Mikey - I guess we can debate this all day but it does not take skill to hit a ball far - it takes power. We're not talking about the skill required to play golf, just hitting the ball far vs running racks. I'm not implying that someone would do it right away neither but they would certainly do it faster than they would running 100's. Don't believe me, try it yourself, Go on a golf course and whack a ball 100 times and see how far you can hit it, now set up a break shot, and try 100 times to run 100 balls.....bet you won't even come close.
The problem with your comparison is that it's not apples to apples. Here is where I am drawing my conclusion from:
1 golf shot = 1 billiard shot
1 golf hole = 1 rack
1 round of golf = 1 set (or run in straight pool)
It would take far less time to teach a new player to pocket a very difficult billiard shot than it would to teach a new player to hit the ball long and straight... if the person is physically capable of hitting it long in the first place.
As stated in a previous post, you can play a golf hole perfectly and make a birdie, eagle, or hole in one on a par 3 (technically an eagle). You can also run a rack of 9-ball or make the 9 on the break. These two things are comparable.
Now to your example. You can run 100 on the pool table... you can also shoot an 8 under par round of 64 (par 72 course) for 18 holes of golf. There are many golfers who hit the ball far and can't come close to shooting under par on the golf course... Just like there are plenty of players who can pocket a ball with good shape on the next, but not come close to running 100. Both of these things are only done at a very high level.
Now, lets not forget that this post was about viewers... not players. When talking about viewers, you have to realize that you are trying to appeal to the most people possible. That is where advertising and money will come from.
Again, comparing apples to apples, if an average person has played pool 5 times before and has also picked up a golf club 5 times before, they would think that pool is easier. The sole reason they would think that is lack of knowledge. The objective to a beginning pool player (or recreational player) is to make THE ball into THE hole... not to make 100! That's crazy talk to them. The beginning pool player usually doesn't even know what 14.1 is. They are just trying to make a ball into a hole... they don't know enough to think past that yet. At the end of an hour or so, though, the beginner will be able to put a few balls into the pockets.
In golf, I've seen many beginners spend an hour or more at the driving range and leave happy that they were finally able to get the ball in the air! Sure, it was only for 20-30 yards... but they got it in the air. In the end, the main objective is to be able to hit the ball 400-500 yards in 2-3 shots, then putt the ball into a tiny hole in the ground. At first glance, the objective of the game is much more difficult than the objective in pool.
The main problem when talking about viewers (average viewers... not people who post on this forum, or follow the game), is that most of them lack the knowledge to realize that the objective of billiards extends far beyond making a ball in a hole. This is why the uneducated viewer would view billiards as "easier" than golf. It's also why they watch more golf. Nobody wants to watch something that they think they can do themselves. Heck... would you buy the next TAR stream if you knew every rack would take 6 innings and there would be no run outs? Heck no, we could go to the pool hall and do that ourselves. Remember, these viewers are the same people that say things like, "All pool is, is making the balls in the pockets... How hard is that?" or, "You are so lucky. Why are all your shots always straight in?" It's not about what sport IS easier... it's about what sport APPEARS easier to the general public.
Please don't misunderstand... I'm not debating, I'm explaining. There isn't even anything up for debate. We already know that golf is viewed as more entertaining. The sponsors, the money, the ratings, etc... prove that. Hopefully, one day, that can change and the public will start viewing billiards a bit more like we do. Until then, at least we can enjoy our streams, right?
