I’ve considered the shot clock but it’s a lot to manage on every hand. What is it you don’t like about the idea? Is it that the winner has to pay a fee? Is it that it can slow down the game? Something else? Just trying to thought experiment this thing before I try it.
My views. You are adding math to a situation to make it smoother, which will in my mind make it harder. You'll have some enjoy it, some hate it. I wouldn't go to a game that had this function. You'll need to have the dealer cut out the pot. You'll start arguments over splits or the bonus when it's not evened up. It's just kinda more bells and whistles when I just wanna play cards.
A shot clock is easy. Use a timer, dealer presses it. It goes off, hand is dead. Nothing says you need to warn them, and any quick action there is no real reason to start it. If someone is ponder there action, you turn it on for 30 seconds.
We do a no cell phone rule at the table if you are in a hand. If it's in your hand when it's being dealt, your hand is dead once the final card is down unless there is a reason your vocally saying you need it out. "Finishing up a text to the wife" totally fine. It makes them at least focus on what's happening instead of us getting there attention playing a game. If the TV is making people have a hard time paying attention, we turn it up or down to assist. Or off if it's too much of a battle. Hosts make the game go, and sometimes that means being a ball buster to a point.
I mean, what's to stop me from showing up, folding every hand unless it's top then, but call in my ten percent every time I hit it..... it'll make me a rich guy....
I'd honestly say, if this is the issue, you need to find more serious players, or adjust the standard of your game into social/less worry about poker. It's like a good cocktail, it's all about the proper mix in a home game that sticks around. Too social or sweet and it's unbareable, too hard or too much alcohol, and it's not enjoyable .
