Pool vs. Golf (again)

Freddie O

Freddie O

Banned
Ok, I'm getting very tired of these comparisons. Why pool vs golf? Why not pool vs hockey? I'll tell you why. Pool players LOVE golf! I don't know why this is, but they do. Alot of pool players aspire to be golf pros and since pool is thier first language, golf seems hard difficult to them...NATURALLY.

True story: Mark Calcavecchia came to my friends pool room in Florida. I actually banged some around with him which I thought was pretty cool. He told me "damn, this has gotta be the hardest game I've ever played"! I thought it was pretty funny at the time.

Pool/golf/bowling/poker....blah blah blah. They all seem to have a connection. How many pool players aspire to be hockey pros? NBA players? Not many. If you did, I'd probably seeing Pool vs NHL polls.
 
How many analogies do I have to make? Rappers want to be in the NBA. NBA players want to be rappers.

Shaq, Ron Artest, AI...stick to basketball.

Master P....stick to rapping.
 
It's due to the similarities between the games. Most notably golf being a individual sport and you play against the course not directly against an opponent.

Bowling is similar, but I don't think you can reasonably argue that it is as difficult as billiards.

Team sports don't result in any logical comparisons because they are just too different. Furthermore I would assert it is more difficult to become a professional at an individual sport than a team one.
 
Cameron Smith said:
It's due to the similarities between the games. Most notably golf being a individual sport and you play against the course not directly against an opponent.

Bowling is similar, but I don't think you can reasonably argue that it is as difficult as billiards.

Team sports don't result in any logical comparisons because they are just too different. Furthermore I would assert it is more difficult to become a professional at an individual sport than a team one.
Click to expand...

Yes, you're right that golf is an individual sport. I believe pool's an individual sport as well. You're not supposed to think about your opponent, rather the table. Just like golf players shouldn't think about Tiger breathing down thier neck instead of concentrating on the course....then they choke.

Both pool and golf, there's nobody to blame but yourself after a loss. This is why there's so much pressure of course. Like I said before, you miss a putt in golf...you get 80k for 246th place. You miss the 9 ball playing pool, you get to sleep in your car and eat ketchup cracker sandwiches. Who has more pressure?
 
Freddie O said:
Yes, you're right that golf is an individual sport. I believe pool's an individual sport as well. You're not supposed to think about your opponent, rather the table. Just like golf players shouldn't think about Tiger breathing down thier neck instead of concentrating on the course....then they choke.

Both pool and golf, there's nobody to blame but yourself after a loss. This is why there's so much pressure of course. Like I said before, you miss a putt in golf...you get 80k for 246th place. You miss the 9 ball playing pool, you get to sleep in your car and eat ketchup cracker sandwiches. Who has more pressure?
Click to expand...

Do you have any idea HOW hard it is to make a cut on the PGA Tour? Hell, for that matter, to make it there...? There are thousands of guys that are completely broke (or worse) trying to make a living playing golf. $80K for 246th place....um, no. Sure, guys can NEVER win on Tour and be multi-millionaires, but getting there in the first place is the real test of the player, staying there is no cakewalk either.

Just because pool doesn't have a Tour with HUGE sponsorships, TV packages, etc. etc. Pool players like to harp on spoiled, RICH golfers. I don't get it....? They work SUPER hard to fine tune their talent/game, and finally make it against HUGE odds, and folks rip on 'em because the money happens to be there!!

I've watched Chris Bartram make more money in a couple of matches (on TAR) than some mini tour golfers make in YEARS!!!!
 
trustyrusty said:
Do you have any idea HOW hard it is to make a cut on the PGA Tour? Hell, for that matter, to make it there...? There are thousands of guys that are completely broke (or worse) trying to make a living playing golf. $80K for 246th place....um, no. Sure, guys can NEVER win on Tour and be multi-millionaires, but getting there in the first place is the real test of the player, staying there is no cakewalk either.

Just because pool doesn't have a Tour with HUGE sponsorships, TV packages, etc. etc. Pool players like to harp on spoiled, RICH golfers. I don't get it....? They work SUPER hard to fine tune their talent/game, and finally make it against HUGE odds, and folks rip on 'em because the money happens to be there!!

I've watched Chris Bartram make more money in a couple of matches (on TAR) than some mini tour golfers make in YEARS!!!!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't get why pool players want to be golfers either. Yes, it's easier to make it on the Pro Tour in pool than the PGA tour for the simple fact that it's much cheaper play pool than golf. That doesn't mean that it's a tougher game. How many sports have you played? Are you any good at golf or are you a pool player who likes golf?
 
Freddie O said:
Yeah, I don't get why pool players want to be golfers either. Yes, it's easier to make it on the Pro Tour in pool than the PGA tour for the simple fact that it's much cheaper play pool than golf. That doesn't mean that it's a tougher game. How many sports have you played? Are you any good at golf or are you a pool player who likes golf?
Click to expand...

MUCH better at golf than pool! How many sports have I played...? MOST. Know the old cliche of I put myself through school, blah, blah, blah? Well, I did literally put myself through school with baseball (scholarship). I'd say I played at a pretty high level there, very decent golfer (hover around 2 - 3 handicap), and SUCK at pool :eek: , but love the competitive nature of the game. As my athleticism declines with age (hence high level team sports are really not an outlet for me anymore - even at the relatively young age of 36); I've found that I can still scratch that itch with golf and pool....

Could I still hit a Major League fastball?...sure. Could I still go yard?...sure. Can I still dunk a basketball?...um, maybe not as easily as in my teens or twenties, but maybe...lol. Those are all young men's sports. Guys in their 40's win every year on the PGA Tour. Guys can win even past that age in pool. Thanks so much, for making me feel OLD! ;):D
 
trustyrusty said:
MUCH better at golf than pool! How many sports have I played...? MOST. Know the old cliche of I put myself through school, blah, blah, blah? Well, I did literally put myself through school with baseball (scholarship). I'd say I played at a pretty high level there, very decent golfer (hover around 2 - 3 handicap), and SUCK at pool :eek: , but love the competitive nature of the game. As my athleticism declines with age (hence high level team sports are really not an outlet for me anymore - even at the relatively young age of 36); I've found that I can still scratch that itch with golf and pool....

Could I still hit a Major League fastball?...sure. Could I still go yard?...sure. Can I still dunk a basketball?...um, maybe not as easily as in my teens or twenties, but maybe...lol. Those are all young men's sports. Guys in their 40's win every year on the PGA Tour. Guys can win even past that age in pool. Thanks so much, for making me feel OLD! ;):D
Click to expand...

That's pretty impressive that you played baseball at that level. I love all sports as well....mainly basketball most of my teen years, behind pool. Not trying to make you feel old. You're 36? I'm not too far behind you. I'm done trying to say which is harder than the other because quite frankly, some people are just naturally good or bad at certain sports. I'm not going to back down about golf being harder than pool however;) I can't back down how I feel. I'm not going to say pool is harder either. Again, some games just come easier/harder for some.
 
Freddie O said:
That's pretty impressive that you played baseball at that level. I love all sports as well....mainly basketball most of my teen years, behind pool. Not trying to make you feel old. You're 36? I'm not too far behind you. I'm done trying to say which is harder than the other because quite frankly, some people are just naturally good or bad at certain sports. I'm not going to back down about golf being harder than pool however;) I can't back down how I feel. I'm not going to say pool is harder either. Again, some games just come easier/harder for some.
Click to expand...

The debate of which is harder is and will probably always be just that; a debate. I think some ahtletes/competitors would/could be good at whatever they are driven to compete in. If Tiger woulda been inclined to put all his time and work into something else competitive instead of golf...he'd most likely excel in whatever it was. Same with guys like Jordan, Bird, Federer, Gretsky, Marino, Montana, Elway, etc. Then there are some who do have a natural feel for one sport/game. But, even those who really play one sport/game well (or are physically limited for other sports) may have been great at lesser physically demanding games...bowling, chess, etc.

I dunno, to be GREAT at anything takes A LOT of work, determination, and drive. Even someone as phyically freakish as Bo Jackson, or more currently LeBron James has to put in TONS of time to work on fundamental skills to compete at the highest levels....The DRIVE part is what usually separate the best of the best.
 
Most of the top players in any sport had a lot of natual talent in that sport to start with. A few players could have reached the top in two or three sports. When I first came down to Florida in 1980 I lived in a complex where eight Tampa Bay Buc's and six Tampa Bay Bandits lived. There was a pool table in the clubhouse. All these players were pretty good at basketball, vollyball, golf, and racket ball. None were any good at pool. In fact they were horribe. A few asked me to teach them pool for free tickets to their games. I don't think anyone of them could ever become an "A" player no less a top pro in pool. The best of the bunch was Jerry Carter, a wide reciever for the Buc's and he was a "C+" after hours of lessons by me. To be fair, I'm not an instructor, but I have helped a lot of "D" players to become "B" players over the years. Johnnyt
 
Contrary to popular perception lots of budding golf tour pros sleep in cars during tournaments and eat very little.
 
memikey said:
Contrary to popular perception lots of budding golf tour pros sleep in cars during tournaments and eat very little.
Click to expand...

And if they have what it takes to make it on the tour it's worth sleeping in the car. But you have pool players that HAVE made it that are still sleeping in their car if they even have one. Johnnyt
 
One other thing....

Seems to me I read that pool was developed in England in an attempt to move golf indoors. Thus the original green felt. Both games require individual players to play against a course (or table) with the object of holing a ball.

I know a few golfers who believe pool presents as many challenges as golf, but in a much reduced and more nuanced way. All I know is that I gave up golf after wrapping too many clubs around trees, and I've never broken a stick, or even thrown one, in 40 years.
 
golf harder for this reason

u can loose the damn ball. i have never lost a cue ball in 35 years.

the mystery is over... golf is harder
 
I have played pool from the age of 16-26, then i have played golf from 26-36, now i am playing mostly pool because i cant afford to play golf anymore... When i mean play i mean tournaments and hitting range balls just about everyday....
I still get out from time to time but it kinda earks me not to be able to play tourneys..>=(

I believe that not just pool players wanna play golf but every athlete loves to play golf because of its reputation as the best game ever played....
The beauty of the course the smell of fresh cut bermuda fairways just tranqualizes you beyond comparison...PLus it's a nice break from the smoke..=)
It is just the best game all around....
 
tigerseye said:
I have played pool from the age of 16-26, then i have played golf from 26-36, now i am playing mostly pool because i cant afford to play golf anymore... When i mean play i mean tournaments and hitting range balls just about everyday....
I still get out from time to time but it kinda earks me not to be able to play tourneys..>=(

I believe that not just pool players wanna play golf but every athlete loves to play golf because of its reputation as the best game ever played....
The beauty of the course the smell of fresh cut bermuda fairways just tranqualizes you beyond comparison...PLus it's a nice break from the smoke..=)
It is just the best game all around....
Click to expand...

I like your post, but I never knew golf had the reputation as the best game ever played!? I have never heard that one lol.
 
Golf is not inherently more expensive to play than pool. Like anything else you just have to now when and where to play both.

Pool can easily run 30-40 a night for table time and I can get a round of golf in at many local courses for under 30 , not to mention I can hit balls on the range all day for 10-15 tops. I play alot of high end courses for free , alot. I play Bay Hill for instance 5-6 time year for free.

I know quite a few Pro golfers , no big TV names , just typical pro players making a living at the game , I was one of them for a while. Must all of us are pretty strong pool players. Not sure what the connection is , in my case I actually started with pool first when I was 5-6 years old. I do know golfers have a lot of free time on thier hands , we would get into town and hit a bar or whatever to relax before the morning. I could never sleep real well before the start of a tourny so I wouldn't fight it. So I/we usually end up playing pool most of the night. Helps woth your focus. I also was one that would over think the day if I didn't give my mind a break so often times we I go out and look for more pool. If you made a cut then you were there for the weekend , more pool , and if you didn't you had a few days to kill whether you stayed local or got into town early.

That's pretty much my background on it anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top