BONUS BALL is not gonna work.

cleary

cleary

Honestly, I'm a liar.
Silver Member
OK, OK, OK... I get it. A few guys decided to 're-invent' the wheel and come up with a new pool game. Not only did they revamp the rules/objective, they included their own balls and a scoreboard hoping to change everything we know about pool and make money on everyone who wants to play. Fair enough.. I guess. So it seems their vision is every pool room will drop those stripes/solids balls and move to their purple/orange bonus balls ($200)... and install flatscreen tvs at each pool table for scoring/time clock ($400+)... and apparently disco balls, fog machines and lasers as those seem to be required to play the game. I for one feel this is an impossible dream and has NO SHOT at working.

Aside from all of that, it doesn't look like a fun game... and just borderline stupid.. http://www.playbonusball.com/howtoplay.html

A lot of the pro's have been posting on their facebook walls how great bonus ball is and how it's the future of pool. Those players are also getting paid by Bonus Ball. Surprise! I cannot blame them for jumping in on a guaranteed paycheck.. and cannot blame them (I guess) for endorsing something and claiming it's "the future of pool", when its a blatant lie. I'm glad they are getting some money in their pockets.

I just think its sad that someone came along with lots of money to invest in pool and get players paid and it has no chance of making it. Their money could have been invested into some sort of tour and found ways to make it profitable. But no... this will come and go and players will be off to the next easy score.

Maybe I'm just a hater... discuss.
 
Maybe JA can answer that in about 10 minutes on the Action Report Pod Cast. Im sure Justin won't bring it up because it would be a little awkward for Johnny. I think the Podcast will be more personal tahn business related.

Personally I think Bonus Ball could work if its promoted the right way. I see that there are quite a bit of pros forming teams so you never know... It could be a really good thing for pool :thumbup:
 
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I saw the superb demonstration video done by Johnny. I really hope bonus ball succeeds and brings some much needed income to pros who can certainly use it.

Personally, though, I feel that steps in the direction of total offense are not what pool needs, and bonus ball has very few tactical elements. I don't see the game catching on, but I sure hope I'm wrong.
 
Actually, take the time to learn the rules and play the game...

It's actually a good game. I played it some...

You do NOT need to buy bonus balls to play the game, it can be played with standard balls. They don't tell you this because it is not in their best interests, but if you read the rules, you will see that it is easily played with a standard ball set...

Jaden
 
Jaden said:
It's actually a good game. I played it some...

You do NOT need to buy bonus balls to play the game, it can be played with standard balls. They don't tell you this because it is not in their best interests, but if you read the rules, you will see that it is easily played with a standard ball set...

Jaden
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I have been hitting them around with solids and stripes, challenging game for sure. I like scoreboard and time limit for the match and shot clock, it keeps the game moving and is geared for TV and spectators because they can look at the scoreboard and see exactly what is going on too. It is something different and fresh which pool needs, the players involved seem happy about the opportunity, in pool the opportunities are very few it seems.
 
When I see two top players BET THEIR OWN for $5k+ and play some bonus ball... I'll take a look. Until then, I'll LOL.
 
I think it's a great idea. It has some of the elements of snooker, but Americanized so that current tables can be utilized. With a scoreboard for visual effect it could be more spectator friendly and oriented. I think it could only help. Maybe get a television spot. Anything that can bring table pool and billiards to the spotlight. I am for it. I'm opening a room, it might be a great thing for a Pro event..spectator chairs ..ESPN..on 3 ..and roll em !
 
cleary said:
OK, OK, OK... I get it. A few guys decided to 're-invent' the wheel and come up with a new pool game. Not only did they revamp the rules/objective, they included their own balls and a scoreboard hoping to change everything we know about pool and make money on everyone who wants to play. Fair enough.. I guess. So it seems their vision is every pool room will drop those stripes/solids balls and move to their purple/orange bonus balls ($200)... and install flatscreen tvs at each pool table for scoring/time clock ($400+)... and apparently disco balls, fog machines and lasers as those seem to be required to play the game. I for one feel this is an impossible dream and has NO SHOT at working.

Aside from all of that, it doesn't look like a fun game... and just borderline stupid.. http://www.playbonusball.com/howtoplay.html

A lot of the pro's have been posting on their facebook walls how great bonus ball is and how it's the future of pool. Those players are also getting paid by Bonus Ball. Surprise! I cannot blame them for jumping in on a guaranteed paycheck.. and cannot blame them (I guess) for endorsing something and claiming it's "the future of pool", when its a blatant lie. I'm glad they are getting some money in their pockets.

I just think its sad that someone came along with lots of money to invest in pool and get players paid and it has no chance of making it. Their money could have been invested into some sort of tour and found ways to make it profitable. But no... this will come and go and players will be off to the next easy score.

Maybe I'm just a hater... discuss.
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Not a hater at all but a realist perhaps. Bonus Ball was :boring2: when they debuted it at the U.S. Open. Not only that but the commentators were not even versed in the rules so the viewers were pretty much left clueless.
And yes I also agree that it's a shame that all this money wasn't spent trying to get an enduring tour started instead of a here today gone tomorrow event that no one will probably remember in five years.
Not to mention the idea of the room owners buying a bunch of sets of new balls and putting up TV's to use as score boards is strictly pie in the sky!
 
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Falcon Eddie said:
I think it's a great idea. It has some of the elements of snooker, but Americanized so that current tables can be utilized. With a scoreboard for visual effect it could be more spectator friendly and oriented. I think it could only help. Maybe get a television spot. Anything that can bring table pool and billiards to the spotlight. I am for it. I'm opening a room, it might be a great thing for a Pro event..spectator chairs ..ESPN..on 3 ..and roll em !
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You're opening a room? Do you want to put an HDTV by every table for the clock and to keep score? hmmm... I don't know how reasonable that is for THOUSANDS of rooms across the country that can hardly keep their doors open.

The biggest thing pool has going on is that there is a bar box in every bar across the country. Those bar boxes are coin operated tables and you cannot spot the "bonus ball" after it's been pocketed on a table such as that.
 
Big problems!

unlike poker a simple minded game that anyone can play, pool requires skill and a high level to play well...., I golf and its not tuff to understand, one ball one hole and go for it, pool takes a lot, so its easier to not play for those who dont get it, than a game that they can kinda get and have some fun at because its so simple.

Pool does not need another game, just a big influx of cash, so that our high level players can make a living..., a real living, not one that is based on the huslte, gambling or pro's playing in amature tourny's to make.

Hope the game makes it but it aint the cure.
 
This the first I have heard about Bonus Ball. But I have one question:

How do you seed the pros?

Dave
 
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