Pool players don't watch pool matches

S

Slh

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi, I like to watch pool matches at my pool hall and I enjoy to watch pro matches on YouTube, ustream and streamed live... My brother plays pool too and even if he can play he is totally regardless to watch pool. I tried to convince him to watch some match and even if there are fast and exiting players (the match Strickland vs McCready for example) he doesn't enjoy it.
I can understand when a match is played by "boring" players but Strickland and McCready?
I'm disappointed of it because I would like to talk with him about pool but he looks annoyed when I do so I give up. We are Italians and the commentary is in American but I don't think it is only the problem...
Why even pool players don't watch pool?Simply he is not that passionate to the game?
 
I can agree, personally.

I love to play pool but can't stand to watch others play (if I could be playing).
 
I am very passionate about pool and love watching pool, but if there is a table close by I'd rather be playing. Mostly I'll watch either live streams or I throw on a TAR or Accu-stats match before bed.
 
Sadly, I generally get bored watching pool. Usually, watching pool just makes me want to play pool and that's just what I end up doing. Abandoning the TV for my pool table. I will say that certain live events can capture my attention if not much else is going on. The Mosconi Cup was great, as was the Accustats stream (despite their technical difficulties) at the Derby City Classic this year. In fact, I even went to the Derby this year and ended up playing in the AZB and Action room myself for more time than I spectated the actual event.

In my opinion, live streaming of major events is the way to go.
 
I don't think it is necessarily an issue of passion. Does he enjoy watching other sports?
I enjoying watching 9/10 ball, or one pocket, but my first experiencing watching a video of 14.1 (a run of 100+ balls) got boring really quickly. The skill was impressive but after 5min it was torture. But that was just my experience.

Maybe it's his learning style. Some people enjoying watching (good commentary is nice) while others only like doing.
 
IMO, the main reason people or players don't like to watch pool is because they considerate it boring or they believe they play better than the participants.
For example, I was watching the streaming of a bar table tournament where Johnny was playing lights out. Several people on the chat were stating that the only reason Johnny was playing so good was because it was on a bar table.
Some even commented that if they had been in the tournament, the felt like they would have done great or had a chance to win it.

Another example was with 2 players, both seem to be a little nervous, which is causing them to make some unforced errors. Again in the chat room, people are saying, I can beat either one of the guys or I can spot so and so and rob him.

So to the conclusion, Player watching pool will get bored if the 2 participants never miss a ball or never get out of line, because the are doing it to such a high level that it becomes boring. The other scenerio is, the players are missing shots, view is thinking, why should I sit here and watch them play when I can beat both of them.
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I have hated watching pool on TV because I felt it was boring. It seemed like I was always channel surfing and just clicking back to the pool match to see if anything exciting was going on.

Now that livestreaming has really picked up, I love watching pool on the net because its sorta interactive in a sense. You get to chat and its usually some great commentating not only on the match, but whats happening in the pool world. Oh yeah, you also get to hear some great stories that wouldnt be told on TV.

Honestly, I am trying to talk my American Legion in our town to allow me to set up a wireless router so I can bring my computer down and connect up to there big screens so that the pool players at the weekly tournaments can participate in the live chat and watch some great pool. Trust me, on a 52 inch screen you can still read and see everything great from 15 ft away and all you need is a wireless keyboard and mouse to be able to chat.

Seems like when Im at a tournament and there is a stream on my laptop, it turns into a group of 10 or more people trying to watch the stream. I think it would be a lot more, but its a small laptop. May be a good idea for a business to actually set up a computer and big screen just for streaming events, yes I know, they wont be playing pool, but they would be buying food and drinks and it keeps the interest in pool...just my opinion
 
Black-Balled said:
I can agree, personally.

I love to play pool but can't stand to watch others play (if I could be playing).
Click to expand...

Boy do I agree with this statement. I went to a US Open once and was bored to death in a New York minute. I left early and drove back home. I love to play but sitting for hours and watching it, just not for me.. I would love to watch mathes if both players wore a helmet cam so I could see what english is being used, then I could at least learn something....
 
Wether it's a couple of local bangers or watching some heavyweights really battle it out.....if they are going for shots, playing their heart out, and putting together an impressive display of shotmaking, I can watch it on TV or in person for hours.....I love the game......

If it's a bunch of scared, sissyfied safety play with nary a good shot, combo, or anything interesting to watch, I'd rather get out a bottle of lotion, a towell, and........well, you know :grin:
 
I don't seek out pool on TV, but if I happen to run across it I'll watch. I'd rather be playing, but I also watch people play in league. I like to think about every shot and what I'd do (or try to do), or sometimes just see how they play certain shots. It's an opportunity to learn.
 
I've noticed this , and commented on it , before . Go to a HUGE event like the APA nationals , and as soon as the players are knocked out , they lose interest . . . .
The majority of players don't stick around to watch the next match , even though ( here it comes . . . ) they might actually LEARN something by watching the players that advanced farther than they did . . .
Maybe a different style of play , maybe a defensive shot they haven't seen before . . . .
but they'll never see it , because they're NOT WATCHING .

Imagine how big the stands would have to be if all the players that were in it at the beginning were watching it at the end .
But they don't care . WHY ? :confused:
Answer that "WHY?" , and you'll turn pool into a spectator sport . . . :cool:
 
ridinda9...Good post! On top of that, there are frequently pro events scheduled along side these amateur nationals, and you almost NEVER see anybody in the stands. 5k-10k poolplayers in the house, and you can't get two or three hundred to watch the pros.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

ridinda9 said:
I've noticed this , and commented on it , before . Go to a HUGE event like the APA nationals , and as soon as the players are knocked out , they lose interest . . . .
The majority of players don't stick around to watch the next match , even though ( here it comes . . . ) they might actually LEARN something by watching the players that advanced farther than they did . . .
Maybe a different style of play , maybe a defensive shot they haven't seen before . . . .
but they'll never see it , because they're NOT WATCHING .

Imagine how big the stands would have to be if all the players that were in it at the beginning were watching it at the end .
But they don't care . WHY ? :confused:
Answer that "WHY?" , and you'll turn pool into a spectator sport . . . :cool:
Click to expand...
 
I like watching pool, but the way it is presented on TV makes me fall asleep nearly every time I watch it. If pool had more lively commentators and spectators, I think it would be more enjoyable. I watched a few darts matches on youtube once and it was actually entertaining because the commentary was interesting and it looked like the fans and players were having fun as opposed to looking like they are falling asleep.
 
Spectators

Scott Lee said:
ridinda9...Good post! On top of that, there are frequently pro events scheduled along side these amateur nationals, and you almost NEVER see anybody in the stands. 5k-10k poolplayers in the house, and you can't get two or three hundred to watch the pros.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...
So true Scott. Sad for pool. I always watch the pros once were out at the Riviera. Best pool is not the finals in my opinion. Like watching when there are many matches going and I can chose who I watch. As far as 2-3 hundred watching, that's about all the seating there is!! If 1000 showed, where would they sit? I wish more pros would play in the small action room at the Riviera. Wonder why they don't? Might it be roadies beating pros might be embarrassing? Jeanette has showed up some, but that is because she likes to support pool. Maybe some pros should follow her thinking! The 10000 league players playing and spending mucho money does more for pool (vendors) than a few hundred pros. IMO, don't know if I'm right but I'm right occasionally!!
 
I watch all the time. Accustats video of the month member here and I watch to learn. Guess what all my peers stayed the same level and I can now destroy them. I owe a lot of it to every boring minute of watching the pros play.
 
I like watching certain players. And not others! I would give examples, but that would be more boring than watching them play...
 
I have been at the world championship 9 ball and only a few of the contestants watched the finals while over 600 people watched 2 high stakes one pocket players in the practice room
I can think of nothing more dull than watcing 9 ball,unless of course I have a friend playing,Even a high bet doesn't add interest to me.

One pocket is very interesting to watch
 
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