Old school wooden rack, designated racker.... Simple, effective solution...
No need to alt break... People love to see top players string em together
No need to alt break... People love to see top players string em together
10-ball may be hurting pool in America
- Thread starter sjm
- Start date
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How many MMA or boxing fans/viewers actually know how to fight?
How many soccer fans/viewers actually know how to play?
How many American Idol fans/ viewers actually know how to sing?
But how many fans/viewers do you think can be attracted by any form of pool (as we know it today)?
And should we worry about that? Or should we just try to have the best game(s) for the players and the avid fans?
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In terms of promoting pool to the general public .... This is the absolute only way. I agree totally!
I am honest-to-God surprised that the type of rack would make any difference. So long as the balls are tight together, why would it matter? I'll go look for the answer myself, but I can't help but think it's like everything that happens in a golf swing up until the instant the clubhead touches the ball. The only thing that matters is the speed, rotation, and direction of the club at impact. How it got there is irrelevant.
I call that boring. Alternative break is boring any level of play IMO!
I just want to put little correction...
I understand why alt. break came. Because with good equipment and templates it came so controllable that shut outs from tournaments without shooting at all came reality. I still think if someone play so good then so be it... Next time it could be other way around.
My fantasy dream match would be race to 11 and one start with 8-10 pack and then another player run out whole set.. Those kind matches would be something unbelievable. Alternative breaks = never gonna happen and even if match go hill hill its not such thriller anyway.
And running racks is definitely easier 9-ball than 10-ball. We rack 9-on spot to make break harder and it is been months since I played 9-ball and I played some today..(prefer 10-ball because hard break that is not wired but its close to be wired.)
Made 4 runouts on row right away... I made 2x 4 packs on 10-ball in my life. So anybody who claims 10-ball is easier than 9-ball should get head examined.
Made 4 runouts on row right away... I made 2x 4 packs on 10-ball in my life. So anybody who claims 10-ball is easier than 9-ball should get head examined.
You will be surprised that many boring sports do have big viewership (eg. Golf, darts , snooker, cricket to name a few)
Right now, pool occupies micro niche in the sports market spectrum . Need to pivot it to more mainstream meaning viewership in low millions .
Low millions can get programming sold to tiny cable networks . While not exactly comparable, hit shows on small cable like Breaking Bad only draw low million views
If snooker and Chinese 8 ball can attract million viewers there is no reason why pool cannot.
Right now , the main advertisers are Pool accessories suppliers (cues, tables,chalk, aiming systems etc) who seriously can only pay peanuts. You need the mainstream advertisers. If Ronnie O can get endorsed by fashion brands like Vasto, pro pool players also can. Soon
Sorry Beib's......But I believe that would set pool back, to the old, boring, painful to watch, 14.1 days, as far as spectator interest, and enjoyment goes! :boring2:.....At least, both 9 & 10 ball, are mercifully shorter! :embarrassed2:
PS..Only a full blown 'pool addict', could enjoy that game!..Maybe thats why it hasn't become more popular, ya think
Right on, AtLarge.....My point exactly!..:thumbup:
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Banks
Banned
Anything can attract viewers, as long as it's made exciting to watch. 1P, not so much.
Banks, you must have missed this post?..
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=5400089&postcount=13
There is no way I would ever advocate one-pocket, as a game to attract the general viewing public!
.. I guess its a healthy exchange among us..to see there are so many different opinions, on how to go about drawing viewer's, and bringing pool out of the doldrums! 
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http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/break.html#statistics
10b should be played on 10ft like Bigfoot.
Should be alternate break, ref rack with wooden rack like WCOP
EXACTLY.
It is ridiculous that folks think fans/spectators/viewers should play.
How many MMA or boxing fans/viewers actually know how to fight?
How many soccer fans/viewers actually know how to play?
How many American Idol fans/ viewers actually know how to sing?
It all starts with the promoters.
People say its easy to promote mma for example and tough to promote pool because mmq has built in excitement. That is not true at all imo.I have seen many mma promotions fail over the years. People dont recognize all that the UFC does to build interest in fights and the planning that goes into ensuring the live attendees have a good time. The game has little difference imo... its all about emotion.
Promotion is all about building the fans. With the fans come the sponsors. Fans get caught up in emotions. Emotions are what we all crave. Its why we watch a good movie. Its why we choose to spend time with another. And why sports succeed. One of the most memorable moments around here recently was when SVB was playing Ko for the 9 ball wc. People were into that because they were emotionally invested in wanting Shane to win. Story lines are one way to get people emotionally invested and promoters need to get those stories out there and create the buzz. There are many types of story lines that get people to relate wether it is a rivalry, or the importance of the match due to money, or more. Trash talk can get people invested but it has to be real. How well the fans to connect emotionally is the success the event will see. Pro wrestling can accomplish this with a fake sport so a real sport should be much easier.
The atmosphere of pool events need to change also. All pool events need to be like Mosconi cup imo. The live fans need to be able to have fun.
One more thing. Fans want to play also so with more fans comes more success to all of the people in the industry. Room owners, product manufacturers, product retailers all will see more success. When mma became big schools everywhere saw a rise in attendance and they still do compared to the years before. Most will never compete but they have fun training. All wallks of life do it too from doctors to house wifes. Not at your hardcore gyms but where they fit in. The industry grew when the fans did.
The game used is of little importance compared to the other aspects imo.
Here's an alternative way to play 9 or 10 ball which takes the lucky break factor out of the equation.
Player A breaks.
Player B nominates the First Ball to be potted after the break.
Player A may shoot at this ball or send player B in.
The breaker will want to spread the balls wide and park whitey center table so player B has limited 50/50 choices. The breaker will have the slight advantage of having a choice on the first shot.
On a scratched or fouled break, the nomination and choice is reversed.
Colin
Player A breaks.
Player B nominates the First Ball to be potted after the break.
Player A may shoot at this ball or send player B in.
The breaker will want to spread the balls wide and park whitey center table so player B has limited 50/50 choices. The breaker will have the slight advantage of having a choice on the first shot.
On a scratched or fouled break, the nomination and choice is reversed.
Colin
As for 10 ball hurting the pros in America. I say no. Both games are about the same imo.
"Sorry Beib's......But I believe that would set pool back, to the old, boring, painful to watch, 14.1 days, as far as spectator interest, and enjoyment goes! .....At least, both 9 & 10 ball, are mercifully shorter!"
old, boring 14.1? you mean the game that was played When Pool Was Actually Popular?
the facts say ya got the boring part backwards, my friend: before we were brainwashed for 30 years that straight pool is too slow, people actually followed pool and pool players.
old, boring 14.1? you mean the game that was played When Pool Was Actually Popular?
the facts say ya got the boring part backwards, my friend: before we were brainwashed for 30 years that straight pool is too slow, people actually followed pool and pool players.
Well Donny Mills posted on Facebook that he thought it was more boring than a tic tac toe tournament, and he plays 9-ball about as well as anyone. Watching snoozefest events like the WPA Worlds make it hard not to agree. I can't remember a single moment of drama from that event for any of the matches I watched. And the Euro and Asian TV audiences aren't watching except occasionally as a curiosity. The only cue sport that gets solid ratings anywhere is snooker.
Sorry I know you make rack templates, but the simple fact is that they've pretty much ruined 9-ball and 10-ball might not be far behind. That's not to make it sound like you don't make a good product because you do -- it's excellent. The problem with the templates is exactly that -- they're too good! As it turns out it was imperfect racks that kept the game interesting.