The future of pool

[(((Satori)))]

I have to agree that if someone were to employ the right concepts for the opening of pool rooms by a template.....Nationwide...and provide a corporate structure for the playing of the game of pool. Its effect would be felt throughout the industry. That's more tables being made and more people wanting tables in their homes and more cues and sets of balls, more cases made etc, etc and this would trickle down into more money for sponsoring professionals.

If someone decided they wanted to have the attention of 20 million or so pool players and profit from them and build businesses around their emotional love of the game, that someone could loosely own a huge market.

and its doable...who owns most of the rental property? Seniors. Seniors love kids and what kids want to do to an extent.

So if you put Seniors in charge they are going to have a place to put it, the money to invest in it and they are going to say how its run which means it will be well done.

If I were a Pool Products Company I would have to look at this very seriously. If it were possible to provide incentives for people who would open up small Billiard Clubs to provide for markets later on, where is the market now? Its a no brainer. Especially if you can get your investment right back once the thing is going.

Then a movie would have very very positive effect on the culture of the game. If I were doing it, gambling wouldn't be the central theme. It might be about a competition player that rose up from humble past...sort of a Karate Kid kind of guy with a strong character for a mentor.

Is it as simple as "if you build it, they will come?" One pool hall is a big loss for some and a nation wide corporation could bring the same results multiplied if there is not some kind of great marketing in place to make people across the nation want to play. Look at Slick Willies as a prime example.

As for the movie, I have thought a good story would be about a troubled kid who stumbles onto pool and at first enjoys the game for all the wrong reasons and then, as you say, he meets a mentor who teaches him the game which the kid uses the knowledge to learn about life. The kid decides that his dream is to win the US Open and the movie follows his journey of ups and downs along the way as he uses the knowledge gained from the mentor to succeed in pool and also turn his life around.

 

[336Robin]

Wrong Idea

Is it as simple as "if you build it, they will come?" One pool hall is a big loss for some and a nation wide corporation could bring the same results multiplied if there is not some kind of great marketing in place to make people across the nation want to play. Look at Slick Willies as a prime example.

As for the movie, I have thought a good story would be about a troubled kid who stumbles onto pool and at first enjoys the game for all the wrong reasons and then, as you say, he meets a mentor who teaches him the game which the kid uses the knowledge to learn about life. The kid decides that his dream is to win the US Open and the movie follows his journey of ups and downs along the way as he uses the knowledge gained from the mentor to succeed in pool and also turn his life around.

Satori,
Its far from "if you build it they will come". This would be set up as a Private Club in room cheap to rent, a key club sort of place and the members dues pay the rent. No alcohol license, a refrigerator, a table, some house cues no products counter. Its members set it up, pay the rent, provide the labor for renovations.

The corporation would know this up front. Its not a burgeoning pool business set in the shopping center, because pool isn't burgeoning right now. Its quiet set back in cut somewhere but its pool and its for the neighborhood kid. No major loss for anyone involved.

 

[(((Satori)))]

Satori,
Its far from "if you build it they will come". This would be set up as a Private Club in room cheap to rent, a key club sort of place and the members dues pay the rent. No alcohol license, a refrigerator, a table, some house cues no products counter. Its members set it up, pay the rent, provide the labor for renovations.

The corporation would know this up front. Its not a burgeoning pool business set in the shopping center, because pool isn't burgeoning right now. Its quiet set back in cut somewhere but its pool and its for the neighborhood kid. No major loss for anyone involved.

Oh ok, I need to follow along better.

 

[336Robin]

It seems Natural

Oh ok, I need to follow along better.

As places close up it seems natural that small clubs like this would open up. From what few figures I can throw together it would take 15 to 20 people with a thousand in it or one guy to open one up using Used Tables.

The same 15 to 20 people could pay the rent and electricity. Its a no brainer.

20 to 40 people in a small billiard club x 5000 communities =200,000 avid players who are advertisements in themselves and it was funded by.....themselves.

 

[macguy]

As places close up it seems natural that small clubs like this would open up. From what few figures I can throw together it would take 15 to 20 people with a thousand in it or one guy to open one up using Used Tables.

The same 15 to 20 people could pay the rent and electricity. Its a no brainer.

20 to 40 people in a small billiard club x 5000 communities =200,000 avid players who are advertisements in themselves and it was funded by.....themselves.

I think you would have more then that. each of those 15 or 20 would have several friends and family members who would also want to come, join or have guest program. It also should not be free.

Each member pay a small annual fee and costs could be maybe 1 or 2 dollars an hour to use the tables. It would also be set up as a nonprofit with an open books policy a board to run it and make rules. There has to be policies such as smoking drinking and so on.
Unless done correctly it would soon decent into chaos

I don't think you have to reinvent the wheel it is already being done from union halls to churches these kinds of private organizations are everywhere.

It could also be set up by one person and run as a private club taking advantage of the different treatment they get by laws. You could not just do this, A study of the viability would have to be done for each area to see what hoops they would have to jump through.

You don't want to start something that is going to have obvious problems. You want to know what you are getting into. Location is also not as essential since it is a private club.

There seems to be a lot of information already out there on the subject. Just google how to start a private club. It is really no different then a chess club or gun club it just has pool tables.

I found this by the way

http://www.minneapolisbilliardclub.com/

 

[336Robin]

Private Clubs

I think you would have more then that. each of those 15 or 20 would have several friends and family members who would also want to come, join or have guest program. It also should not be free.

Each member pay a small annual fee and costs could be maybe 1 or 2 dollars an hour to use the tables. It would also be set up as a nonprofit with an open books policy a board to run it and make rules. There has to be policies such as smoking drinking and so on.
Unless done correctly it would soon decent into chaos

I don't think you have to reinvent the wheel it is already being done from union halls to churches these kinds of private organizations are everywhere.

It could also be set up by one person and run as a private club taking advantage of the different treatment they get by laws. You could not just do this, A study of the viability would have to be done for each area to see what hoops they would have to jump through.

You don't want to start something that is going to have obvious problems. You want to know what you are getting into. Location is also not as essential since it is a private club.

There seems to be a lot of information already out there on the subject. Just google how to start a private club. It is really no different then a chess club or gun club it just has pool tables.

I found this by the way

http://www.minneapolisbilliardclub.com/

You make some really great points about the obvious problems. Anything has to have organization but at least with a decent plan it would be possible to do when some dedicated people are involved...money for it no problem....the other stuff....no problem and its not so expensive that one man couldnt do it if he really wanted to.

 

[macguy]

You make some really great points about the obvious problems. Anything has to have organization but at least with a decent plan it would be possible to do when some dedicated people are involved...money for it no problem....the other stuff....no problem and its not so expensive that one man couldnt do it if he really wanted to.

I have not looked up any numbers but what percent of golf courses are private clubs? Would golf be where it is without the private clubs, if it was just all half-assed run public courses? The concept of a private sports club seems to have a long history, why not pool?

 

[336Robin]

Good Point

I have not looked up any numbers but what percent of golf courses are private clubs? Would golf be where it is without the private clubs, if it was just all half-assed run public courses? The concept of a private sports club seems to have a long history, why not pool?

Thats a great point. Private Clubs do have advantages and leave it open for scholastic programs.

The beauty I see in it is if 1 person were to foot the bill and do it then there would be no need for a board if the board started making decisions because someone just didnt like someone else, the owner could put a quick stop to it.

So it would pay to get along with other members instead of letting certain people run the thing and abuse the other members.

 

[Baby Huey]

Pool is dying, period. At least in the USA. The beat down that pool took from our good city fathers for years has taken its toll. Terms like "pool room bum" "pool hustler" and "behind the 8 ball" just permeate our society, even to this day. If you are a Professional Poker Player, you are held in high esteem. When did poker get so well respected? Cheating has gone on in that sport since it began. I own a pool room on the west coast and I can tell you from personal experience that landlords don't want to rent to us cause we might bring down the neighborhood and the price of doing business is too high to grind out a living in the pool room business. I got lucky and own my building and that is the only way I can make a living. Now, in terms of bringing in new blood to pool, it is very difficult because pool is expensive for the average person to afford any more. I think my rates are very competitive but take and example of paying 60 cents an hour in the mid sixties to $5 an hour now the price is too high. I actually think $5 per hour may be on the low side for most rooms on the west coast. To become a decent player you are talking about a minimum of 6 hours per week for many months not including tournaments and any action you may get into. This and the lack of exposure on TV and the very little money available in tournaments brings us to our current situation. A few have tried to revive pool, Most recently Kevin Trudue and it didn't pan out for him. OK enough rambling. What I think is needed is some serious person with means to promote the game through the media and in tournaments. You might have to have some $200,000 events pretty regularly and have TV coverage as well. I would like to see a segment on HBO Real Sports documenting SVB rise to the top of pool with his hearing loss. What a story that would make and that kind of stuff brings us back to forefront. Over and out.

 

[macguy]

Pool is dying, period. At least in the USA. The beat down that pool took from our good city fathers for years has taken its toll. Terms like "pool room bum" "pool hustler" and "behind the 8 ball" just permeate our society, even to this day. If you are a Professional Poker Player, you are held in high esteem. When did poker get so well respected? Cheating has gone on in that sport since it began. I own a pool room on the west coast and I can tell you from personal experience that landlords don't want to rent to us cause we might bring down the neighborhood and the price of doing business is too high to grind out a living in the pool room business. I got lucky and own my building and that is the only way I can make a living. Now, in terms of bringing in new blood to pool, it is very difficult because pool is expensive for the average person to afford any more. I think my rates are very competitive but take and example of paying 60 cents an hour in the mid sixties to $5 an hour now the price is too high. I actually think $5 per hour may be on the low side for most rooms on the west coast. To become a decent player you are talking about a minimum of 6 hours per week for many months not including tournaments and any action you may get into. This and the lack of exposure on TV and the very little money available in tournaments brings us to our current situation. A few have tried to revive pool, Most recently Kevin Trudue and it didn't pan out for him. OK enough rambling. What I think is needed is some serious person with means to promote the game through the media and in tournaments. You might have to have some $200,000 events pretty regularly and have TV coverage as well. I would like to see a segment on HBO Real Sports documenting SVB rise to the top of pool with his hearing loss. What a story that would make and that kind of stuff brings us back to forefront. Over and out.

Owning your own building is not free. You could be sitting home collecting rent on that building from a Dollar store or something and not bother running a pool room. Or, you could sell the pool room business and remain the landlord. Either way, you don't have to be bothered with running a pool room anymore. If you don't like it just get out.

You know, what ever business you are in others always think you do everything wrong. You may find a buyer for your business even if business is not so good, they are sure they can do it better and you don't know what you are doing. Sometimes they are right. You often see a struggling business change hands and take right off..

 

[CJ Wiley]

The Metamorphosis and Transformation Process is Natural

The metamorphosis in nature, business and even individually requires "dying," so this is actually great news.

The "old pool" that we've struggled through the past 15 years has to die for the "new pool" to be born in the consciousness of the general public. This means we must only change everything......that's all, "just" everything including our attitudes, emotions and ideas about pool and allow the transformation to happen.....this is a tough order. and it will be done!

'The Game is our Teacher'

Pool is dying, period.

 

[sfleinen]

Oh, good grief, now he's CrackerJacking/fortune-cookie'ing Richard Bach? Who's next -- Osho?!?

-Sean <-- actually enjoyed Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Illusions

 

[CJ Wiley]

Is it possible that each of us has had "it" all along?

That's funny, and reminds me of a story..........

The story was about a farmer
who lived in Africa and through a visitor became tremendously excited
about looking for diamonds. Diamonds were already discovered in abundance
on the African continent and this farmer got so excited about the idea
of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that he sold his farm to head
out to the diamond line. He wandered all over the continent, as the
years slipped by, constantly searching for diamonds, wealth, which he
never found. Eventually he went completely broke and threw himself into
a river and drowned.

Meanwhile, the new owner of his farm picked up an unusual looking rock
about the size of a country egg and put it on his mantle as a sort of
curiosity. A visitor stopped by and in viewing the rock practically went
into terminal convulsions. He told the new owner of the farm that the
funny looking rock on his mantle was about the biggest diamond that had
ever been found. The new owner of the farm said, "Heck, the whole farm
is covered with them" - and sure enough it was.

The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine...the richest the
world has ever known. The original farmer was literally standing on
"Acres of Diamonds" until he sold his farm.

Oh, good grief, now he's CrackerJacking/fortune-cookie'ing Richard Bach? Who's next -- Osho?!?

-Sean <-- actually enjoyed Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Illusions

 

[336Robin]

Don't Sell The Farm!!!

That's funny, and reminds me of a story..........

The story was about a farmer
who lived in Africa and through a visitor became tremendously excited
about looking for diamonds. Diamonds were already discovered in abundance
on the African continent and this farmer got so excited about the idea
of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that he sold his farm to head
out to the diamond line. He wandered all over the continent, as the
years slipped by, constantly searching for diamonds, wealth, which he
never found. Eventually he went completely broke and threw himself into
a river and drowned.

Meanwhile, the new owner of his farm picked up an unusual looking rock
about the size of a country egg and put it on his mantle as a sort of
curiosity. A visitor stopped by and in viewing the rock practically went
into terminal convulsions. He told the new owner of the farm that the
funny looking rock on his mantle was about the biggest diamond that had
ever been found. The new owner of the farm said, "Heck, the whole farm
is covered with them" - and sure enough it was.

The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine...the richest the
world has ever known. The original farmer was literally standing on
"Acres of Diamonds" until he sold his farm.

Don't sell the farm boy, there's diamonds in them there pool balls!! lmao...

 

[Ruark]

Just throwing this in....

I think a lot of the "satisfaction" factor of pool... or the lack thereof... is that a shot either makes it, or it doesn't. With golf, for example, you have the satisfaction of the "whack" when you hit the ball, watching it sail hundreds of feet through the air, etc. If it lands 5, 10, 15 feet from the hole, it's still satisfying, every snot's not a hole-in-one, and all your friends say "good shot!"

Or tennis... you have the satisfaction of slamming the racket into the ball, it streaks over the net and down into the other court. It may not land exactly where you wanted it, but it's still good, the other guy still has to hit it back. And it's OK, every shot doesn't score a point.

Or bowling... you roll that ball down the lane... the anticipation builds... and WHAMMM!!! it smashes into the pins and scatters them willy-nilly. It may or may not be a strike, you might get 7 or 8 out of 10, but that's OK, nobody makes a strike every time.

Then in pool... you tap the cue with the stick, the ball rolls across the table... and MISSES. Aw, shucks, I missed. Well, I'll make this one, maybe... crap, I missed again. Ohhh, nothing good here, I'll just hit it and see what happens. Missed again.... and that's the way it is with pool.. You either make the shot, or you miss, and it means nothing. No "good shot," no "whack," no satisfaction. And beginners (the kind we're trying to attract into the game) are going to miss. A LOT. And that's why they'll lost interest so quickly.

We talk a lot about fancy strategies for popularizing pool, etc. but we also need to look at the reality of pool for the player, when he actually bends over the table and tries to make that shot, and how he feels then and how he feels a dozen missed shots later.

 

[336Robin]

Exactly Pool for beginners

Just throwing this in....

I think a lot of the "satisfaction" factor of pool... or the lack thereof... is that a shot either makes it, or it doesn't. With golf, for example, you have the satisfaction of the "whack" when you hit the ball, watching it sail hundreds of feet through the air, etc. If it lands 5, 10, 15 feet from the hole, it's still satisfying, every snot's not a hole-in-one, and all your friends say "good shot!"

Or tennis... you have the satisfaction of slamming the racket into the ball, it streaks over the net and down into the other court. It may not land exactly where you wanted it, but it's still good, the other guy still has to hit it back. And it's OK, every shot doesn't score a point.

Or bowling... you roll that ball down the lane... the anticipation builds... and WHAMMM!!! it smashes into the pins and scatters them willy-nilly. It may or may not be a strike, you might get 7 or 8 out of 10, but that's OK, nobody makes a strike every time.

Then in pool... you tap the cue with the stick, the ball rolls across the table... and MISSES. Aw, shucks, I missed. Well, I'll make this one, maybe... crap, I missed again. Ohhh, nothing good here, I'll just hit it and see what happens. Missed again.... and that's the way it is with pool.. You either make the shot, or you miss, and it means nothing. No "good shot," no "whack," no satisfaction. And beginners (the kind we're trying to attract into the game) are going to miss. A LOT. And that's why they'll lost interest so quickly.

We talk a lot about fancy strategies for popularizing pool, etc. but we also need to look at the reality of pool for the player, when he actually bends over the table and tries to make that shot, and how he feels then and how he feels a hundred missed shots later.

My Father of all people I wouldn't have suspected to ask me this said:

Millenials are young adults...how could pool change in order to appeal to Millenials.

I researched Millenials and thought on it a long time and found a niche I thought would work.

Solo matches are boring for a new player to watch at time and hell to play because they sit in the chair a lot.

The only way I have found that New People to the game would have fun...ie...elation an emotion is through.....Partners games.

There is social involvement and suspense.

So my take on it is to invite New People in set them to playing Partners games and maybe some of them will get hooked on the game.

This would be the way I would market to groups of people, people who work, people who are looking for Social interaction that want to have fun. The promotion of FUN I think is very important for existing rooms to gaining new customers be it pool customers or just customers.....

You can attract more flys with honey than vinegar.

 

[sfleinen]

Just throwing this in....

I think a lot of the "satisfaction" factor of pool... or the lack thereof... is that a shot either makes it, or it doesn't. With golf, for example, you have the satisfaction of the "whack" when you hit the ball, watching it sail hundreds of feet through the air, etc. If it lands 5, 10, 15 feet from the hole, it's still satisfying, every snot's not a hole-in-one, and all your friends say "good shot!"

Or tennis... you have the satisfaction of slamming the racket into the ball, it streaks over the net and down into the other court. It may not land exactly where you wanted it, but it's still good, the other guy still has to hit it back. And it's OK, every shot doesn't score a point.

Or bowling... you roll that ball down the lane... the anticipation builds... and WHAMMM!!! it smashes into the pins and scatters them willy-nilly. It may or may not be a strike, you might get 7 or 8 out of 10, but that's OK, nobody makes a strike every time.

Then in pool... you tap the cue with the stick, the ball rolls across the table... and MISSES. Aw, shucks, I missed. Well, I'll make this one, maybe... crap, I missed again. Ohhh, nothing good here, I'll just hit it and see what happens. Missed again.... and that's the way it is with pool.. You either make the shot, or you miss, and it means nothing. No "good shot," no "whack," no satisfaction. And beginners (the kind we're trying to attract into the game) are going to miss. A LOT. And that's why they'll lost interest so quickly.

We talk a lot about fancy strategies for popularizing pool, etc. but we also need to look at the reality of pool for the player, when he actually bends over the table and tries to make that shot, and how he feels then and how he feels a dozen missed shots later.

Ruark:

This is a VERY astute observation. Great post. I'm thinking you're on to something here.

What's interesting, is that our society -- today -- has devolved into one of extremists. Everybody is an extremist these days; hot or cold, black or white, left or right, republican or democrat (and the extremes of each, at that) -- and it's getting progressively worse over time. If you look at what's going on today, and compare to, say, 20 or more years ago, you'll see that we as a society have lost the meaning of the word MODERATION. Nobody knows what that means; of how to take the middle ground anymore, or of how to take the best aspects of both extremes and find a nice happy spot in the middle.

Where am I going with this? The interesting part is that, as you pointed out, pool is a sport of extremes -- you either pot the ball or you don't. Back when our society understood the meaning of the word moderation and applied it in daily life, pool was popular! Back when we were a nicely moderate society, we looked for those sports that offered us PERFECTION. Pool is great for that -- to participate in a sport where either you're successful or you're not, and you allow your meticulous soul to express itself.

Now that our society has lost that nice happy space in the middle, we look for things that help bring us to a happy space. E.g. "trophies for everyone, including 'participation awards' for those who didn't win." Or, in the case of recreational sports, those that gives us some type of satisfaction through the motions/effort of the sport itself. Of throwing that bowling ball down the lane, and hearing *at least some* of those pins disappear. Of whacking that tennis ball over the net, and watch what happens next -- will your opponent return it or not? Of throwing the basketball to the basket -- you make some and you miss some, you get good exercise, and you get recognition for playing your opponent even though there may be some friendly taunting on the court during play. Pool, on the other hand, does not offer this -- you get no trophies for participating in pool. Only the more skilled and better playing player during that match wins. The loser gets to sit after a miss. The only satisfaction comes when you successfully make a shot, and there's no joy in the actual motion of the activity itself. Like you said, poke a stick at a ball, and either you make the shot or you miss. To the average Joe/Jane Doe, this is not as rewarding as, say, throwing a bowling ball down a lane and hearing the crash of the pins -- what comes next (as far as pin count) is just gravy.

It's interesting comparing the changes in society compared to the popularity of certain sports. It certainly tells the tale of where we are as a people.

-Sean

 

[336Robin]

Recognition Needed

Ruark:

This is a VERY astute observation. Great post. I'm thinking you're on to something here.

What's interesting, is that our society -- today -- has devolved into one of extremists. Everybody is an extremist these days; hot or cold, black or white, left or right, republican or democrat (and the extremes of each, at that) -- and it's getting progressively worse over time. If you look at what's going on today, and compare to, say, 20 or more years ago, you'll see that we as a society have lost the meaning of the word MODERATION. Nobody knows what that means; of how to take the middle ground anymore, or of how to take the best aspects of both extremes and find a nice happy spot in the middle.

Where am I going with this? The interesting part is that, as you pointed out, pool is a sport of extremes -- you either pot the ball or you don't. Back when our society understood the meaning of the word moderation and applied it in daily life, pool was popular! Back when we were a nicely moderate society, we looked for those sports that offered us PERFECTION. Pool is great for that -- to participate in a sport where either you're successful or you're not, and you allow your meticulous soul to express itself.

Now that our society has lost that nice happy space in the middle, we look for things that help bring us to a happy space. E.g. "trophies for everyone, including 'participation awards' for those who didn't win." Or, in the case of recreational sports, those that gives us some type of satisfaction through the motions/effort of the sport itself. Of throwing that bowling ball down the lane, and hearing *at least some* of those pins disappear. Of whacking that tennis ball over the net, and watch what happens next -- will your opponent return it or not? Of throwing the basketball to the basket -- you make some and you miss some, you get good exercise, and you get recognition for playing your opponent even though there may be some friendly taunting on the court during play. Pool, on the other hand, does not offer this -- you get no trophies for participating in pool. Only the more skilled and better playing player during that match wins. The loser gets to sit after a miss. The only satisfaction comes when you successfully make a shot, and there's no joy in the actual motion of the activity itself. Like you said, poke a stick at a ball, and either you make the shot or you miss. To the average Joe/Jane Doe, this is not as rewarding as, say, throwing a bowling ball down a lane and hearing the crash of the pins -- what comes next (as far as pin count) is just gravy.

It's interesting comparing the changes in society compared to the popularity of certain sports. It certainly tells the tale of where we are as a people.

-Sean

Sean,
I always thought one way of recognizing pool players for their play was to have a standard race...like race to 11 and let people challenge each other for position on a skill ladder and post it. Let people challenge up to two spots above them for position. This way they get to see how they really rate with the local players. This probably flys in the face of the whole "Stealth" thing when people are trying to sneak up on someone or keep their speed unknown but these days I really dont think that is such a consideration. I just think it would be really cool thing to do and it might promote a little seniority.

 

[Cardigan Kid]

Ruark:

This is a VERY astute observation. Great post. I'm thinking you're on to something here.

What's interesting, is that our society -- today -- has devolved into one of extremists. Everybody is an extremist these days; hot or cold, black or white, left or right, republican or democrat (and the extremes of each, at that) -- and it's getting progressively worse over time. If you look at what's going on today, and compare to, say, 20 or more years ago, you'll see that we as a society have lost the meaning of the word MODERATION. Nobody knows what that means; of how to take the middle ground anymore, or of how to take the best aspects of both extremes and find a nice happy spot in the middle.

Where am I going with this? The interesting part is that, as you pointed out, pool is a sport of extremes -- you either pot the ball or you don't. Back when our society understood the meaning of the word moderation and applied it in daily life, pool was popular! Back when we were a nicely moderate society, we looked for those sports that offered us PERFECTION. Pool is great for that -- to participate in a sport where either you're successful or you're not, and you allow your meticulous soul to express itself.

Now that our society has lost that nice happy space in the middle, we look for things that help bring us to a happy space. E.g. "trophies for everyone, including 'participation awards' for those who didn't win." Or, in the case of recreational sports, those that gives us some type of satisfaction through the motions/effort of the sport itself. Of throwing that bowling ball down the lane, and hearing *at least some* of those pins disappear. Of whacking that tennis ball over the net, and watch what happens next -- will your opponent return it or not? Of throwing the basketball to the basket -- you make some and you miss some, you get good exercise, and you get recognition for playing your opponent even though there may be some friendly taunting on the court during play. Pool, on the other hand, does not offer this -- you get no trophies for participating in pool. Only the more skilled and better playing player during that match wins. The loser gets to sit after a miss. The only satisfaction comes when you successfully make a shot, and there's no joy in the actual motion of the activity itself. Like you said, poke a stick at a ball, and either you make the shot or you miss. To the average Joe/Jane Doe, this is not as rewarding as, say, throwing a bowling ball down a lane and hearing the crash of the pins -- what comes next (as far as pin count) is just gravy.

It's interesting comparing the changes in society compared to the popularity of certain sports. It certainly tells the tale of where we are as a people.

-Sean

These are all excellent observations. All very true.
Another thing I noticed with the millennials is their attention spans. Look none further than movies or commercials. movies like good, bad, and the ugly...the godfather...Even the hustler, all had static shots-long takes of one angle where you allow the actors and the stories to develop on screen. For the last twenty years, the editing and pacing had gotten faster and faster to today, if any edit is held for over a second in movies it's considered too long. Jump cuts, fast pacing, and quick story arcs have been pushed to where the youth of today had grown up with a short attention span.

The same can be said for commercials and advertisements. That lighting fast editing pace of eighty cuts a minute would have given epileptic seizures back in the fifties and sixties.

Translate that to pool...the pacing is not enough to hold the attention span of today's youth. I see it all the time at the turning stone classic. Free admission. A few twenty somethings walk in and sit down...point and whisper...watch for ten minutes then the Texas hold em tables start calling and they get out of there.

Same when I worked in a pool hall, if twenty somethings and teenagers were on a table for an hour it was too long, until the clubs opened, etc.

Not enough of attention span to watch or learn the game.

 

[sfleinen]

Sean,
I always thought one way of recognizing pool players for their play was to have a standard race...like race to 11 and let people challenge each other for position on a skill ladder and post it. Let people challenge up to two spots above them for position. This way they get to see how they really rate with the local players. This probably flys in the face of the whole "Stealth" thing when people are trying to sneak up on someone or keep their speed unknown but these days I really dont think that is such a consideration. I just think it would be really cool thing to do and it might promote a little seniority.

Robin:

I agree, but the problem with this approach is that you still have a "caste" system (the ladder you mentioned) on a sport that, itself, doesn't offer the immediate "alternate" gratification with every action. You still have the same problem that the cue sports are a "success/fail" endeavor with every shot; every shot is black or white -- "did the ball go in?". There's no in-between. Other sports have the caste thing built-in -- i.e. in bowling, you don't have to get a strike, as long as you knock down some pins and make a crash sound. Or, in tennis, as long as you connect with the ball and put it over the net, what happens next -- whether your opponent is able to return it or not -- is just gravy. Putting a "caste" system around a success/fail sport of extremes like pool doesn't fix that problem, IMHO.

These days, it takes a special person who's not caught up in the extremist nature of our society to appreciate the beauty that the cue sports can offer.

IMHO, anyway,
-Sean