Pool Will Never Be Big Like Golf

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
Pool has been on the decline since the late 1940’s with a few spikes for the Hustler and Color Of Money movies. There are many more things to do today than play pool. Kids have Little League all over the world. Then you have boys and girls baseball, football, soccer, and basketball leagues to name a few. Families now have media centers in their homes to watch TV, movies, and play video games. Just about every home has at least one computer that goes on the Internet. Pool needed to start 50 years ago if it was ever to catch on big with the youth (youth= new blood). I think pool is what it is and will always be in the shadows. What a shame it is because it’s a beautiful game. Too bad it was never really given a chance and promoted right. JMO. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
Pool has been on the decline since the late 1940’s with a few spikes for the Hustler and Color Of Money movies. There are many more things to do today than play pool. Kids have Little League all over the world. Then you have boys and girls baseball, football, soccer, and basketball leagues to name a few. Families now have media centers in their homes to watch TV, movies, and play video games. Just about every home has at least one computer that goes on the Internet. Pool needed to start 50 years ago if it was ever to catch on big with the youth (youth= new blood). I think pool is what it is and will always be in the shadows. What a shame it is because it’s a beautiful game. Too bad it was never really given a chance and promoted right. JMO. Johnnyt
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Never is a long time Johnny. The game needs be part of the USA Olympic training so programs can be set all across the USA to train the youth . Then kids will be exposed to the game, and with time the game can grow. A movie will help, but that is band aid fix. There needs to be more organization at the grass roots level for anything to succeed and one day pool can be a top sport.
 
Johnnyt said:
Pool has been on the decline since the late 1940’s with a few spikes for the Hustler and Color Of Money movies. There are many more things to do today than play pool. Kids have Little League all over the world. Then you have boys and girls baseball, football, soccer, and basketball leagues to name a few. Families now have media centers in their homes to watch TV, movies, and play video games. Just about every home has at least one computer that goes on the Internet. Pool needed to start 50 years ago if it was ever to catch on big with the youth (youth= new blood). I think pool is what it is and will always be in the shadows. What a shame it is because it’s a beautiful game. Too bad it was never really given a chance and promoted right. JMO. Johnnyt
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The simple answer is pool has a huge learning curve. Today we are a now society. Nothing wrong with that, that is just how it is. In pool when someone plays average to bad they may say, "Well I have only been playing a few years". Not many people today begin things that have a learning curve that is measured in years. You can complete a collage education quicker then becoming a high level pool player. Pool quite honestly may just not fit today's instant gratification mind set
 
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macguy said:
The simple answer is pool has a huge learning curve. Today we are a now society. Nothing wrong with that, that is just how it is. In pool when someone play average to bad they may say, "Well I have only been playing a few years". Not many people today begin that have a learning curve that is measured in years. You can complete a collage education quicker then becoming a high level pool player. Pool quite honestly may just not fit today's instant gratification mind set
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This is true. But golf isn't exactly easy to learn either. The problem in pool is there's no money in it. This is the same reason the military loses all their talent to the private sector. Follow the money and the reasons will be self evident.
 
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Mitchxout said:
This is true. But golf isn't exactly easy to learn either. The problem in pool is there's no money in it. This is the same reason the military loses all their talent to the private sector. Follow the money and the reasons will be self evident.
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Your right, in golf a young player can at least have a dream.
 
I'm assuming this thread pertains to the professional game. Last time I checked there were plenty of tables in homes and community centers and lots of people playing pool weekly in leagues, on dates, while drinking in bars, in tournaments, practicing, or friendly matches.

Pool may not be on the hot list of sports/games right now, but it isn't going away anytime soon either.
 
wow i just figured something that would help

We need to get diamond to start making shorter/smaller tables for younger generation.
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
I'm assuming this thread pertains to the professional game. Last time I checked there were plenty of tables in homes and community centers and lots of people playing pool weekly in leagues, on dates, while drinking in bars, in tournaments, practicing, or friendly matches.

Pool may not be on the hot list of sports/games right now, but it isn't going away anytime soon either.
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I think it pertains to a player really wanting to play well beyond what they play now. Many of the league players see it as a night out and a lot may not even practice much beyond league night. When I was a kid every player in the room thought they were going to be road players and could not get enough of the game. That may have changed, not that people don't still play but they are more take it or leave it now.

Beyond bars and bar leagues pool has declined with no real evidence or reason it should turn around any time soon if ever. It will always be around and have it's nitch but I don't see anything real or imagined that could make it any bigger then it is now other then small spikes due to a movie or something else. It exists as sort of a pass time for most and a subculture for some, such as us who visit this site everyday.
 
Johnnyt said:
Pool has been on the decline since the late 1940’s with a few spikes for the Hustler and Color Of Money movies. There are many more things to do today than play pool. Kids have Little League all over the world. Then you have boys and girls baseball, football, soccer, and basketball leagues to name a few. Families now have media centers in their homes to watch TV, movies, and play video games. Just about every home has at least one computer that goes on the Internet. Pool needed to start 50 years ago if it was ever to catch on big with the youth (youth= new blood). I think pool is what it is and will always be in the shadows. What a shame it is because it’s a beautiful game. Too bad it was never really given a chance and promoted right. JMO. Johnnyt
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You would run out of room listing the things pool will never be as big as. From bass fishing to cooking to collecting baseball cards to bike riding; if you listed the top 500 activities people like to do I bet pool would not even make the list.
 
There are many things that would help Pool become more mainstream, and IMHO Pool would do better with One Governing Body, and One Set of Standardized Rules.

Heck in the Valley of the Sun, we have like (7) different brand name of Pool Leagues, all trying to attract the same pool of players to their league. Plus each league operator is in competition with the other league operators to attract the players to their league.

Sports like Major league Baseball, the NBA (Basketball) , NFL (Football), NASCAR, NHRA (Drag Racing) , NHL (Hockey), PGA, etc. All have one governing body, and a single set of rules.

It has been said there is strength in numbers, and the NFL is way more successful that the old NFL & AFL when they were two different football leagues.
 
macguy said:
I think it pertains to a player really wanting to play well beyond what they play now. Many of the league players see it as a night out and a lot may not even practice much beyond league night. When I was a kid every player in the room thought they were going to be road players and could not get enough of the game. That may have changed, not that people don't still play but they are more take it or leave it now.

Beyond bars and bar leagues pool has declined with no real evidence or reason it should turn around any time soon if ever. It will always be around and have it's nitch but I don't see anything real or imagined that could make it any bigger then it is now other then small spikes due to a movie or something else. It exists as sort of a pass time for most and a subculture for some, such as us who visit this site everyday.
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Yeah, I know what you mean. The rooms were full of kids when I was young too. But you know, for most of those kids it was just a place to hang out and something to do at that age. Even among the better players and those serious about it, most of them did not stay with it as they got older. Puberty/girls/drivers license/job/college etc. got in the way and they moved on to other things.
 
Maybe with One Governing Body, and One Set of Standardized Rules. The Pro would alway get paid for their efforts, unlink the Recent Event in Reno, at The Pepper Mill Casino/Hotel.
 
It seems like some good people from the state of Texas are getting pool into schools and college. Maybe some othe states ae doing the same thing or more...I don't know. That is the kind of thing I would support. Johnnyt
 
I respectfully disagree. How long do you think it takes to play high level golf? The real reason is money. There is lots of it in golf and little in pool.

macguy said:
The simple answer is pool has a huge learning curve. Today we are a now society. Nothing wrong with that, that is just how it is. In pool when someone plays average to bad they may say, "Well I have only been playing a few years". Not many people today begin things that have a learning curve that is measured in years. You can complete a collage education quicker then becoming a high level pool player. Pool quite honestly may just not fit today's instant gratification mind set
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In Pool, the tournaments and leagues seem to operate in stealth mode.
Untill you have joined one, you don't really know that they exist, let alone a tournament to see some good players show.
It seems to be like a secret society and unless you are in the know, then you are in the I Don't Know.
Some advertising would certainly help, I mean there are quite a few adds on tele that show pool tables, bars with tables etc but not advertising pool directly.
An example is a National comp that is going to be in Hamilton in July. I happen to know it is on, but there is no advertising of it around. I asked why and the response was, we don't want too many to enter that we can't finish over the 2 day weekend, as well as the venue persons on site limit.
Playing pool even if you are a banger, is much better than watching a banger play.
But watching good players play, is always worth a look and support.
 
This is for Pocketpoint's consideration.

Do you think putt-putt golf and golf leagues will lead to the death of golf?

Sorry y'all I just had to do it.



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Johnnyt said:
Pool has been on the decline since the late 1940’s with a few spikes for the Hustler and Color Of Money movies. There are many more things to do today than play pool. Kids have Little League all over the world. Then you have boys and girls baseball, football, soccer, and basketball leagues to name a few. Families now have media centers in their homes to watch TV, movies, and play video games. Just about every home has at least one computer that goes on the Internet. Pool needed to start 50 years ago if it was ever to catch on big with the youth (youth= new blood). I think pool is what it is and will always be in the shadows. What a shame it is because it’s a beautiful game. Too bad it was never really given a chance and promoted right. JMO. Johnnyt
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Almost every high school has a golf team , subsidized by the tax payer . Almost any town with a population of 5,000 in an area where the weather isn't an issue has a municipal golf course , not to mention private golf courses .

The reason pool will never be like golf is because it receives no subsidy , and anybody can start a pool tour , if there were to be a rush of money into pool through TV etc , anyone could start a competing tour to siphon off players , that could be a postive or negative depending on a few factors .

Heck , a television network could start their own tour and control everything , and players would align themselves with whoever gave them the best deal .
 
Tony_in_MD said:
I respectfully disagree. How long do you think it takes to play high level golf? The real reason is money. There is lots of it in golf and little in pool.
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True, but why is there more money in golf than in pool?

I'll take a stab. There is a much larger number of men and women who are seriously into playing golf than there are into seriously playing pool, and these golfers have more disposable income than pool players. That makes them more attractive for companies to market their products to, that is, to support and televise tournaments and advertise to.

The next question is why there are more serious golfers than serious pool players. Besides being a challenging and fun game that also offers fresh air and exercise, it's considered to be an upscale activity that's good for social networking with the "right people" and career advancement. I suppose in a different universe these things could be true of pool also, but not in our universe.
 
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