How popular is it really and whats the value of it?

[hang-the-9]

There are many people that play at least a few times a year. Last stat I read was that it was the #1 or close to it sport that people participate in (vs just watching). More than golf, more than bowling.

So put that aside, now how many people play more than once a month. Those are the ones that may buy a cue. Of those, how many would actually know what a good cue is vs a bad cue? They usually go by price, a $40 Sportscraft is just as good to them as a $500 Sly or even a $200 McDermott or Shmelke.

Most of those that I see that show up in the pool halls go in with 1 or 2 or 3 friends and they only play each other. Every week. They don't enter in the tournaments, they don't play in league. They buy $40 cues and they play each other in their small group.

So now we can put those aside.

Next range is the common league player. Poolplayerus Crapitius. They are a breed of low ranked players that only joined the league to drink and have something to do aside from laundry. They buy cheap or used equipment and balk at even that. Don't spend any money at the pool hall, they get their free set of pool and maybe a practice hour and go home.

What is left are the members of the forums which already have 4 cues each and likely a table at home.

 

[jasonlaus]

Granted there is a difference between amateur pool and professional pool. There is also a difference between pool played at home and pool played in public. However, if you think about it anytime pool is being played with commercially created equipment it is supporting the sport / Industry.

Once a person invests in their own equipment and supplies they are no longer dependent upon public access pool tables but they are still dependent upon skilled professionals in the field like table mechanics to maintain their equipment (replacing cloth, cushions, leveling, moving, etc...). They will also likely be purchasing extra cues, a ball polisher, table cover, lights, bridge, racks, pool balls and expendable supplies like chalk and talc.

When you add it all up it can be quite and investment to have a quality setup at your home. That investment goes directly into the pool industry.

No, all that money goes to a corporation. Brunswick doesnt do crap for pro or amateur pool. The others "do" for pool to sell more of their product - if it didnt benefit them they wouldnt do it.
Jason

 

[Kevin3824]

No, all that money goes to a corporation. Brunswick doesnt do crap for pro or amateur pool. The others "do" for pool to sell more of their product - if it didnt benefit them they wouldnt do it.
Jason

It sounds to me your talking about all business. It is funny that you should pick out Brunswick. Brunswick is probably the one company that has invested the most into the pool industry for the past 170 years. Granted they may not be doing a lot now but without them pool might not even exist in America.

No Business can sustain without a profit. If business could not make a profit building pool tables, cues, cloth, balls, ball polishers, table covers, table lights, pool supplies in general they would not do it. Therefore, if you are paying money to any billiards related business you are in fact supporting the billiards industry.