Snooker players have typically done better playing pool than pool players playing snooker, but one of the reasons I think a snooker player really hasn't come over and dominated was brought to my attention while watching a match between Archer and Ronnie. They were both miked up, and hearing Ronnie's comments were very revealing. Anytime Archer cheated a pocket, played a carom, combo, masse, you could hear Ronnie gasp in disbelief. These we not really difficult shots, but probably very low percentage shots on a snooker table. I'd even dare say, the kind of shots many snooker players have never been "conditioned" to even attempt. So in addition to money which leads to a lack of motivation for a snooker player to be willing to do any more than just mess around with pool, I think there are lots of shots that not only are possible on a pool table, but even somewhat routine...........that aren't even considered in the game of snooker.
Dave
Good points, Dave.
Caroms; you don't get taught that in snooker. You get taught to play position to avoid it, or play safe.
Doubles; they do play them, but not when building a break. Its only played when the frame is won and they want to push past a century or get the high break in a tournament.
Combos; again, you play position to avoid them or play safe.
The tables, not only there size, are completely different in pool and snooker. Cut of the pockets, rails and cloth make a monumental difference. You don't know a long shot until you find yourself behind baulk playing at a red 10ft away on a snooker table.
There is a common misconception about snooker players; they ALWAYS stick to centre ball. Far from it. They use side spin just as much as pool players, but they are pros so they don't use more than is needed, or they choose draw or topspin when it can obtain the same result. They are worldclass at using side, obviously. And on most long shots to start a frame they use side. Snooker is quite similar to 14.1 in that you have a wide range of balls to choose from to start with so you naturally pick the easiest shot, usually without the use of side. Not until you reach the latter stage, a few reds left of a few balls left in 14.1 that you need to use side to gain position. I am pro measles ball for snooker, maybe then people would realise how much side spin snooker players use. Another misconception is that snooker players play for an 'area' an not a specific ball. Not true. They play for a specific ball all the time but it just happens that the reds are conjested so if they run out of position by a few inches they have others to choose from. Ronnie, for example, plays stupidly quick, and yet, he is planning 5, 6, 7 shots ahead each time. That's a full rack of 8 ball almost. And he made a 147 in under 6 mins. A rack of 9 ball takes me 2-5 minutes to run out. That's INSANE! If he chose pool as his profession then no one in the modern pool era would be able to touch him. Same can be said for any sport that involved a table and balls.
As for money...pool is seen as a 'bit on the side' for snooker players. Nothing too serious. However, I feel pool players see snooker as 'if only'. If Earl, Shane and Efren had played snooker since a young age then they would have excelled. Its a shame they would have come up against Steve Davis, Hendry and O'Sullivan because they would have really struggled to find the success they have seen in pool. If pool was guaranteed to pay out as much as the snooker world champs then you would see the guys from the top 16 in snooker that don't really stand a chance transfering over. But you don't. The US open pays half of what the snooker World Championships pays...difference being that in snooker, guaranteed means guranteed.
You really have to ask yourself - pool players are all about making a living, snooker gives you a better living - why aren't they moving to England? Same can be said for the English pool players moving to America - US pool pays more than English pool, so they move to America, just like Daz and Melling.
I'm sorry if this feels like a rant, it wasn't intended to be. But snooker vs pool comes up all the time and all I've said is just speculation. They are completely different games and both sides have tried the other side as camio appearances so until one player moves over and gives it a real shot, we have no idea how they will get on.
