Pool vs. Golf (again)

[CreeDo]

You can never say one sport is harder than another.

Sure you can, that's a copout

Harder can be:

1. more work and time needed to reach a stage where an average player respects your game, even if you're not a pro yet

2. more work and time needed to be officially recognized as a pro, or just competitive with the best in the world

3. more work and time needed to meet the goals set forth in the game.. i.e. "par" in golf. Or if you like, to play as perfectly as the game permits. To hole-in-one a single hole in golf is the best you can possibly do for that hole. And it is harder than running a rack of 8, 9, 10 ball.

4. more physical effort, mental effort, and/or hand-eye coordination.

5. more variables to keep track of (equipment choice, wind, slope, lie, etc)

I mean, I get what you're saying, and every game develops standards and tiers of skill, and getting to the top of those tiers is hard work for everyone... but each sport puts physical and mental challenges on a person and it's fair to rate which have it worst. I think games where reflexes and speed (i.e. baseball) are required are harder than turn-based games, and games where physical size and strength are required are harder yet (basketball, football) because most people won't win the genetic lottery in those areas and need to work much harder to become a pro.

 

[trustyrusty]

good post...one thing - those who do win the genetic lottery (let's say they're 6'8", 250 lbs, 30+ something inch vertical, and great speed) may find it near impossible to hit a little white golfball straight. They may end up thinking golf or pool is MUCH harder than the physical sport that they play so well. I have a buddy that passed the 550 mark in HRs in MLB (passing Mike Schmidt)...you don't wanna see him try to hit a golfball. lol. And yet, I've heard of pro hockey players having no trouble at all picking up a golfclub and shooting VERY respectable scores their FIRST time out!?!?

What's HARDER to play is VERY individual....

 

[Freddie O]

good post...one thing - those who do win the genetic lottery (let's say they're 6'8", 250 lbs, 30+ something inch vertical, and great speed) may find it near impossible to hit a little white golfball straight. They may end up thinking golf or pool is MUCH harder than the physical sport that they play so well. I have a buddy that passed the 550 mark in HRs in MLB (passing Mike Schmidt)...you don't wanna see him try to hit a golfball. lol. And yet, I've heard of pro hockey players having no trouble at all picking up a golfclub and shooting VERY respectable scores their FIRST time out!?!?

What's HARDER to play is VERY individual....

I'm assuming your buddy is Jim Thome. Cool. I met him when he was playing with the Phillies. We had the same doctor in Florida when he came down for spring training. Nice guy.

 

[trustyrusty]

I'm assuming your buddy is Jim Thome. Cool. I met him when he was playing with the Phillies. We had the same doctor in Florida when he came down for spring training. Nice guy.

Grew up a couple of blocks away from each other (went to same grade school and high school :thumbup: ). Really good guy. If he hadn't of had a couple of injury filled seasons he'd be at 600 (no doubt in my mind). Funny thing is we had a phenominal high school team when he was there, and he was probably the 3rd best player on the team....neither of the other guys have careers in baseball, nor are they making $15+ MIL this year - lol.

 

[john schmidt]

thats why its harder

It is not too difficult for most people to figure the major difference between pool and Hockey... Hockey has athletes in great physical condition that have agility talents that require a PHYSICAL conditioning that at a pro level can only be achieved by a very few. ATHLETES.

Pool and golf do not require any special athletic prowess. Old, young, Skinny, fat, short, tall, men and women can play golf and pool and compete at a professional level.

thats why being tops in pool or golf is hard because phsically just about anybody can do it. therefore harder to stand out because anybody can do it.

to say make it in the nba is hard but how many are 6 ft4 etc .

 

[trustyrusty]

thats why being tops in pool or golf is hard because phsically just about anybody can do it. therefore harder to stand out because anybody can do it.

to say make it in the nba is hard but how many are 6 ft4 etc .

I hear ya there....give me LeBron's body, and I AM playing in the NBA. I already have Padraig Harrington's body (we're similiar, not exact), and I haven't won 3 majors in the last couple of years. Heck, I haven't won a local tourney (do scrambles count?? ), let alone a pro one. lol

 

[Freddie O]

Grew up a couple of blocks away from each other (went to same grade school and high school :thumbup: ). Really good guy. If he hadn't of had a couple of injury filled seasons he'd be at 600 (no doubt in my mind). Funny thing is we had a phenominal high school team when he was there, and he was probably the 3rd best player on the team....neither of the other guys have careers in baseball, nor are they making $15+ MIL this year - lol.

Very cool story :thumbup:

 

[whitewolf]

I feel pool and golf are close in the race which is harder.They are the only two sports I know of where you are hitting a stationary ball.The way you have to be able to dissect the ball to gain any proffeciency is similiar.I love them both I think golf has to edge out pool in terms of difficulty by a fair margin.:thumbup:

True, but pool is MUCH more mentally challenging. I think you can be stupid and learn to play golf well, but in pool this is not true at the professional level. Just MHO.

 

[trustyrusty]

True, but pool is MUCH more mentally challenging. I think you can be stupid and learn to play golf well, but in pool this is not true at the professional level. Just MHO.

LOL - every great poolplayer could've been a rocket scientist or brain surgeon. True that golfers don't NEED to be smart, um-hmm, John Daly, cough, cough, but are you saying that there aren't great pool players that might be somewhat Daly-esque in their life choices, and decision making ability?? still laughing.........

 

[BVal]

There are many more things to consider in one golf shot then in one pool shot.

BVal

 

[trustyrusty]

There are many more things to consider in one golf shot then in one pool shot.

BVal

I think of a golf shot as related to pool terms as ALWAYS hitting a two way shot...but instead of missing and leaving your opponent bad, you miss where it'll hurt you the least (which I guess is kinda bad for your opponent as well). Factor in your lie, wind, firm or soft greens, slope of the green in most cases, pin placement, trajectory, ..... wow, guess it can get a bit complicated; that's why I just fire at the pin in most cases (stupid golfer).

 

[BVal]

I think of a golf shot as related to pool terms as ALWAYS hitting a two way shot...but instead of missing and leaving your opponent bad, you miss where it'll hurt you the least (which I guess is kinda bad for your opponent as well). Factor in your lie, wind, firm or soft greens, slope of the green in most cases, pin placement, trajectory, ..... wow, guess it can get a bit complicated; that's why I just fire at the pin in most cases (stupid golfer).

When I did golf I did the same thing. FIRE AWAY. I guess that is why I never broke 89.

BVal

 

[real bartram]

Very cool story :thumbup:

freddie why the pic of trevs in your avatar?

 

[memikey]

True, but pool is MUCH more mentally challenging. I think you can be stupid and learn to play golf well, but in pool this is not true at the professional level. Just MHO.

Depends a little bit on what definition of stupid you had in mind......but it's very difficult to see what you could possibly think justifies such broad statements.

Pool may or may not be more mentally challenging, that's definitely debatable in the first place......but the second sentence makes about as much logical sense as the super stupid Ronnie O'Sullivan normally makes