Can Pool be made exciting?(in terms of gameplay)

V

vapoolplayer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Pool keeps trying to reinvent itself without really adding any excitement to the game. Lets face it, 9 ball, 10 ball, 8 ball, 14:1, 1 pocket, bonus ball, etc etc.....they really are not that "different."

They are all played on the same type of table, no matter what size it has 6 pockets, no matter what size balls, they physics is relatively close.

They are all played either 1v1 or some form of team, but the common factor here is only 1 person is at the table at a time, and nothing can change this.

Other sports have the element of chance or at least spontaneity involved. Poker has lucky draw outs, football has interceptions and other game changing plays, baseball has homeruns and double plays.....etc etc.

These are the types of things that fans want to see. Excitement and drama on the playing field that can happen at a moments notice.

So........let us brainstorm here. What changes (if any) could be made to pool to bring this type of dynamic to the game?

Personally after thinking about this for some time, I think pool is just going to be like games such as darts and other games that just don't have what it takes to capture the general public, but I'd like to hear any ideas people may have.

Please refrain from statements like "pool is exciting to me" or "earl makes the game exciting" as if this were really the case of how the general public felt, we wouldn't be talking about it.
 
How about one time per game other than the game ball the opponent can call kitchen and the shooter must take the cue ball into the kitchen to shoot or if already in the kitchen must take it to the other end.

That's what I came up with while reading your post.

You never know when the opponent in the seat will say kitchen.

Regards &
 
I hate to sound negative and that is not my intent. I believe if you change pool into something that the masses will want to watch on TV once a week and pay to see in person then you won't have pool. You will have a form of entertainment that belittles the great game we know and love.

To me, the game, it's tradition and history are not for sale. Just because professional players can't make millions playing the game doesn't mean the game is broken. Pool has always been there for me, when I wanted to play every day and when I couldn't stand to look at a table much less play on one it waited until I was ready to come back. It's like a very old friend.

The one thing that we each could do to make the game better is to introduce it to our friends, colleagues and children. Do that regularly and the game will be fine.
 
You're proposing changing the fundamental principles of what defines pool. If you alter the physics, the number of pockets, or that more than one player can shoot at once, you essentially abandon pool entirely, and invent a completely new game.

It would no longer be pool.
 
Whatever excites normal people enough to watch it will piss-off everyone who watches it now. Guaranteed.
 
Pocketing 150 balls in a row without missing is not exciting? What planet do you live on?
 
Trick Shots!

Pool is for the players and those who understand the game..., get more people to understand what is going on and the fan base will grow.., APA, BCA and kids!!


If people who dont know the game want to be entertained, Trick Shots has all they need?
 
Make it Exciting

Can pool be made exciting in terms of gameplay?


Yes, In My Humble Opinion.


It was never intended to be exciting. It is an analytical and cerebral challenge. For the player, and the observer.

The individual determines what excitement they receive as does the observer.

The Mosconi Cup crowds are a modern adaptation of attempting to generate atmosphere in a team concept. The BCA,APA,VNEA and other Leagues have this at their National Events, but is usually restricted to fellow league members.

The best hope for a viewer based and crowd pleasing format is Pool in High Schools. Scholastic Competition will build an energy for the participant and the crowd because of school pride, just like their other sports. There should be applause, and often! Noise adds to Drama.

I believe it is possible. It will be difficult.
 
driz86 said:
in a word, no. In two words, hell no
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Geez :frown:

joker-meme-generator-why-so-serious-28939b.jpeg
 
vapoolplayer said:
Earth, you know......the planet where pool isn't watched by millions?
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I don't understand this desire to get people to watch pool. That's no fun and it puts the cart before the horse. If you get people playing the game then they might be interested in watching it.

-matthew
 
krupa said:
I don't understand this desire to get people to watch pool. That's no fun and it puts the cart before the horse. If you get people playing the game then they might be interested in watching it.

-matthew
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38 million people play pool recreationally in the US each year. In 2002, it was the 4th largest participatory game in the country. The horse has been around quite some time.......

Note: I'm perfectly fine with pool as it is now. I accepted long ago pool isn't something that's going to take off commercially or be a worthwhile investment for anyone who has other avenues to make a living. But there seems to be quite a few people who cling to the hope pool is going to miraculously take off despite not being a good spectator sport. At least in terms of the general population being active spectators.
 
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vapoolplayer said:
38 million people play pool recreationally in the US each year. The horse has been around quite some time.......
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So if 38 million people play it, what is wrong with it? Nothing in my opinion.

In a country where NASCAR and football are the most watched, something like pool just isn't going to get much attention.
 
krupa said:
So if 38 million people play it, what is wrong with it? Nothing in my opinion.

In a country where NASCAR and football are the most watched, something like pool just isn't going to get much attention.
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That's exactly my point. I don't think pool will ever be on the level as major sports when it comes to spectatorship.

The thread was more to provoke people into realizing this more so than actually changing pool. People tend to cling to the idea that pool is going to somehow take off in popularity when in fact, pool is exactly where its going to be.
 
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