The future of pool part Viiiixhiiibgsj

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BlueCollarBar

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm fairly new to this forum and I'm also a rather new bar/pool hall owner that is also a long time player. I developed my early passion for the game from my very outspoken and passionate father, nobcitypool. Yes he is an asshole and yes I wanted to beat him so badly that I figured out how to get better and eventually surpass him in skill no matter how much he doesn't want to admit it now! Regardless he has still continued to teach me more and more about the game and truly shown me what it means to be passionate about this game. I suspect that many of you came to love the game in a very similar way.


I've always been a decently naturally talented player but I never realized the true potential of this game until I was fortunate enough to watch Stevie Moore and some other incredibly talented players play in a tournament I hosted at my bar. I've been fortunate to work with Stevie on my game on a few different occasions and it has really ignited my
Passion for the game as a player. I've learned things I never even knew were possible through the CTE/pro 1 aiming system as far as my own game is concerned. That isn't the point though.

I've put hours upon hours of thought into what can improve and grow this game. I've compared it to the NFL, NBA, PGA and etc and I've come to one conclusion. Anyone that plays those games plays them on the same field, court, course, etc from day one. A football field is 100 yards long, a golf course is the same course no matter what tees you play from, a basketball court is the same dimensions in middle schoolc college and the NBA. Yes certain things may be altered as skill increases but it's still on the same field. The fascination is those sports comes from people attempting to do what they see the best of the best do and finding it nearly impossible to replicate on the SAME playing surface.

The following are some thoughts I posted to Facebook earlier. It may be a bit repetitive from what I said above but i think it's worth reposting here.

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately. I've wondered if Birmingham and even Alabama as a state or the United state as a whole can truly support growing the game of pool. I've debated if trying to bring the best of the best in for money added tournaments can be profitable for my business and for the players that come to play.

I know I'm not going to get rich anytime soon trying to promote the game in almost any state but I do believe that the game of pool has a certain mystique than draws people to it. Beginner or veteran league players don't get enough chances to see what can be done on a pool table because it's not televised but the question is where does a sport go from small time to big time? If they don't get to see the potential of pool on tv or in person that is easily accessible what do they have to strive for that is better than what they currently are?

Football, basketball, golf and etc started somewhere so where does the billiards industry fall in to place and where do we go from here? I believe that because all of those sports are played on the same field, court or course as anyone else that plays the game they have had become more marketable and more profitable.

If and when the best of the best will start to embrace battling out matches on the same tables as the masses play on regularly in the same kinds of places the masses play in or at the very least the same tables that are regularly accessible the sport will never grow beyond its current stat e.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
I'm fairly new to this forum and I'm also a rather new bar/pool hall owner that is also a long time player. I developed my early passion for the game from my very outspoken and passionate father, nobcitypool. Yes he is an asshole and yes I wanted to beat him so badly that I figured out how to get better and eventually surpass him in skill no matter how much he doesn't want to admit it now! Regardless he has still continued to teach me more and more about the game and truly shown me what it means to be passionate about this game. I suspect that many of you came to love the game in a very similar way.


I've always been a decently naturally talented player but I never realized the true potential of this game until I was fortunate enough to watch Stevie Moore and some other incredibly talented players play in a tournament I hosted at my bar. I've been fortunate to work with Stevie on my game on a few different occasions and it has really ignited my
Passion for the game as a player. I've learned things I never even knew were possible through the CTE/pro 1 aiming system as far as my own game is concerned. That isn't the point though.

I've put hours upon hours of thought into what can improve and grow this game. I've compared it to the NFL, NBA, PGA and etc and I've come to one conclusion. Anyone that plays those games plays them on the same field, court, course, etc from day one. A football field is 100 yards long, a golf course is the same course no matter what tees you play from, a basketball court is the same dimensions in middle schoolc college and the NBA. Yes certain things may be altered as skill increases but it's still on the same field. The fascination is those sports comes from people attempting to do what they see the best of the best do and finding it nearly impossible to replicate on the SAME playing surface.

The following are some thoughts I posted to Facebook earlier. It may be a bit repetitive from what I said above but i think it's worth reposting here.

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately. I've wondered if Birmingham and even Alabama as a state or the United state as a whole can truly support growing the game of pool. I've debated if trying to bring the best of the best in for money added tournaments can be profitable for my business and for the players that come to play.

I know I'm not going to get rich anytime soon trying to promote the game in almost any state but I do believe that the game of pool has a certain mystique than draws people to it. Beginner or veteran league players don't get enough chances to see what can be done on a pool table because it's not televised but the question is where does a sport go from small time to big time? If they don't get to see the potential of pool on tv or in person that is easily accessible what do they have to strive for that is better than what they currently are?

Football, basketball, golf and etc started somewhere so where does the billiards industry fall in to place and where do we go from here? I believe that because all of those sports are played on the same field, court or course as anyone else that plays the game they have had become more marketable and more profitable.

If and when the best of the best will start to embrace battling out matches on the same tables as the masses play on regularly in the same kinds of places the masses play in or at the very least the same tables that are regularly accessible the sport will never grow beyond its current stat e.
Click to expand...

This is why they invented rubbers.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
I'm fairly new to this forum and I'm also a rather new bar/pool hall owner that is also a long time player. I developed my early passion for the game from my very outspoken and passionate father, nobcitypool. Yes he is an asshole and yes I wanted to beat him so badly that I figured out how to get better and eventually surpass him in skill no matter how much he doesn't want to admit it now! Regardless he has still continued to teach me more and more about the game and truly shown me what it means to be passionate about this game. I suspect that many of you came to love the game in a very similar way.


I've always been a decently naturally talented player but I never realized the true potential of this game until I was fortunate enough to watch Stevie Moore and some other incredibly talented players play in a tournament I hosted at my bar. I've been fortunate to work with Stevie on my game on a few different occasions and it has really ignited my
Passion for the game as a player. I've learned things I never even knew were possible through the CTE/pro 1 aiming system as far as my own game is concerned. That isn't the point though.

I've put hours upon hours of thought into what can improve and grow this game. I've compared it to the NFL, NBA, PGA and etc and I've come to one conclusion. Anyone that plays those games plays them on the same field, court, course, etc from day one. A football field is 100 yards long, a golf course is the same course no matter what tees you play from, a basketball court is the same dimensions in middle schoolc college and the NBA. Yes certain things may be altered as skill increases but it's still on the same field. The fascination is those sports comes from people attempting to do what they see the best of the best do and finding it nearly impossible to replicate on the SAME playing surface.

The following are some thoughts I posted to Facebook earlier. It may be a bit repetitive from what I said above but i think it's worth reposting here.

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately. I've wondered if Birmingham and even Alabama as a state or the United state as a whole can truly support growing the game of pool. I've debated if trying to bring the best of the best in for money added tournaments can be profitable for my business and for the players that come to play.

I know I'm not going to get rich anytime soon trying to promote the game in almost any state but I do believe that the game of pool has a certain mystique than draws people to it. Beginner or veteran league players don't get enough chances to see what can be done on a pool table because it's not televised but the question is where does a sport go from small time to big time? If they don't get to see the potential of pool on tv or in person that is easily accessible what do they have to strive for that is better than what they currently are?

Football, basketball, golf and etc started somewhere so where does the billiards industry fall in to place and where do we go from here? I believe that because all of those sports are played on the same field, court or course as anyone else that plays the game they have had become more marketable and more profitable.

If and when the best of the best will start to embrace battling out matches on the same tables as the masses play on regularly in the same kinds of places the masses play in or at the very least the same tables that are regularly accessible the sport will never grow beyond its current stat e.
Click to expand...

I dont think that is the issue and I'll also point out that Baseball is played on different size fields, Little League football also uses shorter fields, same with soccer, and golf has different tee boxes for different levels.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
I'm fairly new to this forum and I'm also a rather new bar/pool hall owner that is also a long time player. I developed my early passion for the game from my very outspoken and passionate father, nobcitypool. Yes he is an asshole and yes I wanted to beat him so badly that I figured out how to get better and eventually surpass him in skill no matter how much he doesn't want to admit it now! Regardless he has still continued to teach me more and more about the game and truly shown me what it means to be passionate about this game. I suspect that many of you came to love the game in a very similar way.


I've always been a decently naturally talented player but I never realized the true potential of this game until I was fortunate enough to watch Stevie Moore and some other incredibly talented players play in a tournament I hosted at my bar. I've been fortunate to work with Stevie on my game on a few different occasions and it has really ignited my
Passion for the game as a player. I've learned things I never even knew were possible through the CTE/pro 1 aiming system as far as my own game is concerned. That isn't the point though.

I've put hours upon hours of thought into what can improve and grow this game. I've compared it to the NFL, NBA, PGA and etc and I've come to one conclusion. Anyone that plays those games plays them on the same field, court, course, etc from day one. A football field is 100 yards long, a golf course is the same course no matter what tees you play from, a basketball court is the same dimensions in middle schoolc college and the NBA. Yes certain things may be altered as skill increases but it's still on the same field. The fascination is those sports comes from people attempting to do what they see the best of the best do and finding it nearly impossible to replicate on the SAME playing surface.

The following are some thoughts I posted to Facebook earlier. It may be a bit repetitive from what I said above but i think it's worth reposting here.

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately. I've wondered if Birmingham and even Alabama as a state or the United state as a whole can truly support growing the game of pool. I've debated if trying to bring the best of the best in for money added tournaments can be profitable for my business and for the players that come to play.

I know I'm not going to get rich anytime soon trying to promote the game in almost any state but I do believe that the game of pool has a certain mystique than draws people to it. Beginner or veteran league players don't get enough chances to see what can be done on a pool table because it's not televised but the question is where does a sport go from small time to big time? If they don't get to see the potential of pool on tv or in person that is easily accessible what do they have to strive for that is better than what they currently are?

Football, basketball, golf and etc started somewhere so where does the billiards industry fall in to place and where do we go from here? I believe that because all of those sports are played on the same field, court or course as anyone else that plays the game they have had become more marketable and more profitable.

If and when the best of the best will start to embrace battling out matches on the same tables as the masses play on regularly in the same kinds of places the masses play in or at the very least the same tables that are regularly accessible the sport will never grow beyond its current stat e.
Click to expand...

Ive wanted to get into the Billiard Trade Show business for the past few years and I have identified a way to do it but something like this is a very long range goal that involves sharing.

You will find that pool is a business where no sharing is done. People feel as if they have to protect their own piece of the pie and they find a way to eek out a living without sharing contacts, customers or really helping anyone else for that matter.

Last week I talked to a guy who plays in 3 different league systems because he loves pool and he knew nothing about the US Open or AzBilliards.

You would think that the local league systems would at least be asked to advertise the fact that the US Open exists but that isn't the case, then you have to face the fact that the seats weren't there if they were interested.

There is a lot wrong with pool but the main thing is that we aren't bringing new players into the game and that isn't just kids.

We don't get in touch with new demographics because we simply don't invite them.

Pool tables are bait for businesses like yours. If you called up different groups of people and invited them in for some loosely organized fun and said hey come down for free and enjoy yourself you would have lost nothing and possibly gained a customer out of it.

I didn't say do it all the time, but what would it hurt to have a free pool day for a local business so you can market what you are selling.

I don't think having tournaments really does much for business promotion it just moves the same existing players around in hopes they will buy a drink and that's not much profit when you consider they are going to go to the next bar to play their tournament and they don't have a lot of loyalty.

In my mind if you find a way to market to the general public in order to bring people into your place that are relatively new to the game that is where you bring in new business and you do that by using pool as bait and by creating new players.

Just my opinion of course but its been proven to work.

The problem is that it breaks the mould of what is traditionally done and requires enough effort to make an invitation and plan someones good time.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
I'm fairly new to this forum and I'm also a rather new bar/pool hall owner that is also a long time player. I developed my early passion for the game from my very outspoken and passionate father, nobcitypool. Yes he is an asshole and yes I wanted to beat him so badly that I figured out how to get better and eventually surpass him in skill no matter how much he doesn't want to admit it now! Regardless he has still continued to teach me more and more about the game and truly shown me what it means to be passionate about this game. I suspect that many of you came to love the game in a very similar way.


I've always been a decently naturally talented player but I never realized the true potential of this game until I was fortunate enough to watch Stevie Moore and some other incredibly talented players play in a tournament I hosted at my bar. I've been fortunate to work with Stevie on my game on a few different occasions and it has really ignited my
Passion for the game as a player. I've learned things I never even knew were possible through the CTE/pro 1 aiming system as far as my own game is concerned. That isn't the point though.

I've put hours upon hours of thought into what can improve and grow this game. I've compared it to the NFL, NBA, PGA and etc and I've come to one conclusion. Anyone that plays those games plays them on the same field, court, course, etc from day one. A football field is 100 yards long, a golf course is the same course no matter what tees you play from, a basketball court is the same dimensions in middle schoolc college and the NBA. Yes certain things may be altered as skill increases but it's still on the same field. The fascination is those sports comes from people attempting to do what they see the best of the best do and finding it nearly impossible to replicate on the SAME playing surface.

The following are some thoughts I posted to Facebook earlier. It may be a bit repetitive from what I said above but i think it's worth reposting here.

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately. I've wondered if Birmingham and even Alabama as a state or the United state as a whole can truly support growing the game of pool. I've debated if trying to bring the best of the best in for money added tournaments can be profitable for my business and for the players that come to play.

I know I'm not going to get rich anytime soon trying to promote the game in almost any state but I do believe that the game of pool has a certain mystique than draws people to it. Beginner or veteran league players don't get enough chances to see what can be done on a pool table because it's not televised but the question is where does a sport go from small time to big time? If they don't get to see the potential of pool on tv or in person that is easily accessible what do they have to strive for that is better than what they currently are?

Football, basketball, golf and etc started somewhere so where does the billiards industry fall in to place and where do we go from here? I believe that because all of those sports are played on the same field, court or course as anyone else that plays the game they have had become more marketable and more profitable.

If and when the best of the best will start to embrace battling out matches on the same tables as the masses play on regularly in the same kinds of places the masses play in or at the very least the same tables that are regularly accessible the sport will never grow beyond its current stat e.
Click to expand...

Lots of "I and me" in your message. I'll bet you own an 8 foot wide mirror to view yourself in.
 
Tate, so glad you have something educated to respond with. You are clearly a jack ass. Please sell your cues to someone that actually cares about the game and walk away.
 
Yes the fields and courts may be slightly varied but compare the difference of those variances from a 7' bar table to a 9' table that most professional events are held on. A brand new player could potentially take an hour or more to pocket 15 balls on a professional 9' table but on a 7' table they could do in under 20 minutes easily. Children and adults in sports isn't necessarily the point and a graduating scale is somewhat necessary from an age aspect.

Arena football and the NFL are 2 different sports. I get why it would be brought up but it is completely different rules, game play and fan bases. I'm using MAJOR sports as a comparison. It would be hard to argue that there is any sport other than soccer or golf that are played more worldwide on a daily basis than pool but yet the pay outs are a tenth of the major sports.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
Yes the fields and courts may be slightly varied but compare the difference of those variances from a 7' bar table to a 9' table that most professional events are held on.
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NFL-Compare the difference of the field in Cowboys stadium compared to the field mapped out in the local park by a group of friends to play a game on after they watch the big game on t.v. (the same could be said for soccer or any other sport)

Golf- Compare the difference in the course used for the major on t.v. and the much shorter, wider, flatter, and easier course millions of golfers get inspired to play on.

7' to 9' is not the problem. Amateurs don't require the same playing conditions, especially if they just t want to have fun.
 
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Golf would be the best comparison in my opinion to pool. Almost all, not all, golf courses are available to be played by the General public. I played at a very high level in golf when I was younger and I have played both private and public courses and one thing that holds true is that beyond the tee boxes it is the EXACT same course. A 9' diamond is different from a 7' valley in almost every way.

Yes the average golfer plays on courses you describe but what is it that is so different that inspires so many to aspire to spend thousands of dollars on equipment and lessons in golf but it doesn't in pool? I am merely an above average pool player but yet I have people in awe of my game when I am playing at my best on a bar box. Imagine if those same people could watch SVB on that very same table. I think that would elicit the very same emotions that a golfer gets from playing on the same course that tiger woods played in in the us open.
 
If it wasn't clear to everyone that me referring to my father as an asshole was a joke please understand that it was a joke. A few people brought it to my attention that it could be misconstrued and I want to clarify that although he may be passionate and misunderstood at times he is not an asshole and that his passion for this game should never be mistaken for anything other than passion and respect for the game we both love.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
Golf would be the best comparison in my opinion to pool. Almost all, not all, golf courses are available to be played by the General public. I played at a very high level in golf when I was younger and I have played both private and public courses and one thing that holds true is that beyond the tee boxes it is the EXACT same course. A 9' diamond is different from a 7' valley in almost every way.

Yes the average golfer plays on courses you describe but what is it that is so different that inspires so many to aspire to spend thousands of dollars on equipment and lessons in golf but it doesn't in pool? I am merely an above average pool player but yet I have people in awe of my game when I am playing at my best on a bar box. Imagine if those same people could watch SVB on that very same table. I think that would elicit the very same emotions that a golfer gets from playing on the same course that tiger woods played in in the us open.
Click to expand...
http://youtu.be/6EBsLOJv-yI
 
I'm in no way bragging on my own game because I am an above average player at best at this point but that's exactly my point. If people are impressed by my game imagine if they were exposed to the best on the same tables they play on.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
If it wasn't clear to everyone that me referring to my father as an asshole was a joke please understand that it was a joke. A few people brought it to my attention that it could be misconstrued and I want to clarify that although he may be passionate and misunderstood at times he is not an asshole and that his passion for this game should never be mistaken for anything other than passion and respect for the game we both love.
Click to expand...

That's better. I didn't realize it was a joke and your message was lost on me at that point.

A child who realizes how much a good parent invests of themselves in a child, which often amounts to everything they have in life, everything they own or can earn or borrow, every hope for their safety, love and happiness and every gut wrenching emotion a parent can muster, would never seriously call their parent an "asshole".

Neither would they pursue a skill just to be superior to their parent, even though their parent truly wants them to be superior, better than themselves, in life and in every way imaginable. They would not want to beat their parent down, they would want to help them stagger though the final chapters of their lives with nothing left but the memory of their loving children.
 
Athletic sports (football, basketball, soccer, baseball) are popular because we begin playing them as kids. Kids aren't interested in pool because it is too slow and doesn't burn off the excess energy that kids naturally have. Tell a kid to sit in the chair and be quiet while his opponent shoots; he'll be out the door in a flash. Bottom line is kids need to physically MOVE in order to enjoy any activity.

Regulation field size, equipment, etc. has nothing to do with it.

IMHO the best way to grow the industry is through leagues. Yeah, we hate leagues but they've got the best/only formula for bringing new players into the game.

And recognize that like any kind of sales, it's a numbers game. Ten people try the game, one becomes a regular player. Out of ten regular players, one player takes the game seriously enough to play on non-league nights. It takes ten of those "serious" players to get one who buys his own cue and/or takes lessons. It takes ten of those to get one player who wants to enter regional tournaments. And so on.

Hyping the professional circuit will do nothing to grow the game. Sorry, but that just appeals to the already-existing (and shrinking) audience.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
I'm in no way bragging on my own game because I am an above average player at best at this point but that's exactly my point. If people are impressed by my game imagine if they were exposed to the best on the same tables they play on.
Click to expand...

Most pros I watch are also "above average players"

Cuebuddy= avaerage> middle of the road>> garden variety>>>run of the mill.
I bask in an air of total mediocrity.:wink:
 
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