What is a "Professional" Pool Player? (Your Definition)
- Thread starter DieselPete
- Start date
Not sure what your pool world was like, but in mine, there were more than a few guys who didn't play well at all but gambled well.
They didn't have jobs and pool was their source of income.
Pros?
Professional gamblers who happen to be playing pool, maybe?
A friend of mine was maybe 675 speed (before Fargo), and he made his living for several years by harvesting spare money in bars. I went with him one time about 1980 and he won $400 between 10 and 6 at ring nine ball in a bar. That was pretty good money at that time and would be $1700 now. He gave me 10% for being there, I guess as a body guard, but I don't know how much help I would have been under the table.
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I feel like the best comparison to pool as far as being a professional would be compared to bowling. The run of the mill pros make 40-50k a year and have an average of over 200. The top bowlers make several hundred k per year like the top pro pool players.
There are lots of guys in the 750 range who wish they didnt have to work to pay the bills. If pool paid more money from tournaments on a regular basis then these guys would play pool instead.
For that reason, I feel that ability plays a big part in determining who is a pro vs an amateur. To call an 800 an amateur because he has to work a full time job is crazy to me. Wasn't mizerak a schoolteacher? Does that mean he was an amateur?
There are lots of guys in the 750 range who wish they didnt have to work to pay the bills. If pool paid more money from tournaments on a regular basis then these guys would play pool instead.
For that reason, I feel that ability plays a big part in determining who is a pro vs an amateur. To call an 800 an amateur because he has to work a full time job is crazy to me. Wasn't mizerak a schoolteacher? Does that mean he was an amateur?
DieselPete
Well-known member
I think there is general agreement that a professional pool player can have another job, but that a fair/substantial part of their income should come from playing pool. For me, that would be from tournament pool, exhibitions/appearances, and endorsement deals.
So close!
Cleveland_Rocks
Member
See my definition below. I'm a CPA that has studied and interpreted a lot of tax law. I have used common legal principles in the definition.
"A professional pool player is someone who makes more than 50% of their annual net income from billiards. The 50% figure can include selling cues, equipment, accessories, being sponsored, giving lessons or publishing teaching material, and running a pool room if such supplemental income is primarily derived from the name of the pool player, who is actively competing in high stakes billiards competitions. That said, a minimum of 25% of the billiard pro's net income should come solely from playing pool or otherwise performing on a pool table (billiards, snooker, and trick shot competitions are all included) to be defined as a pool pro. The rest can come from supplemental income to meet or exceed the 50% threshold."
to add you can also use this to determine, a professional pool player is one who is exceptionally good, and also plays the game for a living
a person who doesn't fit that bill but makes his living playing pool, whether in tournaments or gambling has pool for a profession
someone who sells or teaches, has pool as his profession, but is not a professional pool player.
its fine to consider a top player in any en devour making his living as being a professional.
and someone who makes his living at it but isnt really good can be one as well.
a person who doesn't fit that bill but makes his living playing pool, whether in tournaments or gambling has pool for a profession
someone who sells or teaches, has pool as his profession, but is not a professional pool player.
its fine to consider a top player in any en devour making his living as being a professional.
and someone who makes his living at it but isnt really good can be one as well.
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