Why is Pool no where close to what GOLF is????

[JimS]

Public perception:

Pool is played inside, at all hours, in dark hole in the wall type places where alcohol is served, gambling is heavy, cheating/hustling is prevelant and god knows what kind of other immoral activities are being engaged in.

Golf is played outside, in the daytime, in the country where the lowlife types don't go.

 

[lodini]

The issue is that both groups lack substantial funding...combined with the fact that it is the nature of pool in today's U.S. society that even the most devoted players in the general public would much rather play pool than watch it either in person or on TV (PPV or otherwise)...as you know as well as anyone.

Regards,
Jim

Sounds like it's not a money issue after all. Sounds to me like no one has helped to fund the sport because there just isn't enough interest in it. I have asked the question on here a million times that if a pro pool tour came into existence, would people on here be willing to support it by watching the matches, buying products, buying tickets to events etc? The answers were dismal, and these are pool enthusiasts on here. Even if there was money to start a pro tour, would that business model ever develop into a profit making one? If not, what's the point?

So, the answer to the OP is that people freaking LOVE watching golf. Golfers ranging from enthusiasts all the way down to non-golfers at all have gotten into watching and attending tournaments. They are "fans" of pro golfers and spend their own money to support the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, all we do is sit around and talk about it. That's the difference.

 

[JAM]

Sounds like it's not a money issue after all. Sounds to me like no one has helped to fund the sport because there just isn't enough interest in it. I have asked the question on here a million times that if a pro pool tour came into existence, would people on here be willing to support it by watching the matches, buying products, buying tickets to events etc? The answers were dismal, and these are pool enthusiasts on here. Even if there was money to start a pro tour, would that business model ever develop into a profit making one? If not, what's the point?

So, the answer to the OP is that people freaking LOVE watching golf. Golfers ranging from enthusiasts all the way down to non-golfers at all have gotten into watching and attending tournaments. They are "fans" of pro golfers and spend their own money to support the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, all we do is sit around and talk about it. That's the difference.

There is, unfortunately, a lot of truth in what you say.

My boyfriend has played pool his entire life. He does not enjoy watching pool on TV.

And he does watch golf 24/7 when the TV is on, every single day. The only time he is not watching golf on TV is when he is sweating a football, basketball, or baseball game he's got a sweat bet on.

Pool on TV, even for me, just doesn't hold my interest. I don't know if it is the way it is shown, the format, or the game being played.

I thought Allen Hopkins and Matt something-or-another had a good concept when they were doing the Skins format on TV. It was exciting pool.

The only reason I watch golf today, when my boyfriend is watching it, is that I enjoy the scenery of the golf courses! Some of them are quite beautiful to see. The game of golf itself is not hard to understand. Whereas, with pool, there are so many different games, i.e., 14.1, one-pocket, 3-ball-to-15-ball rotation, bumps, et cetera.

This is a very interesting thread, one which has been hashed over quite a bit in the past. Maybe if we keep hashing over it, somebody will come up with the magic change agent to fix pool.

JAM

 

[chefjeff]

Personally, I think the typical pool tournament format is a dead end for encouraging spectators. The matches rarely follow a schedule, if you happen to be a fan of a particular player, you have to get there early, and who is going to stay and watch 12 hours of pool at a time cooped up in one spot?
(snip).

Exactly!

The real money comes from people watching the game of golf. Pool has no such popular venue.

Until it does, there will be little money or sponsors. I mean, why would there be?

Jeff Livingston

 

[chefjeff]

(snip) the general public would much rather play pool than watch it either in person or on TV (PPV or otherwise)...(snip)

The general public thinks pool is easier than golf and thus think they are good at pool, even when they're not. So, they think: why watch a "pro" do something I can do?

But....pool is harder to learn and master than golf is. Perhaps that paradigm is what the public had better understand before they can appreciate (and pay for watching) what pro players do on the table? I watch golf and say, "I can do that," but I know deep down in my heart of hearts that I can do that only occasionally, not consistently. That makes the pro's play enjoyable to watch.

Perhaps the pool lessons that seem to be thriving lately will make this game's difficulty more understandable to Joe Public. I'm seeing league players getting better and the competition increasing there, and I think it is a result of SOME of the players finally taking lessons and learning how to win. The old bar winners are going by the wayside as these smarter, and now better, players are starting to beat them.

Maybe just a little more time is needed?

Jeff Livingston

 

[JCIN]

hey justin i have a question for you.....will shane play someone rack your own 9 ball? if not why not? thanks

It has been my experience that Shane will play just about anybody anything on a pool table within reason (probably not gonna play Efren or Cliff any even one hole).

If you are talking about Corey that game is there for the taking, matter of fact Scooter woofed at Shane about it in Olathe and Shane held out his phone and said "Call him."

I have no doubt that at some point those 2 will tangle again.

 

[JCIN]

Granted, organization is vital but so is MONEY without which all the organization in the world won't buy any pork chops.

The women are relatively well organized and have been for 20+ years. The men are in a state of general disarray...and yet the TV ratings...using last year's BCA event as an example are roughly the same.

The issue is that both groups lack substantial funding...combined with the fact that it is the nature of pool in today's U.S. society that even the most devoted players in the general public would much rather play pool than watch it either in person or on TV (PPV or otherwise)...as you know as well as anyone.

Regards,
Jim

If you do not have the organization you will never get the money. Argue against it all you like. History proves me right. The sad thing for mens pool is when they did have organization they managed to shoot themselves in the foot every time.

How much money was in stock car racing in the 50's before NASCAR really locked down and got everyone headed in the same direction? Every succsessful major sport in the world has a strong central governing body that holds teams and athletes accountable, provides structure and responsibility to sponsors. MLB, NHRA, NBA, F1, NFL, you cant name one without it other than Poker and that is on the way with the WPT. But poker is a whole other can of worms.

Pool is what it is, I don't have any illusions as to it recieving wide spread acceptance in the general public. I am confident that I do have a pretty good idea of what it would take but the catch is even if you did have everything in place, money, organization, the right people in the lead.....you would still have to get lucky. Personally I would love to see the game be in the spotlight but I am not going to tilt at that windmill just now. I am busy putting together things that will happen and are affordable for the die hard fans and a few n00bs to enjoy and along the way showcase some players even some avid fans havent had a chance to watch.

This comes up every month here and all the same answers come out, I am sure the answer to the problem lies somewhere in the reams of text on this subject. I gotta go back to work.

 

[JCIN]

Public perception:

Pool is played inside, at all hours, in dark hole in the wall type places where alcohol is served, gambling is heavy, cheating/hustling is prevelant and god knows what kind of other immoral activities are being engaged in.

Golf is played outside, in the daytime, in the country where the lowlife types don't go.

Man I get so sick of hearing this crap. This difference between the scumbags in the pool rooms and the scumbags on the golf course is the scumbags on the golf course steal and screw people out of billions.

It kills me when people who post here everyday have such a dismal outlook on the game. If it is such a cesspool why fool with it? What do you do to change the standards of behavior? If we all just quit putting up with the BS it would cut way down. We get the game we deserve.

 

[easy-e]

gambling is heavy, cheating/hustling is prevelant and god knows what kind of other immoral activities are being engaged in.

What pool hall do you play in???

 

[corvette1340]

When I owned a pool room several years back, the stigma of the phrase "pool hall" is what kept us from being successful. Being in North Georgia in the heart of the bible belt, the elderly citizens thought we were opening up a shady place that would have fighting and send every customer home drunk and driving. When we went to the city council meeting to get our beer liscense, there were literally 150 citizens begging and pleading for us not to be allowed to get it.

I stood in front of the council and told every person there that we were basically just like an Applebees with pool tables. We had 12 tables and a complete kitchen, dance floor, and seating for a ton of people. It wasn't a dirty dingy place. It was a half million dollar sports bar. I also told them to come down and have a free meal on the house and then decide to condemn us. We got the permit because the council members weren't as nearsighted as the church goers but only one person came down to visit us and I think it was just for the free meal.

Until peoples' perception of pool changes there will be no money to made in the pool industry to speak of. By the way, all of the people that play golf that have posted in this thread, you are more than welcome to come to Georgia and get an even game with me.

 

[ceebee]

Exactly!

The real money comes from people watching the game of golf. Pool has no such popular venue.

Until it does, there will be little money or sponsors. I mean, why would there be?

Jeff Livingston

You are somewhat correct. The folks out there watching the golf tournaments spend a fortune everyday. The big sponsors don't really sell that many Buicks, because Tiger drives one, the sponsors play the statistics game & they are required to spend money or pay taxes on it (what a shame). The big golf companies make money, by selling golf equipment, & the folks that watch the tournament buy the equipment or they wouldn't be sponsoring any one.

Buick could sponsor Pool & probably would be if the IPT had been a real deal. The big Pool companies do help with tournaments too. But, do the smaller companies (OB-1, Predator, Gulyassy, McDermott & so on) sponsor many tournaments.

Do the fans spend their money at the tournaments? Admission fees, programs, gear, clothes, souvenirs & so on? When the tournament is through & the lights are about to be switched off, if there is no profit after the payouts, the folks producing the show have a negative feeling about next year's show.

Most tournaments don't charge an admission fee, if you go to any other entertainment venue, you have to pay an admission fee. Until the Pool Players start spending some money at the tournaments, there will be no Professional Tour.

NOTE: before POKER, a Pool Player could make a few bucks gambling. This was a profession full of pitfalls, but several hundred have managed to survive, not succeed. Today, everything costs more & there are far fewer pigeons to pluck. A score today provide for tomorrow's loss. Where the hell does the rent money come from? This kind of scenario doesn't give us much hope for a great tomorrow. Professional Pool today is enjoyed by a dozen or so players, that's all... JMHO

 

[JCIN]

The big Pool companies do help with tournaments too. But, do the smaller companies (OB-1, Predator, Gulyassy, McDermott & so on) sponsor many tournaments.

LOL....what "Big" pool company does more than Predator, OB-1 and Gulyassy? Predator is having a little 10 ball tournament in Vegas coming up here in May, Mike Gulyassy put up $10,000 of his own money to put Earl in the 2nd Action Challenge and Jon and Royce at OB-1 sponsor Pro Player John Schmidt, as well as putting money into pool through all of the advertising they do in the industry magazines and right here on this very site. McDermott put money into tournaments and tours for many years.

If you want to point fingers at people for not supporting pool start with the BCA (not to be confused with the BCAPL). The Billard Congress of America has in my opinion dropped so far off the map as to be useless for the average player or fan of the game. Their sole purpose from what I can see is to ensure that they have a good trade show once a year and make sure everyone has enough Bar Stools and Poker tables to sell.

If wasnt for the guys you mentioned above and others like them high level pool in the US would really be on its last legs.

Edit: As long as we are giving credit. Want to really see what a nightmare for pool in America would be like? Imagine pool in the U.S. without Diamond.

 

[av84fun]

Sounds like it's not a money issue after all. Sounds to me like no one has helped to fund the sport because there just isn't enough interest in it. I have asked the question on here a million times that if a pro pool tour came into existence, would people on here be willing to support it by watching the matches, buying products, buying tickets to events etc? The answers were dismal, and these are pool enthusiasts on here. Even if there was money to start a pro tour, would that business model ever develop into a profit making one? If not, what's the point?

So, the answer to the OP is that people freaking LOVE watching golf. Golfers ranging from enthusiasts all the way down to non-golfers at all have gotten into watching and attending tournaments. They are "fans" of pro golfers and spend their own money to support the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, all we do is sit around and talk about it. That's the difference.

Right. Golf is FAR more interesting to watch for most Americans. It simply is a more "powerful" and more dynamic game.

Regards,
Jim

 

[av84fun]

very true, pool will never be poker......anyone can read a poker book and be a world champion in 6 months..that will never happen in pool ....

You have said you were serious about the above. LOL!

You are quickly piling up among the most preposterous comments in recent memory.

LOL

 

[Heckler]

Simple answer to solving all pools problems as a sport is that people need to get together be united and work together in a professional manner.

I have worked in marketing and sponsorship for over 5 years and the one thing that lets us down is how divided we are. As long as we stay this way we will stay a 3rd rate sport, with no money.

Our single biggest strength is pure number of people who play and that is marketable and of GREAT interest to sponsors. What is not of interest is the way we are divided by so many organizations, all with different agendas, and so many different people who have little or no desire to work with anyone else. Sponsors want a complete marketing package not a banner on a regional tour with only 100 - 200 entrants and little/no media coverage.

I have secured over 100 sponsorship deals for sports people from several different sports and including a few for some pool players....and yet I tell you I have worked harder on the few for the pool players than on all others put together.

Personally, I love pool and all cuesports and have worked very hard in several areas, and will continue to do so but the face of the game wont change until we change.

 

[PoolBum]

very true, pool will never be poker......anyone can read a poker book and be a world champion in 6 months..that will never happen in pool ....

You got that right. When I first started playing pool I read "Poker for Dummies" and six months later I still couldn't run three balls!

 

[mantis99]

When I tell people I like to watch pool, they usually look at me and say, "are you serious? You don't fall asleep". I have heard that numerous times. People find pool boring to watch.

You can play golf badly, but hit a couple of good shots and go home happy. At least you get to try the hit the little white ball as hard as you can each hole, which has some satisfaction in and of itself. Pool does not offer the same satisfaction along with its frustration to the average banger.

 

[junksecret]

You got that right. When I first started playing pool I read "Poker for Dummies" and six months later I still couldn't run three balls!

Hahahahaha, now THAT's Funny!

 

[memikey]

Can someone please tell me why pool isn't bigger and better, or atleast close to that of golf?
Pool can be played anywhere at anytime inside, no weather delays, more people play pool than golf(I believe), its cheaper to learn how to play and to play.

I JUST DON"T GET IT??????????

The bottom line answer is because major multi national blue chip companies are happy and proud to have their name and brand image associated with golf and golfers. The same companies wouldn't want their name and brand image to be within a hundred miles of being associated with pool or pool players.

The various contributory reasons why this perception exists can be debated forever.....indeed it sometimes seems like it already has been.......but unfortunately there appears to be no sound logical reason to anticipate the aforementioned perception changing.

 

[Fleece3]

Man I get so sick of hearing this crap. This difference between the scumbags in the pool rooms and the scumbags on the golf course is the scumbags on the golf course steal and screw people out of billions.

We can go back and forth about this FOREVER. However, the question was "why isn't pool where golf is". And the answer (IMHO) is, because of the preception (be it real or imagined) of our game. When I said gambling, I also should have said hustling. Think of the movies.

"Tincup", was a great golf movie. Small town guy gets the the big time and makes good.

"Poolhall Junkies". Guy gets his hand broke (by his own backer), lines like "play him on table 8, I put the matchbooks under the legs. And in the finale the hero wins, not because he outplayed the guy, he out hustled him. Remember, "what are you doing, I just bought your shot, it's my shot".

"Color of Money". Mentor takes young kid on the road and teaches him various "CONS", one of which includes mentor nearly making out with young kids girlfriend.

"The hustler". One again, hero gets hand broken. Hero's girlfriend ends up dead in hotel, after having sex with Hero's backer.

This shows the different preceptions of the sports. In pool (real life, not the movies) you are always hearing about guys "slow playing a mark" or "sharking an opponent" or even someone winning and then getting robbed! No major sponsor wants that association. You never hear about that with golf. I am not saying it never happens, but you don't "HEAR" about it.