💡 8-ball should be the game. POINT, BLANK, PERIOD!!

[Banks]

I'm assuming that you grew up on the left coast with a large Mexican and Central/South American influence so I'm not surprised. Soccer is number one with them followed by baseball. The Midwest and Dixie states had no such influence until later. Soccer began to spread in the early 1980's. 30 years later, it has just began to get a solid fan base in the US.

This is what John was attempting to convey. To be frankly honest, unless the World Cup is on or the Olympics, I never see soccer on the tube. I will admit, I don't look for it either.

California and Maine. Thinking back, i really don't know how many latinos were even at my California school, but it was definitely not a significant number - mostly white and some asians. In Maine, i could count the non-whites on one hand, iirc.

Watching soccer just bores the hell out of me. That being said, I've probably watched it more than i have pool.. only so much pre-recorded boredom i can stand.

Soccer is also big in Europe.. and just about everywhere else.

 

[Bigkat]

@Banks
Is bank pool your favorite game? Your best game? (Forgive me, I'm new to the forum)

 

[Banks]

@Banks
Is bank pool your favorite game? Your best game? (Forgive me, I'm new to the forum)

I like it, but haven't played nearly as much as I'd like, so i don't know where i stand overall. 8b is probably my best game, but my high run is in 9b. I like 14.1, but i very rarely play it. I have just enough patience for maybe 2 or 3 games of 1p.

 

[ironsoldier71]

I believe there are many ways to increase sponsorship in Billiards. The main thing is to attract players that project a positive experience. Then find a low cost location to hold events. Then market the local businesses at reasonable rates. Then you have to work out the numbers fairly between the promoter and players. Put it all in writing. Launch it. 8 ball is a great all around game to attract players. As far as TV goes streaming video/audio has been successful for the sport. However to get back on ESPN would be great. I think 8 and 9ball would do well in that format. People like to see great shots so a game of inches like One Pocket maybe not so much for TV. Just an opinion...

Kind Regards,
Michael McDonald
Shooters Billiard Supply
www.shootersbilliardsupply.com

 

[Jerry Rathman]

Just a couple quick thoughts and comments.

1. Soccer was never offered at my school....

2. 8 ball is much more recognized and popular than 9 ball.

3. My understanding was 9 ball got the node for TV because it's hard to put a shot clock on 8 ball and nobody wants to watch a guy chalk his cue 6 times while he changes his mind about solids and stripes or which ball to shoot.

4. For reference, our local league is 8 ball, they try to so a summer 9 ball league but seldom get enough players. We have a big singles tournament coming up and the 8 ball is full and scheduled for 3 days. 9 ball is scheduled to take about 7 hours to complete and the entry fee is 1/3 of the 8 ball fee. I can't even get some of my friends to sign up for it in spite of the fact that they are already going to be there and if nothing else, it's cheap table time to warm up for the 8 ball.

5. My wife who doesn't shoot pool, will sit and watch 3 hours of 8 ball on youtube, but will not sit through even 2 racks of 9 ball.

 

[snucar]

My wife who doesn't shoot pool, will sit and watch 3 hours of 8 ball on youtube, but will not sit through even 2 racks of 9 ball.

Cool story, bro!

 

[tableroll]

The rules I like best start with ... Rack the balls in a diamond on the foot spot and call the game Nine Ball.

9 ball ok if call pocket. 8 ball no slop is superior.

 

[Ipmtim]

May I ask what OPEN Pocket is ...?

I too would like the game explained.
Unfortunately I had to scroll through 5 pages of bickering just to find out nobody feels like enlightening us.

 

[BWColeman]

So crazy it just might work

Here in the US 8-Ball is definitely the most known to the masses , casual bar players and leagues , that being said its also the lowest ranked game in the mind of players , with 9 ball 10 ball and one pocket being the most preferred gambling games .

I think for pool to have a resurgence in the USA , it will need to be pro tour with a televised game that is recognizable to the public.

I myself am not an 8 ball fan , much rather play 10 ball , but I am in the minority when compared to the general public as most players are

There has to be something that will draw in new players as we are a dying breed with out an influx of new blood .

 

[Jerry Rathman]

Here in the US 8-Ball is definitely the most known to the masses , casual bar players and leagues , that being said its also the lowest ranked game in the mind of players , with 9 ball 10 ball and one pocket being the most preferred gambling games .

I think for pool to have a resurgence in the USA , it will need to be pro tour with a televised game that is recognizable to the public.

I myself am not an 8 ball fan , much rather play 10 ball , but I am in the minority when compared to the general public as most players are

There has to be something that will draw in new players as we are a dying breed with out an influx of new blood .

Well said.
I enjoy most all of the pocket billiard games, but I really enjoy watching 8 ball. Mostly because it helps me improve the game I play most often. I understand that a lot of players prefer 9 and 10 ball, but I really believe that most of the top players would prefer 8 ball if the money was the same. Why else would they travel to play Chinese 8 ball on tables that don't even have the pockets cut correctly :wink:. I think gambling tends to focus more on rotation games because they are easier to handicap, but I don't think that equals good TV.

I feel Pool has a more direct comparison to Golf. Millions of people spend a ton of money every year to have the same equipment as their favorite pro. And then they sit for 3 or 4 days and watch them on TV. After that they go to their local course and spend even more money to play the same game with the same rules as they just watched on TV.
If Pro Golf played a different game than the amateur's would it be as popular? :shrug:

 

[nine_ball6970]

Well said.
I enjoy most all of the pocket billiard games, but I really enjoy watching 8 ball. Mostly because it helps me improve the game I play most often. I understand that a lot of players prefer 9 and 10 ball, but I really believe that most of the top players would prefer 8 ball if the money was the same. Why else would they travel to play Chinese 8 ball on tables that don't even have the pockets cut correctly :wink:. I think gambling tends to focus more on rotation games because they are easier to handicap, but I don't think that equals good TV.

I feel Pool has a more direct comparison to Golf. Millions of people spend a ton of money every year to have the same equipment as their favorite pro. And then they sit for 3 or 4 days and watch them on TV. After that they go to their local course and spend even more money to play the same game with the same rules as they just watched on TV.
If Pro Golf played a different game than the amateur's would it be as popular? :shrug:

While golfers play the same game with the same rules, the courses played on are far more difficult. Part of the allure is watching pros play on immaculate, tough courses where they sometimes struggle.

Also for TV, you don't watch the same golfer all the time. They go back and forth between whatever action is happening on the course. There is drama if someone is making a comeback or someone implodes while having a big lead.

You just can't root for players the same way in pool. You only see one match at a time and there isn't as much action. Maybe if the games were played on 6x12s where even a pro is going to have a lower pocketing percentage. People want to be on the edge of their seats wondering if a ball will be pocketed. Example is snooker. A pro could miss a ball at any time. I really believe that is part of the appeal and you have greater respect for their execution on long shots.

On 4.5x9, most outs look like childs play by pros. They make the game look simple. That is why it is boring to watch on TV. You are shocked when they miss because you never expect it to happen.

 

[Jerry Rathman]

While golfers play the same game with the same rules, the courses played on are far more difficult. Part of the allure is watching pros play on immaculate, tough courses where they sometimes struggle.

Also for TV, you don't watch the same golfer all the time. They go back and forth between whatever action is happening on the course. There is drama if someone is making a comeback or someone implodes while having a big lead.

You just can't root for players the same way in pool. You only see one match at a time and there isn't as much action. Maybe if the games were played on 6x12s where even a pro is going to have a lower pocketing percentage. People want to be on the edge of their seats wondering if a ball will be pocketed. Example is snooker. A pro could miss a ball at any time. I really believe that is part of the appeal and you have greater respect for their execution on long shots.

On 4.5x9, most outs look like childs play by pros. They make the game look simple. That is why it is boring to watch on TV. You are shocked when they miss because you never expect it to happen.

So don't change the game, change the course.... Tighter pockets, deeper shelf, bigger table. Could even change the cloth. Instead of cloth that plays like glass, shoot on some heavy felt where you need a stroke to move the balls.
All are options to make the game more difficult/exciting without changing the game that is being played.

 

[KMRUNOUT]

Which rule set do you suggest?

I like darren's rules for pros, but not for amateurs. And the WPA rules are too easy for pros and top amateurs.

Personally I like APA rules for 8 ball, except with called shots. I would like to play where the following is true (especially so for bar table)

1) Take what you make on break
2) Scratch on break behind line
3) Call shot (ball and pocket)
4) Call safe (you can pocket a ball if you want)

This will limit runouts some. Regular BCA rules definitely make it too easy to run out for higher level players.

KMRUNOUT

 

[nine_ball6970]

Personally I like APA rules for 8 ball, except with called shots. I would like to play where the following is true (especially so for bar table)

1) Take what you make on break
2) Scratch on break behind line
3) Call shot (ball and pocket)
4) Call safe (you can pocket a ball if you want)

This will limit runouts some. Regular BCA rules definitely make it too easy to run out for higher level players.

KMRUNOUT

Those are the rules used for NAPA except for take what you make.

 

[pt109]

Could even change the cloth. Instead of cloth that plays like glass, shoot on some heavy felt where you need a stroke to move the balls.
All are options to make the game more difficult/exciting without changing the game that is being played.

Please leave the cloth alone.
Snooker finally smartened up and made the cloth faster.
...slow cloth takes away a lot of options....how can that be good for the game?

Golfers get greens that get mowed meticulously...they don't putt on the fairway.


Lotta players forget that it was economics that made many rooms use horse blankets
for cloth....fine cloth is more expensive....the better rooms had it.

 

[nine_ball6970]

Please leave the cloth alone.
Snooker finally smartened up and made the cloth faster.
...slow cloth takes away a lot of options....how can that be good for the game?

Golfers get greens that get mowed meticulously...they don't putt on the fairway.


Lotta players forget that it was economics that made many rooms use horse blankets
for cloth....fine cloth is more expensive....the better rooms had it.

Golfers get greens that are mowed to different heights though. There isn't a standard for golf courses. Golfers need to adjust to the speed of the greens they are playing on that day.

I feel like pool is to easy for the professionals. It is hard for the average person to identify with a pro pool player. They just run out and run out. Average player blows shape and misses balls.

Any golfer can identify with pros because pros hit balls into the water, bunkers, out of bounds, lip out putts, etc etc.

That is why I mentioned playing on 6x12 to make pros seem more human if that makes sense.

That could be a reason why the Mosconi Cup is exciting. You see pros dog shots you never think they would miss. You actually become more interested because you are not sure anymore if they will make or miss certain shots.

 

[bad_hit]

1) Call-shot 8-ball - sure. That's what pool is in the US. Makes perfect sense that that's what the masses identify with.

2) Harder conditions - sure. A lot of arguments are around "it's boring to watch because it's too easy for pros". So make it harder, make them miss. Much more entertaining to watch for the masses.

3) The REAL solution to getting people to watch pool - wrap it in a reality TV/Internet series around gambling, hustling, and exaggerated backroom pool culture and create good interesting characters and make it about the characters that play pool, not the game of pool itself. "The Hustlers" was a good idea. Keep doing stuff like that.

It's 2016. People don't want to watch people play pool on TV. They DO want to watch other people though, and pool is a really interesting way to get a bunch of different people together in interesting places with an interesting culture around it.

Only us "insiders" know this....which makes it even MORE interesting because it's a little pocket of reality not many are privy to. I find that the deeper I get into the pool culture the more interesting it gets. But it's about the people, not solids or stripes or magic racks or pigskin tips or tournament formats.

 

[Cornerman]

I'm assuming that you grew up on the left coast with a large Mexican and Central/South American influence so I'm not surprised. Soccer is number one with them followed by baseball. The Midwest and Dixie states had no such influence until later. Soccer began to spread in the early 1980's. 30 years later, it has just began to get a solid fan base in the US.

This is what John was attempting to convey. To be frankly honest, unless the World Cup is on or the Olympics, I never see soccer on the tube. I will admit, I don't look for it either.

I grew up in New England. I'm 50 this year. Every town had soccer for little kids all the way to high school. I'm sorry to hear your area didn't have this.

Freddie

 

[Cornerman]

5. My wife who doesn't shoot pool, will sit and watch 3 hours of 8 ball on youtube, but will not sit through even 2 racks of 9 ball.

Assuming you have just one wife (commas save lives), why does she watch 8-ball. Is she tolerating while you watch it, or does she genuiniy enjoy watching? Is the volume on?


Freddie <~~~ watches Real Housewives...

 

[Black-Balled]

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