One Pocket killed the sport...

[StuartTKelley]

It is not one game or one thing that is changing pool. There are many factors involved, so many it may be impossible to turn it around. Like the horse and buggy and so many other things, it is just a changing of the times and people's interest.. Sad for us folks that enjoy pool that's for sure!

I agree with that, no one thing is going to save or kill the game. I will also say that it seems like everyone is thinking of pool on a singular scale but, under the umbrella of POOL, there are areas where it thrives, such as leagues. These leagues bring out masses of folks to play the game for whatever reason or reasons attract them to it. Men's professional pool, well, we know what's happening in that area. The women pro's have an organized league but I'm sure improvements could be made. There are pool halls struggling and there are bars thriving that host leagues but don't cater to pool alone or would probably fail in certain parts of the country but not all. There are pool halls that thrive as well that don't cater to leagues. There are gamblers and hustlers that go on the road to make their living. There are so many things going on in pool and areas that do indeed thrive under the "umbrella". I suppose it all depends on what it is you see as POOL being dead or very alive. In my arena I get to play league a couple nights a week and on the weekends. I also have a table at my house....So, I don't think of pool as dead at all. I love it and it's been a part of my life for many years. I think it always will be and I hope that's true! I don't play a lot of one pocket but I think it's quite challenging and fun. I do not prefer to watch it however.

 

[Jdale]

IMHO, technology is hurting the sport so many of us love.
I see two guys the other day in the bar having a beer and playing pool, playing pool on their iphones, with two nice tables not 12 feet away. No slots for quarters on their iphones I guess.
My wife is a teacher, her student want free time to play pool on the school computers like they do on their home computers. They don't have to pay time and their parents know where there at.
Society is becoming more and more addicted to technology everyday.

Dale

 

[Renegade_56]

A lot has gone bad for pool besides playing one pocket. If you look at almost all the major events, they do not include one pocket. They are all 8, 9 and 10 ball events. So how has one pocket killed pool? We have had this discussion over and over and probably needs to be had over and over again. I am a room owner for 23 years and I have a nice room with very reasonable rates. My opinion is:
- costs too much to learn (table time)
- room owners can't afford to be in business
- too many other activities available to youngsters

What killed horse racing?
- poker
- slot machines
- too expensive to play before you make your first bet

How does it cost more to learn 1 hole because of table time? If I go to my local room to play pool and have 4 hours, I'm paying for 4 hours of pool, regardless whether I play 9 ball, 8 ball, or 1 hole.

 

[Lesh]

As those who know me may attest, I am not an "off-hand"contrarian. But anyone asserting that one-pocket is in any way responsible for inspiring the "pro level" miscreants who seem to find progressively more creative ways to destroy the credibility of cue sports and alienate oneanother.... I respectfully disagree.

Crank up the flame war calcutta.

Lesh

 

[richiebalto]

I was once a room operator. My thought on the down fall of pool in my area causes. The state established a state run lottery. To make sure they got all the gambling monies they abolished what they considered their competiton ( pin ball and poker machines). Most pool rooms depended on these to "pay the overhead bills". The profit after the bills were paid came from pool time and beer/food sales. In other words our fine politicians killed it to line their own pockets. South Carolina legislature at work.

Steve, I believe its the other way around, atlease it was in the pool halls in Baltimore.

The fruit and poker machines were the biggest money maker in all pool rooms that I ever been in/.

Pool would pay the over head, plus the workers salary if they were lucky, all the money came from the poker machines!

Now in the 70s and 88s, pool rooms made good money from the pool tables, cause we all know pool was way more popular back then.

The pool hall that I hung in, as soon as Maryland put in their own poker and fruit machines, that put every pool room in Baltimore out of business, except one TOP HAT, they still have their machines and machine players.

 

[dudlock]

I don't see why it would hurt rooms. I'm from SC also and I think Seneca Steve is exactly right. The best times, I remember, was when the rooms were allowed to have 5 machines. This kept it from being like a casino but offered a way for the poolroom ower to not only survive, but make a darn good living. Some did extrordinarily good with 5 machines. It sometimes could hurt the action in the rooms at times, but at least the rooms would remain open and the owners could also keep up the equipment so much better, as that expense became like peanuts, and usually, if they didn't get totally greedy, they kept the table times and food-drink prices reasonable too, because of the machines. You just needed to NOT get addicted to them. I find them boring and foolish to play, so I had no troubles...

 

[Billiardbills]

The only thing I can say is that most room owners know the money isn't made from players. However, it's not like the tables are all out on one pocket. Lol.

 

[BobTfromIL]

I didn't know pool was dead. We have to realize that we are never going to reach the popularity it had in the 1920's or so.


I walked in a pool hall/bar last night and there were 125+ bangers playing leagues. On the contrary, I would bet less then 20% of them know what one pocket is.

Yes and how many do you think could name 5 current pro players?

 

[Lonestar_jim]

The only thing I can say is that most room owners know the money isn't made from players. However, it's not like the tables are all out on one pocket. Lol.

Is this your thread ? Can you tell us why your friend said that 1P killed the sport ? Sheesh give the WFS forum a 5 min. break and throw is a bone please.

 

[richiebalto]

Yes and how many do you think could name 5 current pro players?

Bob if you are correct, which you probably are, weather a pool player knows how to play 1 pocket or not or if a pool player knows who the best player in the world is, Should nt matter, He or she is still a pool player that needs to be counted!

In pool, there is your league player (that usually doesn't gamble, which is fine) and there is your gambling pool players that goes to bars and pool rooms looking for action (which is fine).

Now yes your normal league pool player mite not no who is who when it comes to the top pool players in the world(which is fine), Now your gambling pool players will know all the best players out there(which he better, or he will get busted).

League players don't have to have that knowledge (best pool players).

Gambling pool players will all have that knowledge plus more.!

 

[Lonestar_jim]

Yes and how many do you think could name 5 current pro players?

Did you mean pro or A++ or A+++.
Are you saying the league players should take their money everywhere ? Everyone has to start somewhere. Playing vs fandom...sometimes those roads don't meet, IMO.

Do you gripe about kids playing sandlot baseball in the hood ? Albeit that they probably know pro names...

 

[alstl]

Pool doesn't attract an audience on tv now because of the short attention span/instant gratification electronic society we live in.

Many people watch the super bowl not for football but for the commercials and halftime show.

 

[336Robin]

Get past yourself first.

I agree with your points, but would add one that I think is key...

Room owners who cater to the big spenders at the bar, while ignoring the wants of players...in other words, not promoting pool.

Exactly, although recently I have witnessed one room owner get smart.

I have a saying:

The hardest person you will ever get past is yourself.

Recently a room owner decided to put up a special $5 play all evening Mon, Tue, Wed and Thursday.

He had a few high school kids coming in...6 to 8 over night it went to 25. I predict in 60 days it will 60 plus the players that find out about and he will go from less than a hundred a evening to.....350 to 500 on those days.

What I don't understand about room owners is...how are people going to make pool popular again when its obvious that they want to play but don't have the money to waste when it take 20 to 30 bucks every day to get your fix. The answer is people find other things cheaper to do because the problem is financial and economic.

The crowd that is drawn to pool as a general rule isn't making any money to speak of....so...you have to do a little soul searching and learn that you might be wrong about a few things and then let it be what it is and magically the word will spread and the pool room will be full again.

 

[KRJ]

Yes and how many do you think could name 5 current pro players?

Who cares if they could or not ??

heck, if they are out playing pool and spending money, that is what counts.

Plus, how could they name any pro players, they are NOT exactly on TV or anything. So, certainly not their fault, that's for sure.

 

[Billiardbills]

It's pretty much free here in Fort Myers/Cape Coral if it's weekdays or anything other than Friday or Saturday night.

That's the funny part.

 

[Colonel]

Technology killed pool, it's killing everything. Most people 30 or younger spend every spare minute staring at some sort of screen.

 

[336Robin]

Technology killed pool, it's killing everything. Most people 30 or younger spend every spare minute staring at some sort of screen.

I don't buy this anymore. I was in a room this week where some kids go to play. They made it affordable and kids are flocking in now.

I think it takes three things:

Value, Invitation and Kids.

If you don't let people know you want their business well who loses that one?

We all do and the Industry does and it has been. When are we going to wake up?

 

[itsfroze]

I don't think One-Pocket killed the sport.
It's only responsible for the proliferation of
nuclear weapons.

 

[CoachDitka2001]

Pool has become more difficult to pass on to kids. Far less people smoking these days, but tons of smoking in pool halls. While I will go and play and come home smelling like shot, I will never take my kids and subject them to it. If I had a clean, smoke-free room to go to, my son would be playing for sure.

 

[SJDinPHX]

Boo !...

There are many reasons for pool's 'decline', not the least of which is Texas Express rules, in the rotation games !..One pocket has done MORE to keep the competition alive, among the better players..Now all the 9/10 baller's, are scrambling to catch up !
(SVB, Earl. etc.)..It is simply the most diverse, and demanding competition on a pool table..Always has been !

PS..It may not be popular as a spectator game, but then most non-players prefer to watch (ugh) trick shot 'exhibitions' !