Another Difference Between Snooker and Pool

Scaramouche said:
Pool players and the public don't want to watch pros.

Pro nooker gets audiences from people who do not play the game.

http://www.inside-snooker.com/snooker/2015/1/8/ks48jehiemgl9sjuq308y8r7r69w1c

Or, to put it another way, snooker is a salable product, pool isn't.
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Sorry mouche, but it seems that only in America is there no desire to watch
cuesports. Well, maybe Canada too.

Snooker would be no more 'popular' with American viewers than Pool is, and
most likely, even less... more's the pity.

Dale
 
Snooker equates in viewing to Straight Pool, more or less in my book. In the US Straight Pool is considered too boring to watch on TV. Snooker is quite popular on TV in the UK, but in the US the "more exciting" rotation games go over like a lead balloon. I have never quite understood this.
 
that's ridiculous.

Scaramouche said:
Pool players and the public don't want to watch pros.

Pro nooker gets audiences from people who do not play the game.

http://www.inside-snooker.com/snooker/2015/1/8/ks48jehiemgl9sjuq308y8r7r69w1c

Or, to put it another way, snooker is a salable product, pool isn't.
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Saying that something sells and something else doesn't so one is salable and one isn't is kind of ridiculous. The only conclusion that you can come to from that is that the way that the something has been marketed that has sold is salable and the one that has not sold is not marketed correctly.

That doesn't mean the product itself is unsalable.

Jaden
 
Jaden said:
Saying that something sells and something else doesn't so one is salable and one isn't is kind of ridiculous. The only conclusion that you can come to from that is that the way that the something has been marketed that has sold is salable and the one that has not sold is not marketed correctly.

That doesn't mean the product itself is unsalable.

Jaden
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The U.S. a country that can sell pet rocks and bottled water.

To quote the article

"For pool to overtake snooker will take several more years, but that it could happen illustrates that snooker cannot afford to concentrate on only one country – including the UK.

That is why the current administration should be applauded for exploring different parts of the globe, including European outposts, like Lisbon, Riga and Sofia."

U.S. pool doesn't have a current administration - nuf said.
 
Scaramouche said:
The U.S. a country that can sell pet rocks and bottled water.

To quote the article

"For pool to overtake snooker will take several more years, but that it could happen illustrates that snooker cannot afford to concentrate on only one country – including the UK.

That is why the current administration should be applauded for exploring different parts of the globe, including European outposts, like Lisbon, Riga and Sofia."

U.S. pool doesn't have a current administration - nuf said.
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I applaud optimism, to a point.

To all those who think it is just a matter of the magical right marketing strategy,
I'm sorry, but it is cultural. Take a glance at Ned Polsky's
"Hustlers Beats and Others". Doesn't cover the whole story - but provides some
valuable insights. There is a STRONG rejection of Pool and people who play the
game in our culture, and there has been for longer than we have been
an independent nation.

First, show any slight indication there is any change to that attitude, then try
marketing schemes.

Also, realistically, just because we all love(?) Pool, doesn't mean the general
public does - or ever will.

Dale(who has spent WAY too much money watching pros in person)
 
I would love for snooker to get more popular here in the US. I personally love the game but there are only maybe 5 somewhat decent snooker tables in all of Oregon and I haven't found a 6 by 12 yet. They are practically impossibly to find in the US.
 
maybe it's how pool is televised

Snooker is said to have gotten its original popularity from the advent of color television.
Maybe with the introduction of 3D tv, pool can ride the technology bandwagon. :D

If pocket cams making it seem like giant pool balls are going to jump out of your 60" flat screen and hit you between the eyes doesn't make pool popular, i don't think anything will.:D
 
thefonz said:
Snooker is said to have gotten its original popularity from the advent of color television.
Maybe with the introduction of 3D tv, pool can ride the technology bandwagon. :D

If pocket cams making it seem like giant pool balls are going to jump out of your 60" flat screen and hit you between the eyes doesn't make pool popular, i don't think anything will.:D
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It has nothing to do with HOW it is presented.

American TV viewers are not interested in watching pool on TV.

They LOVE football.

No interest in Ping Pong(yes, I know it is Table Tennis), Horseshoes, Archery,
Dominoes, and many other activities that plenty of people love.

Now, all of you, get over it and go on with your lives.

Dale
 
Even being an American who plays pool, and very rarely plays snooker, I would at times, rather watch snooker at a professional level than pool at a professional level. I like to play it because it's different. A nice change from pool, and it's certainly a challenge.
 
Red....numbered ball, red NB....miss....snooker.


It's so simple to explain, it's the perfect game to lead non players to Water, once they get hooked, we know the rest of the story.
 
Ever wonder where the name "Pool" came from?

A quick google search found this:

The word "pool" means a collective bet, or ante. Many non-billiard games, such as poker, involve a pool but it was to pocket billiards that the name became attached. The term "poolroom" now means a place where pool is played, but in the 19th century a poolroom was a betting parlor for horse racing. Pool tables were installed so patrons could pass time between races. The two became connected in the public mind, but the unsavory connotation of "poolroom" came from the betting that took place there, not from billiards.

I tend to agree that many people have a negative image of "pool". Maybe it comes from the "Hustling" side of the sport.

Of course, I would love to see our great sport go mainstream. In order for that to be possible, I believe the image issue will have to be addressed.

Royce
 
I just watched over an hour of snooker. I havent watched an hour of pool in a LONG time. Snooker is a real game and I love it.
 
RBC said:
Ever wonder where the name "Pool" came from?

A quick google search found this:

The word "pool" means a collective bet, or ante. Many non-billiard games, such as poker, involve a pool but it was to pocket billiards that the name became attached. The term "poolroom" now means a place where pool is played, but in the 19th century a poolroom was a betting parlor for horse racing. Pool tables were installed so patrons could pass time between races. The two became connected in the public mind, but the unsavory connotation of "poolroom" came from the betting that took place there, not from billiards.

I tend to agree that many people have a negative image of "pool". Maybe it comes from the "Hustling" side of the sport.

Of course, I would love to see our great sport go mainstream. In order for that to be possible, I believe the image issue will have to be addressed.

Royce
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I agree that when you tell the average person you play pool the first thing out of their mouths are about "pool sharks" and "hustlers". It's the image of pool to those that don't play. I don't look for it to change in my life time.
 
Whilst it is true Snooker in the UK has a generally higher social status than Pool in the USA, one big factor to it's success that may not be obvious to those of you living in the Revolting Colonies is that it gets state-subsidized television coverage. Yes those evil socialists at the BBC televise Snooker tournaments live and in full. This both gives fans the ability to follow the game and elevates it's status to "As Seen On TV" so that even non-players might watch it.

The US equivalent would be PBS broadcasting the DCC. (Heck, I might give them a pledge for that!)
 
For the last time. Only reason snooker gets fans in the seats and TV coverage is because you can legally gamble on it. Take that away and the ratings will drop like a rock. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
For the last time. Only reason snooker gets fans in the seats and TV coverage is because you can legally gamble on it. Take that away and the ratings will drop like a rock. Johnnyt
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For the last time, that is utter bollocks. Do you think all of those people in attendance (or watching at home) are only interested because they have a bet on?
 
Johnnyt said:
For the last time. Only reason snooker gets fans in the seats and TV coverage is because you can legally gamble on it. Take that away and the ratings will drop like a rock. Johnnyt
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Very few fans gamble on it. I've never placed a bet on snooker.
 
first. as we know, cue sports aside from american pool held onto the classy image- american pool didnt via hollywood.

aside from this- i find that people who have never really played pool/snooker etc. are simply mesmerized by the sheer size of a 12x6. it is for this reason people automatically assume the game is more difficult.

your average joe thinks 'bigger table = better players' and it is hard to get people to see past this assumption.

(not turning this thread into the pool vs snooker beat to death topic)

but i see this as a basic reality when it comes to public perception. especially when american pool is trying to reach out to a potential audience who may not even play pool. if you ask some random person who knows nothing of pool/snooker what they would rather watch on youtube, they are probably want to see a huge table with impressive shot making.

JMO
 
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SeabrookMiglla said:
first. as we know, cue sports aside from american pool held onto the classy image- american pool didnt via hollywood.

aside from this- i find that people who have never really played pool/snooker etc. are simply mesmerized by the sheer size of a 12x6. it is for this reason people automatically assume the game is more difficult.

your average joe thinks 'bigger table = better players' and it is hard to get people to see past this assumption.

(not turning this thread into the pool vs snooker beat to death topic)

but i see this as a basic reality when it comes to public perception. especially when american pool is trying to reach out to a potential audience who may not even play pool. if you ask some random person who knows nothing of pool/snooker what they would rather watch on youtube, they are probably want to see a huge table with impressive shot making.

JMO
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Doesn't help when the image of the players comes across as someone who is "quite good, but doesn't look professional". That's probably why people think snooker players are automatically better. I'm sick of seeing pool players turn up to a match wearing sandals, shorts and a tshirt that's 2 sizes too big. They're not on a beach in Hawaii. Look the part and people will think you are the part.
 
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