Snooker is better on TV than pool.

Fatboy

Fatboy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I took this from a post I just made on a different thread:

I'm gonna catch some heat for this but I firmly believe snooker is a far better game for TV, the ebb and flow of it is better than 9,10 ball, or 14.1. The safety battles are better than on a 9' table as well. Also the rule that allows the player to have his opponent put the CB back to where it was laying if his opponent fouls for a second attempt at the same shot people like to watch that(the non players) because they get to watch a second attempt, players know how easy or hard it is so the 2nd chance thing isnt as important. Also the no-rail after a hit makes it simple for nonplayers to understand, I dont know why but people who dont play just dont understand why or what a rail after the hit means(they just dont get it), its vitaly important in 9' table games but not in snooker, just running the CB upto the stack and freezing it is an awesome shot.


What do you think?
 
Well we're biased for a start. But snooker is the king of cue sports in my opinion, though I'm sure many will disagree. I've just never got the buzz out of playing on pool equipment that you get from playing at your peak on a pristine snooker table.

Boro Nut
 
I work in a "POOLhall", and I will take Snooker over pool, all day everyday! It is a much more enjoyable game to play, or to watch. It is certainly more fun to play than watching grass grow(i mean one pocket)! LOL
Jeremy
 
Well, the ball colours are easy to distinguish. It is much easier to follow on TV than pool games, especially 8ball or 14.1 which can be painful. When those striped balls come into play it is a pain to try and see which is say #11 ball or #14 ball, I need to rely on commentators too much.

Tables are big and look stunning both in person and on TV. The sound when the ball catches the back of the pocket is so much better than that of a pool table. If there has to be a king of cuesports...well, there's no question really.
 
Totally agree. ESPN should can the 5 yr old womens 9 ball & broadcast snooker!
 
I enjoy watching both but i do watch a lot more snooker. Got a solid 2 weeks of viewing to look forward to starting this weekend. :D
 
snooker perhaps is suited for tv a bit more - it's a slightly simpler game to comprehend and visually easier to understand.

and fatboy the point you make about re-taking a shot after a failed attempt at getting out of a snooker is quite controversial - it can be incredibly harsh and unforgiving and there are many in the game who say that rule should be abolished.

anyway 10-ball played to a high level is a better game imo and pool at it's best, but maybe atm snooker is more suited to tv.

although don't forget you are comparing the current high quality bbc tv coverage of snooker to the non existent coverage of mens pool or the women's game.

i do agree that snooker probably works a little better for joe public, but it's not like we have equivalent production values on 10-ball so we could actually see in practice how it'd work.

If there has to be a king of cuesports...well, there's no question really.
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well no. Pool is the sweetest, most satisfying, natural cue sport around.
 
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I have a different point of view. Now I love watching snooker, but that's because I'm a die hard Cue Sports fanatic. Maybe on the other side of the pond it would be more accepted, but I think the average joe in the U.S. wouldn't catch on as much. Mainly because they have never played and will never have a chance. There just aren't many snooker tables all over the U.S.

I do agree that the overhaul of women's classic 9 ball should conclude. There are so many great men's matches that could fill in for a few years.

I'd even rather see some TV matches of the finals of Amateur (Unknown) players. Let's say the BCA Final 8 or so from Vegas??

My wife said to me the other day, (As I watched 1 of the women's matches I had DVR'd), "Why are the same 3 women always on TV?". And she doesn't get into pool. Time to move on........

I love 10 ball far more than 9 ball.
 
Kinda like Boro and some other guys here I grew up watching snooker and we all still talk about Jimmy's missed black against Hendry or Dennis Taylor's epic match in 85 so I think that snooker is the pinnacle of cuesports, but pool hasn't been given a chance yet so it is not really a fair comparison. By the way I would just like to say to everybody in Europe who are gatting ready to watch the worlds for 2 weeks that you suck because you are getting to see this live and I am not. As you see I am a little jealous. Boro don't come on here and tell me that you are eating a sausage supper and drinking a brown ale as you are watching Selby and Maguire go at it because I don't want to know!!!:D
 
stuckart said:
My wife said to me the other day, (As I watched 1 of the women's matches I had DVR'd), "Why are the same 3 women always on TV?". And she doesn't get into pool. Time to move on........
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I know what you mean. Probably the first time I took an interest in televised pool was watching a women's match, but for entirely negative reasons. Gerda I think. I happened to flick across it just as she lined a shot along the cushion into the corner. I'm not kidding you she played it into the cushion a good 18" from the pocket. I let out a chortle and then was gobsmacked to watch it drop in! It never even rattled. I spent the rest of the match glued to the action saying "That's not right", "Jesus wept", and "I could have knocked that in with my cap".

That was a grossly unfair assessment, tainted by the equipment and not the quality of players. Many of those ladies can seriously play, especially the upper echelon, and would kick my tits in one handed any day of the week. Except Wednesdays. I'm shit hot one handed on Wednesday. I came to appreciate their genuine ability by watching more often, but like you the novelty has definitely worn off. And when they're bad, they're awful.

The other annoyance was the audience in those women's matches. It's like the sort of audience you'd get on a set of the Cosby Show, clapping to order on even the most mundane shots. Brought up on the knowledgeable snooker audiences carefully timed oohs and aahs it really grates on me. I can't concentrate on the match because every time a ball drops I'm imagining some moron behind the camera holding up a big card with "TOUCHDOWN!!!" written on it. Conversely I like the raucous nature of pool audiences in comparison to snooker, especially in Mosconi matches. But check out UK 8 ball internationals. It's like a football match with singing and chants. Their idea of using red and yellow balls is also a winner for tv.

Another plus is the commentary. I prefer snooker's informative and responsive but never intrusive style. And I'm amazed someone like me can often second guess a pool player far better than the pool commentators, even when it's another player commentating. They often sound surprised a shot was played a particular way that seemed all too obvious to me. I think they do it deliberately.

Boro Nut
 
Being a crazy Canuk and having a snooker table in my basement, I am biased towards snooker. Snooker is the king of cue sports.

Just my opinion (I know what that is worth), but perhaps the size of the snooker table comes into play.

With pool, I have seen people that have a hard time making 4 balls in a row, think they are an accomplished player. With this mindset, they don't think that the pros are that impressive. Will most bangers or occasional players, who are not impressed with a pro pool player, sit there and watch them on TV?

On the other hand anyone that steps up to a 6x12 immediately sees how much harder it is to make balls. Any flaw in your stroke becomes apparent. I don't think that someone making 4 colors in a row, has any illusion that they could make a century.

Anyone who has played the game, realizes just how good the professionals are. Knowing how difficult the game is helps the masses watch and appreciate snooker on TV.

I am not certain if this still goes on but, in Europe, can parents still send their children off to snooker summer camp?

I thought that the failed attempt was going to be changed and left up to the referee's discretion. I have seen players playing off multiple cushions, just miss touching the object ball, have to replay the shot. With an attempt like this, the referee could rule that an honest attempt was made.

Sorry for getting long winded, this happens when I talk about something I am passionate about.

Before going, I am in the middle of converting my snooker VHS to DVD. If anyone is interested in trading for, or buying (at cost), some DVD's drop me a line. Also, any ETA for your table Fatboy?

Regards,
Mike
 
Mike Porter said:
Being a crazy Canuk and having a snooker table in my basement, I am biased towards snooker. Snooker is the king of cue sports.

Just my opinion (I know what that is worth), but perhaps the size of the snooker table comes into play.

With pool, I have seen people that have a hard time making 4 balls in a row, think they are an accomplished player. With this mindset, they don't think that the pros are that impressive. Will most bangers or occasional players, who are not impressed with a pro pool player, sit there and watch them on TV?

On the other hand anyone that steps up to a 6x12 immediately sees how much harder it is to make balls. Any flaw in your stroke becomes apparent. I don't think that someone making 4 colors in a row, has any illusion that they could make a century.

Anyone who has played the game, realizes just how good the professionals are. Knowing how difficult the game is helps the masses watch and appreciate snooker on TV.

I am not certain if this still goes on but, in Europe, can parents still send their children off to snooker summer camp?

I thought that the failed attempt was going to be changed and left up to the referee's discretion. I have seen players playing off multiple cushions, just miss touching the object ball, have to replay the shot. With an attempt like this, the referee could rule that an honest attempt was made.

Sorry for getting long winded, this happens when I talk about something I am passionate about.

Before going, I am in the middle of converting my snooker VHS to DVD. If anyone is interested in trading for, or buying (at cost), some DVD's drop me a line. Also, any ETA for your table Fatboy?

Regards,
Mike
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That is true, I went last year and I'm going again this year! :D
 
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