I've barely played golf and I've encountered all of the following: Skins, Stroke play, 9 hole, 18 hole, par 3, par 72, Bingo Bango Bongo, Best Ball/Scramble.
Looking for feedback & sorry it's long
- Thread starter D C 6 Pocket
- Start date
I've barely played golf and I've encountered all of the following: Skins, Stroke play, 9 hole, 18 hole, par 3, par 72, Bingo Bango Bongo, Best Ball/Scramble.
The comparable table game to golf is snooker with small balls, smaller pockets, and a huge playing area.
How about we start seeing pros play pool with regular balls on a snooker table (10 or 12 footer)?
How about we start seeing pros play pool with regular balls on a snooker table (10 or 12 footer)?
You are absolutely right Cory, there are several formats in Golf. What all those different formats have in common is the game doesn't change, only the format, the formats are all point based and you play to shoot the lowest score possible to determine a winner.
Whats wrong with a game that allows you to play all of those different formats on a pool table and the only difference is, you shoot the highest score possible.
I like 6 pocket as a practice game, it is a good deal of fun to me to challenge myself during practice to get that perfect 150 instead of just batting balls around the table. I think my best so far is in the high 130s. I could see people actually gambling at this game because it can be handicapped but the only thing is if someone has some bad racks it could be early and they have no chance to win or make a comeback as in other games.
See, already we got some problems >_<
I love eight ball and there's something to be said for having the pros play the same
game as casual players. But the game is just too easy for them, in terms
of the break and runout rate. For guys like Shane, Alex, Dennis, Busty...
they are out over 90% of the time if they make a ball on the break.
Talk about a lack of drama :/
And because they make a ball like 70% of the time, that means for every 10 racks
they play, the other guy won't shoot for 7 of them. That's hardly fair.
A race to 5-7 for a pro is just too short, they can run that whole set out in a single
turn and that's not like "once in a lifetime", more like "once a week".
Well, there does need to be a system in place so that the people who deserve
the limited slots, get them. Especially if the slots pay you just for showing up.
I think winning any major, or placing top 3 anyway, would be a place to start.
Then you just have to decide what's a major and what's not.
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I'm not sure at all how we can sell pool, but if someone wanted to risk some money,
they should focus on production and promotion... sell the players as characters
in a drama. Give them backstories and interviews and make a good website
showcasing each of them.
I'm not even sure the game/format matters much,
but it should be something that looks difficult and encourages more tough shots,
it can't be something so easy that one player doesn't even get to shoot most of the time.
So, something more like 10-ball. Maybe even 10-ball with no passback option or push,
so players are forced to kick/jump more often. Minimum race 11.
Cash bonuses for packages (say 6-pack plus) and a huge prize for running out the whole race to 11.
This will add some tension when one guy is trapped in his chair for 40 minutes.
I love eight ball and there's something to be said for having the pros play the same
game as casual players. But the game is just too easy for them, in terms
of the break and runout rate. For guys like Shane, Alex, Dennis, Busty...
they are out over 90% of the time if they make a ball on the break.
Talk about a lack of drama :/
And because they make a ball like 70% of the time, that means for every 10 racks
they play, the other guy won't shoot for 7 of them. That's hardly fair.
A race to 5-7 for a pro is just too short, they can run that whole set out in a single
turn and that's not like "once in a lifetime", more like "once a week".
Well, there does need to be a system in place so that the people who deserve
the limited slots, get them. Especially if the slots pay you just for showing up.
I think winning any major, or placing top 3 anyway, would be a place to start.
Then you just have to decide what's a major and what's not.
======
I'm not sure at all how we can sell pool, but if someone wanted to risk some money,
they should focus on production and promotion... sell the players as characters
in a drama. Give them backstories and interviews and make a good website
showcasing each of them.
I'm not even sure the game/format matters much,
but it should be something that looks difficult and encourages more tough shots,
it can't be something so easy that one player doesn't even get to shoot most of the time.
So, something more like 10-ball. Maybe even 10-ball with no passback option or push,
so players are forced to kick/jump more often. Minimum race 11.
Cash bonuses for packages (say 6-pack plus) and a huge prize for running out the whole race to 11.
This will add some tension when one guy is trapped in his chair for 40 minutes.
You missed the part where I mentioned who I would even set that up for. Not the pros, but a new version of Masters only. Not open, not pros. It's the minor league version of getting ready to go pro. Those casual players are a better investment than the true pro players.
You setup something that works for these guys, that shows off their talents. Then the pros, who are even better on the table, will have more interest.
You setup something that works for these guys, that shows off their talents. Then the pros, who are even better on the table, will have more interest.
Let's look at golf. There were more challenge matches being played in the early 1900's than professional tournaments. Sound familiar? Bobby Jones, the greatest golfer of his time chose to be a lawyer instead of a professional golfer back then. Sound familiar?
So what brought golf from that to where it is? The club pro! In 1916 the PGA was formed to promote the game of golf and it's journeymen! Some 40+ years later, due to the efforts of hundreds of men, there was a player base large enough to create what was called Arnie's Army! Arnold Palmer is an amazing man with a LOT of charisma and respect for his game! One in a million! Lightning struck for golf! Then Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, etc etc etc...great champions of a now widely accepted game. And yes Tiger's success created a boom not seen since Arnie's Army. Difference is that Tiger is not the man Arnie is but he can sure play! But even through all these years of notable champions one thing held the course of golf steady...club pros! Local heroes to the men, women, and children who wanted to learn the game!
So let's learn from golf's success! Golf has an entity for rules to avoid political conflicts between what is right and what is profitable, and an organization to promote the game and it's journeymen! Pool has a world rules organization. Check! We have a group for educating and organizing instructors who in turn promote the game. Check! Now we just need time to build a player base!
Steady as she goes boys! Time will bring us threw it all if we work together! And once there is a player base which can support it, a professional tour will be successful!
Who knows...maybe pool's "Arnie" was born this year! :thumbup:
Ken
former P.G.A. member
p.s. PGA wiki page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Golfers'_Association_of_America
So what brought golf from that to where it is? The club pro! In 1916 the PGA was formed to promote the game of golf and it's journeymen! Some 40+ years later, due to the efforts of hundreds of men, there was a player base large enough to create what was called Arnie's Army! Arnold Palmer is an amazing man with a LOT of charisma and respect for his game! One in a million! Lightning struck for golf! Then Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, etc etc etc...great champions of a now widely accepted game. And yes Tiger's success created a boom not seen since Arnie's Army. Difference is that Tiger is not the man Arnie is but he can sure play! But even through all these years of notable champions one thing held the course of golf steady...club pros! Local heroes to the men, women, and children who wanted to learn the game!
So let's learn from golf's success! Golf has an entity for rules to avoid political conflicts between what is right and what is profitable, and an organization to promote the game and it's journeymen! Pool has a world rules organization. Check! We have a group for educating and organizing instructors who in turn promote the game. Check! Now we just need time to build a player base!
Steady as she goes boys! Time will bring us threw it all if we work together! And once there is a player base which can support it, a professional tour will be successful!
Who knows...maybe pool's "Arnie" was born this year! :thumbup:
Ken
former P.G.A. member
p.s. PGA wiki page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Golfers'_Association_of_America
As an ex-Professional Golfer, Colonial Country Club - Ft Worth TX... I can agree with Okie's statements. I've played both sports well, I respect & love both Sports. I would like to add a few comments myself.
Get the media involved (Newspapers, local TV, Sports Magazines & so on) at the Tournaments. There's, The Open, The DCC, The White Diamonds in Louisiana, twice a year for BIG Money, all the TAR Matches & so on. The Media can get us the attention we need & the money
That will bring about an awareness around the country & just maybe a fan base over time. The new game in town BONUS BALL might even generate some city to city rivalry, which should pull in some Media coverage in time.
At most of the Golf Tournaments, there is always a day of play called the Pro-Am. That is a great day & at most of the Pro-Ams I've seen, the players cough up some serious cash, to participate with the Pros on that occasion. Then they turn around & pay to watch the golf game played for 4 days. It's a great feeling to be part of all that.
This hopeful development of our chosen Sport, to bring it into the limelight, is a very real possibility. It just needs US, all of us, working together, to get "the Game" on its feet & become a household word.
I guess we have different things in mind, your idea sounds more like "promote the lower level players and the pro scene will improve as a result". My thinking is, promote the pro scene and maybe the lower levels will improve.
The bottom line seems to be sponsorship dollars, I don't think DC6pocket's angel investor will want to support an event/tour/league for 30 years out of pocket. The money also needs to come from sponsorship dollars. That only happens if sponsors think people are willing to watch. I dunno if people are really eager to watch regular non-pro, non-open players.
Again, thanks for all of the input, it is much appreciated. To bring this discussion a little further, I wanted to post the thing that has gotten the most interest from non pool players with money
Imagine 64 Pros in a 6 Pocket tournament. All of them play 2 rounds and they combine their round 1 & 2 scores together and we make a cut with the top 32 + all ties go on to the 3rd round. After the 3rd round we make the cut and the top 16 players play for the championship.
Imagine this pressure, you are in the top 5 on the leader board and you know you must shoot a 144 or you cant win the tournament. Since every player is playing the field and there is no way to get 64 players to fix the tournament, I can get it booked:thumbup:
What do you think?
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DC6P,
I say go for it.
I think if it does turn out to be successful, sponsorship will follow.
I think the biggest question is what do the pros who have already been exposed to 6 Pocket truly think of the game. They need to be honest in their assessments. I know that some have been exposed to the game but I do think that those who have tried it could help in getting those who haven't to at least try the game over a pre-determined amount of time. Say 6 week trial. By this time, they would fully understand all the intricacies involved, understand how easy or difficult it can be on all levels, and can provide a very honest critique.of it.
Exposure to major sports groups like AIG would help if you can get them interested and willing to stay with it.
As far as a point based game, any game can be formatted to be a point per ball system but I do think that rules of whatever game is played need to remain as they are. One exception to this would be to change 6 Pocket from a CB foul only to an all ball foul ruling.
If the investor is willing to put up some cash to get it off the ground, that's fantastic but it really is all going to depend on what his ROI is going to be.
I say go for it.
I think if it does turn out to be successful, sponsorship will follow.
I think the biggest question is what do the pros who have already been exposed to 6 Pocket truly think of the game. They need to be honest in their assessments. I know that some have been exposed to the game but I do think that those who have tried it could help in getting those who haven't to at least try the game over a pre-determined amount of time. Say 6 week trial. By this time, they would fully understand all the intricacies involved, understand how easy or difficult it can be on all levels, and can provide a very honest critique.of it.
Exposure to major sports groups like AIG would help if you can get them interested and willing to stay with it.
As far as a point based game, any game can be formatted to be a point per ball system but I do think that rules of whatever game is played need to remain as they are. One exception to this would be to change 6 Pocket from a CB foul only to an all ball foul ruling.
If the investor is willing to put up some cash to get it off the ground, that's fantastic but it really is all going to depend on what his ROI is going to be.
That's been tried though, and at this point people still say, "Shane who? Never heard of him." That's not great visibility. However, if it's a local master player, it's easier to get sponsorship for them at the local level. You don't build a house from the roof down.
Another thought
Maybe we do a reality show where these types of players progress from good to professionals and one of them end up in a pro 6 Pocket tournament. To attract sponsorship it has to be weekly, with everything building to an exciting ending.
Maybe we do a reality show where these types of players progress from good to professionals and one of them end up in a pro 6 Pocket tournament. To attract sponsorship it has to be weekly, with everything building to an exciting ending.