Bowling vs. Billiards

TommyT

TommyT

Obsessed
Silver Member
Which game is more difficult to master and why??. I know that I spend a lot of time at the table and have done so for many years and I still suck.
I wonder what would have happened if I spent 30 hours a week bowling. Some guys I know bowl once a week and carry a 200 + avg.
 
For me pool is a lot harder to master than bowling. But I would guess there are some people that have a talent for bowling and can't run 3 balls in pool no matter how many hours they play. But for the average person I'd say pool is much harder to get good at. Johnnyt
 
Very interesting. Although I've never learned the proper mechanics to bowling, I've bowled maybe an average of 160 a couple summers ago. I'd say its really different. Bowling is very simple and difficult at the same time. I guess a equivalent would be to say that bowling is like playing a game of pool where you have to do a long range swerve shot. The same shot every time until you perfect it.

For pool there are many varieties of shots and a lot more to think about. I think bowling is a lot easier to learn and pick up. But different bowling alleys play differently, and you have to adjust to that. If you dedicated all your pool time into bowling for a couple months, I'm sure you can average 200+ too (if you develop proper mechanics that is).
 
I believe bowling would be easier to "master" than pool, due to the lack of variables. With bowling you have far fewer "shots" or styles of delivery to be able to repeat, and a far more predictable target area.

That doesn't mean I think mastering bowling is easy. I simply believe I could perform at a higher level faster bowling than in pool. I've done both at various times in my life, so I have a small level of experience with both, though nowhere near at anything considered a high level.

Both are fun. Not enough time in the day.
 
thats a very good question mr, this debate could take a long time.i would say pool is harder for the reason there ard many differnt options involved then bowling.
 
I would also say there is a "touch" factor that can not be taught in bowling as of pool. For pool if you can stroke straight, and aim at the right contact point, you can make a ball. For bowling, you can bowl straight as an amateur player, but to get good you need to hook the ball. I think it does require a great deal of talent. Just like some people just can not shoot a basketball, even with good training.
 
Actually, lets make the question this. Is it easier to get 300 points in bowling or a 50 ball run in pool? Now thats a hard one. To get 300 points, you need 12 strikes in a row, I think it would be easier to "luck" in 12 strikes in a row, than to run 50 balls in straight pool. But which one is easier to be able to do multiple times? I'd say running 50 balls.
 
I've never hit my break shot and had all the balls go in and once ... yet I think they call that a strike in bowling.

I also don't think that the pins that are left standing after your first ball scatter in random patterns all over the entire length of the lane.... and that when you hit a 3 ball combo shot in pool you usually don't get all 3 balls at once like you do in bowling.

And most important ... the pins are "racked" by a machine ... so you can't complain about it!

Obviously, pool is harder than bowling. :grin:
 
vincentwu817 said:
Actually, lets make the question this. Is it easier to get 300 points in bowling or a 50 ball run in pool? Now thats a hard one. To get 300 points, you need 12 strikes in a row, I think it would be easier to "luck" in 12 strikes in a row, than to run 50 balls in straight pool. But which one is easier to be able to do multiple times? I'd say running 50 balls.
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are u talking about someone who never play either game before,are someone that is decent in both
 
vincentwu817 said:
Actually, lets make the question this. Is it easier to get 300 points in bowling or a 50 ball run in pool? Now thats a hard one. To get 300 points, you need 12 strikes in a row, I think it would be easier to "luck" in 12 strikes in a row, than to run 50 balls in straight pool. But which one is easier to be able to do multiple times? I'd say running 50 balls.
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ughh no 50 balls in straight pool is not like scoring 300 in bowling.....

that would be more like running a hundred not 50, 50 is like scoring maybe 200 that would be a better equlivent.

50 is just 3 racks and a few extra.
 
Hmm.. I meant to say it as in which one would be easier for a beginner to do. I rarely bowl but have scored 220+ twice, and definitely got really lucky. But what I'm saying is that it is easier to luck 12 strikes in a row than running 50 balls, for a beginner who have no sense of positional play.

Then on the second part, what I meant was that it is definitely more difficult for someone to be able to duplicate their 300 point game as opposed to running 50 balls, after they have put in practice.
 
Question: Take the top bowler right now. How many games does he bowl before he bowls a 300? 1 in 100? 1 in 50?
 
There is no real comparision. The difficulty of mastering something is dependent on how good you consider a master which is dependent on how competitive the game is. If 10 billion people bowled full time, the best in the world would have insanely high averages which would thus make it very difficult to master. If 10 people bowled, the talent pool wouldn't be so high so mastering it wouldn't be so difficult.
 
Masayoshi said:
There is no real comparision. The difficulty of mastering something is dependent on how good you consider a master which is dependent on how competitive the game is. If 10 billion people bowled full time, the best in the world would have insanely high averages which would thus make it very difficult to master. If 10 people bowled, the talent pool wouldn't be so high so mastering it wouldn't be so difficult.
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I think you've worded whats on my mind perfectly. This is true for many comparisons as well. Some of things being compared is too vague and you really can not have an argument over it.
 
I think they can be compared, granted they use different skills but we're not talking abstract here as in what is the meaning of truly mastering something. We're talking about the world we live in, there are pros at both bowling and pool therefore mastering either bowling or pool would make you a pro (aka the highest rank there is)

That being said ...

Pool will definitely take you longer to master.

Bowling is based on consistency. If you can always hit the pocket then you have a good chance of striking. This would lead to having a good average.

Pool is based on consistency and planning. If you can always hit where you aim on the cue ball, you still have to plan out your run each and every game. This added factor makes pool much harder to master.
 
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No comparison. First off, bowling is not a sport. As Jim Rome said in regard to bowling, "Anything you get better at as you consume alcohol is not a sport".
 
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I learned to play pool in bowling alleys, so I did lots of both. Speaking for myself, bowling is tougher, especially as the day goes on, because of the exertion required. That 16-pound ball weighs a little more than a 19-oz. cue.

As a kid I dreamed of bowling in the PBA, but as time went on I fell into the cue sports and haven't bowled in 20 years. I'd say bowling a perfect game (300) is the equivalent of running 100 balls in 14.1.
 
Bowling today has more variables than you think. Lanes can be made to play harder or easier based off of how the oil is layed. Sport patterns which are what a lot of pros bowl on are not very forgiving and someone who averages 200 on an easier league pattern will average around 175-180 on a sport pattern. There is things like touch, speed control, and different releases that all have to be mastered as well. Also different balls for different conditions. Shoe soles and heels have to be changed to adjust to different approaches. Another thing to consider is that in bowling you also have to constantly adjust to changing lane conditions. They both have complexities that only people who enjoy them understand. If you ask a bowler the same question he will say well in pool you just have to put a ball in a hole. For some that do both one may be easier than the other, but outside of that there is no solid answer to this question.
 
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