I was just sitting here thinking about pool's future. I have noticed a steady decline of players and skill levels around my area for the last few years. I don't see any future players getting involved the game due lack of places for minors to play and learn the game properly. I myself didn't start playing pool and learning the game until I was 21. Pool has kept me off the streets and affected my life poistively. I just turned 28 today and these things were going on in my mind wondering about pool's future. Does anyone have any opinions and solutions for this?
Is pool future getting better or worse?
- Thread starter macaframa
- Start date
In America the game seems to be declining. But in Asia and Europe it is exploding. And the discipline of the foreign players seems better.
Look at the results of the 2006 World 9-Ball Championships. The game is American, but not one American player made it into the final 32.
Look at the results of the 2006 World 9-Ball Championships. The game is American, but not one American player made it into the final 32.
Things may not be as they seem to be. Leagues are up 20%. Tournaments are more popular than ever. Youth programs have doubled in the last three years. The Certified Instructor base in the USA is solid. I think pool is on a crest wave that will reach higher than ever....SPF=randyg
Hope you are right.
Randy,
Here in the midwest most of the players are older. There always used to be some young kid trying to challenge the established players. Now its just the old guard (in my community.)
When I travel overseas I see many young players coming up that have a real dedication to the game. I don't see them getting caught up in the drugs, alcohol, & gambling that I see with so many younger players here.
They practice more, and they model their games after top players, not just local hustlers.
And the T.V. coverage is so much better. I was in Bangkok during the World Championships. ESPN had live coverage of the tournament every day. We probably won't even see re-runs here.
randyg said:
Randy,
Here in the midwest most of the players are older. There always used to be some young kid trying to challenge the established players. Now its just the old guard (in my community.)
When I travel overseas I see many young players coming up that have a real dedication to the game. I don't see them getting caught up in the drugs, alcohol, & gambling that I see with so many younger players here.
They practice more, and they model their games after top players, not just local hustlers.
And the T.V. coverage is so much better. I was in Bangkok during the World Championships. ESPN had live coverage of the tournament every day. We probably won't even see re-runs here.
Niagara Falls, Ny Area Is Pretty Slow. Not Alot Of Talent In The Leagues Here. One Or Two Teams Just Dominate The Leagues Every Year. Trying To Get Someone To Play For A Drink Is Dam Near Impossible. Race To 7 For $, Is Impossible. Maybe A Race To Seven For A Beer. Ten Years Ago, Great Players Around, Pool Halls And Bars Full, All The Action You Want, Now Nothing. I Would Say Pool Future Is Getting Worse In These Parts.
Cuaba said:
I have to agree with this view of midwest and wish for more coverage on TV. And not just of the same 12 pro players, add some variety to the coverage.
I started playing when I was 15 and pool halls were the rage until I turned 25 or so. Then league's started popping up and everyone went from pool halls to bars. Especially since you can play and drink in bars and very few pool halls have liquor licenses. At least in Northeast Ohio that is. And few bar table players will actually take up a game on a regulation size table(big table). As of the last 5 years, I have seen many pool halls close up here or struggle to keep business while bar league's are exploding.
I also don't see as many younger kids play and when they do, they think they are God's gift to the game. I told one smartypants teenager, "I started playing on this table when you were 5 years old, now show a lil more respect to your elders in here."
I am getting old, now that I think if it.
ez
Here in Chicago, it seems there are more bars adding pool tables than removing them. The APA league here has been slowly but steadily adding teams.
My overall view is optimistic based on my perhaps crazy theory that video games have firmly planted the seed of competition in our youth more so than ever before, and once they get a little taste of some face to face pool competition, especially with an audience, there's no going back.
My overall view is optimistic based on my perhaps crazy theory that video games have firmly planted the seed of competition in our youth more so than ever before, and once they get a little taste of some face to face pool competition, especially with an audience, there's no going back.
I think the game is in a recession here in the US. The kids are more into cell phones, video games, and computers. There is a lack of exposure on television, old style pool rooms are struggling and closing. In Los Angeles there are fewer rooms than ever and the existing ones don't seem as busy.
Maybe the availability of cheap home tables has hurt the pool rooms?
I just came back from China, where pool is very popular. There are hundreds of pool rooms in Shanghai alone. The rooms are large and packed with players. The future of pool is in Asia. There are thousands of young players taking up the game. Maybe I should say "taking over" the game.
Chris
Maybe the availability of cheap home tables has hurt the pool rooms?
I just came back from China, where pool is very popular. There are hundreds of pool rooms in Shanghai alone. The rooms are large and packed with players. The future of pool is in Asia. There are thousands of young players taking up the game. Maybe I should say "taking over" the game.
Chris
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I would have to agree with Randy. Pool is very popular at the recreational, and league level...however it is mostly adults. Opportunities for professional play are severely limited, and not helped any by KT's latest antics. The latest figures for pool in this country still indicate that there are between 35 and 40 million people who played pool last year. Of those, a full 10% are considered "very active", and play at least once a week. All of the amateur affiliated leagues added together only make up 10-12% of the 4 million people 'like us', so even though those numbers continue to rise every year, it still shows that there are huge numbers of poolplayers right here, that is an untapped resource.
The learning opportunities are quite varied, and easily available, with several hundred BCA instructors, and literally hundreds of different books, tapes, and dvd's to choose from. I agree with Chris, that young people are subject to so many different avenues of entertainment, that it's difficult to attract them. Most young people spend hours a day on a computer...much like many of us here! I think the attitude towards pool, in this country, is still biased by old standards, and that contributes to some of the appearance of what seems like major declines. However, the numbers in the U.S. are still relatively the same as they have been, for the past 10-15 years. Pool is not declining...except to some of the few people who see it differently in their particular geographic area. jmo
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
The learning opportunities are quite varied, and easily available, with several hundred BCA instructors, and literally hundreds of different books, tapes, and dvd's to choose from. I agree with Chris, that young people are subject to so many different avenues of entertainment, that it's difficult to attract them. Most young people spend hours a day on a computer...much like many of us here!
I think the attitude towards pool, in this country, is still biased by old standards, and that contributes to some of the appearance of what seems like major declines. However, the numbers in the U.S. are still relatively the same as they have been, for the past 10-15 years. Pool is not declining...except to some of the few people who see it differently in their particular geographic area. jmoScott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
My local pool hall just got raided and shut down due to the owner and employees involved in illegal bookmaking. The place was beginning to get filled with druggies and the owner did not take care of the tables anyway. Although it was nice and close, I'm kinda glad to see it die. It wasnt about pool there anymore.
Regional ups and downs
It seems to me by talking to people in different areas of the country that pool is in a downward trend. Here in St Louis 4 rooms have shut down in the past year or so. One more is quietly up for sale due to operating at a net loss for two years.
One nice pool room opened, but that is still brand new. Hard to guage their success. Many pool rooms are surviving only because of poker machines. Pool by itself never makes an owner any money. So you always have to supplement it with alcohol or retail sales. Also in St. Louis the gambling boats have finally hit their peak with no increase in gambling revenue for a while now. 
Ive had numerous younger players chased out of my pool room from hustlers trying to steal their lawn mowing money. So the future of younger players doesnt even seem to get a head start. Too many pool players are ruining their home base. 
I hope it changes after this temporary lull. We just need a good pool movie to excite people again. I think Angelina Jolie as a dominatrix/pool hustler/secret spy movie would be a good start.
It seems to me by talking to people in different areas of the country that pool is in a downward trend. Here in St Louis 4 rooms have shut down in the past year or so. One more is quietly up for sale due to operating at a net loss for two years.
One nice pool room opened, but that is still brand new. Hard to guage their success. Many pool rooms are surviving only because of poker machines. Pool by itself never makes an owner any money. So you always have to supplement it with alcohol or retail sales. Also in St. Louis the gambling boats have finally hit their peak with no increase in gambling revenue for a while now. Ive had numerous younger players chased out of my pool room from hustlers trying to steal their lawn mowing money. So the future of younger players doesnt even seem to get a head start. Too many pool players are ruining their home base. I hope it changes after this temporary lull. We just need a good pool movie to excite people again. I think Angelina Jolie as a dominatrix/pool hustler/secret spy movie would be a good start. 
I don't know about other areas, but here in the Carolina's, pool is alive and well. We have several youngsters (under 18) that not only enter tournaments, but are good enough to knock out the old guard and win an event.
On the league level, our APA city tournament held 3 times a year usually has over 100 tables, and is packed with players from Thursday to Sunday. Several room owners have league 5 nights a week, and the rooms are packed. (Having 30 or more teams playing out of one room is not unusual)
Randy, Scott and I recently held 2 different weekend classes in Charlotte, and the classes were both filled up. Rarely do I have a weekend when I am not teaching. People around here love the game, and are looking for ways to improve all the time.
There will always be some areas where interest in the game is lower than other areas, but overall, I think pool is continuing to grow in popularity.
Steve
On the league level, our APA city tournament held 3 times a year usually has over 100 tables, and is packed with players from Thursday to Sunday. Several room owners have league 5 nights a week, and the rooms are packed. (Having 30 or more teams playing out of one room is not unusual)
Randy, Scott and I recently held 2 different weekend classes in Charlotte, and the classes were both filled up. Rarely do I have a weekend when I am not teaching. People around here love the game, and are looking for ways to improve all the time.
There will always be some areas where interest in the game is lower than other areas, but overall, I think pool is continuing to grow in popularity.
Steve
pooltchr said:
Pool was very popular in Atlanta too during the 6 years I lived there. Rooms were always full and waiting for a table was expected. What is odd about down south and up north, there weren't as many hustler's, whether old guard or young kids, beating up on the casual customers. Up here in my area, you can't play more then 15 minutes without getting asked to play for money. Back in ATL, you almost had to go looking for someone to gamble with and the gambling was civilized. No drama. No vultures down there. Plus, people were paying whatever table rate you asked. 7-15/hour and getting it. Up here, a nicer hall charges more then 7.00/hour and customers stop showing up. It's a great sport to enjoy down south!
ez
Just a thought, but in the areas that folks have said pool is declining, do they think it may be because of new casinos opening up in their area?
Edit - Another thought, maybe the quality of pool isn't getting worse, maybe we're all just getting better!
Edit - Another thought, maybe the quality of pool isn't getting worse, maybe we're all just getting better!
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macaframa said:
You folks just got the new Cadillac Island Casino over there which holds monthly $1000 tournaments. Are they getting filled? Who runs the tournaments?
I do hope you're right. Young people do seem to be pre-occupied with quick twitch video games to me and pool and bowling and the like suffer as a consequence. Hopefully it is a temporary thing.randyg said: