Yes, remember what happened to the humans in Jurassic Park when they tried to revive something that was dead for a long time.
We don't need 10 foot tables running around trying to eat our kids and livestock.
Why contrive games like Bonus Ball...
- Thread starter RonnieOSullivan
- Start date
Yes, remember what happened to the humans in Jurassic Park when they tried to revive something that was dead for a long time.
We don't need 10 foot tables running around trying to eat our kids and livestock.
This is very true; there have been numerous times when I've been out playing, and set up to play either 9 or 10 ball, and someone comes up and asks me what game I'm playing, and what are the rules. I'm always surprised that people don't know what 9 ball is; granted, it's probably a little easier to explain to a newbie how to play, but the point is that seeing a new game still piques their interest. Bonus Ball could be very similar.
I admit, I'm definitely skeptical myself, but am supporting it nonetheless, as many of the top pros are also putting their weight behind it to promote it. I say let's see how it goes!
-Brian
Edit: This is not to say I don't like Snooker; I actually love watching and playing the game. But as many on here have already noted, the real estate needed to provide for a good Snooker room probably would not make it worth their while. It's hard enough getting newbies to play on 9 footers too!
9 ball is very easy to explain though, you hit the lowest number ball first, if you make the 9 at any time, you win. Filling in the details like what a foul is would be quick also. It's very close to 8 ball that everyone knows already.
Explaining bonus ball and even an old game like snooker would be closer to teaching someone to fly a plane after coming over from driving a car, things are just in the wrong place and don't look the same.
Ditto to Rich. Sitting around trying to invent more (different) games of pool will not be pool's salvation, but a fresh approach on improving pool's image might. :smile:
I think we need to take the way the players act in snooker and make the pool players act and dress the same way.
Snooker players sit in their chair until it's their turn, they are quiet and polite, they dress like professionals and they even call fouls on themselves.
If pool players did the same the image of pool would be much different.
Heck alot of pool players, pros included, will do anything they can get away with let alone call a foul on themselves.
Snooker players sit in their chair until it's their turn, they are quiet and polite, they dress like professionals and they even call fouls on themselves.
If pool players did the same the image of pool would be much different.
Heck alot of pool players, pros included, will do anything they can get away with let alone call a foul on themselves.
7x4 is the standard size for an English pool table. Some pubs may have smaller, 6 foot ones, but it certainly isn't the norm.
Pool has a long history of contrived games. From the printed record, it appears that eight ball (a game you may have heard of) started as a contrived game invented by Brunswick around 1925. Here's an article that mentions the origin http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/2002-02.pdf It was called BBC Co. billiards after Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., the name of Brunswick at the time.
More recently, 7 ball was a game contrived to present on TV. I think it made several appearances. It has more or less completely died, although a few years ago one of the regulars at the pool hall got me to play one game. He broke a ball in -- the corner balls seem to be deader than wing balls at nine ball -- and ran out. I suppose I can't actually claim to have shot a game of 7 ball.
Back in the 1960's there was game called 10-20 on TV in the US. I think it was not exactly contrived but was modified from 14.1 for a faster TV format. 14.1 in turn was a modified form of the previous championship game which was like 14.1 but every rack started with a 15-ball smash break.
More recently, 7 ball was a game contrived to present on TV. I think it made several appearances. It has more or less completely died, although a few years ago one of the regulars at the pool hall got me to play one game. He broke a ball in -- the corner balls seem to be deader than wing balls at nine ball -- and ran out. I suppose I can't actually claim to have shot a game of 7 ball.
Back in the 1960's there was game called 10-20 on TV in the US. I think it was not exactly contrived but was modified from 14.1 for a faster TV format. 14.1 in turn was a modified form of the previous championship game which was like 14.1 but every rack started with a 15-ball smash break.
No snooker for you ...
if we're looking for a tougher game, why not have these guys play Snooker?
-A lot of people think that snooker is a tougher game and if you ask them why, most of them will say because of the table size. To me comparing snooker and pool is like comparing apple and oranges. They both are completely different games and to play either one of them at a high level requires a lot of dedication and effort. Even the stance/stroke is different for these two games. The rack of snooker takes more time than 8 or 9 because its suppose to take more time. Btw, there are people who have run a rack of snooker faster than your average pool player can run a rack of 8 ball.
- how much have we seen Strickland, Archer, van Boening etc play Snooker?
- And why would they do it? They are busy practicing pool or playing in a pool tourney. Why would they go oversees to play a game that they never practice ?? Now, you must be thinking then why did Ronnie came to USA ? and here is why ""We used to play in 14 or 15 events and there are now six. That makes it tough for everyone involved in snooker. So I have decided rather than sit and wait for things to happen I'm going to take the bull by the horns and go elsewhere.". Here is the article :- http://www.scotsman.com/sport/snooker/o-sullivan-takes-time-off-to-play-pool-in-the-us-1-1099235
-Why not just get our elite players into Snooker?
-Nobody cares for pool anyways, except for us fans and players. The general public just think of pool as a bar game. The mindset is different now. What benefit are you exactly getting by letting top pro's play snooker ? Its like saying why not let our NFL players play "soccer" cuz its more famous worldwide. Snooker never had a big scene in US and that's the reality of it. Your average pool player likes bar-box, they don't even like 9 ft table what you think will make them play on a snooker table ?
if we're looking for a tougher game, why not have these guys play Snooker?
-A lot of people think that snooker is a tougher game and if you ask them why, most of them will say because of the table size. To me comparing snooker and pool is like comparing apple and oranges. They both are completely different games and to play either one of them at a high level requires a lot of dedication and effort. Even the stance/stroke is different for these two games. The rack of snooker takes more time than 8 or 9 because its suppose to take more time. Btw, there are people who have run a rack of snooker faster than your average pool player can run a rack of 8 ball.
- how much have we seen Strickland, Archer, van Boening etc play Snooker?
- And why would they do it? They are busy practicing pool or playing in a pool tourney. Why would they go oversees to play a game that they never practice ?? Now, you must be thinking then why did Ronnie came to USA ? and here is why ""We used to play in 14 or 15 events and there are now six. That makes it tough for everyone involved in snooker. So I have decided rather than sit and wait for things to happen I'm going to take the bull by the horns and go elsewhere.". Here is the article :- http://www.scotsman.com/sport/snooker/o-sullivan-takes-time-off-to-play-pool-in-the-us-1-1099235
-Why not just get our elite players into Snooker?
-Nobody cares for pool anyways, except for us fans and players. The general public just think of pool as a bar game. The mindset is different now. What benefit are you exactly getting by letting top pro's play snooker ? Its like saying why not let our NFL players play "soccer" cuz its more famous worldwide. Snooker never had a big scene in US and that's the reality of it. Your average pool player likes bar-box, they don't even like 9 ft table what you think will make them play on a snooker table ?
• Vacation for the real Ronnie O •
The legacy of Bonus Ball will soon be known for better or worse.
That being said, I sure wish Ronnie O'Sullivan would take time out of his schedule to come play in the Ultimate 10 Ball Championship and maybe the Southern Classic.
With his potting skills, he could sure give it a go.
He could kind of consider it a vacation of sorts. No one would expect him to win. :wink:
I've liked the guy ever since I saw and read some of his interviews. His skill is over the moon but I like what he as a man, is all about.
Anyway, there's still time to get a cheap flight to the states. ONe flight, TWO MAJOR MAJOR TOURNAMENTS with lots of added money.
It would be fun to watch him run out on the Big Foot 10 Ball Challenge.
www.ultimate10ball.com
www.southernclassictournament.com
JoeyA
The legacy of Bonus Ball will soon be known for better or worse.
That being said, I sure wish Ronnie O'Sullivan would take time out of his schedule to come play in the Ultimate 10 Ball Championship and maybe the Southern Classic.
With his potting skills, he could sure give it a go.
He could kind of consider it a vacation of sorts. No one would expect him to win. :wink:
I've liked the guy ever since I saw and read some of his interviews. His skill is over the moon but I like what he as a man, is all about.
Anyway, there's still time to get a cheap flight to the states. ONe flight, TWO MAJOR MAJOR TOURNAMENTS with lots of added money.
It would be fun to watch him run out on the Big Foot 10 Ball Challenge.
www.ultimate10ball.com
www.southernclassictournament.com
JoeyA
I understand it now. I was wrong along. It's a cool game.
Any sport requires grass roots, and this game has been a part of the culture in the UK for decades with tables and leagues in most of the working mens, labour and Con clubs and the boom of snooker clubs starting in the 80's.
We have had plenty tables here in Canada in the past but they are also disappearing along with 9ft pool and being replaced with 8's or 7's for league. People have not been taking up snooker for the last 20 years because it's too tough and opted instead for pool. The only reason we have any snooker market here is a small population of Chinese players that keep it going. The last time I went in a local Legion there was an inch of dust on the 6x12.
The US has no grass roots and no competitive players so where and how would you begin?
I think the pool world needs to accept that the game is past it's prime here.
We have had plenty tables here in Canada in the past but they are also disappearing along with 9ft pool and being replaced with 8's or 7's for league. People have not been taking up snooker for the last 20 years because it's too tough and opted instead for pool. The only reason we have any snooker market here is a small population of Chinese players that keep it going. The last time I went in a local Legion there was an inch of dust on the 6x12.
The US has no grass roots and no competitive players so where and how would you begin?
I think the pool world needs to accept that the game is past it's prime here.
it would be interesting to see Ronnie play pool, i dont think he has a chance here and sure isn't going to waste his time to come find out, he is used to making piles more $$ than any american pool has to offer, which sucks but is the way its always been. He just played in a event here over the weekend, kind os a Mosconi cup format thing, they didnt say what the $$$ was, but i'm sure it was more $$$ for a appearance on TV 2 nights in a row, 8 hours work total than winning any pool tourny we have. I'm in europe now-otherwise i wouldnt have known about it, was on Eurosport this weekend and i watched it again this evening,
O'Sullivan actually came to the USA and played in at least one IPT event. He didn't set the place on fire. But one wonders how he would do if he worked at pool for a while. I can't imagine he wouldn't be successful. But financially, no, today's pool prizes would not be "succesful" for him.
i think that with a years work he would be top 5 player-IF he applied himself. I doubt we will ever know.
Just a data point, but the number of snooker tables in Saskatoon pool halls is stable, not decreasing. And congratulations to my friend Daryl W. for winning the Saskatchewan Snooker championships a week ago.
Dave
Good to know Dave thanks, unfortunately out here it's deceased.
Must be the -40 you get that keeps people indoors
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If at all possible, change his username to EarlStrickland, please.
Must be the -40 you get that keeps people indoors
Sounds downright tropical.
LOL i'd be dead, anything below 70 and i got problems, i'm in Munich right now and the hotel's heating system died today, i'm getting rigor setting in right now......this could be my last night on earth, it this heat system dont fire up, i keep it 80+ in my house
Having spent a few years in that weather (North Dakota), people only consider the weather tropical when the temperature gets up to 0 degrees F.