Cheering in nearly empty pool tournaments

justnum

justnum

Billiards Improvement Research Projects Associate
Silver Member
How do pro players feel about crowd participation at events?

How can fans help their favorite players or support the player that is playing on a table easy to watch?

In other sports events its common for a party bus to arrive and support players or the team mid match.

Pro pool is different in that there is no one team to route for. Its a free for all.

A discussion on fan interaction during matches. Should there be a home town advantage for a player?

I work in front of large groups and am constantly used to be ignored in favor of a phone or sleep or food. I cant imagine chewing a bag of chips during finals match.

At one tournament Jasmin Ouschan brings two photogs with her and they only shoot her. Effren between matches is a huge hit with everyone. some players don't seem to like they are comfortable with the local language to talk.
 
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Snooker audiences seem to have figured out a good balance of volume and timing during a match. The Mosconi Cup is more of a football-type audience that suits American style pool and attitudes.

Where you find your comfort as a player or as a spectator is most likely what you're used to. Both have their place.

Filipinos are another good example. They are very loud between racks, barking for bets and cheering, but once the rack is broken they're quite reserved. I think that serves me the best. Perhaps the language barrier makes their words seem less intrusive.


In a nearly empty environment it would be a little different; I think it would be very distracting. Fan interaction has always been a bit of a struggle, at least according to event organizers like CSI. Despite that, I think the pros are quite approachable for the most part.
 
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I think the cheering should match the venue and crowd. At a bigger tournament with full bleachers, clapping is appropriate after a good shot or a win. In an early round where there aren't many people in attendance it might be more appropriate to tap your table after a good shot.

As for opposition, if you are rooting for one player you don't have to root for both. I might tap the table for my friend's win, but not for his opponent's. Still, if the other player makes a great shot or out I might give a little table tap out of respect. I'm never rooting against him, only for my buddy.

As a player I don't really care what goes on in the stands. You can cheer, surf your phone, root for my opponent, whatever. As long as you're not verbally heckling me directly we're not going to have any issues. You might as well be in a different universe from me. I'm focused only on the table, you exist outside of it, so there isn't much overlap.
 
9andout said:
That was great!
I gotta learn more about it to really appreciate it though!
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It was perhaps the very best time for him to score his 1000th 100-point run (break) in competition. The final frame (rack) of the finals of a major tournament against a top player.

An interesting detail is that if the white ball does not go in a pocket on the final shot he would have won an extra $6000 for the highest break of the tournament. That's what Ronnie and Neil were laughing about before the handshakes at the end. Instead, Neil won the prize for an earlier break of one point less than Ronnie would have had. Ronnie was unaware of the high break possibility and I suspect he was actually trying to scratch. Notice the two previous shots. He does that sometimes when it doesn't mean anything at the end of the frame.
 
If you a Pro Player weather there is, or is not an audence, is the least important thing to worry about.

Think I would worry about would be winning, or placing in the money, and if indeed I won or placed in the money. Hoped I would get paid.

Still recall the Pro who got rubber checks, after traveling from near, and far to Phoenix yeas back to play in the Desert Dust Off, or what ever it was called. Jay Helfert was the TD, think he also got a rubber check, that was never made good.

Forgot who the winner was, maybe Johnny Archer, wonder if his rubber check was ever made good.
 
Short circuit alert.

Not sure what the below has to do with the price of T in tool.
CocoboloCowboy said:
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Still recall the Pro who got rubber checks, after traveling from near, and far to Phoenix yeas back to play in the Desert Dust Off, or what ever it was called. Jay Helfert was the TD, think he also got a rubber check, that was never made good.

Forgot who the winner was, maybe Johnny Archer, wonder if his rubber check was ever made good.
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How would female pros feel about having male fans?

There was a tour nearby but it was a women's only event.

I am not sure if there are secret signs that mean don't watch female sports, but sometimes guys are that way.

I wouldn't want to take my chances at an all women's event as one of the only non related male fans.

not as a stalker or crazy person, just like respect for their style of play on pool. when watching men, they are measured and know their limits.

one time I saw Jeanette lee at a 3 cushion event and it was like a child playing an adult. She was taking shots and making them like nothing. the opponent barely kept up, the opponent was also a male. She has no concept of limit when playing, she knows work arounds.. If its not clear I am saying JL is great at 3 cushion.
 
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