants? If true, that could test your timing, but I don't know.
Come to think if it, I could test the theory by watching my recording of Eddie Timanus in the BoTD when they gave an audio tone synchronized with the lights.
Typically, the shot cuts to the contestants just before the signaling device becomes active. You then see them trying to ring in and one contestant's podium light up.
MDaunt wrote:
No, I'm saying there's a massive advantage to practicing before you get in the studio (which also helps with the audition process).
I've been to one audition and I'm convinced they give everyone a chance to buzz in, in the mock game.
Right. But you've practiced, so you've also practiced moving quickly on to the next question without being prompted (which probably knocks more people out of contention than anything else).