diff --git a/game.go b/game.go
index d32e1cc..b49efef 100644
--- a/game.go
+++ b/game.go
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ func NewGame(id string, width, height float64) *game {
 func (g *game) run() {
 	started := false
 	var t0, t1 time.Time
+	payload := bot.NewBoardstate()
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-g.kill:
@@ -69,6 +70,8 @@ func (g *game) run() {
 			}
 
 			g.turn++
+			payload.Turn = g.turn
+
 			t0 = time.Now()
 
 			if *verbose {
@@ -78,9 +81,6 @@ func (g *game) run() {
 				log.Printf("Explosions: %v", len(g.splosions))
 			}
 
-			// TODO: making one of these every iteration seems wasteful
-			payload := bot.NewBoardstate(g.turn)
-
 			robots_remaining := 0
 
 			for p := range g.players {
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ func (g *game) run() {
 				log.Printf("Sent Payload %v\n", t1.Sub(t0))
 			}
 
+			payload.EmptySlices()
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/player.go b/player.go
index 5c54011..9941174 100644
--- a/player.go
+++ b/player.go
@@ -63,8 +63,7 @@ func (p *player) nudge() {
 }
 
 func (p *player) scan(players map[*player]bool) {
-	// TODO: perhaps keep the same one around?
-	p.Robot.Scanners = make([]bot.Scanner, 0)
+	p.Robot.Scanners = p.Robot.Scanners[:0]
 	for player, _ := range players {
 		if player.Robot.Id == p.Robot.Id || player.Robot.Health <= 0 {
 			continue