Darts vs Pool

[metallicane]

I love to play both. I watched the finals of the PDC Championship between Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright. It was an enjoyable match and the crowd was HUGE and LOUD. The players certainly did not mind. And the crowd certainly could not see the board and watched on the big screens.

What made me shake my head was after van Gerwen won, he received a check for 250,000 POUNDS. Holy crap! Why in the world can't pool have that kind of prize money for the players????

 

[Renegade_56]

I love to play both. I watched the finals of the PDC Championship between Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright. It was an enjoyable match and the crowd was HUGE and LOUD. The players certainly did not mind. And the crowd certainly could not see the board and watched on the big screens.

What made me shake my head was after van Gerwen won, he received a check for 250,000 POUNDS. Holy crap! Why in the world can't pool have that kind of prize money for the players????

Because the Europeans know how to promote sporting events much better than we in the US. A real comparison is the yearly earnings of top snooker players as opposed to top pool players. No contest.

 

[smashmouth]

Darts is an easier game to promote

people here imo often view pool as a sort of victim in sport but the truth is there are plenty of games and sports that have crazy participation worldwide, require crazy skills and even olympic recognition whose athletes do not make squat and sometimes even less than pool

pool is thriving imo at the amateur levels but its just not gonna get that pro status that alot of people would like to see, as much as that sucks it is what it is and is no different than most sports

 

[david(tx)]

I love to play both. I watched the finals of the PDC Championship between Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright. It was an enjoyable match and the crowd was HUGE and LOUD. The players certainly did not mind. And the crowd certainly could not see the board and watched on the big screens.

What made me shake my head was after van Gerwen won, he received a check for 250,000 POUNDS. Holy crap! Why in the world can't pool have that kind of prize money for the players????

Much easier to set up a dart board than numerous pool tables so overhead is cheaper. Competition by various online casinos and sports books in Europe . Don't think there is a variety of rules .

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

Those who play darts would rather drink and watch the game. Pool players would rather be playing pool than watch others play.

All kidding aside, it is faster paced and in that regard more exciting. Tell you one thing, at the professional level pool players could learn a thing from the dart pros. Every single one I've seen play fast. They get up there and fire. They'd probably throw all three at once if they could. I know this is an oversimplification, but there's a grain of truth in there somewhere.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Those who play darts would rather drink and watch the game. Pool players would rather be playing pool than watch others play.

All kidding aside, it is faster paced and in that regard more exciting. Tell you one thing, at the professional level pool players could learn a thing from the dart pros. Every single one I've seen play fast. They get up there and fire. They'd probably throw all three at once if they could. I know this is an oversimplification, but there's a grain of truth in there somewhere.

A very large grain of truth imo. Slow players are the death of pool, whatever their level.

Boo them.

 

[RBC]

I love to play both. I watched the finals of the PDC Championship between Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright. It was an enjoyable match and the crowd was HUGE and LOUD. The players certainly did not mind. And the crowd certainly could not see the board and watched on the big screens.

What made me shake my head was after van Gerwen won, he received a check for 250,000 POUNDS. Holy crap! Why in the world can't pool have that kind of prize money for the players????

So, just exactly where do you think that money comes from?


Royce

 

[Dockter]

A very large grain of truth imo. Slow players are the death of pool, whatever their level.

Boo them.

As much as some of us love safes the public would not. What do you think they would choose over a drawn out safety match or a 2 rail bank to win the game. The way it is now the game promotes ducking a low percentage shot and takes away some of the excitement.

Edit: Just quoted you Ron because I agree 100%.

 

[Albatross Cues]

Watch a golf Tourny sometime on TV, if they were to just follow one specific player the whole time it would be boring as hell. So they swap back and forth to the different shot. ( and now over to the 3rd hole, moments ago on the the 8th, his last shot to get here...Ect. Ect.)

Now this is what needs to happen to pool to make it sellable to the masses. In my opinion this is the only way to make it marketable for TV. It would not the same as watching the entire match one shot at a time, and when you get to the finals, it would have to revert back to its current form.

Just food for thought, it would also allow more players to be seen and may spark some more interest from younger players as they would have more/ different people to watch.

Golf on TV is all about the great shots that brought the players to the top of the hill. Maybe it would work for pool also.

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

Watch a golf Tourny sometime on TV, if they were to just follow one specific player the whole time it would be boring as hell. So they swap back and forth to the different shot. ( and now over to the 3rd hole, moments ago on the the 8th, his last shot to get here...Ect. Ect.)

Now this is what needs to happen to pool to make it sellable to the masses. In my opinion this is the only way to make it marketable for TV. It would not the same as watching the entire match one shot at a time, and when you get to the finals, it would have to revert back to its current form.

Just food for thought, it would also allow more players to be seen and may spark some more interest from younger players as they would have more/ different people to watch.

Golf on TV is all about the great shots that brought the players to the top of the hill. Maybe it would work for pool also.

While what you say is true, the big difference is that in golf the players are usually competing at stroke play, meaning they are all competing against each other. So Tiger's putt on 16 has relevance to Phil's drive on #12 and Rory's approach from the fairway bunker on #9.

But I agree that pool coverage on TV/internet could be improved with more thorough camera coverage. I like the idea of cutting from match to match to cover more significant events in the tournament. Like being able to cut to a different table to watch the last game of a hill/hill match. To be able to do this with quality and have all the support so the commentators would know what's going on at all the different tables would require some major expense. Golf coverage wasn't always this good but there's money in it so the funds have been invested to make it better and better.

It's a chicken and egg thing. The major media players would want to see that there was money to be made before investing in really high quality production. Heck, they won't invest in it at all the way it is now.

 

[Albatross Cues]

Good point, and by changing the format and trying something different, as least it is not the same old thing, who know. Better to have tried and failed then to have never tried at all.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Watch a golf Tourny sometime on TV, if they were to just follow one specific player the whole time it would be boring as hell. So they swap back and forth to the different shot. ( and now over to the 3rd hole, moments ago on the the 8th, his last shot to get here...Ect. Ect.)

Now this is what needs to happen to pool to make it sellable to the masses. In my opinion this is the only way to make it marketable for TV. It would not the same as watching the entire match one shot at a time, and when you get to the finals, it would have to revert back to its current form.

Just food for thought, it would also allow more players to be seen and may spark some more interest from younger players as they would have more/ different people to watch.

Golf on TV is all about the great shots that brought the players to the top of the hill. Maybe it would work for pool also.

That's a good idea but pool's problems are systemic; it is not merely a problem with presentation. The shots are just too easy, there is nothing there that any of us couldn't shoot.

Audiences need to see things that are cool, and shots they couldn't make. To say there is no wow factor is to state the bleeding obvious.

 

[purpdrag]

Those who play darts would rather drink and watch the game. Pool players would rather be playing pool than watch others play.

All kidding aside, it is faster paced and in that regard more exciting. Tell you one thing, at the professional level pool players could learn a thing from the dart pros. Every single one I've seen play fast. They get up there and fire. They'd probably throw all three at once if they could. I know this is an oversimplification, but there's a grain of truth in there somewhere.

I agree. Shot clock should be standard in tournaments. We don't have the resources to have it and enforce it on every table throughout a tournament though. Wouldn't be too hard if we could get to the point of having a ref for every table or even one for every two tables. Wouldn't it be nice if they would just play faster without being forced though?

Would hurt some players obviously more than others.

 

[purpdrag]

But I agree that pool coverage on TV/internet could be improved with more thorough camera coverage. I like the idea of cutting from match to match to cover more significant events in the tournament. Like being able to cut to a different table to watch the last game of a hill/hill match. To be able to do this with quality and have all the support so the commentators would know what's going on at all the different tables would require some major expense. Golf coverage wasn't always this good but there's money in it so the funds have been invested to make it better and better.

It's a chicken and egg thing. The major media players would want to see that there was money to be made before investing in really high quality production. Heck, they won't invest in it at all the way it is now.

This is close to what I was going to say regarding cutting from match to match so you could show the more interesting shots, get to see more players, and cut out some of the downtime between shots and racks.

 

[King T]

I agree.., but,

Watch a golf Tourny sometime on TV, if they were to just follow one specific player the whole time it would be boring as hell. So they swap back and forth to the different shot. ( and now over to the 3rd hole, moments ago on the the 8th, his last shot to get here...Ect. Ect.)

Now this is what needs to happen to pool to make it sellable to the masses. In my opinion this is the only way to make it marketable for TV. It would not the same as watching the entire match one shot at a time, and when you get to the finals, it would have to revert back to its current form.

Just food for thought, it would also allow more players to be seen and may spark some more interest from younger players as they would have more/ different people to watch.

Golf on TV is all about the great shots that brought the players to the top of the hill. Maybe it would work for pool also.

You make a good point, but the problem is that Pool is complicated, so when you flash between matches you loose the context of the match and the importance of the moment, the commentators have to keep the viewer engaged. With golf you hit the ball from where it lays, everybody gets that.

 

[King T]

the real problem is...,

While what you say is true, the big difference is that in golf the players are usually competing at stroke play, meaning they are all competing against each other. So Tiger's putt on 16 has relevance to Phil's drive on #12 and Rory's approach from the fairway bunker on #9.


It's a chicken and egg thing. The major media players would want to see that there was money to be made before investing in really high quality production. Heck, they won't invest in it at all the way it is now.

If ESPN wont show any pool other than trick shoots with all the channels that they have, I just don't think there is much of a chance for the game.

I hate to admit this but until we get the largest sports network in the world to recognize Pool as a worthy sport, Pool is in trouble.

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

If ESPN wont show any pool other than trick shoots with all the channels that they have, I just don't think there is much of a chance for the game.

I hate to admit this but until we get the largest sports network in the world to recognize Pool as a worthy sport, Pool is in trouble.

They did cover the Mosconi Cup and WCOP live on ESPN3 (on the internet anyway) but these also happen to already be probably the best produced pool events around. Plus, there is only one match going on at any given time so there is no problem with having to edit or cut to other tables, etc.

 

[Pidge]

For starters darts advertises what it is...a party. They don't try to make it into a sophisticated atmosphere because all the public know darts from one place...the pub. Drinks flow and it gets rowdy which makes tickets sell. Sell tickets and sponsors will come, which they did. Some of the venues sell out within 6months before its due date. The big betting and alcohol sponsors provide the paychecks and it soon makes its way onto tv. Its always on the tv here, more than snooker. Lastly ot makes interesting viewing because the tv commentators are out there....the geordie fella I forget his name just cracks me up. I'd listen to a darts match via a podcast if he were commentating.

Pool has piss poor commentary. I know he is shooting the 1, and has to get to the two next...i don't need telling 5 times in a monotone voice. Next is the crowds it attracts. Pure pool fenatics...im one and I hate being around others. The atmosphere needs to be more mosconi based. Have jeering and chanting with beers flowing. Lots of people know pool from the pub, so advertise it to working class people to sell some tickets. Make pool a sort of side show, as darts is...just two guys hitting some balls in the background...the people buying tickets want to go and watch for a good time. Next the players...the amount of times I've fallen asleep during a stream. They play so slow. 9 or ten balls on a table...hurry the eff up. A little player interaction with the crowd wouldn't go amiss either, even if its earl chatting crap to a fan. Player image also counts. I don't want to watch a guy in sandals and shorts looking like he's just got out of bed play. Have a shower and cover your feet and knees up. Its not hard to put on some smart pants and a polo shirt with your sponsor plastered all over it. Games need to be short and sweet. 15 second shot clock, 1 15 second extension per game and a max of 2 safety shots per game. No push out and races shouldn't be to more than 10.

Even with all this...pool doesn't stand a chance. It is what it is. And what it is is dull, slow and full of dull characters. More stricklands would help the sport imo. As with Ronnie in snooker, you don't know what mood he is going to turn up in and its worth paying just to see. The worst you could get is to watch some world class snooker or pool.

 

[CJ Wiley]

If there would have been two others like Matt, pool would be on ESPN every week

"ESPN" is not in the business of choosing what games or sports to broadcast.

They may not care about pool, however they may not care about football either. The promoters make the difference, if there's nobody trying to broadcast pool, then it simply won't be broadcast.

The pool industry didn't pursue using ESPN because they thought they could do it a cheaper way.......so now we have "streaming web cams" with 600 watching instead of ESPN with millions.

Matt Braun (Billiards International) was the biggest promoter for pool on ESPN. If there would have been two others like Matt, pool would be on ESPN every week - same time, same day.

If ESPN wont show any pool other than trick shoots with all the channels that they have, I just don't think there is much of a chance for the game.

I hate to admit this but until we get the largest sports network in the world to recognize Pool as a worthy sport, Pool is in trouble.

 

[King T]

Your right.

They did cover the Mosconi Cup and WCOP live on ESPN3 (on the internet anyway) but these also happen to already be probably the best produced pool events around. Plus, there is only one match going on at any given time so there is no problem with having to edit or cut to other tables, etc.

I forgot about ESPN3, I did watch all of the Cup and the stream was great, Im just wondering way even that tournaments wasn't worthy of a live TV broadcast?

The web is one thing, TV is another, maybe the number of web viewers of the Mosconi Cup might get Pool some air time.