What is priming or pumping?

What is priming or pumping?

Jason Simmons (Rock Paper Scissors Champion) gives expert video advice on: What are the rules for playing Rock Paper Scissors?; What is the etiquette for playing Rock Paper Scissors?; What is the 'Rock' move? and more...

Priming or pumping is the period before the throw is released. Basically, it gives players a chance to synchronize against each other. In theory, at least, this means that neither player has an edge over the other. In the Japanese style of RPS, which typically "in and out", it's very easy if that's the way you're used to playing, but for an unscrupulous player, it's easy to cheat, by throwing your throw, kind of at the last minute, you wait for the other person to throw, then you kind of sneak it up on them. In the American version of this sport, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, really almost anywhere RPS is played, players will go, either, one, two, shoot or one, two, three, shoot, depending on where you are. And again, sometimes you'll see players competing against each other, and they'll get primes off from each other, this is called "working on the railroad", and a good referee will put their hands in the middle, separate the players and stop them, even counting for them if necessary, just to get them synchronized. Synchronized play is very important in professional Rock, Paper, Scissors, to prevent cheating.