Do you like to watch bad pool games?

G

Guy Manges

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I use to enjoy watching bad pool games, I had a favorite player and would enjoy the game if he or she won. Then about ten years back I made up my mind that I'm going to find a good player and game combo and start watching. Well I found some Taiwan and Japanese players and games I liked. Thats been ten years now and I have never been disappointed and gone back to bad pool games. This last 2022 Mosconi Cup, I watched the last set Jayson vs Shane, that was some bad pool. I've seen many first years players that could beat any of those games... Guy
 
I, too, have stopped watching videos of bad pool matches, but it isn't so much for enhancing my entertainment as it is for improving, or at least not deteriorating my own game. I find that I not only pick up good ideas from watching good players, but the mere fact that they are executing successfully seems to influence me to execute better myself. I'm not talking about motivation here, but rather a successful mindset if that makes any sense. I carry this over to my league and tournament play as well, trying to avoid watching players that I know will not be executing well so as not to emulate their results in my games or matches.

Monkey see, monkey do, maybe? In any event is has had noticeable results for me over the past year or so that I have been doing this.
 
At the local poolroom, a bad match between amateurs can sometimes be entertaining.

Watching pros play poorly, however, is painful. When I'm in attendance, unless it's the only match in progress, I'll nearly always walk away and watch a different match. On live stream, the choice is tougher, as it's usually keep watching or tune out.

I won't tell anybody what they do and don't enjoy, but for me, seeing top level play is important enough to me that I'm willing to spend a lot of money for the privilege.
 
I’m there for the story. I mainly only care about players I know of and the players I’m open to getting to know. I like having a sense of who they are, what their journey is, how their career is going, what accomplishments they’ve had, and what the game/event means to them.

That’s why Matchroom resonates with me. Will SVB get a 6th US Open and solidify himself as the GOAT? Will Sky get that first major? Will FSR continue his dream run? Will Jayson or Filler get back on top of the pack? Will Fedor achieve on the big stage what we all assume he’s capable of? Will Kaci return in form?

I’m don’t mind a match where the wheels fall off if the result of the match means something to me.
 
MattPoland said:
I’m there for the story. I mainly only care about players I know of and the players I’m open to getting to know. I like having a sense of who they are, what their journey is, how their career is going, what accomplishments they’ve had, and what the game/event means to them.

That’s why Matchroom resonates with me. Will SVB get a 6th US Open and solidify himself as the GOAT? Will Sky get that first major? Will FSR continue his dream run? Will Jayson or Filler get back on top of the pack? Will Fedor achieve on the big stage what we all assume he’s capable of? Will Kaci return in form?

I’m don’t mind a match where the wheels fall off if the result of the match means something to me.
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that lot almost never have painfully bad matches though, so being in for the story is made easier that way. but i get your point. i can tolerate a few bad matches if the protagonist is a fast player. watching styer or kazakis hit the rail half a diamond off after long deliberation is just painful
 
sjm said:
At the local poolroom, a bad match between amateurs can sometimes be entertaining.

Watching pros play poorly, however, is painful.
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I agree with this. I love watching the top pros play fantastically. I do appreciate on some level the occasional reminder that they are human. But, ultimately, I'm there to appreciate the game in its purest and best form, so when they break down it's just disappointing to me.

But I also enjoy watching amateur live-stream tournaments. It reminds me of how tough the game really is, how easy it is to get out of line. It also allows me to legitimately and accurately think "I can do that," or "he should have done it this way."
 
I watch some league and other amateur matches, mostly out of curiosity how the players do while on "TV" and also to see how the ratings vs actual skill is at leagues to get an idea of how many players have fair ratings or what the skill level is in other areas of the country.

As far as badly played Pro matches, even a bad pro match would seem very good to me LOL
 
Anyone who claims truthfully to never have watched bad pool has never actually watched the game, and certainly never played it.
 
Like to watch bad pool games?

I don't, but there is a live streamer who makes his income showing almost all exclusively bad pool games. :oops:
 
MattPoland said:
I’m there for the story. I mainly only care about players I know of and the players I’m open to getting to know. I like having a sense of who they are, what their journey is, how their career is going, what accomplishments they’ve had, and what the game/event means to them.

That’s why Matchroom resonates with me. Will SVB get a 6th US Open and solidify himself as the GOAT? Will Sky get that first major? Will FSR continue his dream run? Will Jayson or Filler get back on top of the pack? Will Fedor achieve on the big stage what we all assume he’s capable of? Will Kaci return in form?

I’m don’t mind a match where the wheels fall off if the result of the match means something to me.
Click to expand...
We see this the same way, Matt. I like a great story, no matter who is writing it. The truth is that in about 75% of the matches I watch, I don't root for either player, just for great pool and for something memorable.

I'm intrigued by all the things you've mentioned, especially the Skyler angle. I'm just as curious about when the best young players will break through ---- Zielinski and Pehlivanovic have both won silver at a major, but are they ready to take the next step? Are young, promising players like Souto, Neuhausen, and several others ready for a deep run. Chua wowed us all at the WCOP --- is he ready to contend for a major title? I also wonder which of the 45+ players (Immonen, Souquet, Pagulayan, Feijen, Alcaide, Deuel, etc.) can make a deep run.

There is always somebody writing a story at the majors, and it's a joy to behold.

Will you be at the US Open in Atlantic City, Matt?
 
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