Direction of Professional Pool Attire

nksmfamjp

nksmfamjp

Refugee...
Silver Member
I have a generic question to throw out here. Back in the day, professional pool players often played in some sort of a tuxedo, often with the jacket on, but sometimes with it off. It seems like we went from that, through an 70's and 80's casual phase to a poster board phase now. I do want these guys to make money, show sponsors, etc, but I wonder if it wouldn't give the sport more respect if the highest level tournaments were tuxedo or similar jacket requirement events.

That is for the men, but I think the women could bump it up and require dresses, or something which captures their essence and adds to the show of the match.


What is your opinion?
 
agree

I agree, that pros should dress the part when playing in pro tournaments. I know it cost money to buy nice clothes , but I think its something thats needed and should be required.



H.P.
 
I disagree...You should be allowed to play in whatever you are comfortable in. The only person that should be able to require a player wear something in particular would be the sponsor should there be one.

In professional level tournaments, yes there should be a dress code, however, it should not be so stringent that players are uncomfortable playing. Its bad enought that on some TV matches they attach equipment to the players. Keep the sport pure while exciting to watch.

Believe it or not, what you wear is also a mental advantage/disadvantage to your opponent. For example, If I am entering a tournament where I am from out of town and a relative unknown. I do not want to show up dressed to the T, suit and jacket, etc. I want to show up wearing jeans and a T-shirt and take people by surprise when my game doesn't match my attire. :D On the flip side, If I am walking up to a table match, and the person I am playing against is dressed in a suit, jacket, maybe a tie, etc. I am going to play tougher because I already have the impression that this person can play.

Not sure if that makes sense, but bottom line up front, dress code...yes, tux/suit, not mandatory. Let the players be comfortable.

Carl
 
I think a long sleeve shirt and nice vest is enough no bow ties and crap.

Tho i like the polos and stuff like that....church clothes man just wear your church clothes

When i was down i texas they asked me if I would play David Parker....I said yea but he's got to wear a suit and tie......and they LAUGHED at the joke

suits and tie is just too uptight.....were not playing snooker
 
Snooker players used to be colourful dressers.
Now they all wear black.
Mourning the death of the game. :grin:

Would Mike Massey dress in all black for a competition?
Does his outfit send a message his opponent?
If he didn't have his cowboy boots his repertoire would be one shot short:grin:
 
9ball said:
I agree, that pros should dress the part when playing in pro tournaments. I know it cost money to buy nice clothes , but I think its something thats needed and should be required.



H.P.
Click to expand...

Problem with that is that your definition of nice and another one's may differ. As for price or nice, I can buy pair of navy "dress slacks" for sub-$20. And I could buy a pair of designer jeans with holes in them, for over-$100. Today, nice and pricey are difficult to define.

As for the dress code, I believe it should be addressed by tournament director's discretion. We should trust them to enforce a tasteful dress code through the way that one guy once said about porn...I don't know how to define porn, but when I see it, I know it!

He or she could use the same philosophy. Instead, political correctness leads everyone to believe that a dress code should be strictly defined. And today, there are just so many different styles, that it's difficult to put it into writing.
 
I think this is going different than I imagined. I think any kind of dress is fine, but I wonder if jacket, tie and dress would help pool send it's message that it is real and worth watching!
 
greyghost said:
I think a long sleeve shirt and nice vest is enough no bow ties and crap.

Tho i like the polos and stuff like that....church clothes man just wear your church clothes

When i was down i texas they asked me if I would play David Parker....I said yea but he's got to wear a suit and tie......and they LAUGHED at the joke

suits and tie is just too uptight.....were not playing snooker
Click to expand...

Long sleeves and vests would be awesome...but it would probably never happen hear in America.
 
nksmfamjp said:
I think this is going different than I imagined. I think any kind of dress is fine, but I wonder if jacket, tie and dress would help pool send it's message that it is real and worth watching!
Click to expand...

I'm inclined to say no... especially in america where the only people who wear suits aren't usually the people you want to listen to - let alone watch. Okay, that's a underhanded shot at tv people and politicians.

I think requiring suits/tuxes on tv would do more to separate the mainstream from the players. Although I will agree there's a difference between wearing cargos and a polo vs nice pants and a polo. No offense bartrum, but just as an example, there's a difference in appearance based just in the colors of the pants and shirts between, say, bartrum in this year's us open, and SVB's attire in the same event.

They're both wearing polos... but there's a pretty distinct difference in how they look. Even though, I think, neither of them have the shirt tucked in, there's still an appearance variance. SVB looks more professional, based purely on attire.

Could be the horizontal stripes vs the solid color? Not sure.

As for the ladies suggestion of wearing dresses... I think that's entirely out of the question. They have to lean over and climb on the table for some shots - no one is going to want to do that in a fancy dress. I dont think there's anything wrong with what the women currently wear. It's tidy, professional, and in some cases (jasmin) athletic. But most of all, it's *functional* without looking slovenly.
 
Are you kidding? I love to watch the old matches where the players wear tuxedos. And I remember the early days of Allison Fisher in the vests with a tie. It will probably never happen but I would really love having that as a dress code for major tv matches. I also remember New Year's Eve with Guy Lomardo where the dancers wore tuxedos and gowns. That's a bygone era of excellence and class. Now it's tees and jeans and grubbiness. Guess I'm just an old codger reminiscing about finer years and a gentler world.
 
AfghanBilliards said:
The only person that should be able to require a player wear something in particular would be the sponsor should there be one.
Click to expand...

Now if only Victoria's Secret would start sponsoring some of the Ladies on tour, they would be in business!

Packed houses and great TV ratings for every tournament!... Who wouldn't tune in for that?
 
Mikey Town said:
Now if only Victoria's Secret would start sponsoring some of the Ladies on tour, they would be in business!

Packed houses and great TV ratings for every tournament!... Who wouldn't tune in for that?
Click to expand...

That is a splendid idea, maybe the Men's Wearhouse would like to dress up the men. (with a National Association of Pool Players, we could take our member numbers to companies & ask for sponsorships)

I think folks like Ralf Souquet, Mika, Van Boening, Allison, Gerda & others dress very well for the sport.

However, the folks at my "upscale Pool Room (McGoos in Tulsa) dress pretty shoddy. Too bad folks seem to have lost some self respect.
 
Mikey Town said:
Now if only Victoria's Secret would start sponsoring some of the Ladies on tour, they would be in business!

Packed houses and great TV ratings for every tournament!... Who wouldn't tune in for that?
Click to expand...

Downside: keeping broadcast TV friendly. Upside: dramatic increase in spectator attendance.
 
Dress for the game

Golf has reasonably strict rules.
But they are allowed apparel that will not inhibit their playing ability.

When i was an action man i would have loved it if my opponents had
to dress formally.
I think pool should have a dress code but not one that makes you
play one bit worse.

The pool world could learn a lot from the golfers.
 
pt109 said:
Golf has reasonably strict rules.
But they are allowed apparel that will not inhibit their playing ability.

When i was an action man i would have loved it if my opponents had
to dress formally.
I think pool should have a dress code but not one that makes you
play one bit worse.

The pool world could learn a lot from the golfers.
Click to expand...

Well said...not inhibit play. I'm all for nice slacks, leather shoes, polo or button up shirt, player preference. Probably just me, but I can't do much of anything in a long sleeved shirt...it hampers my arm movements.

Women? Oh yes...let them make their own rules! I wouldn't dream of going there!
 
I don't think we need to go that far, but some of the pro's (and I stress some) look at times like they slept in the clothes they are playing in the night before and that is not good. Local tournaments and leagues seem to have no rules whatsoever and I've seen people in bare feet and singlets, which again is not a great look for anyone!

As an ex Brit and ex snooker player I really disliked playing tournaments and representative matches in vests and bow ties. I never practiced in them and found them really uncomfortable, at times they did inhibit my game. Snooker players are very smart and profesional looking, but I do not think moving away from the shirt and tie would hurt them, it may even brighten things up.

I feel a nice smart polo, dress pants and dress shoes is far enough to go for the Pro's, Pool or Snooker. Referees on the other hand look much better in a dress shirt and pants.
 
nksmfamjp said:
I have a generic question to throw out here. Back in the day, professional pool players often played in some sort of a tuxedo, often with the jacket on, but sometimes with it off. It seems like we went from that, through an 70's and 80's casual phase to a poster board phase now. I do want these guys to make money, show sponsors, etc, but I wonder if it wouldn't give the sport more respect if the highest level tournaments were tuxedo or similar jacket requirement events.

That is for the men, but I think the women could bump it up and require dresses, or something which captures their essence and adds to the show of the match.


What is your opinion?
Click to expand...

Wear dresses to capture their essence and add to the show of the match? Are you high? There isnt a big enough gap in the idea of men and women pool players.
why do people feel the need to tell people what to do? Are you watching pool to see what people are wearing or to watch pool? The clothes should be functional. If you want to wear a tux and play pool, please do. Just dont try to tell others what to do.
 
Buster Jones said:
Problem with that is that your definition of nice and another one's may differ. As for price or nice, I can buy pair of navy "dress slacks" for sub-$20. And I could buy a pair of designer jeans with holes in them, for over-$100. Today, nice and pricey are difficult to define.

As for the dress code, I believe it should be addressed by tournament director's discretion. We should trust them to enforce a tasteful dress code through the way that one guy once said about porn...I don't know how to define porn, but when I see it, I know it!

He or she could use the same philosophy. Instead, political correctness leads everyone to believe that a dress code should be strictly defined. And today, there are just so many different styles, that it's difficult to put it into writing.
Click to expand...



All I am saying is a nice pair of dress slacks and a shirt , short or long sleeve. Maybe even at some tourneys, the sponsor could say all players in black dress slacks and white button down shirts.


Each tourney could have their specified attire and colors.


I just think a more professional look would elevate the game in sponsors eyes.




H.P.
 
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