I came in here to say this.
Is Someone That Competes at Pool Considered an Athlete
- Thread starter CJ Wiley
- Start date
I came in here to say this.
It is physically more demanding than any other thing I've ever done. After a few hours, I can't do much else. People mistaken it for something simple because they do not have what it takes to understand the physical demands of a stroke. When you see a player coordinate the cue with his body, it is not a simple task that anyone can do. Most pool players have very strong unique bodies. You cant squat 1000lbs and expect to have a pool players body...not even close.
Now...we've come to it..lol
If only we could get the big boys in 2020 to
let us play in their games...
Another definition
In my Oxford Dictionary, the definition is: skilled performer in sports and physical activities.
Of course, in this country, most "sportscasters" only consider football, baseball and basketball to be real sports...
I've heard the arguement over whether pool is a sport or a game all my life. Is the main issue whether you're an athlete if you play?
I looked up athlete to see if it was clear that athlete's played sports or games and this is what I found:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athlete
Definition of ATHLETE: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina
So a professional athlete can play either sports or games. Does this mean it's now ok to call pool a game, or is there somehow more "status" in being a sport? I don't think the general public would include pool in their list of "sports"......what do you think?
'The Sport is the Teacher' ?or 'The Game is the Teacher'
In my Oxford Dictionary, the definition is: skilled performer in sports and physical activities.
Of course, in this country, most "sportscasters" only consider football, baseball and basketball to be real sports...
You can take a athlete and he can usually play multiple sports fairly well.
Take pool players and try the same thing and far less would achieve the same levels
1
Take pool players and try the same thing and far less would achieve the same levels
1
I agree with this also...when people refer to the entire state of billiards it should be addressed to as the "sport of billiards". Hence you can play a game of pool held to the highest standards of the sport." and so on.
Jim
It is a game he plays, just for the sport of it.
I see what you did there
The majority of responses are making this way too confusing.
Find the definition of an athlete. Does a competitive pool player fit that description?
If yes, that person is considered an athlete. If no, then no, they are not.
From Wiki: A sportsperson (American English: Sports person), (gendered as sportsman or sportswoman) or (in North America) athlete is a person trained to compete in a sport involving physical strength, speed or endurance. Sportspeople may be professional or amateur.[1]
Yes, competitive pool involves:
-Physical strength (bridging, breaking, shooting, balance)
-Speed (cueing, breaking, shotclocks force you to quicken your game)
-Endurance (long sets, races, staying down on shots, being able to play a tourney for a number of hours, being CONSISTENT for that number of hours)
-Professionals/Amateurs
Competitive pool players are definitely athletes.
Find the definition of an athlete. Does a competitive pool player fit that description?
If yes, that person is considered an athlete. If no, then no, they are not.
From Wiki: A sportsperson (American English: Sports person), (gendered as sportsman or sportswoman) or (in North America) athlete is a person trained to compete in a sport involving physical strength, speed or endurance. Sportspeople may be professional or amateur.[1]
Yes, competitive pool involves:
-Physical strength (bridging, breaking, shooting, balance)
-Speed (cueing, breaking, shotclocks force you to quicken your game)
-Endurance (long sets, races, staying down on shots, being able to play a tourney for a number of hours, being CONSISTENT for that number of hours)
-Professionals/Amateurs
Competitive pool players are definitely athletes.
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Everything is relative.
Of course a person who competes at pool can be considered an athlete.
People want to call chess a game and maybe it is and maybe it's not. By that I mean, it is well known that most top playing chess players are in good shape physically and many of them have a physical fitness regimen that they follow.
Unfortunately for the masses, most think they can play pool so it is just a game.
Like most things in the world, some people KNOW how to fish, and others proffer that they know how to fish. People who KNOW how to fish realize that most people are just ignorant about what it takes to KNOW how to fish. Casting a lure and reeling in a fish doesn't make you a fisherman, no more than playing a game of pool, makes you a pool player.
Like most endeavors, when pool is played at a high level, it is much more than a game and it is in fact a sport but sadly for many it will only be a game.
For me if you compete at pool you're an athlete.
If you just play at pool, (even if you're relatively competent( you're no athlete.
As Billy-boy Clinton would say, "Define competes."
Of course a person who competes at pool can be considered an athlete.
People want to call chess a game and maybe it is and maybe it's not. By that I mean, it is well known that most top playing chess players are in good shape physically and many of them have a physical fitness regimen that they follow.
Unfortunately for the masses, most think they can play pool so it is just a game.
Like most things in the world, some people KNOW how to fish, and others proffer that they know how to fish. People who KNOW how to fish realize that most people are just ignorant about what it takes to KNOW how to fish. Casting a lure and reeling in a fish doesn't make you a fisherman, no more than playing a game of pool, makes you a pool player.
Like most endeavors, when pool is played at a high level, it is much more than a game and it is in fact a sport but sadly for many it will only be a game.
For me if you compete at pool you're an athlete.
If you just play at pool, (even if you're relatively competent( you're no athlete.
As Billy-boy Clinton would say, "Define competes."
I think anyone can play pool, and the world is full of pool players, but after putting in the time and making the many sacrifices for the love of the game and you start playing pretty well, you become a pool shooter. IMHO, I think there is a big difference between someone who plays pool and someone who shoots pool.
Pretty general with your definitions there.
How is strength needed in bridging? How is strength such a factor in shooting and how the heck is physical strength a key in balance? As far as breaking goes, SVB is the best breaker on the planet but he is certainly not the strongest pool player on the tour.
Speed, strokespeed is a real big stretch, when that was written speed was clearly meant to be more associated with games like Soccer or Hockey or Football where "speed" means how fast one can travel, not how fast ones arm moves when throwing a ball.
Endurance does not mean "mental endurance". It was clearly meant to mean cario endurance, muscular endurance, ect...
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I am a geologist who logs core all day long, lets see if that makes me an athelete.
Strength (yep, I need it, I need to be able to move core boxes around to check tubes and such.
Speed (gotta get those depth corrections down quickly, identify the facies, and get the dat inputed into the digital log, definately need speed.)
Endurance (Oh heck ya, my days are 13 hours long from the time I jump on the site bus to the time I jump off of it. It can be a mental drain to work out the proper geological depths and locations of missing core using 4+ geophysical logs and a core with anywhere upwards of 20% missing core., takes lots of mental endurance to keep your mind focused on the task at hand.)
And fortunately logging core is much like a game to me, each new core being like a new puzzle to be solved.
Wicked, I am an athelete! Sweet!
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I wonder if a McDonalds fry cook is an athelete too? Shall we check?
Strenth (yep, gotta grab those huge bags of fries and lift and lower the fry basket each time)
Speed (Of course this is McDonalds after all!...
ect...
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the strategic element put back in the rotation games
Yes, back when gambling was popular at pool it was common to play for many hours, sometimes for days to win a match. I have no doubt that this would require athleticism under any definition.
Now, things have changed with the "magic rack" a lot of the skill has been taken out and the "two way shots" that I think are the most skillful have been virtually eliminated. The athleticism has certainly diminished from what I can see, and I'd sure like to see it return.
We have a belief that people would really appreciate pool if they could see the strategic element put back in the rotation games. This would require "Roll Out" to be the standard rules again, and attempt to put the sport back into the game.
Yes, back when gambling was popular at pool it was common to play for many hours, sometimes for days to win a match. I have no doubt that this would require athleticism under any definition.
Now, things have changed with the "magic rack" a lot of the skill has been taken out and the "two way shots" that I think are the most skillful have been virtually eliminated. The athleticism has certainly diminished from what I can see, and I'd sure like to see it return.
We have a belief that people would really appreciate pool if they could see the strategic element put back in the rotation games. This would require "Roll Out" to be the standard rules again, and attempt to put the sport back into the game.
Carson J:
In order for a pool player to be considered an athlete, the activity itself must first be considered a sport. Unfortunately, much of the public doesn't consider pool a sport, but rather a game. (A view of which I personally disagree with -- I think pool and any cueing discipline is a sport.)
Look at it this way -- the Olympic committee considers Curling a sport, and its participants "athletes."
If curling -- yes, curling -- is considered a sport by the Olympic committee, so too should the cueing disciplines! And yes, players at the top levels of pool and the other cueing disciplines are athletes.
-Sean
In order for a pool player to be considered an athlete, the activity itself must first be considered a sport. Unfortunately, much of the public doesn't consider pool a sport, but rather a game. (A view of which I personally disagree with -- I think pool and any cueing discipline is a sport.)
Look at it this way -- the Olympic committee considers Curling a sport, and its participants "athletes."
If curling -- yes, curling -- is considered a sport by the Olympic committee, so too should the cueing disciplines! And yes, players at the top levels of pool and the other cueing disciplines are athletes.
-Sean
I kinda like this explanation, Sean.
Personally, I feel billiards can be like some musical instruments...
...a violin is also a fiddle...
..what determines what it is is the manner in which it is played.
If you need me to explain how leaning forward over a table and holding your weight in a fixed place with a pinky and index finger for extended periods of time doesn't require strength, you probably won't understand much more.
Good luck trying to pull off a shot like this, or this without a good amount of strength behind them, not minding the strength needed in your hands/arm/shoulder to build a solid bridge in pulling them off.
This one made me laugh. You don't think strength is a key to balance? I suggest you do some research on this. Here's a small start:
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/balance-your-way-to-stronger-body
That's like saying Andy Roddick has the best serve in tennis but isn't the strongest player. Great comment.
No shit. Have you ever played pool for twelve hours straight?
Are you saying that competitive pool players aren't sportsmen? Are the arguments about how much MORE strength, balance and endurance are involved in other sports compared to pool the real issue?
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I think there is some confusion between strength & ability to move fast.
While a weight lifter or football linemen may be strong, I would bet that most of them could not hit an 85 MPH fast ball with a baseball bat or return a serve from maybe even a high school tennis player or break at a speed faster than Alison Fisher.
I don't think Willie Mosconi or Fats or many of that era would be thought of as strong men or even athletes.
Knowledge & technique are much more valuable in pool than strength.
JMHO
While a weight lifter or football linemen may be strong, I would bet that most of them could not hit an 85 MPH fast ball with a baseball bat or return a serve from maybe even a high school tennis player or break at a speed faster than Alison Fisher.
I don't think Willie Mosconi or Fats or many of that era would be thought of as strong men or even athletes.
Knowledge & technique are much more valuable in pool than strength.
JMHO
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