Is billiards the toughest sport?
- Thread starter storke
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CaptainJR said:
I would disagree with that.
I will agree that there have many great marathon tennis matches over the years that have stretched both players to the brink.
However, when Martina Navrativlova began training with Nancy Lieberman she said basketball got her in better shape than she was from playing tennis.
I have never played tennis, but I did play organized basketball for a few years and I can remember on more than one occasion arriving for a game and having only four other teammates show up. That means we had to play the entire game without any substitutions. And when the opposing team sees that you only have five guys, they try to run you into the ground, throwing all there subs at you in hopes of tiring you out. What makes it tougher is that the timeouts in these games are short, not like NBA timeouts with 2 minute commercials thrown in. We had to use all our timeouts, just to catch our wind. I was in great shape then. So I thought.
Then I started going to a gym to train in boxing, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu and Kali. I found out what conditioning meant then.
I had never been in aerobic and anaerobic debt so often. So badly I almost fainted three times from kickboxing drills, and a few times couldn't get up off the mat from the grappling training because I couldn't will my muscles to help me rise. And I was an avid jogger before I went to that gym! Never mind all the people I'd seen throwing up from the training, almost getting knocked out, and the multiple joint injuries we all endured.
I've been to a few fights where one guy comes out guns blazing, battering his opponent with punches and fancy high kicks from all angles. It seemed inevitable that his opponent would succumb to the onslaught. But after one or two rounds of throwing the kitchen sink and the rusty bathtub at their opponents I've seen a few of these guys gas so badly that they couldn't defend themselves against the vengeful counterattack that came afterward. So badly that they turned their back on their opponent, leaning over the ropes as they took unaswered blows to the head and body before the ref stepped in and stopped the contest.
People always say that first 3 minutes in the ring seems really long, but it's a real mofo when you're getting your ass kicked too.
This thread has been interesting because from the beginning "toughest" was never defined, and therefore has opened up interpretation and arguments into many different branches.
We all have our own personal toughest experiences.
BPG24
Banned
ugotda8 said:Even though I feel like you missed the point. I guess it must be so...since you say so.
Good conversation never the less!
Most pros if asked will tell you that -18 is a perfect score in golf. It is also the goal that many of them have when they step out on the tee.
If you watch the Golf Channel, they interview pro's all the time and these questions come up.
Making a hole in one on every hole while playing a 7000+ yard course is impossible.
BPG24
Banned
ugotda8
You also said that in golf your opponent can't put your bal behing a tree etc.
You are your own opponent in golf along with every other competitor and the course, this is one of the reasons that it is so hard. You can put your ball in a bush, behind a tree etc.
What about playing pool in 30+ MPH winds? What about playing pool with a heat index of 120 degrees? What about trying to play pool with the rain pouring down on your head?
That's tough
You also said that in golf your opponent can't put your bal behing a tree etc.
You are your own opponent in golf along with every other competitor and the course, this is one of the reasons that it is so hard. You can put your ball in a bush, behind a tree etc.
What about playing pool in 30+ MPH winds? What about playing pool with a heat index of 120 degrees? What about trying to play pool with the rain pouring down on your head?
That's tough
BPG24 said:
I agree with the hole in one statement. I know my comment was way out there, but we go there sometimes. I sure wish I could say I never dreamed about doing just that that night before my 7:30am Tee Time though!! LMAO
Let's say a guy Birdies 16 holes, Aces a Par 3 and Double Eagles a Par 5.
His score would be -21. I know this is a stretch, but it's certainly not beyond the realm of possible.
And, a guy could conceivably score -18 with a Bogey on the card. That's not perfect...is it?
I always felt that perfection was all Fairways, All Greens in regulation and no Bogeys. A perfect round means no mistakes. That could equal Par or that could equal 18 under or anything in between.
-18 being perfection is more opinion than fact and that was the point I was trying to make.
I do know where you are coming from though. No one can argue that Golf is easy. It takes a lot of skill to play the game. But, it's a game where you can get away with an awful lot of mistakes and still win it all.
I have seen golfers miss 10 greens in a four day tournament and still win it.
I have seen Pool Players miss two shots in 3 days and finish 4th.
I wonder if this thread should be the "Most Punshing Sport" instead of toughest. I think that is where I am losing some of my objectivity on the subject.
BPG24 said:
I totally agree, but I hear they play pool under these very conditions in the Phillipines.
I am sure that is why those Phillipino's are so dang tough!Unlevel table, Humidity (high or low), Nappy Cloth, hecklers (ask Earl) poor lighting, Dirty Balls, Chalk pebble on the table, table height, poorly set rails, camera flashes in your face during your stroke.
It's all relative to the sport you are playing. They all have challenges.
I used to shoot consitenty in the Mid 60's to low 70's. If it got any warmer...I just stayed home.
BPG24
Banned
ugotda8 said:I agree with the hole in one statement. I know my comment was way out there, but we go there sometimes. I sure wish I could say I never dreamed about doing just that that night before my 7:30am Tee Time though!! LMAO
Let's say a guy Birdies 16 holes, Aces a Par 3 and Double Eagles a Par 5.
His score would be -21. I know this is a stretch, but it's certainly not beyond the realm of possible.
And, a guy could conceivably score -18 with a Bogey on the card. That's not perfect...is it?
I always felt that perfection was all Fairways, All Greens in regulation and no Bogeys. A perfect round means no mistakes. That could equal Par or that could equal 18 under or anything in between.
-18 being perfection is more opinion than fact and that was the point I was trying to make.
I do know where you are coming from though. No one can argue that Golf is easy. It takes a lot of skill to play the game. But, it's a game where you can get away with an awful lot of mistakes and still win it all.
I have seen golfers miss 10 greens in a four day tournament and still win it.
I have seen Pool Players miss two shots in 3 days and finish 4th.
I wonder if this thread should be the "Most Punshing Sport" instead of toughest. I think that is where I am losing some of my objectivity on the subject.
The best players in the world all miss 10 greens over 4 days. This is because the game is so hard. No one will ever get close to true perfection, not even if they find a way to hit 500 yard drives.
-18 is what most pros say is perfect. I guess you are right, that is their opinion. It does seem to be accepted between all of them though.
Pool
I have watched alot of pro pool in my life. Between TV, accu-stat, live streaming, and in person. I have never seen any pro break and run out a whole set, which is very possible. This is why I don't agree about the mistakes being worth more in pool.
1 bad shot in Golf can cost alot more than 1 stroke or 1 hole. It can easily cost someone a match or a tournament.
The thing that makes it hard to compare the 2 sports is that pool (9 ball) is sooooooooo much easier than golf is. Plus pro golf is played over 4 days.
The similarities are certainly there, but Golf has so many more things that make it more difficult and that makes it hard for people to understand or accept.
Basically Putting (1 aspect of golf) is more comparable to pool than the entire game of golf is.
I notice that all of the ones arguing that billiards is tougher refuse to try to dispute some of the things I have mentioned. Conditions, etc.
I understand why they can't, it's not comparable. Which has been my point all along golf is simply harder than pool.
BPG24
Banned
ugotda8 said:I totally agree, but I hear they play pool under these very conditions in the Phillipines.
Unlevel table, Humidity (high or low), Nappy Cloth, hecklers (ask Earl) poor lighting, Dirty Balls, Chalk pebble on the table, table height, poorly set rails, camera flashes in your face during your stroke.
It's all relative to the sport you are playing. They all have challenges.
I used to shoot consitenty in the Mid 60's to low 70's. If it got any warmer...I just stayed home.
Dirty balls??????????
Dust on a pool ball isn't like having a huge clump of mud covering your golf ball. LOL
I see your point about conditions but even in bad conditions, pool can still be beat perfectly. Golf can't. It is too difficult
In pro events
Why is it that certain golf courses are designed to play more difficult? Why are the fairways made narrower, the rough longer, the tees set back, undulating greens with tougher pin placements, etc?
and
Pool tables, with the exception of tighter pockets, are made to play as consistently (read easier) as possible?
Steve
Why is it that certain golf courses are designed to play more difficult? Why are the fairways made narrower, the rough longer, the tees set back, undulating greens with tougher pin placements, etc?
and
Pool tables, with the exception of tighter pockets, are made to play as consistently (read easier) as possible?
Steve
Golf and billiards shoudn't even be in the discussion. Those are wussy sports!
Learn the names Joey Chestnut, Takeru Kobayashi and Sonya Thomas. Here's the toughest sport in the world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V-2NKUlzns&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz57jWsiNDk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seaXuSzvNzc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=van2s5hSLSU
Learn the names Joey Chestnut, Takeru Kobayashi and Sonya Thomas. Here's the toughest sport in the world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V-2NKUlzns&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz57jWsiNDk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seaXuSzvNzc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=van2s5hSLSU
sde said:Golf is definitely harder, harder to find the ball!
Steve
Too f'n funny!!!!
BPG24 said:Dirty balls??????????
Dust on a pool ball isn't like having a huge clump of mud covering your golf ball. LOL
I see your point about conditions but even in bad conditions, pool can still be beat perfectly. Golf can't. It is too difficult
Okay, okay...I should have known you would not let me get away with "Dirty Balls" comment.
BPG24 said:
BPG24 you don't understand why you are wrong. When you fully understand both sides of the argument, then you would see why you are wrong.
I never said it was physically tougher, again you assume too much. You are never going to win that argument because it is not true. I have explained why to you several times.
Lets end this discussion now.BPG24 said:
Anyone who thinks pool is not more difficult than golf has
simply never played a high stakes match with Ronnie Allen
or "Fats". Having done both, (many times)let me say this.
Enduring Ronnie's sharking and Fat's incessant chatter is
by far the toughest challenge in ANY sport,period
If Tiger Woods were to play a round with these two guys
he would be lucky to break 100. And thats a FACT!!!!!!!
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