Poll: Bonus Ball: More Support Playing 8, 9, Or 10 Ball?

[jimmyg]

I believe that the regional "team" concept of BB is a good one, and properly funded and marketed would have a fair chance of success.

That said, I can't understand the strategic benefit of creating and introducing an entirely "new" game as part of the concept.

So the question is: Do you think that Bonus Ball would have had greater support within the pool community had they opted to play 8, 9, or 10 ball rather than "bonus ball"?

J

 

[krupa]

You forgot the "none of the above" option.

The people I know (standard league players) fall into three categories:

1) Those who don't know (or care) who the pros are or what they play.
2) Those who know who pros are but are close-minded and think that there is one, best game. These guys scoff at Bonus Ball, 14.1, and 9-ball.
3) Those who know who pros are and will watch pros play any game.

I fall into #3. At first I wasn't much into BB, but after watching it for a bit, I found that it's an interesting game and no better or worse than any other game. I don't like some of the mechanics of the game (for example, the 14.1-like break shot in the middle) but those are personal preferences. I also don't like the Designated Hitter rule in baseball but that doesn't keep me from enjoying the game.

 

[punter]

I haven't seen BB played, don't know all the rules, so I don't know if I'll like it or not. My initial reaction is I don't think a new game is necessary, but maybe I'll love it, I'll watch some and give it a chance. I'm more in line with some of the ideas CJ Wiley had about player recognition and identification with them as personalities.

 

[LHP5]

I just don't get bonus ball. It's like a combination straight pool + snooker + 9-ball. You must score points like in straight pool and snooker, there is a pattern to play like 9-ball and snooker, there is a "bonus" ball to shoot after the pattern kind of like in snooker, and then theres the rack which is almost like 9-ball. The game seems to be a hybrid of snooker adapted to a pool table. I'm thinking whoever created bonus ball probably thought there was something about snooker which garnered appeal to the masses in Europe and Asia. They probably thought if snooker works over there but not here in the US, maybe a game incorporating aspects of snooker and the other games that are popular here in the US will set the pool world on fire. I hope it works, it's just that it kind of looks like the person who created it tried to fuse a lot of games into one.

I guess I'm in the group that does't think pool needs another game, but I am always open to new things. It's just that for some reason bonus ball has no appeal to me. I think it has something to do with the look and sound of the game. It seems since forever that the many games of pool were played with numbered balls, 1 through 15, half solid, and the other half striped. Bonus Ball requires a totally different set with different colors and a totally different look. One of the best things in pool was that you could transition from 9-ball to 8-ball to straight pool with the same set of balls instantly. With Bonus Ball you need a different set that has a sole purpose of playing one game. Then there's the name of Bonus Ball. It doesn't sound like I'm about to shoot some pool, it sounds like I'm about to play the lottery. Just google bonus ball and see what comes up. Again, I'm not trying to bash the game and really do hope some sort of professional league takes off, but i just don't see bonus ball as that league or game. It just seems to different to even be considered pool.

 

[pwd72s]

Some day I may be able to figure out what the fuss is about...

 

[jhanso18]

I'm all for what ever helps pool.

BB however seems to self serving. It lacks in several area's, and I don't think it to be nearly as noble as it claims to be. I like the game, I don't like how the "league" is being set up.

best,

Justin

 

[Roger Long]

I voted "Yes - More Support Playing 10-Ball" because I believe that is what the "pool community" would support in this present time. But the "pool community" has not ever been, or will ever be, able to get professional pool off the ground. A whole new game and structure is needed for that, and I think Bonus Ball may be just the thing to do it.

Roger

 

[jimmyg]

I voted "Yes - More Support Playing 10-Ball" because I believe that is what the "pool community" would support in this present time. But the "pool community" has not ever been, or will ever be, able to get professional pool off the ground. A whole new game and structure is needed for that, and I think Bonus Ball may be just the thing to do it.

Roger

I appreciate your reply and vote.

The "pool community" is the consumer, the end user, his position here is participate and support the sport, not to "get professional pool off the ground", which is the businessman, developer and promoter's responsibility.

I don't believe that the games of pool was/is the problem here, most games have maintained their popularity for at least a hundred years, hardly a poor display of success and support. The problem with getting "professional pool off the ground" is, more likely, an issue with the people involved in the development, promotional, and business end of the game, but that's an entirely different thread.

Personally, I believe that anyone intent on entering an existing industry with the apparent initial intent of total transformation and domination had better be an inventive genius, a master businessman/promoter, and have unlimited funding.

And, as I wrote in my initial post, I believe that BB would have had much more support if they had chosen 8, 9, or 10 ball. IMO.

J

 

[CreeDo]

I don't know if "pool teams" would cause a new pool endeavor to become popular, though I get the thinking... having teams to root for is a good ingredient when trying to make any sport popular.

Krupa's got it right. Currently, I could walk into a pool hall and say "Right now, the United States team is lagging 12 points behind Team Europe and 7 points being Team China in the World Pool Team Tournament, they're playing for $100,000 grand prize"

...and half the people in the pool hall would just say "oh really? cool". They'd swallow it because they don't know or care what teams, tournaments, or players are involved in professional pool.

A bunch of others would say "oh really? I'm into pool but hadn't heard about that event" ('into pool' means they've heard of earl and efren, in addition to the black widow).

And the 7 guys in the pool hall that are serious about pool, who already know about AZB and TAR and have heard of Shane or Orcullo... those guys would know I'm just making it up. I honestly think these are the only guys who would actively care and root for the "LA Wave", whether the Wave is playing bonus ball or 9 ball.

 

[DrOnePocket]

Whoops! My mistake, i voted wrong. Take one away from Bonus ball and add one for 8 ball.

I like the game itself but to think they will get people who don't even play the game to support a tour is silly IMO. I would watch if it were free. The only PPV I will pay for these days is something from Accu-Stats or TAR that is a format I like and players I like. There are a few recently i would have bought that I didn't because i wasn't home to watch.

I want to see top players gambling at one pocket on a tight 9'. That's what I personally will pay for

 

[jimmyg]

Small voting response so far, but it looks like BB has about 20% of the votes.

J

 

[dorabelle]

I love games I'm familiar with. I watched BB and opulent follow it. It was like a purple ball then an orange ball and then the black shot into 3 holes. Couldnt get into it.

 

[RobMan]

Small voting response so far, but it looks like BB only has about 20% of the votes.

J

I think "only" is a bad choice of words here. It is basically tied with 8 and nine ball at 24% each, so it can be spun anyway. When you have multiple questions in a poll, naturally there will be a spread. We could say that nine ball ONLY got xxx% as well.

Nevertheless, the three other categories combined are definitely the majority.

 

[jimmyg]

I think "only" is a bad choice of words here. It is basically tied with 8 and nine ball at 24% each, so it can be spun anyway. When you have multiple questions in a poll, naturally there will be a spread. We could say that nine ball ONLY got xxx% as well.

Nevertheless, the three other categories combined are definitely the majority.

According to the official internet voting and election laws, I am not allowed to influence the voting, therefore "only" should not have been included and will be deleted. :smile:

The balance of your analysis seems to be correct, the other three are definitely the majority.

Let's see how it turns out.

J

 

[jimmyg]

Boy, did this BB poll thread go nowhere fast.....:frown: Thought that it would turn out to be much more interesting and, possibly revealing.

Okay, not to leave a job incomplete, let's see what we have, and what, if anything, we can make of it.

Summary: 38 total votes.

BB received 7 votes (one voter stated that he intended on voting for 8 ball) or 18%

8 Ball received 13* votes or 34%

9 Ball received 7 votes or 18%

10 Ball received 11 votes or 29%

Another way of looking at this is that 82% of the 38 voters would give more support to the general BB concept if they played any other game but BB. Interesting.

Commentary: While 38 votes is a very small number of votes, way too small to make any statistical determinations, 82% is an awfully strong number. Especially if we consider that a few of those BB votes may have come from people with a vested interest in it's promotion. I don't imagine that anyone truly has a vested interest in it's failure to counteract that possibility.

My thoughts here are unbiased, I have no personal or financial interest in BB, in fact, if anything, I lean towards wishing for their (and therefore pool's) success. But, assuming that the promoters of BB are at least as smart as the average person here, they must also realize that going with an existing and already popular game would have been the path of least resistance? Makes little sense unless they know something that we don't, possibly already have a "lock" to the next level. Just a thought.

Again, best of luck to everyone in BB.

J

 

[Mr Hoppe]

I agree, the regional team aspect is a very good one, but I think the game is the downfall. Would like to see regional team 10-ball of some kind. 10-ball has all the momentum right now, and BB is just a distraction from it.

 

[weakfingers]

And, as I wrote in my initial post, I believe that BB would have had much more support if they had chosen 8, 9, or 10 ball. IMO.

I agree with you 100% on this.

Why create an entirely new game? I'd love the concept if all the money was invested into a game that has been proven to be exciting, familiar, etc.

Imagine all the teams and high quality broadcast toward 8 or 9 ball (familiar games). Add a 20 second shot clock and I think it'd be a hit.

 

[Fatboy]

8 ball only because everyone knows what it is, everything else is meaningless.

go to time square ask 100 people about 8,9,10 ball and see how many know what 9,10 ball is. you might get 1-2 people on a good day, 8 ball is the most widely known game. IPT had that right.

BB is a new game, lots of rules and tricky to watch especially for people who only "get" 8 ball, too steep of a learning curve IMO. I get it cause I can play pool so I watched the 3 videos 2 times each and i'm on board but mainly because I understand pool, if I was a banger it would a bit much.

I still think the city idea and everything else is great and hope they do great, pool needs all the help it can get, I just think BB being a "new" pool game is a little to far out side the box. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[eddie0776]

There are so many pros and cons to the BB idea....the guys playing it are all gonna say its great for our sport, but they are paid to. If they had picked a game that the local leagues played I could see people paying for the ppv, but a totally new game that the average league player has no clue how to follow or play just seems like a bad idea. I like the idea of the game, but I fear it will become a fad. Until it catches on with leagues like the bca or apa I feel it wont make it through 2 seasons. The ppv is gonna kill it and without the ppv or sponsers it will fail to lack of money. Catch 22. Just my 2 cents

 

[Roger Long]

There are so many pros and cons to the BB idea....the guys playing it are all gonna say its great for our sport, but they are paid to. If they had picked a game that the local leagues played I could see people paying for the ppv, but a totally new game that the average league player has no clue how to follow or play just seems like a bad idea. I like the idea of the game, but I fear it will become a fad. Until it catches on with leagues like the bca or apa I feel it wont make it through 2 seasons. The ppv is gonna kill it and without the ppv or sponsers it will fail to lack of money. Catch 22. Just my 2 cents

The guys playing Bonus Ball are hoping it will be great for our sport, but they are not saying it WILL be great, as you claim. That's something that remains to be seen. What they are saying is that it is a great game, and they are saying so, not because they are being paid to say so, but because they really believe it is. They are being paid to play, and that's all they are being paid for.

Roger