Whatever Happened to Bonus Ball?

C

Carolina Blue

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Last season came and went. Will there be a second season? I haven't seen anything about one on AZ or Facebook or anywhere else? Does anyone know if this was a one-hit wonder or if it will have another go?
 
I really hope there will be another season. IMO the future of this great game is in local leagues. Once more people start playing it and understand the elegance of this game, more fans and sponsors will be attracted to the professional events.
 
I never even gave effort to learn what it was...so many negative threads..

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
 
If they really wanted this game to have succeeded...

They shouldn't have gone with the special ball set.

They should've used solids and stripes and the eight ball to represent to one pointers, two pointers and bonus ball.

People won't enjoy a game they don't think they can play without buying a $200 set of balls...

Jaden
 
@Rivhardo

Give it a try, all playoff matches are free now! And the quality of production is simply outstanding. http://wpbltv.com/pages/playoff_archives

This game is fantastic! Don't you feel bored sometimes watching Pros running 9 ball (or even 10 ball) rack after rack? One Pocket is a great game, really... if don't fall asleep. But Bonus Ball is a true chameleon! The game resembles One Pocket when opponents are one the same color and there are few balls on the table, then 2 minutes later you see classic rotation based game, followed by straight pool style re-break. Add to that 24 seconds shot clock, scotch doubles format on some games, top notch production and commentary, top pros making 5 rail banks and then being so overwhelmed by the pressure that they miss a really easy shot.

Yes, the game requires some efforts to learn and understand it, but after that you'll be hooked on it!
 
1) 24 seconds is too short, 30 minimum.
2) combines too many games to make real sense.
3) helps to pay salaries on time and in full.
4) the game clock thing is just dumb. Just run to the 30 points.
 
@TimKrazyMon

(1) and (2) is a matter of taste - I really like both
(3) - I have no factual information
(4) - The game clock is necessary to keep the match time-boxed
 
Bonus Ball is enjoyable as hell & is the reason I started playing pool again after 13 years, no lie. I turned on ESPN-3 & saw a game I have never seen before with some of my favorite players from the past with talent new to me & I was hooked on pool all over again. They just finished the 1st season but 3 months ago so I wouldn't expect it to start up again until late summer perhaps?

Jaden, I agree with you about the balls. Not feeling like you can just walk up to any table & play is a bit of a turn off. I can understand them wanting to have a unique set of balls but your points are well stated. They really need a serious public relations campaign. If I were them I would just give a few sets of balls to some of the biggest & most stable pool rooms across the country & have some sort of "PR" kit that helps the room owners explain & introduce BB to their customers.

If you have not given it a try then do so, it really is enjoyable & the Bonus Ball girls are well, a bonus! :thumbup:
 
Jack and Jill
Went up the hill
To watch a game of Bonus Ball
Jack found out
That Jill doesn't blow
But Bonus Ball does
 
Love the game. It's tight with well thought out rules. Combines multiple pool disciplines and definitely requires a little more brain power and attentiveness (not to mention skill sets) to make it through a game. An extraordinarily professional presentation and production from head to toe that is definitely ready made for tv. I hope all of that is ultimately good in some way for the industry as a whole. I know the rules, have the balls and will play on a Bonus Ball league if one ever forms in New Orleans.

As someone else implied here, it is too bad that the ball sets are alien and cost $180 bucks.

Thanks
 
Plans are definitely in the works for the second season of the WPBL. Running a league requires so much more preparation than a single tournament or event, so far more planning has to take place. I would expect you'll start hearing annoucements before too much longer, but some details must first be finalized. The league does have a Facebook page at https://m.facebook.com/wpbltvcom. There, you'll see posts on various Bonus Ball and industry related items. But nothing more, again, until more details of season two are ironed out. Thanks for the question and stay tuned!

Steve Strain
Voice of the WPBL
 
Thank you Mr. Strain for posting an update here. I was just writing an e-mail to Mrs. Tabb to find out any details that were available concerning this upcoming season. Are you the official contact or would one send inquires somewhere else? I, and apparently many others, are eagerly awaiting news of the 2014 season.

Best Regards
 
Your welcome! I don't know if I'm the "official" contact, I just try and help where I can. I can't answer everything, but will do my best when I can.
 
Bonus Ball can easily be played with solids and stripes. No need for a special set of balls. It's a challenging game.
 
Vlr...Hopefully you guys don't make the same bonehead move of scheduling BB matches over the top of other major events, like you did last year. Promoters HAVE to work together for the benefit of the sport.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Vlr said:
Plans are definitely in the works for the second season of the WPBL. Running a league requires so much more preparation than a single tournament or event, so far more planning has to take place. I would expect you'll start hearing annoucements before too much longer, but some details must first be finalized. The league does have a Facebook page at https://m.facebook.com/wpbltvcom. There, you'll see posts on various Bonus Ball and industry related items. But nothing more, again, until more details of season two are ironed out. Thanks for the question and stay tuned!

Steve Strain
Voice of the WPBL
Click to expand...
 
Scott Lee said:
Vlr...Hopefully you guys don't make the same bonehead move of scheduling BB matches over the top of other major events, like you did last year. Promoters HAVE to work together for the benefit of the sport.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Mr. Lee, I have seen the tentative schedule for the upcoming season, and I can assure you the WPBL is doing it's best to work around other major events throughout the season. Having said that, I am not really sure what "top major events" you are referring to.
For the record, the league altered certain team's schedules in 2013 for the Ultimate 10 ball tournament so it's players could play in that event (which one of our players won). Furthermore, the league was on it's "hiatus" during the CSI tournaments in Vegas where one of our players won an event, and another was the runner-up.
The WPBL also built it's playoffs around the Derby City Classic in February. But not only that, THEY EVEN WITHHELD CERTAIN NEWS RELEASES DURING THE DCC (ABOUT BEING ON ESPN3) IN ORDER TO NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE DCC'S PUBLICITY!. So, with all due respect, please tell me what events you are referring to, and how this has hindered the plight of the professional player that this league is trying to help!
Furthermore, it's an interesting topic right now considering Friday, a semi-announcement was made regarding an event (with a full field yet-to-be-determined) to take place the first week of February of next year - the same time the popular WPBL playoffs (just take a look at this thread) were taking place a year before. Did anybody consult the WPBL before scheduling that? Afterall, the promoter has included many WPBL players in that event. I think you know the answer. But again, please tell me what events the WPBL stepped on and we can have a logical discussion. Regardless, I can promise you, the league is trying to do something for the pro player that the pro player hasn't had before. Surely you can't complain about that.
 
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