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

vapoolplayer said:
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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Then we're agreed then. Tomorrow at dawn we will face off with dueling pistols... no wait, that's a different forum...
 
krupa said:
Then we're agreed then. Tomorrow at dawn we will face off with dueling pistols... no wait, that's a different forum...
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Well.....wait....lets talk about this.....to make it fair, you're obviously a better shot. So.....I'm gonna need either two pistols, or I get 10 paces to your 14. :thumbup:
 
View

I have noticed when watching Pool with non players the thing that draws the most attention from them seems to be the position the players get.This shows up best when viewed from the top, especially when the commentary person is able to sketch out before hand the path he thinks the cue ball will travel. That being said the worst view for players and non players is the stupid pocket cam.Close up views of either the balls or the player during the shot rates a zero as far as viewing and excitement or appreciation of what is being done.I am not a Tennis fan but was watching that the other day and just about all camera shots were from above you see where the ball is going and watch the player trying to get to it.That is one of the things Pool needs to do, show the audience the challenge the player has with going from one ball to the next and the the solution as far as how the player gets from point A to point B.It would also help if the public knew a little something about the players also,but that is easier said then done.
 
Agree

dr9ball said:
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.
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I never looked at Pool that way until I read your post , but after thinking about it I also feel the same exact way.The game has always been there for me , it very much is like a old friend that will not abandon you.Thanks for posting that.
 
This shows up best when viewed from the top, especially when the commentary person is able to sketch out before hand the path he thinks the cue ball will travel.
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Absolutely the thing I miss most about televised (now streamed) pool. Did congress outlaw Telestrators when we weren't looking ? Maybe in one of those "Piggy Back" bills they're always sneaking behind our backs ? It was the commentators demonstrating shots with the Telestrator that first peaked my interest in high level billiards and the mystery of cue ball control. Sure do miss the Good Ole Days (Sigh) :(

Oh yeah, I really miss Buddy Hall showing us how to shoot those really cool shots only the "insiders" knew how to make during the commercial break. Freakin awesome !
 
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Pool is unique

vapoolplayer said:
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.
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Pool is rather unique among sports.

Let's face it. Football, MMA, boxing, etc. are "exciting" and popular largely because we've been taught to enjoy violence.

I suppose we could have Rodney punch somebody out on camera, instead of just threaten someone. We could encourage a few players to break their cues on TV when they miss. We could have them start fights over who might be gay or whatever. This wouldn't be pool, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this...if it sells the advertisers will make sure it happens.

A run through the channels on TV will show (in addition to commercials) screaming arguments between talking heads, people blasting each other away with automatic weapons, cops slapping around suspects, and fights on football and baseball fields and basketball courts, shown over and over on ESPN. "Exciting", for sure.

I've actually been told that I'm not a patriotic American (seriously) if I don't support football, hockey, etc. Sorry, but I prefer non-violence in my sports and my everyday life.

I doubt that you're just looking for more violence. It sounds to me like you just prefer baseball and football to pool, and that's your right. For those who prefer pool, a great shot is every bit as exciting (for me more so) as a home run, or a 60-yard pass. Oops, sorry I broke your rule about not saying that pool is exciting to some.

Pool is pretty popular, in fact one of the major participation sports. It isn't more popular because it's not an established money-maker for corporate America.
 
Time constraints that challenge the most professional player in any sport adds to the excitement. A shot clock that gets the pro out of their comfort zone and leads to mistakes the fans would understand.

A 15 - 20 second shot clock would make them hurry.
 
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- Heckling allowed from the crowd/players ala Happy Gilmore "You are going to miss this shot you jack*ss"

- Electrodes hooked up to your nipples so when you miss you get shocked

- Make it like Gladiator in terms of tigers chained around the table so you have to shoot quickly and avoid getting clawed...obviously they would have to be back enough to not be able to catch and eat you...

That's all I got for now...I am sure BB or myself can provide photo shops later on if need be.
 
I'm not sure that "exciting" is necessarily required to "attract the masses". Is a strike in bowling really that exciting? What you do need though, is a game the masses understand, which is 8-ball. This is one of the things the IPT had right. Joe Public that doesn't play 9-ball or 10-ball can't relate to the rules or skills on display. I would say most people who have ever played a game of pool are familiar with 8-ball, and they can relate to how difficult it was for them to run a rack (if they ever accomplished it at all). When is the last time ESPN aired 8-ball? Seems I saw an old match once on ESPN Classic, but I could be mistaken. JMO
 
Bet your own money. If you want people to watch pool on TV. Need to get them betting on pool match is like to do football games. Nothing more exciting than watching your money in action.
 
I almost got 5% interested and exciting watching bank pool the other day.

What those guys do... full table banks, 3-railers, 3+rail kicks... it's pretty amazing.
But as a group they hem and haw forever. Watching a 6 ball run feels like trying to win a staring contest while you're in chokehold.

The only things they put on anymore besides women's pool are trick shots, and it would be neat to see a competitive team game that encourages (basically requires) trick shots like masse, jumps, tough banks, etc.
 
Strip pool on the playboy channel...

Pool WWE style.. I have always contended since the trick shots are shown frequently on ESPN, that they should have a special. Since there are quite a few "religious" trick shot artists, that love to use Jesus in their exhibitions, that one of the other trick shot artists should take on the persona of a hedonistic, sinner, badboy and they should do a good vs evil tour. I believe that if you put one in a white suit and let him come in all Billy Grahmish, have the other dressed in red/black pimpish, with some hot babes, backsong highway to hell, and they should play up on the good vs evil and IMHO it would definately get some views. I vote Pelinga for the bad boy, or Lucifer character... :smile:

For people that do not understand pool, I don't think you can really make it exciting. But for pool to grow, its going to have to be a grass roots, self promoting, a lot of work for local pool rooms, and billiard companies to get involved.

JV
 
Donny Lutz said:
Pool is rather unique among sports.

Let's face it. Football, MMA, boxing, etc. are "exciting" and popular largely because we've been taught to enjoy violence.

I suppose we could have Rodney punch somebody out on camera, instead of just threaten someone. We could encourage a few players to break their cues on TV when they miss. We could have them start fights over who might be gay or whatever. This wouldn't be pool, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this...if it sells the advertisers will make sure it happens.

A run through the channels on TV will show (in addition to commercials) screaming arguments between talking heads, people blasting each other away with automatic weapons, cops slapping around suspects, and fights on football and baseball fields and basketball courts, shown over and over on ESPN. "Exciting", for sure.

I've actually been told that I'm not a patriotic American (seriously) if I don't support football, hockey, etc. Sorry, but I prefer non-violence in my sports and my everyday life.

I doubt that you're just looking for more violence. It sounds to me like you just prefer baseball and football to pool, and that's your right. For those who prefer pool, a great shot is every bit as exciting (for me more so) as a home run, or a 60-yard pass. Oops, sorry I broke your rule about not saying that pool is exciting to some.

Pool is pretty popular, in fact one of the major participation sports. It isn't more popular because it's not an established money-maker for corporate America.
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I personally enjoy pool just fine the way it is. My original post was not my personal view of what I find interesting, but a fairly objective observation of what the general population finds interesting. Personally I do watch and participate in MMA, but I don't watch football, baseball, or any other sports.

We are in the minority that find pool as it is interesting.
 
If your not getting excited about playing like you're playing ,just play for alot more money, that should make the adrenaline start flowing.---Smitty
 
Poker is somewhat popular to watch on TV without necessarily becoming that organized, being backed by one major organization in particular, or added tigers just off-screen. Sure, you have PokerStars as a major company in the mix, but unlike the NFL, NBA, or NHL that only the best of the best play in, anyone can make an account on PokerStars (well, anyone before April 2011, but that's for another thread).

In fact, poker didn't become popular to watch until they added those "hole" cameras, where viewers could see which cards were dealt to which player. Add that to the fact that Moneymaker won the 2003 WSOP and boom, people were much more curious about what was going on in the poker world than before. Granted, there's also high stakes betting and recognizable characters that makes poker enjoyable to watch as well. But I agree that somehow making it easier for the viewers to appreciate the difficulty of the shots and giving them something to relate to while they're watching might help the non-pool person and more causal players tune in.

That is, of course, if getting more people to watch pool is the goal. I kind of like pool being something of a secret sport flying under most people's radars.
 
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